The Dark King's Bride

by Janessa Anderson

  You would think that beings such as myself would have the ability to show up when they are supposed to and not be late…I guess there are some traits the mortal men and women have amongst one another that we can’t help but adapt and pick up.

  His eyes caught sight of what he perceived to be the last member of the member of the nobility, as well as his guests, when he decided to close the door.

  “Wait!”

  A female, mortal voice called out to him outside just as he had started to close the doors. Daniel looked through the opening that remained in the door, and found his emerald stare meeting that of Marigold, Lily’s mother, coming up the walkway in her best peasant gown and slippers she owned while keeping a white cloth over her hair that had signs of her work from the day.

  This is a surprise. Marigold…has decided to come to my home this night. I did not think her husband and she would accept the invitation when I had them sent to them. However, seeing at least her coming…gives me hope for what is to come on the horizon.

  Daniel eased the door back, and allowed her inside before he closed the door back in its place, firmly. His attention drifted back to Lily’s mother shortly before the deep, firm tone of his voice escaped his mouth.

  “It is a pleasant sight to see that you have decided to come and witness my wedding to your daughter.” He couldn’t mask a growing tension in his voice that had formed the moment she stepped across the threshold of his home. “However…I did not see Radcliff with you…Is he running late as well, Marigold?”

  “My husband will be unable to attend tonight, my lord.” Marigold replied, speaking to him with a polite tone in her soft voice. “He is helping Ramus find several cows that had gotten loose from his land before the wolves that dwell nearby get to them.”

  “That is understandable.” The answer she had given to him provided him a form of relief even though it didn’t erase the fear or what Lily had told him of Radcliff coming to take her away from him with the assistance of men from the surrounding area. He drew in a breath of air, and released it while his right hand gestured her towards the open doorway of the grand ballroom. “If you will be so kind as to walk with me to your seat…The ceremony will be able to start.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  Daniel moved with Marigold to the opened doorway of the grand ballroom, and stepped over the threshold. After pulling the doors closed behind him, his eyes soaked in the surroundings, allowing himself to take in the sights.

  Around each of the side doors of the room that led out to their own private balcony were black and deep purple, satin drapes tied back by an additional black ribbon in the form of a bow, matching the purple and blame theme that stretched from the very aisle rug they were walking on to the seats that the vampire nobility were in, and ending in front of the room where a black and purple arch stood with his advisor in a blue and deep purple suit beside a priest that was dressed in similar colors for the even that was to take place there night, and who was also a member of his royal court of vampires.

  Everything is exactly how I wanted it to be. There is not one single part that is out of place…Tonight will be a night…to be remember for years to come.

  Daniel brought Marigold to a seat in the very front where a more ‘tame’ group of vampires sat, providing her with a form of safety since there were those of his court that were not very good with being around humans without experiencing some blood lust. He waited until she was comfortable before he moved up to the front of the archway, and brought his hands up to the room. Lowering them down, he waited for the room to fall silent before he proceeded to speak up.

  “My friends and fellow creatures of the night,” Daniel stated, firm yet friendly, “it does my soul well to see you all here this night to witness and take part in my union with a young mortal woman that I have become very close with and have formed a strong bond with in very little time. She will not only be mother to my children and my wife for all eternity after tonight…but she will also become your queen, and help me rule over these lands in a more just manner instead of the ruthless pattern that has been seen by neighboring kings over their kingdoms shortly before they fell due to their own greed and power. That being said…I believe it is time for the talking to end…and for the wedding to commence.”

  * * *

  Lily made her way down the stairs with Magdalene holding the back of her purple and black wedding gown to keep it from trialing down them and getting dirt on it. Her hands clung to the front of the skirt, making sure her feet didn’t step on it. As she continued to move down them, a long flowing deep purple veil hung in front of her face with a black combs having it secured in her hair.

  I can’t believe that I am actually going to go through with this. Her thoughts were full of nervousness and excitement as she made her way to stand in front of the closet doors with Daniel’s maid following behind her. This is really going to happen…I am fixing to become the wife of King Willows.

  She brought herself to a complete stop, and let go of the front of the skirt. Her palms moved across the material of the gown, straightening out any kinks that were in it due to her hands holding onto it. After a few more strokes against its fabric, Lily turned her head, and watched Magdalene move around in front of her with a look of serenity there that matched the growing tone in her voice.

  “How are you feeling, my lady?” Magdalene asked. She kept a motherly vibe about herself as she stood before her, straightening out the edges of the veil that kept her face concealed. “Are you feeling good, nervous…excited?”

  “A mixture of all three emotions, Magdalene.” Lily answered. She spoke with a tone of sincerity within her gentle voice, showing complete honesty to Daniel’s head and only maid. “I am feeling good about walking down the aisle to where Daniel is waiting for me, excited about the idea of becoming the king’s wife and queen over the very lands that I have grown up on…and nervous…about-“

  “About the dream, Lily?”

