First Impressions

ALICIA'S POV

I drew back my jet black hair as i layed in the bath feeling the water seep through my skin. Somehow staying in hot, scented baths always seemed to calm my nerves, it is a really satisfying therapy.

Recalling what the message from my father Sir Erwin had relayed to me just a moment before. My father, the current Lord of the vampires, has once again thought of a way to keep me in his line of sight. For as long as i could remember, he had always considered me a threat for reasons i knew not of. My room was the only place I was safe from his eyes, trying to infiltrate?, like I would let that happen!

Over the years all I did to get his approval only ended in me earning his disgust. Though it had a silver lining to it as I had trained myself to become outstanding on various endeavors. He only rewarded me with a hate filled glance and the words i have gotten to memorize over the course of time "You could have done a much better job such a wasteful, deceitful vermin, just like your mother".

Mother, I didn't have any memory of her, I only knew that she died while giving birth to me. There seemed to be an unspoken rule of not speaking about her in the castle as i couldn't find any Intel on her.

I have been told that I looked much like my mother, was that why he resented me so much?. What the hell did my mom do to make him so spiteful. I sighed as I realised I had spent too much time soaking up.

Stepping out of the bath, the steam which saturated the air had morphed to a thick fog. I glanced at the foggy mirror, in all this steam its circular frame, decorated with a series of complicated spiral glit still shown as bright as it was done during my younger days.

Back then, after trying so hard to get my father's attention, I'd constantly stare at the mirror to find out if it was my face that was actually giving me away.It was a nightly routine,as the younger me couldn't accept the fact that my father simply hated me.

I smiled as my delicate place fingers swiped across the reflecting glass, so as to see myself properly. I stared at my reflection for a while as we reassured each other that we weren't the problem.

No waiting a minute longer as the cold had started to take a toll on be I brushed the wet hair upward,gently with a bristle comb. Carefully wrapping my hair in a white absorbent towel without leaving strays at the edges, proceeded into my night robe, walking towards the bed nimbly.

The Lord's attempts to monitor me had gotten more ludicrous with time, that it was getting boring.

It seemed like I had lost a bet with myself on how long it would take him to find a new way to keep his eyes on me.

"A bodyguard he says", I smiled wildly.

"I look forward to the out come"

MORNING

It was the early hours of the morning, one could see the sun rays struggling to stretch out its orange hued fingers through the sleepy clouds.

Walking up feeling quite refreshed from yesterday's bath. My hair was loose from the warp I had it in and from the way my bed dressings were tattered one could tell I didn't sleep like a lady.

I quickly stood up and crossed to the bathroom to get rid of my morning breath, followed by a shower.

Not having much on my schedule for the day besides meeting the new bodyguard I decided to wear something simple.

Without taking much time to decide I threw on a white tank top, milky fleece jacket and grey khaki shorts which was just above my knees. Feeling satisfied with my looks I set out barefaced.

"Goo… good morning, my lady" A maid said, as she stopped in her tracks trembling upon seeing me.

I walked past ignoring her greetings, I was in much of a good mood to deal with slobs like her.

I proceeded into the receiving Chambers hoping the new "bodyguard" would be earlier than the last.

"Your Highness" A tall figure said from behind.

Turning back to know who had just acknowledged my presence. I'd set my eyes on the most handsome man I'd ever seen and trust me, I've come to meet more than a handful of them,but he felt different. 

Having the kind of face that could make one weak in the knees with a glance supported by subconsciously giving out an overcompensating nonchalant gaze.His deep set, silver grey eyes seemed capable of putting one in a trance with unwavered attention, just with a mere glance. With perfectly sculpted cheekbones and jawline his face even seemed more Charming.

He was simply an epitome of masculinity with his deep voice, broad chest and athletic build. He emitted a really cold aura.

He was a Greek God.

Wait a minute, when did he get behind me?, I couldn't even feel his presence with my sharp senses. What was more bewildering was how he saw through my outfit and figured out I was the princess. I had hoped to give him a hard time finding out my identity.

I squinted my eyes at him, "You are the new bodyguard?"

"Affirmative" He replied.

Though his personality is quite repulsive, it piqued my interest.

"What's your name?" I asked expectantly.

"I'd answer whatever her highness calls me" He replied bluntly.

At least he knew his place.

"Your original name would do just fine"

"Blake"

I wasn't pissed off …. yet, that was a first.

"Follow me"

I wanted to say hi, to Noona, my childhood wet nurse and the Chief of Maids before taking care of him.

I headed to the pantry where I was most likely to find her.

"Good morning Noona!!!" I squealed involuntarily upon seeing her.

She was sitting on a stool organizing the Staples on the lower shelf. Standing up to meet my embrace she had almost dropped the jar of peanut butter she was holding.

"Silly child, you hardly come visit" She said as she ruffled my hair affectionately.

