The Bride of Chase Young Chapter 2: Tears and a Deal
Marie stood in shock. She couldn't believe that this handsome man was going to be her husband.
"Jun-li was right." she thought. "He is a looker. God, I wonder what kind of body he–Aaah! Stop thinking of that! Remember what Jun-li said. Lay down the law." Giving her head a quick shake to clear it, she looked into Chase's eyes.
"Okay pal, listen up." she said firmly. "I don't care how rich, evil, or powerful you may be. Where I come from, marriage is a partnership, and I am not going to be your slave. So, I think it would be best if we laid down some ground rules. Understand?" Chase nodded silently. Marie took a calming breath and went on.
"Rule one: I go where I want, when I want. That means, if I want to go for a walk, I walk. Got that?"
"Of course." Chase said calmly.
"Rule two: you have your side of the bed, I have mine. No trying to cop a feel." said Marie. "I thought I'd be dead by rule two, so this is going great!" she thought. Chase smiled.
"I understand completely."
"Rule Three: Until I'm comfortable enough around you to let you, you will not touch me. That means no hugging, no groping, no hand holding, and, God Forbid, no trying to kiss me." Chase's smile grew larger.
"Anything else?" he asked. Marie felt herself go weak in the knees. God, why did he have to have such a silky, manly voice?
"Y-yeah." she stammered. "Rule four: Until I say so...no s-s-se--" Dammit! Why did her modesty have to show itself now of all times? Marie looked at her feet, donned in their fine silk slippers. Chase chuckled.
"No sex, is that what you were trying to say?" Marie blushed clear to the roots of her jet black hair and nodded dumbly. Chase chuckled again and tucked a strand of Marie's hair behind her ear. She flinched at the contact.
"Don't worry." he said. "I may be evil, but I'm not so evil that I'd rape a helpless maiden. You were brought here to be my wife, not my toy. I could have gotten any other woman to do that for me." Marie's head snapped up. She glared at Chase. She was about to bark out a wicked retort when a voice interrupted them. A female voice.
"Well, what do we have here? I never thought you were the type to date common gutter maids Chase, but to bring one home with you?" Marie looked around for the origin of the voice and saw a beautiful tanned skinned woman with red hair striding towards them.
"You'd better watch the way you talk to this girl Wuya. She's my bride. I told you earlier that I was going to pick her up from Beijing." Chase snarled. Wuya was stunned.
"This girl is the one you've been talking about for the last two weeks? You said she was beautiful. This girl is so common. Even with those fancy clothes." she said. "I mean, come on Chase. You can do better than that." She draped her arms around his neck in a loving fashion. "Why settle for the rest when you could have the best?" Marie was furious! Not that she cared about Chase, but dammit it pissed her off when someone talked about her that way.
"Well Chase dear, you seem to be busy so I'm going to excuse myself and go explore this place." She said. And with that she walked right out the archway that Wuya had come through. Once out of sight, she slid to the edge of the doorway and listened.
"I have got to hear what Chase says to that!" She thought. She leaned close to the doorway and listened. Wuya was laughing.
"Well, that was fun." Said Wuya. "The look on her face when I...aheheh. C-chase, why are you looking at me like that?" Her laughter sputtered and died. Marie peeked around the edge of the doorway to see what Wuya was talking about. She soon wished she hadn't.
Chase was glaring at Wuya so harshly, she would have died five times over if looks could kill.
"I told you to watch what you said around her. That girl is my bride, and I won't hesitate to punish you if you upset her." he snarled.
"Why are you getting so worked up? She's just some girl you're obliged to marry. Right?" Chase opened his mouth to shout at her, then immediately closed it. Wuya looked puzzled for a moment. Then she grinned from ear to ear.
"Oooohhh, I see." she said silkily "She's something more isn't she?"
"That's none of your business, now shut your mouth!" barked Chase.
"I think you actually want her to like you. You don't want a plaything, you want a wife."
"I said shut your mouth!" Roared Chase. Wuya flinched and was quiet. "Now, get out of my sight!" He hissed angrily. Wuya hurriedly backed off and ran out of the room.
Marie watched as Chase stood alone in the throne room, breathing heavily.
"You just don't understand." he whispered. Marie felt this would be a good time to leave. She didn't want to be in Chase's way, even if he did defend her.
