Crimson {COMPLETED}

CHAPTER XLV

ADALIA'S POV

NOVEMBER 20
8:47 a.m

AFTER SITTING in here for what feels like ages, Christos enters with Alice.

"Sorry it took me so long, I didn't think it was fair to leave Alice alone on our honeymoon." He motions for her to sit on the couch.

"Great, now that he's here, can you tell me what this is about?" I turn my head to mother and father. Lucifer is at my side, drowsily dosing off. He didn't sleep well last night and now he's hungover. I warned him not to drink too much.

"Yes." Father sighs. "Christos and Jackson found something very...interesting."

"Like...?" My throat tightens up. This must be about the Lucifer situation.

"You found Lucifer under a bridge, correct?" His voice is stern.

"Yes." My voice on the other hand shakes.

"Were you aware that people were being found murdered in a river after going under a bridge in that area? With each body displaying puncture wounds similar to that of a bite mark?"

I swallow hard. "No sir, I wasn't."

Lucifer is luckily too out of it to be displaying anxiety. God knows if he started to panic they'd immediately know.

"Really, you weren't?" He taps his foot. "So What enticed you to randomly feed off Lucifer?"

I shrug. "Our bond, I guess."

He nods, not seeming to believe me. Mother walks up behind us and offers Lucifer a warm drink which he thanks her for.

"So you wouldn't mind taking your ring off so we can see your unfiltered thoughts then, correct?"

Father never scared me as a child, he was just never intimidating to me even though he was to everyone else. But now that I'm older, he scares the living hell out of me sometimes.

I glance at Christos who is of course wearing a big smirk. And Alice looks confused, no doubt having no clue what's going on.

Of course Christos would never let her in on such a cunning scheme. She has morals. And a heart. Things he lacks.

"No." I answer slowly.

"'No' you wouldn't mind it or 'no' you're not taking it off?"

"I wouldn't mind it. I'm not guilty of anything Christos is accusing me of."

He motions to my hand. "So take it off then, and we'll let your own memories be the judge of that."

"Oh, you mean you actually want me to take it off?" I chuckle. "Father what kind of person do you think I am? I adore mortals, I would never-"

"Adalia." He interrupts me. "Take the ring off."

I glance over at a sluggish Lucifer. They could check Lucifer's memories but all they could guarantee is that I practically kidnapped him.

I sigh. "I know where all this stemmed from and fine, I admit it. Lucifer didn't want to come here but I made him, okay? I brought him back here despite his protests and didn't give him a choice in the engagement."

Lucifer finally seems to realize what this is about and looks over sympathetically. He hesitantly
puts an arm around me in what must be an attempt to look like he's happy with me.

"Adalia, are you or are you not going to take the ring off?" He raises his voice.

I look down at my ring. Hand crafted by the Reeds with a charm that allows me to filter what can and cannot be seen by other vampires. We all have a piece of jewelry with this charm on it in order to keep our private lives private from our people.

I chew my lip. I'd rather look guilty by refusing than let them into my thoughts and give them the solid evidence.

I shake my head, twisting the ring on my finger. They couldn't force it off if they tried. It has another charm on it so that the person who put it on is the only person who can take it off. I'm the only one who can let them see what happened those nights at the river.

"Alright then, I will make myself clear." Father crosses his arms. "You will take that ring off to give us proof of your innocence or guilt by the end of the day or you can consider your wedding canceled."

"What?" I squeak. "No, but that's not fair!"

"It is too." He fires back. "Your wedding will be canceled and rescheduled for a much later date unless you do as you're told. You have until midnight."

He leaves, mother following behind him.

I don't turn to look at Christos, not giving him the gratification of my placid stare. I pull Lucifer up, taking him upstairs as I think.
                           __________

6:54 p.m

After dinner, mother and father call us back into the parlor. I twist my ring on my finger as me and Lucifer walk down the hall.

If I take it off, they'll know I killed all those mortals and they might make Christos the heir instead.

But if I don't, they might decide I'm guilty and make Christos the heir anyhow, except delaying my wedding for god knows how long.

We walk into the parlor and sit in the same spot as before, mother pouring all of us some tea.

Mother small talks with Alice and Christos about their honeymoon so far as father sits down.

"Adalia, have you made a decision?" He folds his hands together.

I take a deep breath, looking at Lucifer. He's feeling better now, meaning he actually understands what's happening now.

I pull the ring off and set it down on the coffee table. I lean back into the loveseat, lowering my head and trying hard not to cry as they judge me.

I see mother take her eyes off me and disappointedly look away. Father sighs deeply and hides his face in the palm of his hand.

I don't want to look at Christos.

"Adalia you know how much our standing with the mortals means to this family." He snaps. "Do you have any idea how much this could have blown up had it gone on any longer?"

I slowly grab my ring and slide it back on, ashamed at being so exposed. "I'm sorry."

"Between this and forcing Lucifer here, how do you think this looks, Adalia? Huh?"

"B-but," Lucifer's shaking voice fills the room as he tries to speak up. "I'm happy here with Adalia. Swear I am."

Everyone almost seems shocked by him speaking up. He almost never speaks, especially not to father.

Father sighs, turning back to me. "You and Lucifer better really prove yourself in the next few months because right now, it's looking like Christos is the Baxtor heir."

Christos smiles, turning to look at Alice, as if he expects her to celebrate this victory with him. Instead she's making eye contact with me, looking like maybe she feels bad for me.

But she pulls her stare away and brings a hand to her mouth.

"Um, I think I just lost a tooth."

Mother and father quickly bring their full attention to her.

"That cant be right. You aren't supposed to be losing your canines yet." Mother walks up to her, examining the tooth as father kneels down next to her and checks her mouth.

All of them are too focused on Alice to see me storm out of the room with tears flooding my eyes.