20th Night

Because she is being guarded by either Rouen, Sin or Caius and even Kaien alternately, no one dared to ask her for a dance nor engage a conversation with her because the guys she is with either glare at the men or threaten them openly without remorse.

"You know, I feel like a wallflower," she said out of the blue when all of them aside from Rouen found themselves to be standing beside her.

"You are the most beautiful wallflower, so what's the problem?" Caius asked.

He looked so serious as if he said something normal. Well, maybe for him, it is, but for her, it is not. She may not be the most sociable person, but she is sure, standing there by the side with vampires and a hunter she just befriended like they are guarding her from something, is not normal. In fact, it is questionable. They wouldn't be doing this without any proper reason. Maybe they just cared about her safety? Maybe Rouen had ordered them to do so using telepathy? Who knows? But at that time, they are all acting like they are her older brothers who are chasing every guy away from her.

How can they be so clueless? Does it come from being the sole child? Because as far as she knew, aside from Kaien who was born without a sister but has brothers working as hunters too, Rouen, Caius and Sin don't have any siblings. What have they been doing with their lives? Didn't they know the word mingle? They hold such high positions: Kaien being an heir himself, Caius and Sin being dukedom heirs and Rouen being a crown prince. Aren't they supposed to use such events like the soiree to extend their connections? Or is it because they knew that no one could threaten their positions under the reigning monarchy, so they built a wall around them which people would not be able to topple down easily?

When Rouen came walking towards them, most eyes followed him like he was pulling their attention away from something and directing it towards him. He has that kind of presence. Maybe it is because he is the son of the current king and queen of the vampires' kingdom. The male populace envied his position and the female populace wanted to experience and use that position for themselves through him, but Rouen himself didn't pay it any mind as long as it was not directly affecting him.

He stopped in front of her and slightly bowed before extending his hand which she was left staring at. What does he want now? Does he want to put her in the spotlight again like he did the minute he arrived? The people around them have been watching all of his movements and knowing that she is the woman whom he publicly showed his affection, she too is being observed by them. Every time the people around the hall see them together, it seems like they are expecting to see something they have never seen the prince doing in public. And right now, he just had to extend his arm towards her as if he was about to ask something from her.

Rouen smiled at her. He could see how her appearance changed from guarded, puzzled to curious and to being flustered. He came to love the way he could see emotions clearly being displayed on her face and eyes in exchange for his inability to read her mind. She is probably thinking he is going to put her on the spot again and she is right to think that way.

"May I ask you to have this dance with me, my lady?"

Though a little bit shy because she had been put on the spot again, Eona held the sides of her gown as she elegantly curtsied in front of Rouen for everyone to see before she stood up straight and held out her lace-covered hand towards the prince to place it on his glove-covered hand. "It would be my pleasure, your highness."

"Rouen."

She frowned. "What?"

Isn't that how people normally address him, since he is the son of the king and queen - the crown prince of this kingdom?

"You are the only woman aside from my mother whom I allow to address me by my name, precious. I'd very much like it if you could remember that."

Everyone who had the ability to hear what he had said to her above a whisper murmured in surprise because they were aware of how their prince brushed women away from him in the span of more than a hundred years, but Rouen didn't care even if they did hear him. What he cared about was that Eona had heard what he said clearly and the blush that tinted her cheeks and the rapid beating of her heart because of him made his frozen heart crack the ice that he had covered it with for more than two centuries. Eona had that kind of effect on him and she didn't even know it. She is the life he had been searching for a century and the fact that she is not his beloved made him despise fate to the point that he is cursing it.

When they walked towards the center of the hall, the crowd dispersed and created a circle space where they were put exactly in the middle for everyone to see them dance together. Because no other pairs joined them to dance, all eyes went towards the two of them. When the orchestra started to play a waltz, Rouen gently held her hand in his before he pulled her closer to him after he held onto her waist while she put her hand on his arm, just below his shoulder. Rouen guided her to the floor and she followed swiftly. They move in unison and she let him take the lead. The crowd were in awe. This was the first time they had seen the prince attend such an event without looking like he had been forced by his parents. In fact, this was the first time they had ever seen him ask someone to dance with him.

