In the dark basement I could barely hear the storm above. Sitting on the gym mat I leaned against Luc while he tried to rub some warmth into my arms. He paused briefly to shrug off his black jacket and draped it over my shoulders, and then impatiently continued to run his warm hands impatiently up and down my freezing cold arms.
Through shivering teeth I asked the question, “Aren’t vampires supposed to be cold?”
Luc muttered a curse and then replied, “Everything is relative Mia. Vampires are colder than humans, but vampires can succumb to the cold particularly when they are in shock.”
“Am I in shock?” I asked disorientated.
Luc swore under his breathe, “I will kill Nico for allowing you out of his sight.”
I quickly jumped to Nico’s defence and owned up to what I had done. I explained to Luc how I had told Nico that I was only going next door to the restroom and that there was no point in escorting me to the restroom because I would be a few feet away.
The whole time I was telling Luc the story he remained very quiet. I wondered if he would shout at me or flip out but when I finished explaining how I had ended up in a locked room, crying under a table, Luc was surprisingly nice.
“I am sorry Mia, if I had known that you were scared of thunder storms then I would have stayed with you all afternoon,” He said.
I could not believe Luc was apologizing to me. How could someone so arrogant and mean have such a sweet caring side?
"It is a very silly phobia." I replied honestly.
I felt so embarrassed about the whole incident, thunder storms have always sent me into a nervous wreck. If I had checked the forecasts I would have known and I would have stayed at home safe in bed listening to loud music. Glancing up I suddenly realise how close Luc's face was to mine. His eyes swept carefully over me, reassuring himself that I was unharmed and okay.
Urgh- my brain was turning to mush again. Hating him was easier when he was being a complete jerk. Changing the topic I asked.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
Luc had been desperate to talk to me about something after college, and I had a horrible feeling it would be about more vampire nonsense. However Luc surprised me when he shifted for a second and reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box, that suspiciously resembled a ring box.
Luc gently turned me around in his lap so I was facing away from him, and the slipped his arms around my waist so his hands were in my lap holding the mysterious velvet box.
I looked down at the box in anticipation and asked, “What is it?”
Luc rested his head on my shoulder and replied, “It is my wedding gift to you.”
He then opened the box revealing a massive bright green emerald surrounded by clusters of fantastic white diamonds on a ring of swirling silver. He pulled the ring out of the box and offered it to me.
“This was my mother’s ring, and now it is yours,” He said, “My mother was an Irish Princess who was sent to America to marry my father. She was so sad to leave her beloved Ireland that my father had this ring especially made for her, so it would remind her of the lush green landscapes of her homeland.”
I took the ring from his hand and watched the giant emerald flash brilliant shades of deep green in the dull basement light. This had to be worth a fortune. There was no way I could be responsible for such an expensive and sentimental piece of jewellery.
“Oh Luc,” I sighed, “This is beautiful… but I cannot accept it,” I said.
Luc shook his head, “My mother gave me this ring with the strict instructions. She said that when I had found my mate I had to give her this ring,” He said firmly.
“I think you have the wrong girl Luc,” I said trying to be nice.
With a sigh Luc took the ring from me and gently took my left hand in his. He then slipped the ring on to my ring finger and then tenderly pressed a light kiss on my temple.
“I never make mistakes,” He said.
Staring down at the massive emerald on my hand I wriggled my finger and watched the gems sparkle in the light. Quietly I whispered, “This is insane.”
Luc smiled, “Well, I was not going to mention this until later but that ring has a matching emerald tiara waiting for you back at court.”
“Woah- what? There is a tiara too?” I said.
“Yes,” Luc said, “I did think about bringing it along but I thought the tiara might be a bit much to wear on campus.”
Lifting my hand I nodded at the ring and said, “This ring is a bit too much. All I have to go with it are vintage t-shirts and washed out hoodies.”
“When you are royal Mia, it is all about the swag,” Luc teased.
A smile crept across my face and for the first time ever it felt like me and Luc were having a normal conversation- even if it happened to be about the crown jewels. Admiring my ring I wondered what Laura Taylor would say when I flashed it under her stuck up nose.
It was strange to think such a beautiful ring once belonged to a Vampire Queen. Curiously I started to think about what Luc’s mother was like. She must have been very beautiful to produce such a good looking son.
“She was,” Luc said interrupting my train of thought, “My mother was extremely beautiful. She came from one the oldest vampire families in Europe- I thought one day we could visit there. My Grandparents are still alive even though my Mother-”
Luc had stopped dead in his sentence. Whatever he wanted to say he could not bring himself to say it.
“Luc?” I whispered softly.
“Yeah, one day we can go to Ireland. The court has its own private plane, although we could travel by sea if you prefer,” He started to ramble, “I went there a couple of times as a child. I have many cousins, Aunts and Uncles in Europe. My father was from Sweden. He was the first vampire Prince to immigrate to America. Back then it was pretty wild…”
I could tell Luc loved talking about his family, but there was something that was ruining the memory for him. Whenever he spoke about his parents there was an undertone of sadness that was pulling at my heart.
“Luc, why do I feel like you are not telling me something,” I said.
Luc paused and breathed out slowly.
“Mia, my family is pretty fucked up,” He said harshly, “I do not want to talk about it.”
“Well, this is bridge we are going to have to cross soon. Today me and Nico saw Henrietta,” I said.
"Henrietta is family. She is my brother's wife, who is the King of our particular court. She has come here to inspect the new princess and probably arrange for your debut in the court." Luc explains dully.
“Do you have any other family,” I asked.
"I have a younger brother called Casper- but we don't talk about him."
"Why not," I asked.
"Casper killed Louis' first wife." He replied.