150 I Have Nothing

 A/N: You know, how I’m always telling you guys to pay attention to the dates? In this case, take note of the following dates and times:

• Nick got hit by that car on June 14, 2026, around 9 PM.
• At around 11:00 PM, that same night of the accident, Trucy left an incomplete voice message to Pearl telling her Phoenix had been hit by a car and was in the hospital, but then got distracted when the nurse called her to come into the room to see her father, and then she stumbled across Nick’s letter and distractedly forgot to call her best friend back at night until the next morning.
• Phoenix received a mysterious pile of DVDs in his hospital room which arrived around 7:30 in the morning on June 15 – along with an attached letter – DVD sender and note writer still TBD
• Maya’s wedding was set to take place on June 16, 2026, at 10 AM.
• This chapter will be flashing back to everything that happened after Trucy hung up the phone with Pearl after purposely letting her think her father was still at death’s door on the morning of June 15 and will lead up to the sequential order of events leading up to the wedding.

Share my life, take me for what I am
‘Cause I’ll never change all my colors for you
Take my love, I’ll never ask for too much
Just all that you are and everything that you do

I don’t really need to look very much further
I don’t wanna have to go where you don’t follow
I won’t hold it back again, this passion inside
Can’t run from myself
There’s nowhere to hide

Don’t make me close one more door
I don’t wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don’t walk away from me…
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don’t have you, you, you, you, you.

You see through right to the heart of me
You break down my walls with the strength of your love
I never knew love like I’ve known it with you
Will a memory survive, one I can hold on to

I don’t really need to look very much further
I don’t wanna have to go where you don’t follow
I won’t hold it back again, this passion inside
I can’t run from myself
There’s nowhere to hide
Your love I’ll remember forever

Don’t make me close one more door
I don’t wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don’t walk away from me…
I have nothing, nothing, nothing…

Don’t make me close one more door
I don’t wanna hurt anymore
Stay in my arms if you dare
Or must I imagine you there
Don’t walk away from me, no.
Don’t walk away from me
Don’t you dare walk away from me
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don’t have you, you,
If I don’t have you, oh, ooh, ooh.

 Pearl Fey and Luke Triton
Fey Manor
June 15, 2026, 9:12 AM

After ending the phone call with Trucy, overwhelmed tears of fear and panic sprung to Pearl’s eyes as she buried her head against her boyfriend’s shoulder.

“I feel so helpless, Luke!” She whimpered. “Mr. Nick can’t die! I don’t know what I’ll do if he does! And Mystic Maya still has no idea he’s even in the hospital!”

“Shhh. Take it easy, love.” Luke spoke soothingly in an effort to calm the distraught spirit medium as he held her close. “It’ll be alright. I promise.”

The teenage boy attempted to pacify the girl in his arms and gently rubbed her back to ease her, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt about the stressful, downright maddening situation! It seemed unfathomable that despite receiving not one but two phone calls from Trucy, neither he nor Pearl, even now, could ascertain if the man his girlfriend adored as a father figure was going to live or not! Moreover, the duo had no clue of exactly who they should make aware of Phoenix’s potentially precarious vital state…if anybody at all!

Next to him, on the carpet, Feyt seemed to pick up on the tension in the lad, whose side the puppy had not left from the time Luke had arrived at the manor, and whimpered softly, standing up on his tiny hind legs and pawing at the English youth’s pant leg. Smiling indulgently, Layton’s former apprentice reached down and scooped their four-legged son up into his arms. Feyt wagged his tail, lapped quickly at his father’s cheek, then immediately began nudging the overwrought Pearl’s arm with his black button nose, and when she raised her teary face to look down at him, he leaped into her arms and began licking her chin, making her giggle in spite of her nerve-wracked state.

“You are just what mommy needed, you little angel!” She cooed, lifting Feyt to face level and nuzzling her nose against his, before cradling him back against her chest and turning her attention back to his daddy. “It’s official. It is impossible to be upset or depressed when our son is within the vicinity, which I suppose was exactly what you had in mind when you gave him to me.”

“Indubitably it was! Our son gets his infallible charm from his biological father, you know. Don’t you remember how it was love at first sight when you met Constantine?” Luke chuckled, gently scratching the white bundle of fur behind his fluffy ear. “I’m happy Feyt had the desired effect of getting you to calm down somewhat, so we can now focus on solving this most perplexing riddle regarding Mr. Wright.”

“I know you and the professor believe every puzzle has a solution, but I just can’t see what it could be in this case!” Pearl bit her thumb anxiously. “What am I going to do, Luke?”

“You mean what are we going to do?” He corrected, pressing a light kiss on her forehead, which garnered him an adoring smile in return. “You are not alone in this plight, Pearl. We are in this together, and between the two of us, I’m sure we can figure something out.”

Because no puzzle – or dilemma – can stop Layton’s ex-apprentice!

“I don’t want to be the one responsible for ruining Mystic Maya’s wedding by telling her about this!” The spirit medium began pacing her bedroom agitatedly. “But on the other hand, if I choose to keep quiet, and something happens to Mr. Nick, despite everything that’s happened between them, she’ll never forgive me!”

Luke knew this was his cue to assure his girlfriend she was wrong about Maya’s presumed reaction and how the elder Fey would probably be very forgiving about the silence regarding Phoenix’s hospitalization, should Pearl choose that route. Nevertheless, he had never been one to lie to anybody ever, least of all to the girl he loved with all his heart. Besides, that magatama of hers pretty much guaranteed he’d never be able to keep secrets from her, even if he wanted to!

On top of that, based on everything he’d heard thus far, with regards to Maya’s recent less than overjoyed reactions about her soon-to-be bridal status, there was little doubt in his mind the Kurain Master would be furious with her cousin for such an act of deception, no matter how noble her intentions were.

“We mustn’t allow ourselves to be consumed with negative thoughts,” he said at last. “Let’s consider the best-case scenario, and just pray and have faith that Mr. Wright will make a full recovery from his injuries, whatever they are. For all we know, he has arisen and is presently enjoying that care package of delightful television shows you and I had courier expressed to him early yesterday morning before Trucy called you back. I’m sure it will warm his heart knowing, despite everything that’s happened, how much you still care about him, enough to have sent him such a thoughtful get-well gift bundle, which I’m sure can only be therapeutic overall and might even expedite his healing…”

“Um, yeah, about that parcel, Luke…” Pearl stopped pacing and dropped her gaze, uncertain how he was going to take the news she was about to tell him. “Assuming the power of positive thinking does mean that Mr. Nick is watching all those DVDs, which Mystic Maya had bought for him ages ago and had since stored away because she never got a chance to send them to him before their breakup, there’s something you need to know.”

Immediately the British youth could see the heavy chains and red lock slamming into place right before her guilty-looking face.

