Devil’s Dinner

Episode 08 Cold as Ice

Mrs.Grimes received reports that Xander left the house in a rush earlier and that he came back alone just like yesterday but now that he is back, she decided to check what trouble he has caused again and where he dropped Ashley at.

She was surprised to see Ashley hurt and in Xander’s arm, she felt a strong headache and rub her forehead gently.

“Old age is not even killing me but you are?” She said glaring at Xander.

“What happened to her, how did she get hurt?” She yelled out and Ashley got scared.

“I....” Xander was about to talk when Ashley cuts in.

“I asked him to get me a phone at the mall and while trying to go look for him, I got attacked by someone “ she lied not wanting to tell Mrs.Grimes how Xander left her again.

“Why can’t you both just go together?” She said arching her brows at them but they remained mute instead.

“Anyway, just go inside first” she said to them and they left her on the scene.

“Seems they are getting along well, I should discuss their wedding with Grimes already” she said and return back inside.

On getting Ashley to her room, Xander left immediately and she slept off too.

ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴡᴀʏ

Rachel,Jeremy and Kayla could be seen sitting together in the school cafeteria.

“So did you warn your sister yet?” Jeremy asked playing with his food.

Kayla sighed worriedly and could not continue her food.

“I tried but she asked me to trust her, I have no idea what she was thinking” she said.

“Anyway just watch out for her okay?” Jeremy said.

The students keeps staring at her as they pass their table.

“If only they know how nice you are” Rachel whined.

“It is for the better, I have two friends already, you guys are my first set of friends actually” she said smiling.

“Really?” Rachel asked in excitement.

“Yes so I don’t need more friends, I’m not used to having many friends “ she said and Jeremy smiled but not so visible to Rachel and Kayla.

“By the way, how close are you guys? You don’t look like someone that could befriend Rachel just because you wanted to” Kayla said eating her food.

“You are right, once upon a time we went for a school trip, sadly she got lost but I was the one that found her and since then, she never stopped following me around” Jeremy said and Rachel smiled.

“ He is the quiet type of guy and I was happy he saved me so I used that opportunity to be his friend” she said.

“I’m glad to be your friend, I feel like I’ve chosen the right people to stay by my side” Kayla said with a serious face.

They were silent at first and Rachel was dripping with emotions.

“She is emotional, what have you done? “ Jeremy said as Rachel starts shedding tears already.

They burst into laughter and the students wondered what could be so funny to them.

A Sport bike could be seen parked outside a building and with no plate number.

In the room upstairs is a shadow by the window, the biker removed her helmet only when she got upstairs, she removed it and ruffled her hair with her hands.

“ Dear husband, here I come” she said.

ɴɪɢʜᴛ

The family are sitting together for dinner and Ashley managed to lie to Kayla about how she got hurt.

It was going on well as a peaceful family dinner at first with just the sounds of cutlery clinking and knife screeching on the ceramic plate.

“Oh right Xander,Ashley’s wedding dresses will be brought in tomorrow morning” Mr.Grimes said taking a forkful of steak into his mouth.

Ashley’s knife stopped moving as she was trying to cut through the medium cooked Steak, exchanging glances with Xander who was also caught off guard but retained his cold face.

“So take your time to chose a perfect dress together”Mr.Grimes said after studying their silence.

Ashley decided to reply since Xander is not interested in making his opinion known.

“Yes ma’am “ she replied.

Kayla gave her a disappointing look which caught Mrs.Grimes attention,immediately her gaze met with hers,she buried her face down on her food.

“And dear Kalyan can start giving out the invitation cards, as many as you want” she said to her.

After the not so called family dinner,they left for their rooms but Ashley stopped Xander on his way through to the corridor.

ASHLEY

I could tell he is not interested in this wedding but playing along just for his parents. It’s totally fine with me cause I’m doing it for my sister too, for my sister to have a luxurious lifestyle without stress but I really hope to see love in his eyes.

“Xander” I voiced out after following him quietly since a while now, but when he halt midway some kind of cold shivers engulfed me that I wish to reverse the time and go to my room peacefully.

He turned back to look at me,his icy eyes and neutral face is just what I could not comprehend, the heavy lock he has placed on himself that I can’t seem to unlock.

“Are you done staring?” I heard him say and that smacked me back to reality not knowing I have been staring at him muted all along.

“Uh...uhm actually I want to ask for your cooperation tomorrow considering the fact that you didn’t look pleased earlier when Mother mentioned the wedding” I explained.

He did nothing but stare back piercingly into my eyes,then he heaved a sigh and started approaching me.

I retreated my steps cause he is just unpredictable.

“Look here girl,the wedding is bound to happen anyway, it is just one thing we can’t escape” he said.

With his cold cute eyes all over me,I clutched my dress nervously as I felt my back against the wall.

“As it is I already explained myself in the morning,don’t expect anything from this marriage I’m not promising you anything” he added and shifted back from me.

Although he has been repeating this over and over but I still felt sad hearing him saying the same thing with no difference in his words at all. Was I really expecting anything from him? I think the stupid me is in love with this cold prince.

How I wish we had dated when we were still young and together but we were not the talking type.

“Okay goodnight” I said discouraged and head towards my room.

MORNING

XANDER

Morning appeared really fast today, I remembered playing my violin and having couples of shots before sleeping hours ago but now all I see is a ray of sunlight shining brightly at the other side of the blinds.

I stood up and went straight to the bathroom.

Few minutes later,father came into the room fully dressed and ready to leave for the palace as usual.

Seeing him dressed like this everyday reminds me of how manipulative he could get when he is desperate.

“The wedding dresses have been delivered to the west side of the mansion and your to be bride is there already so don’t keep her waiting” he said and turned around to leave showing no interest with whatever I have in mind to say.

I watch him leave, picked my phone and left the room.

Walking steadily down the hallway seems so quiet and peaceful that I feel like living by myself with no humans around to dictate or stress me.

Hearing my steady footsteps resonates in the hallway despite walking quietly I start to wonder where the maids went to that this place felt so abandoned.

On getting to the west side,I saw three maids in sight and I proceeded into the big room only to see my to be bride standing by a chair and waiting impatiently.

“Am I late?” I inquired.

She flashed her smile of satisfaction to me and I could see her gleaming with happiness.

When she is trying so hard to get her heart broken,is she really this stupid and naive?

She ran up to me and grabbed my hands to a corner where varieties of designed wedding dresses are arranged with some on a mannequin.

The dresses looks nice ,father definitely spent millions on this.

I removed my hand from her grasp and settled down on the couch.

“I just have to watch you try these dresses on right?”

She nodded in affirmation.

The attendant took her away and minutes later she came back looking so damn alluring, her sweeping dresses designed with artificial feathers and brim stones attached everywhere... indeed she is looking good.

Hiding my real thought I only commented with a word “Nice” and fixed my face back on my phone.

She continued trying others on and but I could not help but steal glances once in a while to see her gleaming with happiness.

Just like every other brides,the emotion and face is expected. It is nothing new to amuse me anymore,I lost interest when I started seeing flashes of my previous brides having the same smiling face and happiness written all over their faces.

It is too outrightly familiar that I start to develop a headache.

“Enough” I yelled out unknowingly.

The attendant seemed shocked and the maids looked startled as well and they dismissed from the changing room immediately.

“Is everything okay?” I hear her say gently with her babyish voice.

“I’m tired,the first dress is okay” I said and left them on the scene.

ROYAL PALACE

The Prime ministers and all other royal subjects could be seen sitting opposite each other with files placed on each tables.

Princess Vivian only fixed her eyes on her nails as she apply her nail polish gently.

The royal subjects face of disgust is clearly seen and received.

“My lady,this is not something you can do by yourself you know? This is where affairs of the state is been discussed and not a beauty parlor “ one of the old men stated.

A known grin tugged at the corner of her lips and she blow air on her fingers to dry the polish faster.

“Tsk tsk tsk, I wonder what you can do without your dearest uncle” Another man commented giving her a pitiful smirk.

Mr.Grimes cleared his throat and smiled gently.

“She is a woman anyway, let her be as long as I’m here for her” he said.

Princess Vivian tried hard to hide her true feelings and continued playing along with the old greedy enemies.

“Of course Mr.Grimes, you are the best” she whined smiling broadly.

“Uhm so today I will like to talk more on the last meeting main issue, the royal marriage arranged by the late king which I’m working on already” he explained.

“Oh really? I heard you found the girl after great difficulty, you are trying so hard for the royal family Mr.Grimes” a woman said hypocritically.

“Who else is going to try for them if not me? My brother trusted me enough with everything so I should at least try my best” he scoffed.

“Anyway where do I need to sign?” Princess Vivian said losing interest in their hypocritical talk.

Mr.Grimes passed the papers to her and she signed on it before placing the King’s seal on it also.

After the meeting,Mr.Grimes requested to see princess Vivian but she refused his request at first but ended up coming across him on her way out.

“Greetings Lady Vivian” Mr.Grimes said bowing slightly.

Vivian motioned to her bodyguards to stay away and she flashed Mr.Grimes a fake smile.

“I remember being told you want to retire early for the day but now here you are getting ready for shopping I guess” he mocked.

“Yeah actually I had a bad headache earlier but then I realize a good shopping should help,what else should I spend the money on? “ she said giggling.

“Of course,it is just perfect that you came as a princess and not a prince,if not I won’t be chanced to receive such royal grace” Mr.Grimes sneered.

Princess Vivian felt attacked but she clenched her fist to suppress her anger instead.

“Yes sure I have no wedding I’m preparing for that requires me maintaining my financial status” she spat.

Mr.Grimes burst out into laughter,loud enough for passerby to wonder what might be so funny.