Twisted Empire - Episode 49&50

 

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire - Episode 49&50

(Her Blade, His Neck )

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

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There was a sharp silence after Four's demand, and it seemed the biker was thinking about the right answer to give—for a sec.

"I do not have all the time existing, boy." Four mused, shadowing his eyes to limit the way the bright island lights are penetrating into his eyes.

Gawd. How much he hates big lights. Can't lights be tiny and produce a concise amount of light instead of nearly blinding eyes? Bright lights are like fake people —to him.

"That's risky, sir. She might become fleshier, and her flesh will grow into the ring." The biker said, and he dropped his stainless.

Shit! He didn't think of that.

He just wanted to make her his completely, tattoo his name on her and carve himself into her bones the moment she said NO.

"But there's a solution for that." The biker said again, causing his index to tap on the back of the phone.

"And it's?" He winded up the windows to completely shut out the stupid lights.

"There's a locked ring with a very tiny keyhole and key; she wears the ring, you keep the key. Once she puts it on, she won't be able to take it off unless she steals the key from you" the biker elaborated, and Four's lips fell in a straight line.

Sounds like a good plan.

"Good. Both the ring and the dress should be ready in 24 hours, and I want the wedding dress in black. My tux, too" he stressed.

"48 hours" the biker negotiated.

"30 hours, and I'm not going lower. Gather as many jewelers and designers as you can. Give them all the money they demand and send me the bill" Four licked his lower lip.

"Deal, but her finger measurement and body... measurement?" The biker drawled the last two words.

Four took the phone away from his ear and did few clicks on the phone, sending all the needed measurements before returning the phone to his ear.

"Seen, I won't disappoint you. And as for the car, I'll get it ready before dusk, it'll wait in front of the island." The biker said, and the call ended.

Yulia's call followed, and it has barely started ringing when Four swiped the green sidewards.

"You said it was a night out and I expected you to return to base this morning, but it seems you're enjoying it a lot. Is it gonna be two nights now? Or one week?" Her ecstatic voice hit his ears, and then...

His eyes caught Teal from his borderline vision, and he wind the window back down to view her better.

She's coming out of their suite, wearing his green shirt and new boxers which—he hates to admit—gives her this high alpha look.

Teal's long tall legs are madly attractive.

"Four?" Yulia's voice drew him back to the call he's on.

"We're returning tomorrow, but that'll be late night. I have a wedding to execute." He didn't take his eyes away from Teal as he spoke.

Teal's currently talking to one of the island guests, looks like she's asking for something.

"Wedding?" Yulia's voice rose in pitch, shocked.

"Get papa here before noon tomorrow. The wedding will only take an hour." Four explained.

"That's too vague, I don't quite catch. First, you were so hell-bent on not taking her as a wife, but then you started claiming her as yours to the point of shooting the president's son for going on a date with her, and now what? A wedding? Giant spider, are you suddenly interested in her?" Yulia replied suspiciously.

"Bring papa, and bye." Four's thumb began moving to the red.

"No no no... Four you didn't answer my—"

He already tapped red before she could finish that.

He directed his full attention to Teal who's already collecting a mobile from the guest she was talking to.

She put the phone to her ear as she moved some steps away from the guest, and that was when he noticed she's also wearing his slippers which is a lot bigger than her feet.

He relaxed on his chair, caressing his bulging crotch slightly before balancing his gaze on her, watching like a hunter.

--

Teal's nails were digging into her wrist as the line rang, and milliseconds felt like an eternity.

The guest she met was kind enough to lend her a phone, luckily.

For that, she cursed the military base.

She wouldn't be borrowing phone on a strange island if they didn't seize their darn phones.

The line finally connected, and she stopped nailing her wrist.

"Uncle Dave?" 

"Biglady?" The man recognized her voice immediately.

"You're still alive? Thank f+ck" she muttered, backing the wall.

Her uncles are strong and incredulously talented in combat—they're her trainers after all, but she can't underestimate Four with the little she has seen.

That wanker is capable of things.

"What's going on?" Uncle Dave asked confusedly.

"If you're in the ranch, I think you should leave right now. Four is coming for you." Teal warned.

"The President alerted us that his vegetative state was a play, so we've been expecting him to come"

"Uncle D are you for real? He's insane you can't just stay in the ranch and await him. He's dangerous I'm telling you. I wounded Uncle Paul so he's at big advantage over you both." Teal persuaded.

