Chapter 29

Selene:

The vows happed, rings happened, a kiss happened.

Everyone was just enjoying cake and dancing on the wooden platform. Bethany and Allan had set up the whole reception in their restaurant. I sat by the bar and sipped on my tall glass of grape juice.

"Perfect place to enjoy your wedding, right?" A girl with brunette hair that came to her shoulders strolled towards the stool next to mine. She was dressed in a beautiful purple dress flared in net to her knee, with a strapless sweetheart neckline. She had almost bronze eyes and a softness to her.

"I guess." I chuckled, carefully sipping in more juice, "Order you something?"

"Really?" She looked surprised.

"Its all free." I shrugged and she chuckled.

"A glass of red please." She ordered and turned to me with a bitten lip.

"So, why is the bride and not there?" She pushed the question out reluctantly like she was scared to pry. Her finger pointed at the dance floor where Sean was dancing with mom. I felt a grin paste on my lips.

"Tired." I felt my shoulders sag. My dress was spread around me like I was floating in air and the bar stool was completely invisible.

"They can be that hectic?" She leaned in to find my bowed face.

"They can be scary."

"You know, I dont know much. I'm just like, twenty two and I have a marriage planned soon. But the best part about it, is the wait. I cant do it but wvery moment of it gets me excited." Her eyes went from me to the dance floor and I followed them to Sean with a little boy enjoying the music in his lap.

"Wait..." I raised my hand and took her little left one. There was a beautiful petite, twisted vine, diamond ring. One of the twists was studded in little diamonds with a huge diamond sitting on its pinnacle.

"Naomi?" I guessed and she nodded with surprise on her face.

"Oh my God." I laughed taking her in a strong hug. She grunted but hugged me back.

"Hi." She spoke shyly loving away.

"Sean talked about you so much!" I was so overjoyed all of a sudden.

"He did?" She bit her lip.

"Yeah. Oh, I'm so glad you guys are tying the knot!" I jumped and then stopped, "Willingly, right?" I took her hand she laughed.

"Of course. Sean can try his best, but he cant force me to anything."

"Spoken like a true woman." I raised my for a high five and she gave me it.

"What's up ladies?" We heard a huffing voice and found Sean staring at us with a little boy cradled in his folded arms. He sat with his legs plopping down his front and butt in Sean's arms, like they were a seat.

"And you must be Ethan." I tapped his cute little nose. He had gelled up spike hair like Sean's and beautiful big brown orbs, just like Sean.

"No offense Naomi, but he is all Sean." I murmured to her and she giggled.

"I know." She sipped her wine and Sean raised his face to her from behind Ethan. Naomi gave him a sip and he relaxed.

"Hi Ethan." I raised a hand for him to shake.

"Hi. I'm Ethan." He spoke quietly and I felt an awe.

"I'm Selene." I shook his hand.

"Your godmother." Sean kissed the top of Sean's head and my eyes widened.

"What?" I looked at Naomi and she nodded.

"We thought about making Carly that but you clearly have such an epic impact on Sean." Naomi squeezed my free hand and I felt blessed all of sudden.

"Godmother?" Ths kid questioned with a tilted head.

"Well, like a fairy. Who is always looking after you." Naomi explained.

"Like tinker bell?" He jumped in Sean's arms.

"Yes, baby." She blew him a kiss and I looked up at Sean who winked at me. Ethan jumped from Sean's lap to Naomi's when she ordered water for him. I took the opportunity of giving him a hug.

"Thank you." It felt like the most beautif gift.

"May I have a dance?" He raised his hand and I did a half curtsey before we walked to the dance floor.

"You're a father now." I stated as we started swaying in our ballroom dancing. He took my one hand in his and other settled on his shoulder while his on my waist.

"I know, its shit scary." He chuckled.

"Really?" He twirled me around and took me back in the same pose.

"I'm always scared, I'm gonna mess up." He sighed.

"Hey." I used the thumb of my hand on his shoulder to caress his cheek, "You are so brilliant. You dont even know. You kept me sane when your best friend was driving me crazy. I mean, I dont think I would've been able to fit back with you guys so well if hadn't been the way you were."

"It was my job." He nodded.

"And so it that." I bobbed my head to where Naomi and Ethan sat, which was by one of the round tables.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" He beamed.

"Yeah." I pretended to check her out and he turned us around in a way that I coukdnt see her.

"Its your wedding." He hissed possessively and I laughed, dropping my head on his shoulder.

"We're growing up." I muttered.

"Scary, right?" He swayed us slow.

"I'm scared, Sean."

"Yeah, so am I." His hand squeezed around mine and we both hummed together.

After a while of dancing, Sean escorted me to my table where they all sat. Sean, Naomi, Jelly, Jace and I. Oddly, Jace wasn't by his seat.

