Chapter 2 The Bride

The bride dressed in white about to delivered to her husband. More like the white little lamb about to be offered as a sacrifice to a predator. Ariane walked down the aisle with her father these thoughts in her head. She looked like a normal bride nothing was missing except a smile. No tears she had promised herself not to cry not a single drop he wasn't worth it they all weren't.

Her father lifted her veil before handing her to a smiling Lucas. She wanted to wipe that taunting look off his face. He had won this time but she would find a way out of this it was only a matter of time.

As the priest said his words Ariane looked at the people present in the church then back at Lucas. Seven years ago she would have died in order to make this possible at the age of 16 this was all she could dream of. Now it was a nightmare her mind slowly drifted off to the time when she was innocent, happy and in love.

~~~

** Flash back **

16 years old Ariane stood on the stairs watching Isaac and his friends her eyes trained particularly on a dark haired boy. He looked back up when his friends weren't watching and they both smiled at each other.

"... I still think we shouldn't be hiding this from everyone. Except you for some reason are ashamed to be with me publicly?" Lucas paused the kiss and asked her. He was tired of sneaking in and out of her room whenever he came to see Isaac.

"But it makes it more exciting"

"I'm being serious Ari"

"Isaac wouldn't like it and I don't want your friendship to suffer because of me..."

~~~ Flash back ends~~~

Ariane felt someone squeeze her hand and looked up to see Lucas staring at her intensely.

"Do you take Lucas Morreti King as your lawfully wedded husband to love and cherish in health and in sickness, the good times and the bad times till the day you die?" Ariane looked round the hall then at her father remembering his threats. Her own father threatening the life of someone she loved.

"I do" She didn't feel happy lieing in the presence of God but she had no other choice.

"With the power vested on me I now declare you man and wife. You may kiss the bride"

°°°

The moon was out but the wedding after party had just began. Ariane was in her father's compound sitting on a swing yet she didn't feel safe. People were mingling but she wasn't interested in socialising.

"Can I join you?" She looked up at Isaac before looking away. He acted like he'd voluntarily leave if she asked him to.

"Cheer up Poo" his words would have been funny on any other day as it was an inside joke but today was different. There was nothing to cheer up for.

"How dare you tell me to cheer up? You of all people, you should know better than ask me to act happy"

"I just wanted to tell you I found Jared and I'll get him out tomorrow morning you just have to make it through tonight without any problems" she watched her brother walk away with slumped shoulders. Deep down she knew her words hurt him, he blamed his self for everything that happened in the past when it clearly wasn't his fault. But it was for these same reasons exactly that she couldn't understand him being in support of this marriage

*****

Ariane laid on window seat of the room dressed in a pink lingerie waiting for her groom. She had fallen asleep waiting for Lucas wanting to be awake when her predator struck. The room was purely identical to her room back home. If you didn't look out the window at the view you'd mistake this for her old room.

Lucas unlocked the door and walked in for a moment he panicked not seeing her on the bed or couch. He however calmed down when he noticed her on the window seat sleeping, the moon light highlighting her shape.

On his knees beside her he watched her sleep in awe of how peaceful and innocent she looked. She hated him now but he never stopped loving her. He was wrong to hurt her but now that he had her again he was never letting go he'd make up for everything they would be happy together. She would love him just like before and bear his kids.

Lucas leaned in to kiss his sleeping beauty but her eyes shot open and she shoved him hard. Fear was clear in her eyes when she realised what she did.

"I just wanted to take you to bed if you sleep there your back will hurt... Goodnight"

Ariane went back to sleep hours later she was tossing around a bit from a nightmare

~~~

"What were you doing with Ken I thought you said it was over between you two?"

Lucas yelled in her face and she replied non-chalantly.

" He just wanted to congratulate me on winning the award." She didn't want to go down this path again with him. Ken was her ex-boyfriend she started hanging out with Lucas after she broke up with him. At first she wasn't really into Lucas back then only liked the fact that he was attractive and sexy. So when Ken came back two weeks later she didn't hesitate to take him back and make out with him only to be caught by Lucas. Even after they made up Lucas never really forgave her for it. He was always bringing it up and after fifteen months of apologising she was done.

"And I told you to stay away from him why is that so hard for you".

She already planned to break up with him the next week but since he wanted to act out why wait.

"You know what? Fuck you! It's over between you and me" She couldn't bare it anymore what was the point in dating someone if he wouldn't trust you. Yes she fucked up before but it was in the past. A past he didn't want to let go of

"Baby don't say that to me please."

"I said it Lucas and I'm not taking it back. I'm dumping your jealous ass so I can move on with guys who would love me enough to forgive and trust me" Ariane marched to the door ready to leave when she realised it was locked.

"Open the door I want to leave!"

"Sit your ass back down on the bed Ari!"

"Open this door right now I don't have time for this okay?" Though she was yelling the fear in her was rising.

He was angry and so was she. Logic told her that Lucas had had a couple of drinks that night and that jealousy and anger didn't mix well but she just wanted to go home.

He approached her and though she tried to act unmoved at the very last minute she went running to the window screaming for help.

It was futile in the end Lucas room was too far away from the party and the music didn't help. "I'm sorry please Lucas let's just talk it out"

"You want to leave is that right? Ari answer me!! You want to move on with some guy? Didn't I tell you I wouldn't let any other guy have you have you except my self from the start"

She was trembling, the alcohol on his breath increasing her fear even as he grabbed her neck from behind. He had told her that indeed but then she had taken it as mere romantic words. Ariane found herself pleading and stuttering. Her best friend was right she never should have stayed after the first time he hit her because of her relationship with Ken. She should have told her mom or Isaac now there was no telling what was going to happen.

"If I can't have you nobody can" He threw her against the window but he didn't expect that it wasn't shut properly down she went tumbling towards the concrete side walk.

****