“How could you!?”Queen Belinda quickly flashed her anger at the one she felt most deserved. She pointed her finger.“You can’t be serious!” She choked as angry tears filled her eyes.“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined you’d do this to me. You are just letting them run off- with my son. OUR SON!” Queen Belinda took a sharp breath and tried to control her tears. She was not alone. Julia was still at her side, which gave her some comfort.But Belinda was still aware of how they both watched her. The maid blinked stupidly. But the other was the real threat. Belinda knew how he seemed to listen to it all quietly.Of all the times her husband could be so foolish? It made her sick to her stomach. “How- how could you?” Belinda pressed a hand to her head. Now her head was beginning to hurt.Have I not been a good wife? Belinda thought. Had I not shown years of devotion? And still, you choose her over me? Belinda thought with another wave of tears. She managed to hold them i
“I’m done.” Ana stepped from behind the changing screen. She was now wearing one of Nicoli’s nightgowns. It was a surprise to find their size almost the same. Save, Nicoli was just a touch bigger. A fact which made Ana’s pride sting a little. Even Nicoli is getting taller than me. So Ana thought and felt her pride as the elder bruised. If this keeps going, he’s going to tower over me too. “Come over here, Ana,” Nicoli called from the bookshelf. He had been waiting there the whole while. But not out of boredom. Nicoli seemed to have kept himself busy with what books to choose. And it looked like he had found one. Ana took the chance to look over the room. He’s right. Ana thought. It was almost hard to believe it was the same space. For the room was now barren. There were no toys, and the blue and gold paint was gone. Now the room was full of books. There was even a globe in the spot the clown doll used to be. Which Ana found to be the only change she agreed with. Actually, it
That morning looked to be the beginning of a hot day. Not as hot as Nochten, of course, but enough for Ana to regret her choices. If she had known it could get this warm in Dawny, she would have stayed with her Nochten gowns.And here I thought it was such luck to fit everything still. Ana thought before wincing. “Naska,” Ana tried to alert her the laces were uncomfortable. But Naksa just rolled her eyes as if Ana was the one being a pain.“You’re stomach gotten puffy.” She pressed her finger into Ana.“Oh?” Ana blinked. Did she gain weight?I hope it means I’ll have another growth spurt. Ana thought with optimism. Everyone else seemed to be. Nicoli was bordering at her height, and Ana couldn’t lie that it hurt her pride as the older sibling. “Tsk,” Naska clicked her tongue before giving the lace another yank. She seemed to be struggling with it. Ana again winced.“Naska,” Ana went again. But Naska wasn’t looking at her. She seemed unfocused. Or instead irritated by something. Sh
Hidi sat in her fluffy dress, trying to stay interested as Queen Belinda kept talking. But it was proving quite the task as it seemed to be non-stop. Queen Belinda had been at Hidi's ears all morning. She seemed to never run out of something to say.But it wasn’t anything of importance, of course. Just things about the weather or the tea. Or she would rain down compliments for Hidi about her dress or hair. And in between the compliments, the topic of marriage would pop up. Queen Belinda would bring it up casually—just a mere mention of a wedding in spring. Or grandchildren with blond hair. And then, she would change the topic back to the party. But it wouldn't be long before she'd mentioned it again.As Hidi listened, she barely hid her amused smile.It’s a bit forward. Hidi thought. But not enough to overstep herself. If anything, Hidi wished Belinda could get to the point.It's not like I would shoot it down. Hidi knew. As Hidi found she had begun to like the queen, she would be m
It’s fine. Ana told herself as she felt a thousand eyes fall on her. Just stay calm.Still, Ana unconsciously touched her shawl. It was still there. And it still covered her hair.Ana gave a quiet sigh of relief.But it didn’t last. As Ana could feel their eyes. They made her freeze in place.Stop it. Ana whispered to herself.All that matters is Nicoli, remember? So snap out of it.Ana couldn’t help but glance at Nicoli. A great smile was on his face. He seemed so happy and carefree.Could I ever be like that? Ana felt a pang in her chest. She didn't know. But she'd like to try.For Nicoli's sake, at least.So Ana held her breath and looked over the crowd. So many eager faces were looking at her curiously. All pretty girls in big puffy dresses Nicoli’s age.The only change was a great table. And it was here Ana found her actual cause of worry. Ana flinched when she found those blue eyes had turned toward her.Father. Ana thought with dread.“Come, I see our table.” Nicoli went, stil
“Good Morning King Alexander, Queen Belinda.” Ana shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Thank you for inviting me.” King Alexander lessened his smile at the cold greeting, but it did not affect Belinda. She continued as if all was normal. On the outside, at least.“So glad you could come.” Belinda took some tea. “I wasn’t sure you were going to make it. Since I heard no word from you.”Ana felt her spine straighten at the insinuation. I received the letter so late. Ana knew it would take a week to have a response. By then, the party would have started. She would have shown up late anyways.But still, Ana felt guilty.“I…my invitation arrived late.” Ana looked down at her feet. “I apologize. I came as quickly as I could.”Quietly, Ana darted her eyes to find her Father. He was looking straight at her.He won’t do anything in front of the party, will he? Not with so many young and impressionable girls around. And at that, Ana made to take another look around the girls dressed in the
