A soft knock on her door had Lady Aurora looking up.
"Come in," she called out.
A timid maidservant entered and bowed deeply.
"The king wishes to see you."
"My father," Aurora corrected with a sigh, "the king is my father. You say my father wants to see me."
"My sincere apologies, my lady. Your father wishes to see you."
"You may leave."
Aurora shut the leather-bound book she had been reading and rose. Her right hand lazily untied her hair as she walked out of her room. Long tender blonde curls cascaded down her rigid back.
"Father," she greeted, walking in through the doors held open for her, into her father's private quarters.
He was lounging by the pool, his legs in the clear water. She knew instantly that something was wrong. He was only ever in that position when he needed to think about dead important matters.
"Trouble outside the borders?"
She placed a kiss on his cheek and lowered herself down to sit with him.
He sighed deeply.
"I'm afraid not, dearest Aurora, I'm afraid not."
She grew worried. The look on his face was one of great distress.
"Emperor Julius of the Jaresh empire sent a message today."
"What does he want? He's not the type to cause trouble."
"Of course. He wants to strengthen the bond between the empire."
"That shouldn't be a prob…" her countenance fell as realization dawned on her. King Janus took his daughter's hands and kissed them deeply and affectionately.
"I prayed that this day would never come. I did but that was so selfish a prayer that I knew Zeus would never grant it."
"It's alright, father" Aurora smiled, recovering from the shock, "I've been prepared for this all my life."
King Janus's lips trembled and Aurora threw her arms around him.
"You won't be weak because of such a trivial issue, will you? Do not let the waters witness such a great embarrassment."
"Oh, Aurora…"
She withdrew her arms and straightened her back.
"Which of his sons am I to engage?"
"Emperor Julius has many sons but only one was born to him of his wife."
"Sebastian," she murmured, "I've heard a great lot about him."
"Strong lad. He has helped his father conquer so many territories."
"When am I leaving?"
"Well," Emperor Janus turned a sly face to his daughter, "you're my only daughter and child so of course, I couldn't just let you go so easily."
Aurora shut her eyes in defeat, "what did you do?"
"I simply requested that the wedding be held in our kingdom," Emperor Janus announced with glee.
"What?" She gasped, her eyes flying open, "that's unheard of!"
Emperor Janus shrugged, lifting himself out of the water, she followed, her shock still evident.
"Anything for my daughter."
*
Two days later, the slave messenger arrived in the central city of the Jaresh Empire. The city bustled with the early evening trade. Horse carts loaded with goods traveled the streets, raising dust wherever the crinkly wheels stepped, loud boisterous chatter of the men and the quiet gossip of the women filled the evening air as workers returned to their homes for dinner.
In the Palace, located in the center of the city…
"My lord, I have come with a response from King Janus of Hvar kingdom."
Emperor Julius who was reclining on a golden bench received the letter from his slave. He opened it with great anticipation and then burst out into laughter after reading its contents.
"Oh my Zeus! What a man!" He exclaimed.
"What's the problem, father?" Justus, one of Julius' many illegitimate sons, asks at the entrance.
"You may come in, boy," Julius beckons on him with excitement.
"King Janus wishes for the wedding to take place in his city."
Justus scoffs, taking a seat on one of the golden stools adjacent to his father's bench.
"That's absurd and a great disrespect, father. It has never been heard of."
"I know son, I know… but it won't be so much of a bad idea, would it?"
"It is, father. Our subordinate kingdoms will laugh at us. Don't you think he means this as a sign of disrespect?"
Julius waved him off.
"I don't think Sebastian will mind. He didn't offer the slightest hint of defiance to me when I suggested the marriage alliance. Lady Aurora is, after all, the fairest maiden to ever be known."
Justus turns his face away in envy.
"Where's Sebastian?"
"Out on another mission."
"I'm here, father."
