Eight
Meanwhile at Blood Rose Castle (Home of Lord Marcus and Serafina)
"That inseverable child, how can it be so hard to get to her "
"Daddy, you promised me you would get rid of her. You said Prince Dario would be mine and yet that harpy is still around"
Serafina was glaring at her father from across the room while he in turn was staring out the tall windows overlooking the great forest that surround the castle and also hides them from view.
"I know what I promised my pet but if we want to get rid of Thalia, we have to do it in a way so that no one suspects us. But I think I might have an idea. The royals are all very fond of her so they would do anything to keep her safe. So, the best way to get to her is from the inside and I think I might have just thought of the perfect plan."
"Will it get me, Prince Dario, you said you can make him fall in love with me."
"Of course, love spells and potions are easy to find it won't be real love but you don't really care about that do you, my pet?"
"No, as long as he is mine."
"Then he shall be my pet, now let us begin there are a lot of things to do. If we want Thalia gone before the anniversary ceremony…"
Thalia
Well, today is the day. How will my life change? A million thoughts run through my head as I wait for Dario having given him a call to say that I would like to talk to him before we head to the castle to help Danica with the finishing touches for the first of many parties. True to form Dario doesn't take long to arrive.
"Good morning, Babe you look… wow."
Smiling at Dario's short but very accurate impression of a goldfish as he just stares at me. But in all honesty, he rarely sees me in normal clothes. So, my pale blue jeans and light mint green sweater are very cute even if I do say so myself.
"Good morning your highness please do come in," I say as I notice a few guards are watching us from the trees.
The smile slightly fades from Dario's lips and his expression shows every sign of reproach until he notices the guards watching us.
As he walks in and closes the door behind him, he looks a little less sure, like he isn't quite sure of what I am going to say.
"Please sit-down Dario, having you just standing there staring at me like that is making me nervous and not in a good way."
"Ok, I can do that. Just lay off the whole your highness thing okay? Because Baby that is so not working with that setup."
"Dario, I want to have a serious conversation with you so please focus. I gave your idea a lot of thought and talked it over with people who have a lot more experience with the whole romantic relationship thing. And they gave me some really good advice. So even though it scares me almost to death I have decided to accept your offer of becoming your consort."
Dario
All I could do was stare at her did I hear her correctly; did she say she would be mine? If someone would have asked me to explain just how happy I was, there would not have been enough words in all the realms to use to express that.
"Dario? Did you hear me?"
Hearing the uncertainty in her voice. I stood up and pulled her towards me, and kissed her probably a little too enthusiastically. Feeling her small hand pushing me a bit, I realized that she is still half human and thus needs to breathe.
"Sorry, my bad I got a little too enthusiastic. You just made me the happiest Vampire ever. We should go and tell the others. They are going to freak out."
"Dario, wait first there are something else I would like to discuss. Now I know becoming your Consort would change things but, I still need to be me. I still need to feel like I have a job and a place. I work my whole life and trained for years and I don't want that to go to waste. Plus, I know I won't be content to just look pretty and smile and be the dutiful little lady at court. Basically, I still need my own identity apart from being your consort."
"Ok, that is reasonable, and honestly, I wouldn't have expected anything else. But I don't know how we will work everything out. I don't think you will be able to still be my personal guard but I understand where you're coming from. If this is what you need, I will make it happen. I promise!"
"Do you really mean it? You're not mad at me for making this the condition?"
"If it means I get to call you mine; then yeah, I mean it. I don't mind it at all, and no I am not mad. You have every right to say how you feel and to voice what you want. That is how a normal healthy relationship works Thalia."
Hearing him say that and accepting my condition really means a lot to me. Maybe Skye and Rose are right. Using my mother and father's screwed-up relationship as an example is just not right. Because that was not a relationship, it was a toxic form of ownership.
After this, having said what I needed to say we head out to the castle. As the sun just set a few minutes ago, it is still early evening. The party is due to start in two hours.
To say that everyone was happy was the understatement of the year. Lucian, Willow, Logan, Leo, Francesca, Dominique, Danica, Griffin the king and queen were over the moon. The girls were jumping up and down with joy. I don't know what Skye and Rose's reaction is yet, as they haven't arrived yet, and also haven't responded to my text but I suppose they will be here soon. We quickly finish all the little things that still had to be done, then it was time for Danica's favorite thing in the whole world. Playing dress-up.
"You are going to absolutely love your dress. I had a feeling you would accept Dario."
Smiling at Danica's reaction it was plain to see that she was ecstatic, I swear if she would bounce a little higher, she would surely levitate. Just as she was pulling out a huge garment bag from the depths of her closet, Skye and Rose came rushing in through the door. Squealing with joy.
