Bloodrose

by Cassidy Raindance

  “It’s why you’re here,” said the Queen, her smile soft but with a small laugh under the surface, “I know this is all a lot to take in right now. But you are a magnificent gift, Prussia. You were born a Vampyr, the most perfect Vampyr in the universe and it has taken evolution 80,000 years to get there.”

  “You are insane!” I said, pulling frantically to get my hand back from her in a twisted tug of war that I clearly had no control over.

  The Queen let my hand go as Sebastian burst through the bedroom door. She regained her composure almost instantly but I jumped up from the bed beside her and without thinking much of it, met Sebastian as he ran in. He placed a protective arm around me and I huddled next to him, letting him protect me. Somehow I wanted him to protect me from the truth as the Queen sat and looked innocently at me, no motion to harm or hurt me at all. I wanted her to take everything back.

  “You are lying!” I screamed at her.

  “What did she say?” asked Sebastian, looking down at me with his hands on my shoulders.

  “She said I’m like you,” I shouted, “That I’m a monster!”

  The words left my mouth and I knew that I could never stuff them back in. Sebastian’s face became awash in disbelief.

  “You think I’m a monster?” he asked.

  “I…I…” I stammered, I had been caught between disbelief at what the Queen said and insulting my protector.

  This is what a rock and a hard place felt like. Only both had teeth, both viewed me as a meal and both had sworn they were trying to help, to save me.

  “What she says is the truth,” said Sebastian, motioning with his hand to indicate he meant what the Queen had said, “You are a monster, just like me.”

  His face became stone-like as he finished those words and he took a step back.

  “Now I understand,” he said, “I will understand if you refuse our engagement. I will still protect you as much as I can if that is the case.”

  He left quickly. And the room felt cold, confusing and as if it would close in on me any moment. Every room in this house had whirlwinds of insanity just waiting to sweep me off my feet and into strange new territory. Attacked, Kidnapped, Tortured, Engaged and now I find out I’m just like them.

  “I can refuse?” I asked the Queen, “I can do that?”

  “Of course,” said the Queen, “You’re under protection, you’re not a prisoner,”

  She snorted as though I had said something absurd, the Queen of Vampyrs sitting there on the bed.

  “Why did he say he would try to protect me?” I asked.

  “I told you,” said the Queen, “The court thinks you are a human. If it gets out that you’re a Vampyr there is no telling how our kind will react. They will either want to raise you up or shred you apart.”

  “How long do I have to decide?” I asked.

  “Until tonight,” said the Queen.

  “That’s ridiculous!” I said, “How can I make a decision like this under such pressure!”

  The Queen rose and walked over to me where I stood, still at what I felt would be a safe distance from the bed in the middle of the room. When she walked over to me I didn’t dare move. I didn’t want to offend her and I didn’t want to risk becoming quickly deceased.

  “There is a loophole,” said the Queen, as though reluctant to mention it, “You may request anything of your fiancé, anything at all, and if he can’t deliver what you request before the wedding you are not required to exchange vows,”

  “I would be safe?” I asked.

  “You would be safe during the engagement and that had been our goal,” said the Queen, “Likewise, if Sebastian chooses not to deliver on your request, your dowry if you will, then the wedding would be canceled as well. And if you’re not engaged and not married…it would be very difficult for him to protect you.”

  “How long does the engagement last?” I asked, not liking the sound of this at all.

  “One year,” said the Queen.

  The Queen headed toward the door and opened it to leave. Looking back, she seemed thoughtful for a moment.

  “He only ever loved Lydia,” said the Queen, “I hope you wouldn’t push him back to her out of your anger at Robert’s death.”

  The Queen looked at me then, a small sadness in her eyes, “Robert ran from you, Prussia,” said the Queen, “Sebastian, ran to you,” and the Queen closed the door softly behind her before the pillow I threw across the room had a chance to hit her. I hadn’t meant to tell her the part about Robert running from me, leaving me. It had come out because I had been emotional. To bring that up, it wasn’t right.

  As much as I hated her for toying with my emotions – I had to make a choice and the obvious choice didn’t make me happy. I wasn’t a monster and never would be. I didn’t care what the Queen of Monsters said. I felt a piece of my heart harden as I picked up the pillow I had thrown at the closed door the Queen had left through. If I wanted to strike out at someone I needed to make sure it counted, that it would be worth living in this nightmare to ensure I stayed alive.

  I smoothed the pillow out on the bed and walked back to the window. The guards did their usual exchange just out on the beautiful grass. They were on time as usual, very predictable. I watched their dance every ten or so minutes and I let my thoughts consume me. This time, instead of letting Robert’s eyes haunt me I let them guide me. And I plotted and plotted and plotted.

