It Only Gets Worse

Chapter Eight

×Chapter Eight×

After I put on my dark eyeliner and mascara, and my black lipstick, I get dressed in my new attire. I seriously do feel like a gothic princess, but I don’t mind that it sounds corny. I am so happy that everything’s been going so well, today.

When I descend the grand staircase, I gasp because the entire ballroom is so…lit up. Usually the palace is so dark inside.

There is classical music playing and a lot of people on the dance floor waiting, looking straight at me. They must all be vampires—related to Aiden? If so, he has a lot of family. They all are wearing intricate costumes, like a masquerade. I feel like it’s the 18th or 19th century, which should make this ball seem cheesy. Contrarily, it is almost romantic.

Then my heart stops when I see Aiden waiting for me at the bottom of the steps.

I blush when I notice an almost adoring look in his blue-grey eyes, that I remember so well used to be—just cold, when looking at me. He is wearing a tuxedo that he looks amazingly handsome in, and it accentuates his raven-black hair.

Self-consciously, I descend the stairs slowly, hoping I don’t fall in my five inch heels and embarrass myself.

But when I reach the last step, Aiden’s there and he reassuringly takes my arm, whispering, “How does it feel, princess, to have a ball hosted just for you?”

I smile, trying not to blush again. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I’m so falling for him.

We start off the first dance, traditionally, and I feel like I’m making a fool of myself, not knowing how to ball dance. See, any other dancing I’m pretty sure I can do. Even ballet. I used to take lessons when I was little.

“You’re doing just fine,” Aiden encourages me, trying not to laugh.

“Shut up,” I say, smiling again.

Finally, everyone else starts dancing as well, so the spotlight is taken off of us. I can’t help but to sigh as if a weight is lifted off my shoulders.

I lose myself in the moment and let Aiden guide me all around the room, his arm around my waist, steering me away from any of the other dancers we could bump into.

×

Yawning, I try to tell Aiden and the rest of the boys goodnight.

“Aw, come on, Felicity,” Damion says, “it’s not even midnight.”

“Seriously? Don’t you know how late that is?”

He laughs at me.

“You haven’t even told us yet how you liked the party. It was for you, you know,” Nate reminds me.

“Don’t guilt trip me,” I whine. “You know I loved it.”

And I did. After the first dance, Aiden introduced me to all of his relatives, close, and distant. I specifically remember his cousins Allis, the seriously most beautiful girl I had ever seen, and the ominous looking Demetrius. He was about 6 foot 6, and completely  built up of only muscle. I felt very uneasy around him.

After that, we had this fancy dinner in the dining room where even more ridiculously long tables were set up to fit everyone that had come. I had a hard time stomaching the food, but I managed…somehow.

Then Aiden pulled me up in front of everyone and announced our marriage. My entire face had went red and I saw Chaise and Daemon snickering at me. I plan to get them back for that.

We, of course, danced some more. Aiden’s cousins and uncles, grandfathers, and even great grandfathers had turns to dance with me, which was really awkward even though they all had the appearances of, say, 28 year-olds.

But even through all of that, I really did enjoy the ball, my opportunity to dress up and feel pretty, despite my rapid weight loss, and yes, my time with Aiden. He has just changed so much. I feel like I can actually tolerate eternity with him, now.

“Well, okay, we’ll let you go to bed, then,” Nate laughs. “I’m glad you had a good time. Make sure you tell Aiden, too, since he’s the one who planned the whole thing.”

“He did?” I ask, taken aback.

“Yeah, but only because he had to,” Chaise adds in, “it’s tradition and all.”

“Shut up!” Nate scolds, giving him a friendly shove. “He didn’t do it just because of that. He really did want to, Felicity.”

“Oh…okay.”

“Alright, ‘night. See you tomorrow, bright and early,” he jokes.

“’Kay, night—wait, what?”

“Don’t worry…Aiden will explain. But I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

“Not in the morning! You know I’m a late sleeper!”

“Not anymore,” he chuckles. “Okay, well, see you tomorrow when you won’t be so pissed off at us all.”

I fume inside. But with a little sisterly love added in, too.

×

I’m left alone in my room (well to be exact, mine and Aiden’s room when I come to think about it). I blush again for probably the hundredth time tonight, when I wonder if he’ll be coming in here to sleep, as well. Since I know what we’ve done together, already, it just makes it even worse when I think about doing it again…if that would even happen…especially since how things have changed between us… I am starting to give myself a headache. I sigh, and grab a pair of my silk pajamas, heading to the bathroom to change so I can go to bed.

                When I come out of the bathroom, Aiden is waiting for me in the room. I stand there in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do. Now, all I can think of is how he treated me before these past few days. How do I know that he won’t do it again?

                Hearing my thoughts, he walks over to me, a somber look on his face. “Did you have a good night?” he asks, quietly.

                I can’t help but to smile. “Yes, I did, as a matter of fact.”

                “I’m glad,” he whispers in my ear, putting his arms around me.

                “Wait a minute. We need to talk.” I pull away from him.

                He looks at me expectantly.

                “Why are you acting like this?”

                “Acting like what?” he asks, feigning innocence.

                “You know what I mean.” I cross my arms.

                Aiden sighs. “I told you I’m trying. And you know how I feel about you.”

                “Do I? You have all these mixed signals and I don’t know what to believe!”

                “I thought you had a talk with Nate,” he says.

                “It would have been better to hear it from you,” I reply stubbornly.

                “Do we have to get into a fight right now?”

                “Oh, heaven forbid that! You’ve always been so eager to fight before. Who are you?”

                “I’m trying to show you.”

                “Wh—“ He cuts me off, stepping forward and kissing me forcefully and passionately. I’m so taken by surprise that I don’t try to pull away. I need to be comforted right now. I really don’t feel like arguing; I’m just confused.

                Somehow we end up on the bed, me on top of him. He nips gently at my throat, growling quietly.

                I offer my neck to him before he asks, “Are you sure?”              

Yes.