Dracula and her Bride |GxG||18+|

9 | needlework is truly horrendous

The air is thick with powder and perfume, the crowd pressing into her from all sides. Marienne cannot breathe. She gazes at Elisabeta who is white-faced and stricken. They lock eyes and their unsaid words tie like a noose between them.

Marienne pushes through the sea of people all extending their congratulations. She gives them cracked smiles and graceful words of thanks, when on the inside she wants to rip off her mask and scream.

"Lizzie!" Marienne gasps when she reaches her. "I had no idea."

"Neither did I, my love." Her smile is sad but her head bows in acceptance.

"Lizzie," Marienne says again, gripping her by the shoulders. "Does this not anger you?"

"It saddens me, Marienne." Elisabeta frowns and glances about them. "Let us go upstairs to speak in private."

Marienne follows her in a daze. The party being in full swing, no one notices as the two ladies slip away to Elisabeta's bedchamber. A four-poster bed stands in the center of the room, draped with pink satin covers. Matching rose-coloured curtains hang over the ceiling-to-floor windows. The ornate dressing table is carved in expensive wood, and holds all manner of knick-knacks. Lizzie closes the door behind her before she breaks down.

"Oh, Lizzie," Marienne coos, wrapping her arms around her. Her anger is forgotten in the face of her lover's distress. "I'm so sorry, my darling. You know I love you and only you."

"I know, Marie." Elisabeta sniffles. "Ever since the news, I've just been telling myself that." She sits on the bed, curling her legs towards her. "I always knew we would have to get married someday, but I thought we'd have more time."

"I suppose you're more practical than me, in that case. I never thought the day would come." Marienne sighs, sitting down next to her. "I cannot bear it Lizzie; my impending nuptials feel like a sword hanging over my neck."

Elisabeta turns to her, a fervent glint in her eye. "Marie, I know he is my brother but I must tell you, he is not a good man."

"You know I have no choice, my darling." Marienne's voice sounds desperate. "I know I am expected to marry, but I feel wretched about the fact that it must be the brother of the one I love." She runs her hand tenderly over Elisabeta's cheek. "I don't know how I will be able to stand being by his side when you are across the room. How will I be able to stand going to bed with him with your chamber being right across from his?"

Elisabeta wipes her eyes. "Perhaps it is not all bad, at least I still get to see you this way." She manages a watery smile. "Maybe even more than I see you now. You can turn the pages of my sheet music as I practice the piano. We can sit together in the drawing room, working on our needlepoint. Mother will be pleased by us improving such skills together, and she won't try to keep us apart. I can teach you the new stitch I've been learning."

"You will have me learn needlepoint, Lizzie?" Marienne feigns mock horror at the prospect, trying to lighten the mood. "You know my sewing is atrocious!"

Elisabeta giggles and hiccups. "It's not all bad, really," she says again, sounding more like she's trying to convince herself. "I know you feel trapped, but perhaps we could both be imprisoned together. In a cage that we can share."

Marienne presses her face into the crook of her neck. Elisabeta is a better person than she is. Where Marienne refuses to conform to expectations, Elisabeta accepts her role and her place in life.

But sometimes Marienne wants to burn the world.

Elisabeta's cheek is cold and wet with tears. Marienne blows warm breath against her face, drinking in her light fragrance. It's a mix of clementines and cherry blossom perfume.

Elisabeta is the sweetest thing on this side of hell.

You are sure to love "A Slut's Guide to Romance" by @AWryneckWrites (she/they).

A contemporary fusion of The Great Gatsby and The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo, Podcast Journalist Lilah Mōkena unravels the true story behind the bestselling novel inspired by the real-life romance between Alexia Fairchild and Lucca Mendoza. The lines between reporter and subject blur as Lilah unexpectedly finds herself falling for the enigmatic woman who inspired her favorite character.