By: StormHerald

Chapter 4

The train ride to the country side was long, longer than I would have
expected, I ignored what country we were in and instead slept, being
told by my aunt that I would have little opportunity to do so once I had
arrived. Eventually, we did arrive and a long black limo waited for us at
the train station. My aunt had made sure I looked fresh and
appropriately vampire like, dressed in a very form fitting antique, black
lace dress. It covered every inch of skin from the tops of my hands to
the tops of my feet, and all the way to my jaw line.

I pulled at it for a moment before my aunt gave me a dark look and I
put my hands in my lap and waited nervously. She leaned to the side
and whispered in my ear, “We are the last to arrive, I wanted you to be
noticed, and you shall be. I want you walking in like you are a princess,
because you are, got it?”

I nodded nervous and my aunt nudged me again, “You can’t appear
weak, you will already be considered the weakest one just by being a
human Lilly. I want you to walk in there and act like there isn’t a damn
person there worth your time.”

I swallowed nervously and my aunt smiled, “You already had something
to eat before you arrived, and the courting ceremony commences at
sun set.”

“So how many hours exactly?”

“Oh enough time for you to greet who I introduce you to, and you are
to refuse to even look at anyone I do not introduce you too, especially
the three little vampy girls that will probably be more than excited to
get in an initial intimidation. Also, no eating or drinking anything I do
not give you myself, understand?”

I nodded, “I don’t imagine they are going to have anything Lilly friendly
there?”

My aunt nodded as the limo stopped. She pulled a few of my curls out
of the loose up do I had. She checked the diamond encrusted combs
and barrettes and then straightening me out, she stepped out flipping
open her umbrella and then reached down and held her hand out for
me. I grabbed it and got out of the car buttoning up the long jacket as
the cold wind hit. My aunt smiled and guided me to the castle.

We entered loudly announced and my aunt took her time closing her
umbrella and handing the umbrella and her very stylish hat to the
butler. I took my time unbuttoning my jacket and allowed him to help
me out of it, his obvious surprise at the jacket evident on his face. My
aunt laughed, “Not all of us are lucky enough to be able to sport such
accessories.”

I turned away from the man batting at a soft curl that kept tickling my
cheek and followed my Aunt into the ball room. The music and the
dancing and laughing all stopped as hundreds of vampire eyes turned
to stare at me. My Aunt straightened her back reminding me to do the
same and I looked straight ahead only looking at my aunt. The vampires
parted around us as my aunt walked straight to a familiar looking
group.

They smiled when they saw me and I was introduced to my mother’s
small group of relatives. I greeted the group of four seeing them
assessing everything about me and then looking behind my shoulder
with worry. My aunt started speaking heatedly to my cousin in what
sounded like French and I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I straightened and turned slightly to look into a pair of large black eyes,
sitting among a cloud of cold white hair, behind her stood the other
two betrothed. Desmond smirked cruelly at me, “So the little human
arrives.”

I felt everyone freeze that was within hearing distance and I looked at
the three before rolling my eyes and turning back around stepping to
my silently staring aunt and pretending to whisper into her hear. A
huge smile broke across her face and she stepped around me to handle
the three girls. I greeted the cousin she was speaking to, thanking her
for being there. The vampire seemed genuinely flabbergasted at my
thanks and said that she would never leave a member of the family to
fend for themselves, especially one as precious as me.

I felt my Aunt grab my hand and I dipped my head and thanked them
before turning away and looking straight ahead ignoring the glaring
vampire girls as my aunt slowly rotated me around the room.
Eventually we reached a very old vampire woman who spoke very
loudly to my aunt and then turned to me and gasped in shock.
“My dear whatever is happening on top of your head?”

My aunt began to explain who I was and that my hair was natural
causing the old vampire to lean forward and capture a loose curl, “How
odd, but rather lovely isn’t she Isadora?”

My aunt nodded and smiled, “She is rare.”

The old vampire laughed, “Oh Isadora, the game is afoot, is that the
angle you are going for? My little Desmond is still in the lead I think.”

My aunt laughed, “How in the lead Margarette?”

“She already has quite the relationship with the Prince, it almost seems
like this whole courting ceremony is nothing but a farce.”

My aunts eyes got sharp but her smile never wavered, “Oh well, we
shall see, I have faith in my little blue diamond.”

And with that my aunt turned and strode away, with me quickly on her
heels. She whispered to a butler and we were escorted through the
ballroom and out the doors. My aunt was walking quickly with sharp
steps and I was close behind her until I tripped and knocked over a
vase. I stopped and looked around for help and knelt down and picked
up the bigger pieces and put them back on the pedestal. When I
finished I looked around and realized my aunt was gone and I was
completely alone. It took a moment before I took off down the hall I
think my aunt went down and walked slowly and quietly, trying not to
attract any attention.

I felt the presence behind me before I heard it the velvet voice, “What
are you doing?”

I turned to look into an odd silver pair of eyes, “I am lost.”

He took a step towards me, he was tall a head taller than me, and he
was muscular, not the very lean body of most vampires, but instead his
body was powerful. My pulse quickened as his midnight black hair fell
straight into his eyes, the rest of his hair pulled back into a ponytail.
“Who are you?”

I straightened my spine and stared at him, “I could ask you that, but I’m
sure I wouldn’t get a proper answer. Vampires never give me an honest
answer.”

“You didn’t answer my question, instead you insulted me.” I saw the
silver in his eyes harden and I fought the urge to take a step back. My
father had always pounded into my head that vampires were predators
and reacted as predators would, they smelled fear, and if you showed
your weakness they would attack.

Instead I tried to stare at him with haughtiness, but instead I only
managed a weak annoyance and it didn’t even bother him. I took a
deep breath, “I am Lilith Vlaine, betrothed to Prince Damien Greyance.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise, “So you are the little human
betrothed hmm?”

I finally slouched a bit in annoyance, “Cripes, would everyone quit
calling me the little human!