Unbroken

Ritual

(((THE NEXT MONTH)))

((((CARTER’S WEDDING DAY))))

Juliet, Sammi, Ella, Lauren, Meri and Meri’s 12 year old sister, Lyz, slept over last night to make sure I was up in time to get ready.  War had gone with the guys, but Anthony stayed with us. 

“God dammit! Carter! Sit still!” Anthony yelled as he tried to add makeup to my face.  We had been at this for half an hour now.  Ella and Sammi were doing who knows what to my hair, and Meri, Lauren, and Lyz went out to get breakfast and a last minute addition to my outfit.

“Who wants Sonic?!” Meri screamed up at us.

“Stay.” Anthony told me as he walked out of the room and came back holding a burrito and tater tots.

“Thanks Tony,” I said as I bit hungrily into the burrito.

“No problem, now will you please sit still?!” he asked me once I had finished.

“Yes, Mum,” I said, rolling my eyes as he started to work again.  Pretty soon the girls were back to finish my hair and Lyz held open a box for me to look into.  Inside was a pair of blood red lace gloves. 

“Aw! Thanks guys!” I said, trying to hug them.

“Carter. Don’t. Fucking. Mess. Up. Your. Fucking. Makeup. Or. Hair.” Anthony and Sammi said through bared teeth.

“Sorry!” I said, giggling at how serious they were.

Sammi and the girls went to where the wedding was being held (which I didn’t know!) leaving just Anthony and Meri with me.

***

(ASHLEY’S POV)

I felt like a woman.

War insisted on doing my hair.  I had to fight him for the right to do my own eyeliner.

***

(CARTER’S POV)

“Okay, now dress!” Anthony said, motioning to Meri to help me as he left the room.  I slipped on the dress, but had to have Meri zip up the back for me and fix my hair slightly.  She then helped me put my gloves on over the bandage.  You couldn’t even tell that it was there!

“Thanks, Meerkat,” I whispered.

“No problem, Cart,” she said.

We let Anthony back in.  I still hadn’t seen what they had done to my face or hair.  I turned towards the mirror.

“Wait!” Anthony said, running over to me and helping me put on my choker and locket.  I had updated the pictures in it.  Now there was a picture of Anthony and War together, Meri, Ashley, Staycie, and Zaenne all sitting together, my dad, and Ashley.

“Thanks,” I whispered before turning around.  I saw this beautiful woman with strait raven hair that flowed gracefully like a water fall, except the top was spiked and teased slightly.  Her makeup was perfect, she had the slightest smokey eye and blood red lipstick on.  She had a black jewelry in all of her facial piercings.  Her chest was exposed only low enough to show a tattoo that said “Ashley” with two hearts.  Her dress was a graceful black lace on the top that draped down at the sides onto the blood red lace that was over black fabric.  Her arms had several tattoos, the beginning of a sleeve.  She had a paw, a heart, a star, Dad written in a rough print, and several beautiful butterflies.  Her blood red lace gloves covered the bright white scar that cut through her tattoos.  She had on black combat boots to finish it off.

“Oh my, thank you, guys,” I said, hugging them both tightly.

***

We walked out to the car to drive to-wait! I still didn’t know where my own wedding was being held!

“No, we won’t tell you,” Meri said as if reading my mind.  We pulled up to the beach, which surprised me.  We kept walking to a small building that read “Seaside Hotel.”

“Reservation for Purdy,” Meri said, walking up to the desk.  She wasn’t a Purdy yet, so Ashley must have booked the hotel.

“C’mon Carter!” Anthony said, quickly pulling me away and into the elevator.  “Ash almost saw you,” he said, seeing my expression.  He led me to a room and left.  A few minutes later, all the girls came in, even Staycie!  Sammi walked in and put something in my hair.  A black veil.  Classic.

“Aww, wittle Stayce! Come to Awntie Cawter!” I said in my baby speak.

“Nope, c’mon, you’re on in ten!” Sammi said, grabbing my hand and leading me out to Jinxx, who I decided to have walk me down the aisle.  I was going to choose War, but we both decided it would be too awkward.  We told Gram and Pap about the wedding, but they could have cared less, along with my mum.  Oh well.

“Ready?” Jinxx asked me.  He always seemed to be like a big brother to me.

“Yeah, “I said, nervously.

We walked out of the hotel and out onto the beach.  The sun was just starting to set as the music started playing.  I saw Ash.  He was wearing an all-black tux and tie.  He was wearing a necklace I had gotten him a while ago that had a black paw on it.  His hair was straitened all nice, but spiked in the back, not as much as normal, though.  His eyes were just lightly outlined in eyeliner.  I could see his rose tattoo glimmer with sweat.  At least he was nervous, too.

Suddenly, Jinxx grabbed my arm and walked with me down the aisle.  He then handed my hands to Ash, who didn’t let go until he heard the words, “You may now kiss the bride.”  He moved his hands to the veil, moving it slightly before kissing me.  It was magical.  Even though that sounds corny, it was. 

Ashley Kyle Paws is mine.  I am his.  Carter Legacy Paws.  I liked the sound of that.