"I.... No, I don"t think I can say it out loud again." Ariana said as her eyes started to sting. She knew she was going to start crying and it wasn"t an appropriate moment. If she did would Cayden think she was playing the sympathy card? She didn"t want him to hate her. "Do you want me to say it?" Edlyn asked gently but Ariana shook her head no slowly. "I"m going to listen to my mom... I will wait until I know the truth first before I tell anyone else. I owe... I owe her memory that much." Ariana said with much strain. She found herself swallowing back vile, she really couldn"t stomach the thought of those words escaping from her lips again. She must have been nuts to even say it the first time. She couldn"t risk a second time, not without evidence.
"Ariana." Edlyn called out gently. "No." Ariana said as firmly as she could but her voice cracked midway. "Is that it then? Can I speak with Edlyn now?" Xander asked as he looked at Edlyn with great antic.i.p.ation. "Yes and no.... There is a reason why I told you all everything." Ariana said as she started to clutch her dress. She took a deep breath and saw the annoyance on Xander"s face.
"You both know everything and I mean everything. You know who or what I am.... Mostly you Cayden I needed you to know the truth before we move forward... I actually thought it was a sign since what happened with our engagement. It"s not fair to you." Ariana started but she knew she was just beating around the bush, she collected herself with another deep breath and looked at Xander.
"Xander, some people from the church are coming. Faraji confirmed my suspicions about Edlyn and I need your help to protect her. You"re the only one who can help with this." Ariana said firmly as she stared down Xander. While his face turned from bored to concern. When it really came down to Edlyn, Xander would become more human. "Tell me." Xander said as her furrowed his brows.
"Ariana what are you planning," Edlyn started to say but Ariana kept her gaze on Xander. "Marry her." Ariana said with conviction. "Wait! What?!" Most shouted in unison but Ariana just stared down Xander. "I...." He said as a blush crept from the base of his neck to his face. "Ariana have you gone mad?!" Edlyn shouted as she stepped in front of Ariana"s gaze.
"It"s the only way." Ariana said coldly. "In what world is that the only solution?!" Edlyn shouted in a panic. "Evangeline was never engaged to anyone. She was held by the church with her brother but what happened to her grandmother? Something must have happened to separate them." Ariana said but Edlyn looked more confused.
"Her brother looked to be pure. As far as I know he had no wife or child. If Evangeline was held with in the church she must have been a virgin until she met my father..." Ariana said then started to blush. Ariana averted her gaze and waited for Edlyn to connect the dots. Edlyn just stood there and stared at Ariana until she explained herself but the room stayed silent. A horrid tension started to rise.
"You"re saying... Edlyn has to lose her virginity, right?" Cayden said awkwardly as he looked at Xander. Edlyn"s hair stood on end as her face paled. "What...." Edlyn gasped as she looked at Ariana but Ariana couldn"t turn to face her. "Wait isn"t she too young to marry? Let alone do that?!" Mr. Dabney shouted in disbelief. "Age means nothing." Ariana said with a heavy sigh.
"It was common back home. Once girls started to menstruate they were ready to reproduce. Some as young as nine years old would be brought into the delivery room. So laws were placed but still some slipped by and we had babies giving birth to babies." Mrs. Dabney said with a disgusted look on her face. "What?! No-ooo!" Mr. Dabney shouted in horror. Then he looked down at Brie and felt himself pale. He would rather die than let that happen to his own daughter. "Is there no other way?" Mrs. Dabney asked as her face mirrored her husband"s. "Nothing as effective." Ariana replied.
"But marriage? I, I am not of age! I"m only 15! Xander will be turning 18 in the summer, there is no way we can get married, let alone do-do-do-do what your suggesting!" Edlyn shouted as her face glowed red. "No, your wrong there is a way..." Xander said quietly as he looked at Edlyn. "You"re not refusing?" Ariana asked Xander with her eyebrow raised.
"Really?! That"s what you want to ask in this situation?! Ariana! I"m scared and your making jokes!" Edlyn shouted hysterically. "Making jokes is the only way to stay positive!" Ariana shouted back. "How can anyone look at this positively?! You"re asking me to force Xander into marriage and to, to have an intimate relationship! How can there be a positive to this?! My life is just starting, you can"t expect me to go along with this stupid plan?!" Edlyn screamed.
"Edlyn your life is in danger! Do you not see this is the only way out?! There is no need to force Xander. I wanted to let him know that he has a choice and unfortunately you don"t! It doesn"t have to be Xander, I can easily tell your parents what"s going and they will rush an marriage for you with anyone. Do you really want a loveless marriage just because your life is just starting? I could have asked him to just f*ck you or drugged the both of you. Leaving you to your own devices. You would probably hate me for the rest of your life and I would accept it because it would mean you got to live! Especially if you got pregnant, so Edlyn what is your answer?" Ariana asked coldly as she loomed over Edlyn.
"W-w-w-why my answer?" Edlyn asked in a weak voice. "Because Xander has already made his choice." Ariana said coolly as she looked over at Xander. "Right?" She asked Xander when she made eye contact. "Yes. I want to take Edlyn as my wife." Xander stated without hesitation.