CHAPTER THREE: BRADLEY

Lo and Behold, the third Chapter with the fantastic Bradley! Yippie!

I had to check in on Mother before I went back to my room. I held a silver tray that I had taken from the servant that carried a frosted glass of blood (from the smell of it, it was goat). I rarely stayed in her room for long, but I felt that I should try to work on our relationship. It must have hurt her to see me, the daughter that did not come from her womb. I know that it hurt me. But I tried, honestly, to prove that I could be the daughter she had always desired to have.

I set the tray on the nightstand, before bowing to her presence. “Good evening, Nadia.”

I kept my eyes fastened to the ground, which was a custom. I saw her long silhouetted figure in my periphery. Nadia had never been outside in the modern world, so she was still dressed in the era that she was born in (the 16^th century). You often found Vampires in this coven wearing attire from different periods. My Father tried to keep in fashion, like the council, and so he wore suits and ties.

I heard the clinking of the glass, and moved towards the door. “Did you make your decision, Ellie?” Her voice was now smoother than the last time I spoke to her.

I turned around, my eyes suddenly striking hers. She was more than beautiful. Her hair was raven black, and her eyes never held the shadows like we did. She sat on the furs that covered her bed, and looked towards the window.

“The princes had decided to court me, and when I choose I will become his bride as well,” I informed her.

I didn’t step closer because I knew that she would only shelter herself more. The distance was easier for her. She nodded. “They won’t accept you. Not with your impure blood, and you’re slow beating heart.”

If I could cry, I knew that I would. “You don’t know that,” I countered harshly.

“Execution makes the council stronger – a half blood will make them weak. What do you think they will choose, love or strength?” She briefly looked my way.

Her words hit me like acid to my skin. She was never this harsh. I bit my tongue and waked out without another word. Sometimes she crawled under my skin a little deep. Not even an argument with Sia could etch this away from my memory.

I closed the door behind me and turned to find myself staring into the chest of Bradley Kensington