Chapter 4
531words
Even more bizarre, the butler had already set up an elaborate glass terrarium in my room, complete with silk cushions, a water dish, and heating equipment.
"When exactly did you prepare all this?" I asked the butler.
"Madam's instructions," he replied with a slight bow. "She mentioned you might require them."
I glanced at Oro, who slithered elegantly into its new home as if this had all been part of some grand plan.
The wedding proceeded as planned the following evening.
The church looked like something from a fairy tale—flowers everywhere, candles casting a warm glow, guests in their finest attire seated on polished wooden pews. Sebastian's staff hurried about, though I couldn't help noticing how unnaturally pale they all looked.
*I should mention their working conditions to Sebastian*, I thought. *Though it's hardly surprising he doesn't know how to treat staff properly—he lost his parents young and built everything himself through his work with the Hunter Association. Wasn't that drive and independence what drew me to him in the first place?*
I glided down the aisle in my wedding gown toward Sebastian. He looked devastatingly handsome in his deep blue suit, his eyes filled with what appeared to be genuine adoration.
The ceremony unfolded without a hitch. The priest intoned the vows in ancient Latin while Sebastian and I faced each other, surrounded by an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence.
Until the ring exchange.
"Now, may the groom place the ring upon the bride's finger..." The priest hadn't even finished when chaos erupted.
A silver streak shot from the crowd, racing toward the altar like a bolt of lightning.
Oro! How the hell had it gotten here?
"Ivy..." Sebastian began, but before he could continue, Oro had already launched itself at his thigh.
*Hiss!* Fangs sank deep.
Sebastian howled in pain as blood soaked through his pants. Guests gasped and jumped to their feet, but Oro had already vanished into the shadows.
"Sebastian!" I rushed to his side. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just a scratch," he said through gritted teeth, his face ashen as he pressed a handkerchief to the wound. "Let's continue."
The priest and guests exchanged uncertain glances, but at Sebastian's insistence, we proceeded. We exchanged rings, received blessings, and completed the ceremony.
But my mind was elsewhere. I scanned the church repeatedly for any sign of Oro, but the snake had completely vanished.
Later that night, with all the guests gone and just the two of us in the bridal suite, exhaustion had settled over us like a heavy blanket.
"Quite the memorable wedding," Sebastian said with a grimace, glancing at his bandaged leg. "I'm afraid you'll be sleeping alone on your wedding night."
I helped him to bed, then sat by the window, staring out at the unfamiliar grounds bathed in moonlight, my mind replaying the bizarre events of the past two days. And Oro...
*After trying so hard to stop my wedding and failing, was this just a tantrum? A petty revenge?*
