Author's Note:
This has to be my favorite oneshot of mine so far.
Oh, and you should listen to the song with it. It's instrumental, so don't worry about any lyrics tripping you up.
This story takes place in a slightly alternate universe.
Enjoy.
(Y/n) = Your Name
(f/c) = Favorite Color
(c/o/y/c) = Color of Your Choice
(h/s) = Hairstyle
(f/f) = Favorite Food
(e/c) = Eye Color
From the crown of her head to the souls of her feet, her blood wears a mesmerizing aroma. There is no comparison. There is no compromise. She's the one they desire the most. It was decided from the moment they laid eyes on her. But when two beings thirst for the same thing, it can lead to mischance. Whether tragedy or satisfaction lies ahead or not, they were willing to take a chance.
Fate will be sealed tonight...at the masquerade ball.
(Y/n)'s Point of View:
"Lady (Y/n), I've been ordered to assist you with your gown. May I?"
I shake my head, "No thanks, Eve. You've already helped me with so much today. You should take a break."
The stubborn maid grabbed my gown regardless, "Nonsense, my Lady. As a servent, it's my duty to assist you with such things. Now turn around so I could get you into this dress."
Reluctantly, I let Eve do her job and sure enough, I'm wearing a long (f/c) gown (I'll let you imagine how it looks) and some sparkly (c/o/y/c) heels to match. Long (c/o/y/c) gloves are accompanying the outfit as well.
My hair is in a (h/s), and my nails are coated with french tips.
"Now all we need is your mask," she smiles, removing the (material), (c/o/y/c) mask from its case. She holds the mask above my head before sliding it onto my face. "You look absolutely stunning, Lady (Y/n)."
"Thank you so much, Eve. I don't know what I'd do without you," I voiced.
She bows her head, "Just doing my job."
Once she leaves the room, I take a minute to look myself in the mirror. Is this a good idea? I know they'll be there. It's been a whole year since I've seen them and yet, I'm still anxious. I mean, not much has changed...except for the fact that I'm engaged now. Yep. I'm in an arranged marriage. But do they already know? I wonder...
Knock
Knock
Knock
"Who is it?" I call out.
"It's your mother. Are you ready, sweetheart? The carriage is departing soon."
I open the door to see my mother wearing a pearl-colored mask and a light pink gown. She looks lovely.
Sighing, I reply, "Ready."
~Time Skip~
After a thirty-minute ride to the castle, we finally made it. If it hadn't been for the light rainfall on the way here, I would've been bored out of my mind. But nevermind that. It's now time for the ball to commence. As I look around, I'd like to say I see familiar faces, but this isn't called a masquerade for nothing.
The moment my mother and I step foot into the ballroom, a strange feeling washes over me. It's the same feeling I felt a little over a year ago. A feeling of dread. I get chills at the thought of being watched by a predator of some sort. For now, it'd be wise to hide this sensation from the masked faces in this room. I mustn't be bothered.
"I'll be over there if you need me, dear," my mother points to a table nearby before walking off.
Now what?
Being that I can't tell who's who, it puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to socializing.
"Pardon me, but I couldn't help but notice you look a bit lost," a masculine voice startles me.
I turn on my heels to face the masked man, "H-huh? Are you- are you talking to me?"
He nods, "Why, of course. You are the only one standing here, after all."
I look around to see that everyone was either on the dancefloor or seated at a table. Way to go, (Y/n).
"Oh, um...I didn't realize. Sorry," I say sheepishly.
"That's alright," he chuckles, "I'm Leopold. You are...?"
"(Y/n). (Y/n) (L/n)," I reply.
"Well, nice to meet you, (Y/n)," I can't see his mouth, but I can tell he's smiling.
"Nice to meet you too, Leopold," I curtsy, attempting to be ladylike.
"Wanna grab a bite to eat? I'm starving."
"Yeah, that'd be great."
Leopold leads me over to a large table filled with a shit-ton of food. There's everything from desserts to seafood. I can't decide what I want.
"Having trouble?" he jokes.
I sigh in defeat, "Yeah. There's just so much food."
"Hm...well, I have a feeling you'd like the (f/f). Why not try that?"
I perk up, "Wait, they have (f/f)? Where?"
"Right here," he points at a food platter to his left, and sure enough, I see (f/f).
Immediately, I fill my plate with (f/f), not bothering to grab any other foods. Once I'm satisfied, I stop to look down at my plate for a moment.
"What is it?" Leopold asked.
"N-nothing...I just- well...did you know this was my favorite food? Or was it just a lucky guess?"
