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“The ceremony starts in ten. Be ready.”
The door clicked shut, blanketing the room in darkness. Inside, a blonde teen in a white dress sat alone.
‘Ten minutes...in ten minutes, I’ll be getting married.’
Rather than the elation that he had always predicted would follow such a thought, Mika only felt dread. He glared down at the silk cloth flowing down his body, the fake bouquets of flowers lining the walls.
‘A white dress, of all things. White is supposed to represent purity- how ironic. There’s nothing pure about this wedding at all. At least the decor is fitting- fake flowers, for a celebration of fake feelings.’
He sighed. ‘Ten minutes, and me and Ferid will be...’
Mika thought back to the conversation that had caused this situation.
*flashback*
What do you want?” Mika hissed. Ferid put a hand over his heart in mock hurt. “What, not excited to see me, Mika?” Ferid chuckled at Mika’s glare. “Aw, your reactions are as cute as always.” “...I’m leaving.”
Mika turned around to storm away, but Ferid’s iron grasp on his arm stopped him. “Wait, don’t you want to hear my offer? You’ll agree~” he lowered his voice. “I guarantee it.”
Mika felt a flash of alarm. He whirled around, unsheathing his sword threateningly. “What did you do?!”
“It’s not what I’ve done- it’s what I can do.”
Unfazed by the sword, Ferid continued talking.
“You’ll get married to me, or your angel and his friends will get killed. I know where they’re hiding- I’ve known all along. The only reason they’re still alive is because I chose for them to remain that way. If you don’t comply, I could have them killed before you could warn them.”
Mika’s eyes widened. “W-What?!”
Ferid grinned, showing off his fangs. He whipped out a phone, and sure enough- there was a live feed of the outside of the safehouse the squad was staying at.
Mika could only stare in shock. He, and the squad, had all thought they were safe…”Why?”
“You’re a smart boy, Mika, I’m sure you can figure it out on your own, but if you really want me to spell it out for you… You understand your position in the world of vampires, don’t you? A favorite of the queen herself, it doesn’t get much more important than that. Krul has been getting more and more insufferable lately. I can’t just do whatever I want anymore, can you believe it? How do you think she’d feel, me, taking away one of her precious pets? Killing two birds with one stone; I can steal some power and tarnish her image.”
Mika grit his teeth. Was Ferid really asking him to get married because of his and Krul’s feud? “I don’t think it’s too hard of a decision, is it Mika? Marrying Krul’s pet gives me leverage over her, and it’d be a lie to say you don’t intrigue me. In exchange, you’re friends stay alive. Quite a generous offer, don’t you think? Do you accept?”
Rage filled his being, even as he nodded in agreement.
Ferid’s smile somehow got even wider. “Wonderful! I knew you’d be smart about it!”
He stepped closer to Mika, using his height to try and project an intimidating aura.
“Mika, mika, my Mika... now that you agreed, you can’t take it back. If you mess up, the pain doesn’t befall you~...at least not the physical pain.”
*flashback end*
Mika clenched his fists in anger. That vampire, the monster who killed his family, killed him, took his everything away…
Mika willed himself to only feel hate. If he let himself think too much, the lump in his throat would surely turn into sobs, and with everything he’s been forced to go through, he refused to allow the other vampires the satisfaction of seeing him break.
He stared at the wall across from him, nothing better to spend the last ten minutes of his freedom doing.
A knock sounded against the door.
“It’s time.”
***
Loud, orchestral music filled the otherwise silent auditorium. Mika could feel the burning stares of every vampire in the room on him, and he hated it. He was grateful for the veil covering his face, certain that he wasn’t doing a good job of concealing the emotions on his expression. He did his best to face forward and pretend the vampires weren’t there.
After walking for what seemed miles, he reached the front platform. Looking out at the crowd, he could feel the anger curling his his stomach grow.
‘This isn’t a wedding. This...this is the exact opposite. There’s not a single person in this room who’s here out of love.’
Ferid, ever the smug bastard, smiled at Mika.
“Ah, Mika~ I can’t believe this day has finally come. You know, I could see from the start that we were something special. And now we’ll be together forever. Isn’t that great?”
