Sethry eyed her dress for the umpteenth time while Nerezza waited.

"Are you going to say what you think or not?" she said, a small laugh behind her voice.

"Well..." Sethry said, then frowned. He scanned her again.

She wore a long silken dress, one the color of jade trees so her plain brown hair seemed more like a forest. The dress was tight around her waist and hips, balancing her somewhat oddly broad shoulders so she seemed more feminine. Nerezza balanced precariously in high heels that only went to her ankles, but she was lucky enough not to have the knee-breaking ones her mother wore. Glittering bracelets and earrings as well as a thinner, almost natural layer of makeup rounded up the look.

Sethry, a demon, did not know how to comprehend the look.

Nerezza laughed as she noticed this, though it sounded more nervous than anything. "I think the word you are looking for is 'strange.'"

Sethry shook his head and drew himself taller. "I've been researching."

"And?"

"I think the word I'm looking for is beautiful."

Nerezza blushed, almost going to cover her face before she remembered her make up. "And what, exactly, have you been researching?"

"A lot," he replied, coming close into her personal space. Even with her heels, Nerezza didn't match his height - not counting the long horns. "But particularly, things like this."

Nerezza glanced up at him with confusion as his fingers grabbed her chin. Her breath hitched.

He kissed her.

Her knees nearly gave out at the first press of his warm lips, his rough horns butting gently against her head as he angled his face to take it deeper. Nerezza held onto him for dear life, a fluttery and loose feeling swelling about her in great waves. She didn't know what it was doing to her, but she didn't want it to stop.

Sethry pulled away, their lips almost parting hesitantly. She breathed heavily as they stood uncertainly, waiting for something to happen next. She had never felt that before, and honestly, she wanted more.

Someone knocked on the door.

Nerezza, startled, swiveled in the direction of it right as it was opening, emitting her father with her mother close behind. She jerked towards Sethry to tell him to run or hide - something - but he was not there. Slowly, as if disbelieving, she turned back towards her parents.

"You look ready. We must greet the guests." Nerezza nodded and followed her father, glancing back at her shadow surreptiously.

She couldn't see anything, but she knew he was there, waiting.

***

The people milled about the dining and kitchen and living rooms, admiring the grandeur and pleasant hosts - and the brand new white carpets. Aunt Katy continued to follow around her sister Delilah, or Nerezza's mother, so her father was left to the business-part of the occasion.

Nerezza, as always, was a floater. She would've asked Sethry to come out and talk to her if she both wasn't jangly with nerves from what happened and had realized that he would be too conspicuous.

Someone sidled up to Nerezza. She blinked, recognizing Lauren Jestuva- a boy a year older than she - as he handed a small glass of champagne to her. He was charming and amusing enough, with sharp dirty-blonde hair and blue eyes that most girls pined for. He wore a dapper maroon suit that complimented the fact.

"Good day, Nerezza," he said in a surprisingly deep voice. Nerezza almost jumped at the sound, forgetting that it had been years since she had last seen him, and he had yet to mature into the man he was now.

She nodded slowly, trying to cover her surprise. "Good day to you, too, Lauren."

The man smiled lop-sidedly, bumping a shoulder with her. "Are we going to continue with the dramatics or...?"

She frowned. "Dramatics?"

"Yes, after all, you are my fianceè," he said.

Nerezza froze, suddenly feeling an ominously cold aura deep from behind her. She stepped back in panic, trying to stamp her heel on her shadow in warning. Then, the words finally seeped in to her.

"Fianceè?!" she said, aghast.

Lauren slipped an arm over her shoulders, admiring her dress. "Yes, indeed. You smell lovely, my future wife."

Nerezza dipped under his arm and pulled away, setting her champagne on a random table space.

"Why are we getting married?"

Lauren frowned with disapproval. "Your parents have adopted a child, that is what this party is about. They want to name him heir, so you're being married off to make it easier. Haven't you studied any of this political, business stuff?"

Nerezza nearly threw up. She shook her head but raised a hand to stall Lauren from saying anything else. She half-ran to her room.

Sethry appeared instantly, no sign of the surge of aura from earlier on his face. It was carefully blank.

"I told you, they were scheming. You should have expected something like this." He seemed to distance himself.

Nerezza shook her head again, sitting on her bed with her face buried in her hands. "What am I going to do?" she asked, glancing up at Sethry.

He shrugged, nonchalant. "Whatever you want, I suppose. You are married now and most likely expected to bear the other man's children. So, I guess my question is," he said, looking at her meaningfully, "what are you going to do, Nerezza?"

