Pretend With Me (Midnight Society #1)

by Jemma Grey

  I couldn’t believe I was doing this, it was all happening so fast. A few months ago I was living in Trinidad with my aunt. I had the world’s best boyfriend and friends, and I was just an ordinary seventeen year old girl and now… Now I wasn’t even human. I was a pureblood about to be married off into one of the strongest ruling bloodlines in the supernatural world. Suddenly I was standing in front of a full body mirror in a fucking wedding dress.

  I stared into the mirror not recognizing myself, and as Celia, Abi, and Krystal fussed around me, fluffing my hair and dress, trying to make me perfect, I could only form one question: Who was this person staring back at me? This person, this girl that I saw in the mirror, I didn’t know who she was. She looked nothing like me.

  She was otherworldly. Everything about her was perfect - her hair, her face, her dress - it was all simply perfect and beautiful. She was in a delicately flowing, handstitched gown. The top of the white dress was fully worked with what could only be thousands of neat, simple cream and gold beads, which formed patterns that were so lovely, it’d make flowers if looking from one angle, yet a completely different design from another. The underneath of the dress poured out around her in such a way that it made her look graceful and elegant even in complete and utter stillness. This part was covered with a soft-netted material - the same material that her veil was woven from and decorated with the same beads that made simple yet gorgeous, intricate designs. The veil was the only part of the girl that was plain, and even this had a pure golden edging. The dress itself was unique. Looking at the way the top hugged her perfectly and then from waist down it dropped elegantly, I could tell that it was created with her in mind - it was the only one like it, and the only one there would ever be.

  Her hands were covered with lace gloves that went all the way to her elbows. Her makeup was flawless, it looked completely natural and simple yet not plain, and her hair was a dark mass of perfect curls that fell beyond her shoulder to the middle of her back as if it were satin. The long veil was attached to a small diamond tiara that had been stuck unto the top of her head.

  I tilted my head to the side and the girl in the mirror did the same. Was she really me? Was I this person now? She was strong and confident. I looked at her and I saw a crystal clear person - a girl that knew exactly who she was. Even seeing this stranger before me with the third eye, I saw no scars or broken pieces. There weren’t any holes or dark spots tainting her - she was perfect… healed. Her eyes weren’t sad, they were bright and shining with life and so intense they captivated me. How had all of these things happened? When had I stopped always being alone and sad? I didn’t know.

  Warmth tickled my cheeks and it was only then that I realized I was crying. I wiped the tears away still staring at the girl in the mirror. I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. How could I when I was staring into my soul and it turned out to be something beautiful and good?

  I don’t know how long I stayed like that. It could have been hours or minutes, or maybe even seconds, but it felt like forever, and then there was a timid knock on the door. I turned to find my mom closing the door behind her. She instantly came to a full halt, her hands clamping over her mouth when she saw me. Tears instantly rimmed her eyes as they travelled over me. My mom then shifted her hands from covering her mouth to cupping her cheeks.

  “Oh, Jen,” she beamed and tears slid down her face meeting her hands. “Oh gosh, you look so amazing - so beautiful,” she gushed as she closed the distance between us and wrapped me into a tight hug. “I can’t believe how much you’ve changed,” she cried. “Your eyes… I still can’t.”

  “You’ll get used to them,” I murmured. When my parents had seen me, they'd been shocked at my sudden change. I don't know what Eric told them, but they never asked for a reason why I looked so different and for that I was glad, because I didn't think I could lie to my mom; not today at least.

  “So how do you feel?” she asked?

  “Like I can’t breathe,” I told her honestly, “and it’s not the dress.”

  “You’ll be great. You’re strong, Jen, I know you can do this.” I nodded and she pulled me into another crushing hug and then kissed my cheek as she pulled away. “Do you think you’ll ever forgive us though…? I mean for choosing this for you?”

