Natalia

Chapter 20 - The Wedding & Eloise

Arika knocks on her father's chamber before walking in. When she's inside, she noticed her father trying on a couple of top hats to go with his suit.

"Which one is best? The black or the red one?" Arika chuckled.

"The black, always. It goes with your suit," Videric smile and wore the black top hat. He noticed how his daughter would sigh heavily every time he looks up to her.

"Aren't you happy?" He questioned. 

"I am, father. But, are you sure that you want to invite Chandler into our palace ground? What if they attack us?" Videric shakes his head no.

"He won't dare. He knows someone is waiting and ready to destroy his army," Arika looks up.

"Are you referring to Natalia?" Videric glares.

"Don’t give me that look. I don't care about that trash," Videric grabs his daughter by the neck and slams her back on the wall. Arika groan as the pain spread throughout her body.

"What you did offend me on so many levels. But I guess now that you're out of the picture, she landed herself a future alpha and the Valkyrie warrior princess. I'm curious who will she pick to be in your place," Videric released his daughter and watch her desperately gasping for air. She rubs her chest and looks up to her father with rage.

"Don't make a scene on my wedding day. If you do, Natalia will not hesitate to hurt you. And I will not do anything to stop her because you did the same thing to her before," Videric walks out of his room, leaving Arika with her thoughts. 

The king struts through the royal palace towards the royal garden where the ceremony will be held. He noticed how busy Ivy was and smile. His daughter in law smile back and proceed to make sure everything is in order. He turns to the left side of the seating area where humans began to fill in the chairs. 

The king noticed some were shaking, afraid that this will be their last night to be alive. As he turns to the right he smiles from ear to ear when he noticed the archangel takes her seat. The king kneels to the woman who acted as his mother for all his life.

"Mom.." Octavia placed her hand on the king's head. 

"My sweet boy. My sweet, sweet boy. I never dream of seeing you getting married again. I'm so happy," The king looks up to the archangel's orbs with a loving smile.

"Thank you for coming, mom. I appreciate it," Octavia pats his head before letting him go. When the king stands up, he feels that someone has tapped on his shoulder. 

He glances over his shoulder and immediately bows when it’s the Queens. Thana and Essence congratulated the king and walk towards their seats. The king went up the altar and converse with the vampire elders before smiling at his mother in law. 

Isla, Chandler's wife tried to smile but she really can't force herself. The king went to her and Isla cowers, scared of the king.

"Isla, don't be afraid of me. I won't do anything for you. I promise I won't. I'm marrying your daughter, you're going to be my mother in law, it's my duty to protect you," Isla looks up with hope in her eyes.

"But my husband, he captured creatures like you, like them," The king heard a loud hiss coming from the other side of the seating area. Queen Thana, the ruler of the realm clears her throat to warn everyone.

"I promise. I won't let anything hurt you," Isla finally manage to give the king a soft smile. The king returns the gestures by bowing his head to her mother in law. The creatures gasps at the sight.

In the bride's room, Olympia was getting ready with her bridesmaids.

"I can't believe that you're marrying a vampire," Olympia’s only friend who agreed to be her bridesmaids exclaimed and placed the crown jewel on her head. Olympia turns to the maids who agreed to be her bridesmaid as they smile at their queen.

"Shut up Lutia. I'm so nervous," Olympia took a couple of deep breaths before one of the bridesmaids' taps on Olympia's shoulder while carrying a golden robe.

"Oh... my... robe made from real gold thread," Lutia's eyes widen.

"The king asked the seamstress to prepared this for you," She bow and help the queen to put on the robe. It completes the look.

Even though Lutia is not that excited about her only best friend who she thought of as a sister, marrying one of the kings of vampires, she is glad that Olympia found her true love. She never saw her friend so excited in her life.

"The king must be really in love with you that if he asked the royal seamstress to made this magnificent dress just in time,"

"He's quite a gentleman," Olympia chuckle and twirls in front of her friend before telling everyone she's ready. 

Chandler waited for his daughter outside of the room. When Olympia opens the door, the General offered his hand to her.