"We don't run, Biglady, and you know that. Let him come." Uncle Dave replied stubbornly.

Fine, the stubbornness gene runs in their family.

"But know this... he's really not who we think he is. The President knows something, and that's why he's against your bethrotal to him. Think about it, the big president of this country wouldn't just start this without a valid reason...to the point of telling us to kill him? Four is dangerous like you said, so be careful and don't fall into his trap. You can't let him get to you. Body, soul, and heart. Don't form bonds." Uncle Dave said clearly.

Teal paused, suddenly getting aware of the heat of the wall behind her.

The paintings of her parents she saw in his secret room at the base? Does this have anything to do with it?

"You don't have to worry. I'm still intact, my soul is still mine, and my heart is still beating steadily." She uttered, looking ahead to see the owner of the phone is starting to get impatient.

"I have to go now, I'll talk to you later. And tell Uncle Paul that I'm NOT sorry." She stated, hanging up.

She handed the phone back to the woman she borrowed it from.

"Sorry I took long, thank you"

"It's fine" the woman smiled, leaving.

Teal inhaled fresh air, and she was braiding her hair into a straight braid as she went back into the suite.

Meanwhile, inside the car, Four is still watching, and till the suite door closed, he didn't take his eyes off that direction.

He didn't hear what she discussed which whoever she called, but saw the movements of her mouth, and he made out UNCLE PAUL, meaning she spoke with her criminal uncles.

And that reminded him instantly.

He won't only be needing his own parents tomorrow at the church, he's gonna be needing her uncles too.

He dialled the biker again, relaxing as he picked up.

"At your service, Master."

"Kalynda, Ambrose Ranch, get the uncles to the church tomorrow. Unfailingly." Four said.

--

[Athens, Military Base~General's Office]

General Pedro is on his weekly supervision of the payroll, so it's Lady Yulia in the office, alone.

She has been staring at her phone since she dropped the call with Four, still unable to wrap her head around the new development.

Wedding? Out of the blues?

This is why she gets scared of him at times. No idea what he's plotting and his life trajectory, she only gets fresh shocks like this one.

Now she needs to get herself a perfect dress before tomorrow, but before then...

"Come on in!" she said, loud enough for the Private behind the door to hear.

Theo bursted in, face etched with fear and eyes blinking nervously. He  saluted in front of the desk.

"Ma!"

"You shot a training dog?" Yulia's eyes turned cruel, and his chest hammered. His head went down.

"Do you know how much the special breeds dogs cost? Millions per one, and we spent millions to train them at the animal training center too, but you shot one? Why? You weren't focused? You shouldn't be in the military of you lack vision!" Yulia yelled angrily.

"I'm...I'm sorry ma'am." Theo began crying with sniffles.

"Wipe those tears, or you'll have to pay for the dog's treatment and also get locked up." Yulia warned strictly, and he quickly began wiping the tears with his fingers.

"You shot a training dog, now you're crying? What other useless stuff are you good at? Huh? Theodore Kris!" Yulia hit the desk, and he shook fearfully.

He quickly went on his knees, resting his glistening palms on his laps.

"I'm..s... sorry. I'll be better. I was just... distracted."

Yulia stood, her boot barely making any sound as she walked to him and hunkered down beside him.

Theo still couldn't look up.

"Get rid of distractions. You're in Four's squad, and I like his squad members smart and sound. If you're tired of the base, ask the government for discharge and leave, but if you still wanna stay here, gear up!" She said, less intimidating this time.

Slowly, Theo looked up.

"I will, Ma. I promise." 

Yulia tilted her head sharply to the side, meaning he could go, so he stood, gave his salutations and left.

Immediately Yulia stood from her squat, General Pedro came in, looking tired from his supervision.

He walked past her and settled on the chair behind the desk.

"Hand the payroll issues over to Axel. A General shouldn't be stressing this much." Yulia said, walking to the wall.

"Axel would ruin things if I give him that. He'd probably direct the government's money to the base prostitutes account." Pedro replied.

Yulia stopped by the wall, staring at the Ambrose tiger painting there.

"The Ambrose couple are legends even after their deaths. Their painting in the Phantom Museum was auctioned for €20B just last month. If my daughter-in-law takes painting serious in the future, then she'd easily become the richest woman in this country." She sighed.

