I cried for hours. We were back in Chase's room and I was curled in a ball on his bed. My head was against his leg as he petted my hair like a dogs. "Don't worry Pet, you'll get used to it. It's your life now." He said. I could practically hear his smug, evil grin.

   I sobbed louder, the pale corpse with the dried out veins was glued into my head. How could I do such a thing? To a living creature, to a human, to a child. She had a life ahead of her, and I ended it all. I couldn't believe I did that, it wasn't me. Something was wrong.

   "Oh, nothing was wrong, Pet." Chase cooed, " It's all part of your nature. Welcome to your new life. You're now like us. Well, not as awesome as me, but yeah."

   I'm a vampire now...?

   "That's right, Pet. Enjoy it. It's the best thing ever!"

   Best thing ever? It feels like the worst.

 "But it's not. It's life, it's a joy actually." Chase replied.

   No, I just can't...

   I blacked out.

   Upon wakening, I saw a light golden haze peek in behind the velvet curtains. I stood up shakily and stumbled towards the light. Tearing back the curtains I stifled a gasp. Out the window was a beautiful world. The most stunning thing I have ever seen. A large garden filled with bright colorful flowers and plants, pretty animals adventuring around, a small river, bright lights and colors and everything a person could ask for. It was like Heaven, but it wasn't, it was a hell run by a vampire.

   "Gorgeous isn't it?" A voice whispered behind me, sending chills down my spine. I felt Chase's arms wrap around my waist.

   "It's....it's beautiful." I whispered, stammering slightly.

   "Welcome to the land of vampires: Albernanth."

   "Albernanth? Seriously? That's a real name?" I stifled a laugh.

   Chase growled and tightened his grip.

   "What's so funny about it Pet? I'm sure the name of your home was so much better."

   I snorted, "Miami, Florida. It actually sounds better. Who name's a state or a city Albernanth? What country are we in anyways? Is this still the U.S?"

   "My ancestor named it millennia ago. After his lost love, Beatrice Albernanth Brickendon. And no we aren't in the U.S, we are in Albernanth. I already told you this." He grumbled. "It's a whole other world that no human can cross unless taken by a vampire, which is against the law I must add, unless you have permission from the royal family."

   "And I'm guessing you got their permission?" I asked.

   "You could say that, but no one tells me what I can and cannot do. Stop talking about this.."

   Ok..?

   Chase released his grip on my waist and stepped away from me, my skin felt cooler almost instantly at the loss of his touch. I heard Chase gracefully walk to the other side of the room and open the other curtains. The room shone with the effects of sunlight. I was seeing it in a whole new perspective. What once was a dark, threatening darkness of black and deep red, became a bright shadow, as if once loved but soon lost and now forgotten and fading.

   "Depressing isn't it?" Chase whispered, reappearing in my ear. "They say the air here reflects off how you feel. Your emotions swell around you like a shield, blocking you from anything else."

   The room became stuffy and the air hard to breathe, like I had been crying and choking down tears. It was suffocating.

   "You feel it, don't you?" He asks softly, merely a whisper.

   I nod.

   "It's been like this for a very long time."

   "Why?" I blurt out. I slapped a hand over my mouth to stop other thoughts from pouring out my mouth. Chase's face looks shocked from my outburst, but then hardens.

   "You will find out soon enough."

   A knock hit the door and the tall vampire from earlier poked his head in the doorway. I flushed when looking at him and remembering yesterday. Or was it earlier today? I lost track of time.

   "Your highness." He says, "You are needed in the dining hall."

   Chase sighs, "Yes, I will be right there Butler Ivan."

   The butler, Ivan, left the room without another word and Chase turned to me.

   "Stay here, and I expect you to listen this time." He warns, "You do remember last night, correct? You won't be given passes like that next time, and the punishments will just get worse and worse."

   I brought a hand to my neck and massaged it soothingly. I did not want to feel like that again, and I especially didn't want to hurt anyone else. I nodded softly towards him as he walked out of the room and left me alone once more. I spent a lot of time alone here.

I walked over to a small bookcase embedded in the wall and grabbed the first book I laid my hands upon, Another TIme, by Vaheer Jahoon. Probably another vampire. I lounged back on Chase's bed and propped the book open before I started to read. The gold light brightening the pages as I went.

                                                                                           *-*-*

   Soon a small group of maids stumbled into the room. They were all dressed in maids uniforms you would see on some rich TV show. They carried a big bundle of colorful fabrics and ribbons and big boxes. I was surprised at how strong they were, but then again, they were vampires.