Mykhol could see the smaller tables filled with human girls across the lawn. Their dresses looked silly and overbearing from his spot. They all looked like colored cotton balls.Periodically, Mykhol could see one lift their head and look his way. Then, a quick blush would cross their face before they'd go to whisper to one another. And when they did, another would look up. It kept repeating as Mykhol watched on.Mykhol had to smirk at their apparent interest. But it held little weight to him. He was not here for them.Mykhol looked on to find the flash of red. “There you are.” Mykhol drew back his lips to show his fangs. Ana was sitting at the main table. She seemed somewhat cramped, though. The table seemed relatively small for all of them.Mykhol could see her sandwiched between four. Queen Belinda at the one end, King Alexander at the other, Nicoli sat beside her, and the other-Mykhol dropped his smile at the sight of the giant who sat at the table. The one dressed in a dress j
Ana found herself in a difficult situation. Her father being the most significant cause of her turmoil. But that was not the only issue. Ana was faced with a completely new problem.Ana was used to being the recipient of attention. In her court, she was the main attraction. She was Empress, though, so it made sense.But Nochten's attention was on rules. There was a silent way of reservation and decorum in her approach. If not out of custom, it was practiced out of respect.In Dawny, however, Ana faced an entirely different form of the spotlight. One that was more animated and full of compliments with conversations that ran together. Ana found herself in a drift in the center of a crowd. The sea of excited girls was moving and swaying in their puffy dresses. Some even bounced off the others, thanks to their hoop skirts. But they didn’t seem to falter as they returned to pushing closer.Ana couldn’t help but feel the sensation similar to a mouse cornered by cats.I’m not sure I like t
Naska stared at the cup instead of taking it, more shocked than surprised at the motion. Someone poured her drink? It was indeed a first. No one had ever done anything for her. She was so used to doing everything for herself. And glancing up, the sight of who did, only made her more confused.It was one of the veiled women—a Bulgeon, a human. Her eyes lined in that inky black shadow seemed to regard her in silence just as she did. Her hand lifted the cup, steady, as if she were still waiting. Naska, not knowing what else to do, took the cup. But her eyes remained glued to the woman. Because of the veil, she couldn’t know what expression the woman was making. Was it friendly? Bitter? What did her face even look like under the cloth?Watching her, the mysterious woman moved with grace. She poured another ladle of blood, not wine, to steam against the glass. Her thin fingers peeked out of her sleeve to swipe a slice of meat to dip in, and she moved to eat under the cloth. Naska raised
*Naska*“What a joke of a party,” Naska muttered, baring her fangs as she leaned against the wall. ”Mine will be so much better.” Her pale red eyes flickered over blue and gold streamers hanging from the center of the high ceiling with a sneer. Ugly colors, she immediately found it stupid. But not as stupid as having to sniffle every other minute. Her nose was irritated and starting to run from all the damn pine scent in the room. Each breath was like choking on a bottle of soap. From the platform near the far wall, the gentle strains of stringed instruments played a song too delicate and indistinct for her to recognize. It filled the air like perfume—pleasant to some, she supposed, but meaningless to her. Light laughter floated between the nobles, punctuated now and then by the sharp clink of crystal goblets. Beneath the noise, however, the pressure in the room was thick. Everyone waited for Her Empress to return. The tension curled under the music like smoke, unseen but unmistakab
*Johan*As he entered the banquet hall, Johan quickly noticed quite a few things. The first was that King Alexander was nowhere to be seen, though Johan expected that. He must have still been talking with Queen Bratha.What surprised him, though, was that others were missing—two, to be exact. The handsome brunette prince was not in the banquet hall as he thought he would be, considering he did not see him in the lobby or even the line. He was gone, and neither was Ana. Who he did see was just Hidi.The giant queen stood out among the partygoers- not just because of her size. Her very presence seemed to overpower anyone who dared draw near. Those who attempted to pass her either darted their eyes down or weakly bowed before hightailing it inside. Johan could see that even that old coot kept a safe distance if anyone wanted to try to talk to her, like the ever-eager Sir Celbest.The blonde was not pleased about something, and Johan could easily see it. The girl had never been one to hi
