Her husband Locke Cole stood beside her, whispering in her ear. But he knew his words were useless, Celes was not listening.
Edgar Figaro, and his girlfriend Terra Bradford were in the room also. Neither was sure what to do, it had been at least six months since Patriot had died and Celes hadn't spoken a word since then.
"She'll get better Locke, just give her time." Terra said suddenly, but she couldn't even fake sounding hopeful.
Edgar tapped her shoulder and the two left the room. Locke watched them go and turned back to his entranced wife.
"Celes if you can hear me," he begged with tears in his eyes "Patriot's death was not your fault, it was a horrible accident."
A large blue-white tear suddenly ran down Celes cheek, but she still said nothing. Locke heaved a loud sigh and exited the room.
Downstairs Phoenix Cole-Figaro sat pretending to play with Celes and Locke's daughter Contessa, and Edgar and Terra's little boy Larc who sat in one corner of the room.
Phoenix missed her Mother greatly but she wasn't about to show it. She reacted cold and spoiled as usual and barely cried about it anymore.
"All these toys suck!!" She cried throwing a red rubber ball and hitting Larc upside the head
"Take it easy Phoenix, you know you can just have your Dad buy you a million more." Larc growled rubbing his spiked light green hair.
Larc was seven years old, two years older then Contessa and Phoenix. He had his Mother's green hair, only lighter, and his Father's huge navy blue eyes. He was young but acted as mature as a adult. Causing Phoenix to call him Grandpa in her weaker moments.
Locke, who happened to be Phoenix's Dad due to a brief affair with her dead Mother Patriot, felt awful for the bratty little girl and quite often showered her with gifts to try and make up for it. Leaving his other daughter Contessa out in the cold.
"Phoenix you are such a brat and you'll pay for it someday." the jealous Contessa snarled
"Oh you say that everyday Contessa you bitch." Phoenix shot back
"Leave her alone Phoenix." Larc erupted taking Contessa's side as always.
Phoenix rolled her eyes but stayed silent. She actually respected Larc and kind of had a itty bitty crush on him. But so did Contessa..
" I can not wait until she leaves." Contessa told Larc, later when Phoenix was no where to be found "Daddy says he's going to send her away very soon."
Larc nodded but said nothing. Phoenix wasn't that bad in his opinion, he liked Contessa a lot but Phoenix wasn't to bad either.
Just then Phoenix burst into the room laughing loudly. "Look at the fabulous dress my Father just bought me!!" she shouted spinning in a circle for all to see.
Larc clapped lightly to be polite but Contessa's little face turned red with rage. "He promised me that dress last week!!" she screamed Pointing to the pretty hand-sewn purple and white lacy dress.
"Well I guess we know who he likes best." Phoenix announced grinning evilly in Contessa's direction.
As Contessa was winding her hand up for a slap, Locke appeared in the doorway.
"I have something to tell you children." he declared looking very serious
"What is it Daddy?" Phoenix purred in her sweetest yet incredibly fake voice
Contessa opened her mouth to tell Phoenix off but a sharp nudge from Larc shut her up instantly.
"Phoenix due to a request from your stepmother Celes, you'll be staying with us."
Contessa nearly fainted, although she was relieved her Mother was talking again, while Phoenix erupted into joyous cheers. Larc's eyes were wide and he didn't look like he knew what to do....
THIRTEEN YEARS LATER
"I can not believe I am doing this." Phoenix thought pulling on her strapless bright purple satin dress.
But she forced a fake smile as Contessa appeared wearing her beautiful white wedding dress. Phoenix felt her upper lip begin to curl in disgust, but she quickly hid it.
"I wanted that wedding dress she knew I did!!" Phoenix thought watching wearily as Contessa took her place beside Larc at the altar.
"And my man!!" Phoenix's mind raged "Larc loves me and she knows it."
It was true Larc and Phoenix had dated for quite awhile, but she had cheated on him with a stable hand and he had begun to date Contessa shortly after.
