Swift Deliverance

Prologue

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Dearest sister,

On the eve of Lillian's eighteenth birthday, I feel my anticipation and excitement grow. After 18 years of planning, I cannot believe tomorrow is the day. It's as if a colossal weight  is about to be removed from my shoulders, and I am eager to begin to plan my new life of wealth. With your assistance, I feel in my heart that our plan will go smoothly. We all will become richer than ever before! Of course, you will get 25% of the profit, as I promised you on the day she was born. 

Now that the time is so close, I am finally able to see what you meant by this being worth the labor pains... the estimate I was given of what we shall be paid for her was enough to make me forget about those terrible hours all together. You are genius, my sister. The money from the bleeding and the palace will let us live in comfort for the rest of our lives... or until Seanna's eighteenth birthday, where we will add even more to our growing wealth. I am looking forward to being rid of both the little brats forever.

Tomorrow cannot come fast enough. 

See you soon.

Much love, your sister, Centra Alkstream 

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My blood ran cold as the gigantic ornate doors were opened in front of me. 

 I slowly walked forward to the beginning of the aisle, eyes downcast, and observe the decorative white fabric laid out before me. My bare feet reaching the edges of the expensive material, I couldn't help but sigh at the sensation, for it had been so long since I had felt something so soft. Taking a deep breath to steel my nerves, I turn my vision upwards and take in the rest of the room. 

In normal circumstances, I would have been entranced by its beauty. Larger than my entire house, the massive ballroom was decorated to the max with a mixture of expensive flowers, chandeliers, and candles. I was located at the top of a large white staircase that fanned out towards the main floor of the room. Beautifully designed marble pillars were repeatedly placed on either side of the aisle, each one individually stretching from ceiling to floor. The floors themselves glossy and polished to perfection. Looking even higher, I notice there were skylights above me. My heart sank as I looked at them and saw that they allowed no light through their transparent panes, for the dark outside did not even have a moon. 

Oh how I missed natural light. 

The red drapes that covered all the other large windows of the room caught my attention. They themselves were massive, flowing down elegantly to pool on the floor, but I felt a small bit of my old self come back as I had to work to hold back a smirk. 

I would bet my left arm they were velvet. Typically dramatic. 

The room seemed to breathe as the flickering light set the mood for the ceremony, shadows and light flowing artistically together across the faces that were expectantly turning towards me. Taking in the view, my small moment of spirit leaked out of me, leaving me feeling quite opposite to what I should be feeling on my "special" day. Grim and scared out of my mind, I still was in disbelief that my parents and so-called "family" betrayed me. I knew they had always had a dislike for me, but I never imagined they would think of something like this.  Forcing me to marry, and not just anyone. Him. Of all people. 

My eyes dart up from the crowd when I hear the sharp sound of metal grinding against metal. Focusing in, I can see that there is a machine being hidden by a cream-colored cloth at the very end of the aisle. The cloth was the same color as the wall behind it, making it blend in perfectly. Unfortunately, the chain extending from it was perfectly visible. Painted white to try and add some class to the situation, the chain was about 60 feet long from the machine to where I was standing on the stairs, specifically connecting to the shackles at my feet . Everyone knew that the machine was there and what is was there for, so I personally didn't understand the purpose of the cloth, but I wasn't surprised at their attempt. Typical of the royal family to try and glamorize the dishonorable nature of this ceremony. I looked away from the now only softly creaking machine, bringing my eyes to meet those of all the people staring at me. I was terrified to see the excitement in many of their eyes.