■ EIGHT ■
"I am not wearing this!" I exclaimed as I turned to face Natalie.
She stifled a giggle. "You have to wear it, it was the King's orders" she said, glancing at my ridiculous dress.
"I look like I'm getting married!" I exclaimed.
She giggled again. "Yes it is a bit extravagant but it makes you really pretty, your hair is so white" she said grinning.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "If I knew going to festivals dressed in a god damn wedding dress is what being a slave meant, than I definitely would have tried to escape a long time ago" I replied.
Natalie sobered up. "It's really not that bad and besides, no one will know who you are, wearing this veil.." Natalie said, standing up.
I sighed. "There's a veil!" I exclaimed, bewildered.
"Turn around" she said, turning my shoulders.
I felt her hands in my hair as she pinned the veil on my head before letting it fall down in my face. I glared at my reflection. "I hate this" I said, firmly.
Finally, I turned to look at Natalie. "It's time to go, we don't want you to anger the King for being late" Natalie said, giving me a pitiful look.
I sighed and nodded, stepping off the stool and lifting up the heavy dress. "I'm going to choke to death in this, I can't breathe" I said as Natalie led me from the room.
She froze as we turned the corner to see the King, standing by the doorway, talking animatedly with another man. I almost swallowed my tounge.
Still not being able to see his face, I didn't have to, to know that he was incredibly hot. My eyes wandered down his body, raising an eyebrow at the black suit he was wearing. How the hell was there a hood on his suit?
As if reading my thoughts and probably actually reading my thoughts, the King dismissed the man and turned his head to look at Natalie and I.
"You may return to your duties" the King said to Natalie.
She shot me an forgiving look before curtseying for the King and scuttling away. I looked down and quickly sunk into a curtsey, as much as I could anyway. "I see it fits" he said simply.
"Yes, my Lord" I replied.
Why the hell did I have to wear it though?
"It's traditional for women of the court to wear white on their first festival, since you are attending it with me.. it needed to be royal" he replied, reading my thoughts.
I quickly thought of cats eating rainbows. "Shall we?" He asked, extending a hand.
Swallowing my self hatred, I reached out and took his arm. The King guided me from the maid room and into the throne room while hundreds of Vampires filled the large area. I kept my eyes on the ground, even though they couldn't see my face.
They were all beautiful, looking like they had walked out of supermodel magazines. The King guided me up the stairs and we stood side by side in front of the entire crowd.
Nerves filled my stomach and my hand clenched. "As King, I declare the festival to begin!" The King announced.
Music started somewhere and out of instinct, I looked up. Cheers ran around the room before they started to leave. "What's going on?" I asked, completely forgetting my place for a moment.
"The festival is held outside, surely you didn't believe that we held an entire festival in a castle?" He asked, turning his head.
I glanced away. He stepped forward and I had no choice but to go with him, he had a firm grip on me and I knew I wasn't going to be going anywhere, any time soon. I stepped out of the castle for the first time and my eyes tried to take in as much as possible. This place seemed secluded and touched only by the occupants.
I almost stumbled down some stairs but the King pulled me against him. "Watch where you are stepping" he said in a low tone.
"Sorry, my Lord" I apologised immediately.
He guided to me to a golden tent where dancing had began. Sitting down on a golden throne, I stood beside him unsure. Do I sit on the floor?
Without thinking he took my hand and his eyes remained on the dancers as he pulled me onto his lap. I froze as I sat there, wondering what the hell.
The music changed and the dancers clapped, before another song began. I watched them, studying the crowd. They didn't seem like monsters. More just like a regular bunch of people that repeatably live in the 1700's.
A tall man approached us. Glancing at the King, I shifted in case I was to be ordered to leave but the King caught my wrist and I froze again. Sitting on the King's lap brought a whole bunch of emotions up, I didn't want to have. It was like playing whack-a-mole... the more I hit them, the more it sprang up.
