Dancing With Devia

by Viveca Benoir

  They checked into the Chairman suite at the Bellagio, a beautiful 4,000 square feet of living paradise. He whistled as they entered. It was beyond sumptuous, he would have been happy with a standard double downstairs. Venia sure liked to live it up.

  “I’ve been thinking.” Devia said, as the valet put their cases in their room. “Why don’t we get married?” He looked at her as though she had hit him with a wet fish. “I mean, it’s not like we haven’t got chemistry, and we are both old enough to know what we want. I want you.”

  “I’m just surprised that’s all. It’s a bit quick, don’t you think?” Julian said, an earnest look on his face. She was going beyond surprising him. They had only known each other a few days. She left his arms and went to the window and looked out at Las Vegas glittering outside. She sighed. Maybe this wouldn’t work either, not if he were going to say no to Venia too. She looked at herself, but saw her sister’s reflection in the window.

  “It’s just, I want you Julian. I thought you wanted me too.” Devia looked up under her eyelashes to see his reaction and was pleased to see his face torn with emotion. He came over to her and turned her around and looked her in the eyes.

  “Hey, Venia.” She stiffened, not used to being called by her sister’s name and hating that he said her name and not her own. Julian saw her stiffen, and felt sorry for her. He saw how much marriage meant to her, and he did want her. He had felt attracted to her, and her raven black hair since he met her. She was exotic, intelligent, and beautiful.

  “Of course, we can get married.” He murmured into her ear as he kissed her. Devia almost squealed and leapt into his arms, but instead she leaned towards him, lifted up her face to him and kissed him.

  Julian kissed her. Something didn’t feel right, he couldn’t put his finger on it. She didn’t kiss him the same way, and her kisses felt different. He must be tired.

  “I’ll arrange it. You doing anything tomorrow?” Devia said.

  “Tomorrow?” Julian replied in shock.

  “Yeah, why wait?” She smiled and raised her palms in question.

  “Tomorrow’s good. I guess.” Julian started chuckling.

  “Why are you laughing?” Devia’s voice trembled.

  “I can’t believe it.” He grinned.

  “Believe what?”

  “How long have we known each other?” He asked.

  ‘Forever.’ She wanted to answer, but instead she said. “Not long. Does that matter to you? I am the sort of woman who knows what she wants, and normally I get it. I want you.”

  “You sure do.” He smiled at her.

  “Come on, let’s go to the pool and have a look around. I’ll get a wedding planner to sort the details out. You want a theme?” Devia’s heart was racing. It was getting closer. Soon he would be hers. Forever.

  “I don’t care. Anything but Elvis.” He snorted in disbelief. They were actually talking of marriage.

  She kissed him and he entwined his hands in her hair, bringing her closer to him. “Mrs Mansell to be. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

  She smiled and laughed, genuinely happy for a moment.

  “Ju…lian, of course, yes!” In her mind, he had asked her to marry him. He hadn’t asked Venia. She had almost called him ‘Juju.’ She had almost blown it. She would have to be very careful.

  They went out and explored Vegas together, holding hands as they wandered up the strip. She left him for a short while, so she could buy herself something to get married in. The designer’s representatives were all there with a few of their collection in her size. Even though it was going to be a Vegas wedding, she wanted a proper wedding gown, and now that she had Venia’s money, she could buy whatever she wanted. She was torn between a Lawrence Steele, a Christian Lacroix and a Vera Wang. Each of the dresses were beautiful, in their own right. As she couldn’t choose, she bought all three, so that she could decide on the day. That took a quarter of a million dollars from her sister’s account and she loved the idea that money was suddenly no object. A hairdresser was on standby, and a woman was coming in to do her makeup and bring all the bridal accessories that she needed, including shoes. She was delighted that Chopard was sending a man over later with a massive diamond necklace, with matching earrings, and a tiara to sit above her veil. By the time they would all be finished with her; she would look like a million dollars. She smiled. Her finished look would literally be a million dollars. That’s how much she had budgeted on her wedding to Julian. It would be worth every penny. She deserved him. She deserved the best. Finally , Devia was going to be a bride.

  Julian was going to sleep in the second bedroom of the suite and was to dress and leave first. A limo would take him separately and she would join him ten minutes later for the ceremony. Devia wanted to knock his socks off. She laughed maliciously, not the socks she had stuffed in her sister, Venia’s mouth. No, another pair.

  That night they dined, danced, ate caviar and drank champagne. And although she wanted to make passionate love with him, she felt that they should sleep separately for that one night. She kissed him goodnight and laughed as she pushed him into his bedroom in the suite. While she was walking back to her room, she thought of the fact she would have the rest of her life with this man. She had finally won. He was hers, forever. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

  ***

  This was it. As she walked into the garden chapel at Caesars palace, her gown trailing behind her on the marble floor, she thought her heart would burst. Julian was standing waiting for her, wearing a smart tuxedo with a grey and blue silk waistcoat, a matching silk handkerchief in his chest pocket. He beamed as she walked towards him, a genuine smile of happiness, lust, desire, and yes, she thought she saw love too, and her heart skipped a beat.

