Chapter-3 A beautiful monster

Elliana couldn't sleep. No matter how hard she tried, her heart wasn't at ease. Today was her last night as a free human, and she didn't know how to calm her heart.

Tomorrow was the day of her wedding to the vampire prince, and her mind couldn't help but feel concerned about her future.

"Miss Elliana, this is the dress that Madam Marla has chosen for the marriage," She heard the maid's words.

Elliana nodded at the maid to place the dress on the bed before she turned around and walked toward the balcony.

"You may leave after placing all the necessary things," Elliana mumbled, dazed, as the slight breeze blew her hair along with it as she took a deep breath, making her look even more enchanting in the moonlight.

She looked up at the shining moon before closing her eyes.

'Where are you, mom? Don't you miss me at all? Do you not know if I am alive? If yes, then why don't you reach out to me? Do you hate me like others? Am I a mistake to you too?' Elliana spoke as she opened her eyes and looked at the sky with sadness brewing in her heart.

"Do you think I have made the right decision? I did it to save Dad from all the humiliation he might feel because Madeline denied marrying the prince. I don't know if she is really infected. It's too hard to believe anyone anymore. It might be one of the tricks stepmom had to get me to marry the prince in place of Madeline, but did I have any choice?" Elliana blinked, tearing up at the memories of her mother that she didn't even have.

The hollow feeling in her heart eases whenever she thinks of her mom.

There is this vague image of a woman holding and smiling at her while laughing merrily. And that memory has been engraved in her heart and mind.

Elliana took out the pendant from her neck in her hand. Her father said she had this pendant when he found her, and she always believed this was her mother's.

'Nothing here feels like home, Mom. I know he loves me, but nothing's warm and comforting. I don't know who to talk to. Even when I know why I am doing this, I can't help but feel depressed and sad about what will happen in the future.' Elliana talked to the pendant before closing her eyes as a few stray tears fell down her cheeks.

As she turned around, leaning on the balcony, her gaze fell on the jar of water and a slight sad smile appeared on her face before she looked at her hand that didn't have any scars now.

The last time she saw this kind of jar in her room, Madeline had smashed it on her hand because Elliana didn't know how to put on goth makeup, and she couldn't do a good job. The jar had broken on her hands even when it was so thick. She still remembered how many nights she had cried with her broken hand and all the wounds she received from the broken glass pieces. 

Everything in this room now reminded her of her endless full-of-torture life. The door in which Madeline had asked a maid to hold her foot so she could slam it on her legs and have them break, the corners of the bed where Marla had smashed her head on. 

The warm water in the geezer of her bathroom where her aunt had scalded her entire body by pushing her into it, the bed sheets that her uncle had removed late at night because he wanted to rape her when he was drunk, the mirror on which Madeline had smashed her head because she didn't like how Aditya called her pretty. 

Those scissors that were used to cut her hair ugly, that hairbrush that Madeline's friend had almost used to poke her eyes. That basin and tub in the bathroom where they had tried to drown her, that pen holder that was used to hit her head and that flower base that was once thrown on her face, breaking her nose. The markers in the room that was once used to try to fuck her because the lesbian in her friend's group wanted to hear her moan and rape her.

Every single thing in this room was traumatic. Now that Elliana thinks about it, she doesn't even know if she was going from one hell to another, or if she could keep that little hope that maybe someone else who doesn't entirely hate her might treat her better. 

"Elliana, can I come in?" She heard James' voice from out of the door, and she quickly wiped her tears before putting on a neutral expression she had been using all these years to tell her father everything was alright with her, even when she was feeling suffocated all along.

"Yeah, come in, Dad," Her soft voice came, and she saw her father coming inside with a guilty look.

"How are you, my daughter? I know tomorrow is the wedding day, and you must be extremely anxious. I know things are not the same without your mother, but you can still tell your dad about your worries. I can't fulfill what a mother can, but I can try to be a good dad, which I know I haven't been," James looked down in guilt.

Elliana was about to open her mouth to tell James what was going on in her mind when Marla walked into the room, making her keep her words to herself dejectedly.

"Oh, there is the father and daughter pair. I was wondering where you went," Marla clapped her hands with the sweetest smile, and Elliana bit the inside of her cheek.

Of course, how can her stepmother allow her father to talk to her in solace?

"I came here to talk to Elliana. It is her last night here. I don't want her to feel like her father doesn't love her enough to not even ask what she is feeling," James smiled softly.

"Haha, what must she be feeling? I am sure she is ecstatic to become the bride of the prince. I know they are a powerful species and can't be messed with, but if we look on the brighter side, isn't she going to become the utmost royalty?" Marla blinked her eyes with the sweetest smile she could muster like it was something to be proud of, and Elliana felt her heart become sore at her words.

Ecstatic to become a royal? If that was the case, why didn't Madeline try harder to become the princess?

Elliana was sure if Madeline would've tried harder, nothing in the world could've stopped her from becoming the bride, even if the vampires had asked for Elliana's hand.

"That's enough, Marla. She is going to marry the cruelest prince, and it is not a small thing. Not to mention how it was never in the plans. We decided, or should I say, forced her at the last minute. She must be feeling anxious and worrisome, right?" James asked Elliana, and she smiled at him.

At least, even after all these years, her father could still feel her sadness.

"What are you talking about, darling? You don't know anything about girls. She is just feeling jittery because it's a big day tomorrow. Anxious? Sure, but it is because her life will change tomorrow," Marla patted James innocently before looking at Elliana.

"However, Elliana, sweetheart, you don't need to be anxious. Just think about the good things. You are going to be a powerful princess starting tomorrow. Isn't it something worth flaunting? Not to mention, you will be the chosen one for the peace establishment," Marla said.

