Chapter 416
Clementine:
“Why did you jump in there if you were so scared of the clowns?” I asked Ian, resting my head against his shoulder.
After crying for I did not know how long, I realized that I needed to get my shit together.
Ian had been very active and attentive. Every time the hollow man showed up, Ian would carry me while I cried nonstop.
He also took me to safer places. He even found me a water bottle from somewhere.
Now, after crying for hours, I had finally settled. We both sat at the corner of the road, across the road from the theatre, staring at it.
Ian had his legs pulled up, but not all the way. They were slightly parted so his wrists could meet in the middle over his knees.
I was resting my head against his shoulder.
“You think that a phobia was going to stop me from getting in there to help you?” he asked.
I got cozy with him and smiled sweetly for him.
“You know, I am so glad I got to introduce you to my mother,” I mumbled. “And I told her that I do not plan to accept my other mates.” I guessed it was this word that gave Ian more happiness because his body twitched.
“I love you, Ian.” The minute I said it, he removed his arms and turned to me. I had to lift my head. The way he stared at me, it was as if I had said something unbelievable.
“Why are you acting like you do not know that?” I asked, smiling softly.
His eyes roamed over my face, noticing my eyes, my nose, my cheeks, and then my lips. A smile began to form on his lips.
“Well, let’s get married,” he insisted again.
I almost forgot this was what we were going to do before we entered that theatre and I found my mother.
“Do you not think we should go back and take care of other things first?” I asked softly.
It was not because I did not want to get married.
I would have been the happiest, but I did not know if I would be happy enough for him in that moment, because I missed my mother here and there.
“You tell me, do you want to get married?” he asked, tilting his head, his eyes shining.
The dark north was strange. The sun almost never came out. It was morning now. The clouds showed the outline of the sun and it looked strange.
“Come on, Clementine, tell me, what is it that is bothering you?” he insisted, holding my hand and gently rubbing the back of it.
“What if I ruin your mood during the wedding by suddenly starting to cry?” I asked him, and he slapped his forehead with the back of my hand.
“Don’t do that,” I complained, slapping his chest at the fact that he used my hand to hurt himself.
“I would not get upset. Are you crazy? You think you will cry and I will think about my mood?” he complained, looking very upset.
That made me smile even brighter.
“I have a perfect gift for you. Trust me on it. We are getting married,” he said. “Now come on, let’s go and get married, finally p>
He held his hand out for me, and I stared at it before I happily accepted it.
I knew my eyes were still swollen, but I guessed if he wanted his bride with swollen eyes, I had no objection either.
I got up from the ground and started to step after him.
He took me all the way to the antique shop, and I growled.
“I don’t want to go in there and see my brother in those shades,” I complained, remembering how entering the theatre made me meet my mother.
I did not think I was ready to see my brother now.
“Oh come on, you are not going in there. I am going to go there and I am going to quickly fetch something for you,” he said.
But I started to shake my head.
“Now if you are going in there, we are going together,” I stated. Ian rolled his eyes, his hands on his waist.
“Listen, I am going to be the husband right now and I am going to tell you that woman, listen to me,” he said, pointing a finger at me, trying to use a very authoritative voice.
“No, Ian, I am not going to let you get yourself in danger for me over and over. Okay,” I said, demanding that I would go inside with him.
“Fine, but we will be quick,” he warned.
“Okay, but what are we getting from here?” I asked him. I noticed the way he smiled.
“You will enter the theatre first,” he mumbled, making me raise my eyebrow.
“That is because if we realize the other one is not coming out, the other would go inside and save them. So, you are going first,” he said, pointing at me.
I nodded my head happily because I was ready for some adventure. I needed to get this energy out, to release this frustration in me somehow.
“Do you know any tricks about fighting the fades?” I asked him.
He started to rock his head back and forth, almost as if thinking, before he nodded.
“If you can hold your breath, you are fine, pretty much. Because they enter your nostrils, they enter your mouth. So just hold your mouth closed, do not breathe in for a few seconds if you can,” he remarked, and I started to tap my finger on my chin.
“Okay, listen, you go in there, but go to the left side. You will find some grooms’ suits. They are from ancient times, when royals used to wear those very heavy embroidery suits and all. You will go there, and you will get one for your groom, which is me,” he explained, pointing a finger at himself, giving me a cheeky grin.
I realized what he was doing. He did not mean for us to go in there and get married without seriousness.
He was treating it as something serious.