Heartstrings

(10) Sweet

Sophie

The wedding went smoothly as planned. My Aunts helped me in my wedding dress. It wasn't grand but it was more beautiful than a short time preparation can afford. The wedding took place at a small chapel then we moved the reception to our family's garden.

I wished it was my mother who helped me picked out my wedding dress. However the purpose of the wedding was, I know she will look at the Brightside. She will tell me that this wasn't a transaction after all. That this might be an actual marriage for normal people. People who don't have to sacrifice a lifetime for peace or war.

"You need to eat more." Lucas' warm breath tingled my ear.

"I'm not that hungry." I stirred my spoon to the soup that remains untouched.

His hand went firmly on the small of my back. "Eat. Or do I have to feed you in front of the guests?"

"I'll eat," I sputtered, taking the spoon to my mouth. I paused when his gaze went stationary on the spoon... or my mouth.

My father's laughter beside me snapped us both out of it. Him from staring. Me from recalling the kiss days ago that was way better than the innocent peck at the wedding ceremony.

I gripped the spoon and dipped it to the soup. It clattered noisily against the rim of the plate, sloshing the soup when a loud shattering sound resonated.

There were screams – not sure if one was mine. My hands were glued to my ears because they were ringing so much. My eyes snapped shut, my body shaking from the consecutive gunshots overwhelming the garden.

When I opened my eyes, my face was buried in Lucas' neck and we were crouched behind our table. A body slumped behind me and I screamed.

I tried to slightly turn my head over my shoulder but Lucas' hand went over my cheek to stop me. "Don't look."

"Gabby," I gasped. "Lucas, where's of Gabby?"

Lucas retaliated the gunshots then turned his mouth to my ear so I could hear. "He's okay. He's with Jacob."

"Who's attacking us?" I shouted, afraid the gunshots will just drown out my voice.

Lucas clasped my wrist. "We have to get you out of here. Jacob will meet us at the driveway."

I gasped when I caught a glance of my father's dead body next to me. His chair was knocked over. Blood trailed from his forehead where a bullet wound pooled.

They drenched my shoes.

"I'm sorry, Sophie. We have to go." He tugged at my arm and led me to the driveway. I kept my eyes straight on his back so I wouldn't see anymore dead bodies.

There was a pricking behind my eyes. But I held them there, because it wasn't the time to mourn for my dead father.

I have Gabby to think about.

Jacob entered my vision, my eyes frenziedly searching for my brother. He dug his fingers through his hair. "Fuck, he run off to the mansion."

My blood turned ice-cold.

"Stay with Jacob. I'll go after him," Lucas ordered and let go of my wrist he was clasping to a death grip.

I didn't go to Jacob. I ran toward the mansion, ignoring Lucas calling my name.