The Vampire King

"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

"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

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,

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

"No, that's absurd," Aurora laughed, "so absurd. I never did those.""Yes, you did. You danced around the palace with your father's crown on your head and told everyone you were the new king. You told everyone you would be a king when you grew up."They all laughed, Aurora the loudest, Sebastian the least. Aurora watched him through the corner of her eye. He was strangely quiet and he seemed to be uneasy.She latched her hand with his under the table and he looked at her. She shot him an encouraging smile and he smiled wryly."So what plans do you have, Sebastian?"Aurora glared at her mother, "emperor Sebastian, your honor to you."Lydia rolled her eyes, stuffing her mouth with eggs."Ok," she gave in after chewing, "your honor, what plans do you have?""Getting myself rid of this sickness."Lydia raised a brow, "I'm afraid there's no way out.""That isn't possible," Aurora countered."Maybe there is," Lydia gulped down a cup of wine, "death."Sebastian fixed her with a straight look