Post by Alexandra Sanders on Dec 31, 2022 23:08:21 GMT -5
A million different thoughts, all in conflict with each other, raced through Jonathan’s mind as he heard the clock chime 12. The most fateful, important night of his life was dawning now, and he was… not as prepared for it as he had thought that he would be. Jonathan felt a deep pit of nervous fear building up within his heart, though he would be loath to acknowledge it. He had laboured for nigh-on three decades to erect this cold facade - this veneer of cynical, indestructible evil he worked so hard to present - but at his heart, that little black-haired boy who’d watched his mother die still stared out at the world from behind tear-laden eyes. It was this boy now who spoke - who told him he did not deserve this, that she would leave like all the rest. He did not blame the child, of course; there was no malice in the words, he was simply… scared. Broken. Just as he had been some years ago, when they’d reached together through the Looking Glass, and found… a shiver ran its way down Jonathan’s spine. The wedding venue’s door flew open, bringing with it a gust of icy air rushing in from the outside. He was no longer alone. The Snake of Eden forced his eyes to steel, swiftly wiping away the tears which traced fresh, inky black streaks along his face.
“Yes? What is it?”
The familiar edge within the voice of the Lost Cause remained ever-present in these words, but it was tinged - for those who knew him well - with the slightest quaver. A hint, ever-so minute, of the man he was beneath. When his eyes fell upon the intruder to his personal sanctum, he allowed his gaze to soften - for before him stood his brother, Dionysus. The Mad God was clad in human clothing, dressed head-to-toe in a suit of deep burgundy, the colour of red wine… or old blood. His shirt and accents were all of jet-black - the exact mirror of Sanders himself, who wore a black tuxedo tailcoat with a blood-red shirt and shoes to match. His outfit would be capped off with a vintage Victorian top-hat, beset through the crimson hatband with the single feather of a raven… but this accessory currently sat on the small vanity desk behind him, not atop his ebony locks. He managed a sheepish smile as his eyes cast themselves down with embarrassment.
“Ah, Dionysus, I… apologize. I have been rather buried in my thoughts this morning. This is… not yet something to which I am accustomed.”
Dionysus quirked a 'brow towards his brother, his head tilting to follow suit.
"You're not accustomed to weddings?"
Sanders simply smirked, and responded with a shake of his head.
"No, to love. Or, to BEING loved, at least. I have spent… so long alone in this, my brother; so many decades wrapped in darkness, sheltering myself from the tethers of this fragile, mortal world… and yet, here I stand, making final preparations to step into the light and let myself be bonded to another…"
Sanders paused, here, and let his gaze trail up to meet his brother's distant eyes.
"I am… not entirely certain how I feel about this fact."
Dionysus frowned, his head returning to its normal upright posture. The giant stood in silence for some time, contemplating his words, as the conflicting emotions continued to swirl violently through Jonathan's head, his mind sinking deeper into this wicked spiral of anxiety until a solitary word from Dionysus broke the silence, and brought the leader of ANTITHESIS back into himself.
"Well…"
The giant paused, then placed a hand upon his brother's shoulder.
"Do you love her?"
Jonathan blinked. He had not anticipated such a pointed question, but he needed no hesitation to find the answer.
“Yes. With the fire and intensity of ten thousand splendid suns.”
Dionysus nodded, his eyes fixing on his brother’s. The chaos of the giant’s mind could be a maze to navigate, but in these quiet moments away from the violence and the stressors of the ring, he often found himself far more reserved and philosophical; not unlike the Outsider himself.
“Then why the hesitation? Why not commit yourself to this, as you do with everything you want?”
Jonathan paused for a long moment to consider this. He rolled the question over again and again within his mind, observing every angle, pondering the truth. He cast his memories back to when he’d first laid eyes on Alexandra; the Battle Royale, the first of its kind in PWS: Apex’s history as a company. He had watched her make her entrance - not into the ring, but into the arena itself - and been captivated instantly. She was a being like himself; a Forgotten, Unloved thing - a broken child who had tried so many times to reassemble themselves with insufficient pieces. He could sense it radiating off of her; the same resentful energy that he himself exuded. A smokescreen against the many cruelties of the world. So, Jonathan had followed her. He had become her Shadow - moving through the darkness, ever-watchful but never making his own presence known. He had seen her cut her promo - the first wicked words she’d weaved against him and the others in the match, how she had cut directly to their hearts - their truth - as he always tried to do himself. Most importantly, he had seen her FIGHT. He had watched her moving in the ring - her grace, her power, her violence held in place by society’s restraints - and in that moment, he had known. When the chaos of the Battle Royal finally subsided, as he gazed into the lights and heard the match wind to a close around him, the blackened, broken, frozen-over heart of the Messiah of the Damned had finally known… love. The wall of rock around his soul had cracked and broken, letting forth a DELUGE of painful, withering emotion. He had found his Dark Reflection. The one and only answer to the Impossible Question he’d become. So why DID he hesitate now? Whence had sprung this growing trepidation which now ensnared his beating heart? He knew it at once. It was a beast he’d often grappled with, in those early years - before the Thing Behind the Mirror had made him realize what he could be.
