The Vampire's Bride

~

I was seated on my bed, staring at nothing in particular. I was going to remain like this until it was time for dinner. I would resume doing the same thing tomorrow, after getting bored of my phone, I would stare into space, locked up in my room like a prisoner.

I wouldn't blame my parent for this, they are obviously doing this to keep us safe. Yet this wasn't the perfect solution.

The vampires always take whatever they want, and nights like this are what we humans dread the most. Not to even talk about our problem related to the royal vampires—I mean the Graves. They dislike being just called vampires.

I jolted out of my thoughts when my brother walked in, almost glaring at me, he said. "It's dinner; come downstairs if you want, or remain here." He walked away, slamming the door as he always did.

I wouldn't blame any of my family for their cold behavior towards me. I mean... I was a blessing and a curse, being told I was born to be the bride of the heir to the Graves family. While others think I was blessed, some do think I was a curse, and my family included. They didn't get their freedom to step out of the city or even have many or any friends at all.

The rules should be only mine to follow when I turn twenty, but I guess the vampires want my family to bend to their will.

I walked into the dining room, peering my head here and there as though I was among strangers.

"Get out of the road." My elder sister called out rudely, and I naively stepped aside.

She had her seat, without sparing me a look. She was the most annoying one; sometimes, I felt she was jealous I was chosen to be a bride rather than annoyed at getting deprived of our right to do whatever we wanted after I turned twenty.

Oh! I'm twenty-two now, by the way, and I know the life I've lived so far hasn't been the same. Sometimes I wondered if dying would be easier.

I joined my family in the dining area, we said our prayers to God, our last hope to save us from people called vampires who saw us as their slaves, worse, their food.

Are we ever going to get separated? It's been more than five centuries of being ruled by the vampires.

"After this dinner, Maria, you should go back to your room. Tabitha and Junior would help out with the rest of the work we have left." The instructions of my father echoed in the small room, and I nodded slightly while my sister only mumbled. She claimed I was living a princess's life, whereas princesses didn't live in locked rooms. Being locked in my room and deprived of outside contact was not what I would ever wish for my enemies, the vampires, although I might wish the worst because who else was letting me go through this if not them?

And how the hell was I to be a f*ck*ng bride to the heir? A f*ck*ng vampire bride!

Okay, this wasn't the time to get mad at that.

I silently swallowed my meal, making sure I was as invisible as possible even though Tabitha kept glaring at me. We never had a good relationship, even when we were still in school. I was never one to fight over guys, but Tabitha always wanted everything that belonged to me, which explains it.

I rose up on my feet after eating as quietly as possible, muttering an appreciation to my parent. I turned to leave, but the loud noise from the living room wouldn't let me take another step.

"Who's that?" Junior was the first to speak. Our heads turned to the entrance of the dining room. None of us made a move until the loud crash of wood hitting the floor ripped through the silence like the front door had just been torn off its hinges

Wait... Did someone just break into our home?

My dad rose to his feet. "Maria, go back to your room," Papa called out sternly as he hurried away. Junior followed along with my mother, who had a worried look, ignoring me, her daughter, who was soon to be a vampire's wife.

"Princess, go back to your room," Tabitha called sarcastically, unfazed by our dad's yell in the living room at whoever the intruder was.

I glanced at her. "Can you go check what's happening—"

"Wanna admit to turning me into your slave now, huh?" She scoffed.

Speaking with Tabitha really was of no use. What was I thinking? I was about to leave when Junior walked in, his face bruised. "Rhea." He called. "They want you."

I could feel my heart stop when I heard him say that. My eyelid was shaking as I tried to say a word, but he cut me off. "They f*ck*ng want you, go to them!" Junior yelled. "They're holding Papa and might be tempted to feed on him!"

My breath hitched, his words heavy on me. Was this the day? To finally say goodbye to my family. Even if they didn't like the fact that I was to be a bride and sh*t still they were my family. We have shared both good and bad memories, but staying behind meant risking Papa's life, and I swear if I didn't didn't join them, they might do worse to my parent.

I could feel my feet heavy when I walked into the living room with Junior, who was still groaning; he probably started a fight with them.

"No..." Mama cried watching me as I approached the vampire guards. She wasn't willing to stop me, her husband was in trouble, and even if she did, it meant risking everyone's life, and I still got to go.

Tabitha already appeared, consoling Mama, who was crying unstoppably.

"Get her." One of the vampire guards called out, and two of them approached me, snapping cold metal cuffs around my wrist.

Was this how they treated their own bride?

They released my dad, who stared at me with a saddened look. There were no more words left to say; we expected this, yet no matter how much we avoided it, it was meant to happen. It just had to be a freaking bride to a vampire heir that could end the human race in a single command!

~

While the human world slept quietly through the night, this place was the exact opposite—buzzing with life and danger.

It was like the day just started in here. Of course, it was by this time that they hunted for their human prey, although any vampire caught feeding on a human without approval would be punished, but it was better to avoid being a victim.

The people—vampires stared at me as I was being dragged by the guards to the huge castle. I don't think transportation was a thing here because of their superspeed ability, but then it looked like I was responsible for slowing them down.

Their footsteps echoed in my head. My throat burned for water, and my vision blurred as my eyes rolled back. I stopped in my tracks at once, panting.

"Humans are always this weak," one of the guards sneered.

We've walked miles from the east over to their kingdom, yet it felt like it was a never-ending journey. I would rather die right here than be taken t