Chapter Two
Night time is almost ours
– 1861 –
A month. It had been exactly a month since Damon had left. It had been thirty days without him; I had kept myself busy enough not to miss him all too much but now, stuck in the middle of another ball I needed him more than ever. I saw my other, more distant friends, waltz and twirl around the main floor with their lovers. I ached for something like that. But it seemed as if I was always a lone.
"Miss Eleanor."
It was a masculine voice so with the right amount of sensuality and modesty, she turned around a smiled his way. Just like her mother told her to.
It was that handsome man from the farewell party Sebastian. "Mr. Steele," I curtsied, "What do I owe the pleasure?"
"I couldn't just leave such a beautiful women all by her lonesome, could I?" He asked with a smirk, but it wasn't posed as a question. He held out his hand, "Care to dance?"
"I'd love to,"
Our arms linked and we spun to the music as the orchestra played my favourite tune. I smiled at the man and front of me and he grinned back.
"You're a wonderful dancer." He whispers in my ear.
I bit my lip, "You're fairly well on your feet too, Sebastian."
For the rest of the night I'm not once bored. I spend it all on the dance floor, in Sebastian's arms. I barely knew him – but he seemed to know exactly how to make me happy. He was humorous and it was good-looking, and I knew my mother approved by that content look in her eye as we danced past her. She was never too fond of Damon, and she had guessed of my lover for him. This, moving on, would make her happy.
I was surprised, when I made my way back to the carriage, Damon finally crossed my mind for the first time in three hours. I thought the image of him would nag at me the entire time, ruining my night, but he had hardly even been thought of.
Mr. Donovon smiled at me as I climbed into the carriage. I hopped in and slid the shoes of my aching feet. Seconds later my mother came in and sat down, the ghost of a smile on her face.
"Who was that handsome man you spent the entire night with?" She asked, just like I knew she would.
"Sebastian Steele, he's new."
Finally, a smile appears on her face. "New," She says slowly. "Yes, I think new is exactly what you need."
She's inferring to Damon, it was painfully obvious, but I couldn't care enough to mind. I told Damon I would not wait for him; he wouldn't come back looking for me to wed. And Sebastian did make me feel good; he made me feel new, myself.
Sebastian's beautiful hazel eyes flashed in my mind, "Mother, you may just be right."
XXX
– 1863 –
I roamed around the garden, hiking my dress up carefully. Sebastian walked slowly just behind me. He was being awfully quiet this afternoon, a change from his charming cheeky self.
We reached the rose bushes mother had just had the Gardner, Ethel put in. They were a beautiful, crimson shade of red. Like blood. Blood always reminded me of Sebastian now, after he had shared his secret around this time a year ago. He was a vampire. It was shocking and surprising and I couldn't tell anyone, but I had come to terms with it. I loved this man and nothing could change that. From his sandy blonde hair to his hazel eyes; he was intoxicating.
In the middle of the bushes was a white, wiry bench. Tired of walking I sat, and Sebastian followed in suit.
"You know I love you, correct?" Sebastian says out of the blue. I smile widely.
"Of course, and I love you." I tell him truthfully. I've never felt this way before – what I had with Damon had been close but this was something entirely different.
"I've received your fathers word, so if you accept, it is already allowed," My heart starts to beat faster, miles a second. I'm sure he can hear it, but I'm predicting what's about to come next and it makes me anxious – and excited.
"Eleanor Whitlock," Sebastian gets off the bench and onto on knee. Clasped in his hand is a tiny, velvet green box. "Will you marry me?"
Damon. Damon. Damon. My mind flashed with his name over and over for the first time in what seemed forever. He'd be coming home soon, wouldn't he? What would his reaction to this be? Would it bother him some? No, he'd be expecting this.
With my heart fluttering my chest, I managed a grin, "Yes!"
The ring slides onto my finger. It's cold and it fits perfectly. I don't even really think much about my decision – what will happen when I age and he doesn't, how I will cope being married to a man who will always be twenty three – I just trust my instincts and say yes. Damon forgotten once again.
Sebastian stands, and excitedly twirls me around before pulling me close, and hard. He captures my lips in his for a passionate kiss. The first one we share as fiancée's. My stomach leaps. Fiancées. I'm getting married.
I now realize why my mother was pressuring me into this; spending the rest of your life with someone you love and care for. Tacting their last name onto the end of your first. It was an overwhelming feeling of excitement.
He grabs my hand and pulls me lightly into the direction of the exit of the garden. "Come, I must go and tell everyone!"
I laugh and run along with him, forgetting to hike up my dress, and not once worrying what damage it may cause. I loved him and I was getting married!
Something nagged at me though and I couldn't place it exactly. It felt so right – but something was telling me I had my signals all wrong. It wasn't just that in a few months short Damon would be arriving home, it was something different. It was as if my conscious was warning me something horrible was going to happen. But that couldn't be right – everything seemed so perfect.
Oh my gosh, it's been forever! I'm actually so sorry, but schools a bitch and inspiration has been running low. And then I just leave you guys with this after the long wait. It doesn't even have Damon in it! But its needed haha. I'm horribleee.
Review? :)