"You
know, the moon isn't going anywhere, Raynee," the deep
voice behind her called from the shadows as she turned abruptly
to see who had entered. She smiled broadly, embracing her
brother tight. "Morpheus!" she exclaimed, delighted
to see her baby brother once more since his departure from
the mansion, "What are you doing here?!" "I
came for the wedding, of course. How could I miss the opportunity
to see such a freak show?" He smiled down at her, his
old English accent was not as apparent as her own as he
spoke. "Well, this freak show is in my hands, so don't
make a mess of things," she replied, turning away from
him and sighing lightly. Morpheus looked about the room,
noticing the men's clothing that was laid around. "Still
married to Loeki, I take it." Raynee shook her head,
knowing what answering him could involve, "Yes, Loeki
and I are still married." Morpheus scoffed lightly,
tipping a picture of the two onto it's face along the night
stand, "You're only married because he wants your money
and won't give you a divorce." Raynee rolled her eyes
and sighed heavily, stepping back onto the balcony. "Com'on
Ray, you can't think that he actually loves you. The man
is a whore monger, a solicitor of the weaker sex. He only
breeds with you to insure that there's a nice piece of the
pie left for him when you are gone." "And what
makes you think there will be anything left for Loeki when
I am gone?" she asked, her back still turned to him
as she gazed across the land.
Morpheus stepped onto
the balcony beside her, gazing as well across the vast estate
before finally speaking, "Because I know you..."
Their silence remained tense for a moment, each word sinking
into them both. Raynee finally turned to look at her brother,
his dark hair falling around his shoulders wistfully, his
dark blue eyes deep and thoughtful as they peered into the
shadowed night. "You're right, as always," she
began, crossing her arms over her chest lightly, "My
weakness for men, Loeki in particular, has clouded my judgement
when it comes to my finances. He insists he stays for Anna
and not the money, but I am not sure anymore." "Ahhh
yes, and where is my new little niece tonight? I have brought
a present for her," Morpheus replied, not wanting to
dwell on the fact that he knew his sister too well. Raynee
smiled gently, turning back towards the large bedroom, "She's
with the nanny." "I see," he replied, nodding
slowly, "Then I will just leave her present with you."
Morpheus laid the present along the bed as he followed Raynee
inside the room, looking around once more. "What's
that?" Raynee asked, noticing the bottle of scotch
that Morpheus carried in his hand. Morpheus smiled broadly,
holding the bottle higher so that she could better view
it, "This is a present for the wedding." "For
Epic or Ana? You know he's an alcoholic," she replied,
arching a brow. "No, for me." Raynee rolled her
eyes at her brother, turning towards the vanity. "What?!
You know I need something to get me through that disaster!"
he defended himself, laying the bottle on the antique dresser.
Raynee smiled as she leaned against the vanity, "Thanks
for coming, Morph." Morpheus nodded, returning her
smirk slightly, "Yea..thank me by not making me say
anything meaningful to those two." "It's a deal."
His hands thrust into
his pockets as he stood in the doorway, her eyes searching
him with confusion and sadness. Loeki swept a hand through
his raven hair, his eyes staring down at the wooden planks
that completed the sweeping porch. "So, what are you
saying to me, Loeki?" He looked up finally, his eyes
gazing along her weary face before he spoke, "I'm telling
you that this is completely over. Raynee is going take Anna
away from me." Ana looked away, her heart bursting
inside of her chest as each word reached his lips. "Did
she tell you that or are you making an assumption?"
"She didn't have to, Ana, I know her too well. She's
been very distant and has spent more time with that construction
crew than with me. Also, I found her luggage packed along
with some of Anna's things." "Does she know that
you've found those things?" Ana asked, leaning against
the doorframe. "No, and she won't leave if I can stop
her," he replied, a cigarette hanging between his pale
lips as he searched for a lighter, "If she takes my
daughter away now, I will never be allowed to be a part
of her life." "You don't know that," Ana
said, her voice quivering slightly. Loeki stared at her
a moment, looking down briefly as he cupped his hand over
the lighter's golden flame and lit his cigarette. "I
do know that, Ana. All that matters to me is my daughter
and not you or anyone else will ever come between us."
Jealousy and anger flared behind her emerald eyes, her fists
began to clench and unclench at her sides as she tried to
remain calm. "I wasn't trying to come between you and
your child, Loeki. I don't know what gave you that idea."
"Ana..." he began, the smoke rolling slowly from
his lips as he spoke, "This hurts me as much as it
hurts you, but it's the only way." "Right...it's
the only way Raynee gets her way," she replied bitterly,
trying to hide the pain in her voice. Loeki arched a brow,
staring at her with slight confusion, "You're really
taken by this, aren't you?"
