Sealed Fate

Abrielle followed Cedric to the altar, where the officiating priest, who was her uncle, was waiting for her. The altar stood under a glass roof with the moon rays coming inside and reflecting on the clear water.

They stood facing each other by the altar, and Cedric pulled off her veil. She stared back at his face, which was covered with a gold mask, and was more than certain he was the main antagonist of her book; cold, scheming and greedy were the words she used to describe him.

According to the story, he wore the mask to hide a horrific scar he got from the first time he was sent to the battlefield at 14. "You may stretch out your left hands as you stare at each other." The priest instructed. They both followed the priest's instructions. The marriage rights in Darconia were strange but sacred.

The priest picked up a silver dagger and then slit both of them on their palms, with their blood trickling down into a bowl on the altar. Abrielle's face scrunched up because of the pain, but she tried to contour it. After the wound was made the priest started to make some spells to seal the couple.

 After he was done, there was a light glow from the bowl. Then he glanced at the couple and then at the crowd. "Is there anyone here who has a reason why this man and woman should not be joined? Speak now before they are joined forever, never to be broken apart." 

 The hall immediately went silent; Cedric's eyes glanced around the crowd. Even if there was someone against the marriage, no one would dare go against the bloodlust prince known to be able to wipe out an entire kingdom in a day. 

 Seeing there was no one to obstruct the wedding the priest then turned his attention to us. "Lady Abrielle Nightshade, the only daughter from the Duke of Nightshade, do you have a reason why you don't want to be joined in the marriage with your groom?" He asked her. 

 Abrielle glanced at the wound on her palm; she had a thousand and one reasons to say no; maybe this was the opportunity she had to escape, as this marriage could only be broken by death. 

 She swallowed hard, she was ready to take the chance. " I don't want to..." The crowd gasped in shock, and there seemed to be a very heavy pressure on her shoulders that seemed like something was pressing her down. Her eyes darted up to glance at Cedric's gold eyes as the temperature plummeted to an all-time low. 

 She swallowed again, his gaze was terrifying and she wanted to flee for her life. "Can you please complete your statement?" The priest requested. 

 Abrielle cleared her throat. " I don't want to leave a day more without being married to Prince Cedric." She said in the end with a forced smile. She looked like a reluctant bride but the priest took her words as it was. Abrielle quietly cussed herself in her mind for chickening out at the last moment. 

 "I will take that as a yes.." the priest Malakai Nightshade said, and it seemed like everyone in the temple could finally breathe as the suffocating aura eased off. 

 "First, Prince Cedric Von Drakkar, son of the king of the kingdom of dragons, do you have a reason whatsoever why you should not be wedded with your bribe." Malakai asked Cedric. 

 Abrielle had a thin thread of hope that maybe he would say no and end this madness, but to her dismay, he had a small smirk etched at the corners of his lips as he replied. "I have no reason why I should not be married to the lady." His statement marked the beginning of hell for Abrielle. 

 She could not stop the unfortunate marriage. "You may now hold her hand," Malakai instructed and Cedric held her left hand that was slit. 

 Malakai picked up a white ribbon and started to wrap it around their entwined hands. He then took the small bowl containing the water mixed with their blood and gave it to Abrielle to drink. 

 Abrielle accepted it and drank half of the content and the rest was given to Cedric. The strange metallic taste of blood made Abrielle's nose wrinkle. After the ritual was done, the priest covered their entwined hand together to bless the union. 

 "This marks the union between a dragon and a goddess." He declared then a round of applause echoed. They turned to the crowd that was made up predominantly of Abrielle's family friends and cheered her up. 

 The only Cedric's well-wishers that were present were his loyal knights. Abrielle glanced at her parents and was stunned to see her mother crying. She thought Rebecca Nightshade Shade would be more than happy that her problematic daughter was finally married off after 10 failed attempts.

 The Villianess had her reputation, which Abrielle didn't plan on changing. She would forever be the vicious noble lady. "I present to you First Prince Cedric and Princess Abrielle of the holy kingdom of Drakkar." Malakai declared, and everyone got on their feet to bow at them. Even Malakai, the holy pope, showed his respect to the royal family. 

"Unfortunately My bride and I will have to skip the festivities because of the long journey ahead but a celebratory banquet has been set at the Nightshade estate," Cedric announced and Abrielle's jaw almost dropped. He didn't even want her to attend her own wedding reception to prevent her from running off.

 With their hands tied together, the bitter Bride and her groom proceeded out of the temple while everyone was bowing to them. Abrielle was nervous and scared. She was married to the bloodlust prince, and the only way to escape this union was death. 

 She didn't want to die leaving her with only one option: to kill the most dangerous man in this kingdom and novel..even the protagonist had a difficult time getting rid of him, and now this responsibility fell on her shoulders to carry. 

 There was a large carriage waiting for the newly wedded couple over 3 times bigger than the one she came in. It was drawn by six horses. 

 The footman opened the door of the carriage for the royal couple. Cedric helped Abrielle climb up, and he followed after. 

 They took their seats farthest from each other and the carriage proceeded. They were accompanied by a squad of knights that protected them from the outside in horses. 

 . Immediately the bumpy ride started. Cedric yanked Abrielle's hand that was tied to his, pulling to his side. Her heart leapt out of her chest. 

 Before she could understand what he wanted to do, she was slammed against the wall with his hand choked around her neck. The shock was evident in her wide eyes; Cedric's gold eyes were storming with something dark like he wanted to snap her neck. 

 "Do you mind explaining the meaning of your little escape plan earlier?" He asked her with anger laced in his voice. Abrielle tried to pry his hand away because she was running out of breath but his hold was too firm. 

 How could she have forgotten he was an unforgiving monster who hated her to the guts?