Must I Be Your Bride? - Chapter Twenty Six

In other households, this might be a common thing. A teen falls crazy in love, feels like they found the one, and is willing to move halfway across the world. Even though my situation was a bit different - knowing William really was the one - my family was speechless and William also seemed to be on their side with this.

"You're joking," my father said, not one hint of his voice matching his words.

The hand I held was motionless against mine, and I squeezed it in hope of making it function again.

Everyone had stopped eating their ice cream out of awkwardness, even Joshua was staring at me.

"Yes," William quickly said.

"No," I argued. "I'm not. And we want you to come with us."

"Serene," William whispered, obviously not liking where I was going with my unthinkable words.

I was about to reassure William, to tell him everything was fine, but I couldn't move, and I suddenly felt the familiar shield in my throat. He was using his powers against me. I couldn't believe it, and I was enraged.

"I was planning to move", William says, "But I decided to wait for Serene to finish her school first, and then we'll see where everything will end up. We haven't been able to talk about it."

I was struggling out his invisible grip inside, demanding for him to stop. But then I calmed down when I feel the relief tension in the room, and take one good look at my parents and little brother. They were still shocked, but I could also see the flash of pain in their eyes, the pain I see when a parent is talking about his or her now grown up son or daughter.

"Yes, school comes first," my mom says when she finally manages to speak.

This probably means that asking for more ice cream is out of the question.

"Thank you so much for the ice cream. It was delicious," William says once we were done. Everyone else was still calming down from the sudden news to finish.

"You're welcome," my mom says, forcing a smile. My dad hasn't spoken; he still seemed to be fuming.

"I should be going now," William says, making me quickly jerk up with him. This seemed to pain him, and he led me toward my front door as my mom and Joshua said their farewells from the kitchen.

"You - ," I started to say irritatingly but he cut me off.

"I had to. I didn't want you to go overboard. We're not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere. I have money to buy my own place here, to live a lifetime. Serene, this is my life now."

I sighed and placed my head on his chest. "One year," I whisper. Before he could ask what I meant I go on. "I'm asking you to turn me into a vampire in one year." I met his gaze. "You have that long to change my mind and to live my life, but I want to live as long as you."

He gives a slight shake of his head before giving me a kiss. "Fine," he says, backing away to open the front door. I only hold his hand, not letting him go just yet.

"Where are you staying?"

I could hear the whimpers form in my throat, the fear of him leaving starting to haunt me again.

"With you." He gives me another quick kiss before he disappears out the door.

It takes me a moment to ponder what he meant, but when I finally understand, I tell my still-shaky parents goodnight and start to rush to my room.

"Not so fast," My dad says, his somber voice reminding me of William's father for a moment. I reluctantly turn to him.

"You were planning to leave?"

I gulped, but realized I had brought this onto myself. "I wouldn't have minded changing schools," I said.

"Family comes first," My mom chips in.

Right, of course. I remember that. But see, I was ready to pass that quote on to my own. "I know," I say, trying to avoid more time. "I'm really tired, and I think I'll be able to sleep good tonight, so can I please be excused?"

They both studied me for a moment before my mom nodded, and I tried not to hastily make my way to my room.

When I walked in, sure enough, William was waiting near the window. I close my door and lock it, just in case my parents decide to come in without knocking, and he makes his way to me, holding something his hands.

It was the rose in the glass case.

"You gave me that the day I fell in love with you," I whisper.

For some reason I was trembling. Because William had left, leaving me with such an excruciating pain that had me living like a zombie. And now he was here, and I was overwhelmed with exhilaration and relief. It was all too much.

William noticed. He put the flower aside and walked over to me, a hand of his reaching up to my face. I felt myself start to cry again and he traced my face, giving me memories of when he used to do that back at his kingdom.

"Nobody knows this little Rose," he whispered, wiping away my tears.
"It might a pilgrim be
Did I not take it from the ways
And lift it up to thee."

I take in a quivering breath and go on for him,
"Only a Bee will miss it
Only a Butterfly,
Hastening from far journey
On its breast to lie."

I take a step closer to him, and he smiles the first real smile I've seen in a while.
"Only a Bird will wonder
Only a Breeze will sigh
Ah Little Rose - how easy
For such as thee to die." I finish.

His finger finds my trembling lips, his eyes only focused on them. "I can't stop thinking..." He trails off, and I can tell that he's debating whether or not he should have said that.

"I can't stop thinking about that night, either," I say. I take another step toward him, this time stumbling. And again, he smiles.

"It's illegal here," he says with a smirk.

"Do we care?" I say unevenly.

I notice that he thinks about it for a moment, frustrating me a bit. "Yes. Especially because your parents will hear us."

He takes my hands and leads me to my bed. I get under the covers and he joins me, wrapping his arms tightly around me as soon as we were settled. Again, the tears of relief demand their way out.

"You're staying here?" I say, hopeful and confused.

"With you? Yes. That is, until I get my apartment. Maybe a house. What do you say?"

"What about your kingdom?"

He sighed. "Serene, stop it. It's over."

"No. It's not." I snuggle tighter against him. "If you left, would you be back?"

He was silent.

"I don't see why we just can't move away in the first place," I snap. "You're the one making this hard. I'll just tell my parents that we're getting married and moving to who-knows-where. They can't say anything."

"Yes they can. You're not an eligible adult yet to make your own decisions. Plus, I'm older than you so they can accuse me of something and send me to jail."

I hesitated. "They can't keep you in jail, anyway."

"I'll survive as a prince, Serene. You'll always be my queen." It didn't exactly sound the same.

"You kidnapped me so you could become a king, remember?"

"Yes, I do," he says calmly. "And you refused to marry me when I kidnapped you. Remember; refused to be a vampire? And now look at you. You won't stop insisting."

"I wanted to be king, because that's all I had, the only thing that made me happy. But then you came around and changed that. I don't need the kingdom anymore, Serene, not like I used to. So please, stop trying to change my mind."

I turned to him, my body turning weak under his careful grip. Hearing him say that made my heartbeat anew. Knowing how he felt, about everything, I don't protest this time. I lean in and give him a slow kiss.

"So you'll turn me once I turn eighteen, once I graduate? And we'll go live happily ever after in your extraordinary kingdom?"

He places a kiss on my forehead and says, "Yes."

"Promise not to leave me ever again?" I say, my eyes closed.

His hand cups my chin, causing to me open me my eyes to look at him. "Promise granted." This time he's the one to lean in and give me a kiss.

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So this was supposed to be the last chapter... but then while I was in bed I thought of something, and now I'm up fixing this. So maybe one or two more chapter? Not so sure!

Izzy: Yes I am American. And knowing that you're reading this with your mom (and that you guys are from Australia!) Just makes me so happy! I'm glad you guys enjoy my story.

I love all of your comments and reading them makes me hope I don't disappoint you by the time I end my story!

Lots of love! Enjoy.