Lady Grim: A Fantasy Short Story

Chapter 4: Tying The Knot

Clotho took a deep breath as she fixed her dress and veil.

Today was the day...

The day Clotho gets married to Hubris.

As she stepped out to the aisle, a thousand pair of eyes were on her as she began to walk down the aisle.

"These three days came by quick..." Clotho thought to herself. "...as if misery was just excited to see me sad."

Once Clotho got up to the alter, her and Hubris began to hold hands as rehearsed before as the demon minster began to speak.

"It's pretty ironic how we have a demon minister in the Underworld." Clotho thought to herself.

During the vows, Clotho was just in her head. She knows that she doesn't have a choice when it comes to marriage. As much as she hates the idea of getting married to Hubris, she looked over to Hades who had the biggest smile on his face. Clotho smiled at him and thought to herself;

"You know, I can do this for my father..." Clotho thought to herself. "Just do this for father Clotho...and for the Underworld kingdom."

"By the power invested me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." The demon minister announced.

Hubris dipped Clotho and kissed her passionately while everyone cheered. Clotho felt like she was going to throw up, but she kept herself together.

When it was the after party, Clotho was standing next to Hubris while he spoke to his friends.

"Man, it feels good to become the prince of the Underworld." Hubris boasted. "I deserve to be called royalty."

Clotho grumbled as she grabbed a drink off of the waiter's tray.

"Okay, I'm outta here." Clotho mumbled to herself as she began to walk off.

Clotho sat outside the palace, sipping on her drink as she sighed.

"Do it for your parents." Clotho thought to herself, trying to motivate herself to keep up with the marriage. 

"Wow, seems like a big event is happening today." Clotho heard a familiar voice say.

Clotho looked up to see Lida and jumped up in surprised.

"Lida! What are you doing here?" Clotho asked, still shocked.

Lida chuckled.

"Well, I was just wandering around in the woods when I saw that there was a wedding happening at the palace." Lida explained.

"Yeah, unfortunately it's my wedding." Clotho sighed out.

"Why say unfortunately?" Lida asked. "Marriage is supposed to be the best thing ever."

"Not when you're forced to get married to a guy who acts as if he's got the biggest dick in the world." Clotho scoffed.

Lida laughed but then looked around and leaned in closer to Clotho.

"Hey, I'm going to the river...wanna tag along?" Lida whispered.

Clotho didn't want to stick around this wedding any longer so she immediately accepted as she ran off with Lida.

Once they've reached the river, Clotho looked at it in amazement.

"This is nice." Clotho commented. Lida stood next to her.

"Yeah, I come here whenever I wanna let loose." Lida explained.

"Let loose how?" Clotho asked.

Clotho then heard Lida let out a Tarzan like cry as she swung off of a vine and into the river. Clotho watched as she surfaced up from the river. 

"C'mon, it's fun!" Lida called out, encouraging Clotho.

Clotho was reluctant to jump in, so Lida swam up to the edge. All of a sudden, Clotho felt a hand grab her ankle.

"Lida wai-" Before Clotho could finish her sentence she was already pulled into the river. Clotho immediately surfaced while gasping for air.

"What the fuck Lida!" Clotho exclaimed as Lida laughed.

"What? It's just a little water." Lida teased.

Clotho gave her a smug smile.

"Oh really? Then take this!" Clotho yelled as she splashed water onto Lida.

"What the!?" Lida screeched. "Oh, it's on!" Lida exclaimed as she tackled Clotho into the river.

For hours and hours the two girls had a water fight until they were soaked completely from head to toe. Lida looked to see that the sun was beginning to set then quickly got out the river.

"Chickening out on me already?" Clotho teased.

"Um...y-yes." Lida stammered out. "You win and I gotta get home." Lida informed as she ran off.

Clotho thought that it was a bit odd that Lida was in such a rush to head back home.

"Maybe she has really strict parents who cares about curfew." Clotho thought as she got out of the river.

When nighttime hit, Clotho was still on her way back to the palace. She was cold and was still drying from the river. 

"Man, I wished that Lida was here to walk me home." Clotho thought to herself. "I actually did enjoy her company."

When Clotho finally reached the palace, Hades was at the door.

"There you are! Where were you!?" Hades exclaimed as he ran up to Clotho and hugged her tight. "Why is your wedding gown damp?" Hades asked.

"I went on a walk and fell into a river." Clotho lied. 

Hades sighed.

"Look, I know you're still upset about the marriage." Hades began. "But please...do this for the sake of the family line." Hades begged.

Clotho sighed.

"Fine...I'll try to deal with this marriage." Clotho mumbled as Hades smiled.

"Now go get out that damp gown and go get ready for bed." Hades ordered as Clotho walked inside.

Once she was out of the damp gown, she walked out the bathroom and down the hall. While she was walking down the hall, Clotho noticed that there was statues of Hubris lined up in different poses.

"I guess he was very serious about the statue thing." Clotho muttered to herself.

Clotho stopped in front of a door with a sign that says, 

For the newlyweds

Clotho cocked an eyebrow in confusion as she opened the door to see the interior being romance themed.

"Oh God..." Clotho mumbled to herself.

"Like what I did with the place?" Clotho heard a male voice ask. 

She looked to her right to see Hubris standing there...in his underwear...holding a rose in his mouth. Hubris walked up to Clotho with a seductive smile.

"Look, whatever you're thinking it's not going to happen." Clotho spoke.

"Why? You're my wife now." Hubris stated.

"Don't care, I refuse to participate in anything that regards our bodies touching." Clotho scolds.

"C'mon...afraid of my giant serpent?" Hubris asked.

"You're so gross!" Clotho exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah...now come sleep with your handsome husband." Hubris ordered as he laid down in the king sized bed and bounced his eyebrows at Clotho.

"Hell no!" Clotho exclaimed as she left the room and hurried to her own bedroom.

Clotho slammed the door shut and locked it, just in case if Hubris tries to come in, then threw herself on the bed. Clotho wished that she was still at the river with Lida. In fact, Lida was the one and only person that Clotho enjoys being around, which surprised Clotho. Clotho then heard the sounds of the werewolves howling at night and then looked out the window.

"Well, I guess this is my new life now." Clotho sighed out.

June 6th, 2023