Programmed Love

Chapter Eighteen: A Wedding

     "Orson, baby, you have to get off of me," I chuckled at the ever-growing bear lying as best as he could on my mid-section. It felt like someone had piled a bag of rocks on me and had forgotten about them. He whined out in complaint as I pushed his warm, cuddly body off me. 

     In defiance, he curled up beside my head and nipped at my ear before I successfully rolled out of bed. Shaking my head at his adorableness, I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. I was expecting company to appear at my door any minute to help me get ready. 

     Only a few days had passed, and Nic had only informed me yesterday that today would be our wedding. I'd been preparing myself the past couple days for when we got to our honeymoon destination. Corrine would be accompanying us, and Dominic had told me that if I wanted anyone else to come along, all I had to do was request it. A plan had already manifested inside my mind, but no matter how much I occupied myself with, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. 

     Dominic seemed so head-over-heel's for me, and all I could do in return was a few smiles and half-hearted 'I love you's'. It seemed like my life wasn't my own anymore, almost like a puppet on strings. It hurt me more to betray him when I thought that I truly loved him, so I tried surpressing my feelings as much as possible. Only then, I felt even more like an emotionless robot, so I had to bring my emotions back. It was an endless paradox. 

     "Miss, or, soon to be Missus, I've brought your dress. Are you ready?" Corrine's voice broke through the daze I'd found myself in. I absent-mindedly nodded my head before realising she couldn't hear me causing me to move to the door with a deep breath. 

     "As ready as ever," I told her before opening the door to reveal a smiling Corrine with a box balanced atop her head and beauty products filling her arms. She zoomed past me the moment the door was fully open, and placed everything carefully on my bed. Dominic had let me sleep in my original bed the last few nights to give me a small bit of space, or to give him more time to perfect the wedding arrangements. Either way, I was thankful. Sleep came much easier when his suffocating hold was missing from around my form. 

     "First, I was told I need to make sure you're spotless. So, when was the last time you took a bath?" Corrine asked with a clap of her hands. I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly before she reached into the mess piled on my bed for shampoos and other bathing materials. I groaned with an eye roll, and Corrine scoffed at my childish attitude. 

     "This is your wedding day, young lady. Now you'd better get your little butt into that bathroom before I go get Dominic to help you instead," Corrine jokingly threatened. Over dramatically gasping, I clamped my hand over my mouth before scurrying into the bathroom with a smile. 

     "You're lucky, Miss-Oh! Orson, no! Go back!" Corrine ordered. 

     "Let him stay. He just wants to be pretty, too," I caringly said while bending down to his level to scratch behind his ear. 

     "But he'll get you all dirty again!" Corrine whined. I stuck my tongue out at her before putting Orson into the bathtub and starting the water. Orson happily trotted to the faucet and lapped up as much water as possible before sitting down in the thin layer of water with a joyful expression. I placed the plug into the bath drain, and the water slowly started rising. 

     "This bath was for you, Miss! Now everything is gonna take ten times longer!" Corrine complained even more. 

     "Oh, just let him take a bath. Can't you see how happy the little cutie is? It's not like the wedding will start without me," I reasoned. 

     "I guess you're right. But that doesn't mean Dominic won't get impatient. Then I'll get blamed for it," she explained. 

     "Not if I tell him it was my idea," I told her in a sing-song voice. She grumbled out a reply before handing me the shampoo and conditioner so I could wash him myself. 

     I put a towel beneath my knees as I got to work. Orson enjoyed rolling around in the water which caused it to often splash over the sides, thoroughly wetting the floor. He took this time to play, and more water got on me than was drained into the bath drain. The white T-shirt Dominic requested I wear last night was now entirely soaked, but at least Orson smelled sweet like hazelnut and vanilla. 