"I know, I've been quite busy, promise I'd come often, vampires' pride" I said while lifting my hand with my four fingers in the air and the thumb down.

I turned back to meet Blake's obsidian gaze, and immediately felt embarrassed at my previous childlike remarks. I had forgotten about his presence.

"Oh, this is Blake, Noona, my new bodyguard"

"Hi Blak… '' Noona stopped in her tracks as she set her eyes on him.

Noona looked shocked, her mouth slightly ajar, she looked like she had seen a ghost, her eyes locked on him as she searched his face.

"Um, Noona?" I was confused about the whole situation.

"I'm sorry, why don't you head out first, I'd go make cinnamon tea" Noona said as she made a hasty retreat.

Strange.

I led Blake to the Castles' pallavion in the garden thinking about what had happened the moment before.

"We would need to work on communication, since it's impossible to always be together, we would speak through thoughts" I said as I pressed his forehead gently making a mind contract.

*Can you hear me?*

*Yes, your highness*

There were no stray thoughts, his mind was dead silent, I was hoping to invade his conciseness a little to know what my dad was really up to but he there seemed to be an impenetrable wall in his mind I couldn't get through. I tried exerting dominance on him but he didn't falter, I didn't even know if he felt it at all. There was only one person I couldn't exert dominance on even if I tried and that was my father.

This man isn't as simple as I thought.

Blake's POV

I had gotten ready quite early, it wasn't like I was looking forward to going to the Castle, I just needed relief from my migraines, so the earlier it was the better.

I had almost spent all morning dealing with Stella nagging and giving me excess advice. Her concerns for me almost made me late to the Castle. Dad had offered me a ride in his Turtle Vertmot, but I turned down the offer as I wanted to flex my muscles and stretch my limbs a bit since I had been practically beddrien for the past two days.

Just in front of the castle was a huge fortress with long streaming blood flags at both ends. The modern castle seemed to cover acres upon acres of land. It was majestic with a perfect blend of the shades of white.

I was being escorted right from the Castle gates to the Lord's presence. The castle was heavily guarded, rumours had it that those guarding the castle were more competent than those sent to war, I wondered what the Lord was trying to protect or hide using such means.

I was led into the Great Hall. Suddenly the atmosphere changed, it felt as if someone had clasped his hands on my neck trying to strangulate me. What was this?.

"On your knees"I heard a voice say.

My body moved down right on it's own, this was the first time I was experiencing such pressure.

It was the Lord, he was exerting dominance over me. That old behemoth , what was he trying to gain from this.

"Peasant, listen clear" The Lord started with a loud hiss as his read eyes shown through the darkness of the hall, " Guard her well and observe her, you are to meet me every fortnight to give me a summary of what went on, not sparing any details"

"Yes, my Lord"

"Leave"

A guard escorted me to the receiving room ,I wondered what all that was about.

Not quite long a lady entered, with her countenance one could tell she was of Noble birth.

She was graceful and even looked elegant with simple clothing. Her jet black hair grew unrestricted down to her waist. She has a tall petite build which complimented her pretty bare face.

She seemed to not have noticed my presence.

"Your highness" I called out.

She seemed quite surprised to see me there.

"You are the new bodyguard?"

"Affirmative" I answered formally secretly wanting the conversation to end soon.

"What's your name?" She asked following protocol.

"I'd answer whatever her highness calls me"I replied disinterestedly.

"Your original name would do just fine"

"Blake"

"Follow me"

I wondered why I was being led to the pantry. I couldn't even cook to save my life, wasn't my job to be a bodyguard.

'Good morning Noona!!!" She suddenly called out like a child.

From their conversation I could deduce that they were on friendly terms. But this was just a palace maid, the others we pass on the way here always tremble, cowering in fear. They were more than just acquaintances.

"Oh, this is Blake, Noona, my new bodyguard" The princes introduced.

Urgh not this again.

"Hi Blak…"

Noona stopped as she stared at me intensely. Where we acquainted before, no, I brushed off the thought, I had a really good memory, if I had seen her before I would know. She kept staring, it was getting really awkward.

"Um, Noona?" The princess called flustered

"I'm sorry, why don't you head out first, I'd go make cinnamon tea" Noona said and left quickly.

Weird.

I was led by the Princess to the flower pallavion in the castle garden. The surroundings were quite beautiful, and the flowers looked like they were trimmed and properly taking care of everything day, the morning breeze smelled fresh and was soothing.

"We would need to work on communication, since it's impossible to always be together, we would speak through thoughts" She said as my pressed his forehead gently making a mind contract.

*Can you hear me?*

*Yes, your highness*

It was a norm for a master to firm a mind contract with a bodyguard so I had to accept it but blocked her further access into my mind.

"Call me Alicia,"She said smiling, showing her fangs.

"Yes, Alicia"