"Where's Jace?" I looked around which caused Jelly and Naomi to make sounds like "ooooh", teasingly.

"Real mature." I stared at them and they laughed.

"Seriously, Sean, where is he?" He shrugged, looking around the room for me. He was like half a foot taller than me so I guessed he had a better view.

I picked up my dress and walked over to the table beside ours. Dad and mom were enjoying their drinks and Sydney and Bethany were indulged in a conversation.

"Dad." I tapped his shoulder and he looked back with confusion.

"Have you seen Jace?" My chest with tightening and I wanted it to go away. Something felt wrong.

"Um, he said he was going to the bathroom if you asked for him." He nodded, "But that was about an hour ago." He looked around and I felt the relief blowing off of faster than cotton in a wind storm.

"Alright." I heaved a breath, "Dont worry. He's probably checking on his sister." I tapped their shoulders and started looking Jace's sister Cobie. She was in the other end corner booth with a couple girl and guy friends. She looked pretty in her body fitting, black and white polka dots dress. Her blond hair set perfectly around her bubbly face and she jumped out to me when I reached her.

"The bride!" Her friends cheered on me like I was a celebrity.

"Yay." It barely came out from my mouth.

"Where's Jace?" I turned to Cobie.

"Um, I havent seen him in while." She gulped, "Is he okay?" She seemed to get worried fast.

"No, no, honey. Of course not. Just wanted to talk to him." I grazed her cheek and she smiled.

"No going out with your friend tonight." I warned and she laughed before going back to them. Was that a yes or no?

Jace was nowhere in the hall. I walked to the corner that led to the private room for the bride and groom only. They had a small room set for us, in case we wanted a breather. I felt my heart quicken more and more by the time I reached the door and slammed it open.

No Jace.

"Jace, where are you?" I muttered to myself, feeling anxiety seeping into my bones. Pulling my skirt up, all the way to my thighs, I pulled my phone out from a pocket stitched in my stockings. I dialled his number but no response. The phone was turned off. This was not like Jace. I felt breathless at the idea that we hadn't talked since the vows.

"Selene." I heard a call and jumped around only to be faced by Allan. He stood with Sydney, Sean, Bethany and Carlisle.

"I cant find Jace." I spoke but instead of proper words I was crying. Sydney and Bethany swooped in and held me before I could fall to the the ground and men started talking amongst themselves.

"Selene, he must be around somewhere." Sydney rubbed my shoulder.

"I checked everywhere." My hands were trembling, "He was already upset that Mrs. Anderson didnt come to the wedding." I looked at Bethany and she nodded with wobbly lips. More tears felt my cheeks. Why couldnt I just stop crying for once?

"I can try tracking his phone." Carlisle spoke busy on his phone. I didnt stop him eith the possibility of maybe it getting connected. After five minutes, he shook his head in defeat. Turned off phone was as useless as tracking someone with chewed away breadcrumbs.

"What is going on in here?" Dad marched in through the door and his stern face dropped pale into panic at my sight.

"Dad, Jace is missing." As soon as Allan said that, my heart dropped and I ran to him.

"He is not missing!" I held his collars. My head felt like it was going crazy, "Jace isnt missing." I shook my head in denial and he circled an arm around me.

"All of you, tell the crowd that the groom and bride have taken off. You know  joke it around however to control and get them to leave. All the ceremonies are done so nothing is left." Dad ordered and all of them nodded with a walk out of the place. Allan left me to Dad's arm and I cried more on it.

"Enie, where do you think he could've gone?" He asked, pushing me to sit on the one white couch in the room.

"I dont know, Dad. He was so happy about the wedding." I tried reasoning. Nothing was making sense anymore. Was this a new revenge? Marrying me and then leaving me humiliated in front of everyone?

He wouldnt do that...

Would he?

Jace:

I gasped, opening my eyes and taking in my surroundings. My head was heavy and it a minute to get a clear view of the room around me. It was dark and quiet. In distance I could see a metal wall, which upon further checking out seemed to be a metallic rollup door. Where was I?

I looked around and felt a sharp itch in my left temple. I looked down at my body and saw drops of blood on the chest of my white shirt. I was still in my wedding suit and that reminded me of...

"Selene!" I yelled out. She was waiting for me. God, she must be so concerned. I tried moving but soon realized that my hands were bound behind me to a what felt like a thick pole. The coolness of the restraints told me that I was handcuffed and the reason my body could barely was because I was also tired up by a metal chain running around my waist.

"No!" I exclaimed, trying to free myself. No use, of course.

Where the hell was I?

What happened?

The last thing I remembered was kissing Selene and then her throwing her bouquet at the crowd. Then us going to the reception until I met...

"Oh, no." I muttered as my eyes widened.