  Chapter 32

  I had been anxious for this ceremony all the days leading up. I knew now that Prussia thought of me as a monster. It hurt but I also felt for her. Because when she came to realize that she and I were the same – I know she would need my support and help in coming to terms with it. Even I didn’t entirely understand but I still counted it as a blessing. If she were simply human – I don’t know if I could ever convince her I wasn’t a monster, not after all she had been through and seen. I couldn’t blame her. I just hoped she would let me in. I wanted another chance.

  I hadn’t seen Prussia since she had called me a monster. I didn’t want to push her any more than I had. She had a decision to make that could mean her life. I didn’t want to push her away any more than I already had. I made my way to the grand staircase platform and ceremonial podium, searching for her but not finding her. They wouldn’t start for a few minutes still, she would probably come in almost last to make sure no one did anything rash.

  I scanned the court and saw Lydia, looking her usual somber self as of late. She stood near the front of the crowd and off to my left. I’m sure she hoped that Prussia would refuse my proposal, as many in the crowd probably did. I felt anxious and nervous all at once and it made me smile. I hadn’t felt this way in a long time, since the first dozen years Lydia and I had been together. That had been a long time now and I welcomed the feeling again with open arms. I smiled to myself and music began marking the entrance of the Queen.

  Ahead of the Queen came Prussia in a dress with a long train, long enough to be a wedding gown on its own. The Queen had made sure Prussia’s entrance would be talked about and remembered. Prussia looked calm, relaxed and poised. Her procession through the room and up to the platform took a little while considering the length of the dress train but before long we were standing side-by-side listening to the boring formalities of the ceremony.

  Prussia didn’t say anything to me or even make eye contact. I could feel her anger still. Her anger made her skin run hot and I could feel it every time my hand ‘accidentally’ brushed hers. After a good amount of time standing in silence as we all listened to formal addresses and ceremonial statements from the different council members, it came time for Prussia to do her part. She had to address the court and my proposal.

  “I do solemnly accept the proposal of his Royal Highness, Prince Sebastian,” said Prussia with a steady voice, “and do look forward to the dowry he will bestow upon me to honor me and our vows,”

  I let out a deep breath I hadn’t known I had been holding and straightened up tall as Pruss
ia returned to stand next to me. I couldn’t help but smile and looked to see if the Queen saw how smoothly it had gone. The Queen nodded to me her approval with a faint smile and seemed to keep her interest focused on the monotonous ceremonious declarations of the court.

  Lydia, shooting daggers at me from the audience, didn’t seem pleased at all. I knew she had been looking for Prussia to make a different response. I’m sure Lydia wouldn’t have waited for Prussia to make it to the driveway before trying to drain her dry too. I somewhat understood her hate of Prussia, simply because I knew Lydia had a terrible jealous streak, but it didn’t mean I approved. I felt relief that Lydia saw the boundaries clearly in place. I didn’t think she would make another attempt but if she did – she knew where I stood on it. I wouldn’t let it stand. I would be by Prussia’s side all the time, no matter what.

  I tried to hold Prussia’s hand but she slipped her hand out of mine and clasped her hands behind her back instead. No matter, I would win her over sooner or later. At least I had a chance to win her over.

  The Queen stepped forward then, as the counsel members finally stepped back with all of their pompous announcements and dictations on the laws and expectations of royal engagement. The Queen motioned a hand for Prussia and Prussia stepped forward to join the Queen at the podium. Now it would be time for the Queen to hand out any titles she saw fit as a future royal of the court. The Queen had already told the court the title she would hold, formalities being observed of course.

  “Will you to your power uphold Law and Justice in Mercy, according to our respective laws and customs, to be executed in all your judgments?” asked the Queen.

  “I will,” said Prussia.

  “I anoint you High Royal Chancellor,” said the Queen, “This is the royal Law;”

  The loudest collective gasp I had ever heard come out of the court went through the room as though the air had just been sucked from the room in a great vacuum. Even I found it hard to keep my mouth closed and my eyes not widened with shock. What the Queen had just given Prussia couldn’t be taken away. It couldn’t be undone.

  “The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep,” Prussia repeated, though slightly confused and hesitant at the reaction of the court, as she had rehearsed.

  “Stand firm, and hold fast, her High Royal Chancellor Prussia. In the Name and by the Authority of the Queen, and by the hands of us, establish the Law and Justice in righteousness that it may stand fast for evermore,” echoed the court in tones of obligation with a ring of amazement.

  A hush fell over the court as I stepped forward, looking and finding a confused Prussia standing next to me.

  “Why did they gasp?” she asked me in a whisper.

  “The Queen gave you authority to sentence royalty,” I whispered back, my eyes darting to the Queen who stood tall and proud not far away and perfectly able to hear my every word, “Authority enough to sentence me…or even the Queen herself,”

  Prussia’s eyes went wide with disbelief. As she looked to the Queen I turned to the court and said my piece as the ceremony demanded.

  “God save Queen Victoria,” I said and stepped back.

  “God save Queen VICTORIA. Long live Queen VICTORIA. May the Queen live for ever,” echoed the court loudly.

