This night had to come sooner or later, just like the queen told her. Kassandra was in her room like always in that dark corner at the desk with the torch giving her that little light she needed to write in her diary.
"Dear diary!
I had a wonderful night with my love, we got the support of each other and we learned who we were. We accepted one another and we no longer have that doubt. We made love like crazy, it felt like heaven having him in my arms, it was just us and the sky, the moon and the stars, werewolf and vampire. But it eventually ended and I had to come home, and coming back to reality I remembered the feast my mother is organizing tomorrow. I wonder what will they be like, maybe it is good to know them, anyways they can't force me to get married. I will come back tomorrow and tell all that's happened.
Love, Kassandra!!!"
When she was done writing, the sun was already up, Kassandra went to the window by the side, but she didn't dare to open the black curtains and see the light, she wondered what it would look like, but she didn't want to get burnt. After she took the comb and combed her hair for quite some time, sat on a chair in front of the window. She enjoyed looking at herself. Than she got up and entered her coffin, covered herself up with a dark blanket and fell asleep.
The next morning the dinning hall was being prepared, servants were running around making the table ready with meat and cakes, fruits and salads, and a lot of pots with blood to extinguish the thirst. The queen came from one side with Terry and immediately started talking to the maids and men asking of everything including the safety and the guards. On the other entry of the big hall, the king came in with a friend by his side.
- How are you feeling today your grace?, - the man asked the king.
- Dying to meet Quinton and Cecily Manery, and their son and daughter too, - the king joked.
- Leon!, - the queen got close to him, - how have you been?
- Great, my love!, - he gave his wife a kiss on the lips, - I couldn't wait for this dinner!
- At least our family will get together for the occasion, there is always a reason to be happy.
- You are right, despite everything we have gone through, we still remained cheerful., - the king said.
- Some of us more than the others, - Anabel said.
And so they went on talking, as Kassandra showed up on from her side of the palace, and so did her brother. He accelerated to go to his sister and raised her from behind rotating her in a circle.
- Jacken!, - She called as he let her down, - You haven't showed around for quite some time.
- I was in and out all the time. I thought that you were avoiding me actually.
- Shouldn't be you the one avoiding me?, - she smirked as they walked inside.
- I could never avoid my sweet sister!, - he smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek., - Excited for meeting your future husband? I heard he is a handsome one.
- More excited than you can ever imagine., - she went on, - But forget it I'm not marrying him!
- I don't want you to marry him. What would I do without my little trouble maker!
- Speaking of troubles, we should talk later of some!
- I think I know what is it about!, - Jacken became just a bit more serious.
Than they went to their parents.
- You are finally here., - Leon said
- A bit late, like always, - Anabel added.
- We are happy to see you too!, - Jacken joked and they both kissed their parents on the cheek.
- Are they still not here?, - Anabel asked.
- There they are!, - the queen said as the Manerys entered the hall guided by the guards.
Quinton Manery was their lord, a dangerous man at first sight, beyond his fifties, with a natural smirk on his face, and a tall normal body. His wife, Cecily was apparently one of the most beautiful woman of all the realm. A symbol of eternal grace, she was at her fifties, and still had no grey on her dark on blue wavy long hair, her face had not lost its texture completely and still didn't have wrinkles, the blinks of her green eyes were still up, and her body and style could make you fall in love easily. Their daughter was there too, a fourteen year old young flower, but not with innocent look, probably her father's inheritance.
And finally there was Jeremy, a young twenty four years old man. Kassandra looked at him and he really was what her mother promised her. He had his mother fascinating hair and green eyes full of life. His skin was tight and tender and his body was lean and with muscles, his lips and nose were perfect. It surely triggered her a lot, but it was not enough to take away Sebastian from her thoughts, he was the one supposed to separate them.
They got close to meet with each other near the table where the Vampiryons were expecting them.
- Your grace!, - Quinton kissed her hand and bowed, - It is such a delight to finally see you again!
- Lord Manery!, - she greeted him with respect, - Welcome at court!
- Oh, please your grace! You can call me Quinton.
He also greeted the king and the princes as his wife came closer and Leon kissed her hand.
- My lady!, - the king talked to Cecily, - Your beauty is something even the time can't conquer!
- I must agree!, - the queen added.
- Your graces are overly good!, - She said a bit arrogantly.
- Jeremy!, - the queen looked much more excited now as he came and kisses her hand and tried to break the ice, - I must admit I envy my daughter. If I was younger and less married I would marry you instead!
- Maybe your grace should regardless., - he joked and than greeted the king and went on to the princess, - And you must be Kassandra!
- Yes that's me, - she sais, - and you are much more than I expected!
- And I am Jacken!, - Jacken said with a tone that didn't let you understand if he was threatening him or flirting with him.
- I could tell., - Jeremy said and smirked, - You are both one prettier than the other I must admit!
- And you must be lady Margery, little beauty, - the queen said to Quinton's little daughter, as she came to greet the queen.
- Yes your grace it is me!, - the little lady said, - You are really majestic, just like a queen should be!
This little girl had his father's manipulative charm.
- Please my lords and ladies have a seat!, - the queen showed everyone their places at the table personally, - I made sure myself everything was prepared for the best!
- Where dis you get the blood from?, - Quinton asked as he took a sip, - I can tell it is from humans.
- Our guards personally dry the blood out of the victims, but they heal them and rarely someone dies., - the king answered.
- How do you catch your humans without being noticed?, - Jeremy asked.
- We have an entire system around the Granada, - the queen said, - catch them, take the blood out and than heal them and compel them to forget.
- Classic methods., - lady Cecily added, - Your grace, do you ever go to hunt in the Granada yourself?