  She walked up to him, and despite the fact she had wanted this so much, her hands trembled with nerves and excitement. Devia could hardly breathe.

  The Minister stood before them and began to speak. A few people that had been walking around the hotel, had followed her in, wondering who such a beautiful bride was, and they had sat at the back of the gardens, on the white marble benches.

  “Dear friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Julian and Venia in marriage. In the years they have been together, their love and understanding of each other has grown and matured, and now they have decided to live their lives together as husband and wife. To all present I say: We are gathered here, not to witness the beginning of what will be, but rather what already is! We do not create this marriage, because we cannot. We can and do, however, celebrate with wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in their lives, and the commitment they make today.”

  He continued speaking, and Devia was in heaven, she grabbed onto every word. She never thought that in a million years she would be standing here with Julian. She had hoped, and plotted, and dreamed, but here she was, actually marrying the man of her dreams. She smiled broadly at him. She was lost in his sexiness, his masculinity, the love in his eyes, for her.

  “Today, as we create this marriage, we also create a new bond and new sense of family - one that will undoubtedly include all who are present here today. Today, you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of human interaction. The story of your life together is still yours to write. All those present have come to witness and celebrate your love and commitment this day - eager to be a part of the story not yet told.”

  The minster paused and smiled at them both.

  “Do you Julian, take Venia to be your lawfully wedded wife, promising to love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do.” Julian grinned at her.

  The Minister looked at Devia.

  “And do you Venia, take Julian to be your lawfully wedded husband, promising t
o love and cherish, through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, and whatever challenges you may face, for as long as you both shall live?”

  “I d…” Devia was about to answer when a voice shouted over hers.

  “STOP! STOP THIS.”

  She turned, furious that someone had interrupted their special moment. Men were running towards them. She turned to face them, angry that she was about to marry Julian and they had actually not let her say her words. She looked at them in utter disbelief.

  “Julian Mansell. I have a warrant for your arrest, and am arresting you on suspicion for the murder of Sophie Anders. You have the right to remain silent when questioned. Anything you say or do, can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now, or in the future. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you before any questioning, if you wish. If you decide to answer any questions now, without an attorney present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time, until you talk to an attorney. Knowing and understanding your rights as I have explained them to you, d o you understand?” The policeman was cuffing him and taking him away.

  “What’s happening? No. I don’t understand.” Julian said to the policeman.

  Devia looked at the Minister, who was watching the events with a surprised look on his face.

  “Are we married?” She asked with a high voice.

  “No. Not yet. Sorry.” He shook his head and closed his bible.

  “Damn!” Devia threw her bouquet on the floor and stomped after the policemen, her gown, now dragging behind her, as a hindrance, as she tried to walk faster. Now, it had all been ruined. Julian was still confused and questioning what was happening. He let himself be led away, convinced it was all some weird mistake.

  ***

  The two policemen looked at him bored, they were working in conjunction with his local police department. Someone had come forward and volunteered his whereabouts when they were looking for him in his home state.

  “So, I will ask you again. When was the last time you saw Sophie Anders?”

  “I told you. She was in my bed. We had sex. We fell asleep. When I got up, she was gone. She had left.” Julian had his head in his hands. He had repeated the same sentence over and over again, and they weren’t listening to him. Why wouldn’t they listen?

  “Yeah. Gone to kill herself in the closet, all by herself.” The policeman snorted. “Victims are always killing themselves like this, we see it all the time.”

  For everything the policeman was saying, he couldn’t see Julian as a killer; he just didn’t seem to have it in him. Everything he said rang true, sounded feasible, but then, it always did. It took all sorts to make a world. The fact he was getting married, to a woman he had just met about a week or so before, and only a year after his wife and kids were killed in a car crash, was odd too. Maybe, he had killed her to be with his new woman. Maybe, the Sophie girl saw or knew something. Maybe that was why he killed her. Had his kinky fun with her and then killed. Maybe.

  Either way, everything pointed to him. His DNA was on her, in her even . His belt had been found and matched up to her neck injuries. She was found in his closet; all her friends said she left with him. Others at the marina had seen them go out sailing together, come back together, neighbours saw her go into his house with him and her clothes were in his trash can outside. Now, a woman called Devia had gone missing too. Her parents had raised suspicion when she hadn’t called them as per her usual last week. God knew where he had hidden her body. The poor bitch, she was also linked with him. It was all pointing to him, and the forensics never lied.

