THE SLAVE'S NAME

The prince held her hand, leading her into his carriage as the rider stared at them wide wondering what the Prince was doing with a human.

Lucy didn't want to get into the weird looking thing with horses attached to it and a vampire in front, that was enough interaction with vampires only even though she could tolerate just the Prince, she wasn't sure if she was ready for more.

“Are you scared?” The Prince gently asked and she nodded her head.

He smiled understandingly, a smile that has broken walls or took her years to build even though she has just met him.

“It's just a Carriage ride, hold my hands I'll walk you in.” He offered her his hands as she clung to it as if her life depended on it.

It was funny how tiny her hands felt on his that he had to double check it.

Her eyes were in awe marveling at the decor, gold designs everywhere, this was the highest amount of luxury she had ever seen.

“You like it?” Asked the Prince as she nodded in excitement.

Her eyes moved to the door closing as the Prince instructed the rider to start moving.

“You are going to love it at the palace.” She doubted it, the palace only meant one thing, more royal vampires and just because he was nice to her doesn't mean the others would be.

As she stared at her violet eyes staring at the moving sky it dawned on him that he didn't even know her name, but how could he make a mute girl tell him her name?

“Do you have a name?” He secretly wished he could name her, he already had names in mind.

Delani? 

Rebecca?

Desire? The main thing that drew him to her, the girl herself, was a mystery, getting her name would be like solving half of that mystery.

She nodded herself indicating she does have a name, he kept looking at her to tell him but suddenly felt stupid… yes she was mute.

The word Lucy was trying to come out from her mouth but for some strange reason it was stuck, how was she supposed to tell him her name?

Then suddenly an Idea popped into her head, she dragged his palm with a smile on her face, if she couldn't tell him she could spell it.

With wide, expressive eyes and a shy smile, 

Lucy, her small hand trembling slightly, reached out to Prince Damien, her brows furrowed. Determined as her eyes narrowed, she was going to do this!. 

Lucy couldn't help but notice how cold his arm was as she delicately placed her fingertips on his palm, it was probably due to his nature, they were almost as cold as hale, she made sure her touch was feather-light ignoring the ting she felt as her hands met his palm.

Damien’s gaze was unbreakable, trying to understand what his new little slave was up to.

With gentle care, Lucy begins to trace the letters of her name onto Prince Damien’s palm. Her slender fingers move slowly: L... U... C... Y… as she looked at him to see if he was catching up.

“L.” He said as she groaned, seeing he only got one letter. “Go on.” The Prince instructed feeling very curious, what could it be, Lily, Laila, Laura?

She retraced the letters but slower this time… L… U… C… Y

“Lucy?” Damien said unsure with his voice barely in a whisper as his express shifted to recognizing immediately she nodded. ‘“LUCY!” His eyes widened with comprehension as a soft smile appeared on his lips.

Lucy couldn't help but notice his side dimples appear as he smiled as she tried to connect the dots between the man who threatened the cell guards to save her and the man who patiently wanted to know her name.

She found her hands involuntarily moving to his dimples as he surprisingly let her touch it.

“Lucy… it suits you.” He admitted, if he was being very honest, the name was a hundred times better than what he had wanted to name her… Desire.

But Lucy was simple and short, regal even.

Lucy's face lit up with a  smile as he called her name, she was just grateful to hear her name and that she wouldn't be referred to as number nine anymore.

“I can tell that you will adjust just fine to your new life at the palace.” Said the prince as he held onto her hands still not getting over how tiny it was.

She smiled genuinely this time as she couldn't help but think how he couldn't have made a better choice for his first slave… and maybe this might just be his last.

***

The land was vast, Lucy was jaw-dropped at the sheer size of the palace gates, it was like nothing she had ever seen.

The guards were as white as snow,. probably low level vampires who kept their heads down as the Prince’s carriage passed by.

“All hail his royal majesty, Prince Damien Von Krastien, heir to the throne of …..”

The Prince barely acknowledged them as Lucy wanted to shrink or vanish, never in her life has she gotten this much attention from anyone, talk more about vampires, even though it was indirect attention it was still more than what was used to.

The guards on the other hand could smell the human in the carriage from a mile away, they all knew of the prince's nonchalance with anything related to the blood bank system, had he finally caved in and gotten a slave?

If Lucy was marveled at the sight of the gate then she didn't know what to feel about the grand castle before her, out of excitement she squeezed the Princes thighs which only amused him.

She has heard of taking the wealth of the royal family, this just confirmed the whole thing.

One thing that caught her sight was a woman standing before the brand entrance door with a frown on her face.

She looked just as pale as the rest of them but there was an aura of dominance she gave off.

If looks could kill, Lucy would have been six feet with the looks she was getting, and just like her venomous look, her voice also mirrored the same stance as she started to speak before they could even open the door.

“Guess the rumors are true Damien, you really did take a slave.”