“Pearl…” Luke eyed her warily, noting the spirit medium’s slowly reddening cheeks. “Out with it already! You aren’t the only one with a magatama! What did you do?”

“Mr. Nick doesn’t know the package was from me and you, Luke!” She blurted out, blushing furiously. “At the last minute, when you weren’t looking, I slipped a note inside, pretending it was from Mystic Maya, and basically told him that she still loved him and wanted him back.”

“You didn’t!” Luke forcefully clapped an aghast hand to his forehead. “What were you thinking?”

“I was desperate!” Pearl cried. “And it seemed like such a good idea at the time since I’m almost positive Mr. Nick isn’t actually with Iris, at least not anymore! Also, if he’d been seeing anybody ever since, Trucy would’ve mentioned it to me! I told you how I heard my cousin sobbing in her room last night, which is hardly typical joyful bride behavior! So, if he’s still single, and I’m positive Mystic Maya still loves him, what was so wrong with giving him a little push in the right direction?”

“If you’ve been right in both cases, and Phoenix and Maya have still loved one another all this time, without the other knowing it, I suppose technically nothing…”

“There you go!” She interrupted, smiling with relief. “That means there wasn’t anything wrong with what I did…”

Luke held up a hand, cutting off her mid-sentence before continuing, unable to mask the audible groan in his voice.

“Conveniently, you’re forgetting that it’s illegal to be forging a letter in somebody else’s name!” He shook his head disapprovingly. “Moreover, Pearl, did it never occur to you that Mr. Wright would recognize how your particular speech pattern is nothing like Maya’s, having known the both of you for so long?”

Not to mention the fact that he would know instantly realize it wasn’t his ex’s handwriting?! I guess now that the deed is done, it would hardly be prudent to take this opportunity to remind my darling girlfriend that she still has the barely legible scrawl of a primary school child!

“I already thought of that part!” She gnawed at her lower lip in consternation. “I’ve never written a: ‘I want you back in my life because that’s where you belong’ love letter before, so I didn’t even try to write the sort of language Mystic Maya might have used! I simply wrote out the lyrics to a love song to get my message across and then…”

Her voice trailed off and her shoulders slumped as Luke arched an eyebrow, waiting for her to finish the sentence and finally realize the grievous error of her actions.

“…I sort of scribbled Mystic Maya’s name at the bottom,” Pearl finished in a shamed whisper. “You’re right – I absolutely acted without thinking, Luke. I should’ve told you about my stupid plan, but I guess I knew you’d disapprove and didn’t want you to try to talk me out of it. I’m so sorry.”

The teenage girl resumed her downward glance once more. She was filled with both regret and embarrassment for her impulsive activities and was afraid to see her boyfriend’s reaction now that she’d confessed. She hated the idea of having Luke be disenchanted with her, in any way, shape, or form.

“There’s no use crying over spilled milk.” He let out a small sigh and held out his arms. “Your heart was in the right place, love. I just hope the result doesn’t blow up in our faces! Come here, my little diehard romantic.”

Pearl eagerly rushed back into his hold, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and savoring the sensation of hearing his heartbeat as she rested her head against his chest. How fortunate she was to have this wise, kind, levelheaded boy to love her unconditionally, and try to balance things out and keep her grounded whenever her overly impetuous actions got a little bit out of hand … It was a crime that they couldn’t be together like this more often, but the other alternative, which was not having him at all, was beyond unthinkable.

She loved Luke Triton with every fiber of her being.

Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away, and all the things I want to say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak for my heart. If I know what love is, it is because of you. How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?

“So, tell me something, Miss Attempted Matchmaker.” Luke’s wry tone had taken on a slightly teasing note now. “Exactly what love song did you write down in that letter as a valiant effort to stir Mr. Wright into action?”

“I Have Nothing.” Pearl peered up at him and grinned sheepishly. “By Whitney Houston. I guess I was inspired to try to use a romantic song as part of the whole attempted persuasion because I know Mr. Nick plays the piano, so he’s around melodies all the time. And I heard Mystic Maya playing Elton John the other night in her room before I spotted her crying her eyes out, so obviously, music does affect her to a certain degree. I was hoping the lyrics could properly convey, in this instance, what mere words could not.”

“I know that tune quite well. It was a sound selection indeed.” He gently tapped her nose and couldn’t help but grin back, she was so darn adorable. “The route you were taking, trying to use music to invoke latent emotions within these two, wasn’t necessarily that awful of a notion. In fact, if you still wish to pursue this route, but with Maya this time, I think I have an idea.”

“You do?” She asked hopefully as he strode across the room towards her computer and began quickly tapping away at the keyboard, evidently searching for something on the internet. “What is it?”

“Don’t worry, leave this one to me!” Luke winked at her. “If the poignant lyrics of the late, great Ms. Houston’s were to light a suppressed fire in Mr. Wright’s heart … it seems equally fitting that we  carefully select just the right music to have a similar effect on your cousin while she’s  walking down the aisle.”

“OK then…” her voice trailed off uncertainly.

“This is my answer!” He snapped his fingers triumphantly and pointed to the screen. “See what you think of this!”

Pearl’s eyes lit up as she peeked over his shoulder to view the lengthy list of greatest hits by Whitney Houston he was perusing.

“I’m sure I could find the sheet music to any kind of music online to give the orchestra, which would help conjure up old memories in the altar-bound bride and hopefully give her second thoughts. This way, ultimately it would be Maya’s decision if she decided to change her mind and you wouldn’t have to be the guilty party who ruined the wedding.”

“That’s a great idea!” She enthused. “I had decided on the powerhouse diva because I figured any of her work would be geared to tug at the heartstrings! To be honest, it was kind of hard to choose just the right one! Plus, there are just so many other incredible great singers out there who’ve sung some real tearjerkers ballads– oh wow! Whitney sure sang a lot of sad love songs, didn’t she? The one I wrote out in the letter depressed even me a little bit, and I’ve never been happier in my entire life!”

Luke turned and studied her lovely, glowing visage and endearingly buoyant expression. He knew Pearl hadn’t had it easy growing up and would’ve thoroughly comprehended if her upbringing had turned her hardened, cynical, and bitter about the cruel unfairness of the world. Yet somehow, she’d maintained her unparalleled sweetness and almost childlike innocence, nevertheless. Amongst the many things that he loved most about his girlfriend were her persistence and unwavering fairytale believing in true love and wanting nothing less than that for her cherished guardian. Even though she’d acted without thinking, ultimately, her heart was always in the right place.  How blessed he was she’d chosen to give that big, beautiful heart of hers to him.

When I first saw you, you took my breath away. When you first talked to me, I lost my ability to think… When you told me that night at the Eiffel Tower how every dream you’d ever had in your life had come true, I couldn’t even respond. When you touched me, I got shivers all through my body. And when we first kissed, I felt as though I was walking on air. They say you only fall in love once, but that can’t be true…because every time I look at you, I fall in love all over again.