"Daddy?" Chandler smiled.

"As long as you finish your study and graduate. That's all I'm asking," Olympia hugs her father.

"I'm so glad dad. I'm sorry if I'm being a disappointment in your eyes. I know I've been a bad daughter," Chandler shakes his head. 

"No honey. You're not. You make me the proudest father ever. Just never forget me and your mother," Olympia pulls away and she was surprised to see him cry.

"Oh daddy.," Olympia hold her tears.

"You're gonna ruin my make up," Chandler laughs and wipe his tears away. 

"Come on. It's almost time. I still can't believe I'm giving you away to a vampire. The very creature I live to capture," Olympia chuckle.

"Daddy. I don't know how to explain this feeling I have towards him. It's... I... oh god.." suddenly they heard the bridesmaids screaming while holding their head behind them. Olympia apologized when she forgot about how sensitive they all are. Chandler laughs.

"You need to be careful with the words that coming out of your mouth, my queen," They stop by the door that leads to the royal garden. Chandler puts on Olympia's veil to cover her face.

"Be a good wife. Even though your father in law is satan, literally, just make sure you'll be safe and sound. Are you ready?" Olympia nod.

"I'm ready. What about you, daddy?" Chandler shakes his head. Olympia laugh.

"I'm still your little girl, daddy. Always was, always will," Chandler was having a hard time giving her daughter to a vampire. But he has no other choice.

 "Let's get this done over with," Chandler said and leads her daughter to her new husband.

***

Octavia pushes her plate forward when she has done it. As she wipes her mouth with the napkin she looks at the door once again. Satan is nowhere to be found and she's afraid that he's planning something sinister. But, instead of Satan himself, Octavia noticed a group of creatures entering the ballroom bringing a different kind of aura with them.

"Pureblood's," Octavia said mentally. In just a mere couple of seconds, the ballroom was filled with beautiful creatures of the night. 

Aristocrats sons’ and daughters’ look lowly and feel disgusted that they're in the same room with humans and other creatures that are not at the same level as them. Octavia pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Did Videric invited them?" Octavia could hear Essence asked her wife. Thana only shrugs her shoulder and looks around. 

"Judging from this point of view, I think he did," Thana said and stand up together with her wife.

"No funny business, Thana. This is my son's ceremony," Thana fixes her suit and smile at the archangel.

"Don't worry Octavia. I won't do anything... harsh.." 

Natalia who stands in the dark corners was fascinated by the magnificent creatures that entered the ballroom. She never seen so many famous people in the human world gathered in one place. Artists, models, celebrities, and even the owners of the multi-billion companies, all under one roof, are vampires. She watches closely as the queens of the realm approach the beautiful creatures. 

"Who invited you all in here?" Thana questioned.

"We are here because our leader was invited. We simply following orders," A handsome man answered the queen without even bowing to her first. Thana was not happy with his gesture.

"I thought aristocrats like yourself learned manners since in your mother's womb," Octavia can sense the pureblood feels threatened. 

"We have no respect to purebloods who defected their kind just to be with a dog," Thana's orbs turn crimson while her fangs started to protruding seemingly from her lips.

"You shall face the consequences for your action," But before the queen could do anything, Octavia grabs the queen's hand and pulls her away from the pureblood. 

"You of all creatures should know to never initiate such tedious act in front of all the aristocracy creatures," Octavia warn her.

"Apologise to Queen Thana, Emery," A melodious voice echoes in the ballroom and it completely made Natalia kneel to her knees. That was the first time. That woman's scent seems toxic to her. The woman turns to the dark corners and notices a creature kneeling for her as she struts across the ballroom. She covers her mouth from showing her grin. 

"But, my lady.." the woman immediately glares at the beautiful man.

"One more word coming out of your mouth, it will be your last," The aristocrat vampire nods and bow down to his leader.

"I apologize for the way my servant acted. I'm deeply sorry," The woman with the most beautiful raven hair kneels in front of the queen. The other aristocrats gasp but follow their leaders' gesture in return.

