The Vampire Princess

by P. Mattern

  “I think I’m slightly buzzed,” I told Oliver, “I mean tipsy. I don’t hold my liquor very well at all.”

  “Don’t worry,” he replied ”I promise to cut you off before you start using the marble columns in here for stripper poles’

  For some reason his teasing remark caught me off guard and made me spit my last sip of wine out into the air between us in a fine spray.

  As soon as I stopped laughing I asked, ”How do you know about stripper poles Oliver? I thought the Realm was isolated from the world culture!”

  He looked at me contemplatively, as if he were deciding something, then leaned forward.

  “We have internet,” he told me in a loud stage whisper.”I have seen about everything actually!”

  He settled back into his chair and took a sip of wine himself.

  “Everything,” he repeated, winking.

  It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen him drink any of the blood from the decanter .And in a flash of insight that emerged through my wine induced haze I thought I knew why.

  “Oliver,” I said, trying to compose my expression to seriousness, ”Are you human?”

  Oliver had a mock look of horror on his face as he replied ”Milady is ON to me! Egads! What gave me away I wonder?”

  “Well it’s not your scent,” I told him,” All the humans that I’m around seem to think that I will catch wind of their blood scent and start foaming at the mouth. Pam is a good example. But I don’t think that is possible because I wasn’t very good at picking up odors when I was human myself and that trait seemed to have carried over into my half vampire state. My olfactory capacities are underdeveloped I guess. I suppose that makes me a freak across the board!”

  “Your powers of intuition seemed to be intact,” Oliver remarked.”At least you have those. And you are correct about my being human. I am the natural child of one of the human Host Mothers . My mother is still alive, still serving the royal family in an honorable capacity. I see her quite often.”

  “Oh,” I said, adding ,”How nice for you. I would give anything to see MY mother. My parents think that I am dead you know. When I was abducted they left a corpse in the woods…and I shudder to think how they acquired it. It wouldn’t surprise me to find that they killed another human girl on purpose that looked like me. I got in trouble for trying to go back, but I’m not sorry. I would do it again if I knew where they lived now…”

  Oliver learned over and placed a finger so close to my lips that I could feel the warmth radiating off of it, although he wasn’t technically touching me.

  “Shhhhhh Tristina,” he cautioned gently, a concerned look on his face, ”Even talking like that will cause both of us grief. You must learn to confine your personal freedoms to your thought life. Your thoughts are yours alone and no one can guess at the secrets you keep in your head unless you choose to speak them aloud. Please.”

  “I actually don’t know who my REAL mother is,” I confessed to Oliver, “The morning of the day I was taken the woman that I knew as my “mom”, Desiree, slipped up and told me that she wasn’t my real mother when we were arguing. But Desiree was the only mother figure I remember. It was always her and my dad, even from my earliest memories. When I escaped I made it back to our house…but they had moved…”

  I stopped, embarrassed that my voice had betrayed me. I fought to keep my emotions under control and not cry in front of Oliver.

  Suddenly I had a thought.

  “Oliver—aren’t you in pain? How can you sit here and act like nothing happened? I feel terrible about your being beaten!”

  “Oh don’t stress,” he told me, “I have a high tolerance for pain and I’m used to it. Comes with the territory. There is a kind of status here in the Realm that comes with being able to tolerate pain. All the males aspire to it.”

  I smirked.

  “How primitive and macho”, I remarked ”Not to mention unevolved. “

  “There is evolution in adaptation,” Oliver replied, smiling, at ease, and seemingly enjoying our debate, ”Perhaps if it were a different and less harsh environment the sensitive, less volatile male prototype would work, in fact I’m sure that’s the case in America. But this is a harsh and disparate climate, Princess. Those that do not adapt with cunning and combat skills and muscle do not long survive.”

  I thought back to my first visit to the Ice Palace with the Prince and Theda, remembering the frozen blood spatters along the crystalline walls, as vivid as the day so many were murdered there.

  “It seems that you have enemies here that no one talks about.” I said, “What sort of creatures committed the massacre at the Ice Palace?”

  The light that seemed to be in Oliver’s eyes dimmed, and as it did I noticed that his eyes were nearly the same shade as my own green ones.

  “They are giants,” he told me ”Cycloptic ones. Each stands ten feet taller than an average human. They carry spears. They are fond of human flesh, but I have seen one eat a vampire anyway even though it caused its stomach to rupture. I guess they are allergic to vamps. Their weapons are primitive and they don’t move as quickly as we do but it takes a lot of effort to kill one. They have tongues that shoot out that have a sticky side to them and if you allow yourself to be wrapped in one you will soon be dead. We’ve never been able to discern if they have speech or not. The Prince swears he heard one speaking in Ancient Norse, but I have never heard any of them utter a word. They are ugly and misshapen and they stink on top of all that.”

  “I’ve been here awhile and never seen one,” I told him. “When was the last sighting? Or even the last attack?”

  Oliver sighed.

