In The Dead Of Night

Serena stood on the balcony of her room, her hands resting on the rail, eyes staring unseeing at the lake gleaming under the moonlight below. The night wind blew her hair in streaming tendrils behind her, her white nightgown ruffling in undulating swirls against her tall, slender frame.

Below her, small waves caused by the icy wind broke the surface of Lake Brannon as the moon's beams cast slivers of light dancing across the lake's otherwise dark surface. As Serena continued to stare, mesmerized, the smooth, glassy surface of the lake was broken by a series of small ripples that continued in a widening circle while at the center a small whirlpool began to form. In the very center of the whirlpool rising from the depths of the lake was the figure of a woman.....in a long, black cloak.

Emerging from the water, Morag locked her gaze on Serena while beckoning her with one hand. Her emerald eyes sparkled under the moonlight while her fiery, red hair danced like flames in a fire, capturing and holding the light from the moon. Her pale skin seemed to glow and radiate with the shimmering lights reflected on the lake's surface.

The witch was mesmerizing even with her scars, perhaps even more so, because of them. The water around her churned and roiled like a beast threatening to break free from it's restraints.

The witch and the Princess continued to stare into the each other's eyes despite the distance between them. The witch's eyes turned dark, an unreadable expression on her face as her lips curved upwards in an inviting smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Serena seemed hypnotized, unable to move or speak, her entire body tense and rigid as though waiting for something. She had been calm at first but now she felt a small flicker of fear begin to slowly creep into her heart. She wondered if she could somehow break the spell that she was sure the witch had woven around her but she also couldn't help but feel a little curious about the witch's intentions for her. Just then, the witch spoke....

"Come to me Serena", Morag whispered into the night wind and on the balcony above, Serena, locked in a trance that she was unable to resist, stepped up on the ledge and then stepped off, falling into the lake below.

Serena woke with a start, a gasp escaping her as she gulped in lungfuls of air in an attempt to shake the feeling of drowning from her nightmare. She looked around as her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of her room. The doors leading to the balcony stood open, the curtains fluttering in the cold night wind. Moonlight streamed through the fluttering curtains, bathing the room in shadows. Her heart was racing and she was covered in a cold sweat, her nightgown sticking to her body.

She shook her head as she tried to remember the nightmare but it was already fading from her mind, leaving behind only the feeling of drowning and a figure cloaked in black. It felt like it was something important but what? And why couldn't she remember?

Glancing at the fireplace, she realized that the flames had burnt out and she shivered feeling the cold coming from the open balcony doors. Serena had always preferred the doors leading to her balcony left open at night as the cold never really bothered her. She was born in the northern winter and loved the ice and snow, preferring it to the warmer weather found further south.

The door to her room opened, the light spilling through from outside, chasing away the shadows that were lurking in her room. Her maid, Sonsie, catching sight of her, spoke softly in the semi-darkness, "Your Highness? It's time, it's almost midnight"

Serena nodded and pulling back the covers, climbed out of bed. She moved towards the balcony, stepping out and gazing down at the lake, just like in her dream. The lake was calm now, not even the softly falling snow disturbing its placid surface. She frowned as she struggled to recall her dream but it felt like straining to see through thick, swirling clouds of mist inside her mind.

Behind her, Sonsie moved towards the fireplace, lighting a fire before stepping into the bath chamber to prepare a bath for the Princess.

She could feel the cold of the balcony stones seeping into her feet and up into the rest of her body but still she stood there on the balcony, straining to remember. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something important but not being able to recall anything, she sighed softly into the night air.

"Your Highness, your bath is ready", Sonsie said from behind her. Serena turned and walking back into her room, headed straight for her bath chamber, her maid following close behind.

As Serena stepped back into her room after bathing, another maid named Beryl, had already laid out her clothes on her bed and stood waiting for her. Beryl and Sonsie dressed her in traveling clothes, a dark blue velvet dress and a long matching frock coat with black trim.She completed the look with a hat and a netted veil that cast the upper half of her face in shadow and matching black leather gloves and boots. Her hair was swept up in a low chignon and fastened with pins.

Serena looked at herself in the mirror and wondered what awaited her at the end of her journey. She knew nothing about the vampire she was to marry except what she had heard from her mother and eavesdropping on the maids gossiping in the castle. They said that the Vampire King, Ivar, was a dark and evil man, with no heart. Wherever he went, death and bloodshed followed.

Just as the maids finished dressing her, they heard the sound of horses hooves and a carriage. At that same moment, the doors to her room opened and her mother, Queen Eire, entered her chambers.

Queen Eire moved towards her daughter and embraced her as she spoke, "Serena, you can still change your mind. You don't have to do this"

"It is done, mother, there is no going back now", Serena shook her head firmly.

"I know you are strong, so strong, and I wish nothing but the best for you but....., Queen Eire left the words hanging in the air that was now heavy with so many unspoken words.

The Queen held her daughter tightly, murmuring in her ear,"Please be well, all my love goes with you"

A noise at the door alerted them to the arrival of Crown Prince Kheelan, dressed in his military finery. He stood in silence, waiting to escort his sister downstairs.

Serena finally broke her mother's embrace and straightening her back, walked to her brother and placed her arm in his, glancing up at him briefly to give him a small, tight smile. Kheelan did not return her smile but stared straight ahead and started walking down the long corridor to the grand staircase, followed by the Queen.

At the top of the staircase, Kheelan paused and Serena heard his breath hiss between his teeth as he caught sight of the vampire, Rathgar, standing in the castle's front hall. She felt Kheelan's grip on her arm tighten just as they began to descend the stairs.

Serena kept her eyes on her father, the King, as they descended and she felt her heart break when she saw the look of utter despair in his eyes. She could just make out the shine of tears glistening in his eyes. Serena could feel her own emotions swelling inside her and silently she willed herself to remain calm.

She breathed deeply and began to steady her rapidly beating heart as she blinked back the tears that hovered behind her eyes. Beside her, she felt her elder brother stiffen as his footsteps on the stairs became slower, more drawn out. His demeanor telling her, more than his words ever could, the inner turmoil within as he fought to control his own emotions.

The rest of the royal household, including the servants, had gathered in the castle's front hall to farewell the princess. Many had known her since she was just a child and discreetly shed tears behind handkerchiefs and aprons.

Hiding her surprise, Serena studied the vampire, Rathgar, who stood beside her father, watching her with an utterly blank expression on his face. His tattoos and long silver hair gave him a menacing look and his blood-red eyes seemed to glower and burn. He bowed his head and greeted her, 'Your Highness. We haven't much time before we leave, I will wait for you outside", and he turned and strode out of the hall.

Serena embraced her parents and brother, holding onto them for as long as she could before turning to wave at everyone who stood gathered in the front hall. Her vision blurred slightly, the tears threatening to fall as she quickly turned and walked out of the castle doors.

Rathgar was waiting beside the carriage, holding the door open as he watched her descend the castle's steps. As Serena came to stand before him, he extended his hand and helped her into the carriage, shutting the door behind her. Taking her seat, she parted the inner curtain and looked one last time at the home she was leaving behind. As the carriage started moving away from the castle, Serena leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes, as the tears slid silently down her cheeks.