"That night when the Ambrose couple died in the forest cliff accident, where exactly were they going?" General Pedro asked behind, and she turned around to face him.

"No one knows too. Not even the uncles or Teal herself." She walked away from the wall as she talked.

"By the way, I saw your ugly ex-wife at the superstore earlier." She mentioned, and Pedro went still.

"Nah...don't be like that. I didn't beat her or anything, that'd be animal abuse." Yulia adjusted her cap.

"Yulia..." Pedro grinded his jaws, and she smiled, stopping her movements.

"Maelstrom squad is training, meaning Usman is attacking soon, I'm going with them to the next mission." 

"What! No!" Pedro spranged up.

"Last mission, Four was brutally wounded in the ears and temples, he saved the city by sacrificing his health and I'm not gonna sit here and wait for part 2. I'll lead the squad with him. End of story." She insisted, and Pedro held his forehead frustratingly as his face clouded over.

"And last news...we have a wedding to attend at Symi island tomorrow, featuring Teal and Eros" she smiled, and Pedro's eyes widened.

"What!"

--

[Sergeant Kash's Suite]

The trainings ended minutes ago.

Sergeant Kash actually dropped the shot dog at the animal care earlier before returning to the forest to continue the training.

It took roughly three hours, and he had to wrap it up and return.

Four is gonna take care of the remaining part when he comes back, and may gawd help the squad members survive his craziness since his trainings are always hell.

Kash had his shower to rest after he returned, and Cassie served him lunch of casserole which he ate with the hope of having her afterwards.

He hasn't gotten to the middle of his meal when Cassie came out of the bedroom, fully dressed to go out.

"Going somewhere?" He asked, and Cassie did a short walk to him, kissing his hair lightly. Her lips barely touched the strands.

"To my dad's hospital ward" she said.

"But you said you were gonna go yesterday before I left for Symi island." 

"I did a little laundry, so I was tired and couldn't proceed." She lied, and he sighed.

"I miss your body, haven't touched you for weeks and it's... Cassie." He complained.

Cassie smiled trickily.

"Tonight when I return?"

"You won't say you're tired again?" He looked up, and she kissed his hair again.

"Trust me. And I'll tell my dad you said hi" she chuckled.

"He can't even hear you" he smiled.

"Of course he does. He might be unconscious, but his subconscious is gonna remember everything when he wakes." she argued, and he grinned.

"Take your time, i love you." He waved.

"Love you too!" She blew him kisses, smiling back as she left the suite which felt like a cage to her.

Her eyes stayed glued on Axel's Unit till she arrived at the park and entered Kash's old Audi. Now the car makes her wanna vomit.

She opened her purse and brought out the necklace Axel gave her, photographed it twice and posted it on a sale app with a fake ID.

Instantly, a buyer popped up, offering €10M.

She gasped, covering her mouth with her palm.

"It's this expensive? F+ck!"

She dialled the buyer's number and began negotiating with him as she drove out of the base.

When she sells it and merges the payment with Axel's big payments, she'd buy a decent furnished mansion and Porsche car in the city.

--

[Communal Dinning]

Luckily, the squad members met the lunch rush. They filled their trays with delicacies then settled down to munch.

April and Skye joined them, but it's obvious the two aren't fine. 

They look pale as if they got bleached overnight or something.

"Gawd, how much I miss Teal." Brent sighed. His grazed arm is plastered.

"You read my mind." Shannon sighed, dropping her spoon.

Rook stayed mute.

April and Skye too.

"Now that's bad, what's going on?" Brent blinked.

They all looked up, and Rook drank some chilled water.

"I know Rook is being greasy cos of Theo, so that question is for you both... Specialist Skye and April." Brent said again.

"We're good, really." Skye said.

"Oh oh ... Look at that sadness-ridden voice." Brent pointed his spoon at them.

"We're fine, just not in the mood to chatter this afternoon. And yes, I miss Teal too." April shrugged.

"It better be" Shannon said.

"What if it's not?" Paine chirped in from the table edge.

"I wasn't talking to you, Paine. The only reason you're on the same table is cos you're in the squad you pain in the arse!" Shannon rolled eyes, and Paine chortled.

"I wonder how your sister Cassie is doing these days. She looks like a good wife." He meaningfully said.

The air turned electric with tension.

