The distinguished smell of unearthly flesh trailed through the corridor. It filled it with a metallic essence of iron, creaking beneath Lor’s door. Wisping around, it approached the bed, filling her airways.

Vampire!

Terrified, the princess’s eyes shot open as she leaned forward with a winded gasp. One had to be lurking from a shadowed corner. She was certain. Her orbs swam from side to side, hands clenching her blanket at eye level. She stalled a few seconds as her surroundings narrowed inwardly, magnifying every crevice and corner to ensure no intruder. The comforter, acting as a shield, fell to her lap. No one!

With a heavy sigh, she crossed her arms annoyed by the dagger-like fangs that descended on instinct. Two of them hung at the corners of her mouth, the only ounce of turning minx she ever experienced. How could two fangs be any form of defense against a beastly vampire anyway? She found them useless, relieved no intruder existed.

Over the bit of fear, she slumped against her pillow, puzzled by the lingering aroma that produced no proof of a vampire. If it’s not a blood sucker, then what could it be? The question brought her to her feet and down the hall to a door. Maybe father knows something. She peeked inside his room. It had an emptiness she couldn’t fathom, not with the possibility of their enemy being among them. Where the hell is he? It’s awfully late. Her brows furrowed, silvery orbs scoping around. She took notice to the mannequin that still clothed his armor, sword, and helmet. This only confused her more between the smell and his lack of defense.

Just as she decided to retreat back to her bed, a ripple of cool air rushed up her nightgown, running a stroke along the lumps of her spine. Finger-like in its feel, she shuttered, heart racing, the hairs on her neck and arms straightening.

Her head still remained between the door and its frame, no doubt in her mind a vampire loomed closely behind. She could feel him, the scent fuming now. What did he want?

Without thought, she twirled around, eyes widened, to find no one there. She veered left and right. Still, no one. The aroma swiveled from one area to another, the stalker invisible.

At the edge of the wood-paneled hallway, a black cloud formed, materializing into black, beady mist. She squinted at the levitating force, questioning if she was hallucinating since it blended well with the shadows. It coiled off into the distance just as fast as it evolved, movements quicker than the speed of light.

The hell was that thing, she wondered, breathing accelerated, paired with a heart that rammed through her chest. Being alone did not help the situation. Where are the guards, maids, dammit, my father? There was one way she could get their attention.

“FATHER!” She listened out for a response, but heard crickets. She yelled again to the others who were supposed to be in the vicinity. “GUARDS! MAIDS! ANYONE?” Not a moment later, a soft voice touched her ears.

“Princess?” said Naomi emerging from the stairway and far sooner than she expected. “What’s going on?” She was Lor’s maid.

“Vampires! They’re here and one is stalking me.”

“My lady, I assure you. No vampire is here to cause you harm.”

“Yes he is!” Like a mad woman, her voice echoed across the hallway to the empty space the dark cloud hovered. “I saw it there!”

With a worry lines crinkling Naomi’s forehead, she appeared puzzled for a moment. Then, her bubbly charm returned soon after.

“Your snout is right. There are vampires here, but they are in a meeting with your father right now. None of them left out.”

“Vampires meeting with father? Are you certain?”

“Yes. I’m on duty for tea. Vampires are heavy tea drinkers ya’ know. Was just about to brew them some more.” Her eyebrows furrowed with concern. 

“Then I heard you screaming.”

Lor’s knuckles plunged to her waist. “Why are they here? Why are you serving them?” She moved closer to Naomi, their chests inches apart. Just as her maid parted her lips to answer, Lor interrupted. “Have you forgotten we’re at war with them?”

The reason behind their visit was no secret to Naomi. In fact, she waited around for orders the entire meeting with no alternative but to listen in on the details. Regardless of her loyalty to Lor, she didn’t want to be the one to tell her what they spoke about. Naomi distinctively remembered Lor’s father telling her not to. For that reason, she maneuvered around all accounts of their conference, at best providing minor detail.

“Your father requested me for tea. I had no choice. The king and prince of Ustoria are here.”

With scolding orbs, she said, “What business do they have here?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say.”

“Why not?”

“You’re father made it very clear that he’d tell you himself before the council meeting tomorrow.”

“Council meeting?”

Naomi cuffed her mouth tightly, her eyes widened with repentance. “Oh god. I’ve said too much.”

“Tell me why they’re here. Now!”

“I can’t.” She rushed off before the princess could compel the truth out of her.