"It's been so long, Eloise," The queen offers her hand for the raven-haired woman. Eloise takes the queen’s hand and smiled.

"Where are your kids, Eloise?" Thana asked. 

"They both can't make it. They're deeply sorry for not be able to attend Videric’s wedding. As you may know, they're in fragile health so I can't risk it. Not again," Thana nods. Eloise turns her dark orbs to Essence.

"Queen Essence, I'm sorry," Eloise bow down to a werewolf and it made Eloise's servants’ losing their patience.

Eloise turns to her servants and commands them to obey every word with her orbs.

"You shall bow to the creature who gave birth to the descendant of the moon goddess!" Eloise hiss. They cower when their leader raised their voice. Geva and Katrina look at each other and helped Natalia to get on her feet. 

"That happens," Geva said and smile at the newborn.

"She's the oldest and purest of pureblood in the vampire world. Eloise De Clare. Only the Akeldama can control her and her sister. And seeing you like this, she's like everyone said. She has the power to control every vampire with a single glare of her orbs," 

Natalia could sense Katarina's hostility. When she looks up, her eyes made contact with the so call pureblood's orbs. So much sadness comes with so much power. Natalia feels a thump in her dead heart. But it goes as soon as it came.

"Who are you?" Eloise asked the newborn. 

Thana turns to the newborn whom Eloise speaking to. She noticed how the eyes of a lady of De Clare family flickers as if they're connecting. 

"My oh my..." Eloise turns to Thana.

"Oh shut up. Where's the bride and groom? I must congratulate them," 

"You can ask the newborn yourself. She was his creation," Eloise's eyes widen.

"Oh.. so she's the..." Eloise smile.

"What a magnificent creation. So beautiful, so innocent, so many rages building up inside of her..." Eloise sniffs the air and she feels rejoice of inhaling such scent. 

"A human turned vampire. And the one who turned her..." Eloise turns to Ivy.

"Is standing in the very same room as she is. I know Videric one crazy king but this is madness," Eloise heard someone laughs.

"I take that as a compliment, lady Eloise De Clare," Videric walks in with his bride. 

"I am so grateful that you and your... servants manage to come to my wedding," Videric bow and so does Olympia.

"Come on now. Let's have fun," Videric smile and asked for a dance from her newlywed wife. 

Eloise, on the other hand, keeps on staring at the three creatures by the corner. She senses something is not right with one of the three but for now, she let it go. 

***

"What were you thinking, inviting such creatures to your wedding?" Octavia asked.

"You know how her servants will act around Thana and the other Akeldama's member of the family. Why?" Videric closed the door as his mother walks in.

"Keep your voice down, mother. I know he's around here somewhere. Waiting," Octavia takes a few deep breaths to calm her nerves down.

"I have my reason, mother. Eloise can do a better job than I am. Her pure vampire blood and lineage will do Natalia good," Octavia looks up.

"Natalia? This is all about Natalia?! You willing to create a war between the aristocrats and Akeldama?" 

"That's not my intention, mother." 

"Then what is your intention, Videric?" Satan shows himself from the depth of darkness and gives them both a sly smirk.

"See mother. He's everywhere," Videric sigh and leans his back on the wall.

"I didn't see you at the wedding. Is it because you're trying to hide from Chandler?" Satan scoffs. 

"I am not scared of a petty little human. I have something to deal with. That's all," Octavia wasn’t convinced at all.

"I know whether you’re lying or not, Lucifer. Anyway, what are you trying to accomplish with Eloise knowing about Natalia's existent?" Octavia just needs to know. 

"With De Clare patriarch knows about my creation, Zariah will be well aware of it too, right? As much as everyone respects and willing to die for Zariah, she's on the list for Natalia to kill. And knowing her, she will do anything if I say so," Satan laughs sinisterly. 

"She's a loyal dog," Videric smiled. 

"What do you have against Zariah? She's a pureblood like Kora, Kharis and Thana. Somehow, the late king Dracula manages to tame the De Clare family. Why are you trying to end Zariah's life?" Octavia asked.