The greed and malicious glee in Ferid’s eyes made Mika want to gag, but he held back, remembering Ferid’s earlier words.
If you mess up, the pain doesn’t befall you~...at least, not the physical pain.
Swallowing down his disgust, Mika shot Ferid the worst glare he could muster without the audience seeing. If Ferid noticed, he didn’t react. Instead, he gave the ceremonial official vampire standing behind them a ‘friendly’ smile.
“I think we’re both ready for the ceremony. Please, do begin, my darling Mika here can barely contain his excitement.”
***
Mika had stopped listening to the ceremonial vampire’s words a long time ago. His four years of living in Sanguinem had given him more than enough time to research vampire lives, so nothing being said was new to him. Vampire marriages consisted of long speeches and a magic spell that involved mixing the blood of both vampires.
‘Words, exchanges, deals, blood. There are no feelings involved in this,’ Mika thought.
‘If it was Yuu-chan I was marrying, things would be so different. We wouldn’t be being watched by hundred of vampires only attending for their personal benefit. We’d be surrounded by people who care about us, and we’d be happy…’
He was surprised to find his vision blurring. Tears had welled up in his eyes without him noticing. He blinked rapidly, forcing them away.
‘If it’s to protect Yuu-chan and our friends, I can take this. This is nothing,’ he tried to reassure himself.
Ferid nudged him. At some point, while Mika had been wrapped up in his thoughts, the speeches had finished. A black metal basin had been placed on a golden pedestal in front of the two of them. Red liquid trickled down Ferid’s hand, forming a small puddle of crimson within the bowl.
Looking around, it was clear that everyone’s eyes were on Mika as he took the ceremonial dagger.
Mika stared at the small blade. It was no bigger than his palm, but it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
‘Once I do this...there’s no going back.’
Seeing his hesitation, Ferid leaned down to whisper in Mika’s ear. “What are you waiting for? You’re not having second thoughts now, are you? How would you like it if your precious Yuu-chan were to be killed because of you?” Ferid hissed.
Mika clenched the handle of the blade firmly. He couldn’t let that happen.
Positioning the blade over his palm, Mika took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He pulled back the arm with the dagger, preparing to strike, when-
A loud explosion sounded right outside, shaking the entire room. Every entrance door to the auditorium was thrown open. Chandeliers exploded and fell on the audience at random as green glowing weapons flew through the air. The vampires, disoriented and unprepared for the ambush, quickly fell, row after row being reduced to dust. People in a very familiar black uniform stormed into the room, demon weapons blazing.
‘What...what is the JIDA doing here?!’ Mika could hardly believe his eyes.
Ferid growled, face twisting in a grotesque display of anger, before suddenly being cut down by a very family green edged black sword.
“Mika!”
Mika’s sky eyes widened. He had pretty much cast aside any hopes of being rescued. Seeing Yuu-chan here, in the flesh…
Yuu sliced down vampire after vampire, forcing his way to Mika, who was still standing in shock at the altar.
“Mika!” Yuu grabbed Mika’s hands, pulling him into his chest. “I was so worried we’d be too late.”
Mika felt himself shaking, but didn’t know how to stop it. Tears stung behind his eyes.
Yuu-chan came for me. I’m not going to get married to Ferid. I’m not trapped. Yuu-chan and his friends…they’re fighting for me.
“Y-Yuu-chan…”
Yuu gently patted Mika’s head. “It’s okay, Mika. I’m sorry things got so far before we interfered. I definitely won’t let anything like this happen to you ever again.”
He suddenly tucked an arm under Mika’s knees, literally sweeping him off his feet.
“We can talk about your serious self-sacrificing issues later, when we’re not caught up in a vampire massacre. For now, we’re getting out of here!”
Mika clung on tightly to Yuu as he ran, hiding his face in Yuu’s chest. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Yuu smiled down at the vampire in his arms. “What, did you really think I’d let you marry that creep? Your first and only marriage will be to me...at least, that’s what I’d like. And if you let me, I’ll make that come true.”
Mika returned the smile, snuggling closer to Yuu.
“I’d like that, Yuu-chan.”