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Abuela’s eyes glassed over as she reached up and placed the mantilla veil atop my head. She smoothed my hair back, careful of the pins she used to hold it out of my face. Her hands were steady as she smoothed the sides of my dress before she gave a satisfied nod. “You look beautiful, mija.”
She moved to stand beside me, looking into the mirror.
My gown had sheer sleeves with lace appliques down the sides. The top was sheer, the neckline an intense V that went all the way down to where the skirt started at my waistline. The lace was strategically placed, hiding all the important bits though the top was almost completely transparent. My skirt was a black crepe. It hugged my hips and thighs down to my knees before it flared out. It likely wasn’t the traditional ballgown my Abuela would have preferred but she couldn’t really be picky. Especially not when I agreed to a wedding ceremony even though I was already married. She hadn’t even complained too much that my dress wasn’t white. Well… at least not out loud. Her eyes were another story.
The large windows in my living room were covered casting inside in the warm light created by the chandelier.
“Beautiful enough to marry a demon?” I teased.
“Oh.” She whacked me lightly, shaking her head. “Will you stop with all that? I may have come to terms with what he is, but there is no reason we have to keep tempting the heavens by reminding them.”
“I’ll remind them every day.” I wrapped my hand over hers. “To deny what he is would be more sinful than admitting it, don’t you think? Especially after all he’s done for us.” I couldn’t care less what anyone thought about me marrying a demon. He was mine and the more time I spent with him the more I realized he was always meant to be mine. Somewhere, maybe nowhere I could ever see, it was written in the stars.
A sigh left her before she nodded. “Yes. How right you are.”
Gran appeared behind us. She adjusted her fancy blue hat on her head before she smoothed the gold skirt of her knee-length dress. It had navy long sleeves and a high neckline. “I don’t care what he is, he’s a godsend.” She got on her toes and I had to lean over to let her press a kiss on my cheek.
“Agreed,” Abuela nodded.
“Oh, Ede!” Olivia came down the hall in her red gown. All the girls had chosen their own. Sarika was the one who suggested red, she thought it would be funny having everyone in red since I was marrying a demon. She threw her arm around my neck and my head whipped back as it snagged my veil.
“Jesus, Vi! Careful you don’t snap her neck. I doubt Asmodeus would be cool with you killing his bride.” Alicia came in behind her.
“Excuse you, Alicia. Don’t use the lord’s name in vain,” Abuela warned.
“Oh, shit! Sorry, Ede.” Olivia quickly pulled her hands back before she tried to smooth and fix my veil. She let out a breath, stepping back to look at me. “You look beautiful.”
“Really? Your granddaughter can marry a demon but I can’t use the lord’s name in vain? I think we are going to have to loosen up on those rules.” Alicia rolled her eyes.
Abuela made the sign of the cross before she turned her head up to look at the ceiling. “Lord, give me the strength to survive these girls.”
“Didn’t Asmodeus already do that for you?” Sarika teased, as her and Imani joined the group.
Abuela threw her hands up. “Come Lulu, these girls are asking for it and I’m not about to scuff my good shoes.”
Sarika laughed, sticking her tongue out as Abuela and Gran made their way out onto the back deck where the girls had decorated for the ceremony. She turned to look at me, her smoky eye dark enough to suit the woman she had her eye on lately. “I love special occasions. It’s like a free pass to say whatever we want without getting hit.”
I grinned, watching her reflection through the mirror as I adjusted one of my hairpins. “You should be careful. Both those women may claim they walk with the lord, but they hold a grudge like nobody’s business.”
Wrapping her arms around herself, Sarika shivered. “Hey! Why would you say that? Now I’m going to be nervous until something happens. Should I just let them hit me?” She crouched down, looking around the floor. “Where are your slippers?”
Rolling my eyes, I turned to look over my girls.
Thickness tightened my throat as I looked them all over. “I know this past month hasn’t been easy. What wasn’t completely filled with fear was filled with witchcraft and… well… more fear. We may not be religious and buy into all the stuff my Gran and Abuela do, but Asmodeus is a demon. I get it. I know it’s crazy and I know if I had saner friends a lot of them would write me off for going through with this.”
Sarika raised her arms. “Whoo!”
Alicia chuckled, shoving her shoulder lightly against Sarika and causing her to stumble.
Olivia’s eyes glassed over as she looked at me and Imani’s lips pressed thin.
“Some of you may have taken a little bit longer to come around.”
Alicia, Sarika and Olivia all turned and pointed at Imani.
Her eyes widened like she hadn’t expected them to call her out. As long as we’ve been friends, she should really know better. “What? Guys! He had horns! And he tackled her to the table and all that.” She sucked her teeth, rolling her eyes. “Excuse me if I expected the demon to prove he wasn’t going to kill us all and end the world before I accepted him as her husband. Standards, bitches.”
“You know what?” Olivia nodded slowly. “She’s not wrong.”