"So it's your favorite, huh? My guessing game's getting better," he said cockily.
Beneath my mask, I playfully rolled my eyes, "That must be it. I mean, we've only just met, after all."
"...Yeah, it'd be weird to know your favorite food already," he laughs.
Once he fills his own plate, we search for a table.
"Would you be okay if we sat with my brother?" Leopold questions, "Don't worry, he won't bite."
I shrug, "Sure, why not?"
He then takes me over to the v.i.p area of the room. It's where most royals and some nobles sit. I want to ask him who his brother is, but I refrain from doing so.
"Name?" the masked guard asks Leopold.
"Leopold Vermillion," he answers.
At that moment, I froze completely.
Vermillion?
The guard allows us to pass. With each step, I could feel my chest getting tighter and tighter. The Vermillion name resonates with me in a way I cannot describe. Whenever I hear that name, I shudder with a mixture of fear and nostalgia. On one hand, I can't stand being within fifteen meters of him, but on the other hand, I want to think back to when we were younger. My childhood memories are filled with the names of three households. There was my own, (L/n), but the other two names belonged to my best friends. If only their innocent intentions would've stayed with them. If only I weren't a helpless lamb in their eyes.
Unconsciously, I rub my wrist as I recall the abrasive touch of those ropes. My right hand then reaches up to touch my neck, reminiscing on the countless times I'd lost my voice. The same hand then squeezes on my throat a bit tighter. And don't even get me started on the bites.
"(Y/n)?" I jump a bit at the sound of Leopold's voice.
"Y-yeah?"
"Are you okay? You stopped walking."
"Oh! Um, I was just thinking about something, sorry," I scurried to catch up with him.
"Whatever you say."
We maneuvered around a few tables before we reached the back of the v.i.p room. I'm greeted with a large round table, covered in a blood-red tablecloth. There are about eight people already seated. Despite the masks, I immediately know who he is.
Just breathe.
"Brother, sister, this is (Y/n)," Leopold announces, putting an odd emphasis on my name, "I met her not too long ago."
A female voice speaks up from the table, "Nice to meet you! I'm Mereoleona." She then gestures to the male beside her, "And this is my brother Fuegoleon."
Fuegoleon nods my way.
Still undecipherable as ever.
"It's nice to meet you," I bow, inwardly screaming.
Leopold pulls out a chair and motions for me to take a seat, which I regretfully do. He sits in the chair to my right. That's when I process where I'm sitting...
He's right next to me. He's right next to me. He's right next to me.
I gulp as our arms unintentionally brush against one another. There's tension fluttering between us, but he remains calm as ever.
Maybe he wants to forget our past. Yeah, let's hope that's it.
As I'm flooding my mind with these unsettled thoughts, I fail to notice the wrathful Silva from across the room.
Nozel's Point of View:
(Y/n) (L/n). You're so pure, my love. So tell me...why the hell do I see you with that foul Vermillion? You belong over here...next to me. A year. That's how long I've been forced to suppress my constant thirst for you. Don't you see it? Haven't you ever recognized the longing in these cold eyes of mine? I need you. And I'll have you one way or another...
(Y/n)'s Point of View:
So far, I'm keeping my composure quite well. The conversation has really only been about the ball and the latest things happening in Clover Kingdom. At some point, I forgot all about the blood-sucking beings around me. I just saw ordinary royals indulging in simplistic conversation. Although, I was a bit disturbed by the fact that none of them were eating their food. It makes sense because they're wearing full masks, but why would they even have a plate of food in the first place? I was the only one to touch my food, being that I have a half-mask.
Despite the food issue, everything was fine...until the topic of marriage came up.
"All my friends insist I start thinking about finding a partner, but I just don't have time for that type of thing, you know?" Mereoleona sighs, leaning back in her seat.
"I know what you mean. It's a lot of work," a girl says. I think her name is Mimosa.
"What about you, (Y/n)? Are you interested in anyone at the moment?"
Mereoleona's question caught me off guard, but I replied nonetheless, "Well...I'm engaged at the moment so..."
I feel Fuegoleon go rigid from beside me.
"Really? Who's the lucky guy?" she asks.
"I wouldn't say he's lucky...being that it's just an arranged marriage. But he also prefers to keep to himself, so I don't wanna ruin that by giving his name away. Sorry."
Fuegoleon's Point of View:
An arranged marriage...? I've waited a year to act on my compulsions, and this is how I'm repaid? How appalling.
"Ah, I see. I guess that makes sense," Mereoleona sighs, "Arranged marriages do tend to be confidential for the most part."
