Chapter 4

• "You have been sneaking around, haven't you?'' Jessie asked, giving Kimmy a pointed look.
• "I wouldn't call it sneaking.'' Kimmy returned.
• Jessie scoffed, "so have you seen him, my soon to be husband?''
• "I don't follow," Kimmy replied.
• Jessie stared into Kimmy's eyes and could tell that she was trying to hide something from her.
• "Come on, spit it out yeah.''
• Kimmy spat her gum into a nearby vase.
• Jessie frowned at her smug look. ''So, have you seen the bloke or not?''
• "All I know is that they keep calling him Alpha, so I'm guessing he's a top dog with money, and if I could marry him, I would, but dad chose you, so suck it up, yea.''
• "Alpha? That sounds like a werewolf.'' The word sounded odd, rolling off Jessie's tongue.
• All in her head now were those stupid fantasy books she used to read while attending school, where they would put a vampire and their enemy to fall in love. Silly, if only they know that they were real and that vampires and wolves didn't mix. They were enemies, cursed to brawl forever with each other, all because of some stupid wager Dracula made with the Devil.
• Kimmy gave Jessie a confused look, "you and your bullsh*t talk."
• "I mean, we are vampires, so this. Is not bullsh*t talk. I wish I could smell something, anything to tell me who this person was.''
• Scoffing, Kimmy took Jessie by the shoulders. "I wouldn't call what we are vampires. We are at the bottom of the barrel. The ones to carry the sh*t bucket."
• Kimmy always seemed to remind Jessie of their shortcomings, their fall from grace because of their pi*s head of a father.
• They both could still remember that day like it happened yesterday. Jessie was only five and Kimmy three, but that memory still lived on in their minds. They stripped the Thomas's of their powers, their dignity and cast them out to live as humans.
• "Don't remind me.'' Jessie's face dropped, as her mind flash back to that day.
• Kimmy smiled and winked. ''your audience awaits you, the bride-to-be.''
• Jessie groaned, "I don't want to do this.''
• "Ok then, take your dress off and give it to me." Kimmy held her hand out.
• Jessie gave her a bewilder look.
• "You are only seventeen.''
• "Yea, so. I'll be eighteen next month.''
• Jessie's mind drifted a bit.
• "You are only nineteen, I don't see the big difference."
• That brought Jessie back to reality.
• "Oh for fu*ks sake, I can't do this. I just can't marry some random person. I'm still a bloody virgin, for crying out loud. Oh sh*t! Do you think that's why dad is doing this, he's selling my virginity?'' Jessie cringed at the thought.
• "I heard those things go for a fortune.'' Kimmy laughed.
• "Not helping Kimberly.''
• Kimberly walked over to her sister, all traces of humour gone from her face.
• "Jessie, listen to me, you can do this and you will because you know how dad gets if you don't, bedsides from what I've heard, this man isn't all that bad. I can guarantee that he will treat you better than dad ever did.''
• Jessie peered at Kimberly.
• She can be peculiar at times, but for a relative, she wouldn't choose anyone else. Well, she couldn't either way. In fact, she can. She would choose Kimmy over my other Janice any day.
• "You're right, anywhere is better than with the old pater.''
• ''Perfect, now come on, pull yourself together you sexy bit*h.''
• They both bursted out laughing, and Kimmy took a step back to inspect Jessie's wedding dress.
• "You look ravishing. I'm sure that your mystery man will fall at your feet when he sees you. It's your wedding, not a funeral, so at least smile.''
• "Well, I'm in mourning, so I don't care. I'm only nineteen. What if this man is some old geezer?''
• "A filthy rich old geezer. Heck, he might even be the one to give our family its glory back.''
• Jessie thought for a while, she would do anything for her family, but she had her limits, and when she said family, she only meant Kimberly.
• ''You could pretend to be me. They won't know the difference. And I can run off with Bert to Scotland." Jessie said hopefully.
• Kimberly didn't respond. She simply passed Jessie her veil, which she attached to the crown of her head, as her hair now cascaded down her back in curls from changing it so many times. Jessie gave a sigh, then threw the sheer material over her face.
• Her gown was a silky white mermaid-style dress that hugs her body perfectly. The top half is tight and laced up to her back, which forced her tiny boobs to stick up over it.
• Jessie slipped her narrow feet into a pair of white, silky heels.
• Kimberly stood there, blinking at her, trying to fight back tears.
• "What?''
• "You look lovely. Just one last thing.'' she gave a broad smile before brandishing a frilly lace garter.
• "No.''
• "Yes.''
• "No.''
• The two went back and forth until Jessie gave in. She reluctantly took the piece of lacey material while giving her a death stare.
• "Bi*ch.'' She muttered.
• "You know it.'' She winked at Jessie, who dragged the stupid piece of accessory up her leg while gazing into her eyes.
• "Save that look for your husband.''
• Jessie rolled her eyes.
• "Perfect.'' Kimmy smiled.
• "Jessie!"
• Both Jessie and Kimberly froze.
• "Jessie!"
• It was their father, Peter. That's even if they can call him that after all that he's put them through. The drunk of the family, who right now sounded sober and angry.
• "Kimmy, get out of here,'' Jessie whispered urgently.
• "But.'' she tried to protest.
• "But nothing, Go. You know how he can get.''
• She looked at Jessie, ''good luck with everything. I'm not sure I'll get to see you after the wedding, so I'll say it now. You is kind, you is smart, you is beautiful, you is special.'' She recited a line from The Help to her sister.
• "Thank you, Kimmy. A bit weird, but thanks.''
• "I'll miss you.''
• And with that, she gave Jessie one last hug and rushed out of the room.
• "Jessica! Where the bloody hell are ya?'' Peter yelled.
• "In here!"
• He burst into the room ''why the hell are you ignoring me? You little..''
• "I'm not ignoring you, I was getting ready.'' Jessie cut him off.
• "Did you just interrupt me while I was talking?'' His face clouding with anger.
• "I..I.''
• Pow! His fist flew in her face with such force that she fell to the floor with a yelp.
• "Never! Ever! Talk when I'm talking. I don't care if you are my daughter or not. Yea.''
• "Yes.'' Jessie whispered.
• He crouched down in front of Jessie, as she was still on the floor.
• "Good, now you listen to me.'' His voice was deathly quiet.
• "If you mess this up, you'll regret it, understood?''
• "Yes, I understand.'' Jessie whimpered.
• "Hum, you better. Now you best be downstairs in two minutes. Do you understand!?''
• Jessie nodded her head.
• He was about to smack her again but the door was swung open by a muscular man, with black hair and sunglasses standing in the door frame. He pulled Peter roughly to his feet.
• ''I think you have overstayed our visit.'' He lifted Peter by the collar as he threw him out of the room.
• "Must you forget that I'm the father of the bride, I can call this off if I so want.''
• The bodyguard scoffed, ''you had no say in this, you fool, Christian always gets what Christian wants. And nothing comes between him and his mate.''
• The door slammed, leaving Jessie with a black eye, and sobbing on the day of her wedding, all alone in a cold, unfamiliar room.
• She shakily got up, walked over to the huge floor-to-ceiling mirror to look at herself.
• Thank God her makeup didn't smudge, or her veil hadn't fallen out.
• She smoothed down her skirt, then head for the door.