It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

Prologue

Athena had hated the guts of Reiji Sakamaki since she first laid eyes on him. She hated his face, his snobby attitude, his height, his voice, his glasses - you name it. She hated him. This hatred had stemmed on the night Athena had been dragged across the polished ballroom by her father: Giesbach.
She remembered it well - she remembered the buttery yellow dress she'd been forced to wear. It was itchy and sweaty and horrible - she almost hated that dress more than she did the Sakamaki boy. There had been a large bow tied on the back of her dress, squeezing her organs close together, hurting her ribs. She was only a child back then: small, weak and stubborn - her father's problem child. Her auburn locks had been pinned to the back of her head in an uncomfy style, causing her to pick at it constantly.
She'd met her fiancé at his father's ball - the ball thrown in honour of the first-born Sakamami's birthday. She didn't know why they needed to celebrate. Vampires are immortal after all. She'd met the first-born that night, he was the one she was to wed in the beginning. Why was it that she was engaged to the second-born? The first-born simply refused. Athena would have rather wed the first-born. He was handsome and kind and had a childish glee which warmed her heart. The second-born however...
He was cruel and witty and cold. The first thing he'd said to her was a rude comment about her dress. Athena remembered clearly the way that she had smacked him. She also remembered her father's large hand hitting her face. That was the first time he'd ever hit her. She never saw Reiji Sakamaki again after that... Well, until now.

-_-_-_-_-

Giesbach's drawing room was large and spacious. Bookcases guarded the walls, all sorts of ancient texts hidden within them. A table was placed in the centre of the room, chess pieces resembling Gisbach's army spread out in a possible strategy for war. Covering the wall behind the lonesome desk placed near the end of the room was a large map of the underworld. It was stained red with locations marked with flimsy arrows.
Athena gulped as she stepped into the dimly lit room. She did her best to not look around - Giesbach hated when she allowed her curiosity to take over. She pressed her hands behind her back, fingers fiddling with the ends of her wavy, auburn hair. She wore a plain gown, the thin fabric was a soft peach colour which hugged her loosely. A matching bow was pinned in her hair, keeping loose strands away from her face.
"You called for me, Father," her voice was gentle and much more mature than the shrill shriek that used to haunt the corridors of the castle. She picked anxiously at her long nails, the sleeves that stopped at her elbows were long and flowy.
Giesbach was standing, facing his war table in deep thought. His arms were crossed over his chest, his lips pressed into a thin line and his thick eyebrows furrowed. He had the same strawberry hair as Athena and Shin and the same glowing gold eyes that Shin and Carla possessed. He had a well-trimmed beard and a full build. He was dressed in black trousers and a white shirt with flowing cuffs and a sword was sheathed to his side. He didn't turn around as soon as Athena spoke, he merely ignored her.
"Father?" she said, her tone was careful as she stared at the back of the man who'd raised her, "Was there something that you needed me for?" Giesbach sighed.
"A letter," his voice was deep and gruff, "arrived for you. It's on my desk." He pointed at the polished desk and watched closely as Athena stalked towards it. He was right, there was a letter addressed to her placed in the centre of the desk. "Read it out," he ordered.
Athena's slim fingers caressed the thin material as she lifted it up with ease. 'My Darling Athena' was written in fancy, red handwriting which carried a faint scent of blood. She turned the envelope over, eyes widening slightly at the crimson wax seal which held the envelope together. It was the Sakamaki family crest symbol - she felt her stomach churn with dread as she used her nail to cut open the envelope.
The parchment was crisp and flimsy as she gently unfolded it. She gulped, the red ink was shiny and perfectly written.
"'Dearest Athena Tsukinami," Athena's voice was strong as she read out the words her pursuer's father had written for her, "It has been centuries since we have been blessed with the pleasure of seeing one another. As you and your father are dear friends of mine, I apologise for neglecting you for so long. To show my gratitude for your loyal service, the wedding between you, my dear daughter-in-law, and my second son, who I hope you will find it in your cold heart to forgive, will be held much sooner than originally planned. The wedding shall be held at my castle on the last day of August: only a few days away. I await your arrival as soon as the clock strikes the next day. Until then, best wishes, Karlheinz."
She felt as if the world was coming to a stop. Athena's round, stormy eyes became shiny as a shield of tears grew before them. Her thick eyebrows knitted together and the corners of her lips twitched with sorrow as she placed the dreadful letter upon the table. She said nothing, fighting to hold back her tears as her father stared at her. She didn't know what he'd say - she knew he hated Karlheinz. She half expected him to start another war, but instead, he sighed.
"Pack your belongings," he said, "the dress makers will arrive later today. We leave in two days." Athena was mortified. Silent, she left her father's study, heading up to her private chambers.

The bed was large and shoved against the far wall which was painted a sweet pink. The bedsheets were made of the finest lilac silk and the pillows plush and plump. A teddy was placed in the centre of the pillows, it was a bat, one of its ears had been torn off and a wing was hanging on for dear life. Athena had owned this teddy since the day she'd been born. The teenager let out a sob. She knelt beside her bed, her head buried in her arms as she let her sadness free. She'd been dreading this day for centuries, she'd expected to wait at least another decade. Alas, both Reiji Sakamaki and Athena Tsukinami were of age now, seeing as both had their birthdays in August. She didn't know what to do.

A knock sounded at the door, alerting Athena. Quickly, she wiped her tears and made it seem as if she were merely searching for something under her bed. The door creaked open and footsteps sounded upon the polished, wooden floor. "Is everything alright?" Carla's voice sounded, causing Athena to look up at him and force a smile.
"Just dandy," she replied, "I dropped an earring and I can't seem to find it-"
"I heard the news," He sat himself on the end of Athena's bed and fiddled with the end of his scarf, "you're leaving us."
"I didn't choose to," she replied, staring up at him with a frown. He merely nodded solemnly, his white locks were a mess and his cheeks a gentle red, "You were just training, weren't you?" She picked herself up off the floor and sat herself beside her older brother who nodded.
"Father... wanted to spar," he said slowly, avoiding her gaze, "told me the news." Athena placed a comforting hand on his arm.
"I have no choice," she said glumly, "the dressmakers came earlier - took measurements and made me do some tests about fashion sense and left. The dress arrives on the day."
"So if you don't like it, you can't return it?"
"Oh they assured me that I'd 'love' it."
"Maybe you will."
"I definitely won't."