WRITER'S POV
"Grandma! Grandma, look! I can balance eight books on my head and walk!"
Evania placed the eight books of Proper Princess Behavior on her head and walked around the room.
"Splendid, Eva! My sweet little girl." Her grandmother picked her up and twirled her around.
"I've got a present for you."
"A present? Yay!"
The eight-year-old beamed with joy.
Her grandmother pulled out a box from her drawer and opened it, revealing a white, flower-shaped hairpin.
"Wow, it's pretty, Grandma!"
She chuckled. "Yes, it is. And now it's yours."
"Thank you so much, Grandma!"
Evania hugged her.
She loved her grandmother so much. She was always spoiling her with the best gifts, and sometimes when she came to visit, they would play games and she would read her bedtime stories at night.
"Help me put it on, please!"
Her grandmother helped her place the pin in her hair.
"I look beautiful," Evania said, admiring herself in the mirror.
"You already are, my dear."
Her grandmother pecked her cheek, making her giggle.
"Let me go show Mama!"
"Okay! Be careful-don't run!"
Evania heard her say as she rushed off to look for her mother.
"Mama! Mama!"
Strange.
Her mother had been in the garden with her father, but now they weren't there.
The castle felt oddly quiet... and empty.
A strange feeling kept nagging at her.
Then fear crept in.
She rushed back to her grandmother's room as fast as her little legs could carry her.
"Grandma, something's wrong! I can't fi.."
Her words caught in her throat at what she saw.
She couldn't move.
Couldn't blink.
A tall figure was hovering over her grandmother, and she could hear her whimper.
It was only when the figure noticed her that he turned.
Silver hair.
Red eyes.
A bloodied mouth.
His fangs were out, too.
He looked nothing less than a monster.
Evania's eyes moved to her grandmother.
She had fallen to the floor, her neck twisted in an unnatural way and covered in blood.
The little girl collapsed-shaking, tears streaming from her eyes.
Her vision blurred, and the last thing she saw was soldiers bursting into the room and pinning the vampire down.
But it was already too late.
She never heard her grandmother's voice again after that day.
~~~~~~~~
"Theron is married? How could this happen, Mother?!"
A lady in green flung open the door to her mother's sewing room, panting and fuming as she clutched her dress.
"It appears so, my dear. Even I am surprised." Her mother spoke casually, her hands moving swiftly and carefully as she sewed a tablecloth.
"But Mother, you know I love Theron! And you promised me I would marry him, so... so what is this? And I heard she's human too!"
Pain and anger flickered in her red eyes.
"Yes, Anastasia. Theron has stopped vampires from feasting on humans."
Anastasia's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
"Not feed on humans? Then what do we survive on?"
"Animal blood, my dear." Her mother raised the cloth, checking her stitching.
"How can you be so calm about this, Mother?"
The woman dropped the tablecloth and finally looked at her furious daughter.
"Don't worry. You will marry Theron-you just have to be patient."
"Patient? Until when? When they're in love? When they produce an heir? I leave the country for a month and return to see this?! No. I will not stand around waiting for something magical to happen!"
She stormed off angrily, her shoes clacking loudly against the marble floors.
"Anastasia!" her mother called after her, but she didn't listen.
"Vivian!" she snapped.
"Yes, my lady." Vivian appeared at once.
"Prepare a carriage. We are going to pay Theron's little human bride a visit."
A sinister smile spread across her face.
~~~~~~~~~
"Hold still, will you?" Evania giggled as the butterfly she had been trying to paint kept fluttering away.
She was in the garden-the same one where she had gotten married. She didn't feel like going to her special garden yet, so she chose to paint here instead.
"My lady, someone is here to see you," Lili said as she entered.
"Who is it?" Evania asked. Surely it couldn't be her friends from Sweetenburg.
Just then, Anastasia entered the garden, with Vivian behind her carrying a basket covered with a napkin.
"Greetings, Your Highness. I'm sorry for the impromptu visit, but I simply couldn't wait to meet my brother's wife." Anastasia bowed slightly, her fan covering half her face.
Brother? I didn't know he had siblings, Evania thought.
"Please, don't be so formal with me. Lili, prepare a table for us-and some tea."
Lili bowed and quickly went to make the arrangements.
In no time, the table was set, and the two ladies sat opposite each other, their maids standing quietly beside them.
"So... Theron," Anastasia began, stirring her tea. She found it disgusting but forced herself to pretend otherwise. "Is he good to you?"
"Yes, he is," Evania replied, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Oh? In what way? Do tell." Anastasia fanned herself, suppressing the anger rising within her at the sight of that smile.
"He's been kind and gentle toward me since I arrived." Evania's gaze drifted to an orange butterfly that landed on the table. She gently lifted it onto her finger.
Anastasia let out a sharp, mocking laugh. The sound startled both Evania and the butterfly, which quickly flew away.
"Theron? Gentle? That's impossible. Have you forgotten what he is? He's a ruthless vampire-one who has slaughtered thousands and conquered countless kingdoms."
She leaned closer, her red eyes locking onto Evania's.
"Be careful, Princess," she whispered.
Fear enveloped Evania, bringing back the memory of her grandmother and the trauma it caused her. Her breathing became ragged and uneven, she began gasping for air and clutching her chest.
"My lady? My lady!" Lili cried, rushing to support her.
Anastasia leaned back casually, fanning herself as if nothing had happened.
"This is what happens when you walk into enemy territory." She flashed a wicked smile, purposely showing her fangs.
That action caused Evania to collapse on the ground.
"My lady!!!"