Chapter 1 : Meeting

It all started on the day of this famous ball where I had to meet my future vampire husband before my coronation. My name's Vanessa Winslow, known as the crown princess of the largest and the most powerful vampire kingdom : Criviel Kingdom. The first vampires of history appeared here in the city of Vampirios. We, the Winslow, come down from the first generation of vampires who trampled the Earth so it is up to us to lead the Criviel Kingdom. But there is another vampire kingdom divided into several large cities all ruled by different kings and/or queens apart from Criviel, who is only ruled by a single ruler which makes him the more powerful of the two. All the vampire kingdom's slogan is "Conquerors of darkness, beyond the skies we rise."

My father, King George, fifth of the name was crowned more than 700 years ago and now it is finally my turn to take the crown. But first of all I had to choose the vampire with whom I was going to pass the rest of the eternity. In fact, for me it was only a formality because I already knew who this vampire is, his name is Richard Duprès.

He is from a noble and very rich and influential vampire family. We grew up together and I would even say that we were almost raised together. His father and mine are best friends and his father is the personal counselor of my father. Everyone in the kingdom already knew that it will be him and I who will become the next leader of Criviel kingdom.

We were only three days away from the ball and I was prepared for this since my birth.

My mother had told me many times about her ball as well as her meeting with my father and she said that it was one of the happiest moments of her life after their wedding and my birth. Then, I was so nervous during those few days but unfortunately Richard was there; he prepared a surprise walk to help me relax a bit.

He was always there when I needed him and he never let me down. I remember that day I almost broke my leg because I was on a swing and the rope that held it broke but luckily Richard was there and was able to catch up with me in time. Richard blindfolded me and took me to a beautiful lake. The view was breathtaking: the moon was reflected on the lake, "wow! It's wonderful Richard, thank you so much". "Don't mention it, I'll do anything to make you happy Vanessa '', he replied.

Here we are, the bal night , I watched the guests arrive through my window, there were so many vampires and werewolves coming from all over the world to see me, the crown princess of the vampire kingdom. It had come for me to announce my entry after all the guests had all arrived, a man with a loud voice said: "the crown princess of vampire kingdom Vanessa Lydia Winslow first of the name". I walked slowly down the steps that led to the center of the ballroom and the eyes of the guests were all on me.

Halfway up the steps I saw my father waiting for me to take me to my future suitors and at the end of the stairs there was Richard and all the other vampire princes. I recognized some of the vampire princes who were my childhood friends. They all had beautiful bouquets of red roses and all the other men in the ballroom had bouquets of white roses in their hands and only the red roses were intended for me.

The tradition is that I open the ball by dancing with the suitor whose bouquet I had chosen. I was already in my father's arms when suddenly my gaze turned to the corner of the ballroom and he was there with beautiful brown hair and beautiful hazel eyes. I noticed that he was alone and had a bouquet of lilies in his hand. Then he noticed that I was staring at him so he smiled and I smiled back. After that he made some funny faces and laughed. I tried not to laugh as I looked away, I looked at him again and he was still staring at me.

When we got to the end of the stairs we were still staring into each other's eyes: it was as if there were only him and I in the room. My father gave me a kiss on my forehead and said " you are beautiful honey and I am so proud of you".

Then I continued my way towards his direction and I heard the other guests whispering with a look of amazement on their face. However, for the first time in my life I don't know but I didn't care what they thought of me.

He still continued to look me in the eyes and I finally arrived in front of him while still looking at his beautiful hazel eyes, he was even more handsome closer with those beautiful thin lips who gave me a beautiful smile. I at once recognized that he was not a vampire and the first question that came to my head at that moment was "who is he ?".