Aridalle gasps as they appeared in front of a huge castle made from obsidian stone, like the ones in Disney cartoons but this time it carried a chilly aura along and a heavy mist rested around it .
" H-how did you do that " she squeaked
He looks down at her , his eyes glinting, having lights of their own .
" You haven't grasped the whole picture, haven't you "
She steps back ,not daring to look at his eyes – they were so scary, having the lifeless terrifying stare .
Seraphim scoffs , this slow poke is going to be his bride ...
" This is your new home my bride , enter" he commands , voice booming with authority.
Aridalle nods repeatedly shivering, she drags her legs towards the entrance to while he followed cautiously.
Entering inside was another world entirely, it was as if the castle had life on its own .
... Wall and floor carved out of rare marbles, chandelier casting soft silvery lights everywhere. Massive staircase spiraled endlessly their railings made out of diamond shaped– like angelic wings .
Aridalle jaw dropped to the ground as she turned 360° scanning the castle.
" Wow this is nothing like the foster home" she squealed clapping happily.
Seraphim stared at her deadpanned, his expression dead and frozen .
" Come introduce yourselves to your new madam"
" Uh"
Three people walked towards them like robots bowing immediately .
" Welcome mademoiselle, I'm Justin the butler" the eldest man in suit said still bowing.
Aridalle nods still confused.
A middle aged woman stepped forward bowing " I'm merida the head maid and that *points to a young lady of beside her" is my daughter your personal maid .
" Hello my lady , I'm Zenovia" she said giving her light smile .
Aridalle gladly returned it , waving, this was the first time in a long time someone smiled genuinely to her .
" Merida , you and your daughter should prepare her for the wedding and explain the things she needs to know to her ONLY.THE.THINGS.SHE NEEDS.TO. KNOW "
Merida bows lowly getting the message " yes my lord " .
Seraphim gives Aridalle one last cold glance and vanished.
"Come my lady, lemme take you to your room" Marida said smiling politely
"anything you need will be provided my lady " Justin bows and leaves
Aridalle nods her eyes darting back and forth we they claimed the massive stairs that has no beginning, her eyes goes to Zenovia whose head was bent low and her hands clutched to each other at the front in a princess like manner .
" Er I have lot of questions" she said almost pouting.
Merida smiles " they will all be answered soon as we get to your room"
" Oh "
They reached a massive door , it was almost reaching the roof , as if it sensed their presence it opened and they entered.
Aridalle gasps again, the room took her breath away . Back at the foster home a room like this was almost the size of half of the house itself.
As if enchanted she moved swiftly touching everything smiling, her eyes glowing.
The room had velvet drapes trailed to the floor , bed carved from ruby wood and draped in translucent curtains, giving Disney princess vibes.
" I'll leave my daughter to attend to your personal needs my lady " Merida bows and leaves .
They stood in awkward silence , Zenovia clears her throat .
" Err my lady, would you like you try your dresses "
Aridalle sighs seating back on the bed " well if I could find a building block pack I'll be grateful "
" Building block??? "
She nods smiling at the thought of it " it's a mini sized block with lots of pictures drawn on it and you can use it to build any type of castle you want "
Zenovia looks at her baffled " but my lady that's a toy for children "
" But I like it " she mutters, her eyes getting teary
" Eh !! " Zenovia exclaims in shock , why the fuck is she crying... This is signing a death warrant for her and her mother .
" My lady pls don't cry I-I will get you the block err building block later "
Aridalle stops crying asap , her frown turned upside down .
" Yay thank you so much " she squeals happily catapulting herself to Zenovia's body.
" R-Right " Zenovia's mutters blinking in confusing.... Is it just her or she is acting in a strange way.
Aridalle jumps on the bed kicking off her shoes , she has totally fallen in love with this room .... The bed was soft more like clouds.
" So.... " She drawls sexily lying on her stomach with her legs swinging in the air .
" From the books I've read , I heard wedding is for two people that are in love with each other but I don't even know your master's name so why am I marrying him "
Zenovia clears her throat, she was expecting this question soon or later.
