#3: Unwanted Birthday Gifts

The brunch was going to be a memorable one. It was fun seeing Bella that scared.

I was being called to my mother's study, I know the reason why, tomorrow happens to be my 118th birthday, my coming of age. The ceremony where I am officially an adult.

I don't have any problem with this, except for the fact that, I from tomorrow have a right to throne. Which means I could be assassinated before I could even turn 119.

And not just this. The rules of succession, includes and allows killing of siblings for throne, which means my smaller siblings in order to rise up in power can feel free to kill me but must not torture me and offer a proper burial.

So sweet. Right?

"Um... you, are turning 118 soon isn't it? ", mother asked. Great she forgot her kid's name.

"Amber", the maid serving her whispered in her ear, but clearly enough for me to hear.

"Yes, Amber dear, when you turn 118, you are not just a princess, but the fourth Royal highness, we shall bestow the name of Bellatrix, my mother, your grandmother as your middle name.", she said sipping tea.

" I am sorry mother, but I would like to have 'Mae' as my middle name. ", I replied.

" Mae? the middle name that nanny forcibly bestowed upon you?", She said, trying to conceal her anger.

"Yes, that name has been imprinted on my body and magic, I am afraid changing my name would just make me worse in magic. ", I said.

*Crack*

I looked up, Mother broke the cup she was holding, and the maids cleaned up the mess.

" I am your mother! Bellatrix is going to be your name even if you end up dead while we name you! ", she said and she got up to change.

" Yes, mother. ", I said nodding my head and going out before anyone could see tears in my eyes.

Name imprinting, it is the thing which enables us to use magic, unlike everyone else, royalty have loads of magic and highly sensitive, if they could not control it would just burst and end up killing almost all the people. Getting a name from a parent or guardian offers a sort of method to control the magic.

The middle name bestowed on the coming of age, refines the magic and makes it more easier to control. I was the only one to get my middle name at the age of 12. It was bestowed by my nanny, who ran away soon after and is missing.

'Mae', I don't know what it means but I bind with that name more than anything.

"Sister, we want to have a duel with you! ", Ethan, my smallest brother asked me, with his twin, Heather, scowling at me.

" I am not strong enough for you to duel with me, just ask Fang, I heard he was quite bored with no one to perform experim-... I mean fight with. ", I said.

" Thank you, Sister Amber. ", He said and ran towards Fang's room with his sister.

" Hey, Father is calling you, he is in his room. ", My first brother said suddenly appearing before me.

" Me? ", I asked.

"Yes, I don't think I know another Amber than you, even if I did I am sure they are way better than you.", He said.

" I didn't ask for an evaluation. ", I said.

" yea yea, just remove that sorry face, it looks so disgusting. ", He said offering me a handkerchief.

" yuck... are you crazy... I don't want to wipe my face with your snot! ", I said.

"It's a new one! ",He said.

" Is dad going to execute me? ", I asked.

" what? no!.. he is just calling you. ", He said.

" Then why the hell are you being nice? ", I asked.

" I just felt bad... thinking about how all treat you, if I wanted to be a good king I should take care of the weak first. "

" By taking care, are you sure you don't mean 'eradicating them' or 'killing them'? ", I said.

"Maybe... ", he smirked and went out.

*** Father's Room****

" Father? I heard you called me. ", I said as soon as I entered.

" Yes, I heard you made Mother a bit angry. ", He said not even looking up.

" It was just a bit of misunderstanding... ", I replied thinking how fast the message travelled.

" You don't want to lose the name Mae? ", he asked.

"... Yes. If I can I would like to keep it. ", I said

" But Mae is too rural and improper, the name Bellatrix shall give you a strong position in palace and improve your magic! Your grandmother, Bellatrix was the most purest blood and most powerful. ", he said.

" But... ", I said.

" You have to take upon Bellatrix name... Your fiancee demanded that. ", He said.

" My what? ", I asked.

" You're being wedded to the Defense Minister of Elves, he is a proper match. ", He said.

" Defense Minister of Elves? ", I said.

" Leo Silas from the party three years back. The one who came as a member of delegation last month."

"No!.. My name is other thing but marriage? To an elf? Even first brother is not married! You do know that Elves only marry once!".

" Yes, He is a kind and powerful person, with proper position and is worthy of it, he is young and only a year older than you. He is handsome and healthy. I don't think I am being unfair in this. He has no affairs with anyone. He even has been trying to court you since he met you. He is the heart throb of his country. This is probably the best guy in the world! Elves remain loyal to their one. Unlike Vampires. " he said.

" But father... "

" It's decided the marriage will take place in three or four months. I don't understand what is wrong with you. Even your brother didn't agree. ", He said.

I was made to leave the room. Outside, I saw first brother waiting for me. He was leaning back on the wall, exposing a bit, This caused damage to all the maids who were assigned to clean and of course, the guards too were awestruck, first brother, Nyxus was very handsome and could seduce men, women, everyone.

" So, I suppose you heard about your 'fiancee'. ", he said.

" Yea, Even a scary fact that you were worried about who I would wed. No way! Are you into that Elf? ", I asked.

" No, Elves are too serious for me. I was just worried you would get more power. Elves are quite powerful. ", He said letting his open button damage a few more servants.

"Yes, of course it was about power, you genuinely caring about siblings scares me. ", I said turning to go to my room.

"There's someone waiting for you. A vampire named Case in your garden", He said.

" Are you sure you want to be the next Emperor. ", I said.

" Why? ", He asked, listening intently. Only things like these go into his head.

" Because I feel you would do a good job as my secretary considering how you are informing me of my appointments. " I said with a smirk.

" Amber, Don't take it too far. " , He said forming an arrow with his magic pointed at my heart.