She spent most of the day wandering around the citadel, glancing in every room that had an open door. There were bedrooms, study's, bathrooms, and a whole mess of others. She glanced into a room with a large bed covered in black silk, and noticed her suitcase. Walking in, she noticed many other things in this room. A large fancy dresser in one corner that already had all her clothes put on it, An oak Vanity table opposite the bed, and a hanging scroll on one wall. On this scroll was an ink painted landscape of mountains and valleys.
"As the wind blows, as the sun rises, I live only for my son." was written in Chinese by a very graceful hand. Marie stared at the scroll. Why did Chase have this?
"His mother wrote that you know." Marie turned around to see Wuya standing in the doorway.
"What?" Wuya walked closer, staring at the scroll.
"Chase's mother wrote that a long time ago, back when she was alive." Marie looked at Wuya. She seemed almost...sad saying this.
"She's dead? What happened?" She asked.
"Sorry, that's Chase's story to tell."
"Did you know her?" Wuya nodded.
"Yes, a very long time ago. Chase, Dashi, Guan and me were all once in training to be Xiaolin warriors together, and he'd often go to visit her and he'd bring us with him."
"Who are Guan and Dashi?"
"Just a couple of old friends. Or rather, we were friends. After I turned to the Heylin side, they became my enemies and locked me in that damned puzzle box for 1500 years!"
"1500 years?! But you don't look out of your twenties!"
"I'm a witch, I can make myself look younger than I really am."
"Oh" said Marie, looking sheepish. She should have known that.
"If you want to know more about her, just ask Chase. He is your husband after all." Said Wuya with a shrug. Marie glared at her.
"As far as I'm concerned, that man is not my husband until he and I get the ceremony." she said. "Until then, he's just a guy I'm being forced to live with. A guy who stole me away from my family, my home town, and my friends!" Marie began to cry tears that she had been holding back for days. In her sorrow, she didn't even notice Wuya run out of the room.
"I'm never going to see my big brother or any of my friends ever again!" she thought. "I want to go home! I want my brother!" Then she collapsed to the stone floor and lay sobbing until she cried herself to sleep.
She awoke to a furry muzzle nudging her. Opening her eyes she saw a gorgeous white tigeress sitting there. Her vivid blue eyes spoke of concern.
"Who are you?" Asked Marie.
"She's your lady-in-waiting." said Chase from his position at the door. "Wuya told me you were upset, and I came up to check on you." Marie sat up slowly, sore from lying on a stone floor.
"Lady-in-waiting? Why would I need that?"
"Every Lady needs a servant. And as my future wife, you will be a Lady. She will run errands for you and follow your orders." Just then, a large crow came flying in and perched on Marie's shoulder. He cawed softly.
"Well hello there." said Marie. "Where'd you come from?"
"His name is Crow. He'll be your messenger." replied Chase. "If you write a letter to someone and give it to him, he'll deliver it to them. No matter who or where they are." Marie stroked Crow's soft inky black feathers.
"So, if I want to talk to my brother or my parents, I just have to send Crow with a letter?"
"That's right." said Chase. Marie sighed in relief. She looked up at Chase with a smile.
"Thank you so much." she said. "I guess you're not as bad as you seem."
"By the way Marie, I think we need to talk." Chase said. "Come with me." Marie stood and followed Chase through the citadel and into a huge library. He sat down in an armchair and motioned for Marie to do the same in the other. Crow flew off her shoulder and perched on the back of the chair as she sat down.
"Now." said Chase. "About this marriage business. I realize that this is all very frightening and confusing to you."
"You have no idea." muttered Marie.
"What was that?" asked Chase.
"Nothing..." Chase stared at her a moment, then shrugged.
"Anyway, I'm sure you had different ways of doing things back in Canada, so I'm willing to try something. But only if you agree to listen to my plan. Will you?"
"Sure, let's hear it."
"Very well. I suggest that we take some time to get to know each other before getting married. I do not wish to force you to marry someone you have no feelings for." Marie looked at him in shock.
"So basically, we'd just stay engaged until we develop feelings for one another. Is that right?" Chase nodded.
"Do you agree to this?" Marie thought about it for a moment. Sighing she said
"Chase, I don't know anything about you, but I'd like for this to work out. Let's try to make this marriage work okay?" Chase smiled, and stood up.
"Very well. Then we're agreed." he said. He held out his hand. "We'll learn about each other and wait until we're both ready to marry." Marie stood as well and gripped his hand.
With a firm shake, they sealed the deal. After that, Chase said he had some business to attend to and disappeared. Marie was alone with the tigress and crow. She looked at the hand she had used to shake with Chase.
"His hands are so warm." She thought.
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