"Thalia! You said yes! O honey, that is the best news ever. You deserve this you really do."
"It just dawned on me, You're a lady now. Lady Thalia, I just love the sound of that." Skye was talking so fast; it was a good thing she didn't need to breathe in the usual sense of the word. Otherwise, I am pretty sure she would have passed out. They were both hugging me and talking all at once until Danica finally succeeded in getting the dress out of the garment bag. It was truly the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. A full-length gown with sheer long flowy sleeves that would stretch over my hands, in a stunning Emerald green.
"O, Danica it is stunning, where did you find it."
"Silly Thalia, I didn't find it anywhere. I made it just for you."
"You made this? Danica, it is a work of art! How did you? When did you find time to make it?"
"Well just like you find time for painting every now and then I do the same for making and designing dresses. Let's just say this is my hobby."
"Danica, it is amazing you should open a boutique, where you design and make the dresses. You will make a fortune. Sorry, I mean you're a princess so you don't need the money but, all those aristocrats and Vampire elite will kill for dresses like this."
"That is sweet Skye, and maybe I will do that but not yet. I am still working everything out and sort of finding my way."
After that, we focused on getting dressed. The dress fit perfectly, and even if I have to say so myself, it looked absolutely stunning on me. Rose helped me with my hair till it fell in loose curls down to my waist.
As we left Danica's room, I started to feel nervous. I know the King sent out a proclamation announcing to all in the Vampire realm that I was now Dario's consort. So, the thing is I don't really know what to expect. Dario, Griffin, Finn, and Enzo were waiting for us to escort us into the main hall and I have to say they look rather dashing and really handsome.
"Wow, you look amazing Baby. Danica this dress is a work of art."
Danica just smiled at her brother, but it was plain to see his compliment, meant the world to her.
Taking my hand, he pulled me a little closer giving me a long slow look up and down. His stare gave me butterflies, leaning in he whispered in my ear.
"You look beautiful but if I have to be honest, I would prefer you with fewer clothes on. Are you nervous or are you feeling the effects of the 'change'?"
"Just nervous, I don't know what to expect."
"It's going to be ok, plus I am here and the only people whose opinions I care about adore you and want us to be together and happy."
Then we should go and get this over with. As you know parties aren't my thing but as long as you are here. I can bear it."
Standing on my toes I give Dario a kiss on his cheek just to show my thanks and appreciation for him being so supportive.
"I can get used to that, but next time make it a proper kiss. Ok, babe?"
As we walked into the hall, I could feel everyone's eyes on me. It felt like they were all trying to stare into my soul. But luckily it all seemed to go well after dancing for a bit I started to feel a little warm, warmer than usual. Nothing too serious, so Dario escorted me to our seats at the main table at the far end of the room. When we arrived at the table Danica and Griffin were seated as well and taking a bit of a rest.
"Hi, guys taking a break too?"
"Yeah, Thalia is feeling a little bit warm."
Feeling their concerned looks I quickly told them that it wasn't too bad and I will tell them if it gets worse.
"So, little red, at least they didn't have any pitchforks. Though if looks could kill you would be dead. Serafina didn't take her eyes off of you guys, at all while you were dancing."
"Yeah, I noticed and neither had Lord Marcus."
I have to say that did not sit well with me at all. Just then Finn and Enzo came over looking a little worried.
"Your Highnesses, Griff, Thalia, I mean sorry Lady Thalia…"
"Just Thalia, thanks, Finn. What's up you guys look worried, and where are Rose and Skye?"
"That is just the thing Thalia, they went to the bathroom because some idiot aristocrat spilled blood on Rose's dress. They went to clean it up, but that was almost thirty minutes ago. And well we are worried we called, but they didn't answer us and we can't go in there."
"What?! I will go and check on them maybe they are just struggling to get the blood out."
"I will go with you, Thalia you shouldn't be alone you already said you are feeling a little unwell."
"Thanks, Danica, but we don't want to attract attention."
"Ok, but Dario can at least escort you, it won't look strange or out of the ordinary."
I just smiled and gave a slight nod; I was already starting to walk towards the hall where the bathrooms are. As we reached the doors leading into the females' bathrooms Dario, Finn, and Enzo waited outside. As I entered the little foyer of the bathroom, I didn't hear anyone.
"Rose? Skye? Are you guys in here?"
I called out to them but there was no answer only eerie silence. Just as I was about to turn around, I felt a stinging sensation in the back of my neck then everything went blank….