The Amulet of Tenebrae

Kendra enjoyed this little game they played of teasing each other. "Mmm, what a great graduation present that would be. Just don't get sucked into any mirrors this time." She teased back kissing his lips.

He sighed, "Ugh don't remind me." he avoided lot of mirrors because of that...at least being too close to it.

He kissed her again, "I'll see you a bit later, you need chat with Ruth about the party tomorrow." reminding her of the celebration for her graduation.

Kendra chuckled before he kissed her again and left her wanting more. "That's mean." She said. But he was right, she and Ruth had a few more things to finish before the party tomorrow evening. The party was going to be outside in the gardens. The weather had been perfect ever since Vor had been defeated.


Later the next evening...

Kendra was outside with Ruth putting a few finishing touches on the decorations before the party was to start. There were lights in the peach trees, lights strung from the porch over the tables and even a small area for dancing. Ruth rushed her off so she could get ready and change. She went up to her room and started to change out of her clothes into her party dress.

He smirked, "Later love." he said, heading to the lab once again, he was so close to finishing that he could have it done by tonight and be ready to present it to Kendra on the night of the party.

-----

Carter was getting the tables set and dressed as well and had gotten some help with some waiters and waitresses to help out with serving drinks and Hor'sderves/finger foods to the guests. It was smart casual but still had some classiness about it. "All set there. You two needing any help?" he asked Ruth and Kendra, "Nah I think we'll be good. In speaking of help where's Rassler?" Rather asked with a sigh.

"He said he's polishing something and he'll down in a minute." said Carter.

Kendra was running her fingers through her long semi-curled hair. She had kept it in a braid while it was wet to give it that relaxed curled look for the party. She pulled her hair over her shoulder and put a small crown of flowers atop her head. "Perfect." She was wearing a cropped tank top and a high waist tulle gradient long skirt with strappy sandals. She twirled around in the floor length mirror admiring her boho-esque outfit. She heard her cell phone chime and looked at the time. It was nearly time for the party to start.

Guests had started arriving and first to show up were her friends and her mother, Carter and Ruth were acting as greeters at the door and escorting people to the ballroom for the inside area and an outside partofthe orchard was decked up and part of the adjoined section of the party. A punch fountain was brought for the party and was turned on the moment the girls walked in and other classmates were showing up.

Rassler came out of his room all dressed smartly but still not too crazy fancy, walking on to see if Kendra was ready too.

Kendra heard knocks at the door as her guests began to arrive. "Yay! Everyone is starting to arrive. I better get downstairs." She grabbed her phone to take lots of selfies with and stuffed it into her waistband before walking out the door to head downstairs.

"Hey lover." he smirked, seeing her exiting her room, "Excited?" he asked looking her up and down, "Damn." he said giving her a spin, "Aren't you looking ever like a flower child." he chuckled, teasing her a bit.


They headed on downstairs and to the ballroom, her friends got all excited seeing her and they came over hugging her in a group, Rassler chuckled a little, just letting the girls be girls.

"Oh! Hey Rass. What is it?" He was looking her up and down and gave her a spin. "Well thank you. You look quite handsome yourself." She said and kissed his cheek before he escorted her downstairs. Her besties swarmed her with hugs as if Rassler wasn't even there. Kendra gave him an apologetic smile as they whisked her away.

Everyone was scattered around the gardens either dancing, mingling, or having a bite to eat. Kendra was with her friends on the dance floor dancing to their favorite pop song celebrating finally being free of high school!

A great spread of course was on the tables, Ruth and her hired cooks did a brilliant job as usual. And Carter was making sure everyone was behaving, since it was all 18 year old young adults in this party mostly, so he didn't want too much rowdy behaviour.

But everyone was being good and on their best behaviour...surprisingly.

They party went on and Rassler was on his own on an upper balcony looking over the orchard and the young couples dancing to a slow moving song.

Kendra was taking a little break and getting some water when she heard a slow song begin to play. She instantly started to look around for Rassler wanting to dance with him since she hadn't seen much of him all night. "Hmm. Where is he?" She looked around but couldn't find him outside. "Maybe he went inside for something?" She went back in through the ballroom and eventually found him alone on one of the upper balconies. "There you are. I've been looking all over for you. What are you doing up here all alone?"

