Sun Meets Death

"Your Highness? Wake up, Your Highness!" 

Gwyneth gasped, jolting awake to see her handmaids looking at her with anxiety and concern. But those looks swiftly changed to one of relief.

"Your Highness!" All three of them exclaimed.

Gwyneth pushed herself to a seated position. She felt muddled and faint, and all the events leading up to this very moment raced through her mind.

"Bloody hell!" She sputtered, pushing her fingers into her hair, completely nonplussed. Gerald...! She leaped from the bed, ignoring her handmaids' curious looks. 

"Is there something wrong, your Highness?" Among them, one timidly questioned.

Gwyneth turned to face them, her face flushed with rage. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Half the day, Your Highness." 

Shock nearly took Gwyneth's life. "What?! How is that even possible?" Then she paused, her gaze drawn to the curtain-covered windows. "It is midnight already?!"

"Yes. The ball began two hours ago." 

Gwyneth grimaced, her chest heaving. She did not expect her conversation with her uncle to become tense and mysterious. To the point where he knocked her out! 

She stomped her feet, scowling deeply. She needed answers! Which meant that she had to dress up and attend the ball.

 "Who carried me to my chamber?" She asked.

The handmaids' faces took on a confused look. "Carried you?" 

Their question and facial expressions told Gwyneth that they had most likely met in her room, exposing that her uncle had taken care to keep their meeting secret.

"Her Majesty has asked for you. We have been holding off for far too long."

Gwyneth inhaled deeply. "It won't be good if my mother finds me like this." She smiled brightly, prodding her lips thoughtfully. "Good thing I do not plan on wasting time."

Her handmaids hurried to her with joyful cheers and gave her a tight hug, eager to get her dressed up. Gwyneth could not contain her laughter, but deep within her heart, she could feel a strange fear... strange familiarity as Gerald's words continued to replay in her mind.

"It was Death's way of declaring you as his to claim!"

...

Under a starry, moonless sky, the royal castle of Descaera stood tall and proud. Moreover, it was abundantly clear that celebrations were taking place. 

The dazzling lights streaming in from every window, the music playing loudly, the neighing horses pulling the thundering carriages into the compound, and the chattering of the vampires and humans who had been specially invited. 

Within the bustling ballroom, the lights dimmed and brightened slowly and steadily, almost as though to reveal the presence of the two species. 

Even with both species present in unison, they all made the decision to converse and enjoy the ball with people of their own while retaining their mutually beneficial attitudes and mindsets. Nevertheless, the ball proceeded without any problems.

As the lights dimmed, a particular corner of the ballroom darkened more dramatically than the rest of the space. The vampires pervaded that area, but they did not seem to like that specific spot. Maybe.

Within the darkness stood two men. Better yet, beings. A vampire and someone far more darker. Magnificent and towering, they exuded an inherent dangerous wickedness.

"I did not think you would be this bored." The vampire spoke in a darkly elegant tone, his ruby eyes fixed on the golden pocket watch in his grasp. 

"Hmm." The man beside him wrinkled his nose lazily.

"Why can't you take pleasure in this small amount of freedom?" The vampire's pale face creased in a small frown, his dark ruby lips drawn into a thin line.

"Freedom?" The man asked, his deep, sensual voice high in total disbelief. His glowing, blood-red eyes snapped open, revealing a tiny, black slit deep within. His eyes were hauntingly beautiful. "The only freedom I have here is the ability to breathe the same air as her."

The vampire rolled his eyes and tightened his hold on his pocket watch. "Remember why we are here, Sirius."

"My reason for being here is different from yours, Kieran." Sirius scoffed, closing his eyes once more. 

"And that is?" The vampire, Kieran, gave him a side eye, shoving his pocket watch into his pocket.

Sirius simply yawned lazily and said, "Shuu away, brother, you said to enjoy my freedom and that is what I shall do." Then, with a sluggish smile on his lips, his flickering fiery eyes fluttered open. "Remember to summon me whenever you need me. Just make sure not to do so at the wrong moment."

And he vanished, gone along with the darkness. 

"Well, of course." The vampire muttered, his expression cold. Coupled with a deep breath, he emerged from the corner, joining the other vampires, who were all bowing their heads in respectful regard.

 .

Entering the luminous hallway that led to the crowded, exotic ballroom, Sirius pulled out a black blindfold with golden embroidery on the sides, foretelling that it was a custom fit for him. 

With a dull smile, he delicately wrapped it around his eyes.

"No one should be able to look into the eyes of death." He muttered, yawning, and covered his mouth with his hand. "Why can I not see with this?"

He was surrounded by humans. They were all conversing, breathing... They could not see him. No one could unless he decided to reveal himself. And the same was true for his Sunshine.

"Your Highness, please wait!"

"I'm just taking a brief look around!" A familiar voice suddenly shot up. Calm, clear, with a hint of fiery exhilaration.

Biting his lower lip with displeasure, Sirius turned to face the direction of the voice with fulfillment. He could not see because of the enchanted blindfold, which meant that his brother had foreseen him meeting his Sunshine.

Fortunately, he could still feel her presence. Her footsteps alone, her heartbeat, her gritting teeth, her...

He knocked into her out of the blue, finding her waist in time to catch her before she fell. Though petite and delicate, she fit into his arms flawlessly.

Her heartbeat quickened, and there was stillness, making them seem as though they were the only ones in existence.

That pleased him, and the smile that formed on his lips was too much to control.

"Pardon me, but I can stand on my own." A nervous laugh mingled with her words. 

Sirius's ears picked up her twitching breath and pounding heart, so he drew her closer, pressing their bodies against each other, widening his smile as he leaned his face close to hers.

"Hi there, Sunshine,"