by S. J. West
I am given a gold, gem encrusted scepter to hold instead of the traditional white rose bouquet most brides carry down the aisle. Since the wedding is doubling as a coronation ceremony to crown me empress, flowers aren't deemed necessary.
A full orchestra positioned on the back balcony of the sanctuary plays the wedding march as the doors to its interior open. I take in a deep breath before making my way down the red carpeted center aisle leading to the altar. As I slowly walk to the altar, I see Levi standing tall beside the presiding priest with a lascivious smile on his face. It's far from pleasant and unnerves me slightly. He looks like a man about to take possession of new property not a wife.
Just as I approach the steps leading up to Levi and the priest, I catch a glimpse of Malcolm out of the corner of my eye. I look over at him briefly because I don't want to bring unwanted attention to him, but one glance is all I need.
He looks distressed by the proceedings. His expression mirrors the way I feel about this wedding. But, we both know it has to happen. There will be no reprieve from what is about to occur because I need to officially become empress. If Malcolm's plan for putting me on the throne of Cirrus as sole ruler is to come to pass, I need to be empress first. If that means I have to marry Levi, then so be it.
As I stand beside Levi and we begin to consecrate our vows of marriage to one another, I remember what Malcolm told me on the first night we met. A true marriage was one of the heart, not this mockery of one I was having to endure. I would never consider Levi my husband even though that's what he was by law. I needed the power that came along with being empress, and I prayed it would be enough to help me find my father.
The wedding and coronation take almost an hour to complete. When all is said and done, I stand in front of all of Cirrus as the newly crowned Empress Annalise Desiraye Greco Amador. The people in the cathedral cheer as the priest announces my new title, and I can hear the throng of Cirruns outside the palace add their vocal approval.
“It seems the people of Cirrus love you,” Levi whispers to me.
I don't respond to his comment because it's their love I'm counting on to not only help me change the future for all of Cirrus but for the down-worlders and myself as well.
I let my gaze return to where Malcolm was standing before the wedding ceremony began, but notice he isn't there anymore.
Why did he leave? Where could he have gone?
The wedding reception is held in the ballroom of the palace, a place I now have to call my home. As Levi and I stand at the entrance of the room to greet our guest and thank them for attending our wedding, my mind wanders to Malcolm. Why did he leave the wedding before it was over? And why isn’t he at the reception?
“I don’t think it’s very considerate to be thinking about another man while you’re with your husband on our wedding day,” Levi whispers to me as we wait for the last of our guests, the delegation from the cloud city of Nacreous, to greet us.
“You act like I care about your feelings,” I say harshly. “If you dropped dead right this moment, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. It would actually save me the effort of killing you myself.”
“Ahh, but then you might not ever find your dear old dadums again,” Levi remarks snidely. “I still can’t believe the idiot asked to become human for you. What an imbecilic thing to do.”
“He loves me,” I say. “But, I guess you wouldn’t know anything about that type of devotion.”
“True enough,” Levi admits with a shrug. “Loving a human isn’t exactly something I have on my to-do list in this life. Who would want to waste the time on someone who can die so easily? I mean look at your mother. No sooner did she fall in love with the man who really fathered you before she died giving birth to an abomination like yourself. They both should have known anything spawned from your father’s loins would lead to nothing but heartache and misery. Of course, if your mother had simply kept her legs together, you wouldn't have been conceived in the first place, and she would still be alive.”
“You really need to stop talking about my mother like that,” I hiss, feeling my temper get the better of me. “Do you have a death wish or something?”
“Oh, on the contrary,” Levi says, “I plan to live for a very long time. Longer than your real father in fact. You won't kill me. You wouldn't dare.”
“Please, remind me why that is exactly?”
“Because I'm the only one in this whole wide world who knows where Andre is,” Levi informs me smugly. “I think that little bit of information is worth my life. Don't you, Empress Annalisse?”
Before I get a chance to respond the herald announces, “Introducing the delegation from Nacreous! Empress Olivia Grace Ravensdale and Prince Consort Horatio Ignatius Ravensdale.”
Nacreous is the cloud city which sits above Antarctica. It's one of the poorer cloud cities because of the low population density, but it is renowned for its forward thinking and innovation. Nacreous has the only matriarchal society among the seven ruling families of the world. From what I was told in my lessons with Auggie's mother, Empress Olivia was someone you would want on your side, not against it.
Empress Olivia is in her mid-fifties and my height with shoulder length blonde hair which seems to have a natural wave running through it. Her skin is porcelain white, and her eyes are a deep, rich green. Even at her age she needs little make-up to accentuate her natural beauty. She holds herself tall and proud, and you can tell it's simply her natural stature. She isn't putting on airs because she doesn't need to.
Her husband is handsome, tall, and very trim. His short blond hair feathers naturally and the lines around his mouth mark the passage of many smiles within his lifetime. He graces me with one of them as they come to stand in front of us.
“Empress Annalisse,” Empress Olivia says while holding out a hand for me to shake.
It isn't customary for two royals to shake hands, but I immediately shake hers without even giving it a second thought. My automatic reaction to the handshake seems to please the empress because she smiles while studying my face.