She blinked. "You're not...going to try and persuade me? Did this morning mean nothing?" she said, chest caving out.

"I wouldn't say that." He thought for a moment, not quite noticing the breath of relief Nerezza released. "I am learning about this just as much as you are, unfortuneately. But the choice is yours. If you want to stay, then I will stay with you. If you want to leave, then I will still stay with you."

"But...well," she began, uncertain. She groaned. "Why can't you decide for me? What am I supposed to do? I can't ask my parents to-"

"No you can't,  and you shouldn't have even thought of that," Sethry interrupted. Still, an utterly blank face remained. "It is your choice to decide, not mine or theres. It is yours."

Nerezza mulled over it, finding it hard to think at all. She had to choose.

***

Almost in her mind's eye, she could see herself, years from now, thinking about this decision. Would she regret it? Or would she be glad? But which decision prompted which feeling?

She glanced at Sethry.

That morning had been her first kiss, and the first time she had ever quite imagined something like that happening. Though, to say she had ever thought about her future would be a bit of an overstatement. She had always relied on her parents to discipline and show her how she was supposed to live.

To live without her parents guiding hand scared her. How would she do in the 'real world,' as Sethry called it. Would she be ready to bear children and become like her mother? And Lauren - he wasn't a bad guy, last she remembered. He had seemed genuinely concerned at her lack of business knowledge, but perhaps it had been for himself than for her.

The only way she would learn that distinction was if she stayed and got to know him. But as his wife, she would be expected to do more than that. She would be expected to forget Sethry's kiss and gentle hands and warm caresses that had heated her on cold nights.

Finally, Nerezza decided.

***

They had been searching for her.

She slipped out of her room and glided back into the living room, long and silky green fabric swaying at her ankles. Her parents were in the center of the area, generally talking to the crowd.

"We have a special announcement!" her father crowed. A young boy with curling blond hairs and blue eyes stepped forward, already standing tall and proud in the spotlight. "We have an heir!"

Familiar faces clapped respectfully, though the air of confusion was thick, Nerezza's name muttered amongst them.

She stepped up to Lauren's arm. "I suppose it is our time, now?"

He blinked a few times but nodded, guiding her forward. Nerezza noted the nod passed between her father and Lauren, yet didn't make any comment. Nerezza swept up a drink again as she was brought to the center of the room.

Her nerves danced and jigged, making the blood pound loudly in her head. She ignored it, focusing on steadying her breath.

Her father flourished a hand in their direction, and Nerezza blushed as everyone turned to them.

"My lovely daughter, Nerezza Hemp, has found herself courted by Lauren Jestuva, as well!" The crowd clapped more vigorously now as knowing nods replaced the confusion.

Several gasps erupted as Lauren tugged from Nerezza's arm and knelt before her. He procured a velvet box, which he popped open.

There, a ring glittered in the light, to the delight of the guests.

"Nerezza Karina Hemp," he said, "will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"

She clasped the drink in her hand as her stomach bottomed out. She gulped.

And splashed her drink on him.

He sputtered and jumped up, searching for something to wipe his face with. Nerezza turned a slightly defiant face to her parents who gaped.

"No. I will not marry." Already, her father looked furious, her mother scowling but not quite as rage-filled as the man at her side.

People tugged at Nerezza as she pushed through the crowd, heart thundering. So many disapproving faces. So many people who knew her and recognized her.

As planned, Sethry worked his magic. Before, his aura had overrided his power of being able to direct people's emotions, but after weeks of practicing both of those with Nerezza, he had become better. Not the best, but better.

Disinterestedly, the crowd turned away from her, and at once she was swallowed by them.

Shouting followed from behind.

Nerezza jumped with fright at the voice that had controlled her so many times, but she found herself moving faster.

"Sethry? Could you handle my father? If he keeps on following I won't-"

"I don't think I can. His emotions are too...ballooned up," he replied from the shadows. "But I can help with everyone else."

She nodded, and at once felt a vague wash of neutrality around her. No one reacted to her father's shouting until he was right upon them, shoving them out of the way.

"Nerezza! Godammit! Get back here you ungrateful girl!"

Her eyes squeezed shut, and she continued walking on.

It wasn't too late, a voice whispered. She could go back and grovel and have everything revoked for a week or more in repentance. Sethry could help her during that time. She could do it.

But...

She was already at the door as her resolve strengthened. Sethry would always be there, that wouldn't change in any universe. What was going to - and needed - to change was her. She shouldn't be afraid of life anymore.

Fresh air blasted around her.

And she was free.