RISE MY DRAGON SHIFTER

7. I dealt with her. He was next

Snow's p.o.v

Broken, useless, worthless, weak, those were the only words I could call myself over and over in my head, I couldn't sleep the whole night, Crystal wanted to spend the night with me in my room but I did what I usually did, I told her I was okay with a smile when I felt so bad, I tossed in my bed and faced the other side were Rin usually slept, I couldn't stop the tears that came rolling on my cheeks, I was hurting.

My bedroom door opened, Crystal slowly entered, I quickly wiped off my tears and sat upright.

"Hey Crystal, have you eaten something?" I asked forcing a smile on my face.

"You don't have to act strong Snow, I'm here for you, I have always known that you act strong in front of me when you aren't, it's fine to feel and show me your weak side, I'm your sister, I'm suppose to stand by you in happiness and sadness," she said with forming tears.

I quickly stood up and ran in her arms, I let all the pain pour into my tears as I sobbed loudly.

"It's alright, you still have me don't you? I will never leave you, we will always be together" she said.

"Snow my lovely bride!" Duke Edward's voice reached us.

Crystal pulled back and sighed.

"Stay here, I will handle him for you," she said while standing up.

I looked at her worried, I hated how duke Edward looked at Crystal.

"Don't worry Snow, I will be alright" she whispered.

I nodded as she went out, I wasn't a fool to leave my sister with such a man.

I brushed my hand through my hair slowly, this time I decided to stop answering the Duke with bad words, I was beyond afraid to lose Crystal, I looked at my dress, it wasn't that dirty, I slowly wiped off my tears then went outside.

I looked at duke Edward who stood near his horse with the same two men he came with yesterday, he was laughing happily with Crystal although his eyes held lies and lust, Crystal was carrying a sack of something that looked like grain.

Duke Edward turned and looked at me.

I quickly moved closer and bowed.

"Crystal why is my sick bride to be outside ?" He asked as I stood upright.

I looked at Crystal who tucked her hair behind her ear, her eyes were fixed on the ground, I knew there and then she must have lied to Duke Edward about my health, I coughed and stumbled a bit on purpose, the duke quickly held my hand.

He angrily looked at the two men in cloaks.

"Must I do everything myself, you useless men! Can't you see my future bride is sick!? She almost fell down! If it wasn't for my strength and attentiveness she would have fallen down!" He yelled as the men bowed quickly.

"Do forgive us, my lord," they answered together giving me the creepy shivers again.

"Take her in the house," he yelled as they stood upright.

"No my lord, I'm okay, I just felt a little dizzy, yesterday I overworked with cleaning the house and looking for some food" I answered softly.

Crystal looked at me with wide eyes, duke Edward seemed to be taken back too.

Did I say something wrong?

"I love you much more when you are sick, your soft voice had me thinking how it would be in our bed chambers on our wedding night," he said with a disgusting smile.

I smiled falsely looking at Crystal who gave me a slow nod.

"My lord, allow my sister to retire and rest in her room, she's not In her best health, I could have entertained you for the day but sadly I have to take care of her" Crystal said as duke Edward lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it.

"Take care of her Crystal, tomorrow I shall pass through to check on my lovely Snow, I have also decided to not search your house, I'm so positive you two couldn't keep a dragon in there, after all, your house is a broken down pill of old wood," he said with laughter as I ignored the anger I felt, did he just call us poor in our face?

Crystal smiled happily.

"Thank you, my lord," she answered.

Duke Edward dropped my hand and went to his horse with his two men.

"Tomorrow I will bring the two of you something nice," he said while getting on his horse, the two men did the same, we quickly bowed as they rode away, Crystal put the sack on the ground and opened it.

She smiled happily then looked at me.

"Snow he brought for us rice! Do you know how expensive rice is!" She said excitedly.

I slowly turned and walked into the house, I knew how expensive rice was, that was actually what was worrying me now, it was so wrong of her to accept anything from the duke, receiving things from him meant I agreed with his proposal, I also knew denying his gift after Crystal gladly accepted it, it would not only mean disrespect he could have hit me again.

I was about to walk into my room when Crystal called me loudly, judging from the tone she used she wasn't happy with me, I turned and faced her as she approached me. 

"I know you are sad about that dragon but don't you think it's time to get over it? Duke Edward brought for us something so expensive, the least you could have done was show a genuine smile, it couldn't have killed you" she said seriously.

I looked at her angrily, where was the sister who was sad that Rin was gone? Were was the sister who understood and cried with me?

I slowly sighed.