On the far side where the king and queen stood along with a few of the council members, Austria beamed in happiness as she observed how their son acted around the human girl Cohen brought with him to Laudicea for Rouen to meet. It had not been that long but she could see how the prince was acting differently towards Eona. He is protecting her in a way that Eona is not even aware of.

Rouen had never once paid any attention to the women around him, but now, he is publicly showing how he cared for the human girl in front of his race and those who are serving them. He never smiled at any girl who had wanted his affection for herself, but a smile always found itself on his lips at the mere sight of Eona. He ignores all the women around him but he always finds himself looking for her in the crowd.

"Cohen, I am aware you knew the contents of The Unknown Prophecies. I want to know what it states regarding my son." The queen said to the Duke, but her attention was still on Rouen and Eona dancing waltz in the middle of the hall.

Cohen, along with the others with them, all looked at the prince and Eona. Both looked like they had been put perfectly together with their clothes which they knew the queen made sure to match along with the mask they were wearing. With Eona naturally looking like she wasn't human at all, she stood beautifully beside the crown prince as if she belonged there. Cohen remained silent and when the queen inquired again, he spoke the words he knew.

"In this midst of chaos, a prince of Golden Blood will be born, a prince who's blood was that of a vampire and a werewolf. His birth will be the signal for a new era to come. An era where vampires and werewolves will be united as one. No, it is not the eternal peace that was craved by everyone. For there are always those who are bound to ruin the peace that was uniting them all, signalling a war that is yet to come.

In a hundred years, when roses bloom, memories of the past will gather, bringing forth a doom. The prince's path will cross with that of a wanderer, a woman who has been living in the human world. She is a woman possessing a voice so sweet and captivating who will stand together with the prince whose blood was that of gold and together they'll defeat the enemies of old."

After hearing those words, Austria's eyes glistened with tears which she immediately concealed when happiness made itself known to her heart. She knew how long Rouen had stayed away from people due to the prophecy that accompanied his birth and seeing him be happy in the company of someone, seeing him smile affectionately at a girl, and seeing him care and protect a woman aside from her brought relief to her being his mother. She wanted Rouen to be happy and it seemed like he found happiness in the person of Eona, who came into his life unexpectedly.

"Is it talking about Eona?"

"Rouen did let her into his life, didn't he?"

Austria smiled. Yes, her son did let Eona in. He was not even slightly ashamed as he put her on the spot during the whole duration of the soiree while he whispered words to her which he knew could be heard by his fellow vampires in the room. The queen likes the girl whom Cohen brought to meet her son. She exudes confidence which she owned unknowingly and she is sweet, unlike those who pretended to be just so they could get Rouen's attention but failed miserably. The way she blushes when her son is teasing her out in public shows how innocent she is. It seems like she is the peace which Rouen had been longing to have after living for so many years in the middle of chaos that is a vampire's life.

"I really do hope Eona is Rouen's beloved. I'd be the happiest mother if that came true," the queen thought to herself while watching the two dancing beautifully in the middle of the room as if they were born to find solace in each other.

Rouen stared down at the girl in his arms because even if she was wearing four-inch pumps, she still had not fully reached his height. He smiled at her lovingly as they were dancing the waltz being played as if she is his world.

"You are beautiful."

She blushed. "Yes, you already told me before. Thank you."

"Shall I say it again?" He asked before he released her from his hold to let her turn before he took hold of her again. "I told you, you are my light. And you just so happen to shine brightly tonight."

"Am I supposed to retort?"

"No, love. As long as you listen, it is fine for me to just see you blushing from my words because I knew I was affecting you just fine."