"And what has this got to do with my sis?" Shannon's face contorted.

Their banter was interrupted when Theo joined the table.

Immediately he sat, Rook stood, carried his tray of food and began leaving.

"Rookie!" Theo stood too, grabbing him by the forearm.

"Don't!" Rook pulled off sharply, his face squeezing with an unfriendly gleam. "Don't call me that when you're not Battery, and keep being on your own, that loneliness fits you." 

He glared hard, nearly killing Theo with it before going to drop his tray. He began walking out of the cafeteria but bumped into Stormy close to the door, and before she could stagger, he held her arm, steadying her.

"Careful." He mumbled and exited.

Stormy looked at the arm he touched, feeling so good.

"He touched me." She whispered.

He was beaming as she took a seat across Morgan, but immediately she saw Morgan, her smile disappeared.

The poison already reached their heart shore, and luckily, Teal dropped the antidote before leaving, so they've been cured except for the wound that's still healing.

Morgan sneered at her as they both began eating separately.

--

[Cantonment, Saloon]

Allegra went for blow-dry, and she felt lightheaded as she fell out of the salon, bouncing her way to her bike.

She almost collided into a figure, but she was fast to pull back, smiling a little when she saw the face.

It's Quentin.

"Morgan's boyfriend?" 

"The lady from before." Quentin smiled.

"Allegra, and you sneaked into the cantonment again? The only reason I'm not reporting you is cos I know no one enters without the government's permission." Allegra nodded.

"C'mon, I'm not a spy or whatever you guys call it." Quentin pocketed his hands.

"Came to see Morgan again?" Allegra gave his baby face a secret stare.

"Nope, I came to see a friend at the Bazaar supermarket." He said.

"Cool." Allegra nodded severally.

"I love your tattoos by the way, ominous as fûck." He glanced at the ink on her skin.

"I got them from the tattooist here, he's good. Try him out if you want."

"Why not?" Quentin shrugged, and Allegra led the way.

--

[Symi Island]

Teal is in the lounge, watching judo sessions on TV and practicing it out, but Four is at the balcony.

Not even a single word has been exchanged since the morning occurrence, and none is complaining.

Teal is still wearing Four's clothes cos she's never gonna wear lingeries and thongs in this suite with only him around.

Four has been on call with someone at the balcony for ten minutes, and she wondered who.

Now that she knows how dangerous he is, it's not abnormal to suspect everything about him, is it?

She brought her legs back together and walked to the balcony door, standing there to eavesdrop on him, but that instant, the lounge door opened, and Four appeared as tall as ever. He even had to bend his head to come out of the door.

"I wasn't eavesdropping." she quickly said, and her eyes caught a glimpse of his phone screen.

He's speaking with a number saved as 'Hera'

Hera is a female name, so who's she? 

She didn't ask that loud though.

"At 3pm tomorrow, you're coming somewhere with me." He told her, and before she could even ask where, he was already out of the suite.

Seriously??

She collapsed on the lounge chair,  loneliness drowning her underwater again, and at the same time thinking about who the hell is Hera?

--

[Therapeia Mental Institute]

Sierra returned to the base since an hour ago, so Empress is left with her workers again.

She came out of the secured annex with her assistants who're clutching blue files as usual, and they're all taking same steps after her like programmed robots.

"Take the recovering patients at the second storey building to the garden for a walk at dusk, feed them the apples." She instructed grimly.

"Yes Chief" The assistants replied behind her, and a guard appeared from the side, blocking her.

"You have a visitor from the base."

"From the base?" Empress's eyeballs rolled, but they balanced when Axel appeared down the lane.

He's wearing a large smile as he waved at her with his right fingers.

"Heya, Empressie."

--

[President's Mansion]

Four decided to go in through the door cos he has no plans to harm the old man.

The stationed guards recognized him since he's in uniform, so the gate was opened for him, and he easily drove in, stepping out and entering the mansion with ease too.

The guards by the door checked him for abnormalities, and he turned around in co-operation.

He was finally let in after their stupid check, and he met Xanthe in the living room, working on some papers for his father.

"What are you doing here, Four?" He stood quickly.

"The President, I'll only speak to him." Four replied, checking his wristwatch impatiently.

"And you think I'll allow you near my father after what you did to me?" Xanthe retorted, and Four's eyes landed on his bandaged arm.