“You're quite gorgeous,” she tells me without an ounce of envy. “I don't believe I've ever seen anyone to match your beauty, Empress Annalisse.”
“Please, just call me Anna,” I tell her, not caring for the formality of being called empress.
“Then you must call me Olivia,” she responds in kind. “You also have my permission to call my husband by any name you see fit.”
“Just don't call me Iggie,” Olivia's husband says to me with a smile and shake of his head. “It makes me feel like I'm a five year old.”
I laugh. “Personally, I like Horatio.”
“Now that I can handle, Anna.”
Olivia's attention diverts to Levi standing beside me.
“You look different Augustus,” she comments dryly, letting her gaze take in my new husband's visage. “I'm not sure I like it.”
Levi smiles tight lipped. “Well, I really don't care what the Empress of Nothingdom thinks of me. In fact, I would rather you kept your opinions to yourself. I'm the ruler of the most powerful cloud city in the world. Your opinion of me holds about as much weight as a feather.”
I notice Horatio stiffen after Levi's insult, but Olivia simply wraps her arms around one of her husband's to silently tell him now isn't the time or place for a confrontation.
Olivia looks back to me. “If you ever need my help,” she says with an emphasis on the last word, “please don't hesitate to come to me. Nacreous may not have much but we do support our friends when they need us.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, feeling that I've made a new friend and ally in the empress.
Olivia gently tugs on her husband's arm and walks away from us.
“Uppity bitch,” Levi spits out after they leave.
“You're going to cause a war if you don't reign yourself in.”
“Maybe I should start a war,” Levi snarls. “I could rule this world easily enough. These people are weak. I
t wouldn't take much to gain control over all of the cloud cities and finally put an end to everything.”
Before I get a chance to ask him what he means, one of the servants comes up and instructs us that it's time to cut the cake.
The rest of the afternoon turns into a blur of formality. We go through the motions of everything a happy newlywed couple is supposed to do at their reception. After cutting the cake, we dance the first dance together. If you asked me what song was played, I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell you what the cake tasted like. I couldn't tell you what any of the presents given to us were. And I couldn't tell you what anyone who toasted to our good health and happiness actually said.
I can't tell you any of those things because I simply wasn't interested enough to pay attention to them.
I can tell you that I constantly searched for any signs of Malcolm. I didn't even see Jered at the reception which made me wonder what the two of them were up to. It wasn't until Levi stood up to make an announcement that my attention was diverted from my futile search.
“Ladies and gentleman!” Levi says as he stands from his throne chair beside me and addresses the crowd. “I would like to thank you all for coming today and helping Anna and I celebrate not only our marriage to one another, but also her crowning as your new empress!”
The crowd applauds enthusiastically.
“But,” Levi says, “I'm afraid the empress isn't feeling well. I'm sure you can all understand what the stress of a day like today can have on someone. We will be retiring to our rooms to finish out the night.” The way Levi says these words leaves no doubt that he's implying he and I will be sharing a bed soon. “Please stay for as long as you like. I sincerely doubt anyone will be seeing us again until late morning.”
Levi turns to me and bows slightly as he holds out his hand to me.
I feel sure if I hit him across his jaw with my fist to wipe the smarmy grin off his face, it will cause an uproar. Though, I have a feeling some in the crowd wouldn't fault me for such an action.
Instead, I place my hand into his and stand to my feet.
We walk out of the ballroom together and through the palace to our rooms. Stationed outside the doors are the two guards, Christopher and Clark, who have always been the ones to escort me to the palace for my lessons with Empress Catherine.
“Good evening, empress,” Christopher says to me as we approach the room while Clark opens the doors to the royal chambers.
As I pass by them, I hear Clark, who has never uttered a word to me in the many years he has been a palace guard, say, “Have fun.”
Startled to actually hear him speak, I look up and meet his gaze. I see something in his eyes that warns me he is no longer the person he once was.
After we're inside the room, Clark closes the door behind me, and I hear the distinct hum of a lock being activated.
“I don't intend to stay here,” I inform Levi. “I'll be phasing to my own home to spend the night.”
“I assumed you might want to do that,” Levi says, not seeming in the least bit put out by my plans. “But maybe you could at least have one drink with me before you go.”
Levi walks over to a crystal canister holding some light brown liquid and pours some of the libation into two crystal goblets sitting on the table.
I walk over and take one of the goblets he offers.
“To us,” Levi says, holding up his glass to me. “Long may we reign.”
He begins to sip his drink but I do not. I'm not that stupid.
I sit the goblet back down on the table.
Levi begins to chuckle. “What's wrong, Anna? Do you think I drugged the scotch?”
“I wouldn't put anything past you,” I tell him. “You're not to be trusted.”
Levi nods. “That is very true. Very true indeed. Too bad you didn't remember that I'm smart too.”
My vision begins to blur, and I lose my focus on Levi. I shake my head slightly to try and clear my muddling vision.
“Feeling a little drowsy, are we?” Levi asks in false sympathy, putting his glass down and taking a couple of steps toward me.