Wordlessly, he reached out and pulled her to him, cupping her delicate chin in his hands as he stared deeply into those mesmerizing gray orbs.

“What could be better in this world,” he murmured huskily, moving forward so that his lips hovered only inches away from hers. “Than hearing all these heart-wrenching love songs out there, and knowing absolutely none of them are about us?”

There was a moment of intense stillness following his claim, and Pearl’s breath caught in her throat as she gazed into those beloved dark orbs, knowing he could see her heart in her eyes. She had no suitable response to such a declaration.

It wasn’t needed.

They both knew it was coming. She met his loving gaze with her identical one before he pulled her face closer, and their lips met.

Locked in Luke’s tender embrace, Pearl felt as though she’d floated away in her dreams. It was magic, the way his lips connected with hers. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips softer and sweeter than anything she ever could have imagined; every word uttered by him would always leave her weakened and even deeper in love than before. These were the memories she cherished most.

“I love you, Luke Triton, you equally incurable romantic!” The rapturously giddy Pearl giggled when they finally drew apart. It was a sound Luke hadn’t heard in person in a thousand years and it was a sound he would wait for another thousand to hear. He leaned close so that once more, their breaths were mingling, and kissed her again. Short and sweet.

“I love you,” he whispered hoarsely. “I love you.”

Luke Triton and Jean Armstrong
Fey Manor
June 15, 2026, 3:15 PM

I must truly love that girl! Luke thought to himself a few hours later, after he and Pearl had returned to the house from taking care of that morning’s errands and knocking gingerly on the bedroom door. How else can you explain that I am willingly submitting myself to the undoubted oncoming horror I shall be forced to endure within the next instant? I feel like I may as well have doused myself with barbecue sauce and willingly walked into a den of ravenous lions who have not eaten a morsel in months!

The door swung open, revealing a creature far more predatory than any feline carnivore, whose jubilant eyes raked over the apprehensive British youth as though he were indeed a slab of tasty, juicy meat.

“English Muffin!”

The familiar, high-pitched squeal from the youth’s worst nightmares hadn’t changed at all since Luke’s last harrowing encounter with him back in December.

“Luke! When did vous get in town? Z’is eez such a pleasurable surprise!” The owner of the nails on the chalkboard phony French accent clasped his hands together in delight. “I see votre petite copine has loosened zee reins and let your sweet cheeks roam freely for a spell?”

The young man barely fought back the urge to cringe while he forcibly succumbed to Jean Armstrong’s sloppy wet kisses on both cheeks as a way of greeting.

“Good day. It’s nice to see you again, Jean.” He forced himself to smile. “I arrived late last night after everyone had gone to bed, and then Pearl and I had to take care of some last-minute wedding details this morning.”

“That girl must be a naïve soul, letting a fine fox such as vous be roaming around zee henhouse …. z’at eez otherwise known as an all-female village, all by your lonesome!” Armstrong leered at Luke appreciatively. “She may as well ‘av lathered votre bonne derriere up with baby oil and hurled vous over zee wall of a prison yard!”

It is now 1000% guaranteed I shall have my newest Jean Armstrong-induced nightmare plaguing my dreams tonight! The teenage boy recoiled slightly, trying to quell nausea sparked by the traumatizing image painted for him. If I knock up the entire household by hollering out in the middle of the night, it will be because I was dreaming that Armstrong himself was there to eagerly catch me as I was catapulted over said prison wall!

“Ha-ha. Yes, my girlfriend and I have a very open, honest, monogamous relationship.” Luke somehow managed to laugh politely in response to the skin-crawling commentary. “Built entirely on love and trust.”

“Well, you do ‘av a very honest, trustworthy visage, mi beau ami,” Armstrong conceded, fluttering his lashes in what he undoubtedly deemed to be a coquettish fashion.  “Plus as fine-mannered as ever, I see!”

As you’d expect from a gentleman in training! Luke boasted internally, knowing how proud Layton would have been to hear the compliment.

“Zee délicieux innocence of young, nubile garçons! Eez all part of your allure, non?” Armstrong gushed. “Not to mention you’re still as deliciously gorgeous as ever! You are living in z’at dapper news cap of yours! Have vous grown taller last time we met?”

“Possibly,” the teen replied in as cordial a tone as he could muster. “Father said he didn’t stop growing until he was 21, so I have another two years or so to continue sprouting like a beanstalk!”

“Zut! Excuse moi, pour mon boorish manners!” Armstrong stepped aside from the doorway and attempted to usher the boy into his chambers. “Regardez moi, jabbering away w’iz you standing z’er in zee hallway when I haven’t even invited you into mon boudoir!”

Oh, bloody hell! Luke’s eyes widened in alarm. I’m just not cut out for this!

Truthfully, he loved his girlfriend more than anything in the world, and when it came to helping the Feys, his eternal motto was: Luke Triton, at your service!

That being said, despite his creed, there was still no way in God’s name he was ever going anywhere alone with this freakishly barmy pouf, especially into an empty room with a door that could easily be closed and there’d be no witnesses!

“That’s quite all right. I really can’t fanny around today at all,” he said quickly, hoping to convey as courteously as possible that this visit into the gaping maw of Hades was going to be a very short one!  “Pearl got called away by Mystic Matilda to help out with some additional touches to the decorating in the main courtyard, but she shan’t be very long at all. I’m meeting her in exactly a quarter-hour, to have a go at assisting with her maid of honor speech.”

“Z’at eez très nice of vous.” Armstrong sniffed, trying futilely not to appear affronted at the obvious rebuke. “Mais oui, I’m sure your posh, finishing touches will add a divine touch of class zee Brits are  so renowned for.”

“I shall do my best.” It definitely was give me strength time now. “I was actually hoping to talk to you about arranging something special for the bride and groom in tomorrow’s ceremony.”

“Oh?” Armstrong blinked. “But Longines eez getting his final tuxedo fitting done in zee city right now, not be back to zee village until ce soir. And Maya eez gone all day, and won’t return until tomorrow morning, so I’m not quite sure what you were planning, considering we can’t get their permission.”

“Maya’s going to be gone all day today?” Luke was taken aback by this unanticipated outcome. “But why wouldn’t we just be able to give her a ring if we needed to get her consent for something?”

“The blushing bride-to-be eez at an upscale luxury spa de-stressing and relaxing on her final day as a maiden. She will be getting pampered head-to-toe with élite, high-end bridal beauty rituals fit for a queen!” Armstrong sounded more than a trifle envious. “This includes a detoxing mud bath and tightening seaweed body wrap to ensure z’at all her dieting wasn’t in vain, and she fits into z’at killer dress. Beauty eez pain, non?”

“I guess so. But how long can all this cracking tranquility and indulgence possibly take?”

