Flowers and Darkness

Chapter 20

It was 1am and the party was still in motion. I had politely smiled and said "thank you" after "congratulations" way past my limit. The champagne helped for a while, but now I just felt drained.

My head hurt from the pounding music that only seemed to amplify after Dean's announcement and my mouth hurt from the hours of smiling I put on. I could feel a hangover brewing tomorrow morning.

I leaned into Dean's ear. "I'm going to head to sleep."

He cut off from his conversation mid way from a portly man with a balding white head and ginger contrasting beard. He looked at me in longing. "Go to my bedroom, I'll meet you there." He reached down to my hand to place a soft kiss on the back.

He glanced over to his counterpart and the moment was broken.

"Nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening."

"You too, you too dear. And congratulations!" He jovially said before resuming conversation with Dean.

I took my hand from Dean, too caught up in the conversation to notice my hand still in his, and muttered a "thanks" before heading to Dean's room.

As I walked out, shutting the large doors to the ballroom, the rest of the castle felt eerily silent.

It felt wrong to be leaving a party this early. Every step I took echoed and only further emphasised the emptiness.

I shook my head at the thought of a ghost or monster jumping out at me. I was clearly more tired that I thought.

I had just opened the doors when I saw it. Sleek dark hair, bee stung lips and perfect porcelain skin.

Clutching a champagne glass and elegantly sprawled across the queen size bed, sat Alyanna completely nude.

I stumbled back and my mouth dropped at the sight.

She raised her eyebrows briefly, before composing herself again and slowly swaying her champagne glass.

"Hello Violet."

She spoke as if I was a child stumbling into her parents study while they were busy working. This wasn't the same situation. Whilst I was definitely interrupting her, this wasn't her study.

"What are you doing in Dean's room?"

My hands were clenched hard to my sides to the point I could swear my nails had dunk hard enough to draw blood. I was frozen. I felt like if I moved I would either collapse or just attack.

"What are you doing here then?" She paused and smiled widely before briefly squeezing her eyes shut to shake her head. "Silly question. I apologise. You're the bride to be, of course you'll be here."

She reached over to grab a satin black robe to cover up herself as she stood up to made her way over.

"Of course it's you."

I bite my tongue at the snarky edge to her voice.

"Mirela, Katerine, Violet...so many names you've had over the years."

She pressed up softly to me and brushed a hand over my cheek, following it down to my cleavage. I stayed quiet and still.

"It's always you"

She smirked and took a step back, crossing her arms to asses me as she did so.

"I want you gone." Her mouth harshly spewing out the 'want'.

"It's always the same. He goes after you for a few measly years, you die and then he comes to me again. He always comes back to me. And I've been fine with it."