DEMON'S BRIDE

CHAPTER TWO

IT'S THE DAY OF THE WEDDING, the members of staff are busy with preparation, the King and Queen see to it, making sure everything is perfect.

I'm in my room with my handmaidens, getting prepared. In Gamor, it is necessary that every woman about to get married gets washed with goat milk to keep the skin smooth and afterwards rubbed down with a honey and sugar scrub. But not before getting soaked in a bath filled with lovely scented herbs to keep the body relaxed and fresh.

While my feet are being massaged and my hair being made, I sip a steaming cup of herbal tea which helps to warm my insides.

"You're finally going to see how your husband looks like", Grace says while arranging my jewelries.

"Yeah", I murmur.

"Are you excited?"

"No. I just can't wait for it all to end".

"Oh my lady, you might not be happy about everything that's going on but it's your wedding, a once in a lifetime thing. You need to enjoy it while it lasts to prevent any future regrets". I sigh at that. She's right but how does she expect me to be happy when I'm being forced. Everything I ever dreamed of gets thwarted because of my father's selfish interest. It really isn't fair. But since there's nothing I can do, I just have to endure at least just for today.

"We're done milady, it is time for you to get dressed". Alex, one of my handmaiden says. I get up and Grace goes to bring the dress for the first ceremony. The dress is long-it reaches my ankle- and A-cut shaped. I find the first ceremony ridiculous. The bride wears a dark veil over her face along with other women wearing the exact same thing. The husband to-be is then asked to point out his bride to see if he really knows her. I find it ridiculous because how is the groom supposed to know who the bride is when he hasn't even met her face to face, the only place he gets to see her is in a picture. But that's the whole point of it anyway to see if the man is truly worthy. I actually hope he picks the wrong person, it won't stop the wedding but at least it'll embarrass the groom.

A black thick veil is placed over my head and I'm led to the garden where the ceremony would be held, Grace by my right side and Alex by the left, my hands in theirs.

I'm made to stand beside other girls my age dressed in the same way as me. A long A-cut purple dress with a black veil over their heads.

There's a commotion and I know immediately that the groom has arrived. My heart starts to beat wildly. This is it, there's no stopping it now. The groom will start trying to find me in less than a minute. All hope of getting the wedding cancelled has been crushed. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself before I end up with a panic attack. I start to feel sweaty and itchy. The dress is really uncomfortable.

I see a movement from the corner of my eye and I realize that the checking has begun. I start to pray that he opens the wrong veil hoping it would change my father's mind about the whole marriage thing.

I feel a movement of air and I realize that the groom is standing right in front of me. My heart starts to race fast that it felt like it might burst out of my chest. I see the guy raise his hands to pull back my veil and I start to sweat. "Please no", I whisper, shutting my eyes tight. The hand pauses and I release a breath of relief that I didn't even know I was holding.

Just when I thought I had escaped him from figuring out I'm the one, my veil is pulled back.

I find myself gaping openly at the figure standing in front of me, against my will. I was expecting a fat person probably in their sixties with a protruding tummy but the person standing in front of me is so tall, I have to raise my head all the way up to look at him, muscular; I have a feeling he'll have nothing less than six abdominal muscles with an Apollo's belt. His eyes are dark green in colour and they glow under the sun. He has loose long black hair with the front tied in a topknot. He has an ocean and spice scent with a hint of vanilla. He's so gorgeous he looks like he walked out of one of my fantasy novels.

His face tilts into a knowing smirk like he knows exactly what I'm thinking. The smirk makes him look seductive. My thoughts are cut short by the sounds of applause reverberating everywhere.

The King walks over and pats the groom on his back.

"You truly are destined for each other. I made the right choice". I roll my eyes inwardly.

"Thank you your highness". The groom replies and OH MY GOSH!!, His voice is out of this world. I could listen to him speak all day and never get bored. I chastise myself for feeling that way. I planned to make life miserable for him but here I am checking him out and drooling all over. I don't like this. I don't like it at all.

The King turns to me. "It's time for the white wedding. Your handmaidens will escort you to your chamber to get ready". I nod and walk away, my handmaidens behind me.

"Oh my gosh!, The groom is hot!". Grace says when we walk into the chamber, fanning herself dramatically. I roll my eyes at her.

"Grace is right milady, he's gorgeous. I'm sure he isn't what you were expecting". Alex says, walking over to the walk-in closet to get my dress.

"He isn't. I was expecting someone ugly and fat not tall and bulky". I say with a sulk and plop down on the chair by the dresser.