Father and son looked up to behold Sebastian standing at the entrance to the emperor's plaza, in all his princely glory. He had the build and stature of a king and he exhibited the aura of a fierce warrior. His features were the loveliest to behold.
"May I?"
"Of course, of course. I'm sure you must have overheard the news. Do you find it disrespectful?"
"Not at all. Princess Aurora is the king's only daughter and child. It is only normal that he feels reluctant to give her away in marriage."
"See, son," Emperor Julius looked at Justus knowingly, "he is completely taken by the princess even without meeting her."
Justus forced a smile.
"Father, I'll like us to get the marriage over with as soon as possible. The bloodsuckers' attacks are increasing in numbers."
"All right," Julius happily rose to his feet, "I've longed for this day when I get to retire and let my sons take over. Relief."
Sebastian and Justus watched him walk away.
"I wish you a happy married life, brother, and congratulations on your coronation."
Sebastian looked at his younger brother and smiled softly.
He let out an inaudible sigh. He hoped the princess Aurora was not a female loaded with trouble.
"Here, put this on, darling."Aurora received the piece of jewelry from her godmother."Thank you, Celine."She looked at herself in the silver hemmed mirror as she put the earrings on."The servants could have done a better job for your hair. Look at this tendril," Celine spoke, displeased. Aurora dodged her anxious hands, laughing softly."No need to be so nervous. It's just a casual meeting.""With your to-be husband. Not to mention, the successor to the throne of Jaresh. I wonder what the king was thinking when he made them visit.""Father is father.""Of course."Aurora watched her godmother leave, her gold embroidered gown trailing behind her. She looked back at her image in the mirror. She was nervous.*Loud music and dancing ushered the Jerash royal party in. Their golden horses dazzled in the sunlight and their silver carriages glistened in the late afternoon heat. It was a sight to behold.She stood at the entrance to the palace, along with the emperor, her godmother, and
Her mother was dead and had been for a long time so it was Lady Celine who tied the knot of Hercules around her waist on her wedding morn, over her long white robe. Lady Celine also escorted her to the palace grounds where the wedding was taking place. The people were all present in their numbers to witness not just the wedding of the King Janus's beloved daughter to the great warrior Sebastian of the Jerash empire but to witness the bonding of the two rulers.Sebastian was already at the altar, dressed in all his princely glory."Jupiter's blessings," Lady Celine murmured as she placed her hand in Sebastian's.She took one last long gaze at her godmother, her freedom before facing her to-be husband.The priest of Jupiter arose. Sebastian cut off her locket given to her by her mother and threw it in the purifying fire."When and where you are, I then and there I am; when and where you will be, I then and there I shall be." Sebastian recited slowly, his sharp gaze locked on hers."When
"The rag, get me the clean rag," The little girl fetched the needed item and handed it to Aurora. Sebastian stood to the side, hidden in the shadows. Aurora dabbed the forehead of the emperor gently, her other hand massaging his temples. Fire touches lit up the room and provided the heat needed. "Asclepius, help us. The emperor needs your healing. Oh, Asclepius, help us," she murmured, massaging his hands and feet with the healing ointment.After several minutes, she straightened, handing the used materials to the servant girl."He is stable for now but we'll have to get him proper treatment when we get home," She informed her husband. A knock followed and Sebastian's brothers ventured in."What happened to our father?" Lucius questioned immediately, narrowed suspicious eyes aimed at her."He was poisoned, he said so himself. I've done a bit to…""And I am to trust your spoken word with no proof?" He eyed her and peered down at the emperor."You have eyes. See for yourself." She pi
He looked in the mirror, pressing his face close to hers but his face still appeared blurry compared to hers."What… Your honor, your face…" Aurora gasped, sharply looking at him."I know," he muttered, straightening up and walking away. She watched him sit on the bed and place his head in his hands. Her palms grew sweaty."It might take some time but I'm sure the treatment is working. The poison's almost entirely gone. Better still, we could pay a secret visit to a priest outside our kingdom and we could ask if…""Not necessary. You have to be prepared for my death, Aurora," he cut her off sharply, lifing his head, "I'll set everything in place for you to live a comfortable free life afterwards if you do not wish to engage any of my brothers.""Sebastian!" She shouted furiously, "it's been only a week since our marriage and you dare talk about death so casually. Isn't that a tad shameless!""You…"A sharp knock on the door cut him off abruptly."Your honor, my lady, dinner is ready."
