Classical music filled the air as the waiters rushed around keeping calm composure, tending to the guests. The people seemed cheery in their seats enjoying the gossip along with their food. All the guests attending the wedding were placed in the main hall of the Palace after the ceremony was done in the ballroom. There was music, dancing and food, an entertaining environment for the people.
The occasion seemed light and cheery but deep within everyone was a tension. They were all enemies who had fought for years in war and now sitting on same tables pretending to be friends and fake laughing at each others jokes. The venom inside their hearts was never addressed and it was possible at any moment someone would say something and the cheery environment would turn into a sour one.
"This is stupid." Clarissa softly whispered as Agathon lightly chuckled.
"This is your people's tradition." He replied in a low voice.
They both were sitting on a stage with sheer white fabrics used as veil between them and the rest of the room from all sides.
"Well, it is a stupid tradition." She rolled her eyes as she leaned back in her seat.
"Traditions are not stupid, Rissa. They're there for a reason."
"Reason? What's the reason behind us just sitting behind a veil everyone can see us through?" She asked, looking around the hall.
Agathon lightly shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, maybe it is so we can tell who is badmouthing the groom or the bride. For example your friends sitting at your 3' o clock…" Agathon said as Clarissa turned her attention to the three well dressed women sitting across them.
They were Clarissa's childhood friends, Michelle, Lacey and Ciara. Clarissa hadn't been in contact with them since the war started, they eventually fell apart from her and stopped being involved in her life, but since they were the only friends she had who were not a part of the army, she had to invite them for her wedding. To her surprise they actually showed, of course they did… it was a royal wedding and being a part of it was supposedly the highest honor.
"What are they saying?" Clarissa asked in a soft whisper, keeping her attention to the girls.
"They're mostly badmouthing me." He said with keen observation towards Clarissa. "... and they feel sorry for you." He said and she could feel her breathing stop for a split second.
"Is there a way I can hear what they're saying?" She asked.
"Look at me." His voice was gentle as he said that, Clarissa turned her attention to him and he softly smiled at her as the red in his eyes glistened with kindness. "Do you really care what they think?" He asked.
She looked confused. Did she care ? Of course she did, being a warrior with exceptional skills who has won many territories for her people, Clarissa still felt insecurities creep up in her skin just like anybody else. They felt sorry for her, she didn't like that. She had made a decision on her own and no one was allowed to feel sorry for her. No one had the right to feel pity towards her. She's going to be the next Alpha. She doesn't need the pity of her pack.
"Rissa, you okay?" She was pulled out of her thoughts as Agathon touched her hand, out of reflex she pulled her hand away.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Well, the good thing is no one can hear us through this veil, it has a barrier." Agathon said and she looked at him in confusion.
"Is that a tradition too?" She asked.
He lightly chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's not. I made sure the barrier was created."
"Why?" She asked and he lightly shrugged.
"I don't trust anyone outside of this veil." He replied and her eyes widened in a bit of surprise but before she could say anything they were interrupted by Guilia.
"It's time for the first groom-bride dance." She said as she entered the veil. Agathon smiled and nodded as he stood up, he held his hand towards Clarissa.
"It's a stupid tradition but we have to do this." He said and Clarissa let out a sigh as she took his hand.
"It's not stupid." Guilia said as she walked away from them.
Agathon leaned in closer to her ear and softly whispered something, she turned quickly to look up at him.
"You remembered that?" She asked and he smiled.
"Trust me, anything from that time is unforgettable." He said as he stepped forward leading her out of the veil, stepping down the stage.
The area was cleared out for them when they stepped forward together. Clarissa stepped in front of him keeping an eye contact with him as the band softly started with violin.
He held her by the waist and pulled her closer to him, keeping a good distance of a few inches. She put her one hand on his shoulder and the other on his hand. They both started to sway with the rhythm, slowly and gracefully. Agathon gave her a soft smile as he pulled away from her and spun her beautifully. He pulled her back into his arms.
Just then the music was interrupted as the howls from outside the castle started to screech everyone's ears. Agathon and Clarissa looked at each other as they exchanged knowing looks. There was a disruption among the public, it was bound to happen since the public consisted of vampires and werewolves. There was no way that enemies of centuries would behave in a friendly manner.
Clarissa turned to look at Sandro as he walked towards them. "Guards can handle the situation. Ainar will lead you to safety." Sandro gestured to the head guard of the Dominik castle as he stepped forward and gestured for Agathon and Clarissa to follow him. Clarissa held Agathon's hand and he hesitantly followed her.
