Bride of the Vampire Prince

CHAPTER: 14

Alex had not spoken another word, but Vienna had pieced it all together as calmly as she could. Deborah had called the candidates at the ceremony as 'sacrifices.' Alex had shown her his fangs, and the prince had asked her to say 'yes.' She knew all too well now, what this ceremony was all about. Whatever remained of it, her life was worth several sacks of grains and possibly some goats for breeding. She repented now, why did she listen to that letter? 

"His Highness is waiting for you." Alex offered her his arm. 

Vienna arched an eyebrow. "I am not going to touch you."

"As you wish." Alex sighed. "You are thinking you are too good for our kind, don't you?"

"It is not that. It is that I do not want you to bite me." Vienna had a strong urge to smack Alex or perhaps pinch his ear, but of course, she did not dare. "Is that sentiment allowed, or does it hurt your feelings too much?"

Alex gave her a deadly look. "It does pain me that you think I have so little self-restraint. I have never hurt you. Have I, my lady?" he asked Vienna.

Vienna hesitated then shook her head. They had been alone together for hours, walking to the castle. He had every opportunity to do whatever the vampires did. She shuddered at the thought.

"Even in the forest, when the guards were close, I only kept you safe," he reminded her. "I could have shown you my fangs then, but I did not. I do not flash them easily and not without any provocation. But I cannot have you escaping and running wildly, without self-control."

Vienna looked toward the door, remembering the path they had taken through the village to get to Mistress Deborah. She wanted to retrace her steps and make a run for it, but she likely would not get far. "What happens now?" she asked him.

"We will go to the ceremony, and you will join the other girls. The royal family will come out to make their announcements. Then the Prince will ask you." Alex smiled, there was no sign of a fang in sight.

"When you said before that I had a choice," Vienna lifted her chin. "Was it the truth?"

"You always have a choice." Alex bowed. "But you must remember that some of them are better than others."

Vienna smoothed her dress with her sweaty palms. "What happens if I say no?"

"You won't. He is very difficult to say no to, my lady," Alex said.

He then offered her his arm again. Unwilling to upset him further, she reluctantly took it. 

"Miss Vienna."  Mistress Deborah bowed. "It is always a pleasure."

"Thank you," Vienna replied. She then inspected Alex as he led her outside. In the sunlight, he looked normal enough, his freckles making him seem harmless. Although he was anything but that. "Why do you both behave like you'll have met me before?"    

He shook his head. "That is not my story to tell."

"Fine." She sighed as they walked through the village. "If you will not answer that, how about this... Have you always been a vampire? Are there others, too?" She wanted to ask about the prince, but she did not dare ask.

"Not another word," Alex whispered urgently, his eyes moving around. "Not out here. We already told you. It is not safe."

Vienna looked around too, but no one was near them. She wondered what he was so worried about. Was it possible that the villagers didn't know that he was a vampire? They were the ones actually sacrificing themselves, after all...

Alex urged her forward, interrupting her thoughts. "When we get to the celebration, you must go and join the other girls on the platform. If one of the guards asks you what village you come from, tell him 'Lochinver.' If anyone asks you who brought you here, say you volunteered and came with one of the escorts. Otherwise, speak to no one. And do not say another word about anything else."

Vienna's heart thumped as they made it to the square, which was empty. She could hear a crowd further ahead, with the sound of music and people cheering. Alex increased his pace, and she struggled to keep up with his long strides. The street cut through what looked like tenement buildings. She picked up the hem of her skirt so it would not drag on the muddy walkway.

They passed through the neighborhood and finally reached the crowd, which was gathered in another large square. Hundreds of people seemed to be waiting, dressed in their colorful robes. Awning tents lined the outskirts of the gathering, where people traded trinkets and also sold food. Delicious smells of meat and casserole were floating from pots that were cooking over fires. Musicians were playing a merry tune. "It's a celebration," Vienna whispered.

Alex gave her a quick look. "Of course it is a celebration. It is considered an honor to be chosen as a sacrifice. One life for the lives of many that are spared. That is the way they look at it."

A stage stood at the opposite end of the square. About twenty-five or so young women, all around the same age as Vienna, had assembled on the platform. The crowd stared up at them in reverence, and some of the audience clapped and cheered.

Alex led her closer, down the side of the onlookers, and up toward the stage. The girls looked beautiful, dressed in ball gowns, curls, and braids carefully arranged in their hair. Although a couple of them were clearly nervous, the rest of the candidates looked poised, enjoying the attention of the crowd, relishing their moment of public attention. 

"Haven't these girls heard of the sacrificial lamb before?" She leaned closer to Alex. "Or like...  Dracula?" Vienna asked.

Confused, he scrunched his face. "What is that?"

"Nothing." She took a deep breath as they neared the platform's stairs.

"Here we are." Alex nodded towards the stage. "Go on."

"I am just supposed to walk up there?" Vienna gazed at the other girls, her nerves mounting. "Don't I have to register or something?" she asked him.

He looked confused again. "It is a bit more relaxed than that. You just need to be in the right age group and wearing a proper dress. Anybody who wants to volunteer is welcome here."

"Don't I need proof of citizenship or something?" Vienna asked. She looked around nervously, hoping she had missed a rigorous checkpoint with an official who would immediately recognize that she was a foreigner with no business being up on that platform.

Alex ridiculed. "Stop delaying. The prince knows exactly where you are from, and that is all that matters. Now just get up there."

Vienna released his arm and mumbled, "At least, wish me luck."

"You do not need luck. You need to behave. Remember what the prince said. Say yes." Alex then gave her a crooked smile, with still no sign of his fangs.

Despite her heart pounding in her temples, Vienna held her head high as she climbed the stairs to the platform.