Luca
When Arabella was announced for the meeting, the residing Lords and advisors of the crown all stood to welcome her. Including myself and Darc, the Crowned Prince stayed in his seat, which I found rather strange as even if he was her brother, he still had to pay respect.
It surprised me more so, when she reached her chair and instead of her footman pulling it back for her, the prince left his seat and pulled her chair for her. They had a strange relationship, but as she thanked him and then caught my eyeline at the other end of the table, I heard her sweet little heart perk up.
"You may all sit." She commanded as she took her seat and was handed some sort of book.
"We are here today to discuss this arrangement my Lords and brother deemed fit and needed at the time. — Lord Luca," she addressed me, and I could have sworn my own heart skipped a beat as her eyes met mine again.
"I am unsure on the full extent of your demands for saving my life. If you could share them with this council now please."
She commanded a room filled with men who would have fallen at her feet if demanded. The way she presented herself made me question everything I had found out about her so far. She had fire deep within her, fire I'd already met but as she sat there, with her crown on her head, in a black dress, the neckline high. She wasn't just an Empress, she was a general.
Clearing my throat as I felt everyone's eyes on me and Drac glanced at me, waiting for my answer I felt clueless for a second. Why had I demanded a marriage and an heir from her? I wanted entertainment but it felt as if I was seeking more. And as soon as I saw Arabella, I felt differently about forcing someone to spend their time with me.
"Your brother, and your Lords made the arrangement with me in exchange for your life, we are to be married, and you are to produce an heir by the next blue moon. Which is in eighteen months."
Arabella's eyes widened as the realisation hit her ears and her heart picked up the pace. I guess that was the part her council had left out, the producing of an heir. Which even now, I thought was a silly notion.
Shaking my head of such thoughts, I took a deep breath and licked my lips, keeping the blood cravings at bay. There were so many heartbeats in the room, surrounding me, my instincts were stretching at my insides to silence them all.
"An heir?" She finally spoke, trying to hide the shock from her voice as she gave the Prince a side eye. "And how do you propose we are to do that?"
A few of the Lords seemed to hide laughter behind their smiles and cover their mouths with their hands. Which she didn't seem to like either.
"I am not asking the HOW-TO gentleman, I am asking how can something dead create life?"
Well, that hurt slightly. She narrowed her eyes towards me and took a sip of her wine, her other hand lightly tapping on the wooden table in frustration.
"Sister — I have already asked that question and I assure you it can be done."
"Brother dearest, we will speak about this subject later you and I." She cautioned him.
She was angry. I could feel her emotions as they rolled off her and rebounded against me. Our blood connection fading as my blood disappeared in her veins, to which I was a little grateful for. But I would perhaps miss that slight hum under my skin when she was around.
"Lord Luca, I will have my grand chamberlain arrange the details of our quiet ceremony in the next three days. As for our celebration banquet, it will only have a small number of guests. Nothing too big."
"I am at your command, Empress."
Lowing my head somewhat to give her a bow while sitting, she rolled her eyes and scoffed at me drinking the rest of her wine. I was dismissed after we discussed more details about the small ceremony and was quite happy to leave and explore the castle a little bit more.
"So, you are to become an Emperor." Darc mentioned as we headed in any direction.
"I will only become such a thing if the Empress deems it. No crown will rest on my head until then, I will become her consort, and I am sure that will be it."
Clasping my hands behind my back, while Darc seemed to want to touch anything that decorated the hallway we were on. Portraits of royals before Arabella, statues of religious saints as well as paintings of the Empires littered the corridor.
The whole castle itself seemed very dark, dismal and in need of a new decorator from this time. It would seem Arabella wasn't interested in how her castle looked. Perhaps she was more interested in how her Empire was run, rather than spend money on tapestries or other such novel items.
I admired her a little for that.
"If she were to have a child with you, they would become an Emperor or Empress wouldn't they?"
"I believe so, as well as inherit everything I own."
"Would they be born a blood sucker like you or?"
Stopping, Darc realised what he said as my eyes darkened. He was on his knees in front of me, begging me to forget the words of a stupid, silly human.
"You are dismissed. Go and see what entertainment is available to us."
He didn't think twice before he scampered off in a fearful hurry to get away from me. My mood changed in an instant at the thought of my future offspring becoming like me. I'd never heard of a vampire and human child living more than a few days, so it would be interesting to see what could happen to mine and the Empress's child.
If she were to give me one, or any.
Finding two tall and large wooden doors down another corridor I was pleased when I pushed one open to find a library. Stacks and stacks of books lined the walls, some of the bookcases were tall enough to need a ladder to reach the very top.
"May I help you sir?"
A voice from a young girl tickled my ear as she came into view. Light blonde hair flowed down her shoulders and her blue eyes seemed lost at the sight of me. She looked innocent, sweet and my mouth watered wondering at what she would taste like.
