I smile sweetly at another pair of strangers as they congratulate Ash, merely seeing me as his bride rather than an actual person. I keep my arm delicately looped through Ash's, apparently it gives a better impression of us to these "guests", all of whom seem to look down their noses at me. Ash took me aside about ten minutes into the night, and explained that humans are viewed as an inferior race, weak and feeble little things.
He leans down to my ear, whispering who these people are and how he knows them. I don't remember even one of the names or relationships he tells me, I have no intention of actually talking to these people. They appear too stuck up for their own good. The two people say goodbye and go back to the party, chatting with other guests. The meadow has been set up with lights tangled in the trees, hidden speakers playing elegant classical music and waiters carrying silver platters filled with tiny bites of food and various drinks.
Ash takes two glasses from a passing waitress and hands me one. "Don't drink too quickly, its a bit stronger than anything you can buy back home" I nod slightly, staring uneasily at the purple tainted liquid. I take a small sip, the blackberry bubbles dancing on my tongue and fizzing down my throat.
"I like it" I take another larger drink of the liquid, giggling slightly when the bubbles fizz up my nose. Once more, I go to take a sip but Ash stops me.
"That's not very slow"
I take a sip anyway and both of us begin to walk around, greeting various people as we go. Ash's mother comes up to us, a very convincing fake smile plastered on her face, and tells me and Ash that we should go and dance with the other couples. I nod politely at her and me and Ash go over to an area where elegant music plays, couples twirl slowly in time with the music. Me and Ash dance among the other couples, as we practiced but with less falling over. I begin to tune out, my movements becoming automatic, my mind blank. I only realize that we have been dancing through many songs when Ash's eyes widen, he pushes me behind him. The crowd of dancing couples split to reveal a tall person, he looks almost identical to Ash, only slight differences separate them. However this stranger has bright glowing eyes, the same yellow that Ash's eyes changed to.
He smirks menacingly, a smirk filled with evil that sends shivers down my spine. "Hello little brother."
"Hello Ethen" Ash's voice is strong, firm. His guard is up, clearly there is some bad blood between these two siblings.
"Tut tut tut. I thought you would at least invite your own brother to your wedding...after all you did come to mine."
Ash tries to push me further behind him, out of the view of his older brother, who looks to be about twenty. Ethen takes three slow steps towards us, his yellow eyes looking past Ash, examining me.
He smirks. "You think that pathetic mark will keep me away from this pretty little thing?"
"You know the rules Ethen" A sliver of nervousness creeps into his voice.
Ethens face drops, becoming dark. "Yes, but not all of us obey them. Do we brother?"
"Go Ethen, you know you shouldn't be here" Ash sounds persuasive, perhaps he has had confrontations with Ethen before.
The grin returned by Ethen is malicious, full of mocking. "Do you still think about them?" Ash only swallows nervously in response. Why is no one else speaking up? Trying to usher Ethen away from this place. They all stand silent, watching, knowing something that I do not. "About her? About the baby?"
"Shut up" Asher sounds just as menacing as his brother did.
"About the way she screamed for me to stop?" Ethen smiles more with each question, enjoying the obvious emotional pain caused.
"Shut up" A little louder this time.
"Not to hurt that tiny, little unborn baby? Your tiny...little...baby."
"SHUT UP!" Ash is shaking, his fists clenched, the nails long and claw like.
"You cant help being like me. The eyes are the windows to the soul." Ethen looks pleased to have gotten this reaction from Ash, like he wanted this side of Ash to emerge but is confused when I don't react to his appearance. "So this one knows?"
Ash wraps a strong hand around my wrist, keeping me close to him.
"I think someone should let her in on the family history. I'll see you at the wedding." Ethen gives a patronizing wave, then runs from the gathered guests, into the darkness of the forest. Ash stomps into the house, dragging me behind him and tells his mother to entertain the guests for the night.
We end up in Ash's room, sat on the chairs. For a while Ash is silent, his head in his hands. Berry comes in.
"Ash...I could-"
"No, I have to be the one to tell her." Ash sounds torn, halfway to accepting Berrys offer but knowing that whatever it is much be rejected. Berry nods, closing the door quietly behind her.
Ash breathes deep, looking me straight in the eyes. "My brother, did something...unforgivable and it was my fault." When I remain silent he continues. "He was married to a human girl, the same way we will be married. I...it was just after Emily left me after seeing...well, me and I was crushed, not right in the head. The girl liked me, she made me feel less crappy about life."
"What are you saying?" I search his face for any clues.
"She got pregnant, with my child and...we had to tell. Ethen beat me to a bloody pulp right there in front of her. Then..." He struggles with the next part, the memories clearly still haunting him. "All I could hear was her pleading with him not to do this, for the baby and her screaming, endlessly screaming as he ripped her apart."
YOU ARE READING
Goodnight
Teen FictionI don’t suppose you know what a skinwalker is? Why would you? Zev is of another species, one that lives among normal people but is far from normal. When her secret, the secret of everyone she loves is discovered, she knows that it is up to her to go...