Most of the invitees were blissfully unaware of the scandal taking place at the wedding. Not bothering to keep their voices down, the guests were chatting away happily, listening to the glorious piano background music in the meantime and politely, but not patiently, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
The buzz of excitement could be felt in the air. Wings fluttered and shimmered, outfits sparkled and faces glowed on what everyone, including the bride-to-be, hoped would be her last wedding day.
Immisteria was seated alongside a tower window which had a perfect view of the guests below. She surveyed them with nervous excitement. They looked like aphids from where she was sitting.
“Are you nervous?” Gertrude asked as she jabbed hairpins in her friend’s hair.
“A little,” Mist replied, gently patting her head once Gertrude had finished. “But once you’ve been through this a few times it isn’t as hard.” She said the last line jokingly, not honestly sure she believed the comment.
“Well I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Gertrude assured her. Mist gave her a hug. She was grateful someone was certain she could make it through this time.
Her parents’ advice was as helpful as a one-legged sheep dog. “You’re rich and royal, so don’t bother believing any man will love you for you.”
Mist often thought of her mother as something nasty when she made stupid comments such as these, but she loved her, so she always kept her mouth firmly shut when these things came to mind. She was quite good at controlling her temper.
Mist looked at herself in the mirror. “I hope this is the last time you’ll have to wear this,” Gertrude said, retying the back of the dress, which had come loose.
The dress was strapless silk with a criss-cross back and a sash that tied into a bow at the back. Below the sash, the silk had a spidery lace overlay and no train. Gertrude looked at it longingly, as if she wished it was her that was getting married.
“Don’t give me that look, Gerty!" Mist laughed. "You’ve had your wedding.”
But as Mist turned to the window again, her playful smile disappeared and she wrapped her arms around herself. This was going to be way harder than she wanted it to be. Her stomach turned at the thought of having another unsuccessful wedding. It could have been the promise she'd made that was causing her to hold back tears. Mist had told no one of this, and now it was starting to eat at her. Right then and there, she had had enough. Gertrude needed to know.
“Gerty, I made an oath.”
Gertrude stopped arranging the flowers in the room.
“You did what?" hissed Gertrude. "You know how dangerous that is! How could you possibly risk your whole life, or going to the Underworld for a stupid promise?"
The Underworld was a dark place; no faerie knew exactly where it was located. Mist had seen pictures of when it was first announced ‘The Underworld’, but the only people that knew what it was actually like were the people that got sent there, and only one person has ever gotten out, but he was long gone now.
Gertrude was bright red and pacing the room gracefully, even though she was fuming. Mist wished she could be as graceful as that when she was mad.
“Don’t be so angry. It’s not like it’s your life on the line,” she told her friend. Gertrude stopped mid-pace and calmed herself down with deep, long breaths. After a few moments, she spoke.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. What was the oath?” Gertrude asked slowly, in a much kinder tone.
Mist sat on the bed, biting her lip. She wasn’t sure whether or not she should say she was only joking. Gertrude sat next to her and gave her an encouraging look.
“I oathed… I oathed that if this marriage didn’t work out I would join PMA.”
The PMA; the Pixie Mission Association. They often did missions in the human world, far away from Evanesca. Mist had considered joining the PMA for quite some time now, after her first two failed engagements, but had only done anything about it now. She looked to Gertrude for a response but none came.
“Look, I know it’s strange, but there’s nothing else I can do if this fails. I want to do something with my life and this is the best thing I can think of.” Mist got up from the bed and went over to get her gloves. Gertrude also got up and smiled at her friend.
“Well, I guess it's your life,” Gertrude said, knowing she could do nothing to change Mist's mind. “Now, let’s get you properly organized. You’ve got something old, the dress," she pointed at Mist's dress, "something new, the veil,” she tied the lacy veil around Mist’s bun, “something borrowed,” she grabbed a pearl necklace from her pocket and pulled it around Mist’s neck, “and something blue!” She indicated Mist’s gorgeous midnight blue wings that faded out towards the edges. “Okay, now go get your earrings and I’ll meet you soon at the door.”
Mist nodded and took a deep breath, “Okay, let’s go,” she said. Gertrude got changed into her disgusting moss-green velour bridesmaid dress with short puffy sleeves, and Mist walked over to the door and yanked it open.
It took a while for her to register what she saw, as she looked surprisingly at the couple embracing each other. Her heart sank and fury bubbled inside her chest as she realised what was going on. There, in the doorway, she saw her fiancé making out with her maid, Emaline.
“Mist! Uh, what are you... I mean, uh... it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!” Derek stuttered, quickly letting go of Emaline. Emaline stumbled a bit but caught herself on the window sill. Mist’s fiancé attempted to pretend that nothing happened, but it was quite obvious by his flustered face and messy appearance exactly what he had been up to.
“Derek!” She said in a venomous tone. “And Emaline. I should have known.” Derek straightened up as Mist walked past him to the dressing table.
“Mist, I’m sorry…” He began.
“No, you’re not!" Mist snapped "If you were sorry you wouldn’t have done it to begin with. How long has this been going on?” She snatched her pearl earrings and jabbed them in far too hard, sending a shoot of pain through both ears. Derek put his tie back on and walked over to her.
“Over a month,” he said hastily. Mist glared at him. He opened his mouth to explain but Mist interrupted him.
“And you didn’t tell me? Cheat on me, fine! But don’t pretend you still love me.” She held back furious tears as she grabbed her shoes and shoved them on her feet. She wanted so badly to strip the sash off her dress and strangle him with it, or to stab him with the heel of the shoes she had just put on. She shook her head, pushing the thought to the back of her mind. “What I don’t understand is why you would choose today of all days to do it.” Derek stood awkwardly next to Mist as she gave him this lecture. “Can you explain it to me?” she asked forcefully. Derek took a while to reply, and when he did it was more of a mumble than an actual answer. “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,” Mist said in a tone that showed it was obvious she wasn’t sorry at all.
“I said I needed to get some good luck for the trap that awaited me,” Derek replied quietly, avoiding eye contact. Mist made a face that made it clear she wanted so badly to give Derek a mouthful.
“Oh, so now I’m a trap? You proposed to me. Not the other way around! Did you even mean it, or did you just want the money?” Derek knew the question was rhetorical, so he continued to stand there without saying a word. The thought of strangling him came back to Mist’s mind. Instead, she maturely took a deep breath and stood up.
“Get dressed; Emaline, and get back to work. Derek, button your shirt up. We’re still doing this wedding whether you like it or not.” Mist was unsure if she was doing the right thing, but a bad feeling rushed over her whenever she thought of the dangers she'd be put in if she did join PMA.
Derek did as he was told and Emaline put her green uniform back on, giving Derek an irritated look. The bride stalked out of the room with her cheating husband-to-be following. Derek glanced back at Emaline, arranging his expression to be as apologetic as possible, as he trailed his fiancé that he no longer wanted.
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