The courtyard was hushed, lit only by the pale gleam of the lamps and the waning moon filtering through the spires of palace.
The First Prince moved with deliberate grace, his long, golden hair trailing like liquid ink behind him. His eyes pale and merciless fixed upon her like the sharp instinct of a predator watching its prey. Elena's throat tightened.
He tilted his head, a cruel half-smile tugging at his mouth. "It is strange...how the air tastes sweeter when you are near. Do you feel it too, my dear?"
Elena's chest constricted. She tried to step back, but his hand reached out, curling lightly under her chin, tilting her face upward. His breath brushed her skin as he lowered his head to hers, his gaze fixed squarely on her lips.
As she felt his warm, gingery breath on her lips, panic surged fiercely within her. Before she could think, Elena shoved him back. The force was hard, though not as brutal or nearly the same strength she had used once against Damien. Cassian staggered a step with his hair flaring behind him like a milky waterfall. For a flicker of a moment, genuine surprise flashed across his stunning features.
Realizing what she had done, Elena gasped and quickly dropped to her knees.
She knew whoever he was, he wasn't just a mere servant or palace guard. Even the commissary couldn't look as regal as this man.
"Forgive me, noble sir, I meant no disrespect."
Without waiting for his reply, she gathered her skirts and fled toward the garden paths, her heartbeat hammering in her ears.
'If I keep this up, I just might end up with my head on a chopping block!' she thought to herself as she dashed through the trees.
Cassian remained where she had left him on the floor. His lips lifted lopsidedly before curling once more into place as he watched her retreating figure. He brushed invisible dust from his cloak, murmuring to himself, "What an amusing little dove. Fiery..how… amusing."
He lifted his gaze from where he sat on the floor.
Damien stood at veranda of the main house. His crimson red eyes glared was now in full force, glaring furiously like hellfire and fixed on Cassian. Their gazes locked, neither flinched nor even diverted attention from the other. Cassian's smirk widened, revealing a set of pearl white teeth. He raised his hand and gave a lazy, playful wave to Damien who returned it with a look meant to kill.
Then, with a leap too swift for human sight, he vanished into the trees, his laughter echoing faintly in the distance.
.........
Supper time arrived soon, a few hours before midnight. She didn't understand why they should dine when midnight was just a couple of hours away. Elena had tried to question a few maids about this but their reply was always the same: " My apologies, your highness. I know nothing about this."
Probably it was a secret not meant to be heard by outsiders but wasn't she now part of the royal family?
Probably not...
By the time Elena entered the grand dining hall, the King and the royal family were yet to arrive.
Good riddance! That entire family was insane. She immediately took her seat, waiting for the rest of the family to arrive.
The room was vast with its vaulted ceilings painted with murals of past kings and Viscounts. Golden chandeliers burning with hundreds of candles casted an otherworldly glow befitting of a kingdom.
Soon, the herald blew the trumpet, signifying the arrival of the royals. Every living thing in the room immediately fell on their knees in respect except Elena who maintained a polite curtsey. The King walked in with the Queen by his side followed by the four princes.
King Alexandria Von Carstein, ruler of the Zerathanian empire approached the head of the table. His silver hair gleamed beneath his crown complimenting his deep brown eyes. For a man who had been ruling since he was fifteen, he looked way too young. The Queen sat beside him at the head of the table. Everyone in the kingdom knew of the 'Ice Queen' who radiated more power than the king.
The long table stretched endlessly, lined with goblets and platters of delicacies, some of which Elena had never even seen or heard.From the corner of her lowered eyes, she saw the first prince sit at the left side of the King. Next was Damien who she knew as the second prince.
Across from the King on the right hand sat Prince Lucian, the Third Prince. He had golden hair like Cassian catching the light from the chandeliers like golden threads under the moonlight. He was striking and looked angelic in appearance, but the glimmer in his eyes held a hint of boredom and discretion.
And at the far end, three seats away from Lucian, sat the youngest—Prince Severin. He was eerily quiet and had long raven-black hair falling over his pale face. One thing that made anyone stare was his hair. On one part of his head was long, shiny black hair and on the other side was a lush heap of glittering silver hair, each resting beautiful on his back. He looked otherworldly that most people even the servants called him the Zerathanian idol.
His hands were folded neatly and he had a gentler appearance than the rest of the princes. Only his eyes moved, dark and calculating. He barely spoke or moved and when he did, it was never for too long.
When the members of the royal family were all seated, Elena turned to the table. Taking three steps back, she lowered her self ninety degrees, offering her greetings.
"Good evening, Your Majesties. May this night's feast be blessed and may harmony dwell among us at table."
The King studied her for a long moment before turning back to his plate. He smiled softly at her before raising his hand. " We accept your greetings, princess. Have a seat." Elena bowed again before calmly approaching her seat beside Damien.
Immediately the king picked up his cutlery, the entire hall fell silent. The only sounds that were heard were the sound of cutlery yet Elena could feel the weight of everyone's eyes upon her still.
A voice soon broke this graveyard ambience.
Cassian leaned forward, his voice echoing across the hall smooth as honey. "Tell me, Princess... has my brother treated you kindly since your union?" Elena looked up to see the person who was addressing her.
That's when realization hit her. This was the man who had caught her yesterday!
He was a prince?!
And the Crown prince at that?!!.
Elena began to fidget greatly. She had never expected to be thrown off guard just minutes into the supper. She hesitated for a while, then answered carefully, "His Highness has been... honorable when fairing with me."
"Honorable you say," Cassian echoed with a soft chuckle. "Such a dreary word. Surely he has offered you something more than honor?" His smile deepened as his gaze shifted to Damien who hadn't looked up from his plate since the beginning.
Cassian sipped from his goblet idly, "Perhaps she prefers dreary words. They suit her innocence."
Elena's hands clenched in her lap, though she kept her face composed. She dared not glance at Damien, though she felt the tension radiating from him.
Shouldn't he at least say something to defend himself? What was wrong with this man?!
Cassian spoke again." I'm sure the honorable treatment you meant is being chased out of your home yesterday night. I happened to chance upon you last night and your expression was quite... dishonorable, don't you think?"
"Your highness, that wasn't—"
"Then what was the case?" Cassian pushed
"Enough, Cassian. She is his bride and however he treats her is left for his hands alone."
Cassian smiled widely before pushing himself back to his chair. "Of course, your majesty."
After that, the whole room fell into silence again. No one spoke after that and Elena felt more relieved, even wishing for no one to speak after that 'quarrel' with the crown prince. Elena exhaled shakily once the king finished speaking.
Good riddance!
.........
The night passed away quickly and morning came with his fiery brightness.
The tutors continued to drill her on the history and accounts of the empire. As they said " A royal is to be well educated on the precepts of her homeland". For the first time, Elena was actually enjoying the lessons. She found herself asking questions and even wishing to know more about the history of the empire and how it was founded. The tutors were amazed at her willingness and answered her questions with delight. For once, she was actually enjoying these palace lessons.
"Emperor Cassimir the third was the founder of Zerethane, three thousand years ago," the tutor answered.
Elena looked up, her eyes burning with hunger for more knowledge.
By dusk, her tutors were already weary. The head tutor had to be dismissed because of her other lessons already planned. Her face instantly fell as she was led out of the gazebo to the parlor to resume her training on princess manners and etiquettes.
..........
By the time it was afternoon, her energy had already depleted to the lowest level. The royal family only met for dinner every night. Breakfast and lunch were taken together only for important occasions like when she had just joined them.
Her lunch was hurriedly being prepared and she was made to sit in the shade to wait for it beneath the grand tree of the courtyard.
Bored, she decided to explore the other parts of the Prince's palace. Elena had never had the chance to visit the other palaces that belong to the rest of the princes.
Shouldn't I at least get a tour of the place of something? she reasoned as she walked to the back of the palace where several little buildings were erected.
She had just passed beneath a row of darkened arches when her body froze, completely rooted to the ground. The air shimmered before her eyes, and a vision unfolded.
From the shadows stepped the woman she had seen before—the pale-haired stranger from the masquerade. Her long white hair flowed like silver fire and her eyes still reflected the deep pools of sorrow. She reached out a hand toward Elena.
"Princess," the woman said, her voice resonant and mournful.
Elena's lips parted. "Who— you...why are you here? Where have you been?" she questioned her immediately. Somehow, she didn't feel even slightly afraid of her.
The woman only shook her head, her eyes clouded with grief. She stepped closer hovering her hand in the air. Elena felt her own arm lift as though compelled. When their hands touched, the world around her dissolved into cold mist.
"You must listen," the woman whispered with hurried urgency drawn on her face "Every bride of a Carstein prince has perished after the mating ritual. Every single one with no one left to tell the tale. You are the first to survive. And because of that, you will have more enemies than friends in this palace."
Elena's breath caught. What was this all of a sudden?
"Why me? Why did I survive?"
The woman's expression darkened. "That is a question that will draw blood if answered aloud. Beware, child. You walk among wolves hungrier than you know. Keep your mouth shut and your presence hidden, that's all I can tell you."
The mist thickened, wrapping around them even fiercer.
"Wait!" Elena cried, reaching for her again. "Tell me more!"
But the woman's figure blurred, fading into nothingness. The vision shattered like glass, and Elena stumbled forward, gasping, alone once more in the cold corridor of the palace.
What?! How am I here?
Wasn't I just outside a while ago?
Her hands shook as she pressed them to her chest. The warning echoed in her mind, chilling her more than anything ever could.
If this was true, did that really means there were vampires in the palace? Was it all true?! Hadn't Damien just said that to scare her?
Her mind immediately flashed back to Damien offering her his wrist. He wouldn't have done that for nothing would he?.
The ritual, her strange fainting
Wait, am I a vampire too?!
A cold shiver crept up her back and suddenly, she felt watched...