But not confidential enough...
(Y/n)'s Point of View:
The conversation had finally carried on from the topic of marriage. But I feel uneasy. Fuegoleon is still quiet as ever, and yet he seems to have something to say.
After about twenty minutes or so, Leopold stands from his seat and says, "I think it's about time I head to the dancefloor. Anyone care to join me?"
Eager to leave the table, I stand as well, "I'll join you if you'd like."
He grabs my hand and leads me away from the v.i.p room. And as we're leaving, I could feel several gazes piercing into my soul. We eventually make it to the dancefloor. Contrary to the beginning of the ball, hundreds of people were now dancing on the shiny marble floor with their partners.
"Leo," a voice says from behind me.
Leopold glances over my shoulder at the owner of the voice, "Yes, brother?"
"I'll take it from here," Fuegoleon insisted.
Once again, I find my heart thumping within my chest at the thought of being left alone with Fuegoleon. On the outside, I kept my composure, but on the inside, I was begging Leopold to stay with me.
"Okay, go ahead," he nods before walking off into the large crowd.
A hand reaches out to grab my own, spinning me around to face my dear childhood friend.
"You look gorgeous tonight...as expected," he says.
I step back a bit to create some distance, "If you expect me to dance with you, then you can forget it."
He yanks on my hand, causing me to collide with his chest. He then wraps an arm around my waist and whispers in my ear, "Not only are you going to dance with me. But you're also going to be marked as mine tonight. Now, doesn't that sound fun?"
My face pales as I begin to struggle in his arms, "Let. Go. Of. Me."
"Yes, Fuegoleon. Let go of the poor little lamb. You're frightening her," an eerily familiar voice barges in.
The Vermillion's grip on my waist loosens a little, "How many times must I tell you? Don't go chasing things that aren't belonging to you in the first place, Nozel."
I turn my head around to see Nozel standing there in a white and navy-blue suit. Just like Fuegoleon's, his mask covers his entire face.
"You should practice what you preach, Vermillion. Have you lost your manners?" he continues, "Now, release Lady (Y/n) at once. You know she's never taken a liking to proximity."
Surprisingly, Fuegoleon lets go of me. But he still keeps a firm grip on my right hand. Nozel shifts his attention toward me and steps closer.
"It's been a while, (Y/n). How have you been?"
Before I can reply, Fuegoleon answers for me, "She's been just fine. Although, I'm sure she's a bit worn down by her arranged marriage. In all honesty, I feel for the poor angel. I mean, what is marriage without love?"
Nozel freezes for a moment, but remains calm, "Is that so? Well, maybe a dance will take her mind off of her worries." He extends his left hand out to me, "Does that sound dulcet to you, my dear?"
Afraid of what would happen if I decline, I nod and reach for his hand. But before I manage to touch him, I'm forcefully jerked backward.
"She won't be accompanying you at all. Perhaps you should've shown up a minute sooner."
I look down at my gown in an attempt to distract myself from the glaring vampires. There was no getting out of this situation. I can't even cry for help. People would only look at me like I'm crazy. I'm the only one outside of the Vermillion and Silva houses who knows these two aren't human, after all. The fact that they're royals doesn't help either.
Think, (Y/n). Think.
I clear my throat, successfully getting their attention, "This has been a lovely reunion, gentlemen. But my head's been aching all evening. So, I think it'd be best if I went and got some rest." I then yank my hand away from Fuegoleon's grasp.
Thankfully, they don't follow me as I walk away. Once I think I'm out of sight, my casual walk turns into a full-on sprint. I even take off my heels, ditching them in the hallway. When we were younger, Nozel, Fuegoleon, and I would visit this castle quite often. We'd play games like hide and seek, tag, and follow the leader. Thanks to those silly games, I've become very much acquainted with the layout of the castle. So making my way to the garden was a breeze. The moment I open the garden doors, I begin heaving, frantically catching my breath. And although I've made it outside, I don't stop running. This garden is huge, so there's plenty of land to run on. I hide behind an immense cupid statue and collapse to the ground. I stay behind this statue for what I estimate to be an hour until I hear blood-curdling screams from inside the castle.
Should I go back? What if Mother's in danger?
My body trembles as I hear someone screaming for the doctor. I come out from my hiding spot and cautiously walk back to the castle. My blood runs cold when I'm greeted by a gory scene on the ballroom floor.
Lying down on the polished floors, I see my fiancé. His mask is cracked beside him and his face is a ghostly color.
"W-William!" I try rushing over to him, but I'm stopped by my mother.