     "Get me a towel, please," I requested from Corrine so I could wrap my not-so-little pizzly bear in the towel to dry him off. Orson snuggly fit into the towel, and he was soon asleep and shivering due to the temperature difference between the room and the water. I held him to my bosom and cooed before handing him to Corrine so I could fill the tub once again for myself. 

     Ridding myself of the drenched shirt and shorts, I put them to the side as well as my undergarments before sinking into the tub with a sigh. The water rised to my neck, and the warmth nearly lulled me to sleep as well. 

     "Miss, I need you awake now. You'll have plenty of time later to sleep later... Well, if Dominic gives you a chance that is," Corrine winked. The suggestive comment flew completely over my head, and I sent her a confused look. 

     "Has no one told you yet? Seriously?" Corrine asked in evident shock. I shook my head before embarrassment crossed her face. 

     "Well, I might as well not tell you now," Corrine mumbled before glancing to the side. Huffing out in annoyance at everyone's vagueness on the subject, I slouched lower into the tub. 

     "Let's get your hair done. Why didn't you take it out before you got in?" Corrine scolded. 

     "I don't like my hair down," I explained before reaching up to undo my hair. 

     "That sucks, because the Master told me to style your hair down today for your wedding," Corrine slyly said.

     "Why?" I groaned while running my fingers through the tangled tresses. 

     "He says, and I quote, 'Her hair just delicately frames her angelic face so perfectly.' He also said he's been tempted to hide all your hair bands so you have no way to put it up," she mischievously said. A sudden look of realization crossed my face as my mouth gaped open. 

     "Is that why I woke up that one day with my hair down and my hair tie missing?" I exclaimed. Corrine only laughed before helping me brush out my brown locks. Soon after, I felt a light trickle of water rain down on my head, and Corrine started massaging her fingers across my scalp. It was quite calming, and it seemed to be over too soon. In no time at all, it seemed like a fluffy towel was wrapped around me and I was being led back into my room onto the bed. 

     "Alright, that's the first thing done. Next is-Orson, no! That's the box her dress is in!" Corrine yelled at Orson. Quickly turning my attention to the still damp bear on my bed, he looked to be contently chewing on a cardboard box with half-lidded eyes. Corrine snapped him out of his daydream and he quickly released the box before jumping from the bed and scampering to my feet. 

     "I'll never understand how you don't have gray hairs yet from that bear," Corrine said with a sigh before inspecting the white box carefully. 

     "He's just a sweet, little innocent baby underneath all that fur, aren't you, Orson?" I cooed before squishing his face and kissing his wet nose to earn a lick in reply. 

     "I just cleaned you! Come on!" Corrine whined. I laughed in response before standing with the towel clutched tightly in my hand to prevent it from falling before walking to the side of the bed Corrine was at. 

     "What's the next thing?" I asked her with determination. If everything past this point was already planned out for me, the least I could do was enjoy myself beforehand. 

     "We need to get you in your dress. Then we'll do your makeup, then your hair. Aradella said she'd be in here to help eventually as well," Corrine told me. Excitement filled me at the idea of seeing Aradella today. Her and I had gotten closer the past few days, of course with the absence of Dominic, and I even had plans of requesting for her to come along with Dominic and me to Alaska. Her presence would greatly aid me in getting to the main control. 

     "What will she help with?" I inquired while Corrine grabbed the box containing my dress from the bed.

     "She's going to be doing your hair. She was the one who actually asked to do that. I just thought it would be a good idea since she enjoys doing her own hair, and she's naturally good at it," She replied. I nodded my head in agreement as Corrine brought the box to me. 

     "Dominic incorporated what he thought you would like into this dress. He had Eleanor draw up a design for it, then it was sent to a seamstress robot that was long ago made especially for creating Eleanor and Aradella's outfits," the orangette explained. Nodding my head once more, I took the box from her grasp and opened it gently before peering inside. 