  I stepped back to my place behind and off center from the podium and waited for the part I had been anticipating for so long. The only part that remained – Prussia’s dowry demands in response to my proposal. I hoped it would be something I could truly enjoy lavishing on her. I had already gotten her a car. If she wanted the Queen’s house I had no doubt the Queen would grant it to us. I think the crazy old Queen had planned this all from the beginning, though beyond elaborate even for her.

  Prussia cleared her throat as quiet as a mouse and looked down at the ceremonial speech she had been instructed to read ahead of the dowry demands. The court didn’t seem to mind though normally this speech is something Ladies brought up in the court recited regularly in rehearsed excitement. Prussia looked up at the court and paused.

  “You all may not know but my boyfriend, whom I hoped to marry, was murdered right in front of my eyes,” said Prussia, murmurs went up through the court at her unconventional disregard for ceremony “Now I am to marry Sebastian and to demand a dowry. If I’m to demand something as a dowry then I demand Sebastian find and bring me Robert’s murderer so I can kill him with my own hands,”

  Prussia stepped back and the murmuring turned into a roaring loud chatter as everyone turned to one another and commented on the request. I knew what this meant as Prussia stepped back from the podium right next to me. I looked to the Queen to see if this would be allowed and the Queen had the biggest smile on her face I had ever seen in my life. The Queen knew exactly who had killed Robert, but did the Queen tell Prussia? Did Prussia know what she just asked of me, truly? Prussia couldn’t know because she had said ‘him’ and the Queen and I both knew that Robert had been killed by a ‘her’, Lydia.

  I looked out at the sea of faces chattering on about the request. This had been the most unorthodox request ever asked as long as I had been attending court. When our eyes finally met I knew that the world could shift under my very feet at any moment. Lydia looked at me from her place in the crowd and our eyes locked. She waited, her face pleading. Did I love Prussia enough to do this? Could I accept the terms of the dowry and kill the only woman I had ever loved in my life on this earth as a monster?

  Lydia kept her eyes locked with mine as I approached the podium to give my response and the room fell completely silent and still. The stillness ran stiff with electricity, excitement, the court loved this type of thing – death and love.

  I ripped my eyes away from Lydia’s as hers began to fill with what I could clearly see were tears, even from so far away. I looked down at the carefully penned speech that Prussia had left on the podium, no attempt to even recite it. I unrolled it and saw that her speech asked ‘for her heart back’ which would have been almost impossible to measure and given her an easy way to simply call off the engagement completely. I looked back to Prussia. She looked away just as I could see her and I knew she had meant to leave the speech there. Perhaps there could be hope for us after all. And I had made a promise to her.

  I hadn’t known what winning her heart back would cost me. It would cost Lydia her life. I would have to drag Lydia to Prussia’s feet and watch as Prussia gave her the eternal death in order to secure our love.

  The room waited still for my answer and I didn’t know if I could give it. I looked back out into the court and could see face after face waiting with anticipation at what my answer would be.

  “I accept your dowry request,” I said, looking for Lydia out in the crowd still but hearing only a door slam, “and am proud to soon call you my wife,”

  The entire room erupted in cheers and the court moved with barely contained excitement. I couldn’t smile. I had so much going on in my mind that I could barely return to my place next to Prussia. I took her hand lightly and held our clasped hands over head to show or symbolic union. The court screamed, they didn’t love us – they loved what would follow. Love in exchange for death.

  I had to accept it. If I wanted to keep her safe I had not choice but to accept it. I had a year to make it happen or fail. I had a year to come to grips with dragging Lydia kicking and screaming or throwing Prussia to the wolves.

  I looked at Prussia and when our eyes met I felt the electricity in the room condense into our stare. I hadn’t seen her with this look on her face before. It looked like happiness but with a touch of something else, a lust for vengeance.

  “Do you know what you’ve asked of me?” I asked, as quietly as I could in the room roaring with shouts of excitement.

  “Do you know what I’ve been through?” Prussia asked me, moving very close.

  Prussia looked at me with determination, her face inches from me. She had always been soft, kind and a bit naïve at times. Something in her look said
she had lost something of that. What had happened to her had changed her. I didn’t expect she wouldn’t be changed from what had happened to her. I just wanted to preserve who she had been as a person. I could see now that I had been too late. I felt guilt at what it had all cost her. I blamed myself.

  Prussia’s lips curled when she became angry and I found it…charming. I leaned forward and did the only thing I could think of. I kissed her. I tried to kiss away her hurt and her pain. She didn’t move an inch and barely softened beneath my kiss. I pulled my lips from hers and looked deeply into her fire-fueled eyes.

  “I never intended any of this,” I said.

  “Neither did I,” Prussia said, her face set with a spark of anger and resentment flickering behind her once-kind eyes, “but here we are…” and Prussia, echoing my own words back at me, and left me at the podium with a court cheering for the eternal death... of Lydia.