Aria was unable to avert her gaze. The basket fell out of her hands and she felt her fast heartbeat in her chest. Her heart pounded wildly and her cheeks turned red.
He came straight towards her.
Marleen toasted her impatiently and complained about her awkwardness.
Her palms were wet with excitement, she knew she was staring at him and yet she couldn't avert her gaze.
His bright blond hair shone like gold in the midday sun.
From a distance she could see that he was tall, of a muscular stature.
He was like a god, a beautifully made angel.
He strolled comfortably towards her.
Aria panicked as he picked up an orange that stopped right in front of his shoe as he bent over and stretched his shirt over his chest and Aria's cheeks took on the color of a tomato.
He casually threw up the orange and caught it again.
Aria tilted her head forward hoping that her face was hidden by her long hair.
She was shy and scared.
He stopped right in front of you.
"Here, this belongs to you," Aria turned her back on him in panic.
She recognized the tattoo on his wrist, even if she had only glanced at it.
Hectically she picked up the rest of the stuff and stuffed it back into the basket.
"Go away, just go away," she mumbled quietly like a mantra.
Marleen thanked him and looked at her sister in wonder.
She heard his heavy boots coming off and breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's the matter with you," her sister drove at her in amazement.
Aria dug out her cell phone, typed in a name and held it out to Marleen without a word.
Horrified, Marleen gasped.
"That's Zeref Theron," she murmured, holding the phone even closer to her face.
Aria just nodded.
She had just met her husband.
Aria was nervous about her Dress, it was Long, White and really Beautiful.
Strange people smiled at her and congratulated her, telling her again and again how lucky she was.
Marleen stroked her sister's back, and comforting her.
"He will be nice to you, he promised father," Marleen tried to cheer her up.
Her father was not a good man, he was cold and unpredictable.
He had beaten her mercilessly when she refused to take her sister's place.
But Aria had no choice.
Her family's life was at stake.
Today was the ball of the union, they would see each other for the first time, she had already seen Zeref, but he only knew Marleen.
Aria raised the hem of her dress and pushed herself through the people to the dance floor.
Her foolish heart was beating wildly in her chest, she was nervous and she hated so many people around her. Marleen was right behind Aria, she was her anchor.
She remained motionless as she saw the beautiful couple on the dance floor, tightly wrapped and intimately familiar with each other.
Her mouth felt dry, she felt betrayed and mocked.
He should dance with his bride, so it was prescribed and yet he danced with another right before her eyes.
Aria wanted to look away, but she couldn't.
He was only a few yards away, the girl embraced him and they smiled at each other.
Aria felt betrayed, it was a bitter taste in her mouth.
She couldn't bear the humiliation any longer, she saw her sister's pitiful look and struggled to hold back the tears.
"Sorry," Aria mumbled as she shoved herself through the crowd.
The tight corset strangled her air, she put one hand on her stomach and pushed the door open.
She had to get out of this room full of hypocrites.
Someone called her name, but she didn't care.
Not for a second would she stay in this room.
Aria ran down the hall and lifted the heavy train.
She tried to run as fast as she could.
Those cursed shoes.
She hated high shoes.
Aria ran into the garden, she loved nature.
Her feet carried her over the grass and she ran under a beautiful avenue of trees.
She stopped in front of a fountain and sank to her knees.
"Don't cry, don't cry," whispered Aria and pressed a hand on her mouth.
Her breathing calmed down slowly and the stinging in her chest had also stopped.
She didn't know how long she was gone, but the laughter and music from the orchestra echoed out into the garden.
Aria rose slowly and took off her shoes.
It had got dark, the sun had set.
The castle was in front of her, brightly lit.
It was beautiful, but still a cage.
She took her shoes in her hand and walked slowly back through the gardens.
Aria felt insecure and looked around searching, but nobody was near her.
She closed her eyes and tried to see if anyone was standing on the balustrade, but it was too dark.
