by Ashley Woods
“I have no reason to believe that she won’t.”
After several more minutes, the groom raised his head and crossed his eyes, as he looked above at the crucifix looming over them. He gave it an evil grin, and then became very serious and said, “It’s almost time.”
Nervously reaching into his tuxedo pants pocket, he slowly pulled out the very edge of a black veil. He nudged Marco and subtly pointed down at it. Marco nodded, as the brothers turned around to look toward the back of the church.
The room became darker, as all the members of The Black Veil Society walked in. They took their places, filling three pews in front. They lowered their heads toward Anthony in acknowledgement.
A space had been saved on the bride’s side, awaiting the arrival of Karl, who was indeed; their leader. But, apparently it seemed that for this ceremony, that Karl would be a no-show.
At the back of the church, the bridesmaids were milling about preparing for their walk.
Suzie said, “Where the heck is she? I am going to go over to the room to get her if she doesn’t come in here soon.”
Outside on the street, Michael was taking a breather before the service. He had already been inside and had selected a seat near the exit. He wanted to be far enough away so he could not see Kristen or Anthony’s faces.
“I am surprised Fiore’s henchmen aren’t by the door to keep me out?” Through an open window, he could hear the organ start playing. The wedding was starting early!
Michael had second thoughts and decided that he was not going inside. He could not bear losing her and began to walk away. He made it only a few feet.
“Someone has to save her. She’s my friend. I owe it to her.”
Michael opened the church door. He straightened his shoulders and confidently said to himself, as he entered the church,
“I am the one.”
The door swung closed with a loud thud behind him, and he quickly hurried down the aisle toward the altar…
As he looked ahead, he noticed Anthony and Marco waiting with their backs to him. There was no Kristen in sight! The people in the middle pews watched him curiously.
Michael turned on his heels and retreated back out the door. Figuring that Kristen was still in the church somewhere, he made his way over to the side of the building to look for another way to get inside. He found an open door leading to a back area.
As he stepped in, he heard someone sobbing at the end of the hallway. He rushed down it, and saw Kristen in her room, slumped over the dressing table. Michael quietly stood behind her and patted her shoulder.
Kristen looked up. She couldn’t believe he was there.
He lifted her from the chair, and held her as she cried,
“Oh, Michael. I don’t know what I am going to do? You were right. I can’t marry Anthony. He's like a stranger now!”
She began to tell him all about Anthony and what Antonia had told her. She then went on to relay her tale about Robert St. Germain, and then the dark, and even more perplexing relationship that she had with Karl.
It was hard to take it all in, but Michael listened patiently. As she finished, he looked doubtful, but sweetly smiled.
“Wow! All of them seem pretty evil.”
Kristen added, “What I am most worried about, is that Anthony could have done something to Robert. I never saw him again in Palm Beach, and it is too strange that he would go away that easily. Anthony was acting very scary when he knew that Robert was after me.”
Michael replied, “I am sorry to hear you have had it so rough lately. It’s alright Kristen. Just come with me. I’ll get you out of here.”
She looked sadly down at her wedding bouquet and picked it up. Michael put his arm around her shoulders and led her back outside. She felt safe with him.
They started walking and realized neither had a car there. All that was available was the Cinderella carriage.
As they approached the Coachman, Michael said,
“Let’s go!”
The man looked confused that the wedding was finished so early. He had been waiting for the newly married Fiores, and had no idea that Michael was not the groom.
Kristen began to climb into the small seat, but then changed her mind and stepped back down.
She started to walk slowly down the sidewalk, “Michael, I should probably go back in there and explain things.”
He looked nervously toward the church, “I don’t think that would be a good idea for you to do that. You really need to get out of here.”
Kristen replied, “Anthony deserves the chance to tell me his side of the story. He won’t do anything to me.”
Michael softly answered, “You can’t be sure of that.”
“Kristen, I know that there is a lot going on in your life, and that I haven’t been around for most of it. And, being with you now, it’s even more obvious that I am not quite in the picture yet.”
Kristen was touched by his words and listened closely.
He continued, “But, if you would just let me in, you will know that I am good for you, and you know that I would always look out for you. It will take some time, maybe years, but we both know we could work toward a great future together.”
“That would be very nice Michael, but I just don’t know what to think right now. I am so confused.”
Michael sadly shrugged, “I might not be the one you want Kristen…” Then he became bolder and grabbed her arm, leading her back to the carriage.
