chapter two: wedded
Angelina felt herself running through the woods, all the trees in the woods had no leaves, the ground beneath her was clothed with ash and bones. She was running from something, what it was, she didn't know. Soon, she reached a dead end, her breathing became heavy as she felt strong energy sweep her off the ground. "Ahh!" She screamed back to life, her hand on her chest, feeling her heart beat. Surprise washed over her as she took in her surroundings. This was her room, how was she back here when she was leagues away from Arcadia yesterday.
Last night's events rushed into her mind -- her escape, the shrekens' attack, and the strange bite. Thinking back to the bite, her hand moved swiftly to the spot on her neck, but it seemed normal. She was sure she'd been bitten there, but it looked just normal.
"Awake?" Her father's cold voice pierced her thoughts. "You're lucky the scouts found you before the shrekens did," he added, but she was too confused to reply.
"How am I back here?" She asked.
"You were found in the woods, unconscious!" He said, but she couldn't even make out whatever he was saying.
"Midnight?" She asked, the poor horse must have been scared.
"In the stables. She just arrived this morning," he said, "Were you planning to ditch your groom?" His rage rising.
"You still want me to marry that ugly freak!" She sat up, leaning her head on the headboard.
"The divine creator made no one ugly, Lina," he said, his gaze comforting and a bit frustrated. "We must ensure peace within the realm."
"At what cost, Father? My happiness!" She retorted.
"Can't you see that they want me to marry Ramiel because I'm a product of two archangels. Did you really not know or are you avoiding the truth?" She said, facing him intently.
"They think I have a power that I myself don't know about. Why didn't you tell them? That I'm a late bloomer," she said, her last sentence wet from sadness.
Normally, all angels would experience their powers at age 18, but she was already 22 and still, she'd experienced nothing.
"Your powers will manifest... someday," She could sense uncertainty in his voice.
"Get dressed; you had us all worried," he said before leaving.
Angelina watched as her father left.
"Are all angels this clueless?" She sighed.
She tossed the duvet as she walked towards the dressing mirror. She looked at herself for a while, purple eyes, thin lips, black hair, tiny chin, and delicate jawline; she really was a beauty. A beauty soon to be possessed.
Tilting her head over to the side, she stared at the bitten spot on her neck. There were only two tiny dots surrounded by pale and purple skin, barely visible to the eye.
"What did Garrett tell me about these marks?" She tried to remember but couldn't.
What was that thing, she wondered?
Not wanting to think too much, she swept it off her mind, only grateful for her and Midnight's safety.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," She said, leaving the mirror to sit on the bed.
"Linnie," She heard a familiar voice.
"Seraphina!" She stood up abruptly as Sera pulled her in for a hug.
"Where did you go, Linnie? You had me worried," She said.
"What are you doing in Arcadia?" Angelina asked, pulling away from the hug.
Seraphina and her family had moved to Elyria, one of the states under Arcadia, two years ago.
"My family and I left Elyria two days ago; your father invited us for your wedding," She explained.
"What! Is he really going to make the whole realm watch me marry a beast? Are the other states here too?!" She asked, taking her seat on the bed.
"We must do what's best for the whole realm, Linnie," Sera sighed.
"A marriage pact between both races will foster unity and growth," She added.
"That's my father talking," Angelina rolled her eyes.
"But you don't want me to, right?" She asked Sera.
"Linnie," She sighed, "We don't get to choose. Duty to the realm comes first," She said.
"I'd rather marry the devil and rot in hell," She spat.
"Shut up," Sera closed Angelina's mouth with her hands.
"No one should hear you say such things. Do you want to end up a fallen angel?!" She scolded.
"And besides, whether it's the devil or the ogre, they're both ugly," She added.
Seeing Sera wasn't going to support her, she sighed, lost in thoughts.
...Meanwhile, in the depths of the cave, a skeleton lay on the ground, his flesh reappearing little by little. He had gotten enough blood from Angelina earlier. After about an hour of enduring excruciating pain, he stood up, feeling his warm skin again as he took in a deep breath, one he hadn't taken in so long.
He frowned as he dragged in air again, the air had something else in it, a woman's fragrance. His eyes scanned the cave, looking for the woman he drew blood from, but she was absent.
His gaze landed on the broken chains that had once kept him locked, preventing his soul from escaping to the underworld.
He walked out of the cave, retreating just as quickly as the sun shone on him. He shut his eyes and opened them repeatedly before he could adjust.
Walking out of her room, Angelina walked through the red-carpeted hallways. She headed towards her mother's chambers.
"Is she in?" She asked the guards stationed at the door.
"Good morning, Princess, Archangel Ariel is still asleep," said one of the guards.
Angelina nodded; it seemed her mother had no idea about her escape.
Walking out of the castle, she spotted her brother Raphael training in the arena. She only shot him a glance before walking towards Physician Garrett's place.
She walked down the flower-adorned road, making her stop at a large house.
"Angelina," she heard Garrett's happy voice.
"Uncle Garrett," she smiled at him.
Garrett was wearing his usual white robe and his moon pendant. He was a therian, werewolf to be precise. Garrett was like an uncle to her.
Being a late bloomer, Angelina always felt out of place amongst her people. It was often said that late bloomers become fallen angels. That thought always had her scared.
But, thankfully, Garrett offered to teach her medicine and a few spells, so she wasn't totally useless.
"Where have you been all these days?" He asked with a worried expression.
