Th_omas

" How about we help each other?" He says and I look up at him, eyes still wet from the tears streaming down my cheeks, heart freshly broken from the public humiliation and betrayal that was Lucas's breakup. I can faintly make out the first droppings of snow floating magically under the light of the street lamps. It's that time of the year, a time for wool coats, a time for relaxing, none of which I'll be doing. "I'm an orphan with a wicked aunt and a boyfriend who left her because she has nothing to her name, how could I possibly help you?" I say another sob escaping my lips. "Marry me" he replies and my eyes widen in anger. Is he mocking me?. I look into the eyes of this stranger and see he's dead serious. "I need a wife, you need a home, marry me and you'll have all you want". I nod.

A Snowy Marriage (A Christmas agreement)

I think it is the urgency with which she so desperately wants me to have an hand shake with her, that really makes me see what is going on here.

The image from the night before assails me as I can distinctly remember some of the chefs, with that hardened resolution in their eyes, subtly raising up the cuffs of their sleeves and sniffing something before they foamed at the mouth, and feel down dead.

I look to the hands that are spread out Infront of me, and I can see the precision and carefulness which she uses to separate them from each other. She keeps her own hands away from herself, like they were deadly and they could kill her if they came into contact with her. She kept them away like they were leprous and diseased, and she wanted nothing to do with them, but yet here she is asking for an handshake.

I looked to Adrian and I can see that he's staring pointedly forward but the side of his mouth trembles a little bit, I'm guessing there's something of a no interference policy in this place, and I smile my most beautiful and dashing smile, while I look at the monster that is in front of me.

She thinks I have consented to her little plan at assassinating me, and for a moment I can see Adrian resist the urge to punch her down or to just let me figure this out on my own. I declined the handshake of course, I mean who wants to get poison so early in the evening. I haven't even had anything to eat yet and this witch of a person seems to already have my name on her death list.

I give her a little courtesy and nod my head in appreciation. She seems surprised at this, and she gives me a sly smile "Oh come on Aderyn, don't keep me hanging" I look into those beautiful eyes, eyes that betray all the beauty and malice hidden in them.

"I'm sorry, I'll have to keep you hanging this time" I reply as I  nod, and drag Adrian forward. I can see her smiling from the corner of my eyes, and I wonder what all that's about. If there's one thing I have clear in my head though, it's that I won't get poisoned so early In, at least i have to watch how this game unfolds before I let something bad happen to me.

I lead us to a seat, and I wonder if this veil of silence Adrian has taken is how we are going to communicate in public from now on. I don't like the feeling of being left alone that it creates in me, it makes me feel insecure and unguarded, like I'm all alone in this world. He makes me feel the death of my parents all over again, and I wonder how the silence from someone I barely know is able to cause that.

He isn't silent anymore though and a moment later he bursts out laughing. He has a really pleasant laugh.

Chapter 49