“But I am going to make damn sure that Fiore isn’t either. We need to leave now!”
Kristen suddenly had a strange feeling, like some powerful force was pulling her toward the church. She broke away from Michael and held her hand up.
With a glazed look in her eyes she said firmly,
“No, I can’t go with you. I have made up my mind. I know Anthony loves me and I am not willing to lose him. I am so sorry.”
Kristen slowly went up the church steps. As she opened the door, she glanced back at Michael and smiled,
“Really Mikey, I will be alright.”
Defeated, Michael looked at the ground, and said quietly,
“I’ll be around. You’ll need me.”
He watched her disappear and knew he should follow, but the heavy weight in his heart held him down.
Kristen slowly looked in and noticed that the church had now become strangely dark, illuminated in the back only by a row of six black floor candles. A sole white candle burned in the middle of the altar, enveloping it in a shadow that reached to the ceiling. She thought she was hallucinating.
Kristen wrapped her hands tightly around her bouquet, as she stepped back to the side foyer. She now felt dazed and knew that her mind was not her own. Powerless, she was being overcome, and could not back away.
Her bridesmaids seemed to be oblivious to what was occurring. They were overjoyed to see her, as they finally prepared to get in line for the processional.
The organ struck a low chord, and the bridesmaids made their way ahead of her down the aisle.
As Kristen appeared in the doorway, Anthony turned around, mesmerized by her presence. Her Godfather came up to take her arm, as she drew in a deep breath, and began her long walk toward Anthony and her destiny…
As they neared the wedding party, her Godfather released her, and went to stand by the best men. With his bride slowly approaching him, Anthony nervously looked over at his fellow club members. They folded their arms across their chests, and slowly nodded their heads.
Anthony reached back into his pocket and pulled out the black veil. Kristen instantly noticed it, and her eyes filled with horror! Panic seized her body, and she froze in place.
Anthony slowly began to walk down the altar steps. As he came closer to Kristen, The Black Veil members stood up in their pews.
As if she was in a centrifuge, their faces began to whirl about Kristen as their expressions grew darker. They leaned toward her, as her mind clouded over, and her legs began to lose strength. She felt faint a
nd began sinking to the floor.
A massive wind blew the church door open. Light filled the chapel, and Michael appeared!
Without a word, he raced to Kristen and swiftly lifted her up into his arms. He ran back down the aisle and triumphantly carried her outside.
Kristen squinted, as the bright sun now danced into her eyes. She felt normal again.
“Michael, I am so glad you are here! Being in the Mafia was bad enough, but I can’t believe that Anthony was one of them too. I was so scared, and I really do need someone I can trust.”
Michael took her to a safe distance down the block and placed her firmly back onto the ground. As they both looked back toward the church, they saw that the Cinderella carriage was now gone.
Michael nervously laughed, “It looks like I am going to have to carry you all the way off this island. I don’t think it is safe to go back to the hotel, just yet.”
Anthony’s family, her bridesmaids, and all the wedding guests, now exited through the side doors, and left in their cars and limousines.
Kristen laughed, “It looks I don’t have to worry about my Godfather.” She watched as he helped an elderly, well-dressed woman to her pink Rolls Royce. He then followed behind in his Mercedes.
As Michael and Kristen turned to leave, the church door burst open, and the Black Veil members filed out into the street. Anthony was not among them.
Kristen was frightened to see the men, and feared they were coming for her. She trembled as Michael put a protective arm around her.
The Black Veil stared straight ahead and entered three stretch limousines. They drove off at a high speed toward the club, which was a short distance from there.
Now safe, the couple joined hands, and walked toward the street leading to the bridge.
Several minutes later, a massive explosion behind them blew them off their feet! It came from the direction of the Whitestone. The towering flames shot up above the palm trees, raining black ashes from the funeral pyre across the mansions of Palm Beach.
The intense heat from the blast now seared at their legs as Michael picked Kristen up, and began to run. As they reached the other side of the bridge, he set her down, and smiled with relief. Kristen whispered into his ear.
“Please don’t leave me Michael.”
She fearfully peeked over his shoulder toward the glare of the angry fire. All seemed clear to her now, and she felt that she was finally released. The air cooled around them.
Kristen looked deeply into Michael’s eyes.
“I know now that this is what I want. Please don’t let me go.” Michael kissed her as he pulled her back into his arms.
“Don’t worry Kristen, I love you.
I have always loved you.
I will never let go of you again!”
THE END
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