Chapter 6:

I held on the bouquet with an iron grip, if I squeezed it hard enough, would the stems bend or break? I queried at the petals if they would fall like the ones under my feet, red roses and white daisy petals scattered all over the ground where the bride would walk. The theme: new love. Our bouquet, daisies and wildflowers, bundled together, I sniffed at the comfort of the scent. My father had met this woman, Andrea, at the inn. His car broke down and supposedly she helped him and took him for a place to stay since she owned the inn. She let him stay for free. He fell in love and a few months later he asked for her hand in marriage. It was rushed. Father mourned, and couldn't sleep when mother died. Until meeting her, he had this huge smile on his face. She seemed like a woman that took what she wanted. Her aura was.... Undetermined. Dark and gray. Gray could mean a significant number of things but from her she was still something to figure out. She kept smiling when he was around but it didn't reach her eyes. I squinted and squirmed when she was around me. I watched her every move, burned sage to ward her away. To no avail, father was still marrying her. He proposed to her during dinner, giving her mother's ring. I was aghast that he's done that. When I asked him why, he told me it was time for him to let go of her. Andrea was the one, he loved her. He loved everything about her. He was in love. I could tell he was, but was she?

"Everyone, we're about to begin!" The announcement from the painter broke my reverie. I walked over to the bride party. I wasn't the maid of honor. I was in the bridesmaid position forced on me because father wanted me to. Not her. We huddled together as close as we could for the portrait before the wedding. In tradition, the grooms party and bride party took their portrait separately. I moved in close but then I was pushed by Cassandra, she smiled innocently like she did nothing. I fumed, squinting at the back of her head. I wondered if no one would notice if I put her hair aflame. I could picture her running around like a chicken's head cut off. I snickered. "Princess, that's a great smile!" The photographer exclaimed and painted on the canvas. I smiled wider from the compliment. I heard Amanda scoff and muttered "please." I withheld from rolling my eyes. When the pictures were taken and done, I went inside the dressing room, fixing the bun on top of my head. A single strand fell out and I tucked it behind my ear.

Andrea's daughters, Cassandra and Amanda, were quarreling about the same colored veils they were given by their daughters. I heard Cassandra say, "I want to wear it! GIve it!"

"It's the same one, doofus!" Amanda shouted and pushed her. I narrowed my eyes at their petty argument. We're all wearing the same veil. I looked away, noticing the differences of the wedding venue: the trees and bushes were dressed in red and white. Our dresses were the same color: cream with the similar veils wrapped on our ponytails. I stayed far away from them. The first time we met, they were entitled. They wanted everything I owned. Both of their auras screamed silliness and manipulation: brown. They were brats, getting whatever they wanted and sucked the energy away from others. I fought as much as I could until my father took their side. They had my things, my room. I had to move out to the other room. Rochelle came in time when I told her father was getting married. She was outraged, complained and defied the marriage. Father informed her that he would be marrying Andrea whether we liked it or not. In Rochelle fashion, she left. I sent her the invitation for support and her presence. I didn't hear from her until she showed up today. She's not part of the wedding party, but she's here as a guest. She refused to meet her or stay in her space today. She was smart. I wished I had the same idea but I was given, forced to be in the bride party. "Addy!" I closed my eyes from the shrill voice of my future sister Cassandra, "are you sure you need to wear those shoes?" She raised her over arched eyebrow.

"Yes," I told her. "And it's Princess Addyson," I corrected her.

"Oh, your majesty, my apologies," she said mockingly, fluttering her hands in the air and bowed low, tucking her head lower to her knees. "I mean the heels are far too pretty for your feet." I looked down at the white heels gracing my feet. "Let me have it."

"They're not your size," I told her boldly. "We all had the fitting for our size."

"I can squeeze," she held her chin up high.

"No." I stood on my word.

She scoffed, "like you have a choice. Hand them over."

"The wedding's about to start. Why don't you take your sister's shoes? Aren't you the same size?"

"Huh, Amanda! Give me your shoes!" She snapped her fingers.

"No way, we have the same shoes," Amanda denied.

"It will look better on me." Idiots.

"We all have the same colored shoes. Leave me alone!"

"I have flats, you have heels!"

"No!" Their arguments turned into a tiff, Cassandra tried to remove her shoes off Amanda's feet. Amanda kicked her away, trying to take her veil away but instead she pulled her hair. "OW!

"Girls!" Andrea's voice stopped their squabble. She entered the room, holding the train of her dress above her ankles. "Enough! Today is a great day. You both look beautiful. My beautiful girls." She grinned widely. Amanda released Cassandra, she smiled and swayed her body from the compliment. Cassandra thanked her mom and giggled. I wasn't noticed, I liked it that way.

"Are you two ready to give me away?" She asked.