And with that, a pink blush again tainted her cheeks, as if it became a permanent hue on her fair skin due to Rouen's presence, but because they were still dancing, she couldn't hide her face from him.

Rouen is enjoying the view - the beautiful girl in front of him and her blushing cheeks. He can hear her heart beating rapidly through the music piece being played and it is more beautiful than the song they are dancing to at the moment. They completely ignored the crowd as they only had each other in their eyes. It is as if there are only two of them in the hall and the music.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She whispered, but she was certain he heard him.

"Because if I told you directly that I am going to court you, you'd surely run away from me."

Eona eyed him, surprised.

Court? Is Rouen really going to? Even with their difference in status and race? They both completely belong in different worlds and is he willing to cross over? Because, for certain, Rouen did not want to turn her and pull her into his. He said so himself that he wanted her to stay human.

"O-of course, I would," she stuttered.

What was she supposed to say when someone like him surprised her with such words?

"See? So let us start with you thinking about me every time you see my gifts starting with this ring," he told her as he stopped and held her hand before he leaned down and kissed the ring he had given her, which she put on her forefinger.

All she did was stand there and stare at the handsome devil whose aquamarine eyes seemed to have been gently pulling her in as they glistened mischievously. His smile looks entrancing and his presence lulls her to safety. She was aware that he was a dangerous being but he made her feel safe. He is a cruel and heartless prince, but he can be tender and affectionate with her. He had never once shown care but he did the moment he met her.

When claps echoed around the hall, it was then when Eona noticed they had stopped dancing.

" Don't they look great together?" Eona heard someone whisper from a corner.

"Yes. They looked like lost puzzle pieces who had finally found and completed each other."

"Is she the prince's beloved? Is that why he is so attached to her?"

Beloved. Eona once read that it was the way vampires call their other half, the person whom they can recognize immediately even in the middle of the crowd, the one possessing half of their soul for them to feel complete as they live their never ending existence. Some vampires lived for almost eternity without finding the one who has half of their soul and only a very few found them. They said the feelings of having a beloved by their side are not like any other. For Rouen to be treating her this way, is she his? When she stared at him, Rouen just gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm serious, you know?"

"About what?"

"That I am going to court you. Prepare yourself."

After that, the soiree continued without any other big things happening and when the moon was at its peek, Eona's heart started to beat rather fast and harshly inside her chest, making her breathing unstable as if she was having a hard time breathing, especially when all the lights in the hall has been turned off at once without even an ounce of announcement as if the lights were programmed to turn off at that exact moment for the event that is about to take place any minute now. No wonder the hall was designed with such large windows. It is to ensure that the moonlight will enter completely, giving light inside as they held such occassion. It was eerily beautiful.

"Are you alright?" Rouen asked, barely above a whisper.

She glanced at Rouen beside her. "I… don't know?"

"I can hear your heartbeat."

"Are the others capable of hearing it too?"

"Yes. But don't worry. Just stay beside me. I'll keep you safe."

In the dark, Rouen could clearly see the vampires who were eyeing Eona and he had to glare at them in warning from time to time. His eyes glistened in the dark every now and then to show them he didn't like the fact that they were publicly planning to force her into joining the bloodletting. They knew Eona was uncontracted and they must be thinking for ways to lure her in just for them to get a taste of her blood.

Eona unknowingly reached for his hand and Rouen tightened his hold in return when she saw Cohen went and stood on the stage, her mother standing behind him awaiting for instructions from the duke himself.

"This is it," she thought.

Cohen made a speech and the vampires agreed with glee. Before Cohen continued what he was saying, he took hold of her mother gently and made her stand in front of him, both of whom were facing the crowd who did the same thing with their blood donors.

"Tonight, the moon graced us with its presence as we celebrate the night of the vampires!" Cohen announced and they cheered.

