Decided to finish this cause I want to give Ezra a bit of a back bone tbh. Probably violence and bad language ahead!

Valkyrie was curling Ezra's hair. She and Ezra and been brought to an ornate, large bedroom. It was a beautiful, lush room, with a four poster bed and thick carpet. The only thing off putting was the barred window and the heavy sound of the lock after Erskine gave his instructions and left. They were to make themselves look pretty, he had said. Ezra had showered first, and while Valkyrie washed, Ezra dried her hair. Their magic was still out of reach. When Valkyrie came out of the en suit, Ezra helped her into the forest green dress, that fell to her ankles like water and shimmered in the light. Also Ghastly made. Three bride maid's dresses had been made by him, one for China Sorrows, one for Tanith Low and one for Valkyrie Cain. Accessories were in those parcels as well, all gold accents. Only one of those dresses would be worn today. Valkyrie then helped Ezra into her wedding dress. Both girls had stayed silent, neither knowing what to say to make the other feel better. Valkyrie had never been very good at the whole emotions thing. Ezra just stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes glazed and unfocused.

"It's not a real wedding." Valkyrie said, the silence making her itch. Ezra's blue eyes came into focus as she looked at Valkyrie's reflection.

"Isn't it?" She asked softly.

"No. Because it's one sided. It only matters if both feel the same."

"Erskine doesn't see it like."

"Erskine is a traitorous little rat." Valkyrie pointed out. Something like a smile crossed Ezra's lips.

"I just wanted my wedding to be happy. And with Dexter, for starters." She said. Valkyrie didn't know what to say to that. She finished curling Ezra's hair then switched the curling wand off. Then she took two strands from the front of her head and twisted them back, pinning them with the clasp Ghastly had left. Valkyrie fastened the veil to the clasp, then asked Ezra to hold her hair up while she put the necklace on. Three diamonds with gold around them hung in the hollow of her throat on a thin gold chain. Ezra slipped the bracelet on her right wrist then concealed the bags under her eyes. She looked in the mirror and sighed.

"Thanks Val." She said softly. Valkyrie smiled sadly then hugged the smaller girl tightly. She pulled back and Ezra stood, gesturing to Valkyrie to sit down. Ezra brushed out Valkyrie's tangles and then braided her hair into sections, then tied them up into a complicated bun, pulling strands out to frame her face. She slid in the hair piece Ghastly had left, a green emerald on a small golden comb. Valkyrie nodded then grinned.

"We look hot." She stated. Ezra grinned back.

"That we do, Val, that we do."

Four cleavers led them down the corridors. People were bustling, hastily moving from place to place in last minute preparations. They were lead to a grand entrance way, the remaining Dead Men standing stiffly in impeccable Ghastly tailored suits, surrounded by cleavers. The men tried their best to smile as the two girls neared.

"You two clean up well." Saracen said tightly, the joke lost in the tension. Dexter smiled brightly, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You look beautiful." He said to Ezra, reaching a hand out to touch her. A cleaver stepped forward and grabbed Dexter's hand, snapping it backwards. A crack rang out and Dexter hissed, rage painted clear as day on his face. Ezra's smile fell and she stared with wide eyes. She refused to cry. Erskine stalked up, looking flustered.

"It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding." Valkyrie said coolly, staring at Erskine with a look of disgust. He scowled at her.

"Everyone ready?" He asked through gritted teeth. No one said anything. He sighed, clearly agitated.

"Come on then. Places." He walked away, cleavers nudging Saracen and Dexter to follow him. They were the best men, after all. Dexter cradled his broken wrist against his chest, and he gave Ezra one last lingering look before following. Saracen put a hand on his back as the walked away. A few minutes later and the doors opened, the music playing loudly. Valkyrie took a deep breath, quickly hugged Ezra again, and looked sadly at Skulduggery. Then she picked up the bouquet, bright sunflowers and white roses, and clutched them tightly as she walked into the vast hall, filled with guests. Skulduggery passed Ezra her flowers, similar to Valkyrie's only bigger, then slipped his arm through her's. She was shaking, and Skulduggery gently took hold of her hand.

"I don't want to do this." She whispered.

"I know." He whispered back.

"I feel like I'm going to be sick."

"That's normal on your wedding day."

"This isn't a normal wedding."

"I know that too. You don't have to do this." Skulduggery said. Ezra laughed bitterly.

"What? Turn him down in front of everyone? He's having this televised. I can't even imagine what he would do to you, or Val, or Saracen or... Or Dexter." She said. Her voice almost caught. She would not cry. All too soon, Valkyrie was at the front, and before Ezra could think, Skulduggery had stepped forward. Ezra breathed then stepped forward too, and then they were walking. Everyone stood. There must have been five hundred people there, some Ezra knew, some she didn't.

"Smile." Skulduggery whispered. Ezra did something with her face that she hoped was a smile. She was sure she would have fallen were it not for Skulduggery. If she was wearing heels it would have been game over, but Ghastly knew her, so she was wearing little ballet pumps.

"This is so close to be perfect." She whispered sadly, taking in the meticulously decorated hall, with bright flower arrangements and glittering lights. Then they were at the alter, and Skulduggery stood behind Dexter, and Valkyrie was behind Ezra and Erskine was in front of her. In front of Ezra, smiling like a fool. The ceremony began, and Ezra said her vows as convincingly as she could. She held the flowers so tightly she broke a couple of the stems and was sure her knuckles were going to break out of her taut skin. She turned and gave them to Valkyrie, and Valkyrie gave her a gold wedding band. It didn't seem like a fair trade to Ezra.

"Do you, Erskine Ravel, take Ezra Bloom to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest asked, none the wiser.

"I do." Erskine beamed, grinning and clutching Ezra's sweaty hands.

"And do you, Ezra Bloom, take Erskine Ravel to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Ezra hesitated. Her breath hitched, and Erskine squeezed her hands so tightly she was sure he was going to break her fingers. She looked at Dexter, still casually cradling his broken hand. He caught her eye and smiled tightly, nodding ever so slightly. Ezra looked back as Erskine who was looking at her with a darkness in his eyes that she didn't know he was capable of. Ezra forced the sickness down, forced herself to smile, forced herself to say it.

"I do." She said quietly.

Erskine slipped a ring on her finger, and she put the ring on his.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The priest said with finality.

Erskine smashed his mouth onto her's. Ezra pulled away and giggled shyly while the room erupted into clapping.

"I just want you to know," Ezra said lowly, a dazzling smile plastered on her face. The priest had stepped away to set his bible down, the only people who could hear was what was left of the Dead Men. "That I have never hated a man as much as I hate you. When you touch me, I want kill you. When you kiss me, I want to die. But just know, I will kill you for what you have done to Ghastly and Anton. For what you have done to us. I despise you with every fiber of my being." She leaned in so it looked like she was kissing his cheek, and whispered in his ear;

"I will make you suffer."