CHAPTER O1

CASSIE

Marcella walked into their meager little house, closing the door she walked over to her husband Victor and threw papers onto his lap. "You can unlock her from the attic, it is done. She must not have a mark on her when we take her to their home. I will be glad when she s gone. Victor you will be responsible for her care until we leave. She better not test me. Keep her out of my way. Tell her she is going to town with me tomorrow we have to buy her a dress. It will be the last penny I spend on that girl." Marcella said. Then went to her room slamming the door.  Victor read the papers and the attached letter, then climbed the two sets of stairs to the attic. Taking out the key, he opened the door and looked at his daughter. Cassie looked up at her father with a questioning look in her eyes.

"Pack your thing from this room you are to stay in the guest room. Stay out of your mother’s way. I will being you what you need. Oh, you are going to buy a wedding gown tomorrow. Please do not make a scene in town." Victor told her and walked away.

"Father?" Cassie called to him.

"What is it Cassie?" Victor asked standing on the stairs.

"Why are we going to buy a wedding dress?" Cassie asked afraid to hear the answer.

"A contract has been made for you to marry, we leave in a less than week to take you to your husband," Victor said sadness vibrated pulled in every word he spoke. But he knew better then to go against Marcella. He turned and walked down the stairs leaving Cassie to watch him walk away. Cassie went back into the attic room and out an old suitcase and packed everything she had collected over the last thirteen years that was dear to her, then packed the few clothes she owned on top of her treasures. She cautiously made her way to the guest room. Putting her suitcase behind the door she sat on the bed and waited. It was not long before Marcella came into the room with another suitcase. "The clothes in here should fit you. Be ready to go at eight in the morning," Marcella said then left the room. Cassie pulled out one of the publications her father had given her and laid on the bed reading for hundredth time. She had to think positive if she married she would no long have to endure the cruelty of her mother.

Cassie sat at the dressing table brushing out her long black wavy hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her skin was pale a fine porcelain her eye were a piercing color of ember her features were delicate and refined with her high cheek bones and strong jawline.  She stood five foot seven inches tall. She was tall for a woman of her time. She had a perfectly sculpted body that turned many heads when she went to town on the rare occasion with her mother. Marcella was a site of beauty standing only five feet two inches tall. Her skin was the same porcelain color her eyes black as night.

Marcella walked into the room and took the brush from Cassie and continued to brush Cassie’s hair. Marcella looked at her daughter in the mirror.

"You packed everything?" Marcella asked.

"Yes, mother." Cassie said quietly without any emotion. Her mother put down the brush.

"Cassie it has all been arranged, there is nothing you can do about it. Your father and I had an arranged marriage, and we love each other very much." Marcella told her. Cassie turned and looked at her.

"Who said I ever wanted to be married. You are so desperate to get me out of this house you found someone who would marry me!" Cassie accused her. Marcella went to back hand her but stopped. She must not have any bruises on her it would not look good for her image as a wonderful mother.

"He is not just anyone, his family has royal lineage." Marcella said.

"He is also six years older than me mother!" Cassie said in a raised voice.

"Age has nothing to do with it, Cassie he is one of the most powerful vampires in this country." Marcella told her

"Great, When do we leave?" Cassie asked as she got up.

"Now your father is waiting in the carriage." Marcella said. Cassie turned to face her.

"I'm tell you now mother, if he so much as lays a hand on me I will kill him." Cassie screamed. Marcella grabbed her roughly by the arm and squeezed it hard.

"You will do your wifely duties child do you understand me? Or you will find out just how cruel I can be. This marriage is important to both our families. You better not screw this up. I worked to hard to get this contract." Marcella hissed. Cassie pulled away from her mother, grabbed her shawl and ran down the stair, out to the carriage. The driver helped her up and she sat beside her father.

"Cassie, how many time have I told you not to anger your mother?" Victor asked not expecting an answer. He looked at her arm; the bruises were already forming from her mother’s hand. Marcella stormed out after her and got in the carriage eyes locked on Cassie. Victor banged the roof of the carriage with his cane. The carriage started toward the main road.

"How long will it take us to get there?" Cassie asked her father.

"About fourteen hours. So, deal with it," Marcella told her. Cassie looked out the window, the sun had just gone down hopefully she would fall asleep. Not that she needed a lot of sleep. But it would keep her mother from nagging her all the way there.

Victor turned to her.

"Nathan is excited to meet you again. The only memories he has of you was when you were five years old." Her father told her.

"I don't even remember him!" Cassie said then turned to look out into the darkness. Her mother tried to talk to her, but Cassie ignored her.

"There is going to be a huge engagement party, with a ball to celebrate. There will be a lot of humans there that Nathon is friends with. I suggest you be on your best behavior or else." Her mother threatened her. Cassie ignored her and looked at her father.

"Tell me father how did Nathan take the news that he was contacted to marry me?" She asked then turned back to the window.

"He has accepted that this is what he must do to keep the linage of his family pure." Her mother answered. Her father said nothing.

Cassie wanted to laugh. Pure my ass she thought, Nathan had to realize she was not a pure blood.