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Chapter 4 - Becoming A New Women

Arabella

I awoke my body drenched in sweat and I couldn't figure out where I was or what had happened. Was it all a dream? Did that all really happen? Had the most beautiful man visited me and taken away my pain? I continued to lie there with my eyes closed, too afraid to open them and see that it was all a fever dream. I began to wiggle my toes and wondered if they were still in pain? Nothing. I then went to my legs, my knees and shifted them slightly and it all felt ok, everything felt like it did before. 

Opening my eyes slowly and I looked around the room, making out the few shapes of nursemaids as they sat at the table just in front of my fireplace. One was fanning herself as the heat had risen more today. I could feel it hit my skin as I lifted my arm up to examine it. Sparkles. My skin looked as if it were glittering in the sunlight, and I could see the pinkness of my skin had returned.

"Oh, your Majesty, you're awake."

They took to their feet straight away and rushed over to me, ready to help lift me up but I didn't need help this morning, I was able to lift myself up with ease and no problems at all, my strength was back. They appeared shocked as they looked at me stunned and speechless.

"Your Majesty! It's a miracle! Thank the Gods! You are healed!" One dropped to her knees as she began praying to the powers at be or whatever God she prayed to. "This is wonderful news; we shall fetch for your advisors now." The other began to rush to the door.

"No, leave them. I wish to bathe and get dressed, arrange for a meeting in the grand hall and I will show them myself." 

"Of course, right away, your Majesty."

As they rushed to prepare a bath for me, I got up and went to my full-length mirror to see if I could notice any changes and I was taken aback. My black hair looked the healthiest it had ever been, fuller, shiny and wavy. The circles around my blue eyes had disappeared and I no longer looked as if my face was shallow, and my cheeks were fuller once again. I felt better, as if I could go several rounds at the sparing range as well as run miles over the mountains. 

This was incredible and not what I had expected. Last night was real and I truly had drunk from a demon, a vampire. No, he was an Angel and he saved me, bringing me back from the brink of death and now I felt like a new woman.

Once I was bathed and cleaned, a simple thing but a wonderful feeling to rid myself of the disease sweats and the layer of dirt that had clogged my skin. My skin had returned to its beautiful shade of pale pink, and I felt warm to the touch, it was lovely. Dressing in the royal shades of reds, golds and blues, my crown no longer felt heavy as it was placed back on my head, in its rightful place. My dress hugged at my waist as it fell outwards and to the floor, creating the illusion that I appeared to have long legs.

Heading down to the grand hall, I was escorted by my royal guards who all seemed just as pleased and amazed as my nurses did that I was back up on my feet and looking better than ever. Every member of my household had been sworn to secrecy about my health and it was punishment by death if they had uttered a single word outside these walls and I was pleased to find not one person had told anyone, or at least I hadn't been told yet if the secret was out. 

As the large wooden doors were pushed open, my hall was filled with lines upon lines of my court, my nobles, their wives, and some of the children as well as many from the religious groups in the city and outskirts. Walking to my throne, I kept my head straight as all bowed to the floor in my wake. Although I had always ruled gently and peacefully, I felt this overwhelming power of strength and power and relished in the feeling.

"Her Majesty, first of her name, the great Empress Arabella Rose Wolfe."

Taking my seat, I felt the glee and happiness of beating my illness, no matter what channels I had to go through, and I was going to make sure to speak to my brother and the nobles who summoned my angel, to ask them the questions that I needed answered and to wonder why they believed offering my hand in marriage was a good idea.

"Welcome everyone, by the blessings, I have recovered and will live to see many, many more days to come."

There was a cheer in the room as many clapped and took to mumbling and talking amongst themselves, clearly happy the world was put to right and they no longer had to worry about losing their Empress or trying to find someone to replace me.

***************************

The following weeks were a blur as I jumped back into my duties. No longer did I require help for my daily needs and most certainly didn't need any of my advisors to help me run the Empire. I had not seen or heard from my angel in the dark and part of me ached to speak to him, to find out more of what went on that night and if we were in fact now engaged or whatever my advisors had agreed to make us in bargaining for my life?