"Why would I be?
Like you said, it was only an affair, nothing more."
Loeki nodded slowly, not wanting to push the issue further
with her. He turned and began slowly away from the house,
wishing to look back at Ana, but restraining himself. Ana
watched as he disappeared into the darkness of the road,
her eyes welling with heavy tears that burned upon their
descent along her pale cheeks. Wiping a shaky hand along
her face, she turned and walked back inside the house, closing
the door softly.
Darvian dropped her
luggage inside the grand mansion along the harbor, her body
showing signs of jet lag as she flopped into a soft chair.
She ran a hand along her forehead, her legs crossing over
each other as she pulled them closer to her. Her long blonde
hair had been dyed jet black, her emerald eyes lined with
heavy black eyeliner. Her clothes resembled those of the
new Goth. scene, black demonia boots laced up to her knees.
Eilian stood before his adopted sister, looking at her for
a moment before speaking softly, "You know we would
not have come if mother didn't need you." Darvian glanced
up now, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. "She always
needs something or someone, what makes this time any different?"
Her silver nose ring sparkled in the soft light of the room
as a hand combed through her long hair. "It's different
because what she is doing could be the end of us all,"
he replied, kneeling before her. She rolled her eyes, sighing
heavily before sinking back into the chair, "What is
it that I am supposed to do? And what do I tell Auryn about
my disappearance?" "Auryn has already been told,"
he replied, standing once again and taking a seat on the
couch, "His mother sent word to him before we left."
"He talked to Raynee and didn't tell me?!" her
anger seemed to rise, knowing how she and Auryn had been
wronged by his mother, even her own, at one point in time.
"All I need you
to do Darvian is to talk to mother...tell her that she needs
to calm her vendetta against Ana or she'll get us all killed."
Darvian stared at Eilian a long moment, biting her tongue
ring as she considered his plan. "And just what do
I tell Keeria? Do I just pretend that she didn't send me
away to that school and act like I am so concerned about
her?" "How about you be less cynical and do what
Alucard asks you to do? Then, you can go back to your little
boyfriend and your pathetic life where no one will bother
you." "You're such a loser, Eilian," she
snapped, lighting a cigarette between dark crimson lips,
"You do whatever Alucard tells you to do, yet he's
not even really your father." "Yes Darvian, I
am aware of that fact. Now, will you be helping us or did
we just waste a nine hour flight?" "I'll help
you, but it had better be worth my time," she replied
coldly. Eilian sighed, leaning back onto the couch as his
hands clasped together in thought. "Alucard will pay
you well, so don't worry about it." Darvian smiled
slowly, the smoke rolling gently from her nose as she spoke,
"That's what I always like to hear. Art school doesn't
pay for itself, you know." "And you don't pay
for it either, Alucard does," Eilian began, his temper
beginning to flare, "So as for him not being my father,
I think he does a damn good job. Besides, who are you to
speak of fathers? Yours is an alcoholic German with a vendetta
against the world. I would watch what I say if I were you
Darvian, considering you are the bastard child of a true
bastard." Darvian's eyes narrowed, her lips pursing
in anger as she fought back the urge to attack Eilian where
he sat. She hated the mention of Epic, his very name sent
shivers of hate along her spine. She hated her mother for
lusting after him for what he had done to them both, turning
his back on his own child since she had been born. Now,
she would have a new step mother. How could Ana do that
to her? She pondered quietly, not caring that Eilian had
become concerned with her silence.
Ana was her mother's
cousin, how could she just take what her mother worked to
create, how could she take away from the child the two shared.
"Heartless bitch," she muttered aloud, Eilian
raising an eyebrow as she spoke. She turned to look at him
a moment, turning her gaze away finally as she stared at
the smoldering end of the cigarette perched between two
slender fingers. Eilian shook his head slowly, not bothering
to ask who she had been so angry at in her mind. He watched
as Darvian finished the cigarette, standing and stretching
her long arms over her head. She was smaller in stature
than her mother or father, but resembled each in a way.
She spoke nothing to him as she climbed the stairs to her
old bedroom, collapsing face down on the bed to sleep off
the long flight.
