They headed down the elevator and walked straight out of the hotel, as they went past the lobby they got a lot of appreciative glances because they made a very pretty couple and the contrasts in their sizes and completions made them look even more attractive together as they both complemented each other's good looks.
Nova was glad that Caden had declined the use of a car to get them to the chapel, it was nice to be outside with the bright neon lights and people excited to spend time at the slots. She said a quiet prayer of thanks for her choice in shoes, they were comfortable and hopefully the chapel was not too far away.
Fortunately for her the Chapel soon appeared and when they got inside it was to an array of plastic flowers while even though pretty looked cheap. While they waited at the reception for someone to attend to them a voluptuous woman with long brassy blonde hair wearing a body suit that displayed her well augmented breasts to all their glory came into the room and walked towards them with a plastic smile.
She looked coyly at Caden while entirely ignoring Nova and Nova felt some satisfaction when the woman raised a hand to shake him and he totally ignored her. The action did nothing to dissuade her however as she looked him up and down like she wanted to take him into one of the rooms and have her way with him while Nova stared daggers at her, irritated at how the woman was staring at her husband to be in a covetous manner.
"Mr Knox?" she asked and when he nodded she clasped both hands together and the action pushed her already high breasts even higher and more in their faces.
"Right on time, I see someone is eager to get married. Come this way with me." She turned and headed out of the room, swaying her hips seductively.
They followed her into the inner room which was the chapel and walked down the aisle to the altar where an Elvis Presley impersonator stood waiting. They stood before him and he began the ceremony while Nova felt sadness at the fact that she was getting married and the only people who were witnessing was an old man with a sagging gut rocking rhinestone encrusted cleavage and a woman who wanted her husband.
She thought of how joyful it would have been if only she had her father her, She looked up at Caden when it was time to exchange rings and he brought out a simple gold band which he slipped gently unto her finger then her pulled out a larger ring and she had to do the same with him.
"I pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride." The Elvis impersonator declared and Nova raised her eyes hesitantly and expectantly, Caden studied her face then shook his head slightly.
That was a little too much for him, he took a whole plane ride here, that was enough testing his boundaries. He still had a year to win her love, maybe he could try kissing her some other time.
Nova's heart stung and she felt even worse when the woman snickered quietly but not too quietly that she could not hear her.
It was ridiculous that she was sulking, she should be happy with the fact that Caden did not even want to kiss her but her ego was hurt, was she that unappealing to him or did he really have no interest in being with anyone? At least she could be consoled by the fact that he was not paying that hussy any attention.
They went into the office and signed their marriage certificate and were ushered out. They left the chapel just as more couples were arriving, they looked in love and happy making Nova turn away from their happiness. When they got outside they started to walk back to their hotel when Caden stopped abruptly and Nova stopped also and looked up at him inquiringly as she wondered why he had stopped so suddenly.
"Our certificate." He said.
"Certificate?" her eyes were wide and bewildered.
"The certificate that proves that we indeed are a married couple." He explained sardonically and she nodded. In their hurry to leave they had forgotten to take the marriage certificate.
She turned in order to go back but Caden held her arm, effectively stopping her from going forward.
She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow and he released her. "I will go and get it, I figure your shoes must be pinching already." He said and left her while he headed back the way they had come.
As she stood waiting she was suddenly startled by the sound of bushes rusting and when she turned in the direction of the sound she saw a woman dropping a cigarette on the ground and crushing it with her heel. The woman seemed to feel eyes on her and she looked up and shone her even white teeth in a smile.
"I am Madam Avet, fortune teller." The woman had a creole accent.
Nova glanced at the direction the woman nodded towards her back where a tent stood with a sign that read "Madam Avet will tell you all about your future."
"Erm, no thank you." Nova said but was unable to tear her eyes away.
She was very doubtful of people who claimed to be psychic, sure her father believed in magic and all of that but she took everything he said with a pinch of salt. If she had all this power she claimed to have then why was she sitting by the roadside looking for customers?
She continued staring at the woman with her beautiful toffee coloured skin, little gold hoops and purple headwrap as she lit another cigarette then blew out smoke, her fingers were laden with rings with different crystals. She cocked her head to the side as she looked back at Nova and her smile faded and the light in her eyes dimmed as they glazed over.
"You don't even know who you are, beware what lies within so it does not rise and become ruler." The woman said in an eerie tone of voice.
Nova felt a chill run through her body and she hugged herself, quickly looked away from the woman and walked away from her. She decided that she would just go back to the hotel, Caden would meet here back there, she felt too uncomfortable standing around here.
As she walked away she thought about the woman's cryptic words. Just like these scammers to try to use vague cryptic sentences to try to lure people into giving them money for their false prophecies. Well, she was not going to be fooled, not today.
She was so distracted by her thoughts that she did not hear footsteps behind her and did not realize that she was being followed until she heard drunken singing.
"Here comes the bride all dressed in pink…"