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Everyone bone in Lor’s body wanted to barge inside her father’s headquarters to gain clarity on this absurd occurrence. Vampire and Minx did not gather for meetings or serve each other tea. They steered clear of one another. The only thing they ever engaged in, war and violence.

She started making her way to the meeting, then wondered if it was a bright idea to challenge her father in their enemies presence. This would only worsen their relationship for Lor had a tendency of pissing him off. This wouldn’t be the first time she interrupted an important event. She swallowed her pride, embarrassed by her desire to preserve the little love they had left for each other. She went back to her room where the silvery scent seemed to have dissipated. In an effort to look past the vampire’s arrival, she fell to her bed, clamping her eyes shut.

From side to side, her body flipped and flopped. She could not take it anymore. What is this meeting about? I deserve to know! Why is there a council meeting? Her body shifted forward, feet swinging to the floor. Just as she reached for the doorknob, someone came in from the other side.

Dom, a well-mannered soldier, with the most gorgeous face, heaped through the entrance. His skin was smooth as caramel kiss. With heavy blue eyes, both tantalizing and bright, women fiend for him. Lor felt fortunate having him around, her eye candy. Then again, he felt the same way since she was royalty.

“What are you doing here?” Lor shut the door in a hurry. “You know better than to just show up at my room! What if someone saw?”

“Relax. Everyone’s distracted by our visitors.”

“So everyone knows what’s going on but me?”

“Just a few guards.”

“And Naomi.” She clenched her jaw, angered a maid was privy to royal secrets. “Why are you here? To tell me that you can’t share the details of their arrival too?”

“I’ve come to warn you, but you did not hear this from me. In fact, don’t re—”

“Spit it out!”

“Your father is offering them a peace treaty to end the war.”

“That’s absurd. How does he intend on sealing this treaty?”

“By marriage.”

“Marriage? Whose going to—” Lor’s eyes bulged from their sockets. “No!”

“Yes, Lor.”

Her mouth sunk as a the sensation in her limbs ceased. She stumbled back, clenching her collar, the room spinning. Dom rushed to her side, but she shoved him away. “Don’t touch me.” Her breathing quivered in and out of her throat, speeding up with each exhale. How could father do this to me? When Dom cautiously stepped forward, he placed a hand on Lor’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He smoothed his thumb along her flesh.

“Get out!”

“Loretta, you need me here with you right now. We need to talk—”

In a bit of rage, Lor pushed Dom’s hand away which hushed the rest of his statement. She refused to discuss their relationship and knew his words would lead up to that subject. “Get the hell out! We’re not talking tonight, fucking tonight. Why are you still standing there?”

“Princess, you’re angry right now.”

“Get the fuck out of my room.” Not a second later, Dom stormed out.

Lor slammed the door behind him. She pressed an ear to it, certain he’d recant. Not a sound came from the other side as she listened out, in a way hoping he’d return, make her yield to his embrace. He seemed fed up now. She heard his heavy steps on the stairs. Her legs itched to go after him, but she stayed behind. I’m so sorry, Dom. Sorry I can’t love you fair. With all considered, the timing did not appear suitable to ponder on their affair. She needed to get to the meeting and address her father.

Before leaving, she took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever backlash would come of her intrusion. She scurried down the red carpet that stretched across the corridor. It led a trail down the stairs, which she followed.

In another section, she rushed by the kitchen, the dining room, and finally went inside the library. Her father’s office took up the back of it, a large room secured by double doors. She footed through an isle of ceiling tall bookshelves, grilling the doors ahead, wondering if she was bold enough to burst through them. With that considered, she inhaled deeply, mustering up the courage to do just that.

Thoughts a swinging pendulum, Lor regretted the decision of bursting through. Her father and four vampires had their eyes pinned to her statuette delay. A cold shiver electrified her body, causing it to move in some degree. God awful beasts are looking right at me. She took a huge gulp before addressing her father, King Leonebus.

“Father, we need to talk?” Her orbs leered toward Prince Neltavio, Nel for short, who was astonishingly striking. He preyed on his fiancée as if she were a meal. It was disappointing how wrong she was about him, but then again, his caramel face enticed her in ways of scrutiny. She heard about the two inch scar over his eye. In fact, she distinctively knew how he’d obtained it. Her father sent an assassin to murder him. Lets just say he survived with a nick, not so much for the one meant to carry out the task. The fact they all were sitting in one room as if it never happened, baffled Lor.