The hunters stood at the side, silently watching the event take place and the Silver Bloods she met stayed in their positions without a blood donor by their side, looking like they couldn't wait for this time to pass but patiently waiting for it to be done at the same time. Don't they have blood donors?

"It is the Silvers' choice to have blood donors or not, but in Caius, Sin and Mihai's case, they have chosen to work diligently instead. And to control their thirst, which is more dangerous than that of a turned vampire, they just strictly follow the routine of drinking human blood every day from a cup the way I do." Rouen explained, because by looking at her, he can tell what she is thinking by the way she stares at the Silver Bloods.

"Cup?"

Rouen nodded. "Some vampires own a hospital in the world of the living as an additional income for them to sustain their unending existence. It is for humanitarian purposes, don't get me wrong, and they change their pseudo-names which they use in your world to conduct business once in a while to avoid further questioning. Mostly, the patients are all naturals, but there are circumstances when vampires from the kingdom seek the hospitals' assistance whenever their thirst kicked in while they are in your world. A hospital such as that will always have a hidden purpose and it is for supplying blood bags to vampires like us who have chosen not to drink directly from a human, not unless we lose control of ourselves."

"Why didn't you take in a blood donor?"

"Would you like me to?"

She grimaced. "Why are you asking me?"

He chuckled as he ran his glove-covered forefinger at the crook of her neck. "Because, love, I'd be biting here," he whispered to her, and in the dark hall being illuminated by the moonlight she flustered because of the meaning hidden behind his words. "And us vampires, usually prefer blood donors of the opposite sex. Do you want to see me sucking blood from another human girl?"

"It is your choice, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I am asking you, am I not? I'd like to hear your opinion."

"What's that got to do with me?"

"Because, gem, if I were to bite a girl's neck, I'd very much prefer it to be yours."

What's with Rouen and his words tonight? Because she couldn't think of any words to retort, she just simply looked down to hide her flushed cheeks as she hit his arm, at which he only chuckled in return.

"Stop teasing me," she said a little while later when she regained her composure.

When she saw Cohen transformed into the vampire that he is - fangs elongated, eyes glistening dangerously in the dark, followed by all of the vampires around them, Eona felt like she couldn't breathe and when Cohen plunged his fangs into her mother's neck, she almost screamed. She was left staring at the scene right in front of her. She din't blink. She saw how the rest of them followed what Cohen did to their own blood donors, but before she could say anything, she found herself standing in the middle of the garden at the back of the manor with Rouen in front of her. He was looking at her with concern and he held her face gently in his hands.

"Are you alright?"

Her right hand held onto his wrist as she glanced around. Her eyesight was unsteady while her heart was beating painfully inside her chest. How did they end up in the garden when they were just inside the manor only a second ago? But did she really have to ask when she was with a vampire? Things like this are normal for their kind.

She frowned. Her mind seemed to have stopped working because what he said didn't even register in her thoughts.

"What?"

"Breathe in, precious. You're going to lose consciousness if you don't."

When she did, it was then when she noticed that she stopped breathing. She gasped at that needed air which she unknowingly deprived of her own self. The shock of seeing her own mother being drank from by a vampire assaulted her mind in a very negative way. She is expecting to see it happen tonight, but seeing it being done in person to her own mother is a very different thing.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Do you want to go back there?"

She thought for a second. The bloodletting is probably still ongoing. She knew she won't last watching it take place until it was done. The sight is not gruesome because it was done with the blood donor's consent, but the thought of seeing people do it in front of her doesn't seem appealing.

"Can we stay here?"

Rouen nodded.

Both of them stayed there while her heart slowly turned to its normal beating. Rouen guided her to the bench where they sat and just enjoyed basking under the moonlight in the middle of the garden while they listened to the songs being played from the banquet hall which was a little too far from them, and watched the fountain placed in the middle of the wide garden. The breeze was cold, so Rouen placed the royal mantle he was wearing above her shoulders to keep her warm.

"Do you prefer not witnessing the bloodletting?"