     I carefully removed the dress from its box, and I was surprised by the silky texture. The dress appeared cinched in certain places to give it a wavy appearance, and three cyan flowers hung from the waist by black vines that ended in shiny diamond sequins. The top was a sweetheart neckline, and it was also cinched to give it a more detailed look. The color itself was white, but the highlights of blue seemed to absorb into the white giving it a baby blue radiance. A strapless lace b*a was also in the bottom of the box, as well as matching underwear that seemed extremely skimpy to me. I gave Corrine a puzzled look and she just looked away once again. Shrugging my shoulders, I dropped my towel before slipping the undergarments on and awaiting Corrine's help to get the dress on. 

     She unzipped the back and bent down in front of me, motioning for me to place both feet inside the dress before she pulled it up around me and moved to the back. The zipper easily slid upwards, and I felt my insides squeeze together at the tightness. The dress pushed my chest upwards, and I was given an hourglass figure as I looked into the full length mirror Dominic had gifted me with yesterday. 

     "It looks wonderful on you, Miss. Eleanor truly did make a terrific dress just for you," Corrine complimented, and I smiled in return. Orson moved to my feet and smelled the bottom of the dress before tilting his head at me in curiosity. I felt an extreme urge to pick him up, but deemed it unwise due to him still looking a bit damp. 

     A sudden knock came from the door, and Corrine and I both rushed to answer it. Noticing the commotion, Orson ran to the door as well. Another knock was heard, and I managed to reach the door before Corrine. Swinging it open, Aradella appeared with a simplistic baby blue dress. 

     "What are you still doing with your hair in a towel for? We have a lot of work to do in such a little amount of time!" Aradella exclaimed before pushing me back into the room. She seemed to take in my appearance for a second before a melancholic smile spread across her face. 

     "That's the dress design Grandma and I came up with many years ago. I thought she'd thrown it away long ago," Aradella softly said before carefully reaching out to touch the material before retracting her hand and locking her eyes onto my own. 

     "You wear it well," she complimented before shutting the door behind her. She'd put her green contacts in today, and it suited the velvety blue dress she wore much better. Her hair was up in her stereotypical high bun, but the bottom half remained down. A golden bull ring encrusted with pure diamonds hung from her nose, and that seemed to be the only bit of jewelry she wore today. 

     "Get the chair, Corrine," Aradella demanded before quickly getting to work removing the towel from my hair. It helped that Ella was already taller than me to begin with, so she had an easier time preparing my hair before I even sat down. 

     "I'm just going to simply wave your hair. It will frame your face beautifully, trust me. Especially since I have a crown veil to put on you once I'm done. Does that sound okay?" She questioned before I nodded my head in response. I knew she was the expert here, so I didn't question her too much. 

     "I'll straighten it first, then we can really get down to business. Corrine, come do her makeup while I do this," Aradella said, and the authority in her voice further proved how serious she was on this matter. Corrine quickly situated herself in front of me, and I was soon being told to shut my eyes while a liquid substance was applied to my eyelids. 

                                                              •                     •                     •

     "Perfect, now just a little bit of glitter spray and you'll be gorgeous," Aradella said as she admired her handiwork. Placing her cold hand across my eyes, a cold mist was sprayed over my hair soon after. 

     "Thank you," I gratefully said. My face was numb from being brushed and sculpted to perfection, and my scalp was sore from Aradella's ceaseless pulling on the strands. 

     To finish off my entire outfit, Aradella placed the silver crown atop my head, then proceeded to adjust the veil to her liking. The veil reached down to my hips, and it elegantly flowed around my hair. A sapphire heart was the center jewel piece. The veil was made of a translucent blue material, and it went extremely well with the dress. 

     "Is Eleanor well enough to walk me down the aisle?" I asked. I'd been told that Eleanor had wanted to be the one to do so in the replacement of a father, and I'd happily agreed. However, her condition had slowly been worsening the past few days, and I didn't know how much strength she had left. 