Aurora lay in Sebastian's arms, late that night after the customary night ritual to the sun god. The oil lamps were lit and burning and cast red shadows on the brick walls."We'll leave tomorrow night, right?" She asked, breathing in his musky scent."Yes," he answered, placing a kiss on her hair. It was a deep struggle for him not to sink his fangs into her neck right there and then and satisfy his crazed desire for her blood. He could hear them all, all the sleep sighs and steady drum of the pulse. He could imagine it all, sinking his fangs inti their necks and draining their blood until they were simply a sack of bones.He forced the thought out and focused on calming his breathing. When he came back to focus, Aurora was fast asleep in his arms.He stared at her beautiful face, her rosy cheeks and her plump lips. It would have been an absolute joy to get to know this resilient woman better, to protect her abd grant her her heart desires but now, she would be better off without him,
"Look!"Her eyes snapped open and fixated itself on the grave."It's moving! It's moving!"Sure enough, the earth covering the grave was trembling; rising and falling."Oh merciful Zeus," she murmured, scared for her fate and that of her husband at the hands of their people."Watch out!"The grave burst open and a clawed hand flashed out."Blood suckers! The emperor is a blood sucker!"Another clawed hand, then a leg and in a flash, Sebastian leaped out the grave, his skin pale as a corpse, his eyes bloodshot and dangerous.The crowd screamed, horrified."He is a bloodsucker, kill him! Put him to death!"She looked to Lucius in time ti catch him signal to his soldiers."Lucius, no!" She screamed, pulling at her chains, "don't touch him!"Her voice was barely heard above the crowd's loud noise but Sebastian snapped his head in her direction and just like that day, over a week ago, their gazes met and clashed."Sebastian," she whispered in a hopeless attempt to get him to remember. He t
The wind rushed past her with full force and when she thought she could no longer hold on, it stopped. She felt herself being lowered to the ground. She was in pain. Her arm felt too heavy to carry and she felt like ripping it off.Her eyes fluttered open when her back hit a tree."Aurora," his coarse hands caressed her face gently. His face loomed down on her, no longer foreign and pale like a corpse but even better, more beautiful."You're safe," she smiled weakly, reaching up for his face. Her fingers traced his features, his eyes, nose, mouth, ears, "you're safe.""I am," he murmured, pressing his forehead to hers, "did you feel my absence?""Very much, very much," she whispered, pressing her lips to his.When their lips parted, she realized that she felt no pain whatsoever. She looked quickly at her arm and slowly back at him, her eyes wide.He picked her up in his arms and began walking."Lucius would have the soldiers out to look for us.""And he'll begin with my father," she f
They walked in silence; Sebastian, Aurora and her mother. The night was far spent and their only companions were the night birds and the distant groans of the wild animals who dwelt in the dead woods."I know you have many questions, dearest Aurora…""Only I shall call her by that name," he pronounced firmly. Lydia eyes turned in his direction but she merely smiled."I guess she is no longer my little girl.""The little girl you tried to kill," Aurora blurted out with suppressed anger, "where were you all this time, mother? Why appear now?""Your father banished me if my old head remembers correctly.""Because you tried to kill me." She accused."I didn't… it was never my intention, dear… my child. I was a budding vampire, hungry for food and I didn't have the sense to fight it.""And where have you been all this time?""Hiding, of course," Lydia shot her an exasperated look, "with the entire Jaresh empire soldiers after us, blood suckers," she snorted, "I had to hide to save my own