"Because I just want to help a dear old friend of mine. It was a request. And I shall fulfill my promise," Octavia sighs and gives up. 

"Whatever it is you're doing, I hope you know how to deal with the circumstances. I have to go now. And you.." Octavia glares at Satan.

"Stop sending your filthy demon on my doorstep. It's disgusting and I hate to meet the Great One with bad news," Satan shows his middle finger to the archangel. 

"I still have no idea how on earth did I fall for you," Octavia went to the balcony and let out her enormous white wings. With just a flap, she shots off to the sky, to where heaven is. 

Satan closes the balcony doors with a flick of his finger and faces his son.

"As much as I want to taste a pureblood's blood, I am smart enough to know that Natalia will never have a chance against Zariah. She's known as Zariah De Clare, she may be younger than Eloise but she's powerful. Way too powerful to be handled by a mere newborn," 

"Are you worried about the newborn, father?" Videric chuckle. Satan replies with scoffs.

"Relax. Ambrose knows what to do. I'll have Geva teach her real combat moves and how to control her powers over time. Besides, sooner or later, her fate will be known around the world. She will be one of the great. That's of course if she fulfills your task," 

"Your mother might be a pureblood, but you have my blood running through your veins. Your mother, a Vallée, one of the five pureblood vampires in the world, manage to be seduced by me, a king of the underworld. Then there's you, a hybrid that was thrown away from your mother’s lineage," Videric's eyes widen. He never knew about this part of her mother.

All his father ever said was she was a prostitute that was on his way.

"Why did you hide this from me?!" Satan scoffs.

"It's a request from Octavia and your mother that you will never have to know about that part of your undead life,"

"Why are you telling me how?" Videric questioned. 

"Because it's time for you to know. King Dracul had 4 siblings. Marie Vallée, Jean-Claude Durand, Maryanne De Clare, Jean-Jöel Mossé and of course, himself. These five brothers and sisters swore that they will keep the pureblood and only them will rule the supernatural realm," 

Satan stands up and faces the portrait of Videric's late wife.

"At first they trying to marry each other's children together so they could have their lineage from pureblood. But, Kora didn't care and marry an Ivanov, an aristocrat royalty," Satan smirk. 

"Years after, Maryanne's son, Eloise’s father, betrayed the others and cause a lot of trouble to Dracul. I know how it went. I was there. Long story cut short, Dracul manages to controlled that De Clare boy, and there are Eloise and Zariah, the patriarch that lives. Eloise took charge of the De Clare clan and rule other vampires with ease," 

"What happened to the others, the mother's family?" Videric asked. 

"Perished. In the Great War, the Akeldama and De Clare is the only family that lives. Kora gave Thana the full authority to rule. And Zariah, wants her part of the throne as well," Satan gives his son a glare filled with rage.

"Tell me, will you continued your childish game, Videric Vallée, the last living vampire from the Vallée clan?" Satan asked. 

"I will. Besides, she's on the list," Videric smile and shows his father how determined he was. Satan sigh but in the end, he doesn’t care what happened to his son. He questioned himself, why did he warn him?

 "I'll get Rose. Maybe she can advise you better than I can," Satan sidles into a portal and disappeared together with the portal. 

Videric heard a knock coming from his door and let the person in. Olympia smile.

"I was waiting in our chamber but you didn't show up. I got worried and searched for you," Videric smile and caress his newlywed wife on her cheek.

"I'm sorry for troubling you. I have some business to take care of with my mother," Olympia was wondering about something. Videric notices her body language and leads Olympia to a couch near the fireplace.

"What is it, my queen?" Olympia looks up.

"I was wondering, when will you change me?" Videric was confused. 

"Change you?" Olympia nods.

"To one of your kind. The creatures of the dark who live forever and beautifully," Videric laughs.

"After our honeymoon. Is that okay?" Olympia nods and now her mind thinks of the places she wants to visit. 

"I will change you, when you're fully ready, my queen," Videric said mentally and leans in for his wife's lips.