  “Undetermined as far as attacks. What we usually find is evidence that they have sent scouts onto our lands to attack us .Often this ’evidence’ comes in the form of a royal hunting party that never returned to the silos and was found slaughtered. We are entering the Summer season here Princess, the season of perpetual daylight. You would think that this would be the safest time of year because it is without darkness, but the opposite is true. This is the season that affords the greatest opportunity for hunting and fishing and gathering. But it is the most dangerous. Both men and vampires disappear mysteriously. We have tried everything,

  Once we managed to capture one of the creatures—it was a half grown one and we could barely contain it. Even under torture it refused to give any information. We called on our strongest and most ancient magic to secure it. In the end it willingly starved to death without revealing anything.”

  I contemplated what he had just revealed to me, and felt suddenly chilled by the realization that I had walked alone across the terrain to facilitate my first escape without realizing that I was placing myself in danger. Oliver seemed to be able to read my thoughts.

  He took a sip of wine from a cup that he poured himself as he looked at me.

  “I can see that you are beginning to realize why the Prince has been so harsh with you. Tristina he was distraught when you were discovered missing. He feared for your life I believe. And that is easy to understand…”

  I shot him a puzzled look, not catching his meaning. Oliver broke into an easy grin.

  “I can see that you do not realize how beautiful you are. That’s refreshing actually. You will never become a preening self-absorbed diva in that case.

  But you ARE beautiful! The buzz in the general population of the Realm is that you resemble one of the ancient goddesses that supposedly founded our civilization. Her name was Verdhandi and she was one of three goddesses that resided in the Hall of Fate, determining the fortunes of men. She had your coloring—red gold hair and icy blue eyes, and skin as pale as milk. It’s considered great fortune for the realm that you resemble her.”

  I couldn’t help but see the irony in his description.

  “Do they know that their ‘goddess’ attempted to flee?” I asked, trying not to smirk.

  Oliver shook his head vehemently.

  “No—the spin put on your lack of being presen
t was that you were ill and possibly with child. That started tongues wagging and satisfied the curiosity of the population. The Prince is seen as a wise and benevolent figure in the Realm “

  Oliver leaned more closely toward me, a lock of his fair hair falling over one eye. I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was.

  “Tris—hey look, we must be becoming friends, I am already calling you by your nickname!”

  I wondered if the familiarity between myself and Oliver was real or artificially enhanced by the wine we had consumed, I responded honestly.

  “You feel like a friend,” I told him earnestly.

  “Can I tell you something then, Tris? I think it might help you make more beneficial decisions,” he added,, “Beneficial to YOURSELF, rather than cutting off your nose to spite your lovely face—which I have noticed that you have a propensity for by the way…”

  I was slightly offended but the expression on his face is so sincere it pulled a short laugh out of me.

  “Sure,” I told him, ”Should I brace myself first though?”

  “Maybe you should,” I told him, realizing that I was feeling slightly buzzed from the wine, and noticing that our proximity was such that a lean in for a kiss wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. My thoughts had a will of their own and for a few seconds I wondered what his kiss would feel like—would it be rough or gentle? I saw something change in his eyes then, and I was so sure that he would kiss me that my eyelids fluttered downward in anticipation.

  He was tawny and handsome and golden, and he smelled delicious in the way all humans do to even half-vampires—like fruit ripening in the summer sun. He also smelled of sandalwood. He placed his hand over mine as he leaned forward into the space between us.

  And at that moment, the door to my chamber burst open.

  COMPLICATED

  It was the Prince of course, flanked by members of his guard and entourage. He strode into the room as if he were on a mission. The mask he was wearing was silver, and he was dressed in black velvet from head to toe although his cape had a silver lining that reflected light around the edges.

  To Oliver’s credit he did not jerk back from me when the Prince burst into the room. Unfortunately my reaction was the typically awkward one, and I did.

  It took the Prince two seconds to jump to the right conclusion.

  “Princess,” he said in a barely controlled disapproving voice,” Are you attempting to seduce the whipping boy?”

  I could feel myself flushing before I could form a response.

  “Not at all,” I responded stiffly. I could feel that the flush had risen and was turning my ears red as well, ”We were…talking. He was giving me advice.”

  “Advice that prompted your leaning forward with your eyes half closed? “ the Prince responded, his voice seeming to boom loudly off the walls, ”Really. You continue to disappoint me Tristina. And once again your thoughtless, feckless actions will result in pain for your Whipping Boy!”

  “NO!” I shouted as the Prince’s guard stepped forward and hoisted Oliver unceremoniously to his feet.”I started toward the guard to pull them off when Oliver stopped me by shaking his head and giving me a look that stopped me in my tracks.

  “I think that will be enough for now Princess,” he said to me , as his shirt was again ripped down to his waist and they turned his back toward me so that I could fully view what was about to happen.

  From behind the Prince Colossus stepped forward with a different whip. This one was a long snakelike

  Single black strand with what looked like a tassel of broken glass attached to the very end of it.

  “Two I think,” the Prince said, almost in a conversational tone. ”Yes—two lashes should do it! Poor Oliver has had a very active day in the service of the Princess.”