Loeki stared at her
through the darkened shadows of the room as she slept, her
blue eyes resting for another night. His fingertips trailed
along the silk of the deep violet bassinet slip, his knees
bending as his body came to rest beside her cradle. He rocked
Anna gently back and forth, not wanting to wake her from
the peaceful slumber she seemed to enjoy so much. A soft
lullaby from long ago hummed from his throat, his eyes searching
his daughter's features for another moment. Thoughts of
taking her raced through his mind, his senses filled with
her scent. Raynee stood inside the doorway, watching the
two carefully before speaking to Loeki, "I thought
you had gone out for the night." He did not look at
her, his eyes remaining focused on his daughter. "I
did, but now I am home." She nodded slowly as she turned
to exit the room. Loeki stood from Anna's bedside and followed
her into the hallway, closing the door slightly behind him
as he cleared his voice to speak. "Raynee..."
he began, seeming to lose his words amidst the sentence,
"It's just us now."
His speech was simple,
giving her the direct response to the quiet, burning questions
she had harbored inside for so long. She studied him slowly,
feeling the loss emanating from his eyes as he turned his
gaze away from her. She knew he felt a sense of duty now,
his heart belonging to his child rather than his own selfish
needs. But, it was not good enough for her anymore. Raynee
turned away from him, beginning her journey away from Loeki
slowly as he stared at her in amazement. Raynee stopped
just above the staircase, her hand resting on the mahogany
rail as her head turned slightly. "Just us now?"
she asked, her long, crimson ponytail falling gently down
her back. Loeki nodded as he stepped towards her, his navy
eyes holding a sad truthfulness to them, "Yes...just
you and I now." She let her own gaze drift to the floor,
feeling a wave of shame crash along her body as she realized
nothing had been for her. She turned away, slowly descending
the staircase into the sitting room. All was dark. The silence
drove her deeper into her depression, the soft flickering
of the candles not comforting her this night. Grabbing her
coat from the rack nearest the door, she tied the leather
belt tightly around her slender waist as she pulled the
door open quickly. Cool fall air rushed past her, the night
seemingly black from the crescent moon. As Raynee descended
the porch, she watched as a shadowed figure advanced upon
her. "Out for a stroll?" he asked, his smile giving
him away as he approached. "Chupa," Raynee smirked,
stopping to gaze upon him for a moment, "What brings
you here? Aren't you afraid of being seen by Ana?"
"Ana?" he smirked, lighting a cigarette as he
spoke, "No...she's at home tending to the broken heart
your husband just served her. What about you? Aren't you
afraid that the master of this house will find you out and
go into a rage?" She chuckled lightly, finding his
question more amusing than intrusive.
"I do not fear
Loeki. In fact, he watches us now. I am, however, curious
to know what has brought you here? If you are so pleased
about Ana's new heartache, then why not rub salt in the
wound?" Chupa smirked, crossing one arm over his chest,
"Because Liebe, that would ruin the plan, wouldn't
it? Besides, I have come to give you a little reward for
being such a good sport in all of this." Raynee arched
a brow as he pulled something from his pocket. She stared
at the small, black velvet box that lay in his outstretched
hand, waiting for her to take the gift readily. Removing
it slowly, she opened it and looked at the contents, then
to Chupa with a surprised expression. "Like it?"
he asked, exhaling smoke into the wind, "I thought
you could wear it instead of that shameful thing you call
a wedding ring." "You expect me to just put this...what
is this?" "A black diamond and might I add, very
rare." "Ok, put on this black diamond that you
somehow managed to come across and walk around town like
nothing is going on? What will I tell Loeki when he asks
why I am not wearing my wedding ring?" she asked hurriedly,
almost shocked at his reaction to the situation. "Tell
him that you deserve better than what he steals for you,
so you have spoiled yourself a little. It's that simple,"
he replied. Raynee shook her head, closing the box quickly,
"Nothing is simple, Chupa. You should know that better
than any of us." Chupa shrugged slowly, looking at
the land that surrounded them as he spoke, "Then sell
it. I'm sure you could use more money to add to the already
monstrous pile in your possession. I was merely offering
a gift, it is yours now to do as you please with it."
Raynee shook her head gently, pushing past him as she continued
towards her car. "Give me my money for the job Chupa,
and we'll be just fine," she called back to him, climbing
inside the new BMW. Chupa smirked, waving her off as she
sped down the driveway.
"Yea...you'll
get your money when I get my wife," he muttered to
himself, exiting the grounds.
The days drifted past,
the church grounds becoming complete as the wedding approached.
Anallee stood inside the new, smaller structure as she contemplated
her dress in the mirror. The black satin material of the
corset hugged her chest tightly, the flowing crimson and
black bottom falling past her feet into a long train. She
sighed heavily, twisting a long piece of her jaw length
bangs around a slender finger. Her dark lined make up illuminated
her bright emerald eyes as they peered back at her from
the reflection. Black gloved hands traveled around Ana's
neck, fastening the Victorian ruby choker into place. Raynee's
chin rested gently on Ana's shoulder, her pale eyes lined
with equally dark make-up as she stared at their reflections.
