by Samolu Pearl
Venus sat there, her mind and eyes welling with the depressing sadness. In a few more minutes, she’ll be forced into a life chosen for her… And, that would be her fate. She’ll have to forget her feelings… her own desire and… love. She’ll have to forget Rey… forever! Can she do that…?
“Venus…” Jellal’s mother’s voice startled her. “It’s time, honey…” She sighed and stood up, walking towards the door. She could hear footsteps near the door and opened it expecting Jellal’s mother.
Before she could open the door fully, it busted open and someone… who was it? But before she could see the person’s face, someone hurried behind her and held her hands from behind and threw a cloth, covering her eyes and mouth from behind. They pushed her out of her room and walked her out. Venus tried to struggle out of their grip, but it was too strong. She tried to shout for help but it was impossible as her mouth was tied. The long wedding dress was preventing her from moving her legs faster to her disadvantage.
She was dragged outside, by her arm and they walked for a few minutes, before they came to a halt. Venus felt the grip loosen from her arm and someone untied her hands. Venus immediately pulled the cloth away from her eyes and looked around wildly. And, her eyes met up with a pair of brown ones. She pulled the cloth off her mouth and then looked at the person standing before her clearly, her eyes widening in shock… then reflecting fury.
“Lilly…? What the-?” But her eyes fell on two others standing beside her making her mind swirl in confusion. “Peter…? Mia…? What are you guys doing here…? Why did you-?”
But she stopped immediately as she noticed someone standing there, leaning against a tree… His striking blue eyes piercing through her dark ones…
“Rey…” she whispered, feeling her eyes widen and heart beats rise…
Chapter 14
“What-What are you guys doing here…?” Venus asked in a shocked voice as her eyes met with the burning blue ones.
“You’re going to marry him…?” Peter snapped. “You don’t even like him, Venus…”
“Peter… I’ve told you already… It’s not any of your concern… It’s my fate… and I must go with it even if I like it or not…” Venus dropped her eyes to the ground.
“Yeah… It’s none of our business guys… We should not poke our nose into the royal ones lives…” Rey scathed and Venus was shocked to hear the sarcasm in his voice.
“Rey… Come on… She’s already-” tried Mia, but Rey cut her off.
“Whatever!” he turned his head away making Venus wince. “Let’s just finish our business and get out of here…”
“Wait… Business? What business…?” asked Venus in panic.
“Venus… We found the head of the other bandit group… We’re here to get him…” said Mia and Venus stared at her.
“Who…? Who is it…? Why are you in our village to get him…?” asked Venus, her heart beating faster than usual with an unknown anxiety.
“It’s… Jellal, Venus…” said Peter and she looked at him, with widened eyes that reflected shock.
“What-?” It was a whisper at first. “What? What do you mean, Peter…? He’s the village head’s son for heaven’s sake… Why would he…? Wait…” Venus stopped as it suddenly dawned on her. “You’re lying right…? You are lying to stop this wedding…?”
“Why should we stop this stupid wedding of yours…?” Rey fumed. “The other group’s head is who we are after and we’ll get him no matter who he is…!”
“But Jellal would never…” Venus stopped noticing Rey’s murderous look. He was really annoyed that she was trying to defend Jellal in his presence.
Rey strolled towards her dangerously and pulled her by her arm. “Come with me…” he commanded and Venus had no other way but to follow him.
The others followed them and reached an old house that was partially destroyed during flood. Venus remembered that no one ever came this way as the area was abandoned by the people.
“Rey… Where are we-?” but she stopped as she heard some muffled voices.
They looked towards the house and noticed a few men inside it, discussing and laughing over something. Venus scanned the room and noticed a man that looked strangely familiar. He had a very bad scar running over his cheek to his chin and she immediately remembered the bandit who attacked them on the day they stole the cart with food supplies.
“What is he doing here…? And, what does this have to do with Jellal…?” asked Venus.