After the wonderful and peaceful ceremony Contessa waltzed up to Phoenix.
"Phoenix I know we've had our differences but I want us to try and become friends." Contessa whined clearly annoying Phoenix.
"Yeah well I don't." Phoenix growled bluntly "I'm the one who should be wearing the wedding dress not you."
"Your a sick person Phoenix." Contessa shot back "Larc doesn't love you, maybe you should seek some help?"
Phoenix narrowed her eyes as the happy Bride skipped off in search of her new husband.
TWO YEARS LATER
"Hows Contessa doing?" Phoenix asked sweetly cuddling closer to Larc
"Not well." her handsome yet distressed husband answered "As a matter of fact she's getting much worse."
"Mind if I go in and talk to her for a minute?" Phoenix purred staring straight into his gorgeous eyes.
"Go ahead, but don't be long she needs her rest." Larc responded looking away.
Phoenix entered the room and sat in a chair close to Contessa's bed. Poor Contessa had contracted a rare and new blood disease that was crippling her. The doctor's had told Larc his wife wasn't going to live much longer.
"Phoenix." Contessa huffed weakly as beads of sweat rolled down her tired face. "What do you want?"
"To tell you Larc will be in good hands when you die." Phoenix said coldly "Oh and so will your two children."
Contessa's eyes widened at the thought of Phoenix kissing her husband or dressing her two young children Fallon and Diamond.
"Stay away from them!!" Contessa warned coughing loudly
"Oh I intend to, until the time is right." Phoenix sneered rather calmly
Phoenix nearly had a heart attack as Contessa sat up incredibly fast for a very sick woman and sunk her long nails into the other girls throat.
"You listen to me you bitch." Contessa snarled pulling Phoenix's face close to hers. "Your a brat and you'll pay for it someday!!"
"You always say that Contessa." Phoenix responded ripping Contessa's hand off of her face.
Contessa died shortly after her and Phoenix's heated discussion. Phoenix pretended to cry and all that at the funeral but she really had something evil in mind.
After everyone including a heart broken Larc and kid's had left, Phoenix tip-toed up to her dead stepsister's open coffin.
Contessa had requested before she died that she be buried in her beautiful wedding dress. The one Phoenix had always admired....
Phoenix grinned down at the dead woman and grabbed a hold of the dazzling dress. "I told you this would be mine someday." she whispered triumphantly
Nobody ever realized that day that somebody had stolen the wedding dress off of Contessa's cold embalmed body....
OVER SIX MONTHS LATER
"I don't know Phoenix." Larc said to the smiling woman "I don't think its been enough time."
"Of course it has Larc." Phoenix whined "You and the kids need somebody to take care of you, and I'm the one for that."
"I guess your right.." a defeated Larc answered welcoming Phoenix into his arms for a hug and kiss "Lets get married."
Wedding music played softly as Phoenix walked down the aisle that hot summer day. The sun was shining brightly and she knew she couldn't of looked better in her sister's fabulous wedding dress.
"Are you alright?" Larc whispered to her when she reached his side "You look very hot."
"I'm fine." Phoenix snapped looking at all the sweat that poured off of her. "Just a little nervous."
As the ceremony continued Phoenix felt worse and worse. "Phoenix do you take this man as your husband?" the priest asked her
"I d......." Phoenix fell flat on her back before she could finish
Everyone gasped and stood up in sheer surprise. Phoenix was clearly dieing.
"Your a brat and you paid for it!!" Were the all to familiar last words Phoenix heard before she died.
Later that night at a hospital, still in his wedding clothes, Larc paced back and forth nervously. A doctor suddenly emerged from the ICU.
"Doctor how is she? Is she alright?" Larc cried out
"I'm afraid not." the doctor responded "She died."
"From what!?" Larc screamed
"Apparently a severe allgeric reaction to embalming fluids on her wedding dress." the doctor answered in a puzzled voice.
THE END
