Angel of Darkness (DARKNESS #1)

Chapter Fifteen

EDITOR WARNING: THIS CHAPTER HAS NOT BEEN EDITED SINCE FIRST DRAFT (2017). MAJOR PLOTHOLES OR INCONSISTENCIES

TWO DAYS LATER
ADRIENNE'S POV

"ADRIENNE"! My mother's loud voice echoed through my bedroom.
Rubbing my eyes, I sat up groggily from my long sleep.
It had to be around noon.
"It's your eighteenth birthday today Adrienne" my mother started.
"Yes mother" I answered back tiredly.
"You need to get up and ready, we still have much to do for your masquerade ball tomorrow".
"Yes mother" I answered quickly, climbing out of bed.
"Everyone is waiting downstairs for you. Look presentable" my mother ordered.
With that she left.
Sighing, I quickly dressed.

Wearing my nicest dress, I rummaged through my drawers to find my favourite item I owned.
I had worn it on my birthday for years, but I had always hidden it underneath my dress.
This year I wouldn't.
This year I was of age.
Finding the beautiful jewellery box, I removed my necklace.
Fastening the diamond and sapphire endorned necklace around my neck, I smiled.
Now I was ready.
I bounced down the stairs, rushing to the table.
My family sat quietly as I came in, presents stacked near my chair.
Sitting down, my sisters eyes zeroed in to the necklace on my neck.
But they weren't the only ones.
"Where did you get such an expensive necklace Adrienne?" My mother asked suspiciously.
"She must of stolen it" Elizabeth murmured angrily.
"A friend gave it to me" I answered proudly.
"Nonsense!" My father roared.
"There's no way anyone in town could've acquired such a necklace. It looks like something only royalty should have" my father spoke lowly.
"Just open your presents Adrienne" my mother retorted, clearly exasperated already.
Opening my presents, I received a beautiful white and silver dress from my parents and a beautiful white feathered masquerade mask from my sisters.
"Thank you all" I said politely, certain my gifts were to be worn during the ball tomorrow.
"Now. Where did you get that necklace Adrienne, I won't ask again" my father spoke in a low angry tone.
"I got it from a dear friend" I repeated nervously.
"LIAR!" my sisters shouted.
"I am not!" I retorted back angrily.
"GIRLS!" My fathered bellowed over all of us.
"This is why you'll never find a husband Adrienne" my mother simpered angrily.
"You spend your days in the dusty old library, reject any male affection and now this"?!
"I don't get any male attention to reject" I thought dryly to myself.
"Your sisters have already received dozens of proposals and you, not a single one" My father added disapprovingly.
I looked down in shame and heard giggles from across the table.
I didn't look up, but I knew my sisters must have smirks on their faces.
The men in town were always enamoured by my beautiful sisters, falling over their feet to shower them with love and affection.
As for me, no man gave me the time of day.
They simply pined after my sisters like lost, lovesick puppies.
"Give me that necklace Adrienne" my father spoke in a menacing low tone.
"No!" I yelled, my hands reaching up to touch the stones.
"I'm going to ask one more time Adrienne. Give it to me!" My father yelled, standing up from his chair.
"No!" I yelled back, clutching the necklace protectively.
SLAP!
I heard my sisters gasp as my head whipped to the side, my father's angry face hovering over me.
I felt the necklace fall from around my neck.
Looking up, my eyes filled with tears as I saw my father's hand clutched around the necklace my angel gave to me.
Touching my fingers to my cheek, I let the tears roll.
My father hadn't hit me hard at all, but it was the feeling behind it that hurt.
"The money from this will be enough to cover a large dowry for you and then some" My father said lowly, a greedy smirk on his face.
"She'll need it to ever find a husband" my mother replied, shooting me a disgusted look.
"I can't imagine anyone would want to marry Adrienne" my sisters giggled to each other.
Tears still streaming down my face, I stood from my chair and headed toward the back door.
"Come back when you've finished your sulking. You need to look presentable for tomorrow" My mother retorted as I grabbed my cloak.
"Money does not change anything. No-one will ever be able to love her" I heard my father remark as I closed the door, walking into town. Walking towards the only person who was ever really kind to me.
My angel.
People stared at me as I walked through town crying, shooting me disgusted looks.
I tried to stop crying, but the tears kept falling.
Hopping over the fence just like I did every night, I followed the worn path into the woods.
The path to my angel.
Reaching the clearing, I collapsed on my usual log, sobbing.
I sat crying for hours, darkness slowly filling the clearing.
If my own family didn't love me, who ever would.
"Adrienne" A smooth baritone voice interrupted my sobs.
"Angel" I choked out between sobs, shaking and reaching out for him.
He was here. My angel.
I felt a pair of warm arms wrap around me and I huddled into them.
"They took your necklace from me".
"They don't love me Angel" I cried.

