ONE MONTH LATER
"The flower. Where the hell is the flower?" Lana's voice could be heard from the next room. By the way she was shouting, I guessed the whole Norcia heard her. Someone liked the color blue. It was everywhere, from the walls to the stairs and even on the house entrance.
"You look like you just ate a lemon." Zach laughed at the face I was making.
"It's nauseating to see Lana ramble about her engagement every five seconds. I get it, lady, it's your day but hell, we live here too. And if I see any more blue, I might have to bleach my eyes dry." I deliberately whispered so Lana couldn't hear. Only one time I had said that I didn't give a shit if she made us wear a Tux or trash and she burned almost all of my hair.
I was still mourning it.
I didn't need her to give me a buzzcut next.
Zach couldn't stop laughing. "She's always cheerful. You should've seen her in high school, man. Always planning things ahead and it always has to be perfect so it isn't that surprising that she's making us work for her engagement."
"Don't bother. I'm already happy NOT knowing her before." I spat out, earning an eye roll.
"And Emeline still wants you." Zach let out a loud as hell gasp. "Oh wait, she doesn't. See? You care about us, big guy. Just because you say that you don't, doesn't make it a truth."
"And Emie?" I felt a pang in my chest but I ignored it. "She still doesn't want me then?"
Ever since that day, she had taken her things from our room to go live in a guest room. Even when our eyes would meet once in a while, she'd hurry to leave the place. If that wasn't a hint that she hated me, I didn't know what it was.
"Watching her won't bring her back, Alexei. Trust me, I've done that shit. If she feels even a little for you, fight for it."
I thought about what he said, watching Mikhail getting ready for his engagement. This was what could've been our life. But just because I thought that my shadows, my true self was going to be the one to hurt her, I pushed her away. Then again I did fulfill the future one way or another.
I hurt her by lying.
"You're right. I've given her time, Zach. Not anymore." I said with confidence. Yes, I would do the right thing. I'd tell her the truth, I'd tell her just what I saw in Ivy's mind and break this thin ice that's been ruining our marriage. Before Zach could answer, Mikhail cleared his throat.
"I'm ready." He was in a black suit, hair all spiked up courtesy of Zed. Though he looked his best, the nervous fidgeting didn't get ignored by me. My own wariness toward Emie was hard to ignore too when Zed looked at both of us.
"It's his engagement today, I get that he's freaking out. What's your problem?"
I clenched my jaw, giving them a tensed smile. "Nothing, master, absolutely nothing."
"D-Don't call me that. I am not worthy of that name anymore-"
"Bullshit. You've always been my master. Nothing changes it." And if I had to prove it to him every day I would.
"Fine, have it your way. We're getting late anyway." Following them, I entered the hall room where the ceremony was supposed to happen. The whole manor was beautifully decorated only worsening my mood. Why for once I couldn't do right by someone?
"There she is." Zach halted my trail of thoughts. True to him, I noticed Emie walking in a long black dress beside Lana. As if noticing my stare she looked up tensing. But to my surprise, she gave me a genuine smile before looking away.
Zach suddenly whistled, staring at the newcomer who turned out to be Ivy with a whiskey bottle. "Well, my drinking buddy is here. Enjoy your night."
"One of these days Valentine will kill you." That's the only thing I could say.
"He was one of these people who ruined the best day I could ever have so I'm ruining his." He winked, dancing between people to reach her. Immature. Shaking my head, I couldn't stop grinning either. Clearly, he had an agenda against the vampire.
"Shall we?" Zed asked, bringing my attention to them.
After that, I kind of blanked out as the ceremony went. Lana and Mikhail exchanged the rings with excitement where Zach kept hooting and throwing drinks. Just as he said, he was ruining the Volkioses day. I saw one of them even leave. I think that was Rebecca and I couldn't be happier.
I asked her a few days ago to give me permission for our marriage but she refused.
Her excuse couldn't even be called an excuse.
When all the cheers ended, it was time for dancing. Before anyone could whisk my wife away, I took her wrist in mine. Her eyes met mine and the surprise written in them was clear as day.
"Dance?" I asked quickly, holding out my other hand.
"I need to stay with 5132-"
"Dear sister, I'm all grown up, almost getting married." Lana smiled, shooing her sister. "You don't have to worry about me. Just have fun for one night, will you?"
She looked back at Lana desperately who left her with me. Finally, she just gave in, placing her hand on mine.
"You're looking deliciously beautiful," I let her know.
"Thank you."
"Emie." I took a deep breath. "We need to talk...now. Come with me, please."
I felt her tense up. "No."
"Why?"
"Believe me, it would be better for us if we just...move on. I mean we would always share souls but at least none of us will have to wonder when the next time one of us decides to break other's heart."
Move on!? What the hell?
"Emie-"
"I said no, Lex. I'm not going with you."
"Why not? I'm tired of waiting. You said you needed time and I gave it to you. I stayed away. But how much more time do you need? A year? A century?" I argued.
"Lex...it's just, we don't work. We don't communicate like married couples do. We did everything backward. That day in the woods...it feels like a lifetime ago and I can't even bring myself to wonder about that. You feel nothing for me and I'm finally starting to forgive you for all the things you've done. Isn't that enough?"
"What about the day in the woods?"
"I-never mind." She shook her head.
I stopped dancing to make her look at me. "Please, Emie. Do you want me to make a fool of myself in front of the Volkioses? I will. I will do anything to fix us, fix this. See? I'm begging you at this point."
I watched her let out a resigned sigh. "Fine! After the party, I will meet you on the roof."
I smiled, pulling her in for a hug. She seems startled at first but still wrapped her arms around mine. Progress, I cheered in my mind, yes, it was definitely progress.
Time couldn't have gone any slower.
I waited with a heavy heart and a nervous tilt to my head as I watched her interact with everyone. Was there someone who got her eyes? Was that it? Or why would she refuse to see me that much? When the party finally ended, I followed her to the terrace and took a deep breath.
When she turned around, she looked at me like I had grown three heads. I was sure that she didn't expect me to be on my knees with the opal ring, the ring she left for me to find on the dressing table.
"Lex! What are you doing?"
"Emie, I know I'm selfish. I do what I want and I never care who gets hurt in the process." I paused, clearing my throat. "But, for once in my life, I wanted to be selfless. I saw the future Ivy showed me. Everything starts with my betrayal. I could have left you to live your life back then, I could've waited until you were on your death bed to ask for my soul but I didn't. I kept thinking that I had everything figured out but I didn't."
"I messed up so much, Emie. I didn't even realize it until I saw through her mind. I-I knew staying with me will only hurt you in the long run, that's why I chose the easiest way out. I know you would never let yourself be with someone who will degrade you, so I hurt you. It killed me to do that but the reason I did that was..."
"I did everything because I love you." I could see the naked shock on her face. "The only person I was this close to care about was Zedkiel. When I saw him die, I felt a part of my soul disappear. Then the next moment I had to think of losing you too and I just about lost it. It hurts to see him like this but it hurts ten times worse to watch you move on. My shadows can't contain themselves. You make me insane. So, yes, I love you and I want to wake up every day beside you, I want to watch you mess up spells, I want to make love to you and making my future with you because the alternative...well, I can't afford to lose you, it will kill me, little soul. Not again."
I clenched my eyes shut and opened them before saying the words I never thought I'd utter from my lips.
"Marry me?"