"Yes, mama!" They both said. They went out of the room, skipping and closed the door behind them. Andrea's gaze saw me by the door frame, her smile dropped, her frown deepened. I didn't break eye contact. I shrugged.

"You, you're still here?" She asked.

"Well, we're gonna be a family now," I told her. Her scowl didn't release when she walked up to me, she was taller. I looked at her, not letting her bring fear in me.

"Yes, your new stepmother to you and your sister. Aren't you happy?"

"On the contrary, I am. I'm happy you make my father happy." I smiled, not letting it reach my eyes.

She chuckled, "you should be. I'm gonna make our family whole and give my daughters everything they want."

"As you should." She sauntered closer, I stood my ground and stared. She was trying to intimidate me. I squared my shoulders. "Just because you're a princess does not mean you should be treated as one. I know exactly what you are."

"And what is that, Andrea?"

"A witch, just like your mother." I didn't waver, shake or shudder. I continued to stare. "My daughters will take your position. As soon as possible. You're a lowlife. A nothing. You'll be cleaning the floors. You'll do what I say from now on. Your father is wrapped around my finger."

"They can't do that as long as I'm in the castle. I'm royalty, there's nothing you can do to hurt me. I don't have to listen to you."

"We'll see." That made me dread, panting in fear and anger. She did not just threaten me. The aura around her turned black. Blacker than the abyss. I stared at her with disgust. Her true colors. The wedding planner called out her name and said they were ready for her. She sang out, "coming!" in a sick sweet voice. Left me in the room. I dropped to my knees, trying not to cry. My father was marrying a horrible woman. He was blinded by her beauty and fake kindness. A knock rapped on the door, a head peeked in. The wedding planner grinned when she saw me. Her red hair was curled to her shoulders, glasses on her head and wore a simple black dress. HEr aura was yellow, she was kind. "Are you ready?" My shoulders slumped. I sucked in a breath and stood on my feet.

"Ready." I fluffed my dress and followed her outside of the modern wedding she designed. I looked around, the entire village was here and seated watching me walk down the aisle. The classical music from the band played, and I strolled slowly. If I walked slow enough it could delay the wedding. I saw Rochelle, she was frowning until I made it to her row. She released her tight expression, her eyes filled with tears when she watched me. She stared but smiled sadly. I smiled and nodded. Holding the bouquet, father was at the end of the altar with the priest. The priest brushed his own robe down waiting for me. His pressed robe and crown on his head, he smiled broadly when he saw me. I wanted to tell him to stop the wedding. Andrea's an evil woman, someone that could hurt him. She didn't glare, scowl or show any kind of sign that she was vicious. Her demeanor came off as sweet, which she was not in any shape or form. This was the first time he smiled and it was genuine. He was happy. Happy with her. I teared up when I approached him, he took a hold of my shoulders and told me I looked beautiful. I thanked him, wiping the teardrop off my cheek. 

Amanda and Cassandra sneered, I ignored their comments and stood behind them. The classical music changed to the wedding march. Everyone stood up, except for Rochelle. I breathed in hard, she was accompanied by herself. Her mother was too old to come and her own father was deceased. Or so she says. I didn't believe her. Her smile seemed harmless, her green eyes on my father. I peeked at his smile, his eyes filled with tears when she came closer. Her daughters were sobbing, I glanced at them as they wiped their eyes with their veils. I shook my head slightly. As she approached the pew, everyone sat down. The priest opened his bible, speaking from the scripture. Father didn't take his eyes off her, she shyly smiled into her shoulder and giggled. The priest spoke of love from first Corinthians down to leviticus. The scripture went on and on, I thought I would drift away in sleep on the altar. I kept my eyes open when he finished reciting the scripture part and went on to speak of their love and devotion to one another. Speaking of their souls joining in holy matrimony and spirits meeting again in the afterlife. Yeah right, I held on to my thoughts. The priest asked for the rings, dad asked me to give him his, I handed him the ring he begged me to hold. I couldn't part from my mother's ring. The emerald stone shined from the bright sun, it was supposed to be mine or Rochelle's when we wed. I sighed and dropped it in his palm. The ring slid on her manicured ring finger at no ease. I snickered, the audience's eyes peered at me. Father snuck his sneered at me over his shoulder. "Sorry, tickle in my throat." Father gave his attention to his future wife and pushed the ring as hard as he could, it finally fit around the base of her finger. "Do you think it's a good idea?" Rochelle's voice in my head questioned.

"It's up to father," I replied in my head.

"We need to stop this. You should stop this."

"I don't have the power to, father is a grown man."

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." I broke our telepathy. Father and Andrea leaned and kissed each other lightly. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you your new queen, Queen Andrea of Angium!" The priest announced to the audience. She was royalty by marriage, not by blood. Her daughters are princesses by marriage, not by blood. They were part of the family. I couldn't be less happier.