Wedding week flew by as I tried to figure out how to escape with those two. Not being able to see C. J. and Willow made things harder. The hardest thing was knowing that linking minds with those two would create even more issues, seeing how the emperor could over hear it all. I have came to think that C. J. is under constant watch by guards as he only tried to see how I was doing through link once. I know the plan of the emperor and I know how well it is working as of right now. I tried to exist the grounds after an event a few days ago only to me dragged back with the use of a drug. My powers do not seem to be working right now either. I feel hopeless.
The stupid emperor comes to see me every meal, event, and night. A maid follows my every move. Guards are not allowing me to exit my room or enter C. J.’s. Here I stand in front of a vampire’s charmed mirror looking at myself dolled up for a wedding I never agreed too. The white dress has red tints running through the layers, all ending to a deep red bottom and train. The veil over my face almost looks like blood dripping down it. Emperor is forcing me to wear rubies for all my jewelry other then the engagement ring that is a light blue tint surrounded by pink and red jewels. I have decided I hate the color red and pink now as I keep seeing the extremely large ring. Wedding bands are suppose to be plain, yet I feel that mine will be for from.
Only good thing coming from this wedding is the old fashion emperor believes that seeing me for 24 hours before would be bad. Thank the heavens for that. ‘I am killing myself walking around in these heels why can I not have my flats.’
“My angel are you ready? I am about to leave now. I can not wait to see you in a few minutes.” The voice from our joint door came through.
“Stupid Emperor!” I groaned as I dropped my shoulders.
“See you soon lovely. Be careful walking there,” he cooed. Some of the maids started chatting about how amazing he was as I just tried to stand there. They kept up the applying last minute crap as I groaned. When the knights knocked on the door the maids rushed me to the entrance. Four large knights covered from head to toe surrounded me, as the maids fell behind them. Walking to the ceremony room felt like walking to a guillotine instead. Cheer could be heard all over the castle, only to get louder as we drew to the closed doors. Guards waited as the noise died. When the doors opened my blood boiled when my eyes locked onto Uyaga’s.
“Oh, what do you think she will look like today?” a whisper came through.
“You know she will look amazing, the emperor choose her clothes;” another answered.
Taking the steps slowly I reached the emperor's body just was the guards parted. Looking at his glistened eyes made me want to draw blood. When Uyaga cleared her throat I had to clench my hands as the emperor’s hand wrapped my waist only to tighten down keeping me in place.
“We come here today to celebrate the joining of these two,” my mind started wondering off as she continued to talk. It was not until her face turned to me with a wicked smile that I came back to the present time. “Do you ‘Sortie’ Serenity Lynn Eggets takes this man as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold until death does you part, to have during sun or moon shine, to stand next to in all trails in life, to help when others cause issues, and to never allow another go before him in your mind, heart, and priority?”
“I… do…” I say, whispering “I guess.” Earning a glare from the emperor, Uyaga only kept smilng her evil grin.
“Do you Emperor Sergei Andrei Drozdov takes this woman as your lawfully wedded wife and empress? To have and to hold until death does you part, to have during sun or moon shine, to stand next to in all trails in life, to help when others cause issues, and to never allow another go before her in your mind, heart, and priority?”
“Of course I do,” he exclaims with a massive smile. After his words Uyaga took both of our left wrists, placing the hand palm to palm wrapping a thin silk ribbon around the outer surface of them.
“Then the power granted to me by the old magic I now pronounce you as husband and wife.” As she spoke the ribbon cut into my skin before a burning sensation over took leaving a tattoo of the red silk ribbon under my skin. Turning his hand over I notice the other half sunk into his making it obvious if we held hands that it was wrapped around. “You may now kiss your empress and bride, your majesty.”
