Chapter 28. Darkness Begins

After the fall out with Sammy, Erik and I decided it was best to get the wedding over and done with. It was to be a private ceremony, just the two of us and my aunt. To tell you the truth I was scared of the idea of marriage. My mother and father made it look effortless sure, but could Erik and I really be happy? Upon the insistence of my aunt, Erik and I were not to see one another the night before.

"It is tradition." My aunt Giry moved quickly between my room and hers, taking some of my belongings with her.

"Well, Erik and I are the least traditional people here." I held Roselynn and looked at my Aunt.

"That doesn't mean you can't start to be traditional." Aunt Giry poked my side.

"I just don't understand why both you and Clara are making such a big deal out of this." I followed my aunt between rooms. I knew reasoning with her would be futile, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

"Don't you tell me it's not a big deal young lady!" Clara came marching up the stairs. She wiped her wet hands on her apron and smiled.

"A woman's wedding day is the most important day in her life. Well that and the day she has children. But you've gotten a head start on that already." Clara winked her eye, the blood rushed to my face.

"I'm taking Roselynn for a walk!" I swear I could hear muffled giggling as I scurried down the stairs and out the door. I walked towards an open field that resided behind the house, the wild flowers were in full bloom and Roselynn cooed with content. I sat down with her and closed my eyes. The warm sunshine on my face felt amazing.

"How is my bride?" I jumped at the sudden voice behind me.

"Erik! Don't scare me like that! Aren't you supposed to be staying at the Donners place?" Erik sat next to me and took Roselynn from my arms.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Erik's voice was small and unsure.

"Yes, I know you are too. We don't have to be married, really. Were already as good as married and it's just a piece of paper anyways." Truth was, I wanted a wedding. But if Erik was going to be comfortable enough for the ceremony, then there was no point.

"Shush. If I didn't want to marry you I wouldn't be here now." He tenderly kissed my forehead. "Also I'm tired of cooking all of my meals for myself." I could almost feel him smirking to himself. Playfully hitting his shoulder, I chuckled.

"You just had to ruin the moment, didn't you?"

…

"Oh Claudine! You look absolutely breathtaking!" Clara clasped her hands together and smiled brightly.

"Thank you Clara." I smiled, I turned my attention back to the full-length mirror before me and took a deep breath. If I hadn't known, it was me I would have said that this person in the mirror was a different woman. She looked older and had more prominent features. How had I changed so much, in such a short span of time?

"You may be with child again after Erik sees you in this wedding dress." Clara wiggled her eyebrows as I blushed.

"Clara! Why do you always have to make things so awkward?" Though what she said had embarrassed me I could help but laugh. Soon Aunt Giry, Clara and I were laughing and the entire dress parlor were looking at us as if we had lost our minds.

"So, are you going to have Roselynn there at your wedding?" Aunt Giry asked me as she picked some non-existent fuzz from my dress.

"Erik and I had originally thought we would have her there, but with her teeth coming in we thought it'd be best to let her rest. But were definitely taking her to London with us." I smiled, London had always been a fond place of mine, though I only visited once I can remember the lively atmosphere it presented.

"Don't worry, I'll look after her, you just worry about you and Erik and your wedding night." Clara squeezed my shoulder gently.

"Thank you Clara." I hugged her.

"No need to thank me dear." She pat my back.

"I have every need to thank you, you took me in and accepted me as part of your family. I had nowhere to go before you took me in!" I could feel the tears rolling down my face and I imagined her tears were flowing freely as well.

"You'll always have a place here with us dear. Just don't forget about us." She sniffled and patted my back some more.

"I could never forget you." Little did I know, fate had other plans.

…

After getting ready for our wedding I walked down the stairs… well the right word would have been floated. Erik waited for me downstairs and held his hand out for me. I took it and we smiled at one another. Our wedding wasn't anything fancy, considering that the priest of the town had travelled to a neighboring town for a christening and a funeral. Erik and I were married by doctor, either way we were married. I teared up the moment Erik said I do and slid a beautiful ring on my finger. I couldn't believe that this moment had finally come. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would marry Erik. I thought back to my mother and how I wished she could see me so happy. I wondered if she would approve of Erik. It wouldn't have mattered if she had or not. After we were married Erik took me to a secluded spot on the beach where he had set up a campsite just for the two of us.

"It's not a five-star hotel but I figured it'd be romantic what with sound of the waves and the sunset." He looked down and only momentarily made eye contact with me.

"It's perfect!" I hugged him tight and began my assault of kisses on his face.

"Should we head inside the tent my wife?" I smiled brightly.

"We should."

Least to say we thoroughly enjoyed each other's company that night and fell asleep to the sound of the waves in each other's arms.

…

The following morning Erik and I walked hand in hand back up to the town and towards Claras inn. I was ready to be assaulted with questions about what my night had been like. I could already feel the heat rushing to my face. The strange thing that set Erik and I off was the fact that the door to the inn was open. I thought it strange because it was Sunday and the bakery part of the inn was usually closed. We had no residents that weekend and Clara's husband had taken the children on a fishing trip earlier in the week. Aunt Giry, had received a telegram from Meg and said she would have been gone a good portion of today. That just left Clara, her baby and Roselynn. If I listened closely I could hear a faint wailing in the building, I looked at Erik alarmingly. Our brisk walk had turned into a frantic run.

"Stay here. If something happens scream, I want to make sure it's safe for you before you go in there." I nodded and wrapped my arms around my body as my newlywed husband walked cautiously into the inn. It was a total of fifteen minutes before he returned, he was holding a bundle of blankets with a small infant inside of it, and for a moment I relaxed. But the look on his face said otherwise. I looked closer at the infant and realized that this baby was not my daughter, it was Clara's.

"Erik, where is Roselynn?" Erik didn't answer me.

"Damn it Erik where is my daughter!" I ran past him into the inn. I was a frantic mess. I checked the bakery, the living room, everywhere I could possible think of. I saved Roselynn's room for last, a small part of me had hoped she was in there. I opened the door slowly and gasped at the scene before me. In the middle of the room was Clara's lifeless body, an open window, and Roselynn was nowhere to be found. My world became dark.

Hey guys! Its been a while hasn't it? Sorry about that, between school and my job I am a bit crunched on time. I haven't been able to write freely like I used to be able too. So this chapter is finished and we have about one more chapter to go. The next chapter will be set in the future, like I'm talking about a significant time jump here guys. How significant? You'll just have to be patient and wait to read and find out! I know it's cruel for me to do that to you guys but I can't give you everything, now can I? Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to review or message me, even if it's just to say hi! Love you guys!

-Kara