   "Your Majesty," One said quietly, "Forgive us for being late, we got here as soon as we could."

   They all got on their knees and folded their hands in front of them in a prayer stance type thing.

   "Now, I think you may have the wrong girl." I said, startled by the sudden appearance. I sat up and laid the book next to me. "I am not royalty. If you're looking for Chase, he left a while ago."

   A stifled gasp of shock hid in the middle of the group. Were they not used to his name?

   "His Majesty told us to come and ready you for the ball." The maid said.

   "Ball? What ball?"

  Before my question was answered, I was lifted from the bed and set into a plush chair in front of Chase's mirror. My boots were taken from me and two of the maids began working on my toenails and fingers. Another grabbed a brush and was going through my hair.

   "Maybelle," The smallest whispered to the speaker, "Which dress should we chose? We have so many."

   Maybelle whispered something in the young one's ear before smiling, "That is what his Highness wants."

   The young maid grinned brightly and walked to the dresses. She sorted through them and tossed a few into the hands of Maybelle who threw them into a box and into the corner.

   They pulled and pulled on my hair and used irons to curl it. They stuck it into a certain look, before taking it back down and starting it over. Time passed and they moved from my hair down to my toes again. They were polished and perfectly perfect, painted with clear polish. My fingers were the same. Then the maids had some rose-scented oils rubbed into my skin until I smelt like a beautiful flower garden. Why haven't I gotten a perfume like this before? After being pampered to no end, I was finally allowed to stand up. I was quickly shoved on a pedestal. My clothes were ripped away and replaced with a dark cloth shift that had no straps and bunches of fabric were tied and stitched around my waist and billowed down my legs. The fabrics switched from blues to grays to black to silver to gold before finally settling on a deep shade of silky purple.

   The purple dress was strapless and was tight around my stomach, chest, and waist. A new layer of purple, with the stitches in the other purple layer hidden, wrapped around my waist and looked as if it was held by a clip of some black flower. Under this new layer was a bunch of billowy black fabric that poofed out just a little under the silk. I was glad it didn't puff out so poofy that the bottom half looked like half the sun. The bodice was so tight I could hardly breathe.

   "Is this really necessary?" I wheezed.

   "It is what His Majesty requested, your Majesty." Maybelle said, "You must look your best for him, should you not?"

   I tried to huff an irritable huff, but it was impossible through the dress. Right when I thought I was going to faint from lack of air, I could suddenly breathe again, though the dress was still as tight as it was.

   "How long is this ball?" I asked.

   "Why it's all night long, of course, it's a very important celebration this is." The smaller maid said. I really wished they'd tell me why it was so important.

   "It's night already?" I asked swiveling around to the window. Sure enough the sky was turning darker. The maids fussed as I moved their work and stuck my back into place. A pin was stabbed into my waist and my hair was pulled tighter.

   "Yes, time has flown by hasn't it?" A maid said, "Reading does distract you from the time. It's just after five."

   Astonished, I stared ahead with my mouth agape. One of the maids gently closed it. They brushed imaginary dust from my dress and double checked the stitches before taking out all the pins. They sort of fluffed it out before helping me step off the pedestal and on the cold floor.

   I was set back in another chair as the maids opened what looked like hundreds of boxes of makeup. I groaned, I hated this stuff.

   They all got in my face, commanding me to close and open my eyes, tilt this way and purse my lips like this. It was super annoying, especially since I couldn't see what they were doing to me. I felt like they were stabbing their needles above my eyes when Maybelle decided to use a tweezers against my eyebrows. Brushes lightly rubbed against my face along with other powders and creams.

   Finally after what felt like forever, they stopped prodding at my face. They lifted the ends of the dress and grabbed my feet from underneath. They rather elegantly slid my feet into a pair of black heels. They were simple, open toed things with ribbon that wrapped around my heels and tied in a bow at the top of my ankle.

   I groaned again. Heels? Freaking heels? I'm dead for sure, I can't walk in these. Maybelle and the smaller maid, whom I learn is named Sophia, helped me stand and walk to the mirror. I looked at my reflection and gasped. Wow.

   My dress seemed to love me as it gave my body a tight hug that wrapped around my curves. I was taller with the heels too, but I was more looking at my head. My pale throat had a fat purple and black choker made of a silk fabric I couldn't name. Matching cuffs laid on my wrists. My face was gorgeous. My eyes were shadowed in a very light dusting of black, purple and silver and normal liner surrounded them with a thin line. My lips were dark, blood red and bare, not even a touch of gloss sat upon them. It was a real form of lipstick.

