Bride of the Vampire Prince

CHAPTER: 15

Vienna released Alex's arm and mumbled, "At least, wish me luck."

"You do not need luck. You need to behave. Remember what the prince said. Say yes." He 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. The villagers stared at her. She saw one woman nudge her neighbor, and they both gaped up at her. Her red dress stood out amongst the other girls' gowns, as they had more subdued tones, greens, blues, and yellows. Vienna squeezed herself next to the very tall, pretty girl in the end, and she arched an eyebrow at her.

"The stage is already full," the tall girl said.

"There is enough room for me, especially if you move over a little." Vienna pointedly looked at the space next to her.

The girl tossed her curly brown colored hair as she reluctantly moved over a few inches. "Don't crowd. I need the prince to see all of me."

Vienna looked up at her. The girl towered over her in her high heels. "You are six foot. He will surely see you," Vienna said.

"And I am sure he will see you." Her gaze raked over Vienna's gown, making her self-conscious. "You are making quite a statement in that dress, aren't you?" the girl said.

Vienna looked down. "I did not choose it."

"Really?" The girl tossed her curls over her shoulder again. "His highness does not like showiness. He prefers a more precisely beautiful girl, like his mother. She is a real lady. And real ladies need to shout, neither vocally nor in style. She then smoothed the fabric of her dark green dress, the expression on her face quite superior.

"Um, that is great and all." Vienna leaned closer to her. "But can I ask, why do you want to be picked? Are you not afraid?" she asked the girl. She then caught Alex staring up at her from the crowd, but she ignored him.

The girl seemed to be annoyed. "Aren't I what?" she asked.

"Are you not sad about leaving your family?" Vienna did not even know enough about this strange land to understand if the girl, or anyone else in the chattering, excited crowd, knew that vampires had been dwelling amongst them. Alex continued to watch Vienna from his spot near the front. He shook his head once, reminding her, about not speaking to anyone.

"That is a funny question to ask," the tall girl said. She looked at Vienna as though she had three heads. "Where did you say you were from?"

"Lochinver." Vienna swallowed hard. "The idea of leaving my family makes me feel sad, I guess. I did not know if you felt the same."

The girl laughed, but it was not a nice sound. "There is nothing to be sad about. You live like a princess inside those walls." She gestured behind her, and for the first time, Vienna noticed another wall, smaller than the one surrounding the village. It was made of the same smooth stone, with a trench surrounding the base. Vienna shivered and wondered if the water had alligators in it, or some other weird creatures or reptiles.

"I don't know what Lochinver is like, but I am from here, and let me tell you, I am over it. I am not going to miss a thing about this filthy village," the girl continued. "It is supposed to be very beautiful inside the castle. There are fresh flowers in crystal vases in every room, with expensive paintings. And a new gown for every evening. It is heaven on earth. I shall be drinking champagne every day for the rest of my life." The girl then snorted and said, "Why would I want to stick around here, to marry some dull laborer and have six kids? That is what I am afraid of, dying of boredom, with too many mouths to feed." She eyed the crowd with contempt. "Let them have their sacks of grain, and eat goat as much as they want. I do not mind not eating them for all my life." 

Vienna nodded, unsure if she should also complain about the goat meat.

The girl stuck her nose in the air and said haughtily, "I expect His Highness will take a special interest in me. I have heard he has excellent taste, so why wouldn't he?" 

"Yes. Well... Good luck." Vienna half hoped the smug girl would get picked up by the prince. In that case, she would never have to see her again, and she could go back to the lake and try to find her way home. She just then saw Alex still staring, and she smoothed her facial expression. She wondered if vampires could read minds. But she seriously hoped they could not. Vienna tried experimenting by thinking that he was a redheaded monster. She tried to just test the theory. But just then trumpets blared, disrupting her experiment. The sound of metal came next.

The women turned to face the wall behind them, and Vienna followed their lead. When the musicians stooped playing, a silence fell over the crowd as a wooden drawbridge lowered, squeaking while it descended. From their position on the stage, the candidates could visualize everything first. A procession of armored guards appeared, crossing the bridge two at a time, carrying blue flags bearing a gold emblem. The same emblem she had seen embossed on the prince's tunic.

Prince Damien himself came next, and Vienna did not know if she imagined it, or if she heard several girls near her sigh? She thought they were idiots. Although even she had to admit that he looked handsome in his tight-fitting tunic and his tall black boots, his muscular thighs bulging above them.

Thunderous applause erupted as the prince strode toward the crowd, his cape sailing behind him. He was followed by a regal-looking couple who could only have been the king and queen.

A/N: To be continued...