BLOOD AND VOWS

ELENA'S POV:

“Dimitri Volkov, do you accept Elena Rossi as your lawful wife..” The priest said, pausing to look at our faces.

My knees buckled, I held onto my wedding dress to steady myself. We were at the altar, standing side by side in a private chamber of some cathedral turned criminal sanctum.

He continued. “To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?”

All eyes turned to Dimitri's face, which was cold and devoid of any form of emotions whatsoever. I craned my neck too. My pulse thumping loudly in my ears.

Please say no. Please, just say no!

“I accept!”

My heart slammed against my ribs, I looked away.

How could all this be happening?

I wish I could just vanish from this place, this marriage, everything!

How could Dad even do this to me!

“Elena Rossi..” 

I looked up. 

The priest stared at me for one sad second, before he cleared his throat and began the vows.

“Do you accept Dimitri Volkov, as your lawful husband..”

My nails dug into my palms, as I clenched my fist. No please, I wouldn't.

I will never!

“To have and to hold..” 

My throat constricted.

“from this day forward, for better or for worse,”

I reached out one hand to steady my pounding heart.

“for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part?”

I swallowed the dry lump in my throat, suddenly feeling all the eyes in the room turned to me.

If I say no.. I can still escape this right?

I dragged in a deep ragged breath.

Shut up heart!

Stop!

I dug my nails deeper into my palm.

“Elena Rossi..” The priest called again, I looked up.

From the side I could feel Dimitri's cold gunmetal gray eyes watching me silently, pinning me in place.

“Elena—”

“No!” I said stubbornly before the priest could call out again. “I do not accept!”

“But that's..” The priest began and trailed off, swallowing whatever he was going to say as my father drew closer.

I clenched my fist tightly, mustering all my courage and self will at once.

“I do not want to be part of this marriage, I'll not accept this man as my husband.”

“You have to!” My father snapped, he was just inches from us now.

Dimitri wasn't saying anything, but I could already feel him coldly assessing me from the side.

“I wouldn't!” I fought back, my cheeks reddening.

Father's face turned furious and before I knew it, he lifted his hand and flung it towards me.

Shit!

I closed my eyes. Bracing myself for the stinging pain that would soon be on my left cheek.

But after almost three seconds and nothing happened.

I hesitantly opened my eyes, slowly.

And then I gasped.

The scene before me had never happened before. Not ever!

Dimitri was holding Father's hands in mid air and frowning down at him.

“She's mine.” He said coldly. Father's face turned pale.

“If I think she needs punishment, I'll do it myself.”

“But..” Father began protesting.

“Enough!” Dimitri cut him off, letting go of his hands. 

Father immediately swallowed whatever he wanted to say like an obedient boy.

He turned to me, his gray eyes boring into mine. I gulped. His hands dove under his jacket, as he reached for something.

I knew just what that was.

“I accept!” I burst out immediately.

His hands stopped halfway and a tiny smile curled up his face.

“I'll be your wife, alright?”

He chuckled and pulled out a white handkerchief from his jacket to wipe his face.

My heart fell—

Did I just get fooled in to thinking he had a gun on him, when all along it was just a handkerchief?

A stupid fucking handkerchief?

“That's settled then, may we proceed.” The priest called out from behind him.

He turned around and wheeled back to my side, facing the priest with a smug smile on his face. “Of course you can proceed.”

My father turned back and went to his seat, red-faced.

“Now, let's move on with the vows, please they're written on your pamphlet.” The priest said.

I swallowed hard, as I lifted the pamphlet up with shaky hands.

“The couple shall turn to face each other.”

My muscles twitched and tensed, I turned slowly, to face Dimitri.

The smile was gone from his face, leaving the usual coldness of a metal weapon. A gun.

A jolt hit me in the gut, as another sickening thought hit me.

This man was going to be my husband!

I was going to spend the rest of my life with this monster, this cold blooded killer who saw people as nothing but litter.

Oh, God! This couldn't be happening.

“The groom shall take vows first.” 

My eyes locked on his face, a jagged scar ran down his temple to jawline, his skin was tanned, his nose was broken too.

Typical!

"I, Dimitri Volkov…” He began.

A knot knitted in my stomach and I suddenly had the strange urge to throw up!

Brace up, Elena!

“Take you,” He paused as he reached my name, he tilted his head up to look at me and then he said it. “Elena Rossi to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.”

I gulped.

“The bride shall proceed with the vows.”

My hands shook as I gripped the pamphlet.

I don't deserve this

I don't!

“I, er.. Elena Rossi..” I choked out, stuttering. My throat was constricting making it difficult for me to breathe. I placed one hand on my chest, while trying to drag in the stale, dust infested air in the cathedral.

“Take you, Dimitri Volkov!” 

Shut up heart! Stop fussing please!

My palms were sweaty, shaking.

“To be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad. In sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.” I finally said bitterly.

“The vows have been made to seal this marriage, it is time for the rings to be exchanged to properly seal this union.” The priest said, producing a small case.

He drew closer and flipped it open.

Two silver rings glistened back at us. 

I bit the inside of my cheek, biting back the tears stinging beneath my eyes threatening to force their way out.

The priest began his long speech again. “The ring is a symbol of eternity — it has no beginning and no end. It is a symbol of the love you share. As you place this ring on your partner's finger, repeat after me”

Dimitri reached out for my hands and picked one of the rings.

I hesitated for two seconds before slipping my hands in to his.

The priest began. “With this ring, I wed you.”

“With this ring, I wed you.” Dimitri repeated.

“Wear it as a symbol of my love and commitment, now and forever."

“Wear it as a symbol of my love and commitment, now and forever.” He said softly.

And slid the ring in.

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced. 

What? 

My head snapped to the priest.

 “But I haven't given him my ring.” I said in protest.

“You don't need to.” Dimitri said, leaning closer to me slowly, our faces merely inches apart. His cold eyes held mine, and in that moment I understood — nothing about this marriage would ever be on my terms. Not even this.