   And then my hair, oh my beautiful hair was in wavy almost curls that draped down my back.. Above my forehead on the top laid a braided crown that I would never be able to make on my own. How, just how did they manage all this?

   "It's a-amazing." I whispered, closing my widely opened mouth.

   The maids grinned and curtsied before gathering up all their things with outstanding speed. In seconds everything they had out was neatly organized and in their boxes that were rushed out of the room without a second's glance. I wonder where to.

   "Thank you, Your Majesty." they chorus.

   This still confuses me. Why call me 'Your Majesty?' Anyways, after their curtsy. They all left the room and shut the door behind them. I was left in my gown and makeup looking stupid in the bedroom. Soon a knock interrupted my thoughts.

   "Your Majesty?" A voice says softly. I turn to see a young girl's head poke through the doorway. "I was sent to bring you to His Majesty."

   The girl stepped in and I gave her a look over. She looked no older than twelve and was dressed in an old child's dress of dirty white and an apron around her waist. Her strawberry hair was messy and limp against her shoulders.

   "Huh?"

   The girl stepped in the room and curtsied. "His Majesty sent me to come get you. I apologize for not asking permission to enter. I was told I had to push aside usual restrictions for a while because you know nothing of the sort."

   Before I could react, the girl grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room. We flew down the corridors with ease, side stepping beside all the staff and muttering a few apologies here and there. As we burrowed deeper into the castle, classical music seemed to thrive louder and louder through the halls.

   "What in hell!" I nearly shouted. I could almost here Chase's voice snickering in my head. Eventually the girl stopped in front of two big doors. The music pulsed from them in elegant sound waves that hit my skin. The door was guarded by two tall fierce looking vampires with long swords in sheaths. They nodded at the girl and she nodded in return before releasing me of her death-grip and running down the hall. The vampires opened the door in front of me.

   Butler Ivan met me on the other side. "Hello, Your Majesty." He said, "His Royal Majesty was awaiting your presence." Again I stood confused, staring inside the room past the butler. We were on the top of a staircase, the whole ballroom stood down below, full of hundreds of elegantly dressed vampires.

   "Where's Chase?" I asked. Ivan sucked in a breath as a hand gripped my arm fiercely.

   "Pet, you've finally come. Now, who am I?" Chase asked, angrily.

   Gulping, I turned to look into his red eyes, they thrived maliciously. Fire coursed through them. "Master." I whispered loud enough so only he could hear.

   "As I thought." Chase grinned to himself. I looked him over. He was dressed in a royal looking suit of black, silver, and a hint of purple. Many expensive looking gems flashed on golden bands on his fingers. A shiny crown sat upon his head.

   "Are you..?" I began. Stopping because I couldn't seem to find the words.

   Chase laughed, "Yes, I'm the King of Albernanth,"

   I had to hold onto him to keep from fainting on the floor. He gladly held on, but straightened me up quick before anyone could see. "Pet!" He growled in my ear, "Do not embarrass me or I will punish you again." I shrunk back, fearing what he could do, knowing he was a king now,

   "Ivan!" Chase barked. Ivan ran up to the very top step and blew a horn. The music stopped and everyone went quiet.

   "Now might I introduce, His Royal Majesty, the King," Ivan began. Many girls and woman swooned at the bottom of the stairs, most likely crushing on the devilish vampire holding me against my will. Chase released me and walked gracefully over to Ivan, smiling with all his royal glory. His hands were clasped behind his back as he stood straight and tall in front of his subjects.

   "Thank you all for attending this ball on such short notice," He said in a regal voice I've never heard from him before. But as you think of it, I only just met him not that long ago. "In fact, this ball is to celebrate something big. This is going to make the future of our kingdom undeniably brighter." He paused for dramatics. "Today I will announce my future Queen." The crowed gasped, and so did I. 

   Why the hell am I here? I'm trapped against my will by their king, who keeps me locked away in his room and dressed me up to go to a ball made for him to find a bride? What, did he want me to fall in love with him and be jealous, to make myself fall apart in broken-hearted misery or did he want his wife to find me and start a traitorous war? What did he want?

   The girls continued to show off their brightest smiles and stick out their chests while somehow not ripping apart their extremely tight gowns, trying to look their best in hopes for the king's hand in marriage. I wonder who he was going to choose.

