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 cant 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 mothers 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 flabber ghasted 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."