- It is dangerous for the queen of the vampires to get out of the kingdom alone!, - Anabel said, - I sometimes haunt up here.
- This doesn't look your favorite kind of meat., - Jeremy said to Kassandra as she was biting funnily some of the mean.
- And this isn't my favorite dinner either!, - she said with a neutral face.
- And I thought I was your favorite guest!, - he joked.
- Maybe you are!, - Kassy answered looking at the obvious hypocrisy of Quinton and Cecily and even his younger sister.
- Quinton! Is your son into cooking as much as you are?, - the queen asked and Kassandra upped her head to that, - My daughter likes it a lot.
- Not that much actually!, - he responded.
- I am into writing a lot more your grace., - Jeremy added.
- This is destiny than, - king Leon laughed, - maybe you should really marry my wife!
- Perfectly!, - the went on, - me and Jerry can write for hours, while Kassy and Quinton cook in the kitchen!
- Well that's perfect mother! And the rest of us are left out!, - Jacken joked.
- What can I say think for yourselves!, - Kassandra finally let a smile and spoke.
- I can play with swords with Margery, I heard she is quite good, - the king said, - I don't know for the rest.
- I would be happy to beat you at a sword fight, - Margery said.
- Well than, I'm left with the best of the best!, - Jacken said excited, - My lady Cecily can play me a lovely song with her guitar, as I paint her beauty!
- I can't wait, - Cecily responded.
- Oh you wouldn't want him to paint you!, - Kassandra joked.
- Yes she would!, - Jacken confirmed confident and took Cecily's hand that was sitting in front of him looking her with suspicious thoughts, - Right my lady?
And so they went on speaking and laughing. Maybe they were not that bad Kassandra thought, maybe if she didn't know Sebastian, she would agree to this marriage easily. But she couldn't knowing what she wanted out there. After some time of drinking, eating and laughing it up, Jeremy invited Kassandra to go on a walk around the keep and strangely she accepted.
- The Star Keep is more than I expected, - he said as they walked down the corridors, - and those paintings are amazing! Did your brother make any of that?
- Oh no, my brother works a bit differently., - Kassy answered, - If god forbid he makes a portrait of your mother, I advise you not to see it.
- But why?
- Let's say he likes not to spoil the beauty of nature with clothes! In other words he is a lot after naked things.
- And are you not?, - Jerry asked her.
- Maybe!, - she answered.
- Has your brother made any portrait of you?
- Nope! I didn't consent.
- Bad for me, I would like to see it!, - Jeremy looked like confessing.
- Do you want it that bad Jerry?, - She asked as they were almost out of the castle, - Can I call you Jerry?
- Do me that favor!, - he looked happy with that, - You said you knew how to cook?
- That's the form of art I know best. You want me to cook something for you?
- Chocolate cake is my favorite!, - he looked her with his pretty green eyes.
- Why do you look at me like this, - she slightly smiled, but she liked those fascinating eyes on her.
- I was wondering if you cooked yourself up and put this much sugar in you to make you sweet!, - Jeremy complimented her, - Maybe life favors cooks like you.
- Are you sure of that?, - she smiled suspiciously.
- I would love to taste you and be sure of that!, - he told her.
And he went on flirting with her as they walked in the gardens. She smiled a lot and at one point asked him:
- Do you like to play a game?, - she asked him.
- I would like to do anything with you!
- In that small cabin there, are my some swords. We do a good fight and if you win I'll let you kiss me.
- You are dying to make me kiss you, aren't you?, - he laughed.
- Don't be so sure you will deserve it.
- No one can stop me anymore!, - he was so excited.
They went to take the swords and started the fight. It was clear they enjoyed it a lot.
- Be prepared to loose and win something better!, - Jarry said.
- You can't win, give up!
He unwillingly gave her a cut at her belly and he run to see her concerned.
- Are you okay?
- You look funny my god!, - she smiled, - You just cut a vampire, not a delicate human being. it's probably already healed.
- Still let me see it!
- Okay, if you insist!
He ripped the dress at the belly more and sucked the blood out of her wound, until it disappears completely. She apparently liked it.
- Maybe you cut me on purpose!, - she laughed, - who is dying to kiss the other now?
- Now that it's good let's go, you have a fight to lose!
They got up and went on fighting and after a bit Jeremy won.
- You finally took what you wanted!, - he smirked., - Kassy!
Than he got close to her and took her into a passionate kiss. Kassy felt like she couldn't accept to end that moment, but her mind was at Sebastian. So she pulled back and said:
- Jerry, before I met you I would not even consider, not at all cost to marry you or anyone else. Now you made me even consider it a good choice. But I can't marry you, I have someone else in mind., - her face turned sorry.
- I wouldn't force you to marry me of course, - he said, - but I am not the queen or my lord father. Still I hope they don't make anything against your wish!
Than she got away and went to her room. It was five o'clock in the morning and soon it would start to light up. The black curtains didn't let light come into a vampire's room, so she sat at her desk next to the torch and opened her diary once again.
"Dear diary!
This day went better than I expected. Jeremy really was sweet and I could have never imagined to say this, but I'm nearly sorry not to marry him. My mother said he was pretty, but I never imagined he would be this good. His family were all hypocrites by the look of it, only his mother maybe was just a bit better. But my love for Sebastian is stronger, as much as I would wish to take Jerry in my bed, I can't ask him to join the rest of my lovers. But the other bas thing is that mother probably will ask why would I ever in the world reject such a man, and I'm afraid she might find out the why. And I can't forget to mention the feeling of his sucking on my belly, the chills I got, and the lust I felt. And the kiss he gave me, it almost felt as good as Sebastian's. I will keep you updated.
Love, Kassandra!"