Hi everyone! I apologize for this reallyyy short chapter! I hope you guys enjoy! See you all next Monday for the next update!

Song: Something In The Dark x JD Souther

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."

― William Shakespeare

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Whoever this deceased author who wrote Fructus Est Nuptialis was, I assumed from the very first page with Daemon's face that they have been a victim of his whims and treachery. My friends huddled closer to take a closer look on the next few pages I flipped through. The words were indecipherable because all of them were in Latin.

If I couldn't read this, then I have to rely on Angelo for the information regarding my identity. It was funny that before the game took away Summer, I trusted Angelo with my whole life. Now, I realized that he didn't care about Brittany, Ted, Daniel, and Summer because he only wanted to protect me. A part of me blamed him for Summer's death, but I removed the thought away from my mind. The fragility of trust is like a sheet of paper. Once its crumpled, it can never be perfect again.

"I can't read anything." Brittany told Angelo.

He sighed before running his hands through his golden hair. "The book was only meant for Celeste to read. Only she can read the book because this it's about her."

"I really can't read anything. I didn't even study Latin." I complained.

"Try again," Angelo replied. "Concentrate this time."

I sighed before taking a deep breath and looking at the pages before me again. I didn't know what Angelo meant by "concentrate" but I began to read the words across the page when I felt something in my mind snapped. It was like my eyes were opened for the first time. The dark letters on the flimsy page pulsed before they transformed to the letters I'm accustomed to reading.

I turned the book over to look at the title once more. The Bridal Fruit my mind translated. As I flipped to a random page, I came across the title Prophecy. My curiosity got the best of me and I read it out loud for my friends to hear.

"Born from the sacrifice of a loved one, the bridal fruit will be meant for heaven and hell. The side she chooses will reap the benefits her body has to offer and bring glory to the realm of her chosen one."

"WHAT IN THE HELL?!?!" Brittany flipped out. "This was the most sexist thing I've ever heard. This can't be about you, Celeste!"

"But it's kind of true though," Ted butted in. "There's only two guys in Celeste's life so far; Angelo and Daemon. And aren't they from heaven and hell?"

Daniel cursed while Brittany glared towards Angelo's direction. "You're not choosing either of them! I don't trust angel boy and Daemon is an ass."

"What does my body have to 'offer'?" I asked Angelo. He looked embarrassed and guilty at the same time. His head was down in shame and it caused my heart to ache because I've been so harsh to him lately. The secrets he kept from me was within good reason and the fact that he wanted to protect me.

Angelo turned a bright shade of red when I asked him this question. "Before I answer your question," he gulped, "please know that I love you regardless of what the prophecy had said."

Everyone was silent after Angelo's confession of his feelings to me. It was short, but each syllable left a strong mark on me. He loves me.

"Once you turn 18, the dormant power within you will awaken making you one of the most powerful beings that walk this Earth." Angelo waited for anyone to say something. When none of us decided to speak, he continued. "This power includes that whoever you touch, be it human or supernatural, you will be able to heal and give energy to. Your skin, if eaten, can give anyone eternal youth and a chance for the dead to have a foothold in the realm of the living."

His words began to sunk into my exhausted mind before everything soon pieced together. During the first game, the ghosts were prying to have a taste of my skin. They claimed for me to be their "sweet fruit." I didn't understand how healing others and being able to give eternal youth makes me powerful when there are other gifts that are way more powerful than this gift.

"So what you mean by being one of the most powerful beings on Earth, there are others like me?" I asked Angelo. "I thought Daemon killed them all and I was the last soul he needs to truly become powerful."

"Some are still living today, the others I've protected before you have died of age." Angelo answered simply. "Heaven and the Nether Realm have been in balance of power for centuries. Many humans with similar powers like yours have sworn their allegiance to each side and as the bridal fruit, it's your turn to swear your allegiance to a side."

I nodded in understanding although I felt so overwhelmed with the information I had just learned.

"But Celeste, isn't your birthday in only a few months?" Ted asked.

"Yeah, so there's no rush for her to choose yet right?" Daniel added.

I stayed silent and walked to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. The information I learned gave me a splitting headache. Turning the faucet on, I filled the glass with water when I felt someone's arms wrap around my waist.

"I'm sorry." Angelo whispered against my hair.

I shut off the water and turned to face him. This time, his hands rested on my hips.

"For what?" I asked him tiredly.

"For all the secrets. The lies I've told you." he answered.

"But the only thing I've never lied to you about is the fact that I love you." Angelo added. His caramel colored eyes seemed to stare into my soul, as if it's wiping away my fears and doubts.

The butterflies in my stomach silenced and I finally found myself saying the words I've wanted to tell him since we were children.

"I love you too." 

Please don't forget to comment, vote and add this book to your public library! Let me know what you think of this chapter! :) 

Xoxo, 

Angelique <3