"So does this make you change your mind or do you still plan on making his life miserable". Grace says, she and Alex walking over with the gown.

"Yes!", I say but it doesn't sound convincing. Grace, raises a brow at me and smirks.

"I think someone might be smitten", Alex says while wiggling her brows.

"Shut up!". I tell them and they both laugh. To be honest I'm gonna miss them both. They've been with me since I was a baby. We practically grew up together. Grace is twenty while Alex is twenty two.

"I'm going to miss you both". I say and pull them in for a hug.

"We'll miss you too". They say at the same time.

"Okay, enough of the sentiments, time for you to get changed". Grace says and unzips the bag in which the wedding gown is placed.

The wedding dress is a cream bridal ball gown with a long sleeve and a boat neck made from both lace and satin. There are diamonds arranged beautifully around the neck and waist. I complete the outfit with a pair of platinum heels.

"You look beautiful milady", Alex says, staring at me in awe.

"Thank you Alex".

"Your husband better take care of you except he wants to be on the receiving end of my wrath". Grace says and I laugh.

This time around, the ceremony is held in the throne room. Grace and Alex escort me to the door of the throne room and leave. It is the duty of the groom to lead his bride in after the picking ceremony.

The groom arrives and I can't help but the amazed by his facial features. He's perfect. He clears his throat and I snap out of my thoughts. I look down and see that his hand is stretched out to me. I blush slightly and place my hand in his. I can't believe I blushed. 'control yourself', I chastise myself inwardly.

Both side of the door are opened by the royal guards and the groom and I walk in, hand in hand. His palm is not too soft and not too hard. My hand fits in his so well it's like my hand is specially made for him. On a much closer look, his skin is smooth and tanned. Everything about him looks unreal. Like this is another dream I'm having and I'll wake up to realise all this never happened. If it really is a dream I hope I don't wake up.

I am so focused on admiring his face that I don't realise we have reached the throne, until my father clears his throat in preparation of his speech.

"Do you, Daemon Faust, take Anastasia Middleton to be your truly wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, to love and to cherish till death do you part?"

"I do".

"Do you, Anastasia Middleton take Daemon Faust to be your truly wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

"I do"

"I now pronounce you man and wife. Congratulations to you both. Prince and Princess Faust". There's a round of applause from the audience and petals are thrown at us.

"Let us make a toast to the newly wedded couple. To the Faust!".

"To the Faust!", the audience raise their glasses in the air and then take a huge gulp of their wine. We then move to the banquet hall for the celebration meal.

The King and Queen sit on the bigger throne in the banquet hall while Daemon and I sit on a smaller throne while we watch the people celebrate.

"I'm not what you expected, am I?", Daemon asks and I stare at him in shock.

He chuckles and adds, "the way you stared at me when I removed your veil made me realize that".

"Oh!". I say, a blush creeping up my cheeks.

"How did you figure out it was me?", I ask.

"Instincts", he says with a shrug and takes a sip of his wine. "Would you like to have a dance?"

I shake my head in response. "I don't like dancing".

"At this point, I don't think you have a choice. The King can be really.......... persuasive".

"Why did you agree to the proposal?", I blurt out. That is a huge mistake on my part. In no way should a woman question the decisions of her husband but I just had to ask.

He raises an eyebrow at me and says, "You would love it if I didn't?"

"Yes", I blurt out again and then hurriedly cover my mouth.

He chuckles and shakes his head. "You're free to speak your mind Anastasia. I'm not a fan of Gamor rules". He says my name in a way that sounds like he's savouring it and I love it.

"You're the first person that I've heard say that". I murmur and he smiles revealing a dimple on one side of his face.

"It is time for our dance", he says and helps me up.

We're done with dancing and it's finally time for me to leave the place and people I'm so familiar with to live in a strange place with a stranger. I count to ten to calm myself. Leaving my home might have its advantages. The little conversation I had with Daemon shows he is a sweet person, living with him might not be bad after all.

The King and Queen escort us to the awaiting chariot. The Queen keeps dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief and I feel bad for her so I decide to give her a goodbye hug with a peck on her cheek.

"Take care my little Ana". She says, her voice breaking down in sobs.

I completely ignore my father and walk to the chariot. Daemon helps me get in and closes the door. He says goodbye to my parents and joins me. The charioteer puts the chariot in motion and I watch as the castle slowly fades into the distance. This is it. I'm moving to my husband's place. I'm no longer Anastasia Middleton, I'm now Anastasia Faust. I'm on my way to start a brand new life.