“It’s fear.”
He answered, matter-of-factly, then cast his eyes up to his brother’s once again.
“I’m afraid of losing her.”
Dionysus simply nodded, his stoic expression unchanging. He did not pass judgement, nor proffer absolution, but he allowed the Prince of Darkness to work through the conclusion on his own.
“After we lost Mother…”
Jonathan felt the familiar pang of guilt and anguish when he spoke of her, shutting his eyes tightly to power through the pain.
“I… well, you know what I became. The Mission that I undertook to cleanse the evils from this world so that NO child would EVER need to suffer as I had again. I do not know how compatible these…”
He paused a moment, searching for the word.)
“...Human feelings are with that desire. I do not know if I can set fire to the world if I have a love to bind me to it.”
It is at THIS that the Mad God spoke his mind; the self-doubt of his brother is apparently too much to accept.
“You CAN. I KNOW you can… you HAVE to!”
Jonathan quirked one eyebrow, regarding the large man quizzically.
“You remember what they did to me - what they did to YOU. To ALL OF US! EVERY child who was born just a little bit different, who DARED to have the audacity to be THEMSELVES! You know how this world FEEDS on those who feel pain so strongly, because the systems they built NEED our suffering to SURVIVE! You CAN’T let this continue - you built the ANTITHESIS to make SURE that it would not… and now you’re having second thoughts?! You would let ONE WOMAN destroy EVERYTHING we’ve done, because YOU don’t know how to feel love?!”
Dionysus paused, BOTH of his hands now clutching Jonathan’s shoulders as the much larger man had kneeled to match his eye level. He pants raggedly, the effusive passions of his speech leaving him in need of breath. There is a beat - a brief moment, which passes between both of them, as Jonathan’s psyche acknowledges the truth in Dio’s words.
“What do YOU know… of fear?”
The Mad God snarled in his throat, his eyes LOCKING on Jonathan as they would upon an enemy - but only for a moment. His gaze softened quickly, as he seemed to realize to whom he spoke.
“When I was locked away - PARADED by those filthy, greedy PIGS who forced me into their sideshow like an ANIMAL - I spent every day in terror. I HEARD what they would do to all the others, how they would abuse their ‘freaks’, and I knew I needed to become a MONSTER if I was going to survive… but you came back for me. You taught me how to KILL my fear, to BURY it as deep as bedrock… and I owe my life to you. You did not NEED me - you could have chosen ANY monster. But you. Came. BACK. Because you DO know how to love, John… and it’s BECAUSE of that love that you WILL burn down the world! THAT LOVE… spawned ANTITHESIS.”
Dionysus released Jonathan’s shoulders, then, having shared his wisdom and his passion, and now satisfied that he could not offer more. Sanders watched him as he slowly returned to full height, his unpainted lips curling into a familiar, sardonic grin as the Dark Reflection of humanity remembered who he was. He would not be governed by fear - he would be the SOURCE of it. He WAS the thing that goes bump in the night - every creeping shadow that this world had EVER been afraid of! Dionysus had always seen that side of him - the slow, simmering contempt; the vicious, bitter hatred for the failing systems of this world. He would not be steered off-course; a MORTAL woman might do this to him, of course. Some unenlightened HUMAN who could tie herself to positivity, finding justification in the self-deception that humanity excelled at… but not his Alexandra. Not his Dark Queen. She KNEW their purpose, she was fully COMMITTED to the mission… and she would NOT let him forget it.
“Thank you, Dionysus. As ever, you are right; ‘for God so loved the world, that he gave unto them his only begotten son…’
The Horseman of Plague stood up, his fury reinvigorated, and snatched the top-hat from the table next to him. He flipped it onto his head in one fluid motion and let his lips curl into a grin again, taking but a moment to examine himself in the mirror. The Dark Reflection gazed back at him, nodding Its approval.
“Well, then… shall we depart? I do believe I have a Kingship to legitimize.”
Dionysus grinned as well, nodding as he held the door for Sanders.
“Welcome back… Brother Plague.”