I felt a hand brushing my hair as I sat in the darkness.

Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation.
Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination.
Silently the senses abandon their defences.

Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour.
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender.
Turn your face away from the garish light of day.
Turn your face away from cold unfeeling light.
And listen to the music of the night.

I listened as my angel's beautiful voice as he sang.
He slowly stroked my hair as his voice filled the clearing.

After he had finished, my tears had subsided.
"Thank you angel" I whispered quietly as his arms unwrapped from me.
Yet my hands still remained in his much larger gloved ones.
"I'm sorry for being such a problem" I added, now feeling a bit ashamed.
"You're not a problem Adrienne" my angel answered me.
"Why did God send you to protect and watch over me? I'm hardly important, no-one would ever care if I died-
"Don't say that!" My angel recoiled, his soothing tone becoming sharp with anger.
I flinched, startled by his abrupt change in tone.
"I would care very much Adrienne" he soothed.
"Now, won't you tell me what happened?" He questioned.
"My father took the necklace you gave me" I murmured, looking down.
My angel's hands tightened around mine, then loosened.
"My family was talking about how no one would want to marry me. My father is going to sell it to increase my dowry".
"No-one would marry me without getting money anyway" I added.
My angel sympathetically stroked my hands.
"My family only cares about money anyways.  That's the only reason that they're hosting the masquerade ball in my honour tomorrow" I mumbled, feeling a bit better talking it out.
"Oh?" My angel remarked.
"Is there an occasion for the ball?" He asked, in that beautiful sexy tone of his.
Wait!? What!?
I quickly shook the thought away.
"It's a tradition in my family to host grandiose coming of age parties. It's to celebrate my birthday, even though it's today".
"In that case, Happy Birthday Adrienne" My angel said huskily, as a beaming smile filled my face.
"Thank you Angel" I thanked him.
The smile quickly dropped from my face when I realized I had to return home soon.
"I'm sure my sisters will mock me tomorrow for not having a date" I said sadly, wishing I could stay here forever.
"None of the men in town pay attention to me. My sisters receive all that attention" I told him, a slight sad twinge echoing in my voice.
"Is that such a bad thing?" My angel asked, curiously.
"No. It's just...It would just be nice to feel wanted by someone once in a while" I answered sombrely.
My angel's hands went slack.
"By someone other then you of course!" I quickly added.
He let out a dry, humourless chuckle.
"One day Adrienne, One day, you will be treated like a Queen." He told me softly.
My spirits lifted a little at that.
"God is so kind. He sent you to me, my only friend." I smiled, looking into the darkness.
"Thank you for everything" I said profusely.
"I'd better head home Angel. My mother is waiting".
"I'll walk you back." my angel murmured.
Clasping one of my small hands in his, I let him lead me through the dark forest.

Once we reached the edge, I felt his warm hand leave mine.
"Thank you again my Angel" I thanked him.
"Anything for you Adrienne. I'll see you tomorrow" he murmured.
Turning, I walked out of the forest and headed towards my home.
CREAKK!
The backdoor of my grand house let out the shrill creak it always has, as I stepped into the parlour.
"There you are! We must get you ready" My mother shrilled, grabbing my arm and pulling me up the stairs.

Later that night
Erebus

Zip! Zoom!
I dashed through the forest, back to the castle.
What a pity Adrienne doesn't have a date for the ball.
I guess I'd just have to fix that.
"She'd never think of you that way" I thought to myself, shaking the thought away.
Nevertheless, I had a birthday gift to buy and a ball to prepare for.
Asteaia must prepare for the masquerade of a lifetime.