"I'm sorry Crystal I don't really feel well, I will go and take a rest," I said sadly.

"Okay" she answered as I walked into my room, I slowly took in a deep breath then released it, I wasn't going to argue with her anymore, she was just a stupid girl who couldn't see the real darkness that was after us.

I walked to the stream feeling lazy, for some reason, Crystal was very happy today, She cooked the rice while humming a tune mother used to love, I looked around to make sure I was alone and not followed, the stream was no longer safe anymore.

I stripped my clothes and removed my sandals, I really needed a cold bath to relax my body and mind, I slowly moved in the water and dived in feeling happy with the feel of coldness on my body, I stood upright with a smile, I used to bath with Rin most times, its all thanks to him I got much better at swimming.

I was about to dive in again when I felt it, the feeling of being watched by someone, I quickly looked around but saw no one, I was about to get out of the water when Crystal appeared from afar, she waved happily, I lazily waved back, I dived in again trying to think of a reason that had made her this happy.

"Hey Snow are you not done yet?" She asked loudly, I stood upright and faced the other side ignoring her question, her loud gasp had me turning quickly to face her.

She pointed a finger at me with her mouth wide open, I quickly turned and looked behind fearing she was pointing at something dangerous, I saw nothing, I looked at her annoyed.

"You know that I hate it when you scare me like that," I said seriously.

"You have a dragon tattoo on your back!" She screamed, I quickly tried looking at my back, I could only see the blank ink not much of the tattoo

"Are you sure?!" I asked in shock.

"Yes! Where did you get it! You know tattoos are mostly common on prostitutes! If duke Edward was to see that he would lose interest in you, you have to figure out a way to remove that soon, today cover yourself well, he shouldn't see it when he comes, how did I not see that sooner" she said loudly, I looked at her feeling speechless.

Not long ago we hated the Duke with all our hearts but what happened to change that? Did Crystal really want me to marry an old lustful man?

"What if I want this tattoo? I care less about duke Edward's feelings" I answered calmly as she laughed.

"Snow enough with the jokes, get out of the water and dress up properly, the duke will be here soon," she said as I stood still refusing to move, her laughter faded, she looked at me angrily.

"Snow you can't be serious, duke Edward loves you, he was the only one who stood by you and helped you, you can't be that blind and ungrateful to him," she said loudly.

"I don't want him, we both know his married to more than one wife, his first born children are our age mates, his old enough to be our father" I yelled angrily.

"Well he's an old man with money and status, I still don't understand what he sees in you anyway, for once in life do something that would benefit our family name, we both know no man would truly love you, look at you? You aren't pretty or beautifully shaped, your only choice is to acknowledge duke Edward" she said calmly.

I came out of the water angrily and wore my clothes.

"Good, now go and put on your other best dress and be on your best behavior like yesterday, if you want you can wear my clean dress, it's a lot more decent than yours," she said.

I looked at her with folded arms.

"If not for how bad and horrible I felt that time I hit you, I could have done more than hitting you right now," I said then walked away leaving her standing.

I went into the house laughing out loud like a crazy person, was Crystal really the young sister I raised?

I went into my room and sat down on my bed thinking about what I should do.

I stood up and got my clean dress from the worn-out wardrobe and put it on my bed, I took off my dress then put on my clean one.

I was about to tie my hair when my bedroom door opened, Crystal stood with a smile.

"Right on time, duke Edward is outside waiting for you," she said.

I dropped my hand from my hair

And walked past her, she caught my hand and stepped in front of me.

"You look beautiful big sister," she said while trying to fix my dress properly, I held her hand and squeezed it tightly as she tried to pull away with a scream.

"Snow it hurts" she cried out.

I angrily let go of her hand.

"It's good that you still know I'm the eldest, I'm your big sister, you don't speak for me and you will never do, let this be the last time you try and order me around, right now I'm not going to entertain that old fool, I'm going to the market, when I come back I should find you in your right mind little sister" I spat as she looked at me with tears.

"Snow I'm sorry I have angered you, I'm sorry" she cried, I gently touched her cheeks and smirked.

"Your tears no longer move me, little sis," I said as I dropped my hand and walked out.

I came out of the house and found duke Edward standing outside his carriage, two Ladies stood next to him with their gaze fixed at the ground.

"My lovely bride, you look so beautiful today, allow me to adore you and dress you up in the finest silk ever," he said as the two ladies went in the carriage and came back with different silk dresses.

"Where is the jewelry and perfume? Get them out too" he ordered as one lady went back.

I moved closer with a smile, I already dealt with Crystal he was next.