Not allowing an audience with my advisors for the last week or two wasn't a good idea as even Tristian mentioned one afternoon in my study that they were growing weary. I did need to hold a council meeting to discuss moving forward with our plans to expand the Empire and grow our army. But quite frankly, I didn't want to speak to any of them. I had yet for anyone to come forward and claim what they put in motion, even Tristian seemed to hide the truth from me. Most likely they feared my wrath, but did they not realise I already knew everything.

"Empress," One of my footmen had wandered in unannounced and bowed low to the ground while I looked up at him across my desk, "I am sorry to disturb you at this late hour but there is a man here who wishes for an audience."

"Tell him he may put a request in, I won't be seeing anyone."

"He's rather insisting, your Majesty, he said he only needs a moment or two of your time."

"As do many others only need a moment."

Ready to shoo him away, the door swung open and in walked a tall, strapping, and powerful man. Luca. He had the same presence around him as he did that night on the balcony. I dropped my quill in shock as he walked past my footman, keeping firm eye contact with me.

"You may leave us." I said to my footman as he quickly bowed and left the room.

"You weren't going to see me." Luca said, with a hint of anger behind his words.

"Had I known it was you, you wouldn't have had to wait. Does my brother know you are here?"

"Nobody knows I am here, little Empress and your footman there will have already forgotten he saw me once he walked out of this room." 

He took the seat opposite me, and I could see his black suit was made of the finest fabrics, velvet and silks. It had a blood red edging to it and hugged his form perfectly, showing off his muscled body just under as he crossed his arms across his chest. He looked at me intensely and I felt my heart rate begin to pick up. I sort of hated how he looked as if he was undressing me with his eyes. 

"What is it you want then?" I asked, taking a sit of my drink.

"I have come here to discuss the terms of our agreement."

"Oh, have you now? How lovely of you and here I thought you'd already forgotten about me." 

I put my drink back on my desk and Luca took it suddenly, drinking the last of my wine. To my annoyance.

"I could never forget that pretty face of yours." He winked at me and placed the glass back down.

"Well, what is it you'd like to discuss?" 

"Firstly, my sweet, are you allowing me lodgings here or shall I continue to stay at my home?"

"Oh, I didn't know you'd wish to stay here. I can have lodgings sorted for you, that wouldn't be an issue. Would you require somewhere dark and away from direct sunlight?"

He chuckled a dark laugh and then leaned towards me, "I don't require a dark room away from sunlight. Contrary to what the legends say, sunlight doesn't make me burst into flames, it does itch the skin but as we grow with age, the sunlight doesn't harm us as much as it did when we were little fledglings." 

"Oh, what else is it you'd require?" I poured myself another drink and took a sip.

"Our wedding day, we should really begin planning that, don't you think?"

Almost choking on my drink, my heart fluttered as shock settled in, I had thought he was joking when he said I was to be his. I hadn't really thought about being his bride and quite frankly I wasn't set on the idea. I was more annoyed with my lords at how easy it was for them to offer me up. 

"You think I'm joking, don't you?" 

He laughed again and then stood up from his chair, coming round the table and then turned my chair to face him. I looked up at him, his eyes a darker shade of green this time and he licked his lips slightly, before smiling sinisterly and then leant down towards me. My breath caught and flutters appeared in my stomach, as well as a tingling feeling deep within my core.

"You will be mine, one way or another Arabella," He raised a hand to brush against my cheek and I felt the blood rush to my cheek when he left, "A devil and his angel, how poetic."

He leaned closer to me, his lips almost brushing against mine and I could feel the heat rising deep within me. I closed my eyes as he breathed in my scent and then he brought his lips to the base of my chain, then ran his tongue up my neck and nipped at my earlobe.

"You smell delicious," He kissed the section under my earlobe, and it took me by surprise how warm he was. "As soon as you're my bride, the fun will begin."

As quickly as the encounter was, he disappeared, and I felt the cold air rush around me. Opening my eyes, I saw I was now alone in my study and my heart felt as if it would burst from my chest, it was beating so hard. Taking a few deep breaths, I calmed myself and finished off the rest of my drink.

"Fucking vampires." I uttered under my breath as I tried to get back to work, signing but Luca had managed to flusher me so much, I couldn't concentrate. Throwing my quill across the room, I huffed and decided to leave everything until tomorrow, losing my thoughts to that of Lord Luca Ash.