Rey looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Your Jellal would be here soon to collect his share of the profit… and to discuss the next attack on a poor village…”
“What…? But-” But Venus stopped as she noticed someone walk towards the house and enter it. The man was in expensive wedding clothes and Venus’ eyes widened in shock to see Jellal talking to the men and collecting something from them. They were discussing something and Venus moved closer to listen to them.
“So… You guys know what to do I hope?” he asked dangerously and the others nodded. “The village is rich and we need to get what we can from there tonight. Now, I have a wedding to attend to…” Jellal smirked and it sent shivers down Venus’ spine. ‘How dare he…?’
Venus squeezed her eyes shut and leaned against the tree, trying to digest what she just witnessed.
“But he… Why did he…? He did all those terrible things to the people?” She whispered more to herself. “How-How did you guys know about this…?” She looked at Rey who was staring at the ground.
“I saw him talking to the men from the other group when I first visited your village to get my dagger back… and when we tried to kidnap you the other night, he was strolling towards this place with some of those men… I had a doubt about him from the start, but I didn’t know that he was your Jellal…” Rey scathed the last words and Venus flinched.
“So… What are we going to do now..?” asked Mia, with her concerned looks on Venus.
“I want to take care of him personally…” Rey gritted his teeth.
“Rey… We should think about Venus…” said Mia, nervously. “It’s her life that’s on line here…”
“I want him handed over to the authorities…” whispered Venus determinedly which made others stare at her. Rey snorted and turned around to walk away.
“Wait… Rey…” Venus called and stopped without turning around. “Be careful… Please…”
Rey walked away without even sparing a look at her, which made her heart ache. ‘She deserves it… for hurting him.’ Venus sighed.
“Lilly…” Peter called and Lilly who was silent all this while turned to look at him. “Mia and I are going to help Rey… Be with her…” Peter nodded at Lilly and she nodded back with a sigh. Then, they watched both Mia and Peter following Rey towards the house.
“Er… Nice wedding dress…” Lilly said, breaking the silence which seemed to go on forever.
Venus stared at her and then sighed. A slow smile lit up her face. “Thanks… How are you…? Taking good care of each other…?”
Lilly smiled. “He’s taking good care of me… He’s always there for me…”
Venus felt a pang of pain pass through her heart but she bit it back and gave Lilly a smile. “I’m glad-”
“But… He’s not well…” Lilly said, staring at the ground. “Not at all…” her voice dropped a notch and Venus stared at her face in shock. “I-I don’t think I can take care of him like you do, Venus… He misses you… terribly… even though he’s such a hot head to admit it.”
“But Lilly… You love him… and you’ve confessed your feelings to him, right…?”
Lilly nodded her head. “Yes…” She smiled. “I did… the day you left us…”
“What did he say…?” This Lilly was entirely new… Much more mature and understanding. Venus didn’t know she could be like this even though she knew Lilly was different inside.
“Well… He asked me exactly what I’ve felt when I was with him… And… I told him
I felt happy and content… I felt like I was secure and protected…
He asked me what I’ve felt when I was being with my family… my brothers and father… And, I told him… I felt the same way… happy, protected and secure…” Lilly sighed and then a smile lit up her face. Venus noticed that it had a tint of sadness in it. “He made me realize my feelings… it was more like a family… Rey… he was like a big brother to me. I was so attached to him that I thought it for love. I’ve been such a fool by bothering him that way…”
“No…” Venus whispered, holding her shoulder. “You’re not… Anyone would’ve felt the same way… A person like Rey could make anyone feel that way…”
Lilly smiled making Venus blush. “But you’ve been such an idiot by leaving him alone like that…” said Lilly and Venus looked at her shocked. “You’ve lied that you guys are not interested in each other, didn’t you…?”
“I… no… Why should I-?”
