Title: Bound to Devotion

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my words.

Summary: "A life of devotion isn't what Emily envisioned for herself…"

… Set before "The Corpse Bride" Emily Pruett is bound to marry someone she doesn't love; someone she's never even met. Bound to laws and honor, she unwillingly proceeds forward in a life she despises until she meets a mystery man who unlocks her heart and promises to love her until "Death do they part".

And with that..."Let the stories that bind me, be free..."

Crack

The sharp pain flew up her long slender fingers.

"D sharp! For heavens sake girl, pay attention!" The shrill voiced shrieked deep withinthe young student'sbones as she nodded and quickly resumed playing.

The somber lullaby that danced across the empty hall mirrored that ofthe young girl'ssomber heart. Her mother crouched close to her watching her every note she fluttered across the piano keys with her whipping stick at the ready. She was as most girls were; a prisoner in her own home.Miss Pruett had luxuries that other women could only dream of. She lived in a monstrous home that oozed of dignity and wealth. The Pruett's were after all, one of the wealthiest merchants in town. Mr. Finial and Dorathea Pruett were "blessed" if you could call it that with one child; a girl no less. And they named her Emily.

Emily grew up in wealth and beauty but her parent's hearts were as cold as ice. A girl was of no use to them. She could no less carry on the name nor increase their wealth. And she was forced to learn as many talents as possible; dancing, stitching, cooking, playing piano; anything that would make her more of an asset rather than a burden. The less of a dowry, the better. And so Emily grew up under the watchful eyes of her parents.

The intense scrutiny she surrendered herself to was nothing more than bothersome at times to Emily. Her unique mind graced her with a quick tongue, a brilliant brain and all the niceness you could squeeze into one person. No matter how harsh the punishment or how humiliating the task was she did everything with a smile. She was kind and pure; a rare treasure among those around her.

As the years went on, Emily only grew to be more talented and more graceful. The boys who were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her out in her garden, went on and on about how her hair shimmered and how striking her eyes were. No one was ever allowed close enough to talk to her. She was rarely aloud to leave the house except for important trips. But still she was the apple of everyone's eyes except her parents.

The time had come for Emily to at least be plucked for the ripe. She was after all, eighteen years of age this coming month. The talks of her prospects were done without her knowledge. She went on as always tending to her garden and playing the piano. As Emily still played on even to this very moment, her impending transfer from one prison to another still lingered without her consent.

Her fingers rushed furiously across the keys as she sped up the tempo playing to her heart's desire. Curls of jet black hair swung across her face. Her dark brooding eyes never wavering.

Slam

Her head jerked up towards the door where her father came striding in, his face contorted into a sneer grin.

"My dear Dorathea! I've done it! I've found someone who had asked for no dowry for Emily!"

Emily quickly threw her head down and turned back to her piano as they spoke on about her as though she were not even there. She found this was the most pleasant way to be not seen. What they didn't know about their so called obedient daughter was that her mind raced all the time. Her mind filled with thoughts of a life in which she were free to choose what she wanted. A life in which she was allowed to love. The thought of a marriage to a stranger sickened her.

As she made her way up towards her chambers that night, her head filled with thoughts of her parents profusely apologizing to her for ever making her marry someone she didn't even know. She was free to choose the man she wanted; someone brave and cunning, someone who wasn't afraid to speak up. Maybe he even liked poetry. Her pink lips curled in a sweet smile as she dreamed of a man she could love for an eternity. What she didn't know was that the marriage papers were being signed at that very moment.

TBC...

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