Alexandra was in her private room preparing to take the biggest step she would ever take. Her gown was on, opting for a white, red and black number, knowing he’d like it. She sat looking at her reflection in the mirror, having just finished putting on her lipstick, having asked for the room to be cleared of her attendants. She was nervous though she kept a straight face, she feared that things would go badly, that he’d run or she’d show up and he wouldn’t be there. A thousand fears ran through her, but then in that scared moment, she thought of him. She had been nervous that day in the catacombs, a fear that he was joking, that she was a fool. Then she thought about seeing him taking a knee, bowing to her as if in total submission to her. The fear that had crossed his eyes, was the fear because he thought she would turn him away. That wouldn’t be possible. For the first time in eight long years, she felt more alive than she ever had. Then she thought about the way it felt with him, how they felt after coming together and the fear started melting away. In this moment, his eyes entered her mind and all her fear was gone. She thought about how it felt to hold his hand, to share the intimate moments they had and she realized that she had never had this kind of love before. It was wild, free, and full of trust. He had taken her through the Looking Glass, and helped her to find her true self, pulling her from the light she tried to hide in, the mere shell of who she had once been. A woman of darkness, of strength.. One who wasn’t afraid of anything. He showed her that she could be that woman again.. And in that, in him, she found love. A knock came at her door, shaking her from her thoughts as a figure entered the doorway, looking at her. She smiled seeing her friend Malico standing in the doorway, in the reflection of the mirror in front of her.
"It's time.. old friend."
"Give me just a few moments.."
“Whenever you are ready… I’ll be right here.”
She moves to the mirror, checking her make-up one last time, her hands fixing her veil, adjusting it to the proper place, it rested against the rose which sat against the side of her head, emblazoned with skulls, with red gems in their eyes. She stood and turned to her friend, reaching out and taking his arm.
"I'm ready."
"As I am sure he is too. You look stunning and I know you'll take his breath away."
"As he will mine."
"Just remember the vows and keep to them as they are important rules to follow."
She stops looking at her friend. Her free hand resting on his arm. She took a moment to pause her heart racing with each step she had taken today. For each one brought her closer to being bonded to the man who had enraptured her.
"Malico.. have you ever known me to not be the right kind of woman?"
"No.."
“I love him.. And yes.. It’s been only a few months.. But I feel like I have known him my whole life.. Like he’s always been there all along. I know how weird that sounds. But from the moment I first caught his gaze, I knew that I knew him. On a deeper level than just co-workers. As if my soul knew his soul before. As if he knew me.. The real me Malico.. Not the me I pretended to be.. And the moment he asked me to marry him, I knew I didn’t want to go into the new year as my old self.”
“It’s not weird at all Alexandra. I know exactly how you feel. It is the same way I feel about my wife. You know we had only been dating a month when I asked her to marry me.”
“Hey.. when you know.. You know.. There’s no mark on time.. Soulmates just know…”
They laughed for a moment before continuing to walk. Malico led her towards the room where the wedding would be held, in front of the massive Baphomet figure in the middle of the inner Chambers, in the Satanic Temple of Dallas, Texas. She took deep breaths as they walked, telling herself he'd be there, that she had nothing to fear. They stood behind the door of the inner chamber, hidden from view. Her eyes looked down at the black and red rose, skull ladened bouquet in her hands. Her mind lost in the idea that in just mere moments, she would be Mrs. Sanders, wife of The Lost Cause. Both had managed to look into each other's eyes, but not just each other’s eyes, but into each other's souls as well, and found comfort and a kindred soul locked away within. A man came to them, speaking for only a few moments with Alexandra and Malico.
“We will be starting soon, you know the customs Malico, we are allowing you to walk her down the aisle, in lieu of her father. And to our bride, the officiant has followed your requests as asked. We do hope that you will love it.”
They hear the music start and Alexandra blinks, smiling at both of them.
“Thank you, I’m sure I will.”
She’s pulled from her thoughts by the music playing, knowing that by now, they have informed him that it’s time to start and that it will be a mere moment’s until they see each other again and pledge the rest of their lives to each other.
“It’s time for me to take my place as the Queen I have always claimed to be.”
Jonathan Sanders - THE Lost Cause, the PLAGUE of Professional Wrestling - was feeling like himself again as he heard the doors open. Some of the nerves had remained present; this was a momentous occasion, after all, as ANY wedding would be. But he knew now that he wanted to go through with it, that it was NOT a mortal chain, an albatross to drag him to the bottom of the ocean, drowning any dreams he had of seeing his vision to fruition, but instead it was a boon. A gift from the Sabbatic Goat - or perhaps the Thing Behind the Mirror, or the other Outer Gods - to provide him with what he’d always needed. The Missing Piece. The fragment of his soul that he never knew he’d left behind, which would finally allow him to attain his truest self. His breath caught in his throat as he observed her, walking through the open doors arm-in-arm with Malico, a brilliant dress of white that faded into black and trailed crimson red along the train behind her hugging her every perfect curve. Jonathan exhaled, biting his lip as his steel-grey eyes surveyed her every inch, taking in this moment, saving this recollection of her in his memory banks until the end of time. This was THE moment - the version of his dark beloved he would choose to remember for eternity. The Snake of Eden could not fight a smile as his bride-to-be drew closer, the corners of his mouth flickering upwards as he noticed the shade of red upon her dress exactly matched the colour of his shirt and accessories. He fired her a grin as she made her way down the aisle, the music swelling to its natural crescendo as the couple came together.
