Prologue
Twelve tall cemented pillars, covered in ivy hugging it closely, stood in a perfect circle, topped by a light blue ceiling with engravings carved into it. Lines following the pillars into the centre of it, each representing the twelve stages of life: Potential, Hope, Vitality, Playfulness, Imagination, Ingenuity, Passion, Enterprise, Contemplation, Benevolence, Wisdom and Life itself. The centre is you. Your past, present and future. This is the Ivy-Ring.
Roofing the ceiling that represents life is a polygonal marbled topping with a small window placed in the very centre, going straight through to the middle of the ceiling where the lines of life meet. The small window allows the sun to shine through on you as you stand in the midpoint of the platform that all twelve pillars stand. Here is where your future is shown, maybe even reasonings for your past. The Ulterior’s whisper to you the inevitable of your destiny, should you deserve the honour of knowing.
Loretta Park is where the Ivy-Ring stands. A sacred place in which only a few know of its true story and power. Most only see it as a myth. A story the old told others to keep the grounds pure. Untouched by soiled souls. But when did the young ever listen to wise old tales? The Gaar family certainly didn’t listen to them. No, instead they held the wedding for their daughter in the centre of the structure, where she stood, anticipating the marriage to her dear partner. Maybe the word ‘union’ would be more applicable. Marriage is meant to be full of love, devotion, happiness. This ceremony was void of all three of these factors.
The surrounding landscape consisted of a green and yellow shaded forest, that stretched on for miles. It gave those lucky enough to be in the presence of the Ulterior’s a sense of calmness and security from outsiders that would be up to no good or simply wandered too far. But on the day of the Wedding, that calmness was overshone and squashed by a thick blanket of tension. More than enough guests scattered around the structure, standing on the wildflowers that decorated its surroundings. All but one family being smothered by the tension that another emitted. The Gaar family were seemingly oblivious to it, that or they just didn’t care to acknowledge it. They wanted more power. They wanted to make a name for themselves. They wanted to have the Velarde’s fortune. And somehow, someway, they managed to be on the path to success with their wishes.
Most individuals with common sense would not try to cross the Velarde Family. They were not cruel or unfair, they didn’t boast about their power and position in life. But that power and position spoke thousands. They knew not to even consider trying to be one up on them. And because of this, the Velarde Family were unprepared for the wrath of the Gaar’s, regardless of how idiotic they were at the time. They were succeeding.
The eldest son of the Velarde family was one of the main reasons behind the thick blanket of tension that smothered everyone. He stood tall and rigid, just beyond the circle of trees, out of sight of their guests, glaring at the unpleasantly beautiful woman who stood proudly at the opening of the Ivy-Ring. She was completely unaware of the of the death being wished upon her by her soon-to-be husband’s livid stare. Her long, strawberry hair was flowing down her back, parted in the centre. A ringlet of flowers placed like a crown atop of the stunning locks. Cold, yet lively greyish blue eyes darting around to each of the guests with an excitement building in them, yet there was also an evil aura seeping through. Her gown was simple, elegant, classy. Laced ivory material that hung loosely from thin straps on her shoulders, straight down to the marble floor beneath her. Although it was loose, you could see her lean, model-like figure underneath, as she stood poised in her position. No matter how much he hated to admit it, she looked earthly beautiful. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the figures of his three younger brothers watching him closely. One with a look of amusement, one with a look of pity but also trying to emit some calmness over him, and the last with a look of anxiety. He wasn’t too sure if that anxiety was for himself and what he is about to go through or for just in general though. Yet, they were all giving off the same tension as he, maybe not as strongly though. His father, the one he blames for the dreadful event he awaits, stares at him with a blank expression. Though as he shifts his eyes to his fathers, he can see an unreadable emotion pass through them, almost like he is begging his son to read into it and understand. Never the less, he didn’t care, nor did he wish to acknowledge him more than he already had done in those few seconds.
As his eyes fell back onto the woman again, he immediately felt his anger and irritation boiling up again, even more than it already had. Before it could spread through the trees and into the clearing to coat the already tense and anxious guests, he felt a gentle pressure placed on his left shoulder. Said pressure slid gently from one shoulder to the other, then down diagonally across his back to his hip, as to make the shape of the number seven. It then slid around his torso gently, but not sexually, and his body brought up against another. He knew instantly who stood to his back. The head of his middle younger brother reached the space between his shoulder blades and he laid his forehead against him. Words being muttered softly under his breath, deaf to the human ears, but clear to his family who stood around them. A tranquillizing aura took over his elder brothers irritation, to allow him the ability to get through the event without losing his control. He was giving him the ultimate gift he could manage at the age of thirteen. He was giving him the chance to put aside the conflicting emotions clouding his judgement. He was giving him the power to save his family, as best as he could and by the only way possible at that moment. And in order to do so, he had to marry...
He had to marry the woman he loathed.
He had to marry into a family that was power-hungry.
He had to marry to save his families future.
He had to marry to await the day he met his twin flame.
And as he stood in the centre of the Ivy-Ring, the sun shining directly through the small window above and surrounding him, and him only, he knew. He knew why he stood where he stood. He knew why his father had to do what he did. He knew what would happen in given time. He knew who his twin flame would be. And as the whispers floated into his ears as time stopped momentarily, he also knew everything he just saw could not be forced. He had to wait, had to marry. He had to sacrifice his present life for his future one. He could not speak of what he saw, as the Ulterior’s had a plan, one that happened with time.
But he knew it would all begin the day his thirteen-year-old bother meets his twin flame.
The devil himself.
