Bride of the Vampire Prince

CHAPTER: 10

Vienna caught up to him, and her jaw dropped. The ground dipped then rose into another large, broad hill. On top of it stood a massive castle made of dark gray and red stone, surrounded by a circular high wall. Deep blue flags flew from the towers, rising high into the sky.

Shivering, Vienna gazed at the majestic structure. "You say one family lives here?' she asked Alex.

Alex snickered. "The royals live in the castle, of course. But it has a village and a town square around it. The castle is set apart by another wall inside." Alex's face darkened. "The town surrounds it, but the royal residence is quite a country of its own."

By the look on his face, Vienna was unable to decide if he meant that was a good thing or a bad thing. But she had little time to ask as they traveled down the path. It eventually joined a larger road, that led up to the wall. Two closed wooden doors big enough for a giant to pass through marked the entrance. 

Vienna felt tiny and afraid as she stared up at the approaching wall. "Are they going to let us in?" she asked Alex.

"Yeah, they will." Alex jutted his chin in the direction of the wall. "This is my home."

"The castle or the village?" Vienna asked.

"Both. I am one of the few who can go back and forth." He puffed his chest out. "Talent like mine is needed everywhere," he said.

Vienna eyed Alex, studying his funny-looking vest and trousers and his shocking red hair. Despite his clothes, he looked pretty normal to Vienna. She wondered, what did he mean by talent?

Hooves suddenly thundered behind them. Alex grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side as a big black horse appeared, its rider hunched low in the saddle, a deep red cape sailing out behind him.

"I have been looking for you!" the rider yelled. He pulled the horse's reins, and it rose on its hind legs and neighed. When it crashed back down to the ground, Vienna finally caught sight of the rider. It was the boy she had seen from her window.

She gaped up at him. It was definitely him. His close-cropped black hair, pale skin, and dark deep blue eyes fringed by thick lashes were impossible to forget. He was very handsome, with full lips, and a square jaw, and he wore a tight-fitting leather tunic with some sort of crest (coat-of-arms) embossed on it. 

His eyes brightened as he smiled at her. "You made it," he said. He also had a Scottish accent, that Vienna noted.

"You..." Vienna pointed at him. "I saw you. Before."

He arched an eyebrow, his eyes still sparkling. "There is no time to speak of it now. You must get inside and get changed. I have got everything arranged. But my mother is about to skin me alive." He then turned to Alex. "You are late again."

"You never want to hear it, but she would not come with me, she asked too many questions, she..." Alex was interrupted midway.

"I do not want to hear excuses." The boy glared in irritation at Alex. "It is your one job. I should not have to be out here, surveying the countryside, making sure that you fulfill your responsibilities."

Alex's cheeks turned red. "Of course not, Your Highness."

"Oh, go cry after you get her inside. Mistress Deborah's waiting. If you think I am annoyed, wait until she gets a hold of you." The guy then turned back to Vienna. "My lady, we will meet again shortly. Remember to say yes." A smile flashed across his face as he bowed his head.

Vienna's mouth gaped open as he pulled on the reins, drawing his horse toward the castle.  

Alex took one look at her and laughed. "You are utterly astounded, aren't you? It happens every time."

"Who... who was that?" Vienna asked.

"It was the prince, of course. His Royal Highness Damien Jackson." Alex wiggled his eyebrows. "Does he look familiar?"

"A little," Vienna replied as she watched the prince ride up the hill. He turned to the left of the wall and disappeared from her sight. "What did he mean when he said, Remember to say yes?" she asked Alex.

"He is talking about the ceremony. Come on, or else his mother might skin him alive if we are late. Although Dam will still find a way to get me skinned alive first." He set off up the drive, his pace even faster than before. "My one job," he muttered. As if."

"So he is a prince?" Vienna struggled to keep up with Alex. "He was not wearing a crown."

Alex snorted. "No need to. Everyone knows who he is."

Vienna's head reeled. The boy outside her window had fascinated her. Seeing him again was a shock, as was finding out he was a prince. But really was all this any crazier than him floating outside her window?" Vienna wondered.

It wasn't any crazier, but that was not saying much. The whole situation was off the rails. Not to mention that her heart had stopped both times Damien looked at her. It was as if electricity had rushed through her. She recognized those feelings as attraction, though she had never felt them before. Just perfect it seemed. She had finally met a boy she liked, and he was either a figment of her imagination or... she did not know what. A time-traveling Scottish prince who could float?

"I am not dumbfounded," Vienna muttered. "I am the only sane one here."

"What is that?" Alex asked, but she shrugged him off. She could not even begin to explain herself.

They continued up the graveled road. The handsome prince was long gone. Alex used a large metal knocker to bang against the door. A metal lock was opened and a guard peered through. "Just a minute," he said. His voice was hoarse.

The massive doors groaned open, scraping the gravely ground. Two guards wearing metal armor strode through, their hands on their gilded sword handles. Vienna hesitated, but Alex shook his head.

"Don't worry. They work for His Highness. They will not ask questions. But I have got to get you inside before you are noticed by anyone else," Alex said.  

A/N: To be continued...