  Some men looked so innocent and friendly too. You never could judge a book by its cover. To the policemen, it was a simple open and shut case. A few dots to the i’s and a few crossed t’s and he would be going away for a very long time.

  ***

  The Judges voice rang out in the court, everything was quiet. He stood facing her.

  “Julian Mansell,” she said seriously. “You have been through the courts three times before you have reached my court. Your final appeal has been denied and you have been found guilty on three separate occasions. If you were now in the state of Texas, you would now be facing the death penalty, without the possibility of the reprieve of a long-term sentence. You can be relieved that this is not the case here. I have the choice of the death penalty, or a prison sentence. However, your insidious and nefarious crimes dictate that you are a threat to the good society that we try so hard to preserve. I have no alternative, but to sentence you to death. You will be taken to a maximum-security state prison where you will remain until the sentence can be carried out. You will have no right to parole.” She lowered her gavel with a bang. She started collecting her papers and then proceeded to rise to leave.

  “All rise in court.” Every one stood and she left.

  Julian looked up at the judge in disbelief. He couldn’t believe how his life had come to this. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He was completely innocent, and yet, no one would believe him. Sophie was dead. Venia had disappeared. Devia had apparently gone missing. He had been left on his own, except for his friend and boss, Andrew, who had been trying to liaise with his lawyers and sort things out for him.

  He was taken away in wrist and ankle cuffs, completely bewildered, the heavy doors slamming behind him . , He was put in to a secure van, and driven to the prison, where he would be processed.

  Epilogue

  “Hey, Mansell,”

  “Yeah?” Julian looked up as the guard started unlocking his cell door.

  “Out.”

  “What?”

  “I said out. The Governor wants to see you.” Julian reluctantly went with him, a visit to the governor normally meant more work duties, or more tasks. He didn’t want any tasks. He’d been on laundry duty for almost a year now. He knew what he was doing, as it was one of the easier work assignments.

  “Mr. Mansell. Do sit down.” Julian eyes him suspiciously. No one had called him Mr. for a long time. It made him uneasy. He sat down. “You came to us protesting your innocence, did you not?”

  “Yes Sir. I am innocent.”

  “Yes, Yes. I’m sure that you realise a lot of our guests here, say the same.”

  “Yes Sir.” Julian answered.

  “I do hope you feel we have been fair to you during your stay with us.”

  “Yes Sir.” He answered.

  “Good. Well, it appears that there has been quite a development in your circumstances.”

  “There has?”

  “Yes , Mr. Mansell. You are being released, with immediate effect.”

  “Released? How is that possible? Nobody believes me.” He stared at him in disbelief.

  “A woman called Venia, came forward and went to the police. Apparently a person called…” He looked at the papers in front of him, ‘Devia, tried to kill her.”

  “Kill her?”

  “Yes, she had a police wire on and this lady confronted the Devia person who then made a confession to killing the lady you were convicted of killing. It was all recorded and checked. The police picked her up later and arrested her.”

  “She did? They did?” Julian didn’t know what to say, Devia was a total fruitcake, after all.

  “Apparently, you almost married her.”

  “What? I did? I wouldn’t do that. Not in a million years.”

  “This Devia is the twin sister of Venia.”

  “Venia has a twin?” Julian nearly fell through the floor. Thoughts were going round in his head and not making any sense at all. “How did I nearly marry Devia?”

  “Apparently Devia replaced her sister on the trip to Las Vegas, maybe even before.”

  “Oh my god.” He was trying to think if he had had sex with her, and how he had done so without noticing the difference between the women. He knew Devia. She had been chubby and blonde, mumsy and almost stup
id, whereas Venia was attractive, slim and intelligent. How had she managed to fool him?

  “Looking at the images here, it shows what can be done with exercising, hair colour, the same clothes and makeup. I would have been fooled myself, I am sure. Reminds me of that film, single white female, ever see it?”

  “No.” Julian looked at the edge of the desk. His thoughts going haywire.

  “I would recommend you do, for future reference. We don’t want to see you back in here again, do we?”

  “No Sir.” Julian shook his head. He still couldn’t believe it.

  “Well, thank you Mr. Mansell. You have been an exemplary prisoner and I am sorry you had to go through all this. Nice guy like yourself.”

  “Thank you Sir.”

  ***

  Standing outside the prison, his jacket in his hand, Julian looked down the road. There was emptiness as far as the eye could see. A dirt road went from left to right. He was in the middle of nowhere. He started walking. He didn’t look back over his shoulder once. He was afraid that if he did, he would wake up and still be in his cell bunk.

  In the distance, a vehicle was approaching, throwing up a cloud of dust behind it as it sped down the road. Maybe, he could thumb a lift from them, wherever they were going, although he doubted they would stop to pick up a former convict.