     "Yes. We have a wheelchair for her that will let her do so. I'll be in the front row in case anything happens. Dominic didn't want me standing anywhere near you during the ceremony, so I have to make due with front row seats," she chuckled. I smiled in return before glancing at my appearance in the mirror. The image was breathtaking. All I'd ever seen of myself was a greasy haired, disheveled, malnourished girl, but now there stood a filled out, extremely pampered, and elegant woman. 

     "Would you like to go to Alaska with us?" I asked absent-mindedly. Her startled expression nearly didn't register with me when I turned my focus to her. She seemed dumbstruck for a moment before she looked to her feet. 

     "Even after all I've done to you, you want me to go on that journey with you?" Aradella asked with tears threatening to fall. 

     "Of course. We're going to be sisters-in-law after all," I mimicked her from a few days ago with a smile. Sending me a lopsided smile, she nodded her head. 

     "I'd love to go. I don't know how Nic would react though," she said. 

     "He said I could request anything I wanted, and that's what I want," I firmly stated. 

     "I swear, you seem to be the only one he listens to these days," Aradella muttered while shaking her head. 

     "Crap, what time is it?" Aradella said with a wide-eyed realization. Turning to Corrine, the robot's eyes flashed orange before she had a response. 

     "We have exactly ten minutes before we're late," Corrine said in a matter-of-fact tone. 

     "Get your shoes on, we need to hurry up," Aradella rushed before pushing my new white combat boots in my direction. They had been specially made for my wedding dress, and I was glad that I could at least walk in something familiar. 

     "Can Orson sit with you in the front?" I pleaded to Aradella while sliding the boots over my feet. 

     "Of course. I'll need his leash," Ella replied. I pointed towards the drawer near my bed where the leash and collar was located, then I stood up and walked to Corrine to get a feel for the new shoes. 

     In no time at all, Aradella, Corrine, Orson, and I were all on our way to Eleanor's door. My dress fluttered behind me as we quickly speed walked down the halls. I had to hold up one side of my dress while clutching Orson's leash tightly in my hand. Aradella knocked on the light pink door before hearing a small 'come in'. 

     "Ah, and here's the beautiful bride-to-be. I was beginning to think you'd run off," Eleanor said with a wink. She seemed significantly paler, and a lot skinnier. It seemed like she was nearly a skeleton. I tried my hardest not to stare as I smiled at her. She was wearing an elaborate cyan kimono, and blue glasses hid her nearly white orbs. Her robotic pink cat ears twitched atop her head, and for a split second she reminded me of a stray cat I'd encountered long ago. 

     "I wouldn't miss this day for the world, " I joked with a nearly unnoticeable pun, and Eleanor returned it with a knowing smile.

     "Well that's a relief to know," she weakly said before reaching her hand out to me. Grasping her shaking hand in my own, her wheelchair moved nearer to me before she grabbed a box from her bed and placed it into my hands.

     "A wedding gift," she winked before patting my hand. The box was extremely small, and I was doubtful that it was big enough to hold any kind of photo, but I accepted it anyway. 

     "Thank you, Eleanor," I sincerely thanked, and Eleanor moved past me. 

     "Come on, girls. We have a wedding to catch," the old woman said as we all quickly followed behind with our own smiles. 

     "We have five minutes to get Valencia walking down the aisle before we're counted as late, and if that happens, Dominic will surely have our heads," Aradella explained, and this caused everyone to quicken their pace. Orson was constantly racing ahead of us, then stopping, then racing forward again as if it was a game we were participating in. 

     When we were directly in front of the garden doors, Corrine and Aradella went their separate ways from Eleanor and I. Aradella took Orson's leash at that time, leaving me feeling alone. 

     "Take a deep breath, sweetie. It will all be over soon," Eleanor reassuringly whispered while squeezing my hand. 

     "I never wanted this, Eleanor. I wish it didn't have to be this way," I regretfully said, and Eleanor sent me a look of understanding. 