"No, I prefer seeing it. Maybe it's just the shock of seeing it take place that made me unknowingly stop breathing. I knew my mother was safe in the hands of Cohen, so it wasn't the bloodletting itself."

"So, what do you think?"

"About what?"

"About the bloodletting. Most naturals find it horrifying."

"Its... intimate."

Rouen gently laughed. He did not expect to hear that word from her. "Which part?"

"I don't know. Maybe the fact that it was done with each other's consent?"

"If it is intimate, as you have said, shouldn't it be done privately?"

"But it is your tradition to do so in soirees such as this one, isn't it? It couldn't be helped."

He looked at Eona and watched her profile. "Have you had any thoughts of experiencing the bloodletting for yourself?"

"Yes," she answered immediately, which made Rouen stare at her just to make sure she was not kidding. "But I want to experience it with you."

She was looking up at the moon, so she did not see how Rouen's eyes glistened with glee. The newly awakened demon in him celebrated with the thought of her wanting to experience the bloodletting under his hands and his gums throbbed as his fangs elongated with want. He was never interested in bloodletting. That is why he never did it with anyone, ever since he came to know about it. But, with Eona acting so willingly, his demon is pushing him to do something he never did. He cannot wait to feel her skin through his lips, to hug her close to him as he drank her blood and to feel her cling to him like her life depended on it.

"Shit," he cursed in a whisper.

It made Eona look at him in time when he lowered his head and hid his face behind his glove-covered left hand because he did not want her to see how he looked as a vampire. He did not want to scare her and he did not want her to despise him because of who he truly was.

"Rouen, what's wrong?"

"Don't say things like that, gem. You are enticing me to do just that."

"Why don't you?" She dared and Rouen looked up at her.

His glistening aquamarine golden eyes were beautiful under the moonlight and his fangs that showed behind his upper lip did not even make him any less handsome. Even though he looked like the vampire that he is, she felt at peace with his presence. This, right here in front of her, is the very same vampire who saved her on the brink of death - the one who held her gently as she was bleeding that night in the forest, ready to accept her fate.

She held out her hand and gently touched his cheek. In return, Rouen held it closer to him and leaned his head towards it.

"You're beautiful," she whispered in awe.

She had never seen anyone looking as beautiful as he was. Well, Aelvien is beautiful too, but in a different kind of way. Aelvien is much more refined and elegant, as if he was born entirely different from everyone else.

Rouen smiled and his fangs showed for her to see. "This is a predator's face, precious. Do not be deceived by it."

"A predator who had chosen to save me when I was about to die."

Surprise made itself known to his eyes. "You saw me? I thought you were losing all of your senses then."

"Of course, I did. And even then, when anger clouded your glistening eyes, you are still beautiful."

He laughed softly and held her hand before he kissed her palm lovingly. "Don't say things like that. It makes me want to bite you."

"Then do so."

He shook his head. "That is dangerous, love. Don't temp me. There is nothing much more filling for me right now than plunging my fangs into the skin on the crook of your neck and sucking your blood from your veins. I've never had this urge in my entire lifetime and I am having a hard time stopping myself from doing just that because I might end up hurting you."

"You won't hurt me."

"Eona..."

She smiled. The way her name escaped his lips is endearing. It was as if he was saying all the endearing words he called her at the same time and it made her heart skip a beat which she was sure he was hearing clearly.

Rouen looks torn - he obviously wanted to do what she wanted him to do, but he is stopping himself because he really did not want to end up hurting her.

"You won't hurt me."

He did not say anything. Eona is aware that one more push is needed for him to give in. She really did want to experience it for herself and she wanted to experience it under this handsome devil's hand.

"Please..."

He sat up straight and positioned himself on the bench to face her. He reached out and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

"I wonder why you begging sounded so sexy."

She chuckled. "Should I beg again?" She teased him and he just laughed.

Rouen then became serious as he held her hands in his. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."