He turned around seeing she had found him, "Sorry. old habits die hard." he said, watching the dancing, "I used to standing watching over other parties before your uncle's time and make sure all was swell.....so, old vantage point." he smiled and other hands, "How are you going?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Everyone is having a great time. I just was looking for you because I wanted to dance with you." She admitted. They could hear the music from the balcony easily. She stepped closer to him, "So...will you dance with me?"

He smiled, "Of course." he then got her in a slight waltz position and they gently began to sway to the music playing. As they did, he was looking rather in the eyes, "....My scrawny  squirrel." he chuckled and spun her around slowly and then got behind her with his arms around her waist, still swaying with the music.

".....You know that project I've been working on?" he asked her.

Kendra took his hand and got into position letting him lead. They began to sway to the slow music. She could feel his eyes looking at her as if he hadn't seen her in a long time. She met his eyes when he addressed her by her so called pet name he gave her a long time ago. He was pressed against her back with his arms around her waist. "Yes. Have you finally finished it?" She asked still swaying with him to the music.

"I did final touches last night." he smiled, "And what's more...I'm ready to show it to you." he said, turning her around to face him. he reaches into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet bag and handed it her, "Have a Look."

"That's wonderful." She turned to face him and saw him take a small velvet bag out of his pocket and gave it to her. It felt very light almost like there was nothing in it at all. "I wonder what it could be?" She pulled the bag open and couldn't see what was inside. She turned it over and let whatever was inside fall into her palm. A beautifully made ring fell and she was astounded by its sparkling beauty. "Rassler...it's lovely. You made this yourself?" She asked.

"Surprised you don't recognise it." he chuckled. Looking carefully, thirsting was once one of the 10 purple rings he once wore as a demon. He had carved it out and somehow shrunk it to her size, "I know you just graduated....but..." he got the ring from her and knelt before her, ".....Kendra......will you be my wife?"

Kendra looked at it closer and after studying it a bit she recognized it as one of the rings the many rings Rassler wore on his fingers when he was a demon. "This is very nice. Thank you, Rassler." She was about to put it on when Rassler got down on one knee in front of her. "Rassler? What are you..." She was stunned when he asked her to be his wife. This was all happening so fast. On the inside, she was screaming YES! YES! YES! over and over again but her brain just couldn't seem to comprehend.

"I...I..." She smiled, trying to get the words out. After she finally managed to swallow the huge lump that formed in her throat. She shook her head repeatedly. "Yes...I will."

He was worried she was gonna say no, but he smiled when she said the words he wanted to hear, He slipped the ring onto her finger and he stood, "Nothing else in this world could make me happier." he kissed with a strong passion behind it. He had been planning to ask her since he got working on that ring and he wanted it to be a personal touch for them both.

"It is so sudden and I never even considered getting married so soon, but I would be so honored to marry you, Rassler." She hugged him close as they kissed. Another slow song began to play and they seemed to keep swaying. "I love you so much." She said as she settled in his arms and tried to settle her racing heart.

He smiled, "I love you Kendra.....and I always will." he held her closets they got swaying to the music again, just keeping close to each other in this VERY special moment. He was FULLY at peace now, Kendra by his side and an actual future to look forward to. And all without being bound to anything or to worry about some craze king coming for them.

"But I'll say no mirrors for gifts." he said in a joke to her as he danced with her.

It was rare that they said such words to each other, but it was a special moment. She was so happy to be with him and that he was finally free to live his life with her at his side.

She chuckled at the joke. "I'll be sure to note that, but I don't think we really need anything. We have all we need right here in the manor." She said still swaying with him to the music. "We should have our own personal celebration once the party is over." She smirked at him before looking at her new ring.

"We will also need to tell the others....sometime." he wasn't in a rush to goof and tell anyone right now, he just wanted to be with Kendra at this time. "Ohh Though you would never ask." he grinned back and got kissing her again with a bit more tongue this time, touching at her jawline.

"But let's wait a bit, I'm...chill just swaying here..." he smirked little.

"Yeah, but we have plenty of time. We don't need to rush things." She said. Her arms wrapped around his back as he kissed her again. He knew all the right buttons to push. She played with his tongue until their lips parted again.

"Ok...the party isn't over just yet anyway. But I want to stay like this for a while too."