“It eez an all-day retreat, in a Zen, stress-free, phone-free environment. It was a bridal gift from the groom. Z’is getaway ensured, Longines et moi can stay up here at Fey Manor, yet still, be long gone and at the altar by the time Maya gets back tomorrow morning, right before the ceremony. Z’is way, we also didn’t ‘av to risk zee bad luck of zee bride and groom seeing each other zee night before zee wedding superstition.”

“Smashing.” Luke managed to get out, his mind reeling from this information. “How incredibly … kind and generous of Longines.”

“It makes practical sense in zee grand scheme of things, n’est-ce pas?” Armstrong shrugged. “As Maya eez already down in Los Angeles, where her hairdresser and makeup artist reside, right after zee spa, she will be primed, dolled up, and ready by zee time she arrives back to zee village, and need only put on her dress. Besides, zee whole spa retreat was darling Millie girl’s idea!  She eez zee best, non?”

Millie? Luke’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. He knew that the nickname was about Mystic Mildred! Why doesn’t it surprise me that The Dragon Lady had something to do with the fact that the bride has basically been shanghaied until her wedding?

From everything he knew about the dodgy village elder, both from Pearl and Maya herself, he found it hard to believe it was a mere coincidence the bride had been shunted off, possibly against her better wishes, to a remote location with zero ability to have contact with the outside world until right before she was about to walk down the aisle!

Translation: Even if Pearl had opted to relay the information regarding the Master’s ex-boyfriend being in the hospital, this unexpected change in circumstances 110% put the kibosh on being able to squeeze in even a word with Maya before the wedding… about Phoenix or anything at all, since the next time that anybody would essentially get to see the bride would be at the altar!

“Yes Millie, er, Mystic Mildred is quite…lovely.” The English boy agreed, then decided to cut straight to the chase. “It’s quite blinding that the bride and groom aren’t here, Jean. I truly wanted this to be a surprise for both of them, and I reckoned the best man was best to approach with my idea.”

“Oooh!” Armstrong clapped his hands enthusiastically. “This is everything! I do take gusto in the idea of springing the unexpected on Longines! He positively lives for surprises!”

“I heard you fellows had his bachelor party last night,” Luke ventured casually. “Dog’s bollocks of a time, I take it?”

“It was totally a night to remember … even though none of us can remember all that much!” Armstrong smirked. “We’re all still recovering from it!”

“Ah, jolly good to hear! Anyway, I thought perhaps a meaningful theme from that night could be incorporated as a more personalized touch for the music as opposed to a plain old boring Wedding March.”

“Z’at night was absolutely fabulous!” The flamboyant man in pink excitedly began doing his disturbing torso wiggle at the memory. “We all went to Sin City and checked out z’is marvelous drag queen show and partied like it was 1999 to zee music of all zee great divas … Cher, Barbra Streisand, Lady, Ga-Ga…Whitney Houston…”

He then whipped out his cell phone and eagerly began showing Luke photos of what could only be described as a rip-roaring good time of a very drunk Longines and Armstrong on stage, alongside the celebrity impersonator singers in outrageously skimpy outfits, and pancake makeup so thick, it looked like you could have scraped it off with a butter knife! Both the groom and best man wore a hot pink feathered boa wrapped around their necks and appeared to be doing what looked like the can-can!

“Z’er are other pictures capturing our debauchery z’at night as well!” Armstrong tittered, abruptly putting his phone away with a conspiratorial wink.  “Do whatever you want to me, but wild horses – even a mighty stallion such as yourself – cannot drag z’at classified information out of moi!  My lips shall remain zipped! You know what z’ey say, whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!”

Luke tried to squelch the disturbing mental images as to exactly what levels of hedonistic depravity might have occurred that night, while silently thanking his lucky stars he’d been spared the coercion of partaking in any of it, having mercifully been overseas at the time!

“Everyone’s entitled to their privacy! You needn’t fret about me prying! Pray tell, is there any particular diva whose music Longines is particularly fond of? Barbara Streisand, mayhap?”

“Babs was the go-to for show queens, back in the day, but now she is so old school!” Armstrong waved his hand dismissively. “Hello! Longines is 31, not 100! What’s next, you’re going to ask if he’s into Judy Garland?!”

Oops! Looks like I’ve botched that one! I don’t know what to say now…

“Um, sorry for being so gormless.” Luke nervously adjusted the brim of his cap. “I didn’t intend to be offensively stereotypical … But you did mention that you were having camp-it-up festivities alongside female impersonators after all …”

“Drag queens!” Armstrong corrected him with a loud guffaw. “Lighten up, butter buns!”

Enough already with the “cheeky” yet scarring compliments on how attractively callipygous you find my posterior! Luke silently screamed. I get it! You think I have a finely shaped rear end! 

“I was only yanking your chain!” The cream puff went on. “Now, my diva of choice would be the indelible Lady Gaga! But… eez not my wedding…so anywhore…. the groom flat out idolizes Whitney Houston! Z’at picture you saw of him and me shimmying on stage was when z’ey were performing “I Wanna Dance with Somebody!”

He began to wiggle and shake with more rapid enthusiasm as inspiration hit him.

“This is giving me life! My dear Longines would simply die of joy if Maya were to walk down zee aisle to z’at song!”

To Luke’s horror, the brawny man suddenly grabbed him by the arm and began twirling him about the hallway while warbling a terrible off-key version of the famous song.

Somebody who somebody who…. somebody who loves me,
Somebody who somebody who… to hold me in his arms.
I need a man who’ll take a chance,
On a love that burns hot enough to last.
So when the night falls,
My lonely heart calls…

The Brit flashed a sickly grin as he miraculously pried himself free from Armstrong’s tentacle-like clutches, noticing the mustache man’s eyes were now watering with emotion. But despite the faux Frenchman being a borderline basket case about the man he loved marrying another woman tomorrow, what really mattered was that Luke and Pearl had the best man’s support to proceed with their plan.

That’s a relief! The Professor’s former apprentice saves the day!

“Brilliant! I know the song quite well. The Los Angeles Philharmonic is the top-rated orchestra in California, and I am certain there’s no classic song that would be beyond their musical repertoire. I have no problem getting Ms. Houston’s music for them, as I imagine they may be too busy to do so, being the 11th hour and all. I just need you to make the official order to make this last-minute switch before the ceremony. Considering you are Longines’s best man, I’m sure there’ll be no problem.”

“This one’s as good as solved!” Armstrong waved his hand. “Piece of cake!”

Blimey! Luke thought indignantly. Those are my lines he just stole! Er, well were a couple of them, back in the day, anyway….

“Omigod, I cannot wait till this wedding is over and done so I can go back to eating sinfully delicious cake and pastry and carbs again!”

The flamboyant phony Parisian prattled on, his French accent fading as he grew more animated.