"Being royalty comes with its own issues," she said.
"Heard you ran away last night. You're lucky those angel eaters didn't find you before the scouts," he sat down.
"Well, they did," Angelina smiled.
"How could you have survived attacks from shrekens?!" He asked, confusion and shock woven around his expression.
"I opened a portal," she said proudly.
Garrett laughed, "Is that a joke? You... open a portal".
"Well... believe it or not, I did open a portal; I had no other choice," she said.
"It's good to see you improve," he smiled.
"What do you plan to do now? You can't possibly marry an ogre," he said, putting on a serious expression while adjusting his glasses.
Angelina's smile went upside down.
"Don't worry, dear, if he's too ugly, I'll give you a potion that'll make him charming," he reassured, making her chuckle.
Angelina helped heal patients before leaving, totally exhausted. To heal someone, she had to transfer their pain into her body, then crush them with her happy memories; it always left her exhausted.
She stared at the sun, which was almost down, signaling the day's closure. Tomorrow was only a few hours ahead.
She felt sick as she remembered tomorrow was the day she would marry the ogre.
She couldn't sleep all night, only staring at the starless stars.
"Dear moon goddess, I'm not a werewolf, but Uncle Garrett says you always answer prayers. Please let a miracle happen tomorrow," she said, drifting to sleep just before dawn.
"Wake up, Angelina," she heard her mother, Ariel's, voice and felt her flip over the duvet.
"I've never heard of a bride sleeping in on her wedding day," she said.
"I don't want to marry that beast," Angelina opened her eyes, meeting her mother's gaze.
"No one was made ugly, Lina," she said.
"Just like Dad," she rolled her eyes, swinging her legs off the bed.
"You have to do this, Angelina; you have to maintain peace within the realm," she said.
A knock was heard on the door, followed by Sera's entry.
"I...I'm sorry. I didn't know Archangel Ariel was here; forgive me, your highness," she bowed.
"It's okay; I was about to leave," Ariel's gaze fell on the wedding gown Sera was holding.
She stood up, gave a warm smile, then left.
Seraphina laid the wedding gown on the bed.
"What kind of fate is this?" she sighed.
"We all have to make sacrifices," Sera sat beside her.
Placing her palm on the back of Angelina's hand.
Angelina stared at Sera, wondering why she was always so calm.
Sera's fate was worse than hers. She always got bullied by her two sisters for being a late bloomer, just like Angelina.
Unable to contain, she asked, "How do you adapt to all situations?"
Sera was never the type to argue.
"I...don't know," she stammered.
"I'm getting married now; I'll be leaving the realm behind. You have to be strong and stand up to your sisters," she said, looking into Sera's eyes.
Seraphina could only look down at her sweaty palms, lost in thought.
No matter how much her sisters punished her, she never fought. Only Angelina would pick up fights with them; she'd end up losing anyway, as her sisters used their powers to their advantage.
"I'll give them a warning before I leave," Angelina said.
"No, it's okay, Linnie," Sera said, raising her head.
"You should get ready; they're all waiting," she said.
Angelina could see her held-back tears.
After being thoroughly washed by the maids, her skin was smooth like jade. The wedding gown was beautiful; she was sure Michael had picked it himself.
It was a white off-the-shoulder gown reaching just above her knees, with tiny angel wings embroidered around it.
She looked quite beautiful in the gown, her hair in a ponytail, adorned with golden flowers.
She looked in the mirror, satisfied with her looks.
If only he wasn't an ogre, she wondered.
A servant whispered in her ear, "It's time."
She nodded, following the maids outside.
In the hallway, she was met by Celeste's and Uriela's mocking smiles.
"Oh! If it isn't the ogre's bride," Celeste laughed.
Angelina always wondered why this duo weren't considered fallen angels yet; they were so cruel and deserved to rot in hell.
She faked a smile, "Please, Celeste, everyone's waiting."
"What? Eager to leave so soon?" said Uriela, walking towards her.
"You've always protected Sera from us, but who'll protect you now?" she said before leaving with the laughing Celeste, her laughter echoing in the hallway.
"What a waste of beauty," she heard them say.
Angelina boiled over, but she couldn't afford to ruin this day.
She would marry this ogre, endure the embarrassment, and then run away the first chance she got, never coming back.
Micheal was already at the door.
"What took you so long?" he said, extending his arm, which she took.
The doors halls opened, filled with people cheering on as Micheal led her in, hand in hand.
She'd always imagined this scene, but she never pictured her groom an ogre.
Her eyes landed on the mocking smiles of Celeste and Uriela, pitiful gazes of Garrett and seraphina, to the complex expression of Ariel and Raphael.
...her eyes fell on the ogre, Ramiel. He looked human, but his features repulsed her. His nose was flat, and his ears were slightly pointed. He had thick, black eyebrows and piercing red eyes.
As she approached him, she felt a chill run down her spine.
The priest began the ceremony, and Angelina's heart sank.
"Just as we gather here today to unite Angelina and Ramiel in holy matrimony, is there anyone opposed to this union?" the priest asked.
The hall fell silent.
Just as the priest was about to continue, the doors to the hall were kicked open,a voice echoed through the hall.
"I am in opposition."
Angelina turned, jaw dropped, as a handsome stranger stood tall. He had dark eyes,sharp jawline,doe eyes ,thin lips and perfectly shaped eyebrows. He was...breath taking .
Gasps filled the hall.
Angelina's heart skipped a beat.