"Cassius, I don't know if I can do this," I whispered and gazed nervously around the room. There were a lot more people than I had anticipated.

"It's okay, I'll be here with you," he assured me and rested his hand on my lower back, leading me along. "So there's no need to worry, promise."

I gave his a small nod but still felt slightly queasy. A girl popped up in front of me, seemingly from thin air. She had a smile plastered on her face and her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. She looked kind of young, a teenager maybe.

"Hi! I'm Beth, and you must be Alabaster!" She blurted excitedly and stuck her hand out for me to shake. I hesitantly complied.

"This is my cousin, Jezebeth," Cassius explained and gestured towards her, "she can be overwhelming at times."

Cousin?

"Don't be a dick, I know how to control myself," Beth replied and placed her hands on her hips and scolded him like a child.

"Is Samhain your father?" I butted in before they could continue on, she blinked. Cassius looked curious but didn't say anything.

"Oh, yeah! That's where I get all my charm," she grinned and flicked her long hair over her shoulder. I couldn't help but feel almost terrified of her, even though she probably had no idea what her father had done. The feeling was just unshakeable.

"You'd better go find your mate before she gets worried Beth," the prince smiled and led me away from her. We walked into a group of demons who were laughing and chatting.

Cassius shot them that fake all American boy smile and nudged me in front of him.

"Have you all met my mate, Alabaster?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes at him. Traitor. They all started talking at once and congratulating us. I just awkwardly smiled and nodded every now and then.

It seemed as though an eternity had passed as Cassius introduced me to his friends and family. A knot of anxiety twisted and churned in my stomach the whole time. I could see cameramen around the room taking photos and videos of the party. It made me all the more nervous knowing that not only was Cassius' entire family watching me but so was every demon in hell.

My moms were going to be so mad they weren't invited.

I had been so caught up in performing perfectly for everyone that I hadn't noticed how often Cassius was checking his watch.

"Since when do you wear a watch?" I smiled and looked up at him, it was a rare moment when we were alone. He looked down at me with a nervous expression before smiling back and waving it off.

"Since now," the prince replied and kissed me on the top of the head, but I knew something was up.

I furrowed my eyes brows and pulled him back as he tried to walk off with me again. "Hey, is something wrong?" I asked and he looked conflicted for a moment.

"Erm, no. Just waiting for the party to end I guess," he laughed it off, but there was no fooling me now.

"Cassius you don't have to lie to me," I whispered tenderly and placed my hand on his arm.

He bit his lip and shifted his weight awkwardly. I could see the gears turning in his head.

Then he finally gave in.

"Look, Alabaster, I need you to do something for me."

"Anything," I murmured honestly, my heart was beating faster. Was something wrong?

"Just- stay close to me, no matter what happens in the next few minutes," he almost begged and squeezed my hand, "don't leave my side."

"O-okay," I faltered and saw a demon approaching from the corner of my eye, "are you going to tell me what this is about?"

"No," he replied firmly and I had no choice but to trust him. I nodded and then turned to the man who was quickly advancing. I recognized him from the meeting Cassius held about the vampires.

"Caym, I wasn't expecting you," the prince greeted him with a warm smile, like nothing had just happened.

"Believe me, I wasn't expecting me either," he laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, "there was a change in plans."

"Well I'm glad you're here now," my mate responded and held me close to him. I shivered and leaned into his body. They talked back and forth for a few minutes, I just watched and listened. There was really nothing I could contribute to their conversation.

I was becoming drowsy, my nervousness was slowly peeling away. It was a big relief actually. Cassius checked his watch again and I opened my mouth to see if he would explain this time. No sound escaped my mouth.

I felt an overwhelming pressure wash over me. It was so strong I clasped my hands over my mouth and keeled over. Cassius called my name but it was distorted. Sweat formed on my brow and my insides felt like they were burning up.

Then I could smell it. I gasped in surprise and looked at Cassius. There was only on word running through my mind.

Mate.

"Ca-Cassius," I stuttered and pulled his ear closer to my mouth. "I-I need to leave. Now."

"What? What's wrong?" The prince was worried, it appeared Caym had left us as well.

"It... it's my mate," I whimpered and panted heavily.

"What." His voice was grave but his eyes burned with fury, "no, no, he can't be." Cassius was freaking out and I felt terrible for it. This was not good at all. "Don't leave me please."

"I won't leave you," I gasped the he would even think that, "I'd never leave you for anything. You are my mate. I love you." I assured him and cupped his face in my hands before wincing under the pressure again. "But I really need to get out of here."

And then all fucking Hell broke lose.

It started with screaming. The doors flew open and soldiers poured inside the room. I clung to Cassius in terror but the crowd of frantic people pulled us apart. I cried out in surprise as I was thrown to the ground. No one noticed me curled up on the ground as I tried to escape.

Cassius!

This was the absolute worst time to be separated from him. What if my mate found me? What would I possibly say?

I didn't know what was going on, what was happening. There were gunshots and screaming and yelling and all I could feel were the feet trampling over my body. I winced in pain but everyone was too frantic to worry about me. I wanted Cassius. Where was he?

A sob bubbled from my lips, I was scared and hurt and confused and I had nowhere to go.

Then someone caught my wrist. Heat seared from the touch, it was comforting and my immediate thought was Cassius. They pulled me to my feet and I fell into their chest, panting and crying.

