Forbidden Essence

Forbidden Essence : Black Hearted Witch

Chapter 21 :

There was a deafening silence, and a thrumming ringing noise seeming to echo in my head. I was sitting on the bed, in the grand room that the king of Sussex granted the newly wedded couple. The room was exceptionally designed, yet hollow, as if years of unuse have created such an aura wafting in the air. It smelt quite strongly of lavender, overwhelming me to the point of making my head spin.

It seemed as if I was a lone subject filling the room, it was too large for my liking. What was one to do with a room so large? A dozen people can share it, yet have room for a dozen more! I felt small, yet too prominent, and with the impending events, vulnerable.

The wedding ceremony was the most insignificant, and shortest event of my life. However, I felt surge of happiness as it was not the most happiest day of my existence, after all. It was a hasty marriage, and the ton got the opportunity to get a glance of the supposedly deceased daughter of the tyrant king of the East. News was spreading fast, and yet, that was the least of my worries.

What my vile father-in-law was doing surrounding my kingdom with his knights had me trembling in my shoes. Anger gripped me, if that man went back on his word, it would be the end of him. I knew Alexander and Christopher would not let anything happen to our kingdom, yet the fear had a tight grip around my throat, making me gasp for breath. I had immediately told Johnathan what had occurred, and he turned on his heel without a word, his hands fisted, and stalked off. I had called after him, however my husband had a tight grip on my arm, and forcefully kept me where I was, to follow proper and expected decorum.

At the moment, however, my nervousness and fear had enhanced my surroundings so, they became overwhelming and sickening. The events to unfurl soon had me struggling to breathe, and keep my heart rate slow. The wedding night was my most dreaded nightmare, and I feared that Edmund would not be kind. He was an impulsive and instinctive man, the most dangerous of them all. Fear of the unknown, yet I knew I had realized quite early what I was to sacrifice and forfeit for the safety of my family and kingdom.

I knew it wasn't too long that he would be walking in the room, it has already been two hours since the maids came and prepared me. How much longer will he take? My own fear and frantic thoughts were swirling in my head like a wind storm, and I begged for a distraction as they began to over power me. I imagined again and again Edmund barging in, suffocating the room by his demanding presence. Somberly glancing down, I prepared myself to be submissive to Edward's actions, and not yield to what was inevitable. I sat for a long while, until my eyes had begun slowly closing on their own accord.

The knock on the door, made me bolt to my feet, standing erect and wide eyed. I hesitated at first when the door was not opened; should I open it? When the knock did not come again, I assumed it was a servant or even Johnathan. I began to cautiously make my way towards the door only to halt right when I reached to grab it and jump back in surprise. The door suddenly opened to reveal Edmund.

One hand of mine was on my fast paced heart seeming to thunder like a herd wild and untamed horses, while the other hung in the air unbeknownst of its use. Our eyes met, and the sudden overwhelming feeling enhanced with his appearance. He was disheveled and looked as if he had woken up in the morn, unkempt, than a man who recently wedded. His hair was a mess, and his over coat and vest were unbuttoned. holding my gaze, and closed the door behind himself swiftly, yet he stumbled towards the right. I watched warily, with impending fear of his next move.

He began walking drunkenly towards me, unable to walk straight without tilting to the sides and tripping over his feet. For some reason, this change in Edmund seemed to scare me more than his sober self. He neared me till he was an arm's length away, and then I smelled the spirits tainting his breath. I sucked in a fearful breath, walking backwards to distance myself from him, only for him to step even closer. My back hit the vanity and I scrambled to reign in my heaving, and trying not to smell his tainted breath.