  “Yes, Magdalene…” Lily hated to admit it to her, but the vision she had received in her dream earlier that day still lingered on her mind, and gave her no rest from it. “Although this is a very happy time for me…I can’t shake off the images of my father and a group of men coming after me from my mind, as well as my thoughts.”

  “You have no reason to fear, my lady…King Daniel has taken the appropriate measures to make sure that security is doubled tonight just in case if your father tries to storm the ceremony with whoever he finds that is willing to risk their own life to prevent your marriage to the ruler tonight.”

  “I hope that you are correct about this, Magdalene.”

  “Everything will be fine, and go according to schedule.”

  Even though she wanted to believe what Daniel’s maid was telling her, Lily couldn’t help herself but feel extremely nervous about the whole thing. She knew that the only thing that would take the fear and dread out of her system would be that the ceremony goes through without a problem, and she becomes Daniel’s wife without any issues.

  The sound of a piano starting up a hauntingly, beautiful melody started to slip through the cracks of the door with a chorus of violins playing in the background to accompany it strong enough to snap herself out of the train of thought that had overwhelmed over her being. Lily focused on the closed doors for a moment before she caught Magdalene backing up to them. She had her attention on her, and noticed the friendly smile on her face as she spoke to her.

  “Are you ready, Lily?”

  Despite the feeling of butterflies fluttering around inside of her stomach, she gave a nod of her head, and a brave smile on her face underneath the veil that hung from the top of her head and down in front of her head. Lily drew in a breath of air, and let out a soft sigh shortly before her voice escaped out of her mouth in a soft, sweet sound.

  “I am ready, Magdalene.”

  Chapter Twenty

  With her eyes focused on the double doors before her, Lily watched as Magdalene opened them in front
of her, and stepped to the side, exposing the lavishly decorated ballroom with the members of the vampire nobility in color coordinated seats.

  Well…Here I go…

  She drew in another breath of air before heading inside of the room. Releasing the same puff, Lily took the time to notice how Daniel chose a purple and black theme for their union ceremony before she looked to the guests that he had invited.

  Standing in front of the many seats that were littered in the room, male and female vampires of the royal court that governed over their own respectable areas in the region gazed upon her making her entrance into the room. Each member of the nobility were dressed in elegant yet simple gowns and suits, wearing the appropriate attire for the ritual. Several casted questioning looks upon her, suggesting that they didn’t think she was good enough to be queen, while the majority of the others possessed expressions of reverence and respect for her.

  It appears as if many of these vampires are okay with me marrying their king and master. Lily surveyed the surroundings as she continued to move up the aisle with the veil concealing her face from their gazes. I imagined their expressions to be looking at me with disgust with not a single shred of kindness upon them.

  Well, her conscience whispered, there are still some here that are looking at you with the very emotions you assumed they would be gazing upon you.

  The response she got from her rational part of her thoughts caused the focus to be to search out the ones who had looks of discontent for her on their faces from behind the veil that kept her cut off. With her continuing to move down the aisle, Lily noticed a small group of four female vampires that were part of the clan ruling over the region to the west, casting doubtful and judgmental expressions in her direction behind their fake smiles.

  It does appear that you are right this time, my friend, just like you have been right before. There are those here that don’t wish to see me married off to their ruler, and become their queen, as well as the wife to Daniel Willows.

  You know…It’s not too late.

  Not too late for what?

  It is not too late to get out of this place, and return back to your cottage home, Lily. I am sure that your mother is waiting for you there at this very moment in time, and willing to forgive you for running away earlier in the day.

  Lily had all intention to answer back when she caught sight of something she never expected to find amongst the vampires in the seats on her wedding to their ruler: Marigold, her own mother, standing amongst them, and casting a loving, supportive smile in her direction.

  Mother…My mother is here. Her thoughts started to become more lightened and full of happiness and content the moment she witnessed her mother’s appearance on her special night. She must approve of this after all, and that she wishes to see me married off to King Willows, and become his queen…If she is open to change, I am sure that my father is, and that there is no reason to leave.

  It is not too late. Her conscience desperately tried to talk her over to tis side once she mound her mother to be there, and it was losing its influence over her. You can still back out, and leave right now with your mother to return to your life.

  Lily moved her gaze from Marigold to where Daniel stood in an elegant but simple suit made out of black silk while his hair hung down around his face, smiling at her with a look of unconditional love and unbridled desire. It was seeing him waiting and longing for her arrival that prompt her final response to the rational part of her brain as she proceeded to erase the final space between him and herself.

  This is my life…Daniel is the one that I have been wanting to take me away from my old one so that I might have a chance at something new and different…This is my home, and this…is where I belong.

  * * *

  His body warmed at the sight of his bride walking to him in the beautiful gown that his personal seamstresses created by hand in a very little amount of time. Watching her moving to stand beside him before the priest, Daniel smiled towards her as he turned his own body to face hers, and put all of his attention on her.