“Longines has made sure that I’ve been suffering right alongside him and Maya on this ridiculous, stringent diet because he wanted to ensure we all fit into our wedding attire! Aside from wanting to have memorable pictures of the big day himself, there’s always the possibility that a wedding of this caliber may have members of the media present, and if these photos become public, we all better look razzle-dazzle, right?”

“The media?” Luke asked blankly.

Being from England, where freedom of the press was nowhere near as rampant as it was in the States, he was still getting used to the fact that most celebrity events ultimately ended up being a media circus, but he’d had no reason to think that tomorrow’s nuptials would be one as well!

“Yes, those snoopy shutterbugs tend to pop up wherever Longines happens to be, whether we like it or not!” Armstrong rolled his eyes. “How do you think pictures of their engagement became public before his publicist even had a chance to leak the news? No press was invited to this event of course…”

“Phew, that’s a relief!”

“You would think so…but still, one or two persistent pesky paparazzi somehow always manage to sneak in!”

“I see. Well, it’s ace that you’re on board with this planned surprise, Jean. Now if you’ll excuse me, please, I must carry on now.”

“Oh, leaving so soon?” Armstrong looked crestfallen. “My shamefully gluttonous self somehow overindulged in some sinfully sumptuous croquembouche… Among other no-no temptations at the stag party, tee hee! I was hoping you’d maybe help me squeeze into my girdle so I could make sure I still fit into my tuxedo…”

Geronimo! That’s my exit prompt! I thankfully got all loose ends tied up, and not a moment too soon! My work here is done… and I’m out of here!

“Good Heavens!” Luke’s voice sounded unnaturally high as he made a big show of looking at his wristwatch and emitting a dramatic gasp. “Wow, will you look at the time! I need to chivvy along and leg it back to Pearl! I’m to be quite engaged, as, on top of everything else, I must hunt down the musical sheets for Whitney Houston to present to the orchestra tomorrow. Cheerio!”

With that, he spun on his heel and fled like a bat out of hell!

“I Wanna Dance With Somebody would be the first choice!” Armstrong called after his retreating back. “Or Saving All My Love For You!”

Luke was in such haste to get away that he didn’t even bother mentioning the fact that the latter song was about a forlorn woman having a torrid love affair with a married man! I. Don’t. Want. To. Know. Truly… I really don’t want to know! Feets, don’t fail me now!

The Animal Whisperer and Other Creatures/Species
Kurain Village, Courtyard
June 16, 2026, 8:00 AM

Crikey! This orchestra setup is going to be huge!

Luke anxiously eyed the vast ensemble setup which the Philharmonic stage crew had finished at last in the courtyard.

And this is going to take me a little longer than I anticipated, as there’s a vast variety of instruments and so many different performers for each section! Timpani, first and second violins, violas, cellos, basses, floats, oboes, clarinets, harp…

His sole attention until late last night had been on finding the perfect musical score. He’d even ensured there were enough copies for all the orchestra members (he’d made over 100 as there were about two dozen instrumental sections, just to be safe), thinking he’d adequately budgeted enough time to perform what he had believed would be the entire gist of his pre-wedding assisting duties.

Ergo, he’d had been wholly unprepared for the setback Mildred sprung upon him.

The dapperly suited – and cap-free – English lad was hurriedly trying to distribute the new sheets onto the music stands (the musicians would be bringing along their own instruments) when he heard the wretched old biddy hollering out to him.

“You there! Boy! Get over here!”

Luke paused and glanced with dismay at the dozens of more rows of stands that needed to be filled, having only set down a handful, before that jarring voice, which could probably shatter windows, had screeched for his attention, before reluctantly turning around.

The ever-dour Mildred was standing with crossed arms at the entrance of the aisle, dressed as though she were going to a funeral instead of a wedding, in her customary black kimono, which she hadn’t even bothered swapping for the occasion. She also hadn’t bothered changing her typical countenance, which, as always, appeared as though she had just sucked on a bitter lemon.

“Would you be speaking to me, Madam?” Luke queried in what he hoped was a civil tone, despite his gritted teeth at having been addressed in such an unseemly manner. “How may I be of service?”

“We are running behind schedule!” Mildred groused, pressing her pencil-thin lips so tightly together, they nearly disappeared. “There was some horrible accident on the freeway this morning down in Los Angeles, so the bride has been delayed in arriving for at least another half hour, and these ridiculously extravagant bombonieres have only arrived now! And then, the pimply, pencil-necked, lazy-ass teenage driver who delivered them had the gall to tell me that he couldn’t stick around to set them up because he was already running so behind schedule! Mystic Ami have mercy! Why must everything happen to me?!”

“Ridiculously extravagant?” He echoed in confusion, glimpsing at the stacks of oversized boxes that had been unceremoniously dumped at the irate geriatric crow’s feet. “Bombonieres?”

“You daft, ignorant crumpet!” She snapped peevishly. “Bombonieres are what we call the wedding favors here in North America! I didn’t realize there’d be this much of a language barrier between our countries! How the hell do you and Mystic Pearl communicate? Sock puppets, I’d imagine.”

Luke was taken aback at such outright, unaccustomed discourtesy, and merely gaped at Mildred in disbelief as she continued her mini tantrum.

“Despite my efforts to make that squanderer of a groom not be needlessly spending his money like it was water, his overly munificent self still insisted on shelling out $500,000 on these gift bags!”

Her pruned mug twisted into a grimace.

“Within this box are over 400 – one for each attendee, not even per couple! – of the most lavish goody bags known to man for the guests, most of whom I doubt are even worthy, or will know what to do with such florid overindulgence! Each package contains a $500 bottle of Bollinger champagne, $200 Creme de la Mer skin products, handmade souvenir trinkets with Mystic Maya and Longines’s initials etched in Swarovski crystals, bottles of scents from local perfumeries, and $250 vouchers for treatments at the Regent Beverly Wilshire spa where this evening’s reception will be taking place!”

Luke blinked. He was beyond astounded as it truly dawned on him just how out of his league the elite, wealthy social circle his girlfriend’s cousin was marrying into was! Being the son of Clark and Brenda Triton, his family had been considered upper-middle-class by England standards, as his father was both a Doctor of Archaeology and mayor of Misthallery, yet apparently, his country’s standards for weddings would be considered penurious in comparison! He couldn’t believe the list of ostentatious items he had just heard about!

Crikey! Americans really are over the top with everything they do! Whatever happened to simple and heartfelt wedding favors? He wondered dazedly. Back in Britain, the last three weddings I went to handed out personalized bags of sweets, potpourri, and scented soaps!

“This sounds like quite the pickle you’re in,” he commented politely, once he’d finally found his voice again. “Again, I ask you how I might be of assistance?”

“Are you a defect?” Mildred shrieked. “Isn’t it obvious? I need to have these bags of favors set up on those tables this instant! I need to go supervise the rest of the village to ensure everything is in order, so I can’t do it! So, stop meddling around with whatever you were doing with the orchestra set up, and get to it!”

