Three days before our wedding, a stranger came into town. He said his name was Drake Angel and that he was searching for someone, for something, if I recall correctly from the gossip I'd heard being bantered about by the maids. But then I was so busy, what with the preparations for the wedding, and remembering things that we'd forgotten to do in preparation, last minute fittings for me and my maids of honor, so very many things. Everything was such a mess! I was so afraid we would not be able to start the wedding on schedule.
But I got lucky I guess; the wedding day came and everything was ready. I had on my wedding gown and all the decorations were up. It all started out so beautiful. As I was about to enter the church, I saw a dark haired man standing by the doors leading into the church. He smiled at me. Everyone knew everyone else in that town; and he was a stranger. I did not recognize him, and so I labeled him as the stranger, Drake.
He was exactly as the descriptions I had heard being bantered about by the townspeople. The men were envious of him, and the women sighed over his looks. I agreed silently. He was a handsome man. Drake was tall, dark, lean. His eyes were an intense green; like glass when viewed from a certain angle and just as cold. He practically oozed grace, sensuality and power, radiated a wiry strength. Black hair fell in smooth waves to his shoulders. His skin was white;so very white, milky white. It made me wonder if it was as smooth as the skin of a babe. I was not fooled by any of his physical beauty. He lacked a certain charm, the undeniable mix of charisma, kindness and gentleness that I admired so in Seto. This stranger could control people;perhaps he even enjoyed doing it.
All this whirled through my mind as I weakly smiled back, hoping that he was congratulating me upon my impending marriage. I was barely able to control a shudder as an icy sensation swept down my back, raising goose bumps on my arms at the thought that he might be up to no good. It was almost like a touch of insight, although I do not consider myself gifted. I brushed it off as a case of the jitters. It was my wedding day, after all! And I was the happy bride. I glided down the isle upon my father;s arm toward my love, keeping my eyes upon those of my love.
Amber eyes smiled at me, reminding me of the sun, always. The expression in them was just as warm. My breath stuck in my throat. He was so handsome with his dark blonde hair, high cheekbones, patrician nose and muscular frame, although I know that some would argue, saying that the stranger was more so. I disagree. Seto was more handsome and he loved me, just as I loved him. He was my first love, and he always will be. There could be no other to replace him in my heart. I knew that as surely as I knew that he was my life; that I wanted to bear his children and have him beside me for the rest of my life. To love and to hold was the thought whirling through my head as I walked towards Seto. Everything passed in a blur, but a happy blur nonetheless. That is, until Seto and I were about to pledge to each other our everlasting love, trust and faith.
I looked up at Seto and smiled. He was just about to state his vow and I mine when the doors of the little church were flung wide open. A cold wind blew out the candles lighting the insides little church and the two that had been lit in symbol of the impending joining of two souls went out along with the others. I shivered, a shocked recognition raced down my spine as the dark and handsome man who'd smiled at me earlier walked down the isle towards us. I sidled closer to my beloved, seeking comfort in his warmth and strength. He held me close, so very close. I felt safe in his arms, as I watched the stranger walk towards us, towards the alter, certain that no harm would befall us. The church was silent as a tomb, everyone wondering just what was going on. As he came closer, the afternoon sunlight seeping through the stained glass windows behind us illuminated his face. Even with the colors of the panes of glass softening his features, the coldness in his eyes chilled me to the marrow. I held on more tightly to Seto. He smiled coldly when he saw what I did.
You, he said, pointing to me. I did not like the look in his ice-green eyes. You truly love this man? He pointed to Seto, his face twisting into what I'm sure he thought was a smile.
I looked at him in disbelief. What does he mean? This is my wedding day, why would he say such a thing? If I didn't truly love Seto, why would I want to marry him in the first place? These thoughts whirled through my mind in. In confusion and fear, and even dread, I watched as he stopped less than a yard from me, still smiling. Seto stepped in front of me, blocking me from harm if that should be the strange man's intent.
