Devil’s Dinner

In the name of love

   Michael empties his glass in one shot and his face morphing into darker shade of red.

Whatever he was thinking is known to him and not to Dara.

THE GRIMES

Ashley could be seen turning from one side of the bed to the other,the wedding day is fast approaching and she is so much nervous about it.

She found herself smiling with her eyes closed,thus squeezing the duvet tighter in her arms and then she heaved a satisfied sigh,

Lost in her bride-to-be moment,something occurred to her which changed her mood immediately.

“Father” she uttered and her pretty cheeks flushed red with her eyes filled with tears that was ready to drop any minute.

Being an Orphan that lost both her father and mother,the tears appeared really quick on her face and it gradually trickles down over her nose bridge.

She sat up and sniffles her nose,but then she heard knock on her door and she immediately wiped her tears away.

Kayla appeared from the other side of the door with a soft smile.

“You just knocked? Wow my baby is growing up well” Ashley teased trying to sound okay.

Kayla noticed the difference in her choice and she rushed to her with worries all over her.

“Sister... what’s going to happen now?” Kayla inquired with a weary face.

Ashley was surprised to hear that from her sister when she was expecting her to ask her why she was crying.

That question disturbed her more and she broke down crying.

“Don’t do this sis, I can’t bear to watch you cry” she said pulling her in for a hug.

“Kay I’m so sorry,I know I shouldn’t be doing this but I’m scared. I’m so scared of everything... anytime I close my eyes in the shower and at night to rest my mind, scary visions always pops up in my head” she whispered sobbing so much.

Kayla pat her back for her as she rubs it up and down.

“I told you we should run away,we can still do that”

“Kayla I’m doing this for you and Dad, his last words were to take care of you and protect you no matter what” she explained.

“I can’t be a coward and snatch away your wealthy life because I was scared” she thought this inwardly to herself.

She then sniffs in and breathed out a smile.

“Oh my God, I guess I was just too nervous for a while” she said fanning herself air with her hands.

“Everywhere is so heated and that got me tended up” She lied.

Kayla continue to look at her sister worriedly but with no words coming out of her mouth.

Meanwhile at the other side of the room is Xander listening to their conversations all these while even though he couldn’t hear everything but the fact that Kayla left the door half opened made him see their expression,especially that of Ashley.

He tucked his hand into his pocket and his face full of worries.

He knew Ashley should be scared at first after finding out the rumor.

“I thought you were only after the money when you tried so hard to go along with the wedding even though I wanted to stop it, I misunderstood you I guess” he thought to himself before walking out unnoticed.

“Either way round,it is still for the money so if you can’t leave you should be able to bear the consequences “ he mumbled to himself on his way to his room.

It’s quiet obvious he was feeling guilty for many things.

Since he could not control his own life with his parents threatening him every single day with death of his brides.

His parents orchestrated the murder but with all evidences pointing at Xander and thats why Michael always agreed to clean the mess up.

It was all thanks to Xander that the Grimes agreed to take Michael in and sponsored his education and career too.

Days passed and the awaited day is here at last.

A car came so early to pick Ashley and Kayla from the Grimes Mansion to the hotel where the marriage will take place.

Ashley watches through the glass as her car leaves the mansion with the hope that she comes back to the house unharmed.

Kayla noticed her uneasiness and she took her hand into hers soothing her of her nervousness.

Michael drove Xander to the venue also and were lodged into different rooms.

The Grimes scheduled dates with the hotel considering they own it anyway and no customers was allowed inside to lodge for the day except for the wedding.

Lady Yang,the person in charge of her wedding dress arrived on time accompanied with four girls to help with whatever she might need,be it makeup,hairstyle and her dressing up.

Different heels with jewelries started flooding in with maids carrying each boxes.

Ashley forced a smile to ease herself of the tension she was feeling.

Kayla too smiles and then her phone rang out with a notification tone.

She saw a message on the notification bar and she swiped it away Immediately before taping on the message box.

“When should we come? I’m at Rachel’s house to pick her up”

The message is from Jeremy,she typed a reply really fast and dropped her phone fixing her eyes on how beautiful her sister is becoming.

“You are looking so gorgeous sis” she complimented.

Ashley flashed her a broad smile then tried to ease her sister’s worries by talking about what heels to chose and the jewelry that best fit her neck.

This should be done already together with her mother-in-law but Mrs Grimes is just not the regular type of mother-in-law.

.........

Xander could be seen fully dressed in a black suit designed with golden pieces of crown head by the wrist of his coat,golden bow tie and his hair styled into curls.

He is looking so exceptionally handsome today and his guarded cold eyes gave him the royal look.