With that, the crotchety hag stormed away in a huff, leaving the flabbergasted teen staring after her. He looked helplessly at the piles of boxes, then at his wristwatch, and then at the still-to-be-dispersed musical score pages still in his hand and moaned. It was now 8:10! How on earth was he going to do two jobs at the same time? As obnoxious as the barbed-tongued Mildred had been with her ungracious demands (Luke was positive the heinous she-thing slept on a bed of broken glass on a nightly basis!) he absolutely adored Maya and knew the job needed to get done, regardless.

However, if he didn’t get the new music set up for when the orchestra arrived, which would be any time now, the arrangements he and his girlfriend had so carefully preplanned would be an utter bust!

Recruiting Pearl for help was out of the question, as his girlfriend had already informed him that she’d be a busy bee taking care of some top-secret mission to at least ensure her cousin wasn’t  miserable on her wedding day, and that as Maid of Honor, she would “see to it that at least one of Mystic Maya’s initial wishes gets granted this day!”

Whatever that meant!

“Bedeviled harridan from the depths of Abaddon!” He dragged a hand down his face. “How can I possibly get all these tasks done within such a ridiculously short period?! I can’t let Pearl down! This is bloody bullocks!”

“It’s a gorgeous and sunny day in LA, so why do you look bluer than a bathing beauty at the North Pole?” A man’s voice suddenly exclaimed from just behind him. “Why so down, sweetie?”

“Yeah! A wedding is not a time to be either sad or mad!” A perky female voice chimed in. “Don’t worry, be happy! A smile is just a frown, turned upside down!”

Luke’s head jerked up, and he spun around to find an attractive, colorful pair, both in their early to mid-20s, grinning at him.

The young woman was a fresh-faced beauty, with long golden curls and twinkling blue eyes. She wore a glittery red leotard, trimmed with gold sequins, with matching red gloves and boots. Her alongside companion had long, gravity-defying, bubblegum pink hair and two red stars painted on his cheeks. He also wore, if it was humanly possible, even more makeup than the drag queens in the photos Armstrong had succumbed Luke to the day before! Additionally, he appeared to have robbed the wardrobe of the outré Longines himself! His tall, lean build was decked out in a hot-pink, cropped leather jacket with the zipper down to expose his toned abs, paired with matching skinny leather pants.

“Top of the morning to you,” the teenage boy greeted them pleasantly. “Sorry, er, I didn’t realize I had company… Are you two wedding guests? I’m afraid you’re a little bit early, as the nuptials don’t  actually start until 10 o’clock…”

“Silly boy! We’re performers, not guests!” The woman tittered, gesturing to the two rhesus macaques, both wearing small blue hats, perched by her feet. “We’re here early to get set up and let the monkeys get a feel for the place. Although I would certainly hope, given our long history of knowing the bride, we’d be invited to at least dine at the reception! Working with animals sure works up a girl’s appetite!”

“Tell me about it, sweetie!” The man agreed, treating her to a loving smile. “I never before truly grasped just how much more difficult it is being an animal trainer than a magician until you swung me into the act with you two years ago.”

“What can I say, Maxy? You have natural animal instincts!” The blonde twittered, then turned to Luke with an extended hand and dazzling smile. “Apologies, where are my manners? We’re from The Big Berry circus. My name is Regina Berry, and this is my husband, Max Galactica.”

“Luke Triton.” He shook their hands. “I’m an old friend of Maya’s, and Pearl’s boyfriend. It’s very nice to meet you both.”

“I can’t believe little Pearl is old enough to have a boyfriend now!” Regina beamed, bouncing slightly on her heels. “It’s been far too long since I’ve seen her! The last time she saw me perform, I was still handling Money the Monkey!”

The Brit decided he liked the friendly, albeit eccentric twosome, right out of the gate.

“Come to think of it, I do think I remember Pearl mentioning how much she loved both of your acts as a young girl. Which one of these little troublemakers is the famous Money, who was attracted to all shiny things, including Mr. Wright’s attorney’s badge?”

“Money is retired now, and has since had offspring,” Regina told him. “Say hello to Desse and Jylan, his two sons, who are luckily a bit less of a handful for me to deal with!”

Luke greeted the two grinning primates, who lifted their hats and waved back at him in return before placing them back on their heads.

“Mr. Beaugosse hired us to keep the guests entertained today, but my fabulous wife is also going to be an escort for him when he comes down the aisle,” Max chortled. “See, the groom was beyond miffed that he wouldn’t be able to walk down the aisle with a tiger on a leash, given how temperamental they can be to somebody who’s not trained with wild creatures! Therefore, Regina will be leading the path down the aisle with our tiger, Regent. He’s in a cage in the truck parked out back.”

Monkeys? Tiger? Magician?! Luke stared at Max and Regina, trying very hard not to laugh at what a spectacle these nuptials were going to be, even without the presence of the paparazzi to capture it!

Longines doesn’t need to worry about this turning into a media circus! He chuckled to himself. It looks like Groomzilla has made sure it’s going to be a different type of circus entirely! The three-ring variety!

“So now that we’re all friends, what was troubling you earlier, Luke?” Regina asked. “And is there anything we can do to help?”

At that moment, that gold tiara worn by the baby-faced blonde may as well have been a halo. Luke felt a spark of hope ignite within him.

“I’m supposed to be in two places at once, with minimal time,” he explained, quickly giving the two a rundown of his tasks. “I’d appreciate an extra set of hands.”

“Max can help distribute the musical sheets,” Regina offered. “I’d love to help you set up the gift table, but my hands are tied because even though the monkeys are trained, somebody needs to keep an eye on them at all times…”

Her words trailed off as she watched the animal whisperer crouch down to nearly eye level with the performance animals and appeared to be having a conversation with them! A moment later, Luke stood back up and beamed at the trainer as the two primates scampered off.

“Desse is going to go help Max distribute the musical sheets onto the stands,” he informed the dumbfound Regina. “Jylan is going to help you and me set up the wedding favors on the table. I figure with five sets of hands-on-deck, we should be able to pull this off without a hitch!”

“Wh – What? H – How?” The normally bubbly blonde was thoroughly gobsmacked at what she’d just witnessed. “How in the world did you get them to respond to your immediate vocal instructions? It takes months of training just to get them to follow hand signals and basic command words!”

“I’ll explain while we’re unpacking.” Luke winked, reaching around her and grabbing a box. “I’ll ensure you and Max receive some extra swag bags for all your troubles!”

Luke Triton and Pearl Fey
Fey Manor
June 16, 2026, 8:25 AM

With the aid of the Big Berry circus crew, Luke managed to get both tasks done in record time. Max had taken over with helping his wife conclude the table set up, with both monkeys eagerly assisting, and had kindly told the youth to go check up on Pearl to see if she needed a hand with anything.

