~ Present ~
Red slowly lifted her gaze and met with Erich's, who was waiting for her at the altar, giving her a profound gaze of endearment, impatient for this day to come and fulfill his desire.
"Please take care of my daughter." Mrs Bennet said, handing her precious daughter to Erich.
"Don't mention, Mrs Bennet. She is more precious than my life to me." Not removing his eyes from Red, he replied.
Knowing the deception of words, his voice came smooth.
But to Red's ignorance, His words were pure, not a fake consolation.
They stood at the altar and he complimented, "You are looking so graceful yet tempting."
"Thanks. But don't forget the reason for our marriage." She replied coldly.
"I will keep you happy." He said sincerely, holding her hands.
"Just fulfill your obligations." Red swallowed hard, lowering her gaze.
The priest cleared his throat and asked, "Shall we start?"
They both took a deep breath, looked at each other and said at the same time, "Yes."
A tear fell from Red's eye as she lowered her gaze with her heart pounding out from her chest along with eerie numbness and a tingling pain which was buried inside.
"Are you alright?" Erich asked, concerned.
"Yes... It's a big day for every girl. That's all."
By living with Lucifer she surely learned how to lie fluently.
With a heartbreak, the voice of the priest reached her ears.
"Do you, Erich Black, take Red Bennet as your lawfully wedded wife?"
With a mesmerizing smile of living this moment and finally gaining his ultimate reward of seven years yearning, he spoke,
"I do."
"Do you, Red Bennet, take Erich Black as your lawfully wedded husband?"
Sparing a glance at him, with her stopping at this peculiar moment, she replied firmly,
"I do."
"I pronounce you as Husband and Wife. You may now kiss the bride."
Devoid of emotions, Red looked at Erich, finally grasping her overwhelming sensation and putting up the facade.
Heart thumping rapidly, Erich moved closer and lifted her veil, getting the chance to behold her exquisite features.
With incomprehensible rapture surging and blinding in the spell of her love.
God, she is looking so alluring. I waited for this day for seven years. You would never understand my desperation, Red.
I had nowhere to go, I went too far in the desire to possess you.
Erich gulped with his hot breath lingering on her face and he moved to her ears.
"Do you want me to?" Keeping all his urges at bay, he cannot afford any mistake.
She looked at him innocently and shook her no, "I don't."
Passing a genuine sad smile and heart aching, "It's okay."
Erich took a step back, shocking the crowd. A kiss was necessary so he bent on one knee, offering her his hand.
Holding her hand, held bewitched by her gaze he began to say.
"Red, I have already told you I will keep you happy no matter what it takes. And starting today, I have set on this journey. Even if you don't give me a chance or place faith in me, I will try my best and I hope this dusty heart might be purged by your existence."
His voice held in-depth emotion and honesty, wanting to give Red assurance. He slowly kissed the back of her palm and stood up.
With an almost crying face, Red quickly pulled her hand back and moved her face away from him, not wanting him to see the tear which pricked in her eyes.
"You will.. I know you will... But I don't want it. I don't want you," She said to herself and with a deep breath passed him a weak smile.
"Thank you." She said and they walked down the altar.
"I hope this new start will be memorable for us." Erich said, opening the door of his Aston Martin for her.
"This has to be because there's no other way." Red said bitterly and sat and they drove off.
Red was in the room, certainly not waiting for her husband to come.
Crushed by the weight of her dress and clothing, she considered them as shackles and began to take off her jewelry.
Trying to unpin her long raven hairs but instead they tangled, making her wince.
"At least, wait for me." Erich said, unpinning her hairs, taking off the pins and handing them to her and removing the veil.
"You have already seen me at the altar."
"I couldn't take my eyes from you." Disregarding his compliment, she put her hairs to front and began to comb them.
"As if before you can." That's right, I could never take my eyes from you.
With a sigh of dismay, Erich took a step back.
"We are married now, Red."
"Hmm.. So?"
"Why are you being so cold to me?" He asked sadly.
She put her comb down and turned to him, narrowing her eyes in irk.
"Cold? Do you think I am happy to marry a person I don't even know properly and he knows every little thing about me." She asked.
"Doesn't it sound weird to you? I have ignored this for a long time and see where I am now for turning oblivious to your obstiancy." Red stated the fact in a harsh way but Erich has to swallow it.
"It's not an obsession, Red." His voice was soft, hurt by her words.
"I am not Lucifer who will let you go for this opportunity."
His words enraged Red to hear this name upon his lip.
Gaped by his words, Red scowled, "Luci- How did Lucifer come in between? There was nothing between us in the first place."
"Then why do you two avoid each other?" He asked in a faint voice but his words were too much for Red to take.
Narrowig her eyes in exasperation.
"Today is our wedding night, Erich and if you want to want to talk about these stupid topics then get out of this room. I don't want to talk."
She turned again to the mirror with an infuriated face and began to comb her hair.
Looking down, Erich apologized, "No.. I didn't mean to.. I am sorry."
"Then stop mentioning him. This is our bond, our marriage. And there is no place for a third person here." She enunciated.
"But you don't feel anything for me." He said slumped in dejection.
"But we have to fulfill our obligations and be a couple."
Bearing the weight of her words, Erich has to move forward if he wants to reach the point where he could find his solace.
"Erich, can you help me take off this dress?" Red asked, trying to find the zipper of her dress.
"M-Me? I can call a maid." Erich's heart skipped a beat but her words. He wasn't ready.
"Do you have a problem doing it yourself?" She asked.
"No-"
"Then come." What are you saying? He thought
"Okay..." Nervously, he came closer, unzipping her dress and helping her to take it off.
"Corset too." She added, knowing he will leave the room for her to change.
"Erich..." She called him. Whenever his name rolls on her lips, it entices him more than anything.
"Do you want to consummate our marriage?" She asked.
"No. Not now." he sighed. He knows she will let him do it and he doesn't want intercourse of no feelings with her.
"By the way, Red. Can I tell you something?" He asked, loosening her corset.
"Hmm?"
With a deep breath, he stared at her reflection in the mirror and began to tell her with a smile.
"I don't remember since when my eyes were searching for you. Didn't even dare to see you intensely, properly- is a distant matter and to avoid you, I came to New York City."
She stopped and turned to him dazzled by his words.
"Why is that? Didn't you like me?"
His words were vague, why did he leave her when he liked her? He leaned in close to her face, tightening his grip on her laces.
Heartbeat loud enough to be heard by Red and coldness of caprice.
All effects of a heart with desires which cannot burst.
"I don't know. Wanting redemption from your prison, I left you hoping I will find a new path... away from you."
"But your every path leads to my destination, Erich. Look at you, here you are being all mine. And embed it in your soul, you can never leave me. Today is the proof of it."