That move seemed to enrage the man, sending him into a fury. He rushed Seto, but my love held firm. He was not about to let anyone harm me, especially a stranger. Drake grabbed him by the collar and flung him to the floor. I was in shock, standing there, watching as my husband-to-be got to his feet and grabbed Drake, wrapping his arms tightly around him. He was a good foot taller than Drake and was more muscular, but Drake seemed to have some kind of hidden strength. Drake threw Seto's arms from around him and grabbed his wrist, twisting his arm in an unnatural angle; the loud CRACK as Seto's shoulder ligaments were severed, torn apart bye the force Drake had been exerting reverberated through the little church. As the ligaments of Seto's arm had been torn from the bones, Drake very easily twisted the arm off, totally disconnecting the member. Blood splashed upon the floor of the church, dyeing the wood planking red. I wanted to turn away and not watch, but I was held in place by shock, immobile, even as bile rose in my throat.
Everyone held his or her places, frozen by shock. I heard a yell from somewhere in the church, and recognized my elder stepsister Shina's voice. It was strange, really. I hadn't even noticed that she was there. I don't know how long I stood there, frozen, but her call broke my trance-like state, and I screamed, lunging at Drake, but by then, it was too late. Seto had already died from losing too much blood, and a broken neck.
Seto's dead Frenzy overtook me and I did not care what happened to me. Hate filled me, as did pain and fury. It was my wedding day and now my beloved is dead killed by this man Drake he will pay for what he has done!
Causing pain to the man who was causing my pain was my purpose. My hands went around drak's throat as I landed on his back; I was trying to choke him, to perhaps break his neck also. He just laughed, and then threw me off. I grabbed his necklace, a tenuous hold against falling, but I had no other choice. It was either that or fall. I held on tightly, but fell anyways. The pendant whipped around, a sharp edge scouring my cheek. I was slightly surprised to find that I had the necklace clutched firmly within my fisted hand. It had somehow come free. The clasp had slipped open. He turned around, even angrier than before, it seemed.
It was then that I knew that this necklace was very valuable to him. He came at me, seeing the realization dawn on my face. It was as if the necklace was telling me itself what it was, as if it was communicating with me. A flash of insight rippled through me and I knew, I just knew it that this necklace was his life. Maybe I was going insane, maybe his amulet was controlling me, but I did not know it, didn't realize it. All I knew was that this amulet, this little jewel, seeming to be so insignificant, so small, was his weakness. A little flame seemed to burn within the cold, empty heart of the green jewel.
Quickly, I slipped the necklace around my own neck, and as the amulet rested upon my warm skin, the flame in the jewel seemed to burn more brightly. It lit up, a lurid green light, seeming to burn against my skin. My eyes widened in shock. I had no idea what I had done, but was certain that I could be no good. No good at all. Thoughts flew around and around in my mind. The most prominent was the wondering what I had just done. What the consequences would be. The burning sensation penetrated through my flesh and bones, right to my heart and through it. I am sure of it. Burning filled me. I thought I was going to die. I embraced it, knowing that I would see Seto soon. I whispered his name once. Twice.
Disappointment swamped me as the light and the burning sensation faded, leaving only a tingling on my slashed cheek. I was still alive. I shuddered. If I was still alive then what had happened to me?
I looked around me. Drake was gone, seeming to have disappeared. My sister, Shina was standing there, watching me intently. I could tell she had made a decision to do something. There was a determined cast to her chin, a hard look in her eyes. I just sighed and watched her for a moment that is, until the reality of what had just happened washed over me. I was as good as a widow now. Seto was gone. I was alone. What was I supposed to do? I told myself I would never attempt to marry another person again, ever. Nor would I love anyone as I loved him. I could not think of giving my heart to another man as I had Seto. I did not believe that I could ever trust anyone as I trusted him.
I soon found out what Shina had in store for me. She would train me in the arts of defense, of fighting. I would learn how to wield a sword, how to keep from being hurt. After the completion of my training though, I left home to wander the lands. I could not take it any longer. Memories of Seto and Drake haunted my every waking moment. Nightmares replaying what Drake had done to my beloved clawed at me during my sleep. I would not rest until I had avenged Seto's death. I swore it upon the love I held so dear.
Mina Sunuki
Drake Angel Sunuki
Kimeko
Shina Sunuki