“He’s never been the same since you left, Venus… And, it bugs me so much to see him like that… He was such a cheerful and strong person… But now, it seems like he’s just a shell… I don’t want him to be like this … He was devastated when he knew that you’re marrying this Jellal guy… and I wanted to smack you for worrying him like that…”
Venus’ eyes widened with shock. Lilly had changed into her old self in a second. “Lilly… I just… wanted him to realize your feelings for him… Being alone… losing everyone you care about suddenly, is not easy… I know because I’ve shared the same fate…”
“You’re such an idiot you know that…?” asked Lilly with a chuckle. “You thought his feelings for you would change just like that…? I know Rey, more than anyone… He loves you with all his heart… that’s why he’s here… to help you out of this mess… even though he’d never admit it…” Lilly giggled again. “You know what…? I’ve noticed his expression when he saw you in this wedding dress… First, it was open admiration… Then, it changed into something murderous… I hope this Jellal guy wouldn’t end up dead by the time Rey finishes with him…”
“Jellal is not easy to deal with… You guys don’t know about him…” Venus started in a panicked voice.
“You’re worried about him…” Lilly smiled making her blush more. “Just stop worrying my poor Rey and accept your real feelings to him… before I smack some sense into you…” she added.
“But Lilly… Rey is really mad at me… He would never forgive me for…”
“Well… That’s your problem… I just want him to be the same person as before… and I want you to fix him back as you’re the one who broke him…”
Venus sighed and leaned over the tree. ‘It was easy for her to say… Rey, when angered is like a bull ready for a fight… And… there are Jellal’s parents to think of… No matter how much she loves Rey and wants to live with him… She can never disrespect her family’s values. She should accept her father’s friends’ decision no matter what it is… She’s bound to obey them…’ Venus squeezed her eyes shut.
The minutes passed by slowly and Venus was becoming more and more restless as there was no news on the guys or Jellal. “I’m going to check on them…” Venus moved towards the house and Lilly followed with a sigh.
Suddenly, the door busted open and Jellal walked out. His hair was all tousled and his shirt all messy. Venus’ eyes widened in shock and she desperately searched for Rey. Lilly moved behind the tree to hide herself and before Lilly could pull Venus out of the way, she’d moved towards the door.
“Take care of the rest… I don’t want them to get out alive… Clear? I need to go now…” They heard Jellal say over his shoulder to one of his men, perhaps as he stepped out closing the door behind him.
But his eyes widened in shock and confusion as he saw Venus staring at him with a panicked expression. “Venus…?” he called immediately covering up his shock. “What are you doing here…? It’s almost time…”
“I-I was… What were you doing in there…?” She asked, trying to walk towards the door. “Is there- someone in there…?” Her voice was breaking as the fear crept in.
“Er… Just the guys from the village… I was asking them to- er clear this place out… So, we could use it for something… Hey, come on, let’s go… Everyone will be wondering where we’ve been to…” Jellal put his hand around her shoulder making her jump. “By the way, what were you doing here…?”
“I- was looking for you…” Venus couldn’t really tell the truth. Neither could she just tell him that she knew who he really was! Not when Rey and the others were still in there… and when their lives are at stake.
“You alright…? You’re shivering…” he said as he held her close. Venus wanted nothing more than to run into the house and help the guys who might be in grave danger. But she couldn’t. Jellal lead her away slowly and Venus spared a concerned look at Lilly who was staring at her from behind the tree.
“Well… Well… Looks like someone cannot wait a few more minutes…” giggled a lady from the village as Venus and Jellal walked towards the wedding dais.
Jellal grinned and then held Venus closer. “Come on, it’s time…” said Jellal and led her towards the dais.
“Where were you two…? It’s time…” Jellal’s father snapped while his mom pampered Venus’ hair with a smile.
Venus was in an utter confusion as her mind was filled with Rey and his situation right now. She didn’t know when they made her stand before the Altar… in front of a priest. She didn’t know when Jellal stood beside her staring at her face with a smirk. She didn’t know when the priest started reading the Holy Bible and asked for Jellal’s consent… She didn’t hear Jellal saying his yes.