"Who are you?" Their tone was accusatory and not Cassius.

I looked up in alarm to find a man I'd never seen before. He had blue-black hair like a raven and pale white skin. His amber eyes glared down at me with suspicion and fascination. I looked up in surprise and couldn't bring myself to speak.

This man was my mate.

No one was left in the room but the two of us. Where had they gone?

"Who are you?" He asked again, softer this time and more gentle.

"Wh-what's going on?" My voice wavered in fear and confusion. His grip was still tight on my wrist.

"Never mind that, tell me your name," he whispered and gently pet my hair, "please." He added awkwardly, it was obvious he didn't say please very often.

"Alabaster," I panted and felt a shiver slither down my spine. A quiet gasp slipped out of my lips as I caught sight of a set of fangs poking out from under his lips.

Vampire!

"I am Lux," the vampire replied and he sent another wave of goosebumps over my skin. "Follow me." He commanded and tried to tug me towards the doors by my wrist. I panicked and tried to pull away from him. Lux turned and sent me a deadly glare.

He was dangerous. I had to be careful.

"W-wait, I can't just g-go," I stuttered, and felt fear creep over my body again. Lux looked at me for a moment, he was thinking about it.

"Fine," he muttered and stepped closer to me. "You have one hour, then I will fetch you."

My heart nearly stopped beating as he kissed the shell of my ear and left. I stood in the wrecked ballroom, shocked confused and utterly terrified.

What the fuck just happened.

-

I tore through the halls, they were in ruins as well. The soldiers had done a lot of damage. My mind raced faster than my feet could keep up.

I needed to find Cassius. I had to tell him what happened before the hour was up because I knew Lux would find me. And he wouldn't like it very much that I was already mated to someone else.

Where had all those people gone? Maybe they had evacuated, or they'd been murdered.

I pushed the thought away immediately. They couldn't murder everyone. They just couldn't.

I turned the corner and caught a glimpse of the uniform the vampires wore. My breath caught as I searched frantically for a place to hide. A door laid on my left. I dove inside and shut the door behind me.

It was the library.

I thought I'd never find it again!

But there were more pressing matters to attend to. I could hear the guards getting closer, their boots thumped loudly on the carpet.

I held my breath as the shadows of their feet were cast under the doorway. Then they disappeared. My ear was pressed to the thin wood as I listened for their footsteps to fade.

After I was certain they were gone I slumped down onto the floor.

There was no way I could find Cassius.

He could be anywhere.

Tears bit at the corners of my eyes. What if I never saw him again? What if Lux didn't care that I had a mate and took me anyways?

The worries stabbed at my mind. They tormented me to no end.

But I had to stay strong. I had to find Cassius.

My feet rose and I stepped into the hallway again.

-

I was becoming hopeless again. My body was weak from running so much. And I still hadn't found anyone. With no where left to go I trudged back to the ballroom. Maybe the survivors would be there.

No. They weren't survivors. This wasn't a massacre. No one was dead.

I hope.

I encountered less and less guards and the coast was clear. The ballroom was close by.

I crept from behind the corner and slowly stepped inside the room. The doors were still ajar.

Inside was just the same as I had last seen it. Destroyed.

I maneuvered through the wreckage and scanned for any sign of life. Someone could be under the tables, or behind them.

I pulled up the tablecloth of one but there was no one there. The same results greeted me from a few other tables.

This time I sat as still as I could and listened for any noise. Any sign of life.

Nada.

I grimaced and continued to look under tables.

Finally, there was one left. There was really no point checking, no one was here. But it would ease my conscious. I sighed and lifted the cloth up.

I gasped in shock.

It was Beth!

Our eyes clashed and I could see the relief in hers.

"Beth!" I whisper yelled and crawled under the table, "are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine, where is everyone?" She definitely sounded shaken up.

"I don't know, you're the first I've seen," I sighed and looked down. And probably the last.

The thought didn't sit well with me.

"Beth," I ventured cautiously, she might be able to find Cassius, "I need you to tell Cassius something. If you see him again."

"What? Don't say stuff like that, you'll see him too," Beth sounded worried about me.

"No. I won't." My lip trembled, I had to face the facts, "Just..."

I cut off. Pressure engulfed me again. Lux was here. I felt so conflicted as emotions bombarded me. I wanted to see him again, I wanted to feel his lips on my skin again. But I knew it was only the bond. Not how I truly felt.

Then again I was terrified. Terrified of what he'd do to me. Of how he'd react.

Panic swelled in my chest. Had it been an hour?

"Beth. Listen to me," I placed my hands on her shoulders. I could hear the clicking of his boots on the tile. "I don't have much time."

"O-okay, Alabaster," Beth's whole body shook with terror. The footsteps were on us.

"Just-Just-" I didn't know what to say, what to tell him. How would he know what she meant? "Lux! Just tell him Lux."

And the footsteps stopped. The tablecloth flew off and with it our only source of protection. Lux's face came into view and I felt my breath catch.

"Your hour is up."

I. Fucking. Love. Lux.

There is no explanation as to why. But I cant help but freaking love him. He is my literal new favorite character and I don't care if you hate him. He is my dream man. I am in love with Lux guys, can't help it, even if he probably does some bad things later on.

July 2018