   "I bet you're all waiting for me to choose one of you right now." He laughed to the crowd before re-straightening up. "But, actually, I've already made a decision." The girls stood silently, holding in their breath. Chase turned towards me, "And she's right here. My beloved, come over and meet the kingdom." My jaw dropped as Chase stared into my eyes and held his hand towards me. Me? I couldn't breath, I was so confused.

   "What a shy thing you can be, love." Chase said as he walked towards me. Before pulling me into view of the entire kingdom of vampires ready to rip me to shreds, he took my left hand and slid an expense diamond ring onto my finger. He dragged me towards the top of the stairs, using his vampy magic to make my body walk there gracefully, like him. His arm was wrapped around my waist. As I walked into the view of all the vampires, all the females instantly glared at me hatefully, or at least the ones that looked around teen years to early twenty years did. Anyone out of that age range didn't seem to care and wore respectable clothing like the people at the ball in Cinderella with their husbands or whatever.

   "People of Albernanth!" Chase boomed, "I wish to introduce you to the reason for this celebration, the light of my life, the being that will one day bear your future heir to the kingdom, our soon-to-be Queen, my fiance, Lucy Winters!" Clapping, some forced unwilling, thundered around the ballroom. Chase's voice prodded in my head. Smile, love. Even in my head his voice sounded mean, loud and teasing at the same time. Somehow, I forced a smile to the crowd, still extremely in shock.

   Chase, tightening his grip around me, spoke again, "Now, let us continue!" And with that he gracefully swept me down the stairs onto the gleaming ballroom floor. Surprisingly, my smile stayed. He twirled and twirled me around the floor. Some couples stood danced around us, smiling warmly. Others sent me hateful looks behind their dates and the king's back. I was terrible at dancing, because I never danced in my life!

   "You don't look too happy, love." Chase's voice spoke in my head. I gave a brighter fake smile. "I bet you're so curious on why I've claimed you as my fiance." Nodding, I glanced at the ring stuck on my finger. "Well, you'll know soon enough." Growling slightly, I fought the urge to swat him with all my might. Chase sensed my anger through my false smile and laughed.

   "It's hilarious when you're angry." He said softly, "You're always angry."

   "I guess that happens during a setback in your life." I retort. He frowned.

   "You know, you ought to be nicer to me."

   "And you ought to let me go."

   "Aw, look at the royal couple. They can't keep their hands off of each other!" Said a lady with her husband on the edge of the dance floor. I was just now realizing that we were talking in my head, not out loud. Smiling, Chase pulled me closer, keeping up the act.

   "How about a drink, hm?" Chase said, "Are you thirsty, perhaps?" I shook my head no, but the burning in my throat seemed to appear again. Chase read my mind and chuckled, before excusing himself from the crowd and leading us to a table. As I prepared to sit, I was yanked closer than ever to Chase suddenly.

   "Don't sit here." He growled in my brain, "We sit over there." He pointed over to a large table in the center of the back wall, overlooking the dance floor. The royal table. Sighing angrily, Chase whisked me over there and made me sit next to him at his very large chair. With a clap of his hands, a butler appeared with two champagne glasses full of a deep red substance.

   Blood.

   I didn't want to, but I accepted my cup from my fiance and drank. It was gone before I knew it. Chase was barely hiding his laughter.

   "You learn quick," He whispered leaning his face into my neck, "You should get rewarded."

   My heart skipped beats as my breath got caught in my throat. "Should I?" I dared to ask, my voice seemed more confident than I felt. "Master Chase?" The last came as a mere whisper.

   Chase smiled into the crook of my neck, "You shall."

   A shiver trickled down my spine as I whispered, "Okay," I shut my eyes and gave into him, which is probably what he wanted. It's not like I purposely tried to, my body sort of took over, okay? We stayed there like that for a while, but it seemed to short before he straightened up and took a step back, smirking with glory. I flushed and turned away.

   "Go interact with some of the guests, it'd be rude if I kept you all to myself," Chase said, chuckling slightly. "Have fun." Then he walked away into the crowd of people.

   Flustered, I let my gaze wander around the room. What do I do now?

   Soon enough, I found myself walking around, giving small, timid smiles to those around me. Some people were nice enough to return these smiles. Some people however, did not. Wait, no, not people. Monsters, demons, vampires. Not people.

   But you're a vampire now too.

   No, you're not like them. You aren't them, you are different, This is a stupid little game of theirs trying to change you into an evil being.

   Just breathe. Act like this is some sort of game, or a play. It will all be over eventually. It will all end soon enough.

   Maybe.