A minute later Lica was in a huge hall. It was empty but she could hear the sound of music from other room. The girl went along the corridor leading to that room and saw herself in a large, bright room lit by candles. The music could be heard from here. There were a lot of people. Some were dancing; others were standing along the walls and talking about something. It seemed that all the guests were similar to each other... Their bright glowing eyes, very pale skin and red lips.
"Do I look the same?" Angelica thought anxiously.
She looked in the big mirror on the wall but did not notice anything different.
"Apparently, the infection process has not gone too far!" she reassured herself.
Only now Lica saw that lots of men were looking at her with obvious interest.
"Well! And who am I going to tempt?" she thought.
At this moment the music stopped and a loud voice announced:
"Ladies and gentlemen! The Prince is glad to welcome you at his ball. Enjoy yourself and have fun! Remember that the Fool Moon is not eternal!"
The girl was very curious.
"What a person is that Prince?" she thought. "I wish I could have one look-see at him and then flirt with someone."
Angelica went through the crowd of the guests moving forward. Seeing Lica, the men respectfully made her a way and the women just snorted her back, being jealous. At last she saw the high throne next to the columns. A handsome young man with dark long hair was sitting on the throne. His skin was so white and thin that it seemed to shine with some light. He looked so aristocratic and mysterious.
"Well, this Prince of vampires is not bad!" she thought. "Perhaps now I will invite him to dance."
The music started and Lica moved boldly to the Prince, sitting on the throne. When she was no more than in three or four steps, two vampires blocked her way.
"And where are you going?" one asked sarcastically.
"I would like to invite the Prince to dance!" Angelica retorted.
"You do not have the right to come near the Lord!" another one said strictly. "You may be a new here if you do not know our laws!"
Loud talk and Lica's bright scarlet dress attracted the Prince's attention. He stood up from the throne, came to them quietly and now was just behind his guards.
"So I ask you," the vampire continued speaking sternly to the girl, "to go back and dance with someone else."
Angelica saw the Prince behind the vampire guards and gave him a smile.
"Have I said anything funny?" the guard asked.
"Look back!" Lica said smiling.
The vampires turned around and, seeing his master, bent into a bow. Then they explained haltingly:
"This girl... she wanted to invite you to dance... she's probably new here... She does not know our rules..."
The Prince raised his hand and they both fell silent as if by command.
"Why do you get our beautiful guest wait!" the Prince said with ingratiating voice.
He waved his hand and the musicians began to play a new and sweet melody. The Prince of vampires gave his hand to Angelica and they started dancing.
The main vampire was just guzzling Lica with his eyes. He immediately noticed that she was different from other women at the ball. She had a pink velvety skin, lively eyes and soft lips. She was just like an ordinary alive girl. But the Prince was still feeling the blood of a vampire in her. They whirled dancing and the vampire asked:
"You are not from here, aren't you? I know all my people. Where did you come from?"
"I'm from afar..." Angelica replied evasively.
"You are very beautiful! And the red color of the dress so suits you!"
"Thank you!" Lica blushed.
"You can you blush, can't you? It's a miracle!" the Prince admired. "None of vampires I know have ever done that!"
The girl looked into his eyes and remembered her dancing with Prince Edward at her first ball.
"What are you thinking about?" the Lord of vampires asked.
"About the past..." Angelica answered honestly.
"You are so charming that I'm starting to lose my mind," the vampire said quietly.
At this time the music ended, the Prince took Lica's hand and held her to the throne. He raised his hand and there was silent in the hall.
"My people," he talked to his guests. "You know it was not my rules but today I want to choose the Queen of the Ball. It will be this beautiful stranger in a scarlet dress!"
Everyone was applauding and shouting:
"Bravo!"
The Prince waved his hand again and the music played.
He began to circle Angelica in dance more passionate. Nobody had seen how the Prince took the girl from the hall to the corridor and then to a small room.
"I have lost my mind!" he whispered. "You are so beloved..."
He pulled Lica to him and kissed her lips passionately.
"Prince, not so fast!" Angelica was trying to cool his ardor.
But the Lord of vampires picked her up and carried to the large bed, which was in the room.
"Prince, you have got it wrong!" Lica shouted. "I'm not here for that! I have a fiancé!"
The main vampire suddenly stopped...
"The fiancé?" he asked. "Why did you want to dance with me then?"
She sat on the bed and said:
"I thought that you could understand me."
"Me? You?" the Prince surprised.
"Please, listen to me!" Angelica asked.
And she told the vampire everything... about the infected Prince Night and dangerous changes in his body. And that she had been infected by the vampire's blood to get here to the ball...
"Now I have to bring the blood of the real vampire to save the Prince," Lica finished her story.
The Prince listened to her in silence and finally said:
"Your fiancé is a lucky man! I would be immensely happy if a girl, like you are, fell in love with me... Give me your bottle!"
Angelica took the bottle from her sleeve and handed it to the main vampire.
"Now bite!" the Prince offered the girl his neck, throwing his long black hair behind.
"No, I cannot!" Lica confused.
"You can!" the Prince smiled. "Give me the favor!"
He walked away and sat down in the chair. Then he put his head on the chair back and looked at her sidelong.
"I'm waiting!" the vampire encouraged her quietly.