The Mysterious Betrothed

Under a Dim Moonlit Night

The rays of the sun are basking across Sephera's bedroom. As the light reaches her eyes, she flinches and hides under the pillow. She groans, "Five more minutes." There was a loud knock at the door.

"Just a minute," she calls out as she quickly throws back the blanket and pulls herself out of bed. She stands up and answers it. Robert is standing at her door.

"Madam, your father has left this for you. He said to tell you it is not negotiable." He hands her a rolled-up scroll. Her stomach drops when she sees how long it is. She looks back at Robert with a grudgingly sour face, "He's trying to kill me, isn't he?" Robert laughs and walks away.

Sephera looks back at the schedule. In delicate handwriting, which was not her father's, it reads ballroom dance lessons at noon and etiquette at three every day except Sundays. Sephera could not wrap her head around the fact she was going to have to wear a dress. She continues reading. An anniversary party at the Pearsons' mansion in a month. What was great for the anniversary party she did not have to use her full name. After an engagement party in three months, she would have to go wedding dress shopping. As she read on, she was beginning to see a pattern of how often she would have to wear a dress. The thought of her wearing dresses was so revolting. Even as a child, she always hated wearing dresses. The only good thing, she didn't have to plan anything; it was all done for her.

Once Sephera finishes reading the schedule, she looks at the time. Oh, thank God! I have time to kill before my nightmare continues. She pins the plan over her calendar and then takes a shower. After her shower, she starts digging through her closet, trying to find her 3-inch black platform boots. She digs through at least three boxes before she finally finds them. She puts them next to the bed and grabs her blue jeans off the bed. Then puts on her jeans and then her boots. Sephera hasn't worn these boots for a very long time. It just felt like the right time to wear them again.

Sephera went back over to the closet and raids it for a sweater. Twenty minutes later, she finally finds it. There it was her mother's favorite purple sweater. She pulls it out and holds it close to her chest. She breathes in the scent of Asian pears and honey; tears begin to unknowingly fall. She wipes away the tears and smiles. With a genuine heartwarming smile that gives her a sense of peace and tranquility, she does not need to grieve her mother anymore. She puts the sweater on and then fixes her hair into a tight braid.

Feeling like a weight lifted off her shoulders, she skips down the drive and turns the corner to the next street. Instantly, she freezes when she sees Scott mowing his front yard. She does a double-take when she realizes he was shirtless. How can he look this fine and still be so arrogant? If only I could slide my hands down those abs. A chill runs down her spine. It takes her a minute to realize she is standing right where he can see her; she ducks behind the nearest tree. s**t! That was close! After their last encounter, she really did not want to talk to him. Thankfully, Scott stops mowing the grass and goes inside.

When she gets to the park, she sits on a nearby bench. Some memories of her childhood play in her head. She smiles at the memory of her mother rescuing her from the geese. She looks at her watch. Oh, good. I still have two hours to kill. She walks over to an open swing and sits down. Two very gentle hands wrap around hers. So close to her ear that it sends shivers down her spine, a low sultry voice. "I'm starting to think you are following me, Honeybee." Torn between being annoyed that he showed up and is glad he did, Sephera very sarcastically rebuttals, "Oh, but sir, you are dearly mistaken. For you see, I was here first." Scott laughs. He begins to push her on the swing. "So, what brings you out here today, Honeybee," he asks.

All the desire she had for him at that moment was gone when he called her by that name. She slams her feet into the sand to stop the swing. "Ugh! You don't listen very well, do you!? I told you to stop calling me that! Scott grins, "Oh, I heard you, but I prefer to call you, my honeybee." Completely furious with him, she yells, "I am not your Honeybee! I don't belong to anyone!" Sephera tries to walk away when Scott grabs her wrist. "What is it with you running away so much? I was just playing around. Come here." He pulls her towards him.

"Hey, let go of me!" She tries to release his hand from hers, but it is no use. Standing a few inches apart, Scott stares deeply into her eyes and places his hand upon her cheek.

