8: Run Eve... Run!!!

Eve

7pm

A fine young lady like myself stepped into the courtyard all dolled up like a princess thanks to Madame Antoinette, my one and only control-freak stylist. 

The corset was so tight, the heels too high, the skirt of the gown pooling at my feet... having me think and rethink every step I take.

The only thing I felt good about was my facial appearance, the make-up precisely. 

Damn. the make-up artist did a good job.

The Waldorf family were present... hawk-like eyes monitoring me and my minimal actions like they were waiting for me to make a fool of myself.

My goal tonight: tell everyone I'm interested and refuse every proposal as much as possible.

That was until I found Percy approaching me. According to the attendance list he's also a suitor.

I was gonna snub him but he was persistent with his actions, following me around like my goddamn chosen man... a puppy.

"Why do you keep following me?" I whispered, grabbing champagne from the tower of glasses.

He shook his head. "Just acting on my parents' order... please don't mind me," he spoke indifferently, hinting no interest in pursuing me which calmed my nerves.

"Want to join my cult?"

"Your cult?" He repeats in the same tone.

"Yeah... the mad house." I emphasized.

The mad house was like my second home. I very much took over it from Madame Antoinette when I was 14. It was a faction in the mafia I had to manage as part of my training of becoming.

I called it a cult just because I have established a roundtable council with members and a rank system in it.

Since I established it, it's only had ten members, people I know and people that know me: Cedric, Cassandra, Omar, Julius, Beatrice, Ymir, Gordon, Yuta, Penelope, Rolland.

It's safe to say they're my friends because they are.

I've been thinking of adding someone extra and Percy felt like the perfect friend to fit the role, however he was a prince... a very decent snobbish one.

I have never seen his teeth for once since childhood until I tickled it out.

"I'm sure you'll have a better chance with Edward or Henry..." His voice trailed off as he nodded to his two older brothers standing in the distance. They too had roles to fill in as suitors but they were more busy on their phones than I was busy chasing away men.

All of a sudden a short king with a receding hairline started making his way to me with a grin while holding two glasses.

"Hello—"

I snatched the two glasses from him, draining them in seconds and forcing the glasses back into his hands.

"I got too thirsty."

He was already walking off shoulders when I started giggling..

"Did you see that... red as a tomato... gush a man can be so red?" I whispered to Percy.

"That's the 20th one now... Uncle is starting to worry at this point I'm sure."

When my eyes searched the room they found dad and mom speaking with a man. Not long after, while staring, the man turned to me, flashing me a gentle warm smile that didn't reach my heart.

What are they up to?

My heart sure skipped a beat that could have killed me when dad and the man started making their way to me in synced footsteps, bold and heavy.

Out of pretence I wound my arm around Percy's bicep, pulling him closer until our bodies were rubbing.

"daddy." My brows knit as I flashed the other man an awkward stiff smile.

"daughter I would like you to meet Damian.... Son of Andrew...."

My attention shifted to the noisy chattering commotion happening in the crowd.

"Uncle Flavian!" I called out faster than anyone could, silencing the crowd in one bold tone that not only impressed the spectators but also took me by surprise.

Since when did I become so familiar with him? What has gotten into me actually.

The second he stepped into the courtyard I had sensed him not by presence but by fragrance. His uninvited presence certainly turned head and raised brows.... I hadn't set my mind to it fully until he started making his way through.

Daddy glared at me before nodding the poor man off. family business is strictly confidential... hence we started whispering and making gestures.

" The evening's lovely, isn't it uncle?" I flashed him a tough smile that barely made it to my eyes when I narrowed them toward the cane he was using... he was no longer on the wheelchair but he was bound to a wooden cane... and I must say it definitely doesn't look like the average wooden cane... this one had more texture, gloss, designs.

He was dressed in a three-piece gray suit with exceptional cufflinks and accessories adorning his tie, pocket and breast pocket. His long blonde hair was braided neatly behind, dutch style. His rings of symbols adorned all five fingers of his right hand.

"Uncle how's the leg?" Percy who still stood beside me like a wall spoke in a note of indifference. He wasn't really concerned that Flavian was limping while he walked and slouching while he stood, but I was.

Flavian chuckled back a response with an "It's fine" then turned to daddy with flexible lips, flaunting a charming smile that I wished I could mimic so easily for the rest of the night at least.

I AM TIRED, and daddy wouldn't let me off unless I picked the man of my dreams.

I haven't even been dreaming of any!!

It's a lie... Flavian is the only man to appear in my dreams... wet dreams.

"My lady..."

My expression awakened when a set of long fingers brushed with my left fingers.

"What are you doing!!" dad was the first to exclaim when Flavian kissed my knuckles.

Me and dad shared subtle meaningful glances when Flavian went down on one broken weak knee, my hand still in his.

Fuck.... don't tell me..... fuck.... what am I even saying I know already!!

My body wasn't responding. Run... run.

Dammit Eve... run away...

Otherwise—

"Eve... Will you take me as your husband?"

"I... I" My mouth pinched shut at once before I drooled over.

Those words sounded too familiar for my ears to find strange... his tone was too natural for my liking. Fuck... for anybody's liking.

I bet I'm not the only one with a heaving chest and an anticipatory mind. The elders were present and watching... what will they think of me?

Of us?

Run...

"I... uncle.... thiss"

Run.

I stuttered. I stuttered? How come I am this dumb? This was my idea, my own suggestion... why am I entertaining secondary options... I want to deny, I want to run and I want to flee, I want to disappear! the earth should just fucking open already and slam me shut under until I'm awake from this nightmare.

Maybe with time I'll accept who I am.... A hypocrite....

I didn't feel my legs when they started chasing an exit from my problems but

I definitely felt the burden on my shoulders weigh me down the further I ran and ran and ran and ran.... until I stumbled and fell... and just like that the curtains of this nightmare drew shut with the world around me tilting into the horizon.