*Nicoli*Nicoli held onto Ana like a man gripping the edge of a cliff—tight, unyielding, unwilling to let go for even a second. The very idea of releasing her, even to their father, was absurd. No. Absolutely not.He had waited too long, ached too much, spent years longing for this moment. And now that she was finally by his side again, he refused to let anything—anyone—take her away. Not tonight. Not ever. So be it if he had to fight off the entire court to keep her close. Vampire, noble, or king, he didn’t care. He’d take them all on.She was his Anastasia. And now that they were together, everything felt right again.A rare, genuine grin tugged at his lips—one that wasn’t for show, unlike the practiced smiles he wore in Dawny. This was different. This was real.But as they moved through the white halls, his excitement warred with Ana’s slow, deliberate steps. Too slow. She still walked like an old lady.Nicoli’s muscles twitched with pent-up energy, his entire body screaming to mo
*Ana*My body freezes, every muscle locked in place as Nicoli leans in closer. His face is inches from mine, and I feel my breath catch, a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation racing through my mind. What is he doing? Is…he going to kiss me?But we can’t—we shouldn’t. We aren’t children anymore.As children, it was innocent. Nicoli used to kiss me on the lips, but it was always affectionate—nothing more, just like when he would hold my hand or offer a playful hug. It was natural to him, something that didn’t feel strange, something I expected from him without question. But that was then.Now, we’re adults. And that changes everything.We can’t– I try to tell myself that, but something in me hesitates, unsure whether I want him to stop or... not. I’m paralyzed, my heart beating so loudly I can hear it in my ears. As his face nears mine, I feel the world shrinks, the air around us thick with tension. A strange eagerness stirs in my chest—a warmth I don’t understand. It coils through
*Ana*“Nicoli–” He’s going the wrong way again. I shake my head, the soft chime of my gold chains punctuating my amusement. But he insists on leading, judging by the stubborn set of his shoulders. He’s determined to get somewhere despite having absolutely no idea where that is.For the past twenty minutes, Nicoli has forged ahead with all the confidence in the world, only to crumble in confusion when we inevitably hit another dead end or loop back to the same hall. Left, then right, then left again. Each turn is taken with steadfast determination — and each time, I have to stifle a new laugh as we encounter yet another wall.“Nicoli, just let me show you–” I try, though I’m already bracing for him to ignore me. It would be far easier if he let me lead, though. This is my palace, after all. I know the twists and turns, the subtle variations in the endless white corridors. But he seems lost in his resolve. As if doing this out of spite at the challenge and not wanting it to get the bett
*Hidi*“But, what about me–” For once in Hidi’s life, her voice was too soft to hear—lost, swallowed under the sound of laughter. Their laughter. Hidi froze, her breath caught in her chest, her words useless in the space they left behind. Her eyes only widened as she stared after them, watching–watching, but not moving in disbelief.The two of them were running, laughing, hands clasped like children lost in their own world. And she was still standing here.She blinked. Did they really just… leave me?The air seemed too still while everything else moved too fast. Nicoli had been right there. Right there. She could have reached out, close enough to brush her fingers against his sleeve. But he hadn’t even looked at her. Didn’t even voice a hello.Not once.His sapphire-blue eyes had locked onto Ana, and nothing else had mattered.For the second time.A cool flick of irritation ran beneath her ribs, lodging itself somewhere deep inside her. She knew this was their grand reunion, knew th
*Ana*Standing between my aunt and uncle in the banquet hall, I must appreciate everyone’s hard work for the party. They really put in a lot of effort.The banquet hall is beautifully decorated with blue and gold streamers cascading down to the center of the high ceiling. Each arched window features a garland of fir and pine, filling the room with a clean yet sweet reminder of the winter outside. The candelabras are all set and lit with fresh beeswax candles, brightening the room and causing the windows to fog up slightly. The tables that line the walls are adorned with an assortment of cakes, meats, and double boilers filled with various types of blood for those who prefer.It’s everything I could have hoped for. And I swell with pride. So far, I think my first real celebration is going well. I gaze over the steady stream of new guests. Once again, I have to note that most of those arriving are unaccompanied men I spot yet another group. They put on a show by bowing or smiling at m
*Nicoli*“So… this is Nochten,” Nicoli whispered, his breath barely stirring the cold air. He paused at the threshold, eyes sweeping across the grand lobby. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was certainly different from home.His gaze traveled upward, taking in the domed ceiling overhead, the polished stone walls that gleamed in the candlelight. Beneath his feet, a mosaic of a bat soaring toward the moon—Nochten’s national symbol—stood in sharp contrast against the pristine white stone. The palace lacked the excessive paintings and portraits he was used to. Instead of gold trim and plush fabric, there was only carved stone and painted walls. Even the flooring was a departure from what he knew. No wood, only cold, solid stone.Nicoli's eyes caught the mosaic again, its intricate details holding him transfixed. Slowly, a small smile pulled at his lips.It suits her. He thought. Yes, it most definitely did. This was most definitely Ana’s home. But, where was Ana?He stepped further