Luke was whistling cheerfully to himself as he headed towards his girlfriend’s bedroom, only to find that she wasn’t there.

Just then, he heard a muffled curse coming from Maya’s chambers, which were right beside Pearl’s.

Concerned, he cautiously pushed the door open and found his tiny girlfriend sitting on top of the bed, almost up to her eyeballs in honeydew-colored chiffon and satin. She greeted him with a wave, as the thumb from her other hand was in her mouth.

“Remind me to tell Mystic Maya we need to buy thimbles! I just pricked myself on that stupid needle!”

She ceased suction on her injured thumb and pulled the sewing needle through what Luke could only surmise was the bodice of the bride’s dress!

“Grrr! Also, why couldn’t they simply let her have to wear normal white so I could have a matching spool?! Who the heck has honeydew-colored threading?!”

“Pearl, what in Her Majesty’s name are you doing with Maya’s wedding gown?” Luke stared, slack-jawed, at the angel that used to be his inamorata. “You’re going to ruin it, and that thing not only costs as much as a house in England but it’s supposed to be auctioned off for charity!”

“I am not ruining it!” The maid of honor subjected her beau to a withering look as she continued her hastened task. “These stitches will come out with no problem, afterward! It’s supposed to fit a woman who is a size two but should the new owner of this dress be bonier than that, I won’t need to do anything to it again at all!”

“This was the mystery task you’ve been occupied with all morning?” His tone was incredulous. “Tightening the stitches of that dress so Maya won’t fit into it?”

“Exactly!” Pearl replied cheerfully, obviously undaunted by his tone. “Mystic Maya has been so disheartened about everything regarding this wedding, and all she ever wanted was to get married in her mother’s wedding dress! But that mean old which Mildew somehow convinced the groom and best man that Mystic Misty’s dress – which is hanging in the closet by the way – was all wrong! Those meanies ganged up bullied and overran everything Mystic Maya wanted and have turned this entire event into a tacky…gaudy… circus!”

Literally! Luke sighed silently. I can’t argue with her on that!

“Well, I’m going to make sure my cousin gets at least one of her wishes on her big day and doesn’t get stuck wearing this foul atrocity of a wedding gown! Incidentally, because she won’t be able to wear it, it’ll be unworn and brand spanking new, so it will probably fetch even more money at a charity auction because of that!”

She smiled proudly and held up the altered bodice for his inspection.

“Mystic Maya getting stuck in that traffic jam on the way up from the city turned out to be a blessing in disguise! I’ve been doing this for over an hour now, and with that impromptu delay, I managed to get this done in time!”

Luke had to admit, his meddlesome but well-meaning girlfriend had quite a set of nimble fingers! Unless you were an industry professional or used a magnifying glass, it was nigh impossible to see the additional fine stitches she had added into the gown.

“I would never have been able to tell anything had been done to it,” he admitted as she carefully hung the garment back into its bag in the closet. “You did an excellent job of undetectable sabotage, love.”

He grinned wryly at his co-conspirator and shook his head.

“Forging signatures and now willful destruction of personal property that’s worth more than my townspeople’s combined salaries!” Luke joked, his dark eyes dancing. “Whatever happened to the sweet, innocent girl I fell in love with?”

“Don’t even go there, Luke Triton!” Pearl mock scowled, pulling his head down to hers so he could see the barely suppressed laughter sparkling in her lovely eyes. “You’re every bit as guilty as I am! The orchestra obstruction was entirely your brainchild, so you’re in far too deep to start judging me now!”

“I was such a good, honest, law-abiding, churchgoing chap once upon a time!” Luke tried to seem despondent, but failed horribly, not even bothering to contain his snickering as he continued his spiel. “Until I was corrupted by a wicked, unlawful temptress, disguised by doe orbs and an angelic smile. Alas, I’d always been hoping a love like ours would be everlasting, but not in criminal infamy!”

“Hey!” She protested, giggling maniacally. “Even the lawless folk of the land can find love if they seek it out!”

“Indeed, but it wasn’t quite what I’d initially foreseen for us!” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I was hoping more along the lines of Romeo and Juliet, not Bonnie and Clyde!”

“We go together, ride or die!”

Pearl Fey
Kurain Village, Courtyard
June 16, 2026, 10:00 AM

They say to expect the unexpected…

Pearl tightly gripped her nosegay in her sweaty palms and slowly began her descent down to the aisle towards Longines and Armstrong at the altar. She smiled at how adorable little Gordy Gumshoe was as the ring bearer and waved discreetly at the dressed to the nines Gumshoe and Maggey sitting amidst the congregation, the latter bouncing the gurgling and cooing baby Jeff on her lap.

Unfortunately, the one thing Luke and I didn’t account for, in all our scheming, was Porfirio deciding to show up to see the live debut of his “masterpiece creation!” Nor did we foresee both him and The Dragon Lady wanting to be present when I was unsuccessfully attempting to help Mystic Maya get into that colossal monstrosity of a dress!

The spirit medium focused very hard on keeping a solemn countenance as she remembered the nightmarish scenario in her cousin’s room a few moments ago…

Maya Fey and Pearl Fey
Fey Manor, Meditation Room
June 16, 2026, 9:53 AM

“There we go.” The flamboyant fusspot, clad in a flashy, powder-blue, slim-fit tuxedo over black pants, matching bowtie, and cummerbund, gave Maya’s silk-encased arm a little pat. “The bodice is all fastened now. Now we only need to gather the train and the bustle…”

For Pearl, the time had stood absolutely still, as, within the next instant, a loud, clattering sound, reminiscent of corn popping suddenly erupted in the silent dressing room, as the buttons on Maya’s bodice all simultaneously popped open and gave way without warning!

It was difficult to ascertain whose distressed cry was shriller, Mildew’s or the designer’s, as they collectively burst into horrified squeaks and both dropped to the floor, attempting to gather the tiny fallen buttons, while the rest continued to cascade down the bride’s back in an avalanche of minty-green pearls.

“Mystic Maya, how in the name of the Holy Mother could this have happened?” Mildred demanded, glaring barbarously at the astonished bride, who was visibly more sylph-like than she’d ever been in her entire life! “Have you been cheating on your diet?”

“I demand an explanation!” Porfirio wailed plaintively, still pathetically attempting to scoop up the buttons from his kneeling position on the floor. “Didn’t you just get yourself shrunk down in a seaweed wrap only yesterday?”

“For your kind information, yes I did succumb to that noxiously foul stench of a treatment, which not only assaulted my nostrils but made my skin itch!” Maya fumed, putting her hands on her slender hips. “And no, I will have you know I did not stray from my coerced diet, Mystic Mildred! How could I? You’ve personally been watching me like a hawk, and you made the burger Chef feed me vegan burgers for the last two months, remember?”