  “Mom…” I sighed, looking away from her, not wanting to see her pain. “I will… eventually. I understand. I was dying and it was the only choice you had. I forgive you for that… but you still kept this a secret until the Wilsons showed up at our doorstep ready to take me away. Forgiving you for that part will take some time…” I replied truthfully.

  “I love you, Jen,” was all she said.

  “I love you too.”

  “It’s almost time, your dad should be up here soon.” She then hugged me again and left.

  After Dr. and Mrs. Wilson briefly visited, giving me more of their family jewelry,. I really wished they would stop giving me things; they had already done so much for me. Jason and Noel also came to see me as a favor to Eric

  - to see that I wasn't freaking out. Amelia and Emily came just as the guys were leaving. Then lastly, Aunt Sophie and my dad came.

  I was shocked to see Aunt Sophie. I was told she wasn’t coming. I was so happy to see her. In Trinidad, she had taken care of me and been there every time I needed her. Today wouldn’t have been complete if she wasn’t here. Aunt Sophie was as much of a mom to me as my real mom was, and today was the day I would need her most. Tears ran down my eyes as I hugged her tightly. “I thought you weren’t coming,” I told her crying.

  “Are you kidding?” she grinned, sniffling. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. You’re my daughter too, you know.” She pulled back holding my shoulders while staring at me. “Now, Jen, stop crying, you’ll ruin yourself and that would be a shame because you look absolutely beautiful.” She sniffed again as tears rimmed her eyes. I nodded pulling her into another hug. I didn’t want to let her go.

  “Hey,” she cooed pulling away from me and cupping my face in one hand. “You’ll get through this, don’t worry. Eric Wilson is a great guy, he loves you so much, Jen. You can have a wonderful life with him. There will be times when you two will fight and want to kill each other, but then there will be moments that he’ll be your peace… You’ll get through today, Jen, I know you will,” Aunt Sophie smiled at me.

  I nodded taking a deep breath, calming myself. “Thank you, Aunt Sophie.”

  “Oh and before I forget, I have something for you. Kristen sent it, a wedding gift...” she trailed off while digging in her purse. A minute later she produced a small baby blue box and a sealed white envelope.

  I opened the box first and found a beautiful gold hand band with diamonds in a pattern that spelled my name. I gently plucked it out from the jewelry box unclasping it and held it out to my Aunt, who was in awe. She wiped her tear-stained eyes and clasped the hand band around my wrist. “It’s beautiful Jen,” she smiled putting a hand to her chest. “I love Kris’ gifts. I’ll see you in a few…” she trailed off, obviously giving me privacy to read the letter.

  I smiled at her, waited until she was out of the room to walk over to the bed. I then sat down and ripped open the envelope, pulling out too neatly folded paper, one thicker than the other. I started unfolding the thicker one first, but before I could finish a picture fell out, onto my lap. I picked it up and found myself staring at a black and grey picture that took me a second to figure out. Then it hit me like a slap to the face, it one of those ultrasound images, showing a baby in the womb. There was a circle drawn around a tiny blip and then an arrow directing me to the side of the paper where she’d left a note. It read:

  Congratulations! You’re a Godmother! Meet Ben Keslie Clarke, three months. P.S the gift is from Daren and I, we'd had it made for your 18th birthday.

  I then ripped open the second letter. Tears filled my eyes as Daren’s scent filled my nose. I ran my fingers across the paper, enjoying the feel of his writing. It read:

&nb
sp; Hey Jen,

  So today is a big day for you. You’ll be entering a completely different world today. I’m sure a lot has happened since I’ve written this letter. You probably know who and what I really am now, and who you really are, and what that means. I’m sorry.

  I’m also guessing you hate me now. Because I’ve lied to you and kept you in the dark for so long. These decisions were made for your safety and I don’t regret any of them. I would do nothing differently if given the chance to go back. My decisions have always been in favor of you and even if it meant having to live a lifetime knowing you hated me, I would do everything the same, because I’d know you were okay. I didn’t plan on writing this letter, I wanted to tell you these things face to face, but because our future is so uncertain at this moment, this letter is my fail-safe plan.

