"Why are you not dressed yet?" Elizabeth asked.

Gem looked up from the book she was reading. "I'm not going down. Masquerades aren't my thing."

"But Luke Garon wants you there."

"So?" Gem snapped. His name brought up memories of her being weak infront of him. Damn him for bringing up Sam and all those horrific memories. "I'm not obliged to follow all his wishes, am I?"

A sudden knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

"Are you done yet?" A shrill, high-pitched voice demanded.

Gem wrinkled her eyebrows in frustration. Ruby. Her bane of her whole existence. She didn't get why Ruby was such a witch. Some of the vampires here were quite nice save for her. Was her half-breed status really an eyesore to her?

"I'm not going down," she shouted.

The door flew open even though it was locked from inside. Ruby was standing there in a magnificent red dress with a high slit at the side. Gem felt a wave of inferiority just from looking at her. There was no way she would even be that pretty.

"Did you just say that you weren't going down?" Ruby growled, looking irritated. "Master wants you down and you follow his wishes."

"Tell him I'm sick." Gem pulled up the covers. "Besides, you don't want me down, do you?"

"It's not my wishes that are of importance," Ruby snapped and her cat eyes flashed red. "Now, you either put on a dress and save us all from embarrassment or I will throw you out of the window."

"Shut up." But Gem got up and walked towards the wardrobe. Luke had sent a few dresses as gifts but they weren't really her taste. She randomly grabbed at her aquamarine dress and slipped it on.

"There, are you happy now?" she demanded.

"I'm so delighted," Ruby said sarcastically and gave her an indifferent glance. "Plain and boring." She sashayed out, leaving Gem shaking with anger.

"Mistress," Elizabeth said comfortingly. "Just ignore her."

"Easy for you to say."

***********************

As Gem strode down the stairs, she paused and stared at the whole spectacle infront of her. The usually gloomy castle had been decorated with bright sparkly lights and wine glasses filled with blood were being passed around. She hated these social affairs. She hated the artificiality and superficiality that came with most of these interactions.

But she had no choice today.

Slowly, she reached the ballroom and started to walk towards a quiet corner where she could avoid attention.

"Gem!" A high-pitched scream pierced through the air.

Gem froze. "Kalia." She pasted a smile as she saw the little vampire sashaying gracefully towards her.

"Glad you made it!" Kalia beamed. "My brother would be so delighted to see you!" She gave her an appreciative glance which made Gem feel a little self-conscious. "Let me introduce you to some people." Kalia pulled her along as they walked past little clusters of chattering vampires.

All Gem could do was stare. She felt uncomfortable from being in the presence of so many predators of the night.

"Jeremiah!" Kalia called out to a vampire standing alone in the corner. The vampire smiled when he saw her but it was soon replaced by a frown when his gaze settled on Gem.

"Kalia." He kissed her on the cheeks.

"Gem, let me introduce you to my fiance, Jeremiah, the ruling warlord of one of our vampiric factions," Kalia said cheerily.

"Enchanted to meet you." Gem nodded. He was a handsome vampire. Tall, muscular with a boyish face A match for the small princess.

Jeremiah didn't reply but instead frowned at the princess. "Why did you bring a disgusting half-breed along? That will ruin your image."

Gem scowled while Kalia glared at her handsome fiance. "Oh shut up Jeremiah, we don't need your purist views here. You and I know that half-breeds are not inferior to us. Stop subscribing to your father's beliefs. Are you going to be an idiot just like him?"

Kalia then turned to her. "Don't mind him. He follows his dad all the time but he fails to see his dad is an annoying purist prick who no one can stand."

"Kalia! How can you say that of your future father-in-law," Jeremiah whispered.

The princess simply shrugged. "You know it's true." And she narrowed her eyes. "Now, be nice to Gem or I will kill you."

Instead of looking afraid, Jeremiah simply laughed and smiled fondly at Kalia. "Alright princess." He turned begrudgingly to Gem and said gruffly, "Hey there, I'm Jeremiah."

Gem nodded. "I'm Gem Austen."

"Hold on a minute." Jeremiah stared at her. "Your father is THE Felix Austen? The vampiric rebel?"

"Yes, my father is Felix Austen. If you mention him again, I will cut your throat," Gem snapped.

Jeremiah turned to his fiance. "This one is so fiesty and blunt. I can totally tell she's Felix Austen's progeny."

"I know right." Kalia beamed. "Now, run along. I need to introduce Gem to a few other friends."