"Honey, let the doctors do their job," she tells me.
"Who did this?!"
"I don't know. One moment he's fine and the next moment he's on the ground. It was so frightening!" my mother bawls into her hands, most likely replaying everything in her head.
Without explanation, I storm out of the ballroom. While I was standing beside my mother, I couldn't help but notice the absence of two beings. And I think I know just where to find them.
Feet bare, and dress a wreck, I run back to the garden with no particular plan. They're either there or they're not. As I make my way to the garden, I think back to the Vermillions' odd behavior. I know it was foolish to sit with them, but I was so afraid of what they would do to me. Why am I like this? I could've found a way to kindly decline, right? Perhaps I acted out of curiosity. But even if it was curiosity, what did I find out in the end? That the whole thing was sketchy? It almost looked...staged....
Shit.
My hand grasped the cold doorknob in front of me, but I didn't budge. If it was staged, then that means this whole thing was a setup from the start. Still, I need to find those two. Something tells me they're responsible for William's death...and can't just let them get away with it. I may not love William romantically, but he didn't deserve to die. He was so gentle and well-mannered. Any woman would be lucky to have him.
I scan the garden with keen (e/c) eyes. Even if I can't find them, they know my scent, so they'll come out regardless.
"Fuegoleon! Nozel! I know you're here, so you can give up the charade," I lie convincingly.
Sure enough, they both appear right in front of me. This time, they aren't wearing their masks.
"Your fiancé put on quite the show in there. Very well done," Nozel smirks.
I glare at him with a look that could kill immortals, "So it was you. You f*cking monsters!"
A frown appears on Fuegoleon's face, "Now, now, I'd watch that tongue of yours. Surely you remember what happened the last time you decided to run your mouth." As he speaks, I get a glimpse at those deadly fangs of his.
"You think I give a shit?! He was innocent! He had nothing to do with this," I hiss in retaliation.
"(Y/n), my love, don't tell me you harbored any feelings for that man. You deserve better than a lowlife such as himself," the cold-hearted Silva spoke.
"Whether I loved him or not is none of your goddamn business! And don't you dare address him with such disrespect. At least he knew better than to tie up his childhood friend in a f*cking basement for nine f*cking months to feed on her f*cking blood, you sick f*cks!"
I went too far.
My voice echoed throughout the garden until it was dead silent. The shadows that cast over their faces told me I didn't have long to live. Aware of the danger I'm in, I take a few steps back.
"Nine months..." Nozel says, his voice alarming low, "Nine months, and you still haven't learned your lesson."
The following seconds were all a blur. One moment, they're bearing their fangs. The next moment, I see red.
My body feels heavy.
~Time Skip~
Ending 1:
I'm awoken by the startling sound of nothing. My body is sore and my surroundings are uncharted. I look down at the plush surface I'm on.
I must be in a bedroom. But...WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES?!?!?!
Before I could investigate my situation any further, someone enters the room. They walk up to the side of the bed as I pretend to be asleep.
"(Y/n), I know you're awake. Your breathing is entirely different, my love."
Giving up the hopeless act, I open my eyes to see Nozel staring down at me.
"Ya got me," I admit, "But would you mind telling me where I am?"
He licks his bloodstained lips, "Now why would I tell you that? You'd only try to seek your way out."
I shift my gaze to the ropes tied around my wrists, "I can't escape even if I tried."
"I know,"' he smirks, taking a seat beside my bare figure. "And now with Fuegoleon out of my way, I can finally keep you for as long as my non-existant heart desires."
"Go to hell!" I swore.
Nozel leans down and plants a gentle kiss on my lips.
"As you wish. But just know, wherever I go, you go."
Ending 2:
I wake up next to something warm. I don't know what it is, but since I'm so exhausted, I cuddle into it a bit more.
"Awake already, I see?"
I jump up at the sound of a familiar voice. Lying beside me is a shirtless Fuegoleon.
"F-Fuegoleon?!" I shriek, "Where am I?! What happened?!"
He strokes my cheek with his left hand, "Shhh. You're safe, my dear. Just relax. Nozel is no longer here to harm you."
"W-what?"
The purple-eyed male smiles, flashing his sharp fangs, "Let's just stay this way for now. You don't want to anger me, do you?"
I dolefully shake my head, "N-no."
"Good," he kisses my lips in a delicate manner.
If this is my life now, I don't wanna live it.
End.
Author's Note:
That took forever, dammit. Sorry about any errors in the story. I didn't have time to edit it enough.
Word Count: 3,668