Ivory entered the bridal room at St. Aloysius, the private chamber reserved for the bride. The ballgown she had chosen days ago flowed around her like liquid cream, layers of lace and embroidery catching the soft morning light streaming through the tall windows. She adjusted the waistband carefully, making sure it didn't dig into her, and smoothed the skirt so every fold fell perfectly.
She reached for her veil when a sudden pounding erupted in her head. She pressed one hand to the marble countertop and the other against her temple, forcing herself to stay upright.
And then she saw it.
A vision unfolded, sharper than any dream. The room around her disappeared, and was replaced by a circle of cold light and strange symbols. Blue — or a figure like him — stood at the center, commanding a ritual in a black cloak, and the blue dragons tattoo that Ivory immediately recognized.
Humans wearing neck chains were gathered, trembling while larger figures around them stood, holding them in place or were intrigued by the ritual. The chained humans whimpered, pleaded, and begged to be free.
An unfamiliar woman was bound to a table with ancient and arcane symbols engraved into it. As the man recited unfamiliar words, which Ivory detected as an old language, from an ancient looking book, the woman began to shapeshift subtly: her skin became thicker, faint scales appeared along the sides of her eyes and, and her eyes flickered like slits.
"See you in your next life," the man declared, her voice echoing across the chamber. His sacrifice kept transforming as the woman stopped struggling against his power. She was bound and helpless, nothing would help her.
Three other cloaked individuals carved a tattoo of arcane symbols into the human's skin, marking her as claimed.
Ivory's stomach knotted, recognizing herself in the transformation, though the vision froze before it completed. She remained human, yet somehow altered, marked, and aware of the predator's gaze.
Her eyes shot open. The bridal room returned, sunlight spilling across the polished floor. The lace of her dress felt impossibly heavy, as if every thread carried the weight of what she had just seen. She pressed her hands to her temples, trying to push the vision away, but the memory of the ritual lingered. She had no idea what it meant or why the man had Blue's tattoo. Maybe it was him, or it was someone that had the same tattoo as him.
She figured it represented his power and control over her, that she was alive because he allowed it. Because he wanted her. But if she tried to escape… she knew with chilling clarity that he could lock her away, anytime, anywhere. The mansion, his secret bases, his connections, the streets, the world — everything was under his control.
Ivory exhaled slowly, forcing a faint, controlled smile. Guests and attendants were waiting, but she moved with measured grace, every step a performance, every gesture perfect. A bride on display, playing a role she did not consent to.
The car ride to the church entrance was quiet. Ivory sat with her hands folded over the voluminous skirt, the city passing by like a blur. Sunlight touched her lap and shoulders, and every shadow reminded her of the life she had lost, the people she had loved that were taken from her in inhumane ways, and the chains that bound her to Blue. He sat beside her, calm, composed, radiating the dangerous control she had come to anticipate. Not a word passed, yet every moment of silence carried meaning.
The sunlight was still there, somehow, she just needed to find it --- have it for herself.
Inside the church, the grandeur of St. Aloysius pressed against her senses: polished marble floors, the scent of old wood, sunlight filtered through stained glass, jagged rainbows across the pews. Blue stood at the altar, every inch the image of charm, control, and menace. Handsome, calculated, human in form, but impossible to mistake for anything but something older, predatory, eternal.
Once Blue and Ivory had said "I Do," she had to share her first kiss with him; the only other man she had kissed in her life, except that it was different with Hawks.
With Hawks the kiss was soft, passionate, and filled with deep desire and love. With Blue, it was mature, controlled, possessive, all the traits that embarked his psychopathic nature and how he had so much control over her life.
Then, they found themselves at The Sound View, where Ivory felt super disconnected from everything around her: people were dancing, drinking, singing, eating, and connecting. Ivory noticed that most of the men and women there seemed otherworldly with the energy they carried, though she was pretty sure they were evil people like Blue.
Later, away from prying eyes in a quiet corridor, Ivory saw that Lily walked in isolated in a small room on the first floor, away from the party. Lily closed the door behind her.
Ivory looked behind her, seeing that the guests were preoccupied with the party. Blue was in the corner with Red, they spoke and laughed. Then, Ivory quickly found herself going down the stairs, the music and the party life quietly faded; all was silent as she opened the door and found herself in Lily's arm.
Ivory had missed her best friend and was happy they could have this quiet moment to themselves.
"I had another dream," Ivory whispered. "About Blue… and Hawks. There was a blue folder… and I think it's real."
Lily's eyes darkened. "I've been dreaming about Hawks too. He mentioned an encrypted book." Her gaze was hard, unwavering. "I don't know exactly what it contains. Passwords, locks… you're trapped unless Blue decides you can leave."
Ivory's stomach tightened. "So… the mansion… every exit, every key, every way out—he controls it?"
Lily nodded. "Keep doing what you're doing. Pretend. Play the part. He's dangerous. And I hate him for what he and Harley did. Don't let him see anything but the bride he wants you to be. Protect yourself at all costs. One day," her eyes squinted toward the closed door, "Blue will get what is coming for him."
Ivory swallowed, nodding. She would play the part. For now.
Night fell over the mansion after the celebrations. The quiet in the rooms was heavy, almost oppressive. Blue's casual presence in the study—the sweatshirt and sweatpants failed to hide his authority. His psychopathic energy made her pulse race. His fingers brushed her thigh as he passed, nearly imperceptible, a silent test.
Ivory perched on the edge of the bed, feigning calm, every nerve alert, every thought calculated.
"Tomorrow will be busy," Blue murmured, leaning close enough for her to feel his warmth and smell the sharp, lingering cologne. "We have work to do. Much to create," he looked down at her stomach and his hand rubbed against her stomach's skin.
Her stomach twisted at the word, but her eyes remained steady. Tension simmered between them, charged and unspoken, a promise of what was to come without a single clear declaration. She knew he was dangerous. She knew he could lock her away forever if she stepped out of line. But for now, he wanted her alive, and that was enough to not just keep her on edge, to see when he would punish her, but Ivory decided that she could be opportunistic. She could use her position to her advantage. Play the good wife while she planned her revenge on him; Blue would never expect her attack.
She let herself smile faintly, a sharp, quiet smirk. She would be the perfect bride, perform the role Blue demanded, but underneath, she was already calculating, already planning. The blue folder, the encrypted book, the secrets that bound her — they would all unravel. And when they did, she would be ready.
Blue pulled her closer to him, his strong arms held her in place as he laid on top of her.
"I want you to know that this will hurt," Blue replied, "Though, it will be worth it in the long run; my empire and lineage is very important to me. You being my life is a pleasure," his hand caressed her cheek, "Think about all that we can and will accomplish together."
"Well, what do you have in mind?"
"The first is to have a child .... then, everything else will fall into place."
Blue closed in the gap between then, and Ivory's nerves had gotten the best of her until she closed her eyes and thought about losing everything to her true love, Hawks, and smiled as Blue took her innocence from her.