She stood stifled, intrigued by his dilated marbles stalking from where he sat. He studied her, neck peeking behind his chair as his muscular arms leaned against the armrest. As this went on, she felt a magnetizing pull. She couldn’t look away.

When he dallied a slow, inviting blink, his fangs descended a smidge. Time collapsed just then. Her cheeks blushed as her insides warmed, particularly the lower half. He bore no real effort to cause such responses, but traits of his nature. Why, was the question she asked herself. Why did everything that made him a monster, cause these effects? She despised her body’s involuntary responses and refused to accept what was taking place.

In the heat of the moment, a chilling stroke ascended up her spine, quite familiar from earlier. It was you! She scolded him now.

Just when the anxiety returned, Leonebus cut the drawing allure Nel had on his daughter. In an annoyed tone, obvious to the princess, but not the vampires, he said, “I’m guessing someone’s told you the great news.” He scolded Naomi who stood stationed by a window beside him. Lor didn’t even notice her until then.

“It wasn’t her.” There was no better time than now to dissolve all anger toward her maid. Afterall, Leonebus did force her hand.

“Now that you’re here, please introduce yourself.” With hopeful eyes, he waited for his daughter to carry out the request.

Lor let a few seconds pass before sharply saying, 

“Hi!”

Leonebus cleared his throat. “Prince Neltavio, King Serphen, this is my daughter, Princess Loretta. We both are thrilled to join families for peace.”

“Says you! I will not follow through with this!”

King Leonebus shot up from his chair with lips bent back, snarling. His sharp fangs peeked through his graying goatee. He was angry, alternate ego thirsting to come out. No one dared make him turn, but Lor could bring it out of him.

As he stumped around his desk, his black mane bounced above his shoulder. He rushed Lor, jaws clenched, fist bald and ready to knock her head loose. It appeared he would for a moment. Instead, he scooped an arm around her bicep, tugging his daughter toward the exit. She ripped away from him.

“I am not leaving!” The vampires watched in awe. She leered at them, King Serphen, Prince Nel, and the two knights who came along. “But you all are. This spectacle is over!”

“Get out, Loretta!” Leonebus pointed a finger at the door.

The princess gave it a beat to reflect on how things played out. She stood, embarrassed, remembering why intruding wasn’t a good idea from the start. She accomplished nothing by coming.

With speed, her feet pedaled backward and she spun out the door.

Lor’s mind rattled with anger. How could her father do this to her? Of all the ways to end the war, this is what he came up with? She swiped a tear away, easing toward a mirror which confirmed no trace of it. What does this mean for you? She stared at her reflection, a useless version of herself, who had no real control.

When a light knock came from the door, Lor went to open it, expecting Dom to be on the other side. Surprisingly, Prince Nel stood in the doorway.

The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a pair of dangerous fangs. She panted in disarray at them and his black, dilated pupils. They had a hypnotic appeal that restricted movements or words to leave Lor’s lips. All she could do, stare into them. Through the pressure, she willed herself to speak.

“What the hell are you doing at my door? Who allowed this?”

“That’s one way to introduce yourself to your future husband.”

“We already met downstairs. Why the hell are you here?”

“That was everything but an introduction.” He eased closer, causing Lor to lift her chin to get a better view of him. With a towering height, the prince hovered over her. This act caused the princess to shiver. 

“More of a shit show, if you ask me. I’m not too keen on this marriage either, but it is necessary.” The soothing stir of Nel’s voice kept the momentum of nonchalance. Lor wondered if it had anything to with his lack of heart and soul. “Do you always throw tantrums when things don’t go your way?”

“When it involves a blood sucking beast, I create earthquakes. Why are you here?”

“Is that really how you perceive me, spoiled girl?” When Nel’s eyebrows furrowed, he took another step, leaving no space between them. “I see right through that bossy attitude. Underneath all of your layers of entitlement, there’s a girl whose been yearning to be put in her place, thirsting for the right man to do it.” He brought his lips to her ear. “I could—” With pause, the prince pedaled back toward the center of the corridor.

His soothing voice and the words that left his luscious lips caused Lor’s insides to flutter. If only he’d finish his statement, she’d understand the context of everything else he said. Put me in my place? Then again, she had an idea, one that created provocative thoughts and images of the two of them together. She scoffed as her mind ran rampant, certain he’d infiltrated it.

“Could what?” said Lor finally.

“Nothing, spoiled. I’ll take my leave. Goodnight.”