" Well my lady I'm in no position to give you full details but this is what I can tell you .... You've been destined to marry my master right from the womb , you are his bride . "
She seats up confused " right .... From... The ... Womb ?? Wait what is he "
" He is something far from ordinary, he is an immortal" Zenovia points out.
Aridalle's eyes widens in shock " immortal?? *Gasps* you mean he's not human then is he a fairy ! "
Zenovia : (;ꏿ_ꏿ;)
How the fuck does not seraphim look like a fairy ....
" Seriously my lady he is not a fairy"
" Ohhhhhh what is he then "
Zenovia sighs resisting the urge to roll her eyes . " Well like I said it's not in my place to give you full details maybe when he returns you can ask him. "
" Okay " Aridalle said nodding childishly .
In a twinkle of an eye she was glued right to Zenovia's body blinking and pouting cutely
Zenovia: ⊙.☉
Aridalle: (・∀・)
" I'm hungry, mind if I can have some cookies" she mutters....
Zenovia sighs , this is not what she signed up for .... It feels like a babysitting job now .
" Alright my lady , I'll whip something up for you "
She giggles " awesome!! "
Zenovia bows and leaves while she catapults herself back to the bed.
Outside the room, Zenovia was dragged to a corner by her mother.
"What do you think you're doing " Merida whispered fiercely.
" Uh "
" Why are you bonding with her ?? "
Zenovia sighs " I'm not bonding mother , I'm just trying to be polite "
She eyes her " it better be... I don't want you giving her hope that she has a place to stay here when she's just vessel for the celestial key , once Master takes it she is as good as useless and would be immediately disposed "
" I know mother "
" Good " Merida pats her head and leaves .
Zenovia steps out like nothing just happened heading to the kitchen.
DRACUKI WATCH TOWER .
Dracuki watch tower : where seraphim holds most of his important meetings with vaelric and private time to himself.
Seraphim appears in his study room , the chandelier light casted a bloody red glow in the room and the lights danced in his eyes , his aura filling every corner of the watch tower.
He takes one step and he was suddenly seated on his king sized chair , crossing his legs he closed his eyes , his ears perked up and he sighs...
ᕦᕦ Oh oh after eating can I have a bicycle... Your master must be rich uh so I want a bicycle ..
Aridalle's stupid conversations keeps floating to his ears without his permission and he has no explanation for that .
" Vaelric " his voice icy thick.
Cold wind blew and Vaelric appeared blending in with the shadows.
" My lord "
" Prepare the things for the wedding nothing will stop it from taking place today "
Vaelric looks at him confused "wedding? "
" Yes wedding, according to the celestial law anyone seeking for the key but be bound to her by blood and vow. " Seraphim mutters opening his eyes , they were looking glassier than ever .
Vaelric bows " yes my lord "
" Nyxeria " seraphim mumbled.
The room temperature dropped and there stood Nyxeria dressed in her usual bloody red body fitted gown .
" My lord " her voice soaked with honey , Vaelric literally winced .
Seraphim leans forward placing both hands on the desk . " Inform all my inter dimensional traders , they're to attend my wedding "
" Eh "
She looks at him shocked , what did he mean by wedding.... She snaps her gaze to Vaelric who looked like he didn't give a fuck.
" This is a joke right, my lord why do you have to marry that human to get the key when you can take it forcefully "
His cold gleaming eyes flickered to hers and her breath was seized.
" Uh uh " she pants dropping on her knees as she struggles to breath.
Seraphim looks at her deadpanned, " inform them of my wedding Nyxeria"
" Yes yes yes I will my lord " she gasps finding air again and vanishes immediately.
He picks up his crystal orb , it was glittering red ... It swirled and the image of Aridalle was shown.
" The key to my revenge" he mutters staring intensely at the image.
Vaelric looks at him " my lord , Moraith the memory merchant has been waiting for you since dawn are you going to attend to him or ... "
He smirks " hmm Moraith..... I'll attend to him later "
" Yes my lord " Vaelric bows and disappears.
