Betrayed and Marked

Chapters 1-2

Chapter 1

The music was from a piece of history that came to life with the costumes we wore. Everyone was wearing a mask. Luscious satin ball gowns and tuxes twirled around the large ballroom. The atmosphere was rich with laughter and soft whispers, the romantic side of all ready to come out and play. I spotted him from across the room and like a dream he floated out of sight. The cold foreboding of danger didn't go unnoticed. My body felt it slither up its spine and settle in the bones. Warm hands wrap around my waist and I am pulled against a hard chiseled chest. The contours fit me like a glove and I know this person is mine. Sweet smelling fog fills the dance floor to find I have been separated from my partner.

"Would you like to dance" I meet the features belonging to the gentleman I saw across the room. He wears a beautiful masquerade mask of silver and blue the color of the bright shining sky. I notice those eyes of his match the blue of his mask. I gasp at the realization of the stark beauty of him. Taking the hand I offer he leads me to the dance floor. Dimples on both sides of his face show off his plump lips. Twirling me around I see features and silhouettes of other friends of mine. Their lips are raised in feral snarls but in my bubble I hear nothing. The hands on my waist get tighter and I feel pain like nothing before. I look up to see his face coming closer but his eyes are locked on someone or something over my shoulder. We make a turn once more and that's when I see him, hair dark as night with a mask just as black with silver edges. He is making his way towards us. I feel something isn't right just as I'm pulled the rest of the way to my partner's chest. Embraced close with no room to get away he bends to my ear and I stiffen waiting for the worst. Warm breath fans against my neck as he whispers "I Got You" with that he strikes and his teeth sink in. As he comes up from my neck I pull back.

I wake just like every other time rubbing my neck and sigh in relief, nothings there. I'm still locked in my own mind as we get closer to the cemetery. The last week has gone in a blur. I am moving miles from my home and the only family I have left is my security teams. They have been in my life since I can remember. Father's business was to assign his men to private functions and other government duties. That business is now mine but until I marry Tate is running. Numbness has settled into my body and I feel nothing. No pain, no sorrow, nothing. I have been swallowed by the black hole that was left of my heart. They say it takes time and you will heal I just don't know if I ever will. My soul has been stained and I like it that way, I have no regret. The vehicle comes to a stop and I look out the window. I know these headstones they are a reminder of yet another love I lost. I have no one anymore, it's just me and that scares me the most. I worry that the darkness in me will devour every piece of me until I am no more.

Stepping out I feel the crisp air on my face and the smell of fresh frozen dirt. The grass crunches under each step. Everyone is watching me looking for me to break. Head held high face forward I continue my pace toward the tent. "I will not cry" this mantra I have repeated in my head all day. With the numbness I'm not sure I could even if I wanted to it feels like a foreign concept. Those greedy eyes hungry for me to show my pain, they should be ashamed. A death took place and that death took someone from me again. My security keeps in step with me on both sides. I still haven't figured if they are here to protect me or to protect the others from me. The mumbled whispers I hear like they are ridding the air just to me. "Why did he want her?" They whisper and that is one question I want answered also. Watching from the corner of my eye I see movement by a tree. I take a seat upon arriving at the chairs that have been set up under the tent.

Coming face to face with this day was not as hard as coming face to face with what was now in front of me. The mahogany casket sits before me. My knees have become week and I'm thankful for this chair. My father lies in there cold and still. Death came to my house twice. After today I will leave it all behind and start fresh at our new home. I have not been pardoned from the grief to the fact just under the mound of dirt from my father's grave lies my mother. In a few short minutes they will lay beside each other again. Six years ago she was taken from us. Every year we would come and sit here. I would tell her all about school and things that were new in my life. Then when I was done I would give dad his turn. I would wonder over to my tree and her leaves would hold me. Sheltered me from the tears I only ever saw my dad shed but once a year.