     "Everything will work out in the end. Just smile brightly, and count your steps. You're a kind soul, no matter what your heart is made of," Eleanor softly said. Confusion danced across my face as I looked down at her. 

     "What does that me-"

     "Time to get going. Remember, smile," Eleanor cut me off before two robotic guards opened the glass door to the garden and cut off our conversation. A charming smile lit up my face as I peered forward into a blue filled garden. A new hedge had been made in the last week. The top of a gazebo could be seen within it, and a cobblestone pathway led forward to it. Blue rose petals littered the lush green grass, and the soft 'click, clack' of my boots against the cobblestone rang out in the garden. A few birds were singing a song, and Eleanor even appeared to be humming to herself. Robots seemed to be everywhere in the vicinity. It seemed like the marriage of one of their main leaders was a major event to them. 

     As we moved slowly past them, many bowed towards us. I kept my gaze straight ahead, trying to ignore all the robotic eyes fixed on me, their new Mistress-to-be who would be shutting them all down in less than a week. 

     A memory that had disappeared from my conscious for such a long time resurfaced, and a silent tear welled in my eyes. 

     "What are we having today, Momma?" My father asked as he walked over to my still breathing mother and gave her a loving hug.

      "I suppose you'll just have to see," she mischievously answered as she pecked his lips.

      "EW! THAT'S NASTY!" I exclaimed, eight years old at the time, and quickly placed my hands over my eyes as they laughed together.

      "You're right, Valencia, it is nasty. So if any boy ever tries to do that to you, you'd better-"

      "John, we live 100 miles away from the closest human beings. I think boys are the least of our worries," my mother cut him off with a shake of her head and a chuckle. 

      "Still," he pouted. Rushing over to them, I wrapped my small arms as far around them as I could as we all shared our last happy group hug. 

    "Don't worry, Daddy. I won't let any boy even think about touching me," I quietly said to myself with a small, sad smile. The tear I had been trying to hard to suppress fell from my brown eyes. I'd broken one promise, but I had every intention of carrying out my second one. I would save the world for them. 

     If the makeup Corrine had put on me hadn't been waterproof, mascara would most definitely have been smeared down my cheeks, luckily that wasn't the case. I continued to smile even as my lips trembled. My lips quivered all the while as my future husband came into view. The word 'husband' seemed like such a grown up word to call Dominic, and I found the smile on my face becoming only slightly more sincere. 

     A priest from a tribe across the world had been called upon for our wedding, and it seemed like he made it. I'd heard that he was from the Tonkawa tribe, but I'd tried my hardest to suppress my surprise. Gladness washed over me as they didn't seem to recognize me from my parent's features. They probably came by the request of Eleanor due to her good standings with those people.

     After what felt like forever, I was finally at the gazebo where Dominic smiled brightly at me as if I was the only thing in the world. He was wearing a white suit that matched my dress, and a blue flower rested in his breast pocket. His cyan hair was gelled back with a single piece refusing to stay in place. I longed to reach up and smooth it back, but I figured that would seem improper to do. His blue eyes seemed to be practically glowing in joy, and his warm hands gladly held my own once Eleanor placed our hands together. His slender fingers interlocked with mine, and the bright white smile refused to leave his face. 

     "Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these creations and family, to join Master Dominic Estis and Miss Valencia Iredon in matrimony commended to be honorable among all; and therefore is not to be entered into lightly but reverently, passionately, lovingly and solemnly. Into this - these two persons present now come to be joined. If any being can show just cause why they may not be joined together - let them speak now or forever hold their peace," the deep voice of the priest spoke. A slight accent could be heard, and it reminded me greatly of my parents. A wave of nostalgia washed over me, but I desperately kept the smile upon my face. 

     The priest continued to speak about the meaning of marriage, and our relationship. He gave a small speech on how far the Estis family has come, and how lucky the family is to have won a strong woman such as myself into the family who will be able to continue the line for many years to come. It killed me inside to know I was doing the exact opposite. Eventually, it came time for Dominic to speak, and never once did his gaze waver from mine. 

