Chapter 3 What Party?

"Based on our research Tamers use their blood to transform their beast. Why don't you try it, Rose?" Nate suggested as he led us to the training room for our breakfast. Since I am on Princess training again I have to spend every morning with Nate to perfect my table manners.

"Nah. That is fake. Tried it yesterday and it did not work." I say recalling how I gave Custard a bit of my blood to transform him into killer mode. Nothing happened that day.

"Well....maybe something is wrong with your blood?" Nate said as he opened the door for me.

"Or something is wrong with Custard. Am I right, boy?" I said and cooed at Custard who was walking by my side this whole time. His response was a low growl. "Maybe it's your attitude." I said to the wolf.

"Or maybe your dog doesn't want a pathetic master like you and is thinking of quitting to be your partner."

"Who-" I was about to say something rude when my eyes landed on the person who said it. Well go figure. The room was designed to look like a study room. I looked at Nate expectantly asking him to explain. I was pretty sure that today is my schedule for training with Nate and not Ace.

"Sorry, Rose." He said apologetically. "If I had said that you have training with Ace-"

"Ehem!" Ace coughed.

"-PRINCE Ace,'' Nate corrected himself. "I highly doubt that you would go voluntarily."

"Damn right you are." I said as I turned my back in retreat, but before I could move another step, Nate had me by the collar of my dress; stopping me from my escape.

"Sorry, princess. Your family history is such a mess. Don't you want to know more about it?"

"Nope." Seriously, I don't care.

"Sorry but you have no choice. As a princess you-"

"But I don't wanna be a princess." I whine and have to fight the urge to roll on the floor and throw a tantrum. Being a princess is no fun!

"-to. And besides, it won't be that bad."

I looked back at Ace then at Nate. I raised an eyebrow at Nate daring him to argue.

"No I mean, you are not going to have a one on one lesson with PRINCE Ace."

"Oh so you are here too? Yippie." I said sarcastically.

"Actually it's me." Suddenly Fred was standing beside Nate.

"Oh hey, Fred. Good thing you are here. Rose, won't-"

I immediately folded my hands in front of me like a proper lady as I fixed my hair. "Are we going to start this lesson or what?"

Nate glared at me for some reason. I don't know. Either it is because I changed my mind or I cut him off again.

Fred just laughed. "I see we are ready to start?"

"Yup!" I said.

Nate snorted. "Yeah right. A second ago you were-"

"Oh look at the time you're wasting, Nate. I think you should leave now. Uh-buh-bye." I said and closed the door the moment Fred entered the room.

I am going to have my lesson with Fred today and no one can stop me. Oh yeah right.....PRINCE Ace is here. Perhaps I can pretend he is not here though.

As soon as we got to our seats did Ace and Fred started briefing me about my heritage. At first I was a bit excited, but when Ace started talking it started to bore me.

"Rose, you come from a line of royal blood. The last royal blood-"

"Or so you thought." I cut Ace off, which annoyed him.

"Yeah. Too bad it had to be you." He said through gritted teeth. "Now will you let me finish so you can finally have an idea on where you come from?"

"Nah. It's okay." I said with a shrug.

"Okay? Don't you want to know about your family history?" Ace asked in surprise.

"Nope."

"Or even being related to Queen Elizabeth?"

"Ew. Now that is definitely a no."

"Personally I think your history is very interesting seeing as our family is very close. My dad's ancestors and the late king of Gija." Fred says looking at some papers that he brought with him.

Immediately I sat upright. "Really?"

"Oh now she's interested." Ace rolled his eyes.

If anything, Fred only laughed. "Well, according to some of the records, our families are trade partners. Our kingdom provides medicines and healing potions while yours provide the ingredients needed for those potions."

"Oh wow. Basically our families are close."

Ace scoffed. "I thought you're not interested?"

"Shhh. Shut up I'm listening." I told him.

"Yeah." Fred said, ignoring Ace and I's short bicker. "The late king of Gija and my great great great grandfather are actually childhood friends." My heart squealed in joy just hearing about it. And for the first time since I learned about being a tamer, I am actually interested in knowing more about my history.

"Too bad you're not interested in knowing more. Let's call this a day so you can practice fighting." Ace said as he started to get up.

"Oh you are still here? Well it doesn't matter. You can leave. Fred can tell me the rest. Bye bye!" In my mind I'm screaming in joy because I can finally have some alone time with Fred. But it all changed when I saw Fred starting to follow Aces lead in leaving. "Fred? Where are you going?"

Fred smiled sadly at me. "Rose? I don't think anyone has ever told you this, but I cannot teach you about your history."

"What? Why?"

Fred looked hesitant at Ace. Ace returned his look with a more seriousness in them. "Don't make me tell her. If I do I won't do it nicely and we'll end up fighting. And I can't promise I won't throw her out. Princess or not."

"What? What's happening?" I looked from Ace then to Fred.

Fred sighed and gave me a sad smile. "Rose, I won't be staying here to teach you anything. I am going back to my kingdom. I have responsibilities there."

The news was so shocking that I hit my head on the table to see if I was dreaming or not.

****

"Fred why would you leave again?" I asked as I ran to keep up with Fred's pace. "Don't leave."

Fred didn't even look at me. "Sorry, Rose. But I have to." He said looking troubled.

"Why? Is something bothering you? Do you have a problem? If you have then please tell me. Maybe I can help." I insisted.

"No, Rose. You can't." He said looking at me this time with a sad smile on his face. "It is more of a personal matter. I can't....I can't subdue my feelings while I'm here. And besides, I cannot compete for another crown while I am already about to rule our kingdom."

"Fred...."

"I'm sorry, Rose. It's not what you think it is. I have responsibilities too. Also....never mind." He says.

"What is it, Fred? You can tell me." I insisted.

"It's nothing, Rose. My feelings....don't matter." He says sadly.

"What feelings?" I asked.

"It's nothing."

"Fred, you can tell me if it is bothering you so much."

Fred suddenly stops walking and turns to face me. "I can't stand it, Rose!" He yelled. "I hate it. I hate seeing you or any other prince in a single room! This....this sort of feeling....is this jealousy?!"

"F-Fred...."

"I hate it, Rose. I hate this!"

"Fred? Are you saying...." I felt myself blush a little. I don't want to be a little assuming but maybe....ya know?

"I love the princes, Rose! And I think you are becoming close to them. Too close for my comfort!"

"....?"

"If I was born a girl, you would be nothing compared to my looks. Face it, honey, your only advantage is that you are a girl."

With that Fred placed a hand on his hips and puckered his lips as he gave me a head to toe check up.

.

.

.

"GHAD NO!"

"Hey. Hey!" Nate suddenly woke me up from my disturbingly terrifying dream .

"What?" I asked in annoyance.

"You've been zoning out. Is something wrong?"

I glared at him. All his betrayal seeping out of my eyes to strangle him. "Oh gee I don't know, NATHANIEL. Is something wrong?" I asked him.

"Umm....something about the way you spoke my name seems....weird." He pointed out.

"Oh I don't know, NATHANIEL. Is there something wrong?" I asked as I crossed my legs, arranged my skirt, and then placed both hands on my lap as I gave him a sarcastic smile. "I mean, the answer as to why I am in this mood might be me lying in front of your face, no?"

Nate, with his dazzling green eyes, stared into mine as he tried to figure out why I was mad at him. He suddenly snapped his fingers. "Is it because I lied to you this morning?"

"Ding ding ding! And the bloodsucker gets it right. Give him some blood orange!"

"I'm sorry, Rose."

"No. I will not accept your apology even if you give me those puppy eyes-" Nate suddenly pouted and tries to enlarge his cute green eyes "-or fake sob-" Nate started sobbing but suddenly chokes in the process "-or beg for forgiveness on you knees, NATHANIEL."

"Princess Rose-" hearing him calling me princess made me flick his forehead, but he doesn't seem to feel it as he continued. "-I am deeply wounded that I may have offended you this morning by leaving you with another guy when you badly wanted to be with me."

"No I don't!"

"Despite your denial I know you true feelings towards me. Therefore I know you are hurt, but fear not for I won't be leaving you this time. So I ask this of you. Please take my sincerest apology and have me as your loyal servant."

"Nathaniel?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you kneeling and putting your hands together as if you are praying instead of apologizing?"

"To express my deepest feelings like a virgin."

"You crack! You just insulted me and the rest of the virgins reading this."

"Rose, fourth wall. Fourth wall."

"Oops."

"And I am still a virgin if you don't know."

"What?!" I gasped.

Nate started laughing. "Just kidding! I wish."

I rolled my eyes. "Damn you are annoying." I said as I pushed myself up. As I did, my fingers slipped and I cut myself with the knife on the table. "Ow!"

"Rose! You're bleeding. Give me your hand and let me check your wound."

"I'm fine. I'm fine." I said through gritted teeth.

"No you are not. Let me see." He grabbed my hand into his. As soon as he did, the door suddenly flung open and in came the twins.

"I heard Rose screaming! All right you filthy vampire. What.did.you.do?!" Dan yelled waving a poorly carved stake in one hand. Ren was standing behind him holding a basket of garlic and ready to throw at Nate. "My garlics are ready." He says.

Dan's eyes shifted from me then to Nate. He gasped. "OH MY GODS!! WTF NATE! ARE YOU PROPOSING TO MY SISTER-IN-LAW?!?!"

"What?!" Nate and I looked at each other wondering where they got that idea. Suddenly our gazes switched to our interlocked hands.

"..."

"..."

"Nate! I'm not ready to commit." I said pulling my hand back.

"Hey language, Rose!" Nate says getting up. "And I am not proposing! You of all people should know why!"

"Yeah I know the reason. You are supposed to be with some other prince in this room!" Dan yelled and in that instant Ren spoke to me in my mind.

‘See! My brother likes you. He's making it obvious.’

"I don't know what you are talking about, Ren." I mumbled.

"And you!" Dan continued screaming and this time he was aiming at Custard who was peacefully sitting beside me. "You were supposed to watch her and let no other guy get to her!"

‘See?!’

"Ren? Shut up."

"Wolves stick together!" Dan said angrily marching towards Custard as he brought him up. "We were supposed to be a team! I trusted you despite you almost killing me you little-ow!" Dan was shaking Custard as he yelled at him. Custard didn't like it, resulting in him biting Dan's nose.

"Ha! He got your nose." I couldn't help but comment.

Dan dropped Custard. Custard took that chance as he ran out of the room.

"Come back here!" Dan growled running after him.

"Hey, Dan, you idiot. Come back here!" Ren said running after Dan.

"You guys leave Custard alone!" I said running after both of them.

"Rose, your wound. Don't go running after them. Argh! Damn it." Nate yelled and hearing the footsteps behind me, I can only guess that he's running after us.

"Come here you! So I can skin you alive!"

"Dan, we are already in trouble with the queen. Please stop breaking more rules!"

"TRY TO SKIN MY DEAR CUSTARD, DAN! JUST YOU TRY!" I yelled angrily.

"Will everyone just stop running!?" At first I heard Nate yelling behind me. Then suddenly he was running beside me. "Gotcha!" He said, but apparently Custard made a U turn and tackled Nate between the legs. 

"Holy sh^T!"

"That's my boy!" I said gleefully and picked up Custard when I saw Dan running towards us. "Gotta go!"

"Dan don't you dare try and run after Rose-" I heard Ren trying to warn his brother but he only cut him off.

"Brother, I am really happy that you worry for her, but she has something that I want to kill right now so move!" Then I heard rapid footsteps behind me. I ran for the stairs and almost skipped a few steps down. We were basically at the platform between the stairs when I looked back and saw Dan only a few steps behind me. I held up Custard in front of his face.

"Custard, use scratch attack!" When Custard didn't do anything but stare, I grabbed his paws and used it to scratch Nate's nose.

Nothing to worry about since vampires heal fast..

"Ow! Damn it Rose." Nate hissed.

"That's my boy!" I said to Custard and kissed his forehead. Apparently my own spirit animal hates me and almost bit my nose off. "Eep!" I was so surprised that I didn't watch where I was going and hit a random wall at the end of the stairs.

A soft and gentle voice laughed. "I see you guys are having fun as usual." Fred said, looking at us in amusement.

"Hey, Fred. Hand me that demon over there." Dan yelled behind me.

Either Fred didn't hear him or he was too focused reading my expression. "Um...Rose? Is something wrong?"

"Oh um....hey there, Fred. Uh...." I coughed. "I-I am not handing Custard over by the way." I said.

"Yeah I figured." He chuckled then his eyes fixed on my hand.

"Give me that wolf!" Fred and I were busy talking that I didn't notice that Dan was already beside me. "I am going to butcher it!"

Fred looked coldly at Dan for a second when he spoke his name. "Daniel." He says making Dan stop at the coldness before it was gone. Fred then regarded my hand carefully. "Rose, let me see your hand." He says softly.

"Um.....You gonna do palm reading?"

"Very funny." He smiled and took my hand. I felt a sharp pain on the palm of my hand.

"Gah see. I was trying to tell her that she's injured." Nate mumbled.

Looking at my palm I saw that I have a cut on my palm. It was not too big nor small, but it was enough to gush out a bit of blood staining Custard. "Oops. Sorry, Custard." Custard didn't seem to mind though. On the other hand, he was more interested in sniffing my injured palm. I suddenly remembered the time when Custard transformed and how he healed my wound back then. It seems that he was about to do it again if Fred didn't clasp his hands into mine covering it from Custard.

Fred started muttering words that I cannot understand. When he releases my hand, the pain is gone and so is the wound.

"Show off." I heard Dan mumble behind me.

And just like that. I had a small deja vu of the time Fred healed my wound for the first time in the garden pavilion.

Fred placed his hand on top of my head. "Please be careful not to hurt yourself."

"Prince Frederick." There was a voice behind him. Ace marched up towards us. He paused for a bit wondering why all of us were gathered in one place, then his eyes fixed on Fred's hand on my head before looking back at Fred. "I was informed that everything is set for your departure."

"Good. Then I guess I'll get going then." Fred said as he started to walk away.

"Wait what? You are leaving now?"

Fred turned back a bit sad. "Yeah. Unfortunately. I was supposed to leave tomorrow morning, but I guess someone out there hates me. There was a report this morning about illegal magic practice. I need to go back and deal with it." He says.

"Oh..." I was a bit disappointed to hear him leave so soon.

"Hey don't worry, Rose. It won't be long until I visit again."

"Of course....just a visit." Fred laughed when he heard my disappointment again. "So when are you going to visit again?" I asked.

"At the party two weeks from now." He says.

"Huh? Party?" It might be my imagination but I saw Prince Ace, Nate, Ren, and Dan flinch. "What party?"

"The one where you are intro -" Fred paused as he looked at something behind me looking confused. "Er...I am guessing I am not supposed to mention it yet. Ha ha ha...." Fred didn't seem like he was talking to me. More like he was addressing the people behind me. When I turned back I saw the rest of the prince doing weird gestures. Nate trying to zip his lips, Ren crossing his arms, Ace shaking his head, and Dan.....I think he is giving him the finger and gliding it through his neck. As soon as they noticed me looking they completely stopped what they were doing and looked away.

Dorks.

I looked back at Fred. "What Par-" I was about to ask but Fred was already running for the door and waving at me.

"Good luck, Rose! I promise to be cheering for you." And used like that he left for the door.

What the...?!

As soon as Fred left I turned around to address the rest of the princes. "What par-" When I turned, the area was clear, save for their footsteps echoing upstairs. I did a 360 degree turn to see if there was anyone I could ask. There was none. Damn it!!

Only Custard and I were the ones left in the area. I screamed.

"WHAT PARTY!?!?!"