"Do you need something?"
"What is your name?" I asked.
Once I came to my senses, I was sure it was the girl I'd seen this morning. She'd seen me walk into the banquet hall, just to inspect it when the Prince followed me in.
She didn't seem visibly intimidated by me and neither did her heart as it beat slow and steady. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, she hugged the few books she had in her arms close to her chest.
"I am Lady May, one of the Empress ladies waiting." She curtsied slightly.
"Ah, so one of her little spies."
"Spies, my Lord?"
"All royals have spies. I would be surprised if the Empress didn't have any."
She again, seemed unfazed and laughed a little under her breath before turning to place her books down. Her back to me and if I were hungry, I would have taken her by the throat in seconds. Which, I think she already knew.
"What the Empress does is no business of mine. Now, was there something you needed?" A little sterner in her words this time and it made me smirk. The Empress was definitely a good teacher it would seem.
"No, my lady, I was just exploring the castle waiting for the Empress to summon me."
"If that's the case, I shall leave you to explore."
Leaving her books, she curtsied once again and then made her way out of the library. Curiosity caught the cat as I wandered over to the table to see what she had been reading.
History of Vampires & Other Supernatural Creatures.
How to Kill a Vampire.
Folk Tales Of The Supernatural.
"Just some light reading it would seem." I muttered out loud. "I wonder how much of it is true."
I couldn't help myself then by picking up the first book and taking a seat in a comfortable armchair. I wanted to see just what nonsense the human race had decided about vampires and other creatures that live among us.
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"Lady May told me I'd find you here."
Escorted by several of her guards, Arabella wore a sumptuous crimson gown with a fitted bodice, a high collars, and long, flowing sleeves with slits. She looked like she'd stepped out of a painting. The fabric hugged her in all the right places and for a moment I was stuck staring at her.
"My Lord, are you well?" She addressed me, "Leave us."
Turning to her guards, she waved them away and all left in seconds. Only the two I'd previously met stood by the entrance of the library, keeping a close eye on us. Knowing I was staring at her, I lowered my eyes and cleared my throat. Placing the book I had open on the table, I stood to bow, I went to pull a chair out for her to which she shook her head. Glancing at the books still on the table and the one I had open, she raised an eyebrow and then turned her gaze back to me.
"No, come walk with me so we may try and get to know one another a little bit. If we are to be husband and wife, we should at least know some things."
To my shock, I agreed with her as even though this was some sort of business transaction, I did always enjoy learning about humans and their ways.
"Sounds lovely, please lead the way."
Gesturing my hand outwards and then offering my arm to her, she ignored me and made her way to the doors as they opened for her. She walked with such grace and elegance, but there was this hint of power that lingered under her skin. The way she moved, spoke and commanded control. I was feeling myself falling under some kind of spell as I watched her closely.
We eventually stepped outside towards the large glass doors onto a patio, down a few stoned steps and then headed into the gardens. I followed her in silence as she continued walking a little in front of me, her guards following us with a respectable distance until we reached large hedges that were trained to grow into an archway that continued onwards to create a tunnel.
Once we walked through it and to the other side, it opened into a large grass field. A horse stable was to the left where many of the horses grazing in a field from the side and then on the right was a large orchard filled with what looked like apple trees.
"You're going to try and lose me in there, aren't you?" I jested and she smirked back at me a little.
"I doubt anyone could really lose a vampire."
"You are correct, it's hard to throw me off a scent once I've tasted it."
"Noted. I best cover myself in mud before I try to escape you then."
She was flirting with me it seemed, or at least becoming a little more playful. I liked it. Her heart picked up a little as I cleared the small space between us, between the wooden archway into the orchard. In the soft glow of the afternoon sun, her pale skin radiated, and I wanted nothing more than to have my way with her.
"What is it you wish to know then Empress?" I asked, lowering my eyes to her lips and she stepped back a touch, giving herself more breathing space.
"Matthew, you and the others may stay out here. I will call you if I need assistance." She ordered her guards who didn't budge, just nodded and bowed in sync.
"Do you enjoy bossing people around?" I asked.
"Sometimes. Why Lord Luca, do you wish for me to command you too?"
She smiled sweetly and innocently up at me, and it made my mouth water as I heard the blood flow in her veins. No one would be around to see me take a small sip. No, you must control yourself, I thought, bringing my mind back to its controlled self.
"You may command me as you wish, Empress." I winked and a sly smile graced my lips once more.
In seconds, she slipped from in front of me and stepped in the orchard. Beckoning me to follow and I couldn't help but follow her. The scent of sweet floral apple blossoms clung to the air as I watched blossoms float from the trees in the wind and a few land in Arabella's hair.
At that moment she turned halfway to me and our eyes locked. She was breathtaking and not what I'd originally thought as even my own heart felt as if it skipped a beat. What was she doing to me?