I have to go out. Agathon said telepathically to her and Clarissa nodded.
She knew Agathon would not stand by when a repercussion like this would happen. The goal of Azurus and even this marriage was to create harmony among werewolves and vampires. If some sort of disruption among these groups was going to happen for Agathon to stand back was just wasting all the efforts he was putting into this dream.
"Ainar." Clarissa stopped him and he turned. "We're going outside." She said and Ainar paused as he looked in between the both of them. "I know you have orders from my fathe-"
"Go." Ainar said as he gestured towards the stairs going down. "I believe you know your way around the castle."
"Seriously?" Clarissa paused in shock.
"You both are married and your marriage was going to bestow you leadership on both sides. I believe both of you should deal with the situation. I can see it in Prince's eyes, he did not take this step so I can lure him to a safe house and protect him. Werewolves or vampires, those are your and his people outside. Go." Ainar stepped out of their way as Agathon and Clarissa both rushed down the stairs.
The howls and growls were increasing with each step they took. They knew things were getting out of hand. Both sides were aggravated. Their blood was boiling, centuries of hate was not going to dissolve because of a treaty or a marriage.
Agathon was faster than Clarissa, of course the movement of a wolf was nothing compared to a hell demon. Her speed also slowed down because of the heels and the huge dress she was wearing. Clarissa stopped in her tracks, kicked off the heels and tore her dress at her knees using her claws. Her heart was torn along with the dress because it belonged to her dead mother but right now her sentiments were of no importance, her people came first, her father had made that very clear to her. By the time Clarissa reached the crowd the crowd was hushed. All eyes were on one spectacle. A spectacle that she never thought she would see. Agathon's demonic hand cutting through the throat of a vampire. His hand seemed like it was infected with some sort of black soot, the size of it was also abnormal. It was longer and bigger than normal. He stood there with his eyes dissolving in crimson. In a normal state his eyes' iris would be red but in his demonic form the iris of his eyes would turn black and the white of his eyes would dissolve in crimson.
Clarissa had seen this form of his in war. Usually this form did not come out unless he was enraged. From the information Clarissa had learned at school was that each vampire was a human whose soul coexisted with a demon. The demon had its own name, its own consciousness and at times it had its own life. Vampires usually kept the demon in because there always was a threat that the demon would take over the human soul. It was always a gamble to let the demon out.
"Agathon!" Clarissa called out even though she knew it was not Agathon standing in front of her. She had met Agathon's demon once during the war but she never learned his name. His eyes darted towards Clarissa and then to the vampire who was still hanging with his throat pierced around his hand. "No one." He said in a low voice. "Badmouths my bride."
"Kavi!" Guiellia shouted the demon's name as she looked down at the spectacle from the balcony. "Release him, now!"
"He should be punished." Kavi said as he looked at him squirming, trying to escape.
Clarissa stepped towards him softly as he turned to look at her. "Kavi…" She softly said. "Let him go." She said carefully threading near him. "Whatever he did I will make sure he gets punished."
"If I don't punish him. They all will do it." He said, gesturing towards the public surrounding them. "They will disrespect you, they will insult you. He has to serve as an example."
Clarissa was confused. She did not know why it was his concern? But it was not time to make sense of things. She had to play along, she assessed the situation in her mind and walked further towards him. "Kavi, do you think fear can earn their respect?" She asked.
"Of course. If there is no fear in their hearts, why would they ever obey me?" He replied.
"You're wrong. If they fear you, they would still hold grudges with you and might turn against you. You have to earn their respect through your character, your ability and your strength. Fear is not the answer." She carefully moved closer and held his hand. "You have to trust me." His eyes moved from her hand to her eyes. "Let him go." She asked and he gave her a soft smile.
"Congratulations." Kavi said as he let the vampire go and stepped back. Two guards stepped forward and helped the vampire, who at this point was almost unconscious. His bloodied hand reached out as he held her face. "You have become the alpha." He said as the hazel in her eyes dissolved into a darker shade of red similar to his eyes. "Call for me when you need me." He closed his eyes as Agathon's body fell limp on the ground.
There was complete silence in the crowd. Then everyone started to bow down to her. It was not just werewolves but the vampires too. It seemed surreal that vampires would bow to a werewolf.
"I present to you!" Guiellia shouted from the balcony. "The alpha of Lizvia, the Princess of Alman and the first warrior of Azurus; Clarissa Dominik Aurelia of Azurus!"