The Moonbound Bride

Chapter 1

LYRA

It was not even past seven and I woke up from my mushy, dreamy sleep. My blurry eyes couldn't gather all of it but my waking time was usually nine in the morning. I sat up on the bed, but why the setting of my house doesn't seem familiar to me? I took a quick glance at the alarm clock that I had just seen. That wasn't mine either!

Where am I? Whose house is this? The entire room is different. My clothes are different. I never wear silk when I go to sleep. What is happening? The walls, the curtains, the chandelier in the bedroom—all of it seem so unfamiliar.

I panicked!

There was a knock on the door and it suddenly swung open. A lady in white clothes, probably a waitress or a servant, entered the room. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail and had worn a skirt which is black in color with tiptoe shoes. What a typical rich family vibe! She has a platter full of breakfast in a trolley that she slid in. I tried to ask her, but as I opened my mouth she turned away, bowing to me at the door. Only air escaped my mouth.

I ran my fingers through my hair. There was a mirror in which I took a glance of myself. I was wondering if I was even alive anymore or did I woke up in someone else's body, or am I still in my mushy dream. I'm a novel writer, so constant dreams and ideas were prone to happen to me. But am I living in one of my novels right now, like those that happen in the books? Where the protagonist wakes up in the fictional world they wrote.

I don't even check the breakfast. Instead, I walked towards the windows and pulled open the curtains. The view in front of me is all green. Like I'm in the mountains. This is a house located on some hill. The clouds are touching every greenery and the fog is thick. But I can't open the window. They are all glass, but I can't open them.

Am I kidnapped? But who will do so? Maybe by my rival writer? Maybe the publishing house I just fought with yesterday? Or anyone, just for money! But whoever has kidnapped me looks more wealthier than I am! Then why would they?

I tried to go to the door and turn the knob but that was in vain too. I'm trapped in this room. I let out a deep sigh and sit on the bed, wondering, until I notice the ring on my ring finger. My mouth gaped open! What? Why?... What is this? Where did this ring come from?

Wait! I bite my lips constantly and frown my eyebrows thinking of the worst possibility.

And then, the door opens again. This time it's a smell, a beautiful smell of smoke and chocolates. I see a hand with an expensive watch on it. My eyebrows get raised. I stand there, still, all frozen!

“Excuse me..,” I began saying and then I stopped, because I saw a handsome figure approaching me. His skin is pale, with thick eyebrows, and eyes so beautiful like a never seen beauty. The height is quite not human-like. I'm stunned! He wears an official suit. And looks at me right after. My veins jolt.

“Good morning, Lyra!” He says. How does he know my name?

He looks the other way and brushes his index finger across his eyebrow, and that's when I notice a ring on his ring finger too. Slightly similar to mine! My eyes widened. I'm perplexed.

I quickly wrap my night coat around me which had been opened while I was sleeping, and look at him.

He chuckles a bit.

I frown again. Why is he doing that? Who is he? Am I….am I….marri…No, stop!

“Don't worry! I'm not interested in touching you at all. So it doesn't work with me!”

I stay silent.

“You need to stay here until I want you to and until my family wants you to. Understand? And in return, all you have to do is just obey me and my orders.” Saying this, he walks away.

“Wait a minute!” I call from behind.

He stops and just turns his head!

“Who are you? And what the hell is all this?” I ask.

He turns to face me completely,“That shouldn't be your concern!”

Huh? What? Shouldn't be my concern? I'm brought here by some unknown man in this unknown house, and he replies with this?

“What do you mean? What do you want from me? I have the right to know!” I shout.

“Shhh!” He hushes me coming closer to me like a maniac. I shift backwards.

“No one in this house raises their voice. Understood?” He glares at me, the color of his eyes is deep brown framed with thick lashes.

“But why am I here?”

“Because we want you to be here!” He replies coldly.

“So you have no answer for this?” I sigh .

“I do have, but it's not important for me to let you know.”

What in the world?

“Listen, I want to know…” I shouted again.

“Don't do that, I said.” He comes at me in such a way that I'm plopped on the bed with a bounce. I grip the sheets tightly and look him in the eye.

“I just told you to keep shut. Don't ask questions and you will be saved from me. And if you utter any more words, I might kill you too!” He said, unapologetically.

He then walks towards the door, while I still sit on the bed shocked, thinking. He opened the door and turned back. My heart jumped in my chest.

“Just know that we are married and you can't escape. But this isn't a usual marriage!” With saying this, he leaves, the door behind him shutting with a thud.

I'm married to him? A stranger? How? Why can't I remember anything? Where's my phone? I need to call my parents. Did he take my phone too?

Why, though? Why has he married me? Who is he?

I sit on the floor as a tear trickles down my cheek. I look at the ring and gasp. This feels like murdering my soul! I'm surely kidnapped, and my kidnapper is a psychopath. My husband is a psychopath!

But I won't sit still; I will break free from here. Like my novels! How I write strong characters, I won't give up like them. I get up, wiping my tears and open the drawers of the cupboard, my curiosity piqued. The cupboard is empty, but the drawers have something carved into them. I tilt my head to get all of it.

“Blade Harlow.” I say the name aloud.

Who is this? The name of who made this cupboard? No.....wait! Blade Harlow! Oh my god, the billionaire businessman, Blade Harlow! I'm at his house? He thought of kidnapping me? Huh? All of these did not make sense to me at all.

“Blade Harlow,” I whispered the name again.

Then I realized that the man has always been strange! He got into a couple of accidents but still survived! His height is insane. He might be six and a half foot to a seven foot tall. Not normal at all! And now he does this. Does he have a problem with my writing? But why would he marry me?

I go near the window again to try to figure out the location. But I really can't see anything other than the thick smog and huge trees. He is insanely pale too! Is he a vampire?

Oh, my writer's mind? Stop it, Lyra! It's all fictional. But what if he is! No, no, no, no! Vampires only sound good in fictional worlds. I can't imagine a real-life encounter with a vampire.

★★★

Another knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I sit on my bed quickly as I don't want any other issue unless I know about it all. An elderly woman came in with her cane. She looks strangely beautiful, even at this age!

“Hello my love! These are the dresses I bought for you. Let me know which one would you like to wear for your wedding reception tonight?” She greets me warmly, holding out a collection of gorgeous dresses.

Wedding reception? Like a party? What? Come again?

I stared at her blankly!

“Don't worry, dear. All these are for you. You can wear anything from here!” She said, her voice sweet and wavy, as I stole a glance at the dresses.

“And who are you?” I asked.

“I'm the grandmother of Blade, your husband!” She said, sweetly again.

Grandmom! She seems sweet. Maybe she can help me escape this mess. I have to attend the party to know more secrets about Blade, our marriage and the purpose of all these.

“Oh, thank you, grandma. I'll certainly select a dress.” I say sweetly, too.

“Glad! then I'll leave it to you. But remember, only wear orange!” She smiled, but she sounded mysterious.

I frowned. Only orange? Then I realized all the dresses she bought me are orange. Even she was wearing a lighter shade of orange. Blade was wearing orange too. The color of my nightgown is also orange!!!

What's with all the orange color?

The whole family seems fishy!

I just smiled and nodded. Then my smile disappeared because I know I'm in a hell lot of a trouble!