Bab 154: 34. I do, I do, I do.
This wedding was something else. After we had eaten our cake, with number two sitting next to me, he coldly moved Adam and Charles further but did not ask any other salvatores to come to my table, but it was just him and me. He was very similar to number one, but he loved me truly.
Now me being a pretender, makes me pretty much a walking lie detector more or less and it is sometimes really annoying, but I can't help it. When number one comes at me, saying to me he loves me, he lies to my face. When he says the same to Mariella, it is the truth. What makes my ability less perfect is that my perception of truth is subjective. What it comes to feelings, meaning in this case, this example, is about love.
It is all connected to my perception of love, what I understand as love, and so when my ability tells me that number one lies when he says he loves me, it is not so black and white. He is an old creature and his version, his perception of love is probably much more open and full of shades than mine. I am pretty inexperienced in what it comes to love.
I have had these three husbands, and these three have pretty much taught me what is love, so I need to remember it. I use it as a kind of excuse not to get upset when I know he lies to me. But then again, as he has been one of those who taught me, love, I do understand that he is not feeling that love for me anymore. My ability tells that to me painfully clearly.
As the music played in the big dance hall, I sat amidst the crowd, the sounds of laughter and conversation filling the air. The aroma of freshly baked cake wafted through the room, tempting my senses. Mariella's jealousy towards number two seemed to intensify, as she demanded his presence by her side.
Just as I was deep in conversation with a few reporters, Charles appeared beside me, his presence calming amidst the chaos. Suddenly, a reporter from the New York Times' wedding special approached, seeking an almost in-depth interview with America's sweetheart - me. Despite my attempts to shed that title, it still clung to me. Charles, being skilled with the press, had always handled these situations for me.
Mariella, now realizing the foolishness of her plans, looked ashamed and desperate to turn things around, but it was too late. Number two had publicly declared his love for Mimi, and the truth had been captured by the press. Mariella, now with number two by her side, caught sight of Mimi sitting at a table, approached by a woman from the press. Sensing the tension, Charles swiftly made his way towards Mimi, his presence causing unease.
Mariella turned to Damon and said, "Damon, look, Mimi is about to be interviewed, and Charles is ready to play the role of her husband again. What about you?"
Number two grunted in response. "I can go."
Mariella clung to him, but Damon calmly stated, "Fine, I am the pack leader, her husband, and she didn't even inform me about the interview. Fine."
He stood up and walked confidently towards Mimi, causing Charles to retreat just as the press woman took her seat at her table.
I was sitting with Charles, who murmured in my ear quite darn dangerously that I needed to keep my mouth shut. He would tell me in my mind what to say if needed. So I was a good girl, as Charles can be dangerous as well. But my surprise got bigger when Number One walked up to us. Charles stood and Damon sat next to me, right when this reporter sat at my table.
Damon said to my mind, "I am still pack leader so it would be really good for me to know if there will be interviews, now be good girl, I tell you what to say, or how much to say but I do the talking."
I was a good girl again. No need to get any flanks.
Damon talked about our pack being like the pride of lions. He talked about our feline forms and our relationships; him being a wizard, energy creature, and whatnot. He did not let me do much talking; he kissed me a few times, called me darlin', and talked a lot about Mariella and his relationship. Then the press lady went away and soon Damon walked away too. I was pretty sure that an in-depth analysis of my life would come again to my face, without Damon being present and trying to sell Mariella. I was a little surprised by that.
I walked around and I was outside, in shadow, when suddenly, Wulfe came to me. He said to me, "Hello my unicorn, you look like a goddess, as always. I have come to tell you again a few things. Listen carefully. For me to do what my heart desires, I need to redeem myself. My deeds in the past require me to intervene whenever I see fit. You might not always see my actions as benevolent, but they have reasons. The future for us will be long, and hard, but I can't be with you until you get a happy ending. What the Bride gave to the groom was more than a mere trinket. It has something to it that clouds the groom. Love is the greatest force in the world and you will get your endgame, but I am not there to witness it. You have guardians with you for a long time, but there comes a time when they can not be with you. Heaven loves you, the creature of love. My unicorn, be well."
Then he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
As always, he had spoken riddles, and I had to try to come up with what on earth he had meant. Somehow I got an idea of him being with me long time, me getting a happy ending, not gonna happen and one thing that struck me was that part of groom and bride. Mariela had given a ring to Damon, meaning had she put something on it, her love, or spell or what clouds the groom, well it remains to see.
As I wandered around, I couldn't help but notice Mariella in her stunning, strapless dress. It hugged her curves and revealed just enough skin to catch anyone's attention. With her hair elegantly pinned up, she exuded an air of confidence. The crowd was filled with people to admire, but my eyes were drawn to Damon. He stood apart, not entwined or wrapped around her like the others.
I, on the other hand, wore a more modest dress, aware that Adam and Charles were prone to jealousy. My dress was not too bad, but it covered me more and as my hair was mostly free, hanging down on my back up to my ass, it was not easy to see my curves.
It had only been an hour since Wulfe had disappeared, and I found myself walking alone. Suddenly, a singer I admired, who happened to be a guest, approached me. He had aged but had clearly undergone rejuvenation treatments over the years. Before I could react, Adam noticed and swiftly came to my side. He guided me away, pressing me against the wall, his sharp nail digging into my side and piercing my heart.
His words echoed in my ears, a painful reminder of my place. "Honey, you belong to me. Remember that, regardless of how well that bloke sings."
His voice was downright dangerous and Adam had gotten more and more possessive over me during the time we had lived together when Mariella had come into our lives, Damon declaring that there was no anymore us, well it had given these two some serious ownership over me. Even though it has been over a decade ago, it still felt and even Adam wanted me to be happy, he was satisfied every time I had troubles with Damon because it meant that he could be with me more. He saw Damon as a threat.
The sharp nail caused excruciating pain, and my heart faltered with arrhythmias. Struggling to maintain composure, I replied, "I belong to you. I won't do anything you don't approve of."
He whispered menacingly, "I know, honey. But remember, next time I'll break this nail and leave it in your heart until I decide to remove it."
The pain was unbearable as he twisted the nail before pulling it out. A whispered spell concealed any evidence of my bleeding, though internally, I had lost a significant amount of blood. And then he simply walked away, leaving me to ponder why Damon, who was even more possessive than Adam or Charles, allowed Mariella to speak to strangers.
Lost in my thoughts, I was abruptly awakened by a deep, dark voice beside me, "I see Hauptman has found his balls, baby," Number two hissed in my ear.
He seized me, giving me a strong flank. My mind pretty much blurred, and we walked together. He swiftly flanked me on both sides.
He spoke directly into my mind, "Hmm, you're right. Wulfe came to see you, speaking in riddles. But, baby, show me everything he said."
I had no choice but to comply, allowing him to witness the visions that Wulfe had shared.
We went to sit, me being almost out cold when he murmured to me, " If you ask me, Mariella would sorely need a few brisk flanks and maybe a massage of her liver. But why is number one so tolerant, interesting? "
He left me to sit as he sauntered closer to see the situation. I was trying not to get pissed off by these surprise flanks, but it seems that my weddings just can't be without flanks, not at all.
I got finally my mind again cleared up, and I saw still Mariella walking with number one, him just talking and not doing anything to Mariella. There were quite a lot of witches in the magic house too but Mariella had several men talking to her and even I could see and as the wind blew in the right direction, I got a whiff of their pheromones, I could smell their lust for Mariella too.
I wanted to test my theory out. My theory was that whatever thing, spell, or other that Mariella had intentionally put in that ring, I did not believe that it was an accident, should keep number one of being jealous of me too. Charles was nearby, and I shared my theory with him. He saw this as an opportunity and went to talk to number two, trying to get him back off from whatever Charles was planning. Number two was less than thrilled, but I guess it worked.
It was time for the bride and groom to dance and, of course, that being Mariella and Damon, they went to the dancefloor and again, some waltz, not sure what started to play. Mariella liked Mozart and classical music and she had also her other songs, very upbeat songs as well, whereas I had a little bit of everything, not hard rock, metal, hip-hop rap, but pop, soft rock, disco, sappy love songs. After that one waltz, Charles went to talk to the band and smiled deceptively as he came at me.
When Shania Twain's From This Moment, started to play, Charles took me to the dance floor and the same time, sang to me. But number one just stood and did not react at all. He just watched. Mariella frowned, and number two whispered something in her ear, making guilt flash in her eyes, people were quite impressed by our dance and Charles could really sing. He had used spells, so his voice carried on.
Mariella sighed. She had put a spell of love in the ring that the magic house had made for Damon, but she saw now that the spell paralyzed Damon, and he was not in his right mind. She was jealous as hell and she realized that if she not had manipulated Damon to let her make decisions about this wedding, she might have it all. But not now.
She got a lesson right in her face about how much Charles, Adam, and even number two love Mimi. If only, Damon had focused on controlling Mimi, that would have allowed Charles and Adam to be perfect for her, but now it was too late. But she focused and undid that spell. It would take a few minutes to stop working.
It was quite late, and our dance had been perfect. I had never had one dance with Charles, not without flanks and he was feeling very possessive but then again, he whispered to my ear, "How about it, honey, wedding night and little unloading, I could do some boost, we can take Adam so it is faster."
And he spoke in the right tone, making my vortex react.
I had not had time to see around me and I said, "Not sure what salvatore is planning,"
Charles chucked huskily in my ear, showing me how Mariella was now in well, flank grip, Damon whispering in her ear and making sure that she drank her drinks. Charles kept his grip on me. Number two and other salvatores were getting poor Mimosa and Shadow drunk. Not sure how in hell Charles had gotten this night for us, but I was more than ready.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone