Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 31: I Can't Wait

 "It was so romantic, Alexander!" Amelia had just finished her highly exaggerated, half-hour-long explanation of Onyx's proposal. She hardly got any sleep, but it didn't stop her from being completely ecstatic as she told her brother she was getting married. 

"I hope Brynn was that enthusiastic when she told people about my proposal," Alexander said with a grin. "I can't believe my baby sister is getting married before me... are you really sure you can get everything together for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, we're just going to have an officiant come to the house and marry us, since there's no way our parents are paying for anything. Not like they have much money to offer, anyway... Onyx and I discussed it on the phone this morning. So, just some chairs and a few decorations for the front yard. We thought outside would be the best place. We can definitely get everything we need today."

"Yeah, no way mom would let you have it inside her house," he grumbled. "Speaking of mom... have you told our parents yet?"

"No, actually..." Amelia sighed. "I guess I should go do that now, huh? Wish me luck..."

Alexander nodded. "Break a leg!" 

"I just might once mom hears about this," Amelia muttered as she walked out of his room and downstairs.

---

"So, what did you need to talk to us about, dear?" Garrett asked as he glanced at his daughter, then his wife, who already had a sour expression before anything was even discussed.

"Well..." Amelia began nervously. "Mom, dad, I'm... um..."

He lowered his gaze, seeing the ring on Amelia's hand. '...She's engaged?'

She took a deep breath and blurted. "I'm getting married!"

"What!?" Elaine furrowed her eyebrows. "Don't tell me it's to--"

"Onyx Nightshade?" Amelia smiled innocently. "Of course it is."

"You're kidding, right?" Elaine scowled. "Certainly you're not actually marrying that thing!"

"Now, Elaine," Garrett began, but was interrupted.

"I love him, mom. And he loves me," Amelia replied with a frown. "And I don't care what you think or what you say, I'm going to marry him. Tomorrow."

Elaine was exasperated. "Tomorrow!? Absolutely not! Amelia, I forbid it!"

"Elaine!" Garrett snapped. "Please, just--"

"I forbid it!" Elaine reiterated angrily. "Our daughter will not marry a monster!"

"He is not a monster!" Amelia retorted, feeling her anger reach its limit. "You're the monster! You won't even take the time to get to know him! Well, guess what, mother? I'm not a little girl anymore, and you can't tell me what to do!" 

"Amelia, this is absurd!" Elaine cried.

Garrett clenched his fists in frustration. "Both of you calm down!"

"I will not calm down!"

Amelia felt tears form in her eyes. "I'm tired of this! I will marry Onyx, whether anyone likes it or not! This is my life to live, not yours! And I'm not going to let you ruin it!"

"Fine, then! Go ahead and see what happens! But when it turns out I was right, don't come crying to me, Amelia. Because I'm not going to listen."

Amelia only gave her a look of disgust and turned to walk away. "You won't turn out to be right, and I don't want to hear your apologies when you realize that you're wrong." 

Unsure of how to feel or what to do, Amelia sat in the silence of her room, deep in thought. 'Why won't mom just give him a chance?' Her train of thought was interrupted by a phone notification. She reached into her pocket with a sigh.

'It's from Onyx,' she thought as she read the message:

Meet me at my house as soon as possible.

'Is there a problem?' Amelia frowned, putting the phone in her pocket. 'I guess I should go see what he needs...'

---

Amelia stared in shock as the person she least expected opened the door, the hand she used to knock falling limp at her side. "I-I thought--"

"He isn't home right now, and I used his phone to text you," Raven said. "Come inside."

Amelia's heart was pounding in fear. "Wait, before you get angry at me-"

Raven interrupted. "I said come inside. Don't test my patience."

She replied with a silent nod and stepped inside, following Raven to the couch and sitting nervously.

"I wanted to talk to you, Amelia," Raven began. "I was very angry when I found out that my son was going to marry you. But I've realized that there isn't any changing his mind on this..." she sighed. "So, I suppose I am going to have to learn to tolerate your existence."

"I..." Amelia's voice was quiet as she tried to speak. "I really love Onyx. I'd do anything for him. I promise you, I will do everything I can to be the best wife he could ever want..."

"Well, unfortunately, you can't be." Raven glanced over at her. "You're missing something."

"What?" Amelia frowned. "What am I missing?"

"You aren't a vampire. No matter what you do, in the end, you'll only hurt him. He'll fall deeper and deeper in love with you... and then he will lose you. It really is in a human's nature to hurt us, isn't it?"

Amelia fell silent. 'She's right. But the more I think about it, the more I think... I don't want him to lose me... and I don't want to lose him.'

They were both quiet after that, before Amelia finally spoke up. "The last thing in the world I want to do... is to hurt Onyx."

Raven looked over at her, analyzing her words. "I can't trust you. Humans are liars... but," she paused. "I wanted to give you something... very important."

"Give me something? You don't have to..."

"You are going to have this. It's not a choice. Wait here." Raven stood up and briskly walked into her bedroom, shutting the door harshly behind her.

Amelia waited obediently for what seemed like forever. 'What's taking her so long? What is she giving me? Hopefully, not my coffin, or tombstone, or...' her thoughts trailed off and she turned her head as she heard Raven call for her to come inside. A bit shakily, she stood up and walked toward the door.

Amelia stepped inside the room, and Raven smiled.

"This is what I wanted you to have," she began. "The dress I got married to Onyx's father in..."

Amelia stared in surprise. "I-It's beautiful," she said, feeling her lips form a smile. "I would be honored to wear this."

"It's not the right size for you, but luckily, I know how to sew." Raven said. "I'm... glad you want to use this dress. It means a lot to me," she continued, and could hardly believe the words that came out of her mouth -- to a human -- after that. "Thank you."

"No, thank you." Amelia replied. "Will you be... attending the wedding?"

Raven sighed. Although her mind was conflicted, her heart was not. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

__________________

"Onyx? Dad? What's all this?"

Onyx turned to her with a smile. "Hey, Amelia. Your dad and I were just setting up a few things for the wedding."

"You did all this?" Amelia grinned. "How long was I gone for you to have time to do this? And should you really be outside during the day? Vampires don't mix well with sunlight..."

Onyx walked over to her, taking her hands in his. "It isn't so bad because it's cloudy, so I can come outside for a few minutes at a time. Or use an umbrella to block the sun, if I really have to." He laughed lightly. "I can't wait to marry you tomorrow..."

"I can't wait, either," Amelia replied, lacing their fingers together. "Tomorrow will be the best day of my life..."

Onyx corrected her with a smile. "Our lives."