Leaving no time he lifted my chin with his right hand crashing his lips onto mine. The crowd cheered as my tears started to drip. A magic surged into me as he held me up to him. Breaking the kiss he lifted my body before sprinting out of the hall. My sobs grew louder as I could not control my emotions any longer. When he stormed us into my room and threw me onto my bed my body shook and my crying increased. Sitting on the bed he started removing my hair from the up do and started brushing my hair gently.
“My love, I will never force you to do anything. However, I can not allow another see you cry. Please relax, then we can go to the reception together.” His voice was soothing in a form, though it did little to stop my bodies reaction. I just kept crying until I could no longer cry.
Couple days after the Ceremony
I am standing at the gate of the castle looking out. My power returned to me after the ceremony and Uyaga left. I am looking to the forest I came through out of the urge to eliminate the kind who killed my previous life. The red fabric I always carried finally makes sense knowing whose horde it was now. My sorrow pushing me to leave while the ribbon holds me to the spot inside the gates. I hear some heavy footsteps followed by four lift paw steps. Turning I look over to them as I notice C. J.’s angry tears glistening his eyes.
“Hey you two,” I state with a monotone.
“Why did you call?” C. J. asked with annoyance.
“I have made a way for you two to leave here from today.”
“WAIT WHAT! WHY would we leave?”
“It is not safe to stay here for you two.” I tell C. J. before looking over to Willow. “Go follow the phoenix.” She nodded slightly once.
“I refuse to leave without you,” C. J. muttered.
“I have no choice,” saying this I raised my arm showing the ribbon start glowing. “I assumed it would be just rings, guess I was wrong.”
“Is it true you agreed that if you ever meet again you would marry him?”
“I guess so since it happened.”
“I do not under stand you at all any more.”
“C. J., you need to find the world and your way. I am releasing you Cedar,” an angry howl rips from his lips. “I release you Jame,” C. J. doubles over in pain as I say that name. Handing over a pack I personally put together, “I am sorry I can not continue on with your journey. Please be safe.” I hug the wobbly C. J. and patted Willow’s head before sneaking a note into her mouth. “Find the path home safely.” Pushing the stubborn man out of the now closing gate’s way. Willow quickly ran from the spot not stopping in my site as I felt Sergei approach. C. J. seeing this turned into a wolf and ran after Willow.
“You let them go, my love?” he asked while craning his neck around my shoulder.
“They need to find their own way in life, right?” I deadpanned back.
“I guess so, well now how about we finally have our wedding night?” He asks while wiggling his eye brows.
“I told you, I will never allow you to touch me in that manner. Go to one of your other women,” turning around I entered the castle without ever looking back.
C. J.’s point of view
As I ran from the castle’s grounds my head finally gave up on it’s insult. Looking ahead I find Willow at our last camp site before we went to that place. Walking to her I change back to my human form before Willow looked up to me.
“Is Jame still locked up?” Willow links me.
“What do you mean?”
“Does your head still hurt?”
“No?” looking at her as my hand hold the pack Shorty handed me.
“I have something for you,”Willow says before dropping a piece of paper onto my foot. Bending down I open the unfolded sheet. Looking at it my jaw dropped.
‘C. J., Cedar, Jame, and Willow:
I am writing this as my last hope to get you two safe. Follow the Phoenix's smell Willow. You know it is not to far from you. Keep each other safe and train. Grow your powers. I have nothing I can do to harm the emperor or his people now. Trust Willow and Will-of-the-wisps. Please be safe as I do not think he will keep his people from tracking you if he needs leverage. Move fast. Keys are in the pack and Willow, the one you will want is were I sat the last camp out. I will keep things as calm from here. Finish the job.
Sortie’
Looking back Willow started to dig up an old looking keep before she grabbed the pack from my hand.
“Burn the note, lets go;” Willow says before running off towards the truck. Pulling a lighter out a used the flame for Willow before turning back to wolf.
“Why did you not mind link at the castle?”
“I do not wish for him to know who I am.” Looking back seeing a storm coming towards us my thoughts go to Shorty.
“We will be back for you,” I promise before chasing Willow.