“Can we argue about who’s to blame for this unforeseen fashion emergency later?” Pearl interjected sweetly, already reaching into the closet for the alternative wedding gown. “I suggest you and Porfirio go take your seats now, Mystic Mildred, as the bride and I are now due to make an appearance in five minutes. Considering this catastrophe, it looks like we’ll have no other choice but to go with Mystic Misty’s dress, instead.”

The teen pointedly ignored the squawk of horror the old woman gave upon hearing this, as though the spirit medium had just uttered blasphemy, and clenched her teeth.

“Go on! Move along, you two!” Pearl commanded. “This gown is a much simpler design than the other one, so there’s no need for too many cooks in the kitchen! I am the maid of honor, and I will help my cousin get into her attire. We’ll see you both once we’re at the altar.”

With that, she all but shoved the outraged pair out of the room and beamed innocently at the perplexed but relieved-looking bride, who was already shimmying into the new outfit and seeming slightly happier than Pearl had seen her look in months.

“Such a shame about that other gown! Some things just aren’t meant to be, are they, Mystic Maya?” The brunette winked at the Master in the mirror as she quickly began fastening the buttons in the back of the garment. “How fortunate that you already had your hair and makeup was done by the time you got back to the manor, huh?”

Maya Fey and Pearl Fey
Kurain Village, Courtyard
June 16, 2026, 10:00 AM

As she tightly held the bridal bouquet in her artfully French manicured hands, which were twinged with perspiration, Maya would have described the dread she felt advancing towards that aisle as a slowly approaching train.

Like any beautiful nightmare, it doesn’t matter where you run, because it keeps on coming, just the same. As time runs out, your feet become heavier until they are set in concrete on the tracks. And then all you can do is wait to be destroyed, wait to be nothing more than blood and bone fragments.

She was a clammy, jittery, nervous wreck. Her heart ran with legs like a runner, and she could feel the perfectly shadowed eyebrows on her skillfully made-up face, frowning in trepidation on her damp forehead. Gumshoe’s kind, familiar face could be seen from the front row of seats, smiling supportively at her, yet she still felt herself getting overwhelmed, and dropped her gaze back to the overpriced, overdone florals in her vice grip instead. An oversized, colonial bouquet of Johanna Hill roses, valley lilies, showers of Sweet Alyssum, and other unidentified imports, tied with satin streamers. The flowers seemed to carry an otherworldly trance, slowly propelling her forward on the short journey towards the aisle that her mind was inwardly screaming at her not to make. She gulped. It was nearly time.

The flowers would end the bride’s life as she knew it.

Maya was barely mindful of the orchestra playing a hauntingly beautiful tune, which she couldn’t quite recognize at first, but immediately gathered it wasn’t the traditional Wedding March. Before she could put her finger on which artist’s music the Philharmonic Orchestra was playing, however, the noise became fully drowned out within the next instant.

WHOP WHOP WHOP!

What in the world?!

Casting her gaze skyward, the Kurain Master saw the loud roaring sound coming from overhead. It ultimately overpowered the sound of anything else happening, including the music to which she was supposed to walk down the aisle!

WHUMPA-WHUMPA-WHUMPA-WHUMPA!

Just my luck! Maya sighed resignedly. I can’t even have a normal procession on my wedding day. Oh well, no sense in dragging my feet any longer. I’ve made my bed, so I may as well lie in it!

From her place at the side of the altar, across from Armstrong, who was next to Longines, Pearl was chagrined to see her cousin continue coming towards her, uncaring of the fact that her bridal procession was fully being drowned out by the pesky black helicopter hovering in the air above! It was a discreetly black, single-engine aircraft, with a figure in dark glasses and helmet hunched over the controls, its blades beating the air, with huge yellow and red lettering on the side reading ET!

Entertainment Tonight?! Pearl’s jaw dropped. The celebrity news program?! Crap! It’s the damn TV show snoops!

Curse these media vultures! They must’ve gotten wind of the wedding somehow! Luke fathomed, his stomach dropping as he saw Maya was now practically in front of Longines. Goddammit! They’re ruining everything!

The orchestra had continued to play, although it was in utter vain, as both bride and groom, along with the rest of the congregation, were entirely incapable of hearing the specially selected melody he and Pearl had chosen since the blades beating the air had much the same effect as a small tornado on the grassy ground cover below it.  Maya affixed her phoniest smile in place as she stepped in front of Longines, altogether unmindful that their plan had just gone up in smoke!

NOOOOOOO! Pearl’s heart sank into her satiny shoes. Mystic Maya didn’t even get to hear the song! We went through all that trouble for nothing! It can’t happen this way! It just can’t!

The maid of honor blinked back frustrated tears as the furry-faced cleric began the service.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today as we join this man, and this woman, in holy matrimony…”

Pearl’s brain was going in a million different directions, all at lightning speed. She wasn’t even listening to the rest of the words the minister was droning. All she could think of was Mr. Nick, the man she knew, in the deepest depths of her soul, Maya still loved.

The same man who was potentially dying in the hospital at this moment, with the love of his life having no earthly idea about it.

Regardless of whether he’s with Iris – which I’m going to go on a limb and assume he’s not because I can see her sitting, not at his bedside, but right there in the congregation! – Mystic Maya has always been the true love of Mr. Nick’s life!  Hence, she has every right to know about this! I tried choreographing things so that it’d ultimately be her decision to make, but fate won’t seem to allow that!

Her blurry eyes sought out Luke’s handsome face amongst the others in the massive congregation, silently conveying her mystified angst to him. He studied the ground for a moment, then squared his shoulders, steeled his jaw, and nodded reassuringly at her as he mouthed the very words that she needed more than anything in the world at that instant.

I love you.

That was when Pearl knew what she had to do. Moreover, she knew she would be able to do it, no matter what a huge gamble it was going to be, because her beloved Luke was by her side, giving her the strength which she desperately needed. Luke was what every woman deserved from the man in her life, someone to forever be there. Supporting her. Encouraging her. Loving her.

Maya deserved nothing less than the same.

It’s been said that there’s one word that will free us from the weight and the pain of life. That word is love. I believe that with all my heart. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been, or won’t ever be, hard. It just means that I’ve found a stillness and courage in myself being with you, Luke Triton. You make me brave. You have given me the strength to now finally do what I’ve always known, deep down, was the Wright thing to do.

“…Into this union, Maya and Longines now come to be joined,” the vicar announced, rattling the teen out of her reverie. “If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully wed, speak now, or else forever hold your peace…”

Pearl didn’t even blink as her lips parted, completely unaware of the fact that the chopper was now gone, or that her bouquet had fallen from her shaky fingers. Taking a deep breath, she mustered up every ounce of fortitude she possessed. Clenching both her fists and eyes as tightly closed as she could, she let forth a raucous cry that would have rivaled even that of legendary Mia Fey.

“OBJECTION!”

Whitney Houston – I Have Nothing (chapter quote)
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody