Chapter 3

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Blood

Dagger

I felt the pain that person was feeling, sharp stabbing pain in the chest. What’s this? Why can I feel it? I’m trembling, I’m Scared.

“This is for you, mate,” someone whispered.

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Amilia POV

Finally, we arrived at the Grand Hall, where all vampires, hybrids, and purebloods that are not mated gather to find their mates. The Grand Hall is an extension of the Royal Palace. It’s beautiful; there’s art everywhere, drawings of past events on the walls and ceilings. The building has a Victorian style, just like our palace. The chandeliers and windows make the hall look refreshing; it’s big enough for all the vampires together. There’s also gold everywhere. I noticed the door has gold. I wondered if the toilets were of gold.

As we walked through the hall, I noticed a lot of vampires starring in our direction, some bow, some just whispered between themselves. They feel scared. Everyone here knows who we are; The Vlad family, Royal purebloods, strong vampires, and on a par with the Royal Family, The Karatza’s.

My family possesses a strong generation of vampires, vampires that can wield magic. Just like the royal family, but with only one of each generation being born to wield magic and as the only girl of the family, I was born with it.

You might wonder why me and not my brother Caspian. I was born with a unique trait, Sapphire eyes, and I’m also a direct descendant of the Count himself, Count Vladimir Dracula.

Anyone might think the Royal Family should be the descendants of the Count, but they’re not; it’s us.

So why am I a direct descendant and not the king? That’s because I have eyes that look like rocks. Mother used to say I have diamonds as eyes that earned me the Diamond of the kingdoms?

My long jet black hair and sapphire eyes complement my features well. They were making me look beautiful. And even though I don’t travel that much, the few people who had seen me dared to be gallant with me, even some nasty old leeches.

Which I had the pleasure to kill. I remember it well.

◼◼◼

Flashback

Two years ago, Vlad’s palace.

It was a cloudy afternoon; the air was feeling chilly. Princess Amilia had taken some afternoon tea in her garden while reading a book and enjoying some snacks.

The princess knew that her grandfather Elder Cornelius had invited the councilman as a guest to the palace. Deciding it was best to stay away, she went to the garden, knowing that no one would disturb her time.

As she read her book, she saw a figure coming from afar. It was a councilman or what she likes to call them, sometimes leeches. Believing that maybe the councilman was heading somewhere else, she continued reading her book.

Distracted by her reading, Princess Amilia didn’t notice when the councilman had reached her tea table. As she looked up, she saw the older man smiling.

“Splendid Afternoon,” he said.

“May I help you, sir?” she said.

“Would you mind if I join you?” he said.

The princess knew it was a bad idea. Discomfort is what she felt. Deciding it was best not to reject him. She kindly smiled and told him to take a seat.

The moment the councilman sat with her, he started babbling about how he loved the palace and how he enjoyed his time, especially with her. The princess tried to ignore him, but he wouldn’t stop talking and approaching her more each time.

While she smiled at everything he said, Princess Amilia didn’t notice when the councilman had approached her and started rubbing his hand on her thigh. Angry by the boldness of the men, Amilia slapped his hand away.

It baffled the councilman. He couldn’t believe what had happened, so in anger, he started shouting at her and asking her why she slapped his hand. Princess Amilia’s patience was running low. She told him to stop being bold; he should have never touched her.

Angered was pouring from the councilman at that moment. As the princess continued insulting him, she never expected the older man to slap her, too shocked for the slight turn of events. The princess did what was best and pulled her dagger and slit his throat.

She was beyond mad. Now that ruined her afternoon tea, Princess Amilia took the leech head and delivered it to her grandfather and guests. It infuriated elder Cornelius for what she did. But he knew he couldn’t do anything to his granddaughter, for security had everything recorded. After that day, the rest of the councilman decided it was best not to approach her anymore.

 Flashback ends

◼◼◼

Now I am walking with Caspian through this magnificent place where I know a couple of those old councilmen might be. I might see some of them in the event; many purebloods are not mated, even though our lineage isn’t that big, some still are without mates.

“Amilia?” Caspian said.

“Is something the matter, brother?” I said.

“Yes, you’ve been spacing out,” Caspian said, “We are almost there. I hope you’re ready.”

Ready? I don’t think I’m close to ready. I’m feeling nervous again. My hands are sweaty. Something is bothering me, I have this feeling of something, or someone might appear. My gut keeps telling me to turn around and leave the fuck.

◼◼◼

Vladimir POV

 Four days ago

“Your Majesty, all the arrangements are ready. We just need your signatures on the payment checks,” I heard someone say.

I’m Vladimir Karatza, King of all Vampires. I’m thirty-eight years old, and I still look like twenty-four. Like vampires, we aged slowly, and drinking blood helps us stay young. I’m not mated and not because I don’t want to, it’s that I haven’t found her yet.

The last few weeks have been annoying. I’ve been trying to avoid the event this year. It will be another year where I don’t find my mate; I know it. I will just sit there and watch as everyone else finds their mate. I’m tired of feeling lonely. It breaks my heart.

But my grandfather Elder Theodor has been insisting on me to go to this year’s ball. He knows I’m not happy going. I haven’t been able to find her all these years, and now I’m feeling the pressure from the councilman to take a queen. But I decided I would wait for my mate. I know she’s somewhere out there.

◼◼◼

As I sign some papers, there’s a knock on the door. “Come in,” I said, not looking up.

“Hey Vladimir,” someone said. I immediately recognize his voice.

It’s my brother Victor, and he’s my younger brother. He’s tall with a slim body. His hair is honey brown, way different from mine. His yellow eyes were complimenting his tan skin, and he’s intelligent with excellent fighting skills. We are three brothers: Victor, Valerius, and me. Victor has a beautiful mate. “Mate,” how I ogle that word. Every time I see Victor with his mate, I get jealous. They look so happy together, and I always get this stabbing pain in my heart when I see them.

“Hey, Vladimir,” Victor said

“Is something the matter?” I asked.

“You’ve been spacing out, Vladimir. I’ve called your name twice. Is something the matter,” Victor said, taking a seat.

“Honestly, yes,” I said, “I don’t wish to assist the ball, that’s all.”

Victor will never understand my feelings. I’ve been lonely, mateless my entire life. He has everything he ever wanted. And it hurts. I have cried countless times in my room alone during some sleepless nights. I had cried, asking the goddess why I don’t have a mate. And a lot of times, I had fallen asleep while crying.

“Look, brother,” Victor said, “You know your mate is out there, and I have this feeling that she will appear this year, so don’t lose hope.”

Hope, a word I haven’t mentioned after our father died. Our father, the late king, died some years ago. He was beheaded and burned. We never found out who did it, and we are still looking for it.

“Vladimir, go to the ball,” Victor said, “You never know what might happen, and if she doesn’t appear, I promised to help you with the councilman, OK?”

◼◼◼

The Day of the Ball.

I’ve been trying to get ready two hours ago. Grandfather asked his people to get my suit ready and get me some jewelry unnecessary jewelry, I would say. I have always been a simple person, jewelry has never been my thing, and according to my grandfather, there’s never too much jewelry.

Tonight I’ll be wearing a black suit, red rubies, a white shirt, a long cloak with red details and black shoes. My hair is long, so they tied it into a man bun, my crown, and I’m shaved. I’ve been feeling nervous all afternoon, my hands have been sweaty, and I’m feeling restless.

“You know you have to look good, son,” my grandfather said, “You’re a king, and a king must always look good.”

“Are the guests already here?” I asked, changing the topic.

“Yes, we got a couple of guests already, which reminds me,” my grandfather said, taking his phone out, “The Vlad family is coming this year.”

The Vlad family is the Royal family that’s on par with us. They’re strong, pureblood vampires and descendants of the Count.

“Don’t they always come?” I asked, bored with the topic.

“Yes, but they only send one person. But this time, I received a call from the old man saying they would assist this year and bring his granddaughter.”

“Wait, the Vlad family has a daughter,” I asked, surprised by the piece of news.

“Yes, but they don’t show her that much,” my grandfather said, “And she has never assisted the balls, but this year even the old man is coming.”

“Elder Cornelius?” I asked, surprised.

Elder Cornelius is the Vlad family’s elder. His grandfather’s close friend, and the few times I had the pleasure of meeting him was when grandfather invited him over. But I didn’t know they had a daughter. I hope to meet her; I’m curious to know how she looks. The Vlad family has a lot of beautiful people.

◼◼◼

I’m standing outside the Grand Hall. The hall looks breathtaking. Chandeliers are hanging high, candles are all over the place, and bouquets of roses are laid on each table, the musicians play some ballads, and the buffet is looking good. I feel so proud of my people they outdid themselves. They will need to get paid better.

We hold this event every year on Christmas eve. It’s been a tradition for the last eighty-nine years, and this year is no exception. But it is looking better.

“Do we have a lot of guests?” I asked my grandfather.

“Yes, we have a lot of not mated vampires,” my grandfather said, “But got the news a lot of them have found their mate tonight.”

After the guard asks me if I’m ready, my name got announced, and I walk in, head held high, giving an imposing aura. I give my speech short, loud, and straightforward. After that, I get down and start heading towards some friends that came tonight. I can see a lot of women looking my way, but none of them are my mates. Some guests bowed when I got close to them; I noticed their fear. Some don’t even dare to look my way. I am feared by my people, especially since I have a cruel way to kill vampires, but it’s just a facade I keep up that keeps the order in the kingdom.

As I’m having some drinks with some friends, my brother Victor came to tell me Valerius is there. Honestly, I didn’t expect Valerius to come tonight. He has a mate already, and he’s the king of a kingdom—the kingdom where his mate lives.

Valerius is my older brother. He’s a year older, and we grew up like twins. We share a powerful brother bond, and we have many things in common, including looks. Our hair is the same color and our eyes.

 “Vladimir,” Valerius said, heading my way.

 “Valerius, welcome brother, I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said, smiling.

“I know. How are you doing?” Valerius asked while hugging me.

“I’ve been good, just missing your ugly face,” I said.

“So any mate?” Valerius asked, looking around, “Have hope OK, she might be late.”