Chapter 33: Chapter 33
Augustus
The moment I stopped her from going out of the house and exposed her with the bottle of sleeping pills, I saw fear in her eyes. When I blackmailed her that I could destroy her father if she ever tried to terminate her life her demeanor changed to an incensed wight. She ran away from me like I was some kind of forbidden fruit which desolated me to shreds. I could stand anything in my life but not hatred for me in her orbs. Using ‘a father card’ every time to get her to agree to my terms proved me less of a man but I had no other option. By whatever means I need to protect her before she could think of the unthinkable.
Five days later…..
It was finally the day of my marriage with the queen of my dreams. I couldn’t sleep the whole night. The anticipation of seeing ‘her’ and make her mine forever was bringing heebie-jeebies in my system. Entire cells in my body were on riot unable to function engulfed in the moments of blissfulness. Last few days were nerve-racking to both of us but like a passing cloud the bad phase in my life is going to culminate with her arrival. She is always lucky for me. The day I took over our family’s business was on her birthday and since then I never looked back.
My eyes first fall on my mom. She was dressed in a turquoise color gown. Her aged countenance looked graceful with the brightness that reflected her face. She was smiling to me filled with happiness and contentment. My father who was sitting beside her whispered something in her ears and she cast a full blown smile looking at me with so much appreciation. I saw the happiness in my parent’s faces that I cherished after a very long time. My sister was sitting next to my father. Her face was as radiant as a fresh lily dazzling in an ecstasy. She was waving to me holding a cute smile.
I then cast a glance at the various guests who came to grace the occasion and bless us during the beautiful long desired ceremony of our lives. The venue felt jubilant and delightful filled with conversations of mirth and glee between friends and relations. The music started playing as the people’s head turn back watching the most beautiful pristine angel ever fallen on earth walk down the grand foyer. The world seems to have stopped bringing the universe to a standstill as my eyes conclude on her.
She looked like a fallen angel while walking down the aisle. Her white wedding gown had transparent floral embroidery running from her neck to her hands. The sheer detail of flowers continued with a satin cloth underneath to the other areas of the dress. Her hair was left lose in curls and she was carrying a bouquet of beautiful white roses. I exhaled a long sigh looking at her releasing the air I kept holding back since the time I entered the church.
I was dressed in a black tuxedo with matching pants and a coat with a white shirt underneath. My hair was neatly jelled combed to perfection. I was standing beside the priest in the church waiting for ‘her’. My friend Harry was my best man standing on the other side. He was trying to pull a conversation in order to rest me of my pensiveness.
Her dad was walking her to me whispering something into her ears. As soon as she reaches near me he puts her fragile shaking hand in mine and whispers. “Take care of my daughter young man.”
“I will.” I answer him with all determination in my voice and hold the hand of my ‘wife to be’ in firmness to pull her closer to me. Looking down, my eyes discern her inviting features that were made only for me and a sense of pride envisages. Today I am going to tell the world that she is mine and stamp mine her permanently.
Her sweet feminine scent filled my nostrils which eases my fidgety nerves. I look down at her long slender fingers which casually brushes mine bringing in feelings of exultance and awakening of intimating thoughts.
The ceremony began and my heart skipped a beat. Her dad nods his head to me with a smile and seats himself beside my parents who were sitting in the first row of the guests. The priest initiates the process and my heart dances in joy as I begin to say the vows I have waited to say for more than a decade.
I Augustus Martin take you Angelica Evans
To be my wife
To have and to hold
From this day forward
For better, for worse,
For richer, for poorer,
In sickness and in health
To love and to cherish,
Till death do us apart,
According to God’s holy law;
And this is my solemn vow.
Angelica repeats after me. Everything around me felt like a blur as if all this was a dream. The priest holds a pair of rings forward.
“With this ring I thee wed.” I declare with an over powering delight. I hold her delicate hand in mine and push the ring on her finger as she does the same to me. “With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you as man and a wife. You may now kiss the bride.” The priest announces. I hold up the wail and pull Angelica’s face towards me with an immense delectation I never experience before. Her red shot eyes meet mine with unshed tears.
“You dare to kiss me, I am going to swallow you up alive.”