“Venus… Will you take Jellal as your husband?” the Priest asked for the third time, as Venus stood rooted to the spot, her eyes on the ground.
“I-” she whispered. ‘Say no… Say no, Venus…’ her mind chanted to her. Suddenly, she heard someone clearing their throat and raised her head to see everyone staring at her. Jellal’s parents’ faces were reflecting concern, to her surprise. ‘I can’t… I’m sorry…’ Venus squeezed her eyes shut. “Sorry… I-Yes.” She nodded to the priest, feeling her heart break and the pain creep to her entire body. ‘I’m sorry…’
The priest sighed. “Is there anyone who’s against this wedding…?” he asked and was about to turn to the couple to announce them husband and wife, when someone raised their hand from among the small gathering.
“What…? Who is that…?” asked Jellal’s father and Venus turned around in shock to see a man walking forwards. His forehead was bleeding and he was slightly limping. But even from a distance, she could see the pair of bright blue eyes shining down on her. “Rey…” she whispered and Jellal turned to look at her in shock.
“You’re against this wedding…?” the Priest asked and Rey nodded, looking at her. But his eyes were distressed. “Can you tell us why…?”
“We cannot let her marry a criminal…” Rey said in a strict voice and Jellal fisted his hand, taking a step closer. He was utterly confused how Rey had escaped from his men. Venus was too, until her eyes met Lilly who winked at her from among the gathering.
“What do you mean…?” Jellal’s father asked, moving towards Rey. “He’s my son… He’s not a criminal…”
“Then what do you call an anti-social being who have taken many lives for just the sake of money…?” Rey scathed and the others looked at him in shock. Venus had her eyes dropped.
Rey explained everything to the gathering… like how Jellal was the head of the other bandit group who attacked villages and robbed them… killed them… brutally. Like how he’d seen Jellal discussing things and sharing the robbed money with the bandits…
By the time Rey had finished, Jellal’s mother was sobbing. “Mother… Don’t trust him… He’s lying… Do you have any proof for what you’ve just blabbered…?” Jellal asked Rey in fury.
Rey smirked and then looked towards the gathering, turning
everyone’s attention towards the crowd. Peter and Mia were walking towards them from the crowd holding a man and Venus noticed that he had a bad scar running on his cheek to chin. She immediately turned to look at Jellal’s face which was drained of blood and was shivering slightly.
“He’ll explain everything to the officials…” said Rey. “He’s one of his men… from the other bandit group…”
“But-But… You can’t trust him… He’s a bandit and he’ll lie for sure…” Jellal tried to defend himself. “Is there any other witness…?” asked Jellal and a smirk formed his face as Rey dropped his head in fury.
“I…” Venus started in a low voice and everyone turned to look at her. “I’m a witness… I’ve seen and heard Jellal discussing things with this man…”
“Venus… Why didn’t you tell this to us before…?” asked Jellal’s father.
“I’m sorry… But I didn’t want to disappoint you…” she dropped her eyes. “Jellal… Why…? You’ve changed… a lot…”
Jellal sighed and then broke into a fit of laughter. “Because… Because, I love you Venus… I wanted to make you happy with all the richness… I wanted to make you stay with me forever…”
Venus shook her head. “You didn’t understand me at all then… You didn’t love me Jellal… You loved the riches and the position it gave you… You wanted me just as a thing to adorn your life… I’m sorry Jellal, but I can’t be that…”
His look was of a defeated one and for a moment, Venus felt sad for him. But only for a moment… thinking about the things he’d done to the innocents made her turn away from him.
In a few more minutes, the place was filled with cops and officials and Venus watched as Jellal and the men were taken away. Jellal’s mother was sobbing but his father stood with his head held high.
“Uncle…” Venus held his hand. “I’m sorry…” But he shook his head and held her close.
“You did the right thing… I should’ve noticed when my son changed this much… I should’ve spared him some time instead of running behind the position and government… Hope he’d change back into what he was…” Jellal’s father whispered and Venus nodded.