“But,” I say, feeling like I might faint at any moment, “I didn't drink any of it.”
Levi smiles and it's far from pleasant.
“No you didn't,” he agrees. “I knew you wouldn't. I actually counted on it. That's why I coated the glass with the sedative so it would simply absorb into your skin when you touched it.”
I stumble back and head for the doors because that's the only thing I can think to do.
“There's nowhere to run,” Levi mocks, “and nowhere to hide, my little dove.”
I lean my back against the doors to the room and watch through my blurred vision as Levi approaches me. I try to phase, but obviously, I still don’t have the hang of it because I go nowhere.
“Why would you drug me?” I say, my speech sounding slurred.
“Because I want to know if you can conceive a child from me,” he says in all seriousness, coming to stand directly in front of me and cupping my face between his hands. “I want to know what it feels like to have a descendant of my own and you're the only one who can make that dream come true.”
“I don't understand,” I say, trying to hold onto consciousness. “Why me?”
“Because you are a descendant of Lilith and only you can take my seed and conceive a child from something like me. Your father was able to do it with your mother. I should be able to do it with you.”
Levi makes to move closer to me, but his plan is interrupted.
I see Malcolm phase in behind Levi, grab him by the shoulders and throw him against the far wall of the room.
Malcolm turns to look at Levi who is now sprawled out on the floor.
In a strident voice, I hear Malcolm say, “That will never happen.”
CHAPTER thirteen
Levi stares up at Malcolm in surprise at first, but then he simply starts to laugh slowly as he sits on the floor and bends his knees up to prop his arms over them.
“You surprise me, Malcolm,” Levi says, a cocky grin on his face. “Of all the people to come to sweet Anna's rescue, I didn't see it being you. Weren't you the one who banished her up here in the first place just so you didn't have to look at her?”
“I didn't send her here so something like you could paw at her,” Malcolm replies in a deadly voice.
“What do you care?” Levi asks. “As long as she has a child, what does it matter who fathers it? I'm as good a candidate as anyone else.”
“She isn't yours to have.”
“Oh?” Levi says, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “Are you claiming her for yourself then? Because I distinctly remember you calling her an abomination to God and that you didn't want to have anything to do with her after she was born. Or has that rather large thing between your legs started to think for you after seeing what a beauty she's grown up to be? I can't say I blame you really. She does look rather delectable. Good enough to eat in fact.”
Malcolm takes a threatening step towards Levi.
“You will never lay another hand on her if I have anything to say about it.”
“Hmm, I seem to remember you saying those words once before to her mother's suitor. I guess we know how that turned out since we have the proof of their union standing in the room with us. My, my... what would Lilly think of you now, Malcolm? You weren't strong enough to keep Amalie from bedding the enemy. Now, you want to lay with her last direct descendant yourself. It's just shameful really. How many epic failures can one person have in a lifetime?”
“Don't you dare sully Lilly's name by having it come out of your mouth,” Malcolm snarls. “You're not good enough to even have it pass over your lips.”
“Lilly... Lilly,” Levi pauses before taunting, “Lilly.”
Malcolm descends on Levi and stretches his arms down to grab him up off the floor, but Levi phases to where I stand forcing Malcolm to twirl around and face us. The anger he feels is etched clearly on his face.
<
br /> “Tsk, tsk,” Levi taunts, “and here I thought you were in love with my little dove. Seems like that old flaming torch for Lilly is still lit and burning as brightly as ever.”
“I will always love Lilly,” Malcolm confesses as his eyes drift from Levi to me. “She will always be a part of me.”
Levi grabs hold of my arm closest to him and pulls me roughly against his side. I still feel drugged and helpless to stop him.
“Well, if that's the case, I don't see why I shouldn't be able to keep Anna for myself. She's obviously not of any use to you. Poor thing thinks she's in love with you though. I feel sure after a few days with me I can remedy that little fantasy and bring her back to reality.”
“How? By driving her insane?” Malcolm scoffs.
“By giving her something you can't, all of me. You Watchers might think you have the monopoly on being able to fall for human women but you don't.”
Malcolm crosses his arms in front of him. “Do you think you're in love with Anna? Is that why you tried to have Amon kill her the other night?”
Levi looks at me like he's considering Malcolm's question carefully. “That was a mistake. I never should have tried to kill her. She's much more valuable to me alive. I might not love her, but I could care for her better than you, especially if she gives me what I want,” Levi says, looking into my eyes. “A child.”
“Why does that seem so important to you?” I mumble, needing to know.
“Because it's the one thing your real father has that I don't, and I refuse to let him have anything over me.”
Levi looks back at Malcolm.
“I'll even give you what you want without a fight,” Levi tells him. “I'll give you the seal I have and not fight you from taking the other seals from my brothers. All you have to do is give me Anna, and you can complete your mission and finally die so you can be with Lilly again. I'll willingly give you everything you want, Malcolm. All I want in return is Anna and the child she can bear for me. Odds are she'll die like her mother in child birth, but what will that matter to you? You'll be in Heaven with the real love of your life and finally have the peace you've been longing for.”