"Has anyone ever told you that you are beautiful?" He asks. His words strike through her like a lightning bolt. A memory of her parents and her as a child plays in her head. Her father would gently stroke her hair before tucking her in at night and say, "You are the most beautiful girl in the world." Her mother would correct him. "The second most beautiful. Mothers are always first." Then they would kiss Sephera goodnight and wish her the sweetest dreams before turning off the light. It is so hard to fight the tears, but she manages. Scott looks at her with concerning eyes. He grabs her shoulders and calls her name, but she seems to have zoned out.

He snaps his fingers. Startled, Sephera looks at him. "Where did you go just then?" he asks. She looks at him quizzically. "What do you mean?" "You looked like you did when you zoned-out standing in front of my mirror." Brushing off the question, "I have to get home." She shakes his hands off her shoulders. "It hasn't been a pleasure, bye." She begins to walk away when Scott catches up to her and says, "No problem. I'll walk you home."

"NO! I mean, Thank you but no. It is best if I walk home by myself." He just grins slyly.

"Well, then it's a good thing I'm on my way home too." He pulls her by the hand in the direction of her house. "Come on, let's go." Sephera tries to protest then realizes it is pointless after a while.

As they walk, Sephera asks him, "So are you always this annoying, or did I just get lucky?" As if he is hurt by her words, Scott places his hand over his heart and gasps.

"Aw, hear, I thought we could be friends," he says sarcastically. Sephera just rolls her eyes in disgust. Then she finally gets her hand free and turns to face him.

"Ever since I fell into your pool, you have been showing up everywhere I am. What do you want from me!?" He just smiles and says nothing. It frustrates her even more. "Stop doing that!" She yells. Scott looks at her as if he is innocent.

"I'm not doing anything." He grins again. This time he looks mischievous. He grabs her hand and kisses it. "Until we meet again, Honeybee." He says as he bows. Then he walks off, leaving her to her thoughts.

Sephera arrives home. She checks the time, still half an hour to go before hell begins. She goes to her room and finds a skirt on her bed along with a pair of silver metallic platform sandals. She looks next to it. Of course, another note. I wonder what it says this time. Maybe it says, Sephera, you have a sister you didn't know about. I am so sick of notes. Thankfully, it was just instructions that told her she must wear the skirt and heels during the dance lessons, which she was totally against, but she wore them anyway.

After she is ready, she goes into the ballroom, where she is greeted by a young teen girl with short black hair and bright green eyes. She looks like she is about five years younger than Sephera. The girl squeals.

"You're here. I have been waiting all day to meet you." She grabs Sephera's hands then jumps up and down. "This is so exciting. I'm going to be your sister-in-law in a few months," she chirps. Sephera is taken back by this revelation. She smiles at the girl, but her expression does not match how she feels. The dread is written all over her face.

The girl frowns. "Oh, sorry. Did I freak you out? I tend to get over-excited sometimes." Sephera genuinely smiles.

"It's okay. I am just not used to meeting new people. I'm Sephera." The girl smiles and then speaks up, "I'm Anabella. I will be your dance instructor for the next month. Your father wants you to be able to dance at social events. Today, I am going to start teaching you the Viennese Waltz. Then, later, I will teach you the Foxtrot, Waltz, and Tango. Let us begin."

A month has passed since Anabella began her dance and etiquette lessons. She and Anabella have become inseparable since they met. Anabella has told Sephera a bit about her brother, Sevastian. She knows he loves animals and can be challenging to deal with sometimes. Anabella also has not seen her brother in a few years. Apparently, Sevastian had been sent to live with his aunt in London at the age of sixteen. No one has heard from him since.

Sephera is in her room, getting ready for the Pearson's party. After going over the instructions, she puts on a long off-shoulder emerald dress with a slit up the right side and a pair of silver metallic platform sandals. Then she brushes her hair and braids it over her left shoulder. Once she is done, she applies her makeup. There was a knock at her door. It is her father.

"Sephera, are you about ready?" She puts on a silver star bracelet and grabs her clutch, then she opens the door.

"I'm ready." Arm in arm, she and her father, go downstairs and get into the limo. There is a very awkward silence in the back of the limo. Sephera has no idea what to say to break the stillness.