“Alexandra…”
He paused, inhaling deeply as he locked his eyes with hers.
“You look wonderful.”
She had just made the walk down the aisle, rose petals had littered the floor around them and when they reached the statue of Baphomet, she smiled at Malico and turned to Jonathan as he spoke her name. She blushed brightly and kept her eyes on him.
“Jonathan..”
All fear that he wouldn’t be there melted away when he spoke her name. She knew now that he wasn’t going to run away, that he was going to be there with her. This step was big for both of them. Not just her. She spoke once more to him.
“And look at you.. Handsome… as always..”
She watched his eyes as the officiant stepped near them and she handed off her bouquet to the lady who stood behind her, reaching out to take Jonathan’s hands in hers. She stepped into her spot, her train curving just right to show off the train of her gown. She noticed that the red colors matched.
“Hey.. we match..”
Jonathan grinned at her. He’d blushed a light shade when she told him he was handsome, but the colour had since vanished.
“We do indeed. I suppose it COULD be a coincidence… or perhaps we simply know each other too well, and we each picked what we knew the other would.”
The officiant moved into position in front of the Baphomet statue, in between the couple. He retrieved the Satanic Bible from its position tucked beneath one arm and flicked its cover open with one smooth motion, glancing at both the bride and groom in turn.
“Are both parties ready?”
Sanders did not hesitate.
“Aye.”
Alexandra did not either.
“Yes I am.”
Without hesitation or fear in her voice she responded to the officiant's question. Still smiling at Jonathan. Jonathan returned her smile as the officiant nodded.
“Good. Then, let’s begin.”
He glanced down at the book and flipped to the appropriate page to begin the ceremony.
“Today we are all joined here, to see the joining of these two souls. Here in the eyes of Satan and all his dominion and with your friends in attendance. We stand here at the base of Baphomet, in the center of our sacred temple, Jonathan and Alexandra, you both have learned the vows by now, I’m sure.”
They both nodded, looking at him for a moment, before turning back to look at each other. Alexandra mouthed “I love you..” and Jonathan mouthed it back. He took her hands in his, holding them gently, yet firmly.
“The couple has asked to recite the vows themselves, a request which we are happy to honour. Which of you will start us off?”
Jonathan stepped forward, turning to face Alexandra.
“I will.”
Jonathan smiled softly, his eyes meeting Alexandra’s as the complex mélange of emotions welled up inside him again.
“I desire to live with you just as you are.”
Alexandra smiled, squeezing his hands with hers. The officiant motioned for her to speak next.
“I choose you above all others, to share my life with me.”
Jonathan took a moment to wipe a single tear from his cheek, then steeled himself and met her gaze again as he spoke.
“I promise to always speak the truth to you, to honour and to tenderly care for you.”
Alexandra nodded, wiping at a tear of her own before she continued the vows.
“I love you for yourself, in trust that you will become all that you can be, and in turn I promise to be as great as my Nature and Will allow.”
It was her groom’s turn to nod now, and the pair shared a look at the officiant, who motioned them to speak the last line simultaneously.
“I will honor this pledge as long as life and love endure.”
When the vows were done the officiant looked at the two of them. He held his hands up. And the group of people around them stood. He spoke once more.
“Hail Satan.”
Everyone responded, including Jonathan and Alexandra.
“Hail Satan."
The officiant placed his hands on both Jonathan and Alexandra, the two lovebirds, lost in a gaze, their eyes locked on each other.
“It is by the grace of Satan that I am allowed to name you bound for all time, by our laws and testament, Husband and Wife, may you two live and love forever in the glory of our lord. May you two always be a comfort to each other in times of great sorrow. May you live all the days of your lives, in harmony and love. Standing beside each other in all the battles to come. May you be both sword and shield for each other and know that you have each other in those times. Live all the day of your lives now, for each other, holding true to our values and laws. You two may exchange your tokens of love and gifts to your beloved, now.”
Both of them responded with a nod, before turning back to each other. They exchanged their rings and tokens of love. Alexandra presented Jonathan with a handcrafted dagger. Jonathan took the dagger and appreciated it deeply, holding it closely to his heart and meeting her eyes.
“Thank you so much, my darling; it looks wonderful. I absolutely adore it.”
