The Evil Stepsister (Fairytale Killers #2)

Do You Think You Can Promise Someone Forever

Oz and Jack Rawlings had very little to talk about. Outside the bridal dress changing room, they waited for the sisters. The silence had been going on for too long, it was up to Oz to fill it: Jack Rawlings read finance news on his phone.

The wedding was set in a week, Caterina growing exponentially to full bridezilla, forcing the engaged couple to meet before the wedding, thankfully neither changing their minds when they did, avoiding more drama. So now Oz had to interact with the future husband of his girlfriend's sister, the newly engaged couple never going anywhere just the two of them. It also suited Carmela and Oz, having discovered a way to talk about themselves without the conversation being interrupted by them climbing each other. Nice and steady phase, neither of them was in a hurry.

Problem was, Jack Rawlings wasn't very talkative, and the two of them got left alone a lot, especially when the twins talked about something neither of the men knew existed. 

"That's it, it's been four hours! I'm taking this dress off!"

"Carmela!"

The door opened, Caterina's bare shoulders and teary fake eyelashes directed at Oz. 

"I need another opinion. Get in."

Jack took his eyes off his phone, "Inside the dressing room?"

Carmela was the perfect mannequin for Caterina's dress, so they'd spend hours trying on different models, taking pictures. Comparing.

"It's not like I'm seeing something new," Oz joked, regretting immediately as he saw Jack's frown unite his brows.

"Let's not mix things," he said, serious. Caterina rolled her eyes in fake annoyance, but smiled at him.

"I hate this fabric!" Carmela cried from behind the door. "Please, you know it's this one you want. Let's just go."

Caterina closed the door, "Fiiine, I'll review the photos at home."

***

Caterina took her time showing up to walk down the aisle. Carmela was supposed to be first, one minute before, after helping her prepare.

The church, the only Orthodox Christian church in the city, was unlike any other Oz had seen, gold decorating paintings and window frames, going up the ceilings. Mary and Baby Jesus, full shiny metal bodies, only their faces painted. No statues, the Orthodox Church took that whole Building-An-Idol thing literally. Combined with the separation between men and women on the benches, it was all too weird for Oz. Elements, the more socially acceptable ones, were added from The Free Men ceremonial, a mix of Catholicism and alchemy.

Franco rotted in jail instead of walking his daughter down the aisle, no one losing sleep over it. Rawlings Senior was attending in all earnestness, The Free Men did not oppose other religious practices, they just mocked them and went on to sacrifice frogs.

A ten minutes delay, and Alina Walter got up and silently left the church.

***

"It just doesn't fit!" Caterina cried. 

Carmela failed to see where, "It's anxiety, you know it is! Let's just breathe and head out."

It was too late to calm down, their mother entered the room, eyes measuring Caterina. Her sister was covered in lace: with the veil on, she looked like she was mourning in white.

"It's perfect," their mother said, no inflection, cutting off protests with a firm hand. Turning to Carmela, she ordered, "I'm going to my seat. Wait one minute, you go to yours. One minute later," she pointed her heavy-with-rings finger at the bride, "You walk down the aisle, beaming. Nothing less is acceptable."

Caterina nodded, pouting, relieved the decision was out of her hands. 

"Everything is ready. Even the cop cleaned up. There's no reason to fret," their mother lectured them.

"But mom," Caterina still tried a defense, "I can fit my whole finger in here," she pulled at the top of her strapless heart-shaped corset. 

"Do I need to remind you that had I been so…" Alina looked for a word, "Spoiled."

She glared at Carmela before moving on to Caterina, "Then you two would've worked in a factory for your entire lives, adjacent sewing machines. Only in that case, you would've gained the right to complain about other people doing their jobs badly. You don't need one, so be grateful! And stop whining!"

The twins sighed, waiting for their mother to move her focus away from them. 

"See you inside," their mother said, a rare smile making her look even younger. "You both look good."

Left alone with her sister, Carmela went into the mirror frame. Caterina wore an engagement ring that she had picked out herself, so the sisters were now easily recognisable even when dressed the same, which was becoming rarer and rarer. When in different clothes, like white against pink, they were like regular sisters, resembling each other. 

Carmela smiled in the mirror, then went to take her place behind the men row, searching for Oz's tall stature standing out of the lines. He'd cut his hair, trimmed his beard, bought a suit. She liked him more when uncomplicated by any association with Franco.

The ceremony ran long and nasal hymns failed to make it tolerable, so Carmela was happy seeing Oz exit for a short break. Not being involved in the ritual had its perks.

She followed him outside.

"It's just one minute," Oz said, by the church's door, two fingers inside his collar, pulling it to detach it from his neck. "I just couldn't take the incense smell."

"Yeah," Carmela nodded, fighting not to help him. She smiled from afar. Although they were going well--it was not like they didn't like each other's humor--it sounded weird even to Carmela to hear herself say, "Do you think you could promise someone forever?"

Vague and still too soon, after only months of good sex and getting to know each other, all while using the future Rawlings couple as a blocker. She brushed his shoulder to get his attention, then kissed his cheek, making him talk.

"I think I can, but you know, I'm an addict, I kinda tend to overpromise. So I'm trying not to, with you. Did that, failed already."

"All I want is you doing your best. I will, too, I also want this to work," she said. Then handwaved, "Take it day by day, see where it takes us. Enjoying each other," she smiled invitingly. "You know… live…"

"Happily ever after," he pushed her inside, knowing they'd defile that worship place if they didn't get somewhere less private than its interior courtyard.

"Yeah," she said. "I'd like that."

THE END