"You will be on your best behavior. Is that clear?" Sephera's father ordered. "Yes, sir." She was afraid to look at him. After about an hour's drive, the limo pulls up a long driveway with a large mansion. Sephera has never seen anything like this before. She is in awe when they arrive at the front steps of the vast building. Valets everywhere, assisting people from their limos and cars.

Sephera begins to panic. Okay, breathe. This is your first time being at a place like this. You need to impress your father, so don't screw this up. She takes inhales and exhales one last time before the valet opens the door to her side of the limo. He takes her by the hand and helps her out. Her father is already waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. Sephera takes her father's offered arm; together, they ascend the steps up to the grand entrance. There they are met by two valets in tailcoats, both dashing subtly. One even dared to give her a full-body glance followed by a sultry smirk.

"Good evening, and welcome to the ball. May we take your coats?" His fingers lingered on her skin a little longer than she would have liked, but she had to remain on her best behavior, so she couldn't punch him. And it is not like her father noticed, or maybe he would have said something. She hoped he would have anyway.

It's bad enough I'm in a dress, but now I have guys hitting on me. She grits her teeth but continues to smile and says, "Thank you." She rolls her eyes when he is no longer looking at her. "Sephera! Hurry up, I have made eye contact with the mayor, and I will not keep him waiting." He snaps through clenched teeth, not letting the smile he gave Mayor Fisher spoil. "Remember you represent the family name tonight. Do not disappoint me again." Yeah, I know. You have drilled it in my head for a month now. She was so glad he could not hear her thoughts.

"Yes, Sir." She smiles and bows her head to everyone who acknowledges Simon. Hearing her father's name so many times makes her want to scream. She does what he requires of her. She had practiced this role every day for an entire month, so she is a professional by now. What surprises her, though, was there was a moment where his laugh sounded genuine. Though he made sure to not look at her unless she was brought into the conversation.

It wasn't long before one of the staff addressed the entire ballroom. All eyes shift to the grand staircase from the upper floors down to the landing just before the dance floor.

"I present to you your gracious hosts of the evening, Mr. George Pearson and Mrs. Evelyn Pearson." The couple gracefully descends the red-carpeted stairs. It was as if there were the royal family. Everyone was giving them an appropriate amount of applause. Sephera fights hard not to roll her eyes and keep smiling.

"I would like to begin by thanking you all for joining this evening! I do apologize for being so late. I couldn't find a thing to wear!" She pauses to laugh, and the ladies in the room begin to offer flattering remarks.

Kiss asses…it isn't like she will give you a prize for complimenting her clothes. How ridiculous. She was beginning to get bored watching these people make fools of themselves.

"Thank you all, now! As our annual custom, the tables in the back are set up privately to showcase the fundraisers we have selected this year! If you wish to bless us with a gift, please donate to one of these beautiful causes in our name!" Evelyn smiles brightly. She puts her hand next to her mouth as if she is telling a secret and whispers, "Or all of them." Everyone laughed at her joke.

"We are revered for having you in our lives, now let's begin the event!" Mr. Pearson kisses his wife's cheek, and they join the party below them. The quartet begins playing, and everyone moves to the ballroom floor with their partners.

Sephera makes her way to the tables, places a small donation under her father's name, and then finds her way to her father's side.

"Don't tell me, this is little Sephera?" A woman dressed in a skin-tight red mermaid cut dress places her hand over her freshly bought chest. "It has been a few years since I have seen you!" She smiles as if she is happy with her, but Sephera can see it is not sincere. If only this woman knew what Sephera was really thinking.

"Yes, Ma'am, it has. How is your family?" Sephera asks the usual generic questions and makes sure to avoid using names. Though she mostly just stood there and laughed on cue.

She is dying inside. There must be a way out of this, even for a moment. Then a fantastic idea struck her: they love to powder their noses in groups no matter the age. She found a group of girls around her age to sit with. As they talked, she caught the eyes of a waiter and motions that they need more drinks. She drinks at least four glasses of water before every single lady at the table must go. They, including Sephera, link arms and head towards the lavatory. The women are so busy chattering as they walk in, they do not notice Sephera slipping out the glass door to the outside.