He then reached into his tailcoat and produced a gift for her as well - a collar, jet black leather on the outside with a deep red velvet interior, beset all the way around with silver skull-shaped studs. The clasp is the same colour as her wedding ring, and engraved with the initials “A&J”.
"I love it."
She allowed the collar to be placed on her, before smiling at him.
“By the powers vested in me, by Satan himself and the state of Texas.. Mr Sanders, you may kiss your bride..”
Jonathan smiled deeply, his cheeks flushing a deep shade as he stepped towards her, wrapping one arm around his bride’s waist and pulling her body tightly against his own as his lips captured hers, eyes falling closed for the act. He felt, in that moment, every ounce of fear and doubt melt away, leaving him entirely certain that he’d made the right decision. When he kissed her, her lips felt the press of his and her eyes fell closed, every bit of her fears erased in that moment.
“Congratulations Newlyweds, you all are welcome to join the happy couples party in the grand ballroom, let’s give them a few moments to themselves before they join us.”
Everyone got up and started out of the room, filing into the grand ballroom where their reception would be held.
“I love you.. Mr. Sanders..”
“And I love you, Mrs. Sanders..”
“I could really get used to hearing that.. Mrs. Sanders.. Come my love.. We should join our friends and family.”
The couple headed out of the room, with one last look at each other and another quick kiss. Finally.. The two were complete.
“Yes? What is it?”
The familiar edge within the voice of the Lost Cause remained ever-present in these words, but it was tinged - for those who knew him well - with the slightest quaver. A hint, ever-so minute, of the man he was beneath. When his eyes fell upon the intruder to his personal sanctum, he allowed his gaze to soften - for before him stood his brother, Dionysus. The Mad God was clad in human clothing, dressed head-to-toe in a suit of deep burgundy, the colour of red wine… or old blood. His shirt and accents were all of jet-black - the exact mirror of Sanders himself, who wore a black tuxedo tailcoat with a blood-red shirt and shoes to match. His outfit would be capped off with a vintage Victorian top-hat, beset through the crimson hatband with the single feather of a raven… but this accessory currently sat on the small vanity desk behind him, not atop his ebony locks. He managed a sheepish smile as his eyes cast themselves down with embarrassment.
“Ah, Dionysus, I… apologize. I have been rather buried in my thoughts this morning. This is… not yet something to which I am accustomed.”
Dionysus quirked a 'brow towards his brother, his head tilting to follow suit.
"You're not accustomed to weddings?"
Sanders simply smirked, and responded with a shake of his head.
"No, to love. Or, to BEING loved, at least. I have spent… so long alone in this, my brother; so many decades wrapped in darkness, sheltering myself from the tethers of this fragile, mortal world… and yet, here I stand, making final preparations to step into the light and let myself be bonded to another…"
Sanders paused, here, and let his gaze trail up to meet his brother's distant eyes.
"I am… not entirely certain how I feel about this fact."
Dionysus frowned, his head returning to its normal upright posture. The giant stood in silence for some time, contemplating his words, as the conflicting emotions continued to swirl violently through Jonathan's head, his mind sinking deeper into this wicked spiral of anxiety until a solitary word from Dionysus broke the silence, and brought the leader of ANTITHESIS back into himself.
"Well…"
The giant paused, then placed a hand upon his brother's shoulder.
"Do you love her?"
Jonathan blinked. He had not anticipated such a pointed question, but he needed no hesitation to find the answer.
“Yes. With the fire and intensity of ten thousand splendid suns.”
Dionysus nodded, his eyes fixing on his brother’s. The chaos of the giant’s mind could be a maze to navigate, but in these quiet moments away from the violence and the stressors of the ring, he often found himself far more reserved and philosophical; not unlike the Outsider himself.
“Then why the hesitation? Why not commit yourself to this, as you do with everything you want?”
Jonathan paused for a long moment to consider this. He rolled the question over again and again within his mind, observing every angle, pondering the truth. He cast his memories back to when he’d first laid eyes on Alexandra; the Battle Royale, the first of its kind in PWS: Apex’s history as a company. He had watched her make her entrance - not into the ring, but into the arena itself - and been captivated instantly. She was a being like himself; a Forgotten, Unloved thing - a broken child who had tried so many times to reassemble themselves with insufficient pieces. He could sense it radiating off of her; the same resentful energy that he himself exuded. A smokescreen against the many cruelties of the world. So, Jonathan had followed her. He had become her Shadow - moving through the darkness, ever-watchful but never making his own presence known. He had seen her cut her promo - the first wicked words she’d weaved against him and the others in the match, how she had cut directly to their hearts - their truth - as he always tried to do himself. Most importantly, he had seen her FIGHT. He had watched her moving in the ring - her grace, her power, her violence held in place by society’s restraints - and in that moment, he had known. When the chaos of the Battle Royal finally subsided, as he gazed into the lights and heard the match wind to a close around him, the blackened, broken, frozen-over heart of the Messiah of the Damned had finally known… love. The wall of rock around his soul had cracked and broken, letting forth a DELUGE of painful, withering emotion. He had found his Dark Reflection. The one and only answer to the Impossible Question he’d become. So why DID he hesitate now? Whence had sprung this growing trepidation which now ensnared his beating heart? He knew it at once. It was a beast he’d often grappled with, in those early years - before the Thing Behind the Mirror had made him realize what he could be.
