Love is Cold

Deep Blue

Allow me to ease you into the present day. Now you know what happened on the days of my passing. You know how my boyfriend killed my ex and saved his enemy and myself. But, the cost of our lives has had a terrible cost. While Tartos is beginning to open up to other kingdom's, under the rule of Ulric's sister Maria, Sapphiros has become slightly more closed off.

Guthry is cold. He lost his dignity that day. He lost his finger and the girl he wanted more than anything in the world. He hasn't wanted to meet with the dignitaries or receive letters from his friends. He turns away people who wanted to wish him well.

He had the royal tailor make him a set of custom gloves. He had the pinky finger on the left filled with wool and sewn shut. A few threads connect the finger to his ring finger, making it move. He also has a strange walk. He has trouble keeping his balance with some of his toes missing.

I've tried to visit Guthry, but he turns me away. I didn't even try to give him an invitation to my engagement party. It is a huge celebration at Creed Castle. People, vampires, and monsters, the likes I have never seen, all come to congratulate Leo and me. Most of those who come are from the latter category. There are werewolves, a few changelings, some dragons, ghosts, succubi, and more. The numbers are unfathomable.

I agreed that I would discard the armor, for the party. I am in a long deep blue dress with black trim and shoulder straps that glisten with diamonds. It was more of a request that I agree to for Leo. It was one of his mother's. With his parents gone, he thought that I might like a look at the wardrobe. He thought that this dress suited me the best. I ditched the corset, though.

My exact words about the corset are as follows, "If you make me wear that, not only will you get absolutely no action for a few months, but you will lose a hand." He laughed as he accepted my terms. He kissed my forehead and left to put on his most dapper apparel. He looks incredible.

When we met at the top of the grand staircase to greet the party, my eyes couldn't have gone any wider. What he decided to wear is a deep blue wool suit with a black leather belt with a large gold buckle. He has a long, white fur draped over his right side. He also has his hair slicked back. My hair is in a tight braid that hangs over my right shoulder.

Leo offeres his hand and escorts me down the stairs. The attendees applaud us as we make our way down. I feel many eyes on me. I guess that's expected when a few of the creatures here have more than two. Plus, this is a party for Leo and me, of course people are going to be staring. I'm happy. I have Leo by my side and we are going to be married. Someday, we will have a child and we will rule the kingdom, together. I will lead his armies and defend the kingdom.

I will continue to defend Sapphiros and all allied kingdoms. Maybe someday, Guthry will come to his senses and open himself back up to the world he has returned to. For the time being, though, I'm going to remain content with having him alive and all of us being happy to be.

"May I have this dance, my lady?" asks Leo bowing to me. I see him peek at me and wink.

I giggle and respond, "There's no one I'd rather dance with." He smiles and grabs my waist with his right hand and my right hand with his left. I place my other hand on his shoulder. We start dancing, just like Darby taught me. I step and turn, keeping my eyes up.

"You look beautiful, my dear," my fiancé says.

"You do, too." Leo gives me his signature cocky grin twirls me. And here we are, dancing the night away and introducing me to my new subjects, allies, and friends. I, also, make a face to face apology to Queen Rolfe for trespassing in her kingdom and for the trouble Ulric, Guthry, Leo, and I nearly caused. We part ways as equals.

When the others leave, Leo and I retire to the room I changed in. He helps me out of it and I put on my casual clothes. I am very happy. More than I have been in a long while. I kiss Leo and feel butterflies, just like the first time. He leaves to change and I am about to go, but the butterflies don't go away.

I feel a cramp and rush to the bathroom. I start to throw up a sour, metallic fluid. It drips off my lips and into the basin of water, where I changes from red to orange. When I stop retching, I look down and see that I have turned the water nearly black with blood.