Elliana ignored her words, not wanting to take them to her heart.

"Haven't you said enough already?" James glared at Marla, making her sigh and keep all other words to herself.

"Elliana, I know that -" James started again, but this time, Elliana stopped him.

"I think I should sleep now. I am tired," Elliana said with a bitter smile.

It was useless trying to say anything with her stepmother in the picture. It's not like things will change if she speaks about them anyway.

"Darling, Elliana is right. Tomorrow is a big day for her. Let's not disturb her beauty sleep before her marriage. She needs to look pretty at her wedding, no?" Marla interjected again.

James, who wanted to talk more to his daughter, looked at her unwavering neutral expression before sighing loudly and leaving, followed by her stepmother, who gave Elliana one last look as she followed her husband.

Once her parents left, Elliana sighed with heaviness in her heart before closing the balcony door as she decided it was better if she tried to sleep. It might be her last peaceful sleep, so it's better if she uses it properly.

In the morning~~~~~

Elliana looked at the beautiful girl staring back at her in the mirror and couldn't help but mock her fate. The girl staring back at her had glossy amber eyes that held hope and dejection at the same time. The sunlight made her eyes look brighter than usual, and her rose-like lips puckered under the gloss. Her hair was styled with a puff and braided into a bun.

It matched her dress and innocent personality. The white gown had little to no cleavage, and Elliana was relieved that at least her stepmother chose a dress that fitted her standards and character.

The add-on net sleeves and white gloves made it look even more sophisticated.

However, even with all the beauty, the lack of a smile was making a great difference.

If it had been any other girl, she would've been delighted on her wedding day, but Elliana didn't know if she was afraid of the marriage or the man she was marrying. Was he even worth calling a man?

A monster. That's what everyone calls him, no?

The day of the wedding was one of the most precious days that was supposed to be filled with happiness for anybody, and here she was, still weighing if she would survive the next month or even the day.

It wasn't a hidden truth that those vampires were cruel and devious species known for their rudeness and power. If something goes against them, they don't think twice before snapping and biting off the person's neck, sucking them dry.

How was she supposed to stay assured like her stepmother says?

With a self-mocking smile, she looked at her reflection in the mirror again, feeling strangely lifeless.

'Will you be able to do it?' Elliana asked herself before she was interrupted by someone knocking on her door.

"Miss Elliana, the car is ready. Everyone has already left for the wedding ceremony. Are you ready?" A maid asked politely.

Elliana smiled bitterly. She could understand that her dad had to arrange things, but everyone left? Then again, what can she expect from a family that doesn't even want her alive?

"Let's go," Elliana looked at her room one last time, a sad smile ghosting on her lips.

With a heavy heart, she finally left the mansion and sat in the car.

After ten minutes of driving, they were finally at the back entrance of the wedding location.

"James, look, Elliana has arrived," Marla exclaimed as soon as she saw Elliana getting down from the car, her beauty making everyone's breath hitch as they looked at the celestial beauty holding herself elegantly.

For everyone, she looked confident and calm, but only she knew how her heart and insides were trembling just at the thought of marrying a man who was probably half beast.

Prince or no prince, it didn't hide the fact that he was a blood-sucking animal, a wild and devious one at that.

"Let's go, sweetheart," James said before hooking her hands with his and carrying a bouquet as he took her to the wedding stadium.

All the while, as she walked, she kept her head low, afraid that her eyes would meet with any vampire's, and all her resolution to marry the prince to save her dad would break.

She can't look into their eyes or their animalistic desire.

As she reached the stairs of the stadium, her father asked her to hold her hand out for the prince, and with a trembling heart, she took out her quivering hand for the prince to take.

Her hands turned sweaty, and her head turned hot with her heart drumming loudly. It almost felt like her blood pressure was shooting up too.

However, everything was masked by her shock when she saw the hand of the man in front of her.

She was expecting to see a wrinkled pale hand with elongated nails and almost dead skin. Exactly how she had once heard from someone they are when the vampires become angry. However, when she saw a wheatish slender yet strong hand appearing in her sight, she couldn't help but raise her brows, visibly shocked, and for the first time since she arrived at the venue, she dared to observe her surroundings, starting with the man who held her hand just now.

Traveling her gaze from his shoes to his long legs, waist, sturdy chest, powerful-looking hands, and slender neck, she finally rested her gaze on his eyes, taking in his features slowly.

He was wearing a mask that covered his face completely, but his light brown, almost hazel eyes caught and froze her in her place for a few seconds.

What was happening? She was utterly shocked by the man standing in front of her.

Weren't vampires supposed to be rude, monstrous, and ferocious with elongated drooling fangs, ready to attack and bite to kill anyone at any second? Then why was the man standing in front of her the most beautiful and handsome creature she had ever laid eyes on? And it wasn't even his face that made her heart drum. It was his eyes. The eyes held such cold and a mixture of emotions that she didn't know which one to pick and rely on. 

Mystery, that's exactly what his eyes portrayed.

Why did it feel like the glow and beauty of his eyes were lighting the environment? The more Elliana looked into his eyes, the more confused she became, her hands turning sweatier because of the sudden nervousness.

From what angle did he look ugly, like the rumors said? Was it his face because he was wearing a mask? Is the beauty of a person only measured by their facial features these days?  Elliana itched to take that mask off his face, but she knew her limits and wasn't a fool to risk her life just like that.

Earlier, she was prepared and braced herself to meet all kinds of lusty and ferocious monsters, but what was she supposed to do when she met with such an otherworldly handsomeness?

Are all these monsters this handsome? Is that a way to lure and trap others? She thought, biting her lips as she finally nodded at her dad, and the prince, who had been waiting for her patiently, led her to the stadium to complete the ceremony.