“It’s fear.”
He answered, matter-of-factly, then cast his eyes up to his brother’s once again.
“I’m afraid of losing her.”
Dionysus simply nodded, his stoic expression unchanging. He did not pass judgement, nor proffer absolution, but he allowed the Prince of Darkness to work through the conclusion on his own.
“After we lost Mother…”
Jonathan felt the familiar pang of guilt and anguish when he spoke of her, shutting his eyes tightly to power through the pain.
“I… well, you know what I became. The Mission that I undertook to cleanse the evils from this world so that NO child would EVER need to suffer as I had again. I do not know how compatible these…”
He paused a moment, searching for the word.)
“...Human feelings are with that desire. I do not know if I can set fire to the world if I have a love to bind me to it.”
It is at THIS that the Mad God spoke his mind; the self-doubt of his brother is apparently too much to accept.
“You CAN. I KNOW you can… you HAVE to!”
Jonathan quirked one eyebrow, regarding the large man quizzically.
“You remember what they did to me - what they did to YOU. To ALL OF US! EVERY child who was born just a little bit different, who DARED to have the audacity to be THEMSELVES! You know how this world FEEDS on those who feel pain so strongly, because the systems they built NEED our suffering to SURVIVE! You CAN’T let this continue - you built the ANTITHESIS to make SURE that it would not… and now you’re having second thoughts?! You would let ONE WOMAN destroy EVERYTHING we’ve done, because YOU don’t know how to feel love?!”
Dionysus paused, BOTH of his hands now clutching Jonathan’s shoulders as the much larger man had kneeled to match his eye level. He pants raggedly, the effusive passions of his speech leaving him in need of breath. There is a beat - a brief moment, which passes between both of them, as Jonathan’s psyche acknowledges the truth in Dio’s words.
“What do YOU know… of fear?”
The Mad God snarled in his throat, his eyes LOCKING on Jonathan as they would upon an enemy - but only for a moment. His gaze softened quickly, as he seemed to realize to whom he spoke.
“When I was locked away - PARADED by those filthy, greedy PIGS who forced me into their sideshow like an ANIMAL - I spent every day in terror. I HEARD what they would do to all the others, how they would abuse their ‘freaks’, and I knew I needed to become a MONSTER if I was going to survive… but you came back for me. You taught me how to KILL my fear, to BURY it as deep as bedrock… and I owe my life to you. You did not NEED me - you could have chosen ANY monster. But you. Came. BACK. Because you DO know how to love, John… and it’s BECAUSE of that love that you WILL burn down the world! THAT LOVE… spawned ANTITHESIS.”
Dionysus released Jonathan’s shoulders, then, having shared his wisdom and his passion, and now satisfied that he could not offer more. Sanders watched him as he slowly returned to full height, his unpainted lips curling into a familiar, sardonic grin as the Dark Reflection of humanity remembered who he was. He would not be governed by fear - he would be the SOURCE of it. He WAS the thing that goes bump in the night - every creeping shadow that this world had EVER been afraid of! Dionysus had always seen that side of him - the slow, simmering contempt; the vicious, bitter hatred for the failing systems of this world. He would not be steered off-course; a MORTAL woman might do this to him, of course. Some unenlightened HUMAN who could tie herself to positivity, finding justification in the self-deception that humanity excelled at… but not his Alexandra. Not his Dark Queen. She KNEW their purpose, she was fully COMMITTED to the mission… and she would NOT let him forget it.
“Thank you, Dionysus. As ever, you are right; ‘for God so loved the world, that he gave unto them his only begotten son…’
The Horseman of Plague stood up, his fury reinvigorated, and snatched the top-hat from the table next to him. He flipped it onto his head in one fluid motion and let his lips curl into a grin again, taking but a moment to examine himself in the mirror. The Dark Reflection gazed back at him, nodding Its approval.
“Well, then… shall we depart? I do believe I have a Kingship to legitimize.”
Dionysus grinned as well, nodding as he held the door for Sanders.
“Welcome back… Brother Plague.”
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's time.. old friend."
"Give me just a few moments.."
“Whenever you are ready… I’ll be right here.”