     "I, Dominic Estis, take you, Valencia Iredon, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you with my life, heart, soul, and whole being. I will respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, giving you a caring shoulder to cry on, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together in this robotic world we can rule together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live," Dominic lovingly said.

     I knew I was supposed to go over my wedding vows, but my mind had been too stressed to remember the words on the paper Nic had given me quite a few days ago. My mind pulled a complete blank in that moment, and I felt like an i***t. My throat became dry, and I struggled to breath as Nic's gaze turned from expectant to worried. I heard his gentle voice whisper very softly to where only I could hear. 

     "My love, did they give you your medicine?" He softly asked. I barely shook my head, and it only took a single second for his gaze to turn from loving to hating. In that small moment, his blue eyes turned from me to the only humans sitting in the entire crowd, and instantly my mind started working once more as I knew I had to save them from his wrath somehow. Right when I felt his grip leaving my fragile fingers, I squeezed tighter onto his hands and opened my mouth with a random speech flowing. 

     "Dominic, from the moment I saw you sitting in that dining room, I felt an indescribable spark," I started, and instantly Nic's entire focus turned back to me. Swallowing my spit to wet my throat, I continued, "It took only one night for me to feel like I knew you my entire life. Even though all I could do back then was smile, or nod, you accepted me. You seemed to put me high on a pedestal above everyone else. The love you've shown me has blossomed, and I find myself wondering every night just how I was so lucky to have my fate cross with yours. I don't have much to give you, and every day I wake up wondering if my love will still be enough. You've saved my life, and for that I will always be eternally grateful. I may not be what you deserve, but in the small time we have together, I will always be there beside you through thick and thin to give you all the love one human being is capable of until the end of our days," I ended with my gaze firmly on Dominic. My words seemed to stray him from his anger towards his family, and I mentally let out a sigh of relief. 

     "And now, the couple shall mix their blood lines together to form an eternal pack between their lives," the priest said before bowing his head and presenting us with a ceremonial knife. The knife was wrapped in a deer skin decorated with flowers. Unsheathing the knife revealed a blade so sharp my eyes felt cut just from looking at it. Dominic grasped the knife firmly in his right hand and reached for my left hand. Sending him a panicked expression, he caringly looked at me before whispering that it would be okay. 

     I timidly held my left hand out, and he gently took it in his left hand, palm up. He quickly dragged it across my palm while I help back a squeak of pain. The blood appeared immediately, a deep crimson that would put Aradella's eyes to shame. Holding the knife hilt out to me, I understood what Dominic was hinting, and I repeated the action to him. A grimace of pain flickered across his face as I dragged the blade across his skin. 

     Once the deed was done, the priest brought our hands up and put the bloodied ones together. He motioned for us to squeeze our hands together, and as the mixed blood began to drip, the priest placed a bowl beneath our hands and waited for it to fill the bottom of the small bowl. Moving the bowl, he broke our hands apart and wiped them off with an alcohol wipe before making us bandage each other while he mixed the blood thoroughly and dumped a few drops into two wine chalices filled with what I assumed was wine. Holding a chalice out to each of us, he told us to drink. Dominic interlocked our elbows before chugging his glass down in one gulp. From the moment the taste hit my tongue, I wanted to spit it back out, but I managed to down it and send him a small smile afterwards. 

     "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride," the priest barely had time to finish before Nic abruptly dipped me into a deep kiss as the crowd erupted into cheers. The taste of blood was eminent from both our lips, but I pushed it aside as I melted into the kiss. 

     "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Estis," the priest finally ended as Dominic broke the kiss and brought me back up to a standing position. The crowd cheered more, and I saw Aradella jumping up from her seat with wolf-whistles. Eleanor was calmly clapping with a content smile on her face as Orson laid asleep in her lap. Corrine was also seated, but she was frantically clapping with an overjoyed expression like usual. Glancing down at my dress, I mentally sighed out in relief that none of our blood landed on my dress or his suit for the matter. 

