Anna swallowed her nonexistent saliva. "The dark knight is a man from the legends."
"Yes? And why is everyone scared including the priest?" Lucia asked.
"Because he is a vampire." Anna exhales.
Gasps echoed through the chapel. Lucia's eyes locked onto the mysterious figure, sensing a world beyond her books awaited
"A vampire? A real life vampire?" Lucia asks again.
"Yes, My Lady. They say anyone who looks into his eyes dies instantly." Anna replied.
But Lucia wasn't listening to her. She had gotten off her seat and made way for the door.
"Lady Lucia!" Anna called for her.
Lucia stared at the dark shadow in front of her. "Vampires need invitation before they are let into churches, am I correct?"
The shadow moved and for a second, her heart skipped a beat.
However, she was fearless. "I invite you in, dark knight."
She stepped back as the shadow moved. It was the tall image of a man. Water dripped from his armour as he walked past her. His long dark hair glued to his face here and there. His eyes, were the colour of fire itself leaving Lucia mesmerized for the first time in her virgin life.
"Lady Lucia, stay away from him." Anna came to drag her away but Lucia couldn't stop staring at him with interest.
Even with the prayers ongoing, she still kept her eyes on him. When he looked at her, she dared not look away. As though hipnotized, she gave him a light wave and he looked away. That made her sad.
"Will you stop staring at him, My Lady? I think you're making him uncomfortable." Anna whispers.
"I can't stop looking at him, Anna. Just this afternoon, I was reading Nelia Nicklebone's BRIDE FOR THE VAMPIRE and here a vampire is, at my disposal." Lucia chuckles lightly.
Anna scoffs. "You don't think that - -
"I don't think, Anna, I know. God sent him to me." Lucia smiles.
When the prayer was over, Lucia ran to meet the dark knight.
"Hello, I'm Lucia von Burren. What's your name?" She extended her hand to him.
Sir Adam replied. "I don't believe he does the speaking, My Lady, but his name is Damian. Damian the crusader."
Lucia shot him glare. "He has a mouth, doesn't he? Or are you his spokesman, Sir Adam?"
Adam fell quiet and walked away with the rest of his men.
Lucia turns to the vampire. "Don't mind them. They're hopeless wannabes. So your name is Damian. It's nice to meet you."
Damian still doesn't say a word. He hides his face from the light so she wouldn't see him.
"Don't shelter yourself from the light. You're really pretty. Even prettier than I am." She smiled at him.
"Lucia!" She heard her father bark her name and ignored him.
"I'm inviting you to the ball my father's hosting tomorrow night, Sir Damian. I want you to come." She said.
"Lucia!" Now, her Aunt Melissa calls for her.
"I'll be on my way. I would love you to come tomorrow, Damian." She giggled and ran to meet her family.
Damian looked at the little miss red who ran off to her family and is startled by her bravery. Never in his life had a woman or anyone approached him like that before.
As soon as the prayers were over and done with, Lucia returns to her chambers to resume her reading. Within a short time, she fell asleep and was awakened to dress up for dinner.
"My Lady, dinner!" Anna calls from outside the door.
"In a moment, Anna." Lucia get out of bed and anchors her red curly hair in a scarf. Then she went to drape her shawl over her shoulders and wear her shoes.
She emerged from the room and Anna nearly screamed.
"Don't tell me you're going to dinner dressed like that!" Anna squealed.
"And what is wrong with what I'm wearing?" Lucia asks.
"Everything. You're in a sleeping gown. You should be formally dressed." Anna grabs Lucia's hands.
"No. I'm done with those stupid traditions. It's time to play by my rules."
"Oh no. You're at that age."
"Of course, I'm at that age. I'm a renegade."
Lucia pushed the door open. "Why, hello, family."
"What on earth are you wearing, Lucia?!" Count Eric von Burren thunders.
"A gown if you must." Lucia takes a seat beside Aunt Melissa.
"Go back to your room and put on some clothes!" Eric pushed back his seat, his face a beet red.
"Do I look naked to you? Of course not. I'm indeed putting on clothes." Lucia reaches for a berry and throws one into her mouth.
"You're in a sleeping gown!" Eric bangs his fists on the table, startling everyone but her.
"Nelia Nicklebone is a woman and I hear she eats in her sleeping gown." Lucia replied with a mouthful.
"You will not mention that vampire's name in this holy house! Of course Nicklebone eats in her sleeping gown. She is a vampire and vampires do not have laws! Haven't I warned you not to read that creature's books!"
"I find her books quite refreshing if you ask me."
"Speaking of vampires, she even invited one to the ball." August cleared his throat.
Eric's eyes almost rolled into his head. "She did what?"
Lucia pushed back her seat. "Yes. As a matter of fact, I did. I invited Damian the crusader."
"You invited that mind controlling, shapeshifting monster here?!" Eric raged.
"Relax, father," Lucia took a glass of wine, "Mind control is just speculation borne out of human perceptions and fear of vampires. Surely if they were real, you would've been dead because you also trade with Vampire Counts, father."
Eric marched to where Lucia is and grabbed her. "I trade with civilized vampires while you just invited a maddening one to our home!"
August smiles. "Don't worry, father-in-law. I'll have the vampire-hunters on standby. That crusader won't know what hits him."
Lucia gives a small smile and curtsies. Then she turned on her heels and threw the door open.
"Lady Lucia!" Anna ran after her.
"Anna, bring me all the books you know about vampires." She said.
"What are you planning, My Lady?"
Lucia smiles. "It's quite simple. I'm going to be a vampire's bride."
Anna stutters with fear. "You don't think - -
"Why, yes. I will marry Sir Damian." Lucia winked at her.
Anna gasped in shock. "Marry a vampire? He hasn't even proposed to you?"
Lucia couldn't help but smirk. "I'll spare him the stress on go down on one knee. What a man can do, a woman can do splendidly well."
"And if he refuses this proposal of yours?" Anna asked, already aware of her lady's answer.
Lucia ran her tongue over her bottom lip. "That's easy. I'll make him."