"You look beautiful," she remarked, trying to
kill the tension that had risen so heavily throughout the
day. "I feel like a nightmare," Ana replied, turning
away from the mirror and grabbing a glass of wine from the
small table. Raynee turned to face her, patting her gently
on the back. "You look fine and you're just nervous.
I know I was the first time I got married." Ana choked
suddenly, wiping a gloved hand across her chin as she turned
to face Raynee. "Yes....first marriages....they're
always rough, right?" she asked shakily, trying not
to show the guilt that spread across her pale face. "Yes,
but you'll be fine. Epic will be good to you. I mean, look
what he's done so far," she answered, waving her hands
around the room. Ana nodded, sitting the glass back down
as her hands began to wring each other nervously. "Right...everything
will be fine and this will go fine..." her words seemed
to fall forcefully from her lips, her mind trying to trick
her heart as she spoke them. "I need to check on the
guests, will you be ok?" Raynee asked, pushing open
the door as she stepped into the hallway.
Ana nodded, watching
the door close quietly. Her eyes closed tightly, her hand
clenching into fists, "Why did I agree to this?! Why
why why?!" she yelled, stomping a little as she spoke,
"I'm going to get up there and pretend to be so madly
in love with him when I am already married and if I'm not
going completely crazy with these voices and visions, then
I will have a lot of explaining to do!" Raynee pulled
away from the door with a smile, her eyes lighting up as
she began down the hallway. "Is she almost ready?"
Loeki asked, joining his wife as she walked. "Soon
enough. You can't rush these things," she replied,
not bothering to look at him. He felt her resistance to
his presence, knowing she was still angry with him. "We
did," he spoke, watching as she stopped and finally
looked upon him. "We did because I had been married
twice already and you were to eager to get ahold of my money.
Now, how many have arrived?" Her tone shocked him,
his head shaking slowly as he brought himself around to
answering, "Quite a few, which is why I asked."
"Then go get them settled and the service will begin
soon," she stated, looking around as she toyed with
the ring Chupa had given her. Loeki nodded slowly, grabbing
her arm gently as he brushed past her, pulling her into
a long kiss. "I love you," his statement came
almost as a plea, his eyes lingering on her for a moment
before departing through the black doors into the service
hall. Raynee smoothed her hands along the front of the black
satin dress that hugged her small frame, watching the doors
nervously.
Ana startled as a knock
rapped gently along the hard wood of the dressing room door.
She called the visitor inside, her back still turned as
she went through her plan silently. "I brought you
a gift," the Russian accent rang softly into the room,
Ana turning quickly to see Keeria standing before her.
She noticed her attire
was formal, something she had never seen her cousin wear.
The see through dress hugged her slender body, the intricate
black scrolls spiraled along the material to cover what
wasn't to be seen. "Nice outfit," she replied
bitterly, turning once more to grab another glass of wine.
"Thank you. Alucard insisted I become less barbaric
as he calls it, at least for one night." Ana nodded,
drinking the liquor down quickly and sitting the glass back
onto the table. "So, you've brought me a gift. Is it
poison?" Keeria smiled, shaking her head slightly as
she stepped further into the room, "No...I would not
waste perfectly good poison when this whole wedding will
become it's own disaster." Ana rolled her eyes and
grabbed the bracelet from the dresser, clasping it around
her wrist as she took a final glance in the mirror. "Ok
Keeria," she began, turning to look at her cousin once
more, "What is my gift?" Keeria smiled pleasantly,
holding out the long box with an elegant ribbon tied around
it. Ana took the box, slowly opening it and glancing to
Keeria as she viewed the contents. "A dagger?"
she asked rudely, finding the gift to be more of a joke.
"Yes, a dagger. I give this to you so that you may
do us all a favor and use it on yourself once your lies
have caught up with you." "Nice....I think I will
save this for when you try to steal my husband again."
Keeria frowned, not finding Ana a bit funny. Grabbing her
cousin quickly, she wrapped an arm around the back of her
neck, holding Ana tightly against her as she whispered.
"Goodbye forever, bitch." Spoken silently in Russian,
yet Ana understood it perfectly. She flinched slightly,
pushing away from Keeria as she noticed the wicked smile
that had began to form on her dark lips. Keeria turned and
exited the room quickly, leaving her cousin to ponder the
message she had been given.
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