  I don’t know where we are right now. Maybe my plan worked and we’re both safe on a beach somewhere enjoying life. Or maybe I failed miserably and you’re stuck with that douche of a pureblood - I don’t know. But what I do know is that I’ll always be your protector, no matter what. Our souls are sealed, so even if I’m not in your life I’ll always be with you. The bond we share is unbreakable and no one can take that from us. I’ll never give up on watching over you, even if you don’t see me, I’ll always be there, right beside you. I want you to know that I didn’t plan on falling for you, Jen, and even though I tried really hard not to fall for you, I did and I love you. No matter how you feel about me right now, I’ll never stop loving you. Never doubt that what we had was real Jen. You are the best thing to ever happen in my life and even if it kills me I don’t regret meeting you. In a world filled with war and blood and darkness, you gave me love and light, you gave me life.

  So if you hate me right now for lying to you, please forgive me. Also if you’re reading this letter - then it means I’m not with you on your birthday for some reason, know that wherever I am, you’re all I’m thinking off.

  Happy Birthday!

  Daren

  P.S if you’re with that dick Wilson, he’d better be treating you right. I’ve had intense training in the art of killing so one wrong move and he’ll be my personal chew toy. Tell him that, would you?

  I pressed the letter against my chest as tears ran down my face. My heart was pumping in my chest and ears loudly. I felt so overwhelmed that I couldn’t form a thought. After reading Daren’s letter I was stunned. I didn’t know how I was supposed to react or think right now.

  I heard the door opened and my dad slowly walked into the room. He looked handsome and dashing in his black suit. Behind him Celia, Abi, and Krystal were waiting. I knew instantly that it was time. I had run out of minutes and now it was down to the seconds.

  I wiped my eyes allowing Celia, Abi, and Krystal to touch up my makeup, and then a minute later the five of us were walking out of the bedroom towards the grand staircase. Already I could hear the soft music playing in the background and mindless muttering and talking.

  With each step that took me closer to the stairs I felt my heart rate increasing. My stomach was in knots and my hands were sweating. I was so nervous that my entire body was like a live wire on crack. I was glad that I had skipped breakfast this morning because if I had an empty stomach, I couldn’t throw up.

  After what felt like walking for hours, my dad and I came to a stop at the top of the stairs. “Tell me when you’re ready,” he said at my side and I took a deep breath, then linked my arm around his, nodding and focusing on putting one foot in front the other as we descended the staircase.

  When we made it at the bottom of the stairs we found Christy, Charde, Jason and the rest of my three bridesmaids and their partners waiting. All the guys were dressed in black elegant suits. Charde and the other girls were in simple, flowing golden dresses that dragged behind them. A purple band went around their waist and then dropped down at the back, trailing behind them. Christy was adorable in a big, puffy princess style dress.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” my dad said at my side and I took another breath, nodding. At the back of me Celia and Krystal were fixing the trail around me so that it was spread out perfectly. Abi then gave me a bouquet of red roses, which had what looked like crystals stuck to the petals.

  I took one last breath, looking up to my dad. “I’m ready,” I whispered in a cracked hoarse voice. My throat was completely dry as the huge double doors opened and Christy skipped down the aisle. After her it would be the other three couples, then Charde and Jason, and lastly my dad and I.

  “Jen…” my dad hesitated, “I know this is not easy thank you for doing this.” He paused and kissed the top of my head. Afraid to speak I nodded, not taking my eyes off him as the wedding march began to play.

  Everyone stood up and as soon as I was in sight, a line of loud awed whispers travelled along the room, starting from the people closest to me and ending at the front of the room. My dad and I began walking down the aisle slowly, towards Eric who was standing at the end under a canopy of lights and flowers.