Half the way was behind her as she paused and slowly turned around.
"Hello," she whispered anxiously, trying to spot something in the dark.
"Is anyone there?" Aria shouted again.
A bad feeling spread and she wanted to disappear as soon as she turned around again, bragging about something hard.
Unbelieving, Aria looked up and immediately withdrew.
Zeref stood in front of her.
His blue eyes devoured them and they turned dark, so dark as the night around them.
"You weren't at my side", he took a step towards Aria and she immediately took a step back.
He noticed it and smiled, but it wasn't a nice smile, it was Evil.
"You were very busy," she stammered quietly.
"The fiancée of the king, should be at my side," he growled and grabbed her wrist, his grip aching.
"You hurt me," whispered Aria.
"I don't care," he reinforced his grip and pulled her closer to him.
She collided with his chest and was shocked by the sudden contact.
"You shouldn't walk around here alone, all alone," he bent down to her and she felt his breath on her skin.
"Who knows what you could find so alone here.
His voice sounded threatening and a cold shiver ran down her back.
Zeref stroked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's dangerous out here at night, because monsters like to hang around here".
Their alarm bells screamed.
She pushed him away, dropped her shoes and turned around on the heel.
But Zeref was quick, he was a vampire.
Aria didn't get far, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back.
A diabolical smile appeared on his beautiful face.
He was the devil, a monster she had warned her grandmother about.
"Let me go, now," Aria ordered and tugged at her wrist.
She braced herself against his chest, but with a jerk he pressed her against him.
Aria was close to tears.
"What do you want from me," she drove at him.
"I want everything. I want to devour you with skin and hair".
"Go to hell," Aria hissed and fought vehemently against him.
Aria just reached up to his shoulder, he showed her clearly that he was bigger and stronger, much stronger.
"You know what I'd like to do, my little princess," his voice promised a temptation.
Zeref didn't give her time to answer.
"I want to tear this beautiful neck to shreds and drown in your wonderful blood," he growled quietly, so that only she could hear him.
Aria became pale.
"Yes, fear me. I want fear to devour you".
Zeref let her go and Aria ran away, she fled through the narrow corridors and his laughter followed her.
Breathlessly she opened the door to her bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Three times she controlled the lock and turned to Marleen, whom she looked shocked at.
"What's the matter?
"I can't, I can't marry him".
Aria opened her wardrobe and carelessly threw everything into the suitcase.
"He is a monster, he will kill me if I stay".
Marleen took her comfortingly in her arms and gently stroked her back.
"He would never kill you. When he kills you, he only kills himself".
"Marleen, I don't want to marry him", she couldn't hold back the tears anymore.
"I know, Aria. But you have to do it".
Aria nodded, she had no other choice.
"Our family has concluded the blood pact and swore," Marleen explained to her, but she knew.
She had heard the story since she was born.
There were only a few vampires left and the Therons were the most powerful of them, they ran the country, ruled it, and so that a vampire would not lose his mind over the years, he would look for a blood bride whose blood had magical power.
It healed, it made sure that a vampire could walk in the sun, that he remained human and did not become a mad creature that only knew the basest instincts.
Marleen was not a blood bride, she was sick, she was the shame of the family, as father told it again and again.
"I'm sorry, it was just so overwhelming".
Marleen nodded.
"Aria, be aware no matter where you go, he will find you everywhere. He would kill you and our whole Family".
Aria thought of her little brother and nodded.
"It was just a moment of fear, cold feet, nothing more".
Marleen did not believe her.
"We should sleep, tomorrow is the big day".
Aria nodded and looked at the red wedding dress, something at the cupboard.
It was like a memorial that she had no more chance.
YOU ARE READING
BLOOD BRIDE
Romance"The fiancée of the king, should be at my side," he growled and grabbed her wrist, his grip aching. "You hurt me," whispered Aria. "I don't care," he reinforced his grip and pulled her closer to him. She collided with his chest and was shocked by th...