"That must hurt...a lot." He said blankly.

"You f+ckin—"

"You're to come to the poolroom, Master Sergeant Four." A butler interrupted Xanthe from the staircase.

Four gave him an evil smile before following the butler upstairs.

"But he can't be around dad!!" Xanthe shouted repeatedly till they disappeared up the rails.

The poolroom is at the back of that hall, so they had to use another staircase, going down on it till they arrived at a white door which the butler opened.

"Go on in, sir." He gestured at Four who obliged.

The room is warm—almost hot, with the heat rising from the treated waters surrounding the steps and pillars and smooth pinnacles.

It's a world on its own with it's high ceilings and waterproof walls.

There are ten guards in there when Four counted, and he had to fight a smirk. He's not here to lift a finger.

He's here to say a limited number of words.

President Spyros sat on one of the steps, his legs in the water and his elbows leaning back behind him. There's only a wet towel wrapped on his waist.

His folded back is on Four.

"I knew you'd come, bastard." He said without moving or looking back.

Methodically, Four walked to him, stepping into the waters and wetting his trousers and shoes as he ambled inside the water till he got to his behind.

"Visit Symi island river, you might get the remains of your errand boy—if you're lucky." He said, his voice a deadly, low rumble.

"You're slowly showing your true colors, Four DeVille. She doesn't belong to you, and you know why!" President Spyros replied, the sound of the dripping water falling from his fingertips a slow drumbeat.

"Too bad I'm not here to gist." Four replied in a crotchety mood, his lashes going down over his eyes as he stared at him through it, then he bent over the man and held his shoulders.

The guards cocked their guns immediately,, but President Spyros raised a finger to stop them, then Four whispered...

"It's tomorrow, the wedding."

He could feel Spyros go motionless in his hold with an abrupt pause, and as enticing as the idea of breaking his shoulder brackets sounded that minute, he discarded it.

"Do honour it, President Spyros Dimitris." He muttered in a hush before letting go of his shoulders.

Water was pattering from his black trousers as he splashed out of the poolroom calmly...with bladed jaws and hunched shoulders.

President Spyros stood, remained there, but there's a switch in his mien.

A sense of unease settled in.

--

[Next Day]

The drive out of the island started idyllically, but as the car engines croaked under Teal, she could feel the materialization.

When Four came back to the island yesterday, and the only thing they did was eat the dinner of parmesan cheese together at the small dinning.

Four's appetite isn't sharp, and he only ate few mouthfuls before leaving for the balcony where he worked on his laptop till daybreak.

He didn't come to the bedroom to sleep, so it was just teal on the king-sized mattress.

This morning, he was making various suspicious calls around the suite, and her gut feeling that something would go wrong got stronger.

Right now he's sitting with her at the backseat of the car. She could only smell his drowning scent, but she hasn't heard his voice.

This silence grew oppressive, and the tension swelled, weighting heavier than she'd anticipated.

He should at least say a word about their destination instead of scrolling through that damn laptop.

She cleared her throat, facing him suddenly.

"Where are we going?" 

"Don't ask questions." He replied tersely without raising his lids. 

His voice is not hard and not soft, just on the fence.

"You're—"

She was interrupted by the skidding halt of the car, and she peeked out of the window to see they've in front of a church.

The hell?

She faced him for clarification, but he was already getting down, so she came down very fast too, her jean pants and fitted blouse looking chic on her.

She had woken up to meet the wears in bed this morning, and she just knew he got them, so she didn't ask questions before wearing them.

"Why are we at a church?" She asked when she caught up with Four at the other side of the car.

His gaze remained uncoated—like a constant.

"Four!" She petulantly stomped, and an avalanche of sadism crossed his eyes again just like last night—darker than that, even.

She was about to ask the next question when another car braked to a standstill in front of the church.

General Pedro and Lady Yulia stepped down, confusing her more. General Pedro wore a suit, and Lady Yulia is in a blue silk dress which outlined her smooth curves.

General and his wife in Symi??

Teal hasn't soaked in that shock before another car stopped in front of the church—a familiar minivan.

Uncle Paul and Dave came out, both suited up too.

Teal gasped.

"What the hell is going on? Four!" Teal faced the man who looks like the author of the ongoing drama, but he didn't provide an answer.

He just entered the church, and she went after him.

"Four! Four!"