With a cup of wine in his hand,he looked like cold prince devil”

“Well fourth wedding or not,I should congratulate you anyway so congratulations mate” Michael announced with a smile flashed across his face.

Xander forced a smile and clink his glass of wine with Michael.

He rarely smiles at anyone but Michael is his close buddy anyway.

“By the way,who is going to escort Ashley to the alter?” Michael questioned.

“The old man is ready to do anything for his image, I’m sure he will do that to make people feel good about him being responsible and all” he replied walking towards the full glass window.

The room has a full glass so large in length and width which shows a swimming pool right outside the room, on a normal day the exposed view is always covered with curtains but today,Xander ordered it to be removed.

Michael stepped out of the room on seeing Dara’s text message.

He went to the reception to receive guests with Mrs.Grimes.

Mrs.Grimes flashed him a killer look before forcing her smile again.

“Where is Xander? He should be the one here with me and not you” she retorts.

Michael replied with a fake smile as well “He will be here soon,he’s got something to catch up with” he explained.

“What absurdity!” Mrs.Grimes bellowed.

Michael already sighted Dara on the queue and his job is to distract Mrs.Grimes so she could make her entry easily.

Considering he already got her the pass invite to enter the hotel.

“Yeah right,I was thinking if Mr.Grimes will do the honor of escorting Ashley since she is an Orphan” Michael inquired.

This question made Mrs.Grimes to avert her gaze from the entrance and to him.

“What sort of question is that? Is it not obvious already?also don’t try to start dictating for the family I will advise you to know where you stand in the family” she warned.

Michael was hurt by her statement but he hid his emotion towards it and watch Dara slipped away from the queue.

“I’m sorry ma’am “ he said then continued to receive the gifts with Mrs.Grimes.

Princess Vivian’s car arrived at the venue accompanied with other cars and the royal subjects.

The maids appeared right at her car to lay down the red carpet and sprinkle flowers down her path.

Everyone knows her to be quite fashionable and picky about every little things.

She was ushered in and she smiled at Mrs.Grimes.

“My heartiest congratulations to the family” she said then ordered her maids to drop the gifts.

The royal subjects went to join Mr.Grimes immediately but Princess Vivian didn’t move.

Mrs.Grimes flashed her a pitiful look and decided to pick on her.

“You are like a sister to the groom,why coming so late?” Mrs.Grimes sneered.

She so much hated being attacked indirectly with words cause she understood perfectly by what she meant about being a sister to Xander, indirectly saying Xander is the prince.

And once he is married now,he is going to become the crown prince according to the decision taken by the state.

“Well I can’t possible spend the night at your mansion just so I could make it on time” she said with a smile.

“As it is, a princess belongs to the royal palace and the Grimes belongs to the Grimes mansion” she said with a wicked grin on her face and that hit Mrs.Grimes so hard.

She clutched right on her silky dress and Michael chuckled silently at the words battle.

“Oh you? Well brace yourself for another suicide case again I guess” she said to Michael then walked away from the reception.

Ashley was fully dressed and waiting patiently in the brides room with Kayla.

She asked Kayla not to leave her side because of people coming inside to take pictures with her.

She was nervous and scared not to mess anything up.

Soon,an announcement was made and everyone exited the room smiling and waving to her.

The outside is already turning into noon and that made a twist in her gut as she tried to calm her rapid breathing.

Kayla’s phone rang again and she smiled to her sister” Sis my friends are here,I should help them here so you can meet them” she explained.

“What? You have friends already?and you didn’t tell me you this betrayal” Ashley teased.

Kayla itches her hair and then burst into laughter.

“I’m sorry sis, I will have you meet them immediately “ she said then left the room as well.

The room is upstairs so she decided to use the elevator.

She pressed the button and the elevator spread open,she entered and start typing on her phone again to while away the little time.

Seeing the reception is less crowded,Dara took out a knife and cut through the leather poster of the wedding shoot.

Cutting the bride away from the groom,she left with her face cap and nose mask on.

She glanced up at the CCTV then smiled to herself since she already had that taken care of.

The elevator door spread open and Kayla walked out lost in her phone not minding the person in front of her ready to take the elevator also.

But then her attention was brought back when Dara bumped into her and her phone fell with something dropping from Dara’s hand as well.

“Ah” Kayla made a sharp cry but she already stepped out of the elevator.

She turned around to challenge the person that did that to her without an apology but the elevator is almost closed.

“What the f**k,how rude” she cried out.

She rubbed hard on her shoulder cause the collision was so strong,with her phone on the floor she quickly picked it up to check if it is broken.

Fortunately it was not and she proceeded towards the reception examining it further.

She was almost out when her eyes caught the poster torn into pieces, especially that of the bride.

Her phone dropped and she gasped in shock.