     "Let's get going, my love. We have a lot to do in such a little amount of time," Dominic said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Sending him a shy smile in return, he led me through the crowd back through the garden and into the castle.

                                                                          •                •                •

     A few hours had passed, and Dominic and I had been packing the entire time for our depart to Alaska. Occasionally Dominic would stop his packing to come compliment me, or to give me a hug. Surprisingly, he hadn't kissed me since the wedding. 

     It hadn't taken me very long to pack since all I needed was a few pairs of clothes, but Dominic seemed to be taking forever. Most likely due to him stopping every few minutes to come see me. I hadn't told him yet about how I'd asked Aradella to join us, and I wasn't very much awaiting his response. 

     Like clockwork, Dominic appeared at my opened door once more. He'd changed out of his suit long ago, but I hadn't had the heart yet to change my clothes. I'd removed the veil, and my boots, but the dress still remained on me. 

     "I see you're still in your dress, Cutie. I told you awhile ago to change into something more comfortable," he reminded me. He was leaning on my door frame, and his hair was still gelled back. That single piece of hair was still falling down, and I took it upon myself to fix it this time. 

     Moving in front of him, I reached up to push it back while Dominic raised his eyebrows before catching my wrist in his hand with unnatural reflexes. He brought my wrist to his lips and sensually kissed it before bringing it to the side of his face where he pressed my palm to his right cheek. He remained in that position with half-lidded eyes, and after a few seconds I attempted to move away before he pulled me into his chest. 

     "Why is it you always move away?" He whispered into my ear, successfully sending a shiver down my spine. 

     "I-i don't know," I whispered in return. 

     "You're so adorable when you're flustered, my love. Since you don't seem to want to remove that dress yourself, how about I help you?" He asked, his voice taking a deeper tone. The intensity of his gaze worried me, and I couldn't figure out what his eyes were trying to tell me. Right before Nic pressed a kiss to my lips, I decided to do the only thing I thought would end this tension. 

     "I invited Aradella to come with us to Alaska," I quickly said. My breathing had hitched, and my eyes were squeezed shut. I felt a pressure released from my wrist, and I slowly opened my eyes to find the angered expression of my new husband. 

     "And why might I ask would you do that?" He darkly questioned. 

     "Because she's my sister now, and we're friends. You told me I could invite whoever I wanted and-"

     "I don't care what she is to you. I vanquished all ties I had with her when she nearly killed you. I don't want to ever see her near you ever again, do you understand, darling? " Dominic seethed. 

     "No, I don't understand. I'm alive and well, Nic. You should put this grudge in the past! She's your sister for God's sake!" I exclaimed. 

     "Please don't raise your voice at me, sweetheart. I hate seeing you angry," Dominic softened, and he attempted to pull me into a hug before I sidestepped him. 

     "Then let Ella come with us. She wants to see the Northern Lights just as bad as we do," I tried reasoning. After a stare down that lasted for an extremely agonizing thirty seconds, he backed down.

     "Fine. As long as you're happy, but no matter how alive and well you feel, that doesn't make it true," Dominic said before turning on his heel and leaving abruptly. Reaching out to grab his arm, I just barely missed before he turned back around just in time to catch me from falling due to my lunge. 

     "I'm going to say goodbye to Grandma. Stay here, I'll be back soon," Dominic told me before quickly shutting the door and leaving me alone in my barren room. 

     I was only able to wait for a few minutes before the suspicion rose too much in me. If he was going to say goodbye to Eleanor, then why couldn't I have gone with him? It just didn't seem right. 

     Getting up from my position on my bed, I walked to the door and listened for any sign of movement. Finding nothing, I proceeded to turn the knob and walk into the hallway. My bare feet against the carpet made little to no noise, and I was able to silently leave my room and make it to Eleanor's room with no issue. 