Sephera makes her way outside and finds herself in the gardens. The night air is the cure she needs. Filling her lungs then releasing all of her built-up stress from her father, the engagement, that infuriating mass of chiseled perfection, this night, and everything else. Her eyes look up to the skies and drink in the stars. It was quiet compared to the chatter inside. She wanders the winding path through the trees and flowers until she comes to a beautiful massive lake. She is in awe of how the stars dance across the waves. Thereby the lake is a concrete bench where she sits down to enjoy the view of the crescent moon on the water. So beautiful! I wish I could stay here forever.

"Mind if I join you," a voice asks. This startles Sephera, which almost makes her fall backward off the bench. A pair of hands push her back up in time. "Oh, my apologies. I did not mean to scare you. Are you alright?" Just then, the voice comes into a perfect view for her to see. In front of her is a young gentleman, about 6 feet tall or maybe a few inches less. Even in the dim moonlight, Sephera cannot make out all his features. She can see that his hair is dark. He is wearing a light-colored tuxedo.

"I'm all right. I was just enjoying the view." Sephera gestures for the young man to sit. As he sits down, "Yes, it is quite relaxing. So, what brings you to my grandparent's anniversary party," the young man asks. In a sarcastic tone, "Oh, you know the usual. My father dragged me here against my will." Sephera says. He laughs. "Yeah, I know the feeling. I hate these things too."

"I would rather stay out here all night than go back in there," Sephera says coolly. He nods in agreement. They chat for a while about literature, their dreams, and what they want out of life. For once, Sephera is having an enjoyable time. Something she has not had in a long time. As the night goes on, they continue chattering about several different things. The music from the ballroom makes a good ambiance in the background. The young man abruptly stands up.

"There is something I have meant to ask you." He puts out his hand. "May I have this dance?" Sephera thinks about it for a minute and then replies, "Yes, as long as we don't have to go back in there." He snickers.

"Of course not. Just me and you here with no prying eyes." She takes his hand. It is so warm and welcoming. He pulls her in close, and they begin to dance. They sway and spin together in perfect unison as if they had been practicing for years. Two people intertwined like soulmates. Once they stop, he leans forward to kiss her.

She puts her hand on his chest. "I'm sorry I can't," she says. He steps back. She cannot see his face, but she can hear the rejection in his voice. "I'm sorry I guess I read this wrong." She frowns at him and calmly sits on the bench.

"No, it's not that." She looks down at the ground and sighs, "I am engaged." She quickly continues, "But it's not what you think. I do not love him or whatever. You see, I have never met him."

He sighs. "Let me guess an arranged marriage your parents set up for you before you were even born?" She looks up at him in surprise. "That's exactly what it is. How did you know?" He kicks at the ground.

"I know because my parents did the same thing to me. They told me just recently about this, and they just expect me to go along with it. I mean, who the hell do they think they are!?"  Sephera pops off, "I know, right!? It is stupid. I want to marry someone who knows and loves me, not some guy I have never even met. It's ridiculous!" Sephera rebuttals. The sound of the midnight chime interrupts them. Sephera stands up. "Oh no! I have to go; my father is waiting for me." He stands up and grabs her hand.

"Before you leave, can I at least have your name?" "I'm Sephera." Sephera tucks her braid behind her ear. He grabs her hand and kisses it. Then bows and says, "Well, Sephera, until we meet again." Then he quickly shuffles away. Sephera is lost in thought for a moment when she realizes she better hurry to the entrance and finds her father. She made it to the doors before he did. As he walked up, "I trust you behaved yourself?" She nods. Then she and he walk out of the ballroom. Their limo is waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. Sephera cannot wait to get in the limo and take off the god-forsaken shoes that have blistered her feet. The ride home is silent, but her mind was still emersed in the events that just happened in the garden.

When they arrive home, she goes straight to her room and peels off the dress. She throws her shoes in her closet and starts a hot bath. Once in the tub, she lays back and closes her eyes. She starts to vividly recall the lovely night she had. The dance they shared was like floating on a cloud. She can still feel his hand in hers. Then she sits up abruptly, "Oh no! I never got his name!"