Part L.

"The joining shall begin now."

With those words out, Sean takes a step forward and takes my hand in his as we turn to face the priest.

"Crystal?" Sean whispers as the priest starts to give a speech that do not interest me.

"Huh?" I whisper back, keeping my eyes fixed on the priest you'd think I can hear every word he says.

"Is this really you?"

"No," I chuckle quietly, "Crystal has been abducted and I stand here as an imposter my Lord."

He giggles, forgetting himself and the priest pauses to take a look at him but continues when Sean clears his throat and nods for him to.

"All that said," the priest continues in a loud voice facing Sean, "you will now adorn her with the royal symbol of marriage." Just then, a young lady in a pink dress comes forward with a small pillow and the most beautiful silver necklace I've ever seen, lying gracefully on it. A pendant, carved like a female's face hangs from it and it glimmers in the light, its sparkle matches the one in my eyes. Sean picks it up carefully and comes closer, putting it around my neck while looking deep into my eyes.

"You are very beautiful, Crystal." He says without a hint of humor and I find myself blushing at his comment.

The priest clears his throat loudly and Sean moves backwards, the burly black man comes closer with a cushion of his and a gold necklace, just as beautiful as mine with a matching pendant. Nervously, I pick up the necklace the same way Sean did and put it around his neck.

"You're very ugly, Sean." I say and move backwards with a smug smirk playing on my lips, earning a playful glare from him.

"You may now applaud the newly wedded couple." He says aloud but no one responds, only a few seconds later did someone clap from the front rows and the rest join with obvious reluctance as the applause is short, too short for the crowd in here.

"You may now kiss your bride." The priest says once the hall is silent again and my eyes widen in shock and my heart pounds loudly in my ears. Kiss your bride?! Why didn't anyone warn me about this bit of the occasion! I would've, you know, maybe prevented it. Hell, I don't even know what I would have done but I wouldn't mind knowing beforehand. Sean smirks and comes closer, leaning in and closing his eyes but mine refuses to budge as they stay wide open, watching him. His lips connect to mine and I freeze in my spot, definitely not kissing him back. His lips on mine brings back memories of Dylan and our happy days together, then the cabin, my knife in his heart but his hand on it. I'm about to push him off but he pulls away, granting that foolish move even more useless. Thank God I didn't push him off, that'd have been a very bad and disapproving first impression. He smirks with evident mockery in his eyes and my face flushes with embarrassment.

The necklace touches my skin and opens my eyes to the realization that I'm married now. Married to the murderer of my husband and my shameful self can't help but be happy about it. The hate the people in this kingdom feel towards me combined can't be compared to what Dylan's soul must feel right now but this is all for a purpose. I must discover the secret behind the Connors and avenge Dylan's death. This is the first step I have to take in accomplishing my plans.

"Now that it is done." The priest comes again, "it is our tradition that the coronation follows immediately. Sean shall be crowned king of our kingdom and his human-"

"Father Thomas." Sean cuts him off sternly, only loud enough for our ears and he whispers an apology before clearing his throat and picking off where he left off.

"And his wife, Crystal, shall be crowned Queen of our kingdom." Protesting voices are heard across the entire room and fear starts to find its way towards me again. I want to look at them but I fear that their faces would strip off whatever gut it is that's keeping me here and I'd run away in shame and hide in fear.

"I pray that we show respect to the goddess!" The priest yells and the people succumb to his request, quieting down as he mounts the altar behind him and returns with a staff, a two-headed staff shaped like the head of an animal and has a crown hanging in between each of it's mouth. A gold and silver crown with diamonds crested around them and the same female head, like the pendants, carved in the middle of both crowns. They look ancient and priceless like something worn or created by an ancient Greek god or something.

Another man, looking a lot younger than the priest but dressed in same robe comes from behind me and takes the staff from the priest's hand, holding it in place for him as he takes the golden crown, holding it with both hands like a fragile egg and carries it towards Sean who kneels and signals for me to do same which I do although not so easy with the dress and shoes.

"With great honour given me," the priest announces in a loud voice, louder than he has ever spoken the entire time, "I shall place the crown on the head chosen by the goddess, as well as the welfare and decisions of this kingdom on his shoulders. He shall rule while abiding by the laws of the goddess and the kingdom with divine wisdom and strength bestowed upon him." With that, he places the crown gently on Sean's head and the moment it fits in, he closes his eyes and exudes a really great amount of power almost like a strong wind around him.

Applause is heard from the crowd behind us and the priest proceeds to pick up the silver crown which I'm guessing to mine. My hunch being correct, he stands in front of me and proclaims the same words he did for Sean and places the crown gently on my head as well. Immediately, a fierce surge of energy shoots through my body into every joint, bone, vein and finally, I feel a shock in my heart. A short but electrifying shock. Afterwards, a calm feeling flows through my nerves and I sigh in relief as I open my eyes to see the priest looking at me with surprise, then I look to Sean and see the same look but his is accompanied with a satisfying smile. I guess I took the crown well.

"I present to you today, King Sean and Queen Crystal of our kingdom!!" The priest announces followed by an unexpected thunderous applause and Sean takes my hand as we both stand up and face the crowd.