Filed to story: The Vampire Prince’s Bride
“I
‘m listening,” I told her, since I really had no other choice. I was trapped in this cave until I figured out where I wanted her to bring me, and if she’d thought of a way I could improve my plan, then I was all ears.
“Before we get into the details of the plan, you should know that while I can’t actually turn you into a vampire princess, I can make you appear to be a vampire princess,” she started. “No one in the Vale will ever know the difference.”
“Really?” I asked, since it sounded too good to be true. “How would you do that?”
“I can provide you with a vial of royal vampire blood once a day,” she told me. “The blood will give you all of the abilities of a vampire princess for twenty-four hours, while not actually making you a vampire. No vampire will know the difference.”
I nodded, because I knew first hand about the benefits of vampire blood. I knew because when Sean had tried to help me escape the Vale, he’d given me a taste of his blood. While it had been in my system, I’d exhibited all of the abilities of a vampire-enhanced strength, speed, and senses. I’d have been able to drink blood as well, although I hadn’t tried it. I also would have been able to compel, since Sean was a vampire prince.
“But humans aren’t meant to drink vampire blood,” I reminded Geneva. “Once it’s out of my system, I’ll crash. And the toll on my body will make me age faster.” I only knew all of this because the witch Camelia had told me, but I didn’t imagine that she’d been lying about that.
Then again, what did I know? Apparently I was terrible at knowing who was lying to me and who wasn’t.
“I’ll give you a new vial each morning so you never have to experience the crash,” she told me. “And as for the aging… that process takes a long time. I’ve actually witnessed the process in a human myself. Drinking the blood of a vampire every day for a year will age you approximately five years. And I doubt that you’ll be undercover for anywhere close to a year. But it’s up to you. Do you think it’s worth the risk?”
“I suppose it would work, as long as we don’t come into contact with any wolves,” I said, remembering how the wolves had been able to smell through my disguise when they’d found Sean and me in the woods. They’d known from a single sniff of my scent that I wasn’t truly a vampire. “But Sean and Camelia know me. They’ll recognize me the second I step into the palace, whether I have the abilities of a vampire or not.”
“Which is why I’ll mix the vampire blood with a transformation potion.” Geneva smirked, giving me the impression that she was multiple steps ahead of me. “You’ll look like someone else entirely. The vampires would never be the wiser.”
“What would I look like?” I asked her, touching my face with my hands. The idea of not looking like myself was strange. I’d always considered myself to be pretty average looking-brown hair, pale skin, and frail for a gymnast-but I was me. I’d never been the type to worry about things I couldn’t change. And I was comfortable in my own skin.
“I have good taste,” Geneva assured me with a wink. “I’ll choose a beautiful human-one who would be a knockout even amongst the vampires. If you don’t like who I choose, I’ll find someone else. But I have a feeling you’ll be more than satisfied. Now, for the plan…”
“Taking down Queen Laila?” I sat up straighter, eager to discuss this part of the plan.
“Not quite.” Geneva pressed a finger to her chin. “I had something else in mind.”
“Something that would bring justice to the human blood slaves?” I asked. “Because that’s what I care about the most. The way the vampires treat us… it’s terrible. No one should have their freedom taken away like that. All of the humans living in the village deserve better. They deserve choices. I want to give them that.”
“Killing Laila wouldn’t give the blood slaves choices. It would just bring chaos to the kingdom,” Geneva pointed out. “And freeing the current blood slaves would just result in the vampires kidnapping and enslaving a new batch of them.”
“So it’s helpless.” I deflated at the realization that this task might be too big for me to take on myself.
“Not necessary,” she said. “What you want to do is create real change. To do that, you need to be in a position of influence. A position of power.”
“How could I do that?” I asked. “I’m just a human. Even if I disguise myself as a vampire, I would still be a guest in the Vale. I would have no real power.”
“Unless you won the hand of the prince,” Geneva said. “Then you would marry him and become a princess of theVale.”
“And as a true princess of the Vale, I would have political influence,” I realized. “I would be able to create change.”
“Precisely.” Geneva smiled. “Creating change from the inside would do a lot more good than a kamikaze mission to murder the queen.”
“But there’s no way Laila would listen to me,” I said. “She’s been queen of the Vale for centuries. Why would she give the opinions of a new princess the time of day?”
“You’re underestimating the queen,” Geneva said. “She’s respected by all-well, by most-of the vampires in the Vale. She didn’t get that respect by being a dictator who’s closed off to their opinions.”
“You know her?” I asked.
“In passing.” Geneva shrugged. “We met a few times during the Great War. Queen Laila can certainly be stubborn, but there’s a chance she might surprise you.”
“Perhaps,” I said, although I doubted she would. She was the queen of a kingdom that had murdered my family and the families of countless others. She’d enslaved me-she’d enslaved all of the humans in theVale.
She might have the respect of the supernaturals, but she would never have the respect of the humans.
But I also couldn’t deny that Geneva had a good point. Killing Laila would only bring chaos upon the Vale. It wouldn’t set the humans free. And even if I somehow figured out a way to set the humans free, what would stop the vampires of the Vale from kidnapping more humans and enslaving them all over again?
There was no way to win.
Then it hit me.
What if I waited to kill Queen Laila until after becoming a princess of the Vale? And what if I framed it so no one ever found out it was me?
Then the throne would be empty. The Vale would need someone else to step up as ruler. Surely they would select one of their princes or princesses.
If I could successfully win Sean’s heart and become his bride, that would make me one of the contenders for the crown.
It was crazy, yes. But if it worked… I would have the power to change so many lives for the better.
“You look like you have an idea.” Geneva rubbed her hands together, leaning forward. “Please, do share.”
“If a vampire king or queen dies, who steps up to take their place?” I asked her.
“Such a thing has never happened,” she told me. “The only original vampire who’s ever been killed was killed before the kingdoms were formed. His death was what spurned the creation of the kingdoms. Since then, the kings and queens have been kept safe by their people.”
“Until now,” I said. “Because I’m going to wait to kill Laila until after becoming a princess of the Vale. With your help, surely we can find a way to have her slain with no one knowing it was us. Then, once she’s gone… I can try to become queen.”
Scarlett
“T hat’s quite the plan.” Geneva eyed me up, her lips pursed with doubt. “You truly think you can pull it off?”
“With your help, yes,” I told her. “You said it yourself-you’re the most powerful witch in the entire world. Since I wear your ring, you’re bound to protect me and perform the magic that I command. And I know I’m only a human, but I’m strong. I’m determined. So yes, I believe I can do this. At least I’m going to do my best to try.”