  She is so beautiful. His thoughts soaked in all of Lily’s gorgeous curves that were hidden at the moment, but were accentuated by the flowing gown. The dress is perfect for her, but it pales to her true radiance that drew me to her the moment I first caught sight of her .

  Just wait until you get done with the marriage part of the ritual, Daniel. The vampire part of his conscience tempted and teased him within the recesses of his mind. You will be able to savor the sweet taste of her blood rolling down your throat from it flooding the inside of your mouth.

  Daniel struggled to keep the beast from coming out too soon, and going ahead with taking the first step in transforming her into a vampire. His vampire canines were aching to be released from the tops of his mouth. Daniel managed to muster enough strength and willpower to ease the monster to the back of his mind.

  I will know the pleasure of how she tastes when the ceremony reaches the point that I am to bind her to me for all time. He spoke to the part of his soul wanting him to release it from his being with a firm, deep tone. Until then…I don’t want you to bother me again or try to leave my body in an attempt to feed upon her before we reach the point in the ritual.

  Daniel took Lily’s hands into his, and gazed upon her face that was hidden beneath the dark purple veil. Even though the covering gave her some concealment, his eyes locked on hers while a loving smile started to form across his face. He kept his attention on her while his senses picked up on the vibes from the priest for the night to be moving to speak up.

  “Ladies and gentlemen…” The priest said, calmly, from where he stood in front of the pair, beginning the part of the wedding ritual for them and the entire room. “We are here this night to join together King Daniel Willows and Lily as husband and wife, and to welcome Lily as our new queen that will rule at Daniel’s side for all time.” Moving his eyes to his king’s face, his voice took on a more gentle tone to him. “King Daniel Willows, do you take Lily to be your wife, lover and queen for all of your days to come?”

  “I do.” Daniel didn’t hesitate for a single moment in responding to the question that was asked of him. He wanted no one but Lily to be his queen. His eyes remained fixated on her while he picked up on the priest moving to her with his question.

  “Lily, do you take, King Daniel Willows, to be your husband, lover and king for all of your days to come?”

  His body tightened up out of nervousness to what her answer would be. He couldn’t help but feel a little dread due to a possibility of her turning down the question. Keeping his eyes on her hidden face, his listened to the sound of her soft, sweet voice coming out in a shaky sound.

  “I…I do.”

  The moment her words hit his ears all of the worry and concern left his entire body, leaving all of his unconditional love and desire for her behind. The smile widened a little more on his face as he kept eye contact with her.

  “Now…It is the time to commence the beginning of Lily’s transformation from a mortal woman to being a member of our immortal nobility and royal court.”

  Okay…Here I go.

  Releasing a soft sigh, Daniel removed his hands from within hers, and moved them to the bottom of her veil. He gathered some of it into his hand, and lifted it over the top of her head, exposing her true angelic beauty to the whole room. The soft sound of his guests gasping in sight of such natural radiance that could only come from the angles brought a smile to his face. Daniel waited for the priest to remove the veil away from her and step back before he brushed some of her hair away from a side of her neck. The same hand moved to the back of her neck, and cradled it in a way to assist her in leaning her head back.

  “I love you, Lily.” He whispered to her as his face moved in the direction of her slender throat. Bringing his mouth a few inches from the soft flesh of her neck, he listened to the sound of her voice escaping from her mouth in a whisper just as soft and sincere as his was.

  “I love yo
u too, Daniel.”

  With the words he sought to hear from her echoing in the background, his fangs extended from the top row of his teeth as the emerald green pools in his eyes took on a crimson shade to them. Daniel drew in one more breath of air before his mouth moved to allow his fangs to sink into her fair complexion, and taste her intoxicating blood.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The tips of his razor sharp fangs started to press against her soft skin when a loud sound similar to that of something heavy ramming against a gate caught his attention. He lifted his head up, and looked in the direction of where his bride had entered the room just a few minutes ago.

  Forcing the front door of the castle wide open, a large group of mortal men, ranging from their mid-twenties to their late fifties, rushed in the direction of the opened entrance leading into the ballroom with swords at their hips and lit torches in their hands. A familiar face emerged from the mob as it moved more into sight: Radcliff.

  That bastard… Daniel growled in his mind from finding Lily’s father heading a group of men with their intentions being very clear from their body language and the items they had brought in there. How dare he storm in here on the most special day in the several centuries I have been alive, and try to ruin everything for me!

  A low, animalistic growl escaped out of the small opening of his mouth as he started to straighten both Lily and himself into a standing position. Once he had moved himself in front of his bride’s body, Daniel narrowed his gaze in the direction of where Radcliff stood with his men while the guests in the room had went on alert at the sight of the party crashers.

  “What is the meaning of this?!” Daniel asked. His voice bellowed out in a loud roar of a tone. With his fangs still in clear sight with his crimson eyes, he let all the rage he held inside of him out in his voice. “What is your reason for storming here during my wedding?!”