"My King, can I speak to you privately for a moment" the man said, barely glancing at me.
"What for?" The King asked, making me jump as I felt his hand on my back.
"It's about what we spoke about" the man replied.
My eyes shifted to the side to see the King pin the poor man with a glare. "Can it not wait until tomorrow?" The King asked.
"I'm afraid not" the man replied, almost cowering.
The King let out a soft growl. I stood up quickly the King followed me, he turned to face me and lifted his hand to grip my chin. "Sit here and do not move" he ordered, quietly.
"Yes, my Lord" I replied.
The man and the King walked away and I sat on the throne, stepping my foot in time with the music. I grinned behind my veil as two dancers laughed wildly at each other.
"Care for a dance, mi lady?" A voice asked.
I turned my head to the side to see another supermodel hold out his hand. Glancing around, I didn't spot the King. One dance couldn't hurt. "Just one dance" I replied, taking his hand.
I almost laughed out loud as the Vampire pulled me off the throne and into the throes of dancers. We danced along to the flutes and medieval tupe music, I bubbled with laughter behind my veil.
With his hand around my shoulders, and our other hands joined we tilted up and down, dancing junpily to the music. Suddenly, the Vampire let go. "What's wrong?" I asked as I felt cold shiver drift down my back.
I whirled around to see the King standing by the throne, his eyes on me and his arms crossed. I swallowed. The other dancers seemed unaware as I bowed my head and made my way back to the throne.
He didn't speak to me or pull me back onto his lap as he sat down, instead I stood by his throne as rigid as a steel pole. I could feel his anger rolling off him and I didn't dare saything.
Another song finished and he got up swiftly, walking from the tent. Sighing, I followed. I was to stay with him, that was the rules. Stay with him and follow every order.
I followed him out of the tent and passed a crowd of Vampires playing poker on wooden barrels. My heels clicked on the stone steps as I continued to follow my King. He walked back into the castle and I sighed again.
He disappeared through the front doors, and I followed suit only to have my back slammed against the marble walls as I rounded the corner.
"You disobeyed a direct order" the King ground out.
All the breath left my body at the push. "I'm sorry" I rasped out.
"Do you have any idea what that Vampire was thinking? You're a human girl surrounded by Vampires, if you had obeyed my order no one could touch you!" He snapped.
I flinched. "I just wanted to dance" I replied weakily.
His grip on me tightened. "That Vampire is now intoxicated by your scent, he will hurt you if I do not kill him first" the King snapped again.
"I'm sorry!" I exclaimed.
"I do not want to hear your pathetic apologies!" He snapped.
I looked away. "I have to kill him now, do you understand?" He asked, his tone low and threatening.
I shook my head. "Being intoxicated by a human scent is worse than an obsession, he will do everything in his power to kill you" the King replied.
Feeling brave, I turned to face the King and I lifted my hand to pull off my veil. "Than you and him must have a hell of a lot in common!" I snapped back.
I threw my veil on the ground and the King let go of me, caught obviously unaware of my sudden disobedience. "Find your place, maid!" He snarled suddenly pinning me to the wall again.
With a huff, I pushed back at him, wanting him to let me go. "Bite me asshole!" I snapped back.
His eyes flashed and the next thing I know his mouth was on mine and my back was against the wall again. He dove into his kiss deep, forcing me to reciprocate.
I pulled his hood back, exposing the face I had only seen once before and I was reminded how god damn hot he was. He pulled away just as quickly as he had kissed me and pulled his hood back into place. "Fuck!" He yelled.
I flinched but pressed a hand to my lips. He didn't even give me a second glance before he was gone, leaving me alone.
Turning my head, I glanced at the open doors. I could run away and no one would notice right now.
Sighing, I picked up my dress and began walking back to the maid's quarters.
A/N
Another chapter for you!
I wonder why our dear King went off his tree after he kissed her.
Also... he kissed her.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Don't forget to vote and comment!
Lot's of love, Tavana