" Oh my, The future Emperor is so short-tempered." I said.

" Stay away then. ", He said as he went away angry again. I swear he has a very short temper and an ever changing attitude.

****

The vampire named Case, was Daisy Case, The granddaughter of our chef. She is my best friend and an extreme extrovert. So much, that even the Emperor, my father knows about her.

We both met each other during my 60th birthday, we both hung out ever since. I didn't want to... but somehow ended up becoming close with her.

"Amber baby!!!!!! I missed you!!!!!!! ", She screamed as she flew and hugged me by clinging on me.

" um... the last time I saw you was last night? How can you miss a person you saw last night? ", I demanded trying to get her off of me.

" What can I do? I am just like this!!! ", She said as she struck a pose and pretended to cry like a lady. I was turning to walk away.

" Hey!! Don't ignore me... " She said holding my hand and we both sat down on the garden bench.

" I have a fiancee now. ", I said.

" what???!!! ", she screamed loud as ever into my ears.

" Some Defense guy of Elves. ", I said nonchalantly.

"No way!!!! you're engaged to Leo Silas?????!!!? ", She screamed.

" You know him? Is he famous? "... I asked taking out a small blood packet and drinking it.

" Famous??? He is like the most popular.. handsome strong sweet and kind. He is like the best!!! How did your father get you that good match..? ", She screamed once again into my poor ears.

" I don't know, supposedly, Leo is into me.. ", I said.

" Wow girl.... when did you start this?? ", She shook my shoulders and got up unable to contain that information.

" I don't know but it feels weird, I never actually show myself in parties and him falling in love with a girl he never knew feels weird. Elves take a lot in consideration before deciding their partner.

Something is wrong!", I said.

"Your head's a mess. C'mon... there's a thing called love at first sight. ", she said.

" I don't know... I just want to be a normal girl, not a princess where I must be careful of each and everything... ", I said.

" I know my dear, I am always here for you, you can be Amber with me. ", She said hugging me.

" Thanks. ", I said.

"Guess what? For someone who is turning 118 tomorrow I have a special gift. ", She said.

" what is it?", I asked.

"A necklace, with us in the locket... hehe. ", She said.

" Really? you know I hate them. ", I said. I didn't hate necklaces but I always felt they never suited me. It might suit my sisters who are all pretty but not me who has scars near my nape. It doesn't look pretty on me.

" Just kidding, I bought you a pen. ", she said.

" a pen? ",I asked.

" It's an empty one, which accepts only one type of ink. And I have the ink bottle, which only writes when written with the pen. So, we both are useless alone. " she said satisfied with her gift.

I never actually got it. But I liked it. The line that we both are useless alone.

" Thanks. Come tomorrow without fail. ", I said.

" Why? ", She asked confused.

" I am going to be changing my name, from Mae to Bellatrix. If you were there, I would be a bit more confident. ", I said. She looked a bit sympathetic but hid it almost immediately. I know she is hiding something, but I won't probe her further.

" Aww, I know it's hard for you, I wish I could say I can help you but I have no power darling. I am willing to lose my life for you, but I would rather have my life's sacrifice make a change in your life. But to royals, my sacrifice is just an ant being squashed. ", She began using poetic lines and doing dramatic poses alongside the statues of the garden.

" Yes, I know. I will get going, I have to get proper dresses ready and all. ", I said.

"yea... Its a bit weird that you aren't protesting against this, but I up for anything you want to do... ", She said as she too got up and we both went back to our homes.

*****In my room*****

"What are all these? ", I asked the maids, pointing to the stack of things at the corner.

" They are the birthday wishing gifts from the delegations of all Empires excluding werewolves, it was thrown due to safety purposes. The gifts from the Royal highnesses are kept here along with the ones from little princes and princess. "

I opened them up, I don't understand how it works... do you get a gift according to the person who is receiving them or they just give you their favorite thing.

Because all the gifts were what they like the most.

No gift from Nxyus(eldest brother), Raven(eldest sister) gave me a whip, perfectly styled in red and black Intricate with slight blades protruding out of it, Rain(second sister) gave me a sword, A bit heavy considering it was done using some precious metal and was made by the best dwarf.

Bella(third sister) gave me a perfume and a fan, both of them.

Vasil(second brother) gave me a map of the palace and an artifact, a goblet which gives out gold spoons and forks when turned upside down.(I am sure he planned this today itself during the brunch)

Zane(third brother) gave me a necklace set clad with the finest cut rubies and diamond it was beautiful yes but I just don't like necklaces.

Evan(one of triplets) gave me a poison and it's antidote. Stevan (another one of triplets) gave a gun with magical bullets which can shoot around some miles with the speed of lightning supposedly. Fang(other triplet) gave me a Stopwatch and a small dagger. I wish I could use them, but most likely they were the prototypes of their inventions. It was dangerous to use them without precautionary methods.

Ethan( my smallest brother) gave me a mummified body of a scorpion and a set of brushes and paint.

Heather(twin of Ethan) gave me a rose frozen with her magic and a cute letter saying, 'I am giving you this rose as a reminder of me, I look as pretty as it so keep it well and don't forget me sis.'

They usually don't give me these many gifts but I guess this is because I am getting engaged.

I sat back and just stared at the ceiling. I didn't want this life. I don't want to be a vampire. I want to be a human who gets to go to a school, has cute talks with guys, go to malls with friends, simp over actors and maybe fall in love? get a job and just work hard for luxury. I want it like that.

I don't want this life where I need to depend on blood. Where I must always be wary of something/someone because everyone is jealous of vampires. I don't want to be the princess of an Empire. I want something meaningful, not an empty title with no weight or respect.

I closed my eyes to not cry again. I know I can't change how I am made, but I can certainly hide it.