  My heart was pounding in my chest with so much force that I almost felt my ribcage breaking under the pressure. I could hear it beating in my ears loudly. My fingers were cold sweating around the stem of the bouquet. Panic was slowly easing into my body. With each step that I took, I felt my throat constrict, and the muscles in my stomach clenched tighter. The closer that I got to Eric was the colder my body became. I was going numb all over. My body pulsed with what was almost physical pain and then my brain literally shut down, switching off abruptly as my feet rooted to the floor and I came to a sudden stop, physically unable to go any further.

  I couldn’t do it. I couldn't get my feet to move. No matter how much I tried to push myself forward, I wouldn’t budge. My feet stayed glued to the floor, my legs wouldn’t move, and all I could do was stare directly in front of me, unable to move and unable to form a single thought.

  I felt as if I was going into shock, like I was shutting down slowly. I couldn’t feel my body. It was like I had been submerged under an ocean of ice water, and now I was finally numb from the pain, except I still felt the sharp, twisting ache in my chest. My fingers were wrapped around the bouquet of red flowers so tightly that I was slowly destroying it. My vision blurred and when I blinked, hot tears slid down my face falling to the red flowers in my hands.

  Around me, everyone in the room was utterly silent and still. They too, all seemed frozen in shock. I only saw my mom, who was clutching onto Aunt Sophie’s arm as if her life depended on it. I saw Dr. and Mrs. Wilson whose faces mirrored each other. Lastly, I saw Eric. I couldn’t describe him, there weren’t words strong enough to say how much in pain and heartbroken he was.

  I was hurting him just as I had always done. I didn’t want to be like this. I had wanted so much to get through this day and not freak out. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I was a plague, even worse maybe. I was letting them all down.

  “Jen…” my dad whispered while squeezing my hand. “You need to do this,” he urged and at the sound of his voice, I felt my mind snap back into my body like a rubber band. My head instantly flashed up to him stunned. My lips parted as tears filled my eyes and then silently spilled down my face. I tried speaking, to tell him that I wanted to, yet no sound came out of my mouth. My throat had gone utterly dry. My teeth had been transformed into metal bars, caging my words inside my throat.

  A loud, ear shattering, aching cry broke the silence and without looking, I knew that it was Christy. The sound tore at my heart and soul in every way it could. I felt as if someone was slowly carving out my insides with a dull bread knife. My entire body felt raw.

  Suddenly a loud bang echoed through the room, like the sound of explosives going off behind us as the double doors slammed. A second later Christy stopped crying and began whimpering almost silently as the majority of the people in the room sank to their knees bowing their heads, leaving the humans and purebloods standing and without a doubt in my mind, I knew Katalin was standing behind me. Slowly I turned aro
und to face her, dreading what I knew was about to happen.

  I didn’t know what to do. My mind had gone completely blank as I took her in, standing in front of the door. She looked like a warrior angel, posed and ready to launch the first wave of a massive, bloody attack. The shield around her pulsed and vibrated with vitality and excitement. It almost seemed alive, like it had a mind of its own as it glowed around her. Her stance was perfect and that of a fighter.

  Katalin took a deep breath and then she stepped to the side, removing herself from in front of the door, which was now slowly being pushed open by the pulsing shield levitating around her.

  “Arise all and leave,” she said numbly extending a hand out towards the open doors. Everyone in the room immediately stood up and gracefully glided out. At some point, the humans had started to follow them out too, leaving my parents, Aunt Sophie, Dr. and Mrs. Wilson, Eric, and I. As soon as the last person was out the door slammed shut, sealing us inside.

  “I warned you what would happen had you disobeyed,” she said blankly, taking small steps towards me. The closer she got was the more fear built up inside me, but just under the fear, there was something else. It was something foreign and yet similar. Without thinking, I took a step forward putting myself between her and my dad. I didn’t have to look at my dad or my human family to know exactly what was happening to them.

  They were all feeling paralyzing fear. It was an emotion so strong and intense their minds had gone completely blank. They didn’t know what to do or how to react, all that they knew and understood was that Katalin was dangerous and they had to get away, yet they couldn’t move. I knew these things because these were the exact feelings I had felt the first time I had seen Katalin.