She rushed past a room, and she stopped abruptly, taking a minute to reprocess what she saw before retracing.

Inside the room, there's a otherworldly gorgeous black wedding dress hung on a mannequin, and there's a smiley woman in there who looks like a beautician.

She gave Teal a bow, and that was when she got what this is.

"No..." She shook her head gead. "This is sick, insane." she muttered, turning around to rush off, but her chest was pushed back with the coldest weapon alive—a gun, from Four.

He's right in front of her, erect and wickedly straight as he aimed her.

"What are you doing?" 

"Get in and dress up." He replied, a slight bass diluting his rasp voice.

"I'm not getting married to you! Not going down the aisle with you! I'm just 24 with ambitions! In not gonna be your official wife and take your ring on any darn alter!" She slammed, her breaths rising on her chest as they blew her lungs.

"Get in the room, Teal." He repeated.

"Four, this is—"

"Or I kill your uncles right here in this church, and I'll make you lick their bloods." He said, the taste of it spreading bitterness on her tongue.

He didn't lower the gun nor lose momentum. He posed like a statue as their eyes held the same fierce spark.

"You're inhumane, I hate you!!" She snapped, and his head went sideways, that mole on his nose looking annoyingly...

"You shattered on my fingers yesterday—in the tub. Your nîpples hardened like nails. Of course you hate me, feels like you really do, Asteri."  He said, and she condemned him to hell in her mind as she drew another harsh breath.

Two minutes later, she was already in the stupid room with the stupid make up woman who helped her into the stupid wedding dress which fitted her so much, but she doesn't want this.

At all.

Her hair was pulled into a neat updo with loose tendrils, and the dark veil was attached to it.

Her feet was slid into a sleek white Cesare Parciotti dagger heels, and her makeup was soft but aglow.

It was so fast—too fast.

She was led out of the room, and she met ruthless Four waiting in front of it, wearing a black tux. The expensiveness hit her in the face, but she gives no damn about this man.

Their arms interlinked, and even as he ate her with his eyes during their walk to the main church, she didn't look at him. Not even for once, but the weight of his eyes is heavy.

When they arrived at the main church, there are only 4 audiences.

Her uncles are sitting in the middle of the church, looking like they got dragged here. Their eyes says a lot.

General Pedro looks like he doesn't even know what he's doing here. Lady Yulia is the only abnormal person who's smiling.

Of course she shares her son's genes.

Her eyes couldn't leave the wedding dress, and she's wowing at the details.

The wedding dress cascaded down Teal's figure, the sleek silk fabric catching the light with every movement.

The lace details added a touch of sophistication, and a flowing train tailed behind. Delicate beading adorned the neckline, adding subtle sparkle. The dark hue exudes the darkest mystery.

There's a waiting priest in front of the silent church, and he looks like he got dragged here from his nap as he held the glass tray containing the ridiculously beautiful ring boxes.

Everything looks like it got channelled out of a fantasy show, but it got even realer when they arrived at the front...

"DO YOU, TEAL AMBROSE...TAKE FOUR EROS DEVILLE, AS YOUR WEDDED HUSBAND?" The priest asked the question she has heard a lotta times in conjugal movies, and she felt her throat closing on nothing.

Four's gaze is still heavy on her skin as she stared at the priest—eyeball to eyeball. As if strategizing.

She could feel the eyes of her uncles at the back of her head too, and they're highly prickly.

"DO YOU, TEAL AMBROSE...TAKE FOUR EROS DEVILLE, AS YOUR WEDDED HUSBAND?" The priest asked again, and this time, she choose deeds over words.

With unparalleled pace, she dragged out her knife from under her veil, placing the blade on her own neck before shifting back, swiftly.

General Pedro, Lady Yulia, Uncle Paul and Dave stood fast to their feet, eyes overly wide with awe.

The ring tray fell from the priest and smashed as he shifted back.

"Teal. . ." Four's voice came, deep and straight from the base of his throat as he watched her press the knife to her own skin.

A little blood grew.

"Teal!" He went closer instinctively...

"One more step and I'll cut!" She snapped, pressing the knife harder to her throat, and he stopped immediately.

He pointed an hand forward to her with an unhinged calm, his throat bobbing up.

"Give me the knife, Teal." 

"Only if you stop this total madness of a wedding." She bargained, a line of sweat crawling down her forehead.

TBC.

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