She moves to the mirror, checking her make-up one last time, her hands fixing her veil, adjusting it to the proper place, it rested against the rose which sat against the side of her head, emblazoned with skulls, with red gems in their eyes. She stood and turned to her friend, reaching out and taking his arm.
"I'm ready."
"As I am sure he is too. You look stunning and I know you'll take his breath away."
"As he will mine."
"Just remember the vows and keep to them as they are important rules to follow."
She stops looking at her friend. Her free hand resting on his arm. She took a moment to pause her heart racing with each step she had taken today. For each one brought her closer to being bonded to the man who had enraptured her.
"Malico.. have you ever known me to not be the right kind of woman?"
"No.."
“I love him.. And yes.. It’s been only a few months.. But I feel like I have known him my whole life.. Like he’s always been there all along. I know how weird that sounds. But from the moment I first caught his gaze, I knew that I knew him. On a deeper level than just co-workers. As if my soul knew his soul before. As if he knew me.. The real me Malico.. Not the me I pretended to be.. And the moment he asked me to marry him, I knew I didn’t want to go into the new year as my old self.”
“It’s not weird at all Alexandra. I know exactly how you feel. It is the same way I feel about my wife. You know we had only been dating a month when I asked her to marry me.”
“Hey.. when you know.. You know.. There’s no mark on time.. Soulmates just know…”
They laughed for a moment before continuing to walk. Malico led her towards the room where the wedding would be held, in front of the massive Baphomet figure in the middle of the inner Chambers, in the Satanic Temple of Dallas, Texas. She took deep breaths as they walked, telling herself he'd be there, that she had nothing to fear. They stood behind the door of the inner chamber, hidden from view. Her eyes looked down at the black and red rose, skull ladened bouquet in her hands. Her mind lost in the idea that in just mere moments, she would be Mrs. Sanders, wife of The Lost Cause. Both had managed to look into each other's eyes, but not just each other’s eyes, but into each other's souls as well, and found comfort and a kindred soul locked away within. A man came to them, speaking for only a few moments with Alexandra and Malico.
“We will be starting soon, you know the customs Malico, we are allowing you to walk her down the aisle, in lieu of her father. And to our bride, the officiant has followed your requests as asked. We do hope that you will love it.”
They hear the music start and Alexandra blinks, smiling at both of them.
“Thank you, I’m sure I will.”
She’s pulled from her thoughts by the music playing, knowing that by now, they have informed him that it’s time to start and that it will be a mere moment’s until they see each other again and pledge the rest of their lives to each other.
“It’s time for me to take my place as the Queen I have always claimed to be.”
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Sanders - THE Lost Cause, the PLAGUE of Professional Wrestling - was feeling like himself again as he heard the doors open. Some of the nerves had remained present; this was a momentous occasion, after all, as ANY wedding would be. But he knew now that he wanted to go through with it, that it was NOT a mortal chain, an albatross to drag him to the bottom of the ocean, drowning any dreams he had of seeing his vision to fruition, but instead it was a boon. A gift from the Sabbatic Goat - or perhaps the Thing Behind the Mirror, or the other Outer Gods - to provide him with what he’d always needed. The Missing Piece. The fragment of his soul that he never knew he’d left behind, which would finally allow him to attain his truest self. His breath caught in his throat as he observed her, walking through the open doors arm-in-arm with Malico, a brilliant dress of white that faded into black and trailed crimson red along the train behind her hugging her every perfect curve. Jonathan exhaled, biting his lip as his steel-grey eyes surveyed her every inch, taking in this moment, saving this recollection of her in his memory banks until the end of time. This was THE moment - the version of his dark beloved he would choose to remember for eternity. The Snake of Eden could not fight a smile as his bride-to-be drew closer, the corners of his mouth flickering upwards as he noticed the shade of red upon her dress exactly matched the colour of his shirt and accessories. He fired her a grin as she made her way down the aisle, the music swelling to its natural crescendo as the couple came together.
“Alexandra…”
He paused, inhaling deeply as he locked his eyes with hers.
“You look wonderful.”
She had just made the walk down the aisle, rose petals had littered the floor around them and when they reached the statue of Baphomet, she smiled at Malico and turned to Jonathan as he spoke her name. She blushed brightly and kept her eyes on him.
“Jonathan..”
All fear that he wouldn’t be there melted away when he spoke her name. She knew now that he wasn’t going to run away, that he was going to be there with her. This step was big for both of them. Not just her. She spoke once more to him.
“And look at you.. Handsome… as always..”
She watched his eyes as the officiant stepped near them and she handed off her bouquet to the lady who stood behind her, reaching out to take Jonathan’s hands in hers. She stepped into her spot, her train curving just right to show off the train of her gown. She noticed that the red colors matched.
“Hey.. we match..”