     After waiting a few minutes from hearing nothing, I was about to leave before I heard a sigh from the c***k in the door. 

     "Nic, I don't understand why you don't just tell her. She deserves to know. You know, so why can't she?" Eleanor's fragile voice asked, and it peaked my interest. 

     "She deserves a life of naivety. It's what's best for her, Grandma," the unmistakable voice of Dominic said. 

     "You're not the same as you were, Nic, and you know why. You know what I think of such things, and now look at what's happened for everyone," Eleanor sighed. 

      "Grandma, I've had enough of your 'wisdom' to last me a lifetime. I don't need anymore of it. In fact, I think it's time for your last dose of tea, Grandma," Dominic said. It all sounded wrong. The entire conversation was fishy. 

     "Dominic... " Eleanor sighed," I know you've been slowly killing me this entire time. I'm fine with it in all actuality. It just further proves my point of how you've changed. It further proves my views on why they should be terminated. Just, if you must kill me, forgive Aradella. Nothing has been her fault. It was all mine, I hope you can understand. And, let Valencia go. Give her space. Let her make her own decisions, alright? That's my dying wish," Eleanor faintly said. I was utterly confused by everything I had heard. None of it made sense. 

     "She's my wife now, Grandma. I can do whatever I want with her, I hope you can understand. She's all that matters to me. Now, drink up, old woman. You're long past your expiration date, and I have a plane to catch," Dominic said, and I had to force myself to hold down my gasp. I clamped a hand over my mouth at the revelation, and adrenaline pumped inside me as I realized my situation. If Dominic found me eavesdropping, I had no idea what would happen. 

     They were still conversing in hushed tones, but shock made me deaf to them. Before I even heard him move again, I was already bolting down the hallway into my room. Years of running had taught me to move silently in all conditions, and I was finally thankful for that skill. When I made it to my room, I shut the door as quietly as possible and made my way to my bed. 

     Locating a sweatshirt Nic had lent me, I decided to finally change out of my dress to make everything less suspicious on my end. I found a pair of booty shorts as well, thanks to Aradella, and put those on underneath the oversized sweatshirt with the 'emoji' I had first seen him in. 

      Just as I finished slipping the sweatshirt over my torso, Dominic slammed the door open causing me to jump in surprise and turn my attention to him. Seeing him with a tear welling in his eyes, I either determined that he had a bipolar disorder, or he was extremely good at acting. 

     I went to him, and hugged him against me, breathing in his scent. His wonderful scent of garden flowers didn't seem like one of a murderer, but then again, Nic himself didn't seem capable of hurting a fly. He soon followed by wrapping his own arms around my form, and he started to weep. 

     "G-grandma.... Sh-she's dead," he mumbled into my clothes. I stroked his gelled hair comfortingly, and nearly forgot he was the main reason she died. 

     "There, there. It was just her time to go," I told him, and he sniffled once more. 

     "I g-guess. Oh, Valencia, I love you so much," he said, pulling me even closer into his body. 

     'This is Dominic, Val. You were just hearing things from lack of sleep. You're trying to make connections that don't exist to make yourself feel less guilty for betraying him. You love this man, and he could never harm another human being,' I told myself, and I cuddled his shaking body against my own. 

     "I love you, too, Nic. Now, how about we go see if our plane is ready yet?" I asked him, daring a small kiss on his neck. 

     "Yeah... Let's go," he answered before releasing me and grabbing my bag on my bed that I was taking with. 

     The key was in that bag. After eleven long years, I'd finally removed it from my black backpack. The key was unlike anything I'd ever seen, but the schematics of it seemed simple enough. Dominic was carrying the key to his own demise in the palm of his hand, and he didn't even know it. 

     For one fleeting minute, I wished that he'd fallen in love with someone else just to spare him from all this heartbreak.