  As Colossus raised the whip I attempted to turn my head away, my emotions surging. I felt sickened that Oliver was being punished for the second time in just a few short hours for my actions. I hadn’t bothered to deny the Prince’s subtle accusations. I had always been a terrible liar anyway, and for all our differences, the Prince seemed to be able to discern my motivations somehow. It would have been beneath both of us for me to deny it.

  The Prince was having none of my attempt to look away. Two of his guard came over to flank me and force me to look forward as Colossus brought the lash down across Oliver’s back.

  The shards of glass tore Oliver’s skin open cruelly, causing his blood to run. But only the two lashes were administered, for which I was very grateful.

  Oliver turned around to face me and I thought that I saw a new wariness in his eyes. I didn’t blame him, but still it hurt me that he was beginning to realize what a liability I was. I looked over at the Prince and the self satisfied expression on his face awakened a smoldering anger in me that I only managed to keep suppressed because I didn’t want to see Oliver harmed any more.

  “You don’t treat your new friends very well,” the Prince remarked, as Oliver pulled his shirt back over his shoulders again, ”Perhaps you can learn from this Tristina. I sincerely hope so. I am very fond of Oliver you see. I don’t enjoy seeing him harmed.”

  “You should stop this then,” I answered, keeping my eyes downcast and my tone civil.”I request that I be punished for my own transgressions, rather than the whipping boy being beaten for them.”

  I was startled when the Prince, and even some of his guard erupted in laughter.

  “You’re a funny one,” the Prince told me when the laughter had subsided, “I have to give you credit for ingenuity, but in this Realm the idea that a Princess would ever be whipped is preposterous. Why would you even think of such a thing? Your beauty is valued highly, and anyone that lays a hand on you will lose that hand for certain, and his head may well follow. We do not allow our womenfolk to be harmed.”

  “Yet Theda has only one eye,” I replied before I could stop myself.

  I saw that Oliver had a visceral reaction to my statement, his eyes widening as if he were nonverbally communicating the modern expression, ”OH NO YOU DIDN’T!”

  The Prince seemed unperturbed.

  “I was speaking of the nobility, Princess. And it is tiresome to have to keep reminding you that we have laws and a social order for a reason, that everything we do here has a purpose. Being part of a society, ANY society, outside of the nobility assures a harsher life for both men and women. At least in our society here the children are treated as equals and the Cliff dweller Vampire society makes certain that no child in the kingdom is ever cold—and no child in the kingdom ever starves. How many of the modern cultures that exist below us can make that claim?”

  As I struggled for a response, I reflected that it was unfair that I still knew so little of the society that had changed and claimed me. I had no facts at my disposal, and the Prince’s response had impressed me in spite of my inclination to be argumentative.

  “If it is as you say, well that might be a bragging point,” I said at last,” But I wish that more mercy could be shown rather than barbarian practices.”

  The Prince sighed.

  “There is a theory,” he said ”That the geography and climate of a land has the largest impact upon what sort of culture will emerge. I happen to agree with that theory. Svalbard is inside the Arctic Circle, one of the harshest climates on the planet. And this is reflected in the harsh laws of our society—but underlying the harshness is both a sense of security and an assurance that we can continue to survive in such an unforgiving climate .You haven’t met our enemies yet, and I pray you never will, but we must be vigilant at all times, strict in our expectations of behavior and wary of becoming lax.

  Our survival depends on it,” he finished.

  Other than the breathing and slight shuffling of the guards several feet away you could have heard a pin drop after the Prince finished. I quietly digested what he had said, and it made me eager to know more. I was about to say something along those lines when the Prince spoke again, his eyes traveling
over me as he spoke.

  “I will require the Princess in my chambers,” he announced, ”Oliver you may take your leave of her for now.”

  Oliver gave a slight bow to both of us and existed. As he left I couldn’t help but notice the bloody streaks on the back of his pristine white shirt, and my heart sank as I reflected that he had experienced pain for my sake.

  I made a resolution. Ranting was part of my nature and I’d be damned if I’d be cowed into submissive silence. I would just be smarter about it. I would continue to speak my mind but only in front of the two people I felt that I could trust—

  Theda and Oliver.

  The Prince extended a hand toward me. Although I willed my heart to stop beating so rapidly it betrayed me. Even as my mixed emotions swirled throughout me, I could feel a physical awakening taking place as our hands touched and he enclosed my smaller one firmly in his own.

  Between my thighs I could feel myself melting, anticipating what would follow There was no denying that some part of me wanted him badly enough to override all my resentments and revenge fantasies.

  We moved down the hallway and past where I thought that I remembered the Prince’s personal chambers were, the chambers that had contained the huge bed upon which he’d taken my virginity. Apparently we were going somewhere else.

  The guards walking in front of us seemed to know where I was going, as they stopped in front of a door taller and wider than the other doors in the curved hallway. This door was made of nearly black roughly hewn timbers, with iron castings, and the Prince’s guard stepped backward as it swung outward without the Prince touching it. Instead of walking ahead of me the Prince stepped behind me and ushered me in. He was standing so closely behind me as the massive door closed silently behind us that I could feel him, his member standing in fully erect through the material of my gown.