"Deviled Eggs: Chapter 3" by S. E. Worley

Max was getting ready for a wedding to a woman he just met six months ago though Alex. His stomach felt like a pit, his palms were sweaty and his hands were too shaky to get his cufflinks in. Finally, he stretched out his arms and had a butler do it.

He was not going to be lonely for much longer. Soon, he’d be a married man and maybe have a family.

To ease his nerves he paced around the room. Starting a new life was stressful, but when it was in place he was certain everything would be wonderful.

Nada was busy getting ready, also. The gown she was to wear was quite impressive. Her fiancee had the money for it. The gown was made of grey and black silks with an over skirt and bodice of brocade. The train was several feet long and the skirt rested on a hoop petticoat to give a bell shape. Her sleeves were long bell sleeves of brocade and underneath she wore close fitting silk sleeves. The neckline was low, but modest. It was breath taking in it’s detail and bead work.

Everything was moving too fast for her. She was born into a world where marriages were very different and taken less seriously. Love was not so deep there, it rested on the surface.

A maid helped Nada walk to the door and lead her down the hallway.

Nada was petrified, she barely knew the groom and he was not the type she wanted to marry. But she was loyal to her master, so she stayed in good humor and kept agreeable. She just hoped the honey mooning was mild and that he would not care for any children. He was already old, maybe he was unable.

That put her in more dread. He was old, thousands of years. She didn’t want to share a bed with someone like that. Especially the devil.

She watched the large dark door that entered the chapel. Slowly, she entered and looked around. A gasp escaped her lips as she took in the sheer splendor of the room.

It was huge, a football field in size. The ceiling was so high it was hard to make out. The walls were covered with murals of various scenes of death, torture and the collection of souls. The chapel was covered in ornate gothic style carvings. The alter consisted of statues of Lucifer Morningstar and other famous sinners, all carved from stone and smaller ones in wood. The center of the alter had the coronation of Max himself.

The chapel had been decorated with candles along the walls and at the alter. There were hundreds of people lined in the pews, which were covered with black fabric cushions. The aisle she was to walk down was covered with a red carpet.

The priest waited at the alter, dress in a black robe and tall hate that had an inverted cross down the middle. He was young, but powerful looking. She was horrified.

Next to the priest was her groom, dressed in a black outfit that would be considered stylish in the 1700s. Next to him was his twin brother Alex, wearing a gauzy prom dress, he stood out against everyone dressed in grays and blacks.

She walked down the aisle alone holding her bouquet of dead flowers, the flower girl followed her tossing more dead petals. She kept her eyes on the red carpet.

She made her way to her groom and avoided eye contact. Max took her hand, she could feel the sweat through the white gloves he was wearing, it was disgusting. She was so afraid. She felt like the world was suffocating her. The priest was talking and she couldn’t understand. Her breathing got heavy and short. Everything spun and she collapsed.

Max couldn’t believe what just happened. His fiancee just fainted at his wedding. Their wedding.

He crouched down and tapped her face. At least she was still warm. What wasn’t helping was how the priest was laughing at Nada.

Max stood up and sighed, “Well, ‘she does.’”

The priest nodded. Max pulled Nada’s limp body up and held her against himself. The priest continued the ceremony.

So maybe his life wasn't taking a turn for the better with a new family. This was awful so far, the royal wedding was a joke. At least no one would forget it, not that max wanted them to remember.

Nada finally woke up while Max was trying to shove the ring onto her finger. This proved to be difficult while trying to support her dead weight. He didn't care to look like a necrophilac, but that’s how things were seeming to appear.

Nada looked around confused, “What’s going on?”

“Oh there you are, dear,” Max was relieved that she was finally awake and seemed to be fine.

He helped her get up on her feet. “Now let me put the ring on your hand.”

She obediently put out her hand and watched the ring slide down her finger. She still wasn’t sure where she was, but it was all coming back frighteningly fast.

Finally, the priest finished and gave the bride the traditional smack on the bottom. Max grabbed Nada and gave her a huge, wet kiss which felt horribly inexperienced.

There was a huge round of applause and standing ovation. If nada was still woozy the thunder of clapping hands snapped her to attention.

The guests started filing out and the best man, Alex snuck his own slap at the bride and broom’s bums. Nada’s back end was sore by now.

“She’s mine now,” Max hissed at his brother.

“Sorry, it’s just a habit,” Alex smiled back at him.

Max took Nada’s hand and walked her to the reception.

The ballroom was decorated for the wedding. There were tables set out for dinner on one side and on the other the floor was open for dancing. Along the side of the dance floor an orchestra was seated. The orchestra members all looked as if they should of had a funeral and been buried months ago. And it was a sure thing they smelt that way, not that anyone here would mind except for the bride.

She glanced around the room; at the tables, rotting orchestra, and the mound of wedding gifts.

She tugged on Max’s black brocade sleeve, “Um... Max, I wish to just go to my room. I don’t feel all to well right now.”

Max thought for a minute before responding, “Of course you can, love, but you should be sleeping in my room now, we’re married.”

She sighed, that was not the answer she wanted. She was not ready to sleep in his room. Nada was terrified. She went to Max’s room and exhaled.

Max’s room was huge. There was an old musty smell hanging in the atmosphere. The air was thick from smoke and all the furniture had a coat of tar from the smoking that went on in this room. There was a large bed contained in a brocade canopy of black. There was a window on the far end that had a black curtain keeping the remaining light of the day out. On a different wall from the window was a door that was made mostly of glass, it went to a balcony outside.

She made her way across the ancient decaying rug and collapsed on the mouth eaten sheets of the bed. She tried not to think about the fact she was in the Devil’s bed.

She slept in her dress until Max returned to his room slightly drunk and stumbling. He made his way to the bed and pushed the decaying canopy aside.

He admired the beautify of his new sleeping wife through drunk eyes. She was so beautiful and made him immensely happy. He sat down beside her and gently took her exquisite gown form her body. Max went to the closet and hug the dress up, he ran his finger tips over the silks. He moved back over to nada and removed her delicate wedding slippers. After sliding into his won night gown he lay beside her and held her, he was the happiest man alive.