"Fine." Jeremiah kissed Kalia and left to join a group of other pale-looking vampires.

"How did you meet him?" Gem stared at Jeremiah's back. "Arranged marriage?"

"Arranged marriage?" Kalia scoffed. "You're partially right. By right, all descendants of the royal family should go through an arranged marriage but I insisted on finding my bethroed myself. Luke totally supported me but the rest of the Order didn't so I threatened them. In the end, I met Jeremiah through a state dinner and asked him if he minded marrying me and he agreed. I was lucky he liked me too."

"You threatened the Order?" Gem asked disbelievingly. "How did you do that?"

"You don't want to know." Kalia smirked.

Suddenly, Gem felt a chill run down her spine. She knew who was near.

"Decker," Kalia greeted stiffly as the tall prince shrouded in darkness approached them. Everyone backed away, leaving three of them in the middle of the ballroom.

"Kalia." Decker's eyes glinted. He looked absolutely terrifying with the cape. "And little Gem Austen."

The way he said her name made her blood curl.

"Prince Decker," Gem greeted politely. She noticed Kalia's stoic frame next to her. It was strange to see the usually formidable princess so quiet.

"What are you doing here brother?" Kalia gritted through her teeth. "I thought social parties aren't your thing?"

"They aren't. It only becomes interesting when the half-breed attends." Decker smiles evilly and ran his gaze down her body. "Once the half-breed cleans up, she actually looks like a semi-decent prey."

Kalia tensed and stood infront of Gem. "Brother," she spat out. "Don't you dare harbour any malicious thoughts to Gem. Or else."

"Or else what?" Decker stalked towards her until he was right infront of his sister. Although Kalia was two heads shorter, she looked simply formidable with her eyes flashing red. If there was anyone who could go up against Decker, it was the little lethal princess.

"Don't overestimate your power, sister," Decker hissed. "I can gouge your eyes out before you can kill me with that annoying stare."

"Why don't you try right now," Kalia hissed back. Gone was the flirty, happy princess. Kalia looked absolutely terrifying right now as she shifted into an offensive stance. She no longer looked like a fifteen-year old high school student but a warrior with thousands of years of experience.

"Wait!" Jeremiah came pounding up to join the princess' side. "Kalia," he whispered. "Why are you going against Prince Decker for the sake of a half-breed?"

"Jeremiah, stay out of this," Kalia growled.

"No I won't." Jeremiah grabbed her shoulders. "Don't you dare get yourself killed. I don't want you to die."

"Don't worry, Jeremiah," Kalia laughed humorlessly. "The one dying would be my lovely brother here."

"You bitch," Decker hissed and prepared to lunge at her.

"Stop," a smooth voice sounded out.

Gem turned her head and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Luke Garon approaching them, looking intimidating in a black cape. He walked until he was right in the middle of Kalia and Decker.

"What is going on here?" he asked with a relaxed voice.

"Luke." Kalia straightened. "I'm glad you are here. If not, you would have to arrange for one dead vampire to collect." She glared at Decker who straightened himself too.

"Don't listen to our baby sister, Luke." Decker smiled. "I was just having a bit of fun to spice up this boring party. Kalia merely got too defensive when I was appreciating the little human prey."

Luke's face darkened. "Decker, I would advise you to keep your distance from my guest. And stop picking fights with Kalia. It is unbecoming of both of you to fight on our founder's commemoration day."

"Sorry Luke," Kalia said whilst Decker simply shrugged. He smirked and then stalked off towards the door.

"Bastard," Kalia muttered.

"You almost gave me a heart attack," Jeremiah sounded annoyed. "Up against Decker? You do know of his reputation, Kalia. He's not called the executioneer for no good reason."

"You think I can't hold my own against him?" Kalia sounded mortified and mock-punched her fiance. "I may be small but I've fought my fair share of battles too."

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Oh shut your cheesy mouth. Let's go dance." Kalia grabbed Jeremiah and they disappeared into the crowd.

Gem tried to look for an escape route but there was none. She was stuck with Luke Garon.

"Don't mind my brother. He's not a very likeable person," Luke Garon said pleasantly and walked closer to her.

"Thank you for saving us. I think I had better be off." Gem turned around to walk away but Luke Garon grabbed her arm.

"Where do you think you are going?" he growled.

"I don't like social functions," she admitted.

He grinned. "Who said anything about being social. Let's dance."