Jonathan grinned at her. He’d blushed a light shade when she told him he was handsome, but the colour had since vanished.
“We do indeed. I suppose it COULD be a coincidence… or perhaps we simply know each other too well, and we each picked what we knew the other would.”
The officiant moved into position in front of the Baphomet statue, in between the couple. He retrieved the Satanic Bible from its position tucked beneath one arm and flicked its cover open with one smooth motion, glancing at both the bride and groom in turn.
“Are both parties ready?”
Sanders did not hesitate.
“Aye.”
Alexandra did not either.
“Yes I am.”
Without hesitation or fear in her voice she responded to the officiant's question. Still smiling at Jonathan. Jonathan returned her smile as the officiant nodded.
“Good. Then, let’s begin.”
He glanced down at the book and flipped to the appropriate page to begin the ceremony.
“Today we are all joined here, to see the joining of these two souls. Here in the eyes of Satan and all his dominion and with your friends in attendance. We stand here at the base of Baphomet, in the center of our sacred temple, Jonathan and Alexandra, you both have learned the vows by now, I’m sure.”
They both nodded, looking at him for a moment, before turning back to look at each other. Alexandra mouthed “I love you..” and Jonathan mouthed it back. He took her hands in his, holding them gently, yet firmly.
“The couple has asked to recite the vows themselves, a request which we are happy to honour. Which of you will start us off?”
Jonathan stepped forward, turning to face Alexandra.
“I will.”
Jonathan smiled softly, his eyes meeting Alexandra’s as the complex mélange of emotions welled up inside him again.
“I desire to live with you just as you are.”
Alexandra smiled, squeezing his hands with hers. The officiant motioned for her to speak next.
“I choose you above all others, to share my life with me.”
Jonathan took a moment to wipe a single tear from his cheek, then steeled himself and met her gaze again as he spoke.
“I promise to always speak the truth to you, to honour and to tenderly care for you.”
Alexandra nodded, wiping at a tear of her own before she continued the vows.
“I love you for yourself, in trust that you will become all that you can be, and in turn I promise to be as great as my Nature and Will allow.”
It was her groom’s turn to nod now, and the pair shared a look at the officiant, who motioned them to speak the last line simultaneously.
“I will honor this pledge as long as life and love endure.”
When the vows were done the officiant looked at the two of them. He held his hands up. And the group of people around them stood. He spoke once more.
“Hail Satan.”
Everyone responded, including Jonathan and Alexandra.
“Hail Satan."
The officiant placed his hands on both Jonathan and Alexandra, the two lovebirds, lost in a gaze, their eyes locked on each other.
“It is by the grace of Satan that I am allowed to name you bound for all time, by our laws and testament, Husband and Wife, may you two live and love forever in the glory of our lord. May you two always be a comfort to each other in times of great sorrow. May you live all the days of your lives, in harmony and love. Standing beside each other in all the battles to come. May you be both sword and shield for each other and know that you have each other in those times. Live all the day of your lives now, for each other, holding true to our values and laws. You two may exchange your tokens of love and gifts to your beloved, now.”
Both of them responded with a nod, before turning back to each other. They exchanged their rings and tokens of love. Alexandra presented Jonathan with a handcrafted dagger. Jonathan took the dagger and appreciated it deeply, holding it closely to his heart and meeting her eyes.
“Thank you so much, my darling; it looks wonderful. I absolutely adore it.”
He then reached into his tailcoat and produced a gift for her as well - a collar, jet black leather on the outside with a deep red velvet interior, beset all the way around with silver skull-shaped studs. The clasp is the same colour as her wedding ring, and engraved with the initials “A&J”.
"I love it."
She allowed the collar to be placed on her, before smiling at him.
“By the powers vested in me, by Satan himself and the state of Texas.. Mr Sanders, you may kiss your bride..”
Jonathan smiled deeply, his cheeks flushing a deep shade as he stepped towards her, wrapping one arm around his bride’s waist and pulling her body tightly against his own as his lips captured hers, eyes falling closed for the act. He felt, in that moment, every ounce of fear and doubt melt away, leaving him entirely certain that he’d made the right decision. When he kissed her, her lips felt the press of his and her eyes fell closed, every bit of her fears erased in that moment.
“Congratulations Newlyweds, you all are welcome to join the happy couples party in the grand ballroom, let’s give them a few moments to themselves before they join us.”
Everyone got up and started out of the room, filing into the grand ballroom where their reception would be held.
“I love you.. Mr. Sanders..”
“And I love you, Mrs. Sanders..”
“I could really get used to hearing that.. Mrs. Sanders.. Come my love.. We should join our friends and family.”
The couple headed out of the room, with one last look at each other and another quick kiss. Finally.. The two were complete.