VELVET VOID
velvet void : a hidden chamber beneath a cathedral where Seraphim communicates and trades with entities from different dimensions – trade that does not involve cash but abstract currency –
Reality here unfolds like silk , candles burn with thick flames . In the center is a rectangle obsidian table surrounded by thrones.
Seraphim leans back in his, clocked in shadows , eyes glowing and his expression terrifying.
Moraith the memory merchant of forgotten plane realm , he is an tall shifting entity made of smoke and bone with twelve eyes on its head , His image alone can give you everlasting nightmares.
" The soul of a dreaming child ... Innocent and broken , will you offer it for a single name " he hissed
Seraphim drags his gaze to him " the name leads to the seal broken in offering more than you deserve "
" I see " Moraith states amused , a smaller creature on his shoulder (a memory thief) tilts it's head.
" Can you give me two souls for the same price" he adds .
Seraphim eyes flickers to him coldly and he shrinks back to his seat .
" You take what I give you or I will scatter your pathetic bones across every damn dimension on this plane "
The candle lights flickers, moraith laughs and finally accepts .
Seraphim waves his hands into the air , a blue light emerges and a soul is traded .
" Àêïøœä " Moraith whispers the name in his realm tongue.
Seraphim draws an ancient glowing symbol in the air and the trade was sealed.
FOSTER HOME.
A glowing light like the sun appeared and a heavenly figure was seen standing on the roof.
Sariel dressed in white glowing robes, his magnificent wings giving the king aura while his long dark hair kissed his shoulders.
" My brother has done it again, father should have bounded him while he was cast out "
he mutters looking at the crying teenagers and children as they struggled to bring down Amanda's body, it was tightly stuck to the pole.
Sadness clouded his features as he watched the people crying bitterly.
He sighs with a wave of his hand the body floated in the air and landed gently on the ground.
Everyone was in shock as they tried to process what just happened.
" Be at peace earth habitants" he murmurs doing the cross sign and vanishes.
CATHEDRAL.
The sky above the cathedral was bruised blue , the wind blew chilly, at the center of the marble altar surrounded by flickering silver fire and ancient rubes that glowed faintly.
An ancient high priest, blind and floating mid air above the ground began the rites in a strange tongue.
In the center of the altar stood Seraphim cloaked in black ceremonial robes adored with gold designs, his expression indifferent.
Aridalle walked towards the altar looking around fearfully... The strange creatures she was seeing made her heart skip .
There were no mortals, only beings clocked in shadows, they were creatures Seraphim made tradings with , beings who owed him favours or feared his ascension to heaven .
*I want to go back inside* she thought, crying inside ... Her gaze meets Zenovia who was with others at the guest side watching her quietly.
Her clothes was unlike anything mortal, shimmering like starlight caught in a silk , woven from celestial thread. On her head was s crown of golden blossoms resting in they're hair .
She stands next to Seraphim who doesn't spare her a glance even though she looked up expecting compliment.
Nyxeria watched from the midst of guests the look on her face terrifying, her eyes was digging holes in Aridalle already.
*I can't believe master is getting married to this lowly human , how embarrassing* she thought biting her lips .
The ceremony reached it's peak and Seraphim drew his blade and sliced his palm letting his celestial blood spill on the symbol on the altar .
Aridalle did the same , immediately her blood mixed with his ... It shine faintly gold signalling the joining of them as husband and wife .
The runes on the ground flared
The silver flames surrounded the symbol still glowing with their blood
The strange mark on Aridalle's upper back stung painfully than usual and it glowed red .
Seraphim felt his fangs coming out and his eyes blazing matching the colour on her shoulder
" Urgh " she groans grabbing her shoulders .
Seraphim looks at her , his eyes glowing with expectation of the key appearing any moment.
And then .....
Nothing.
The key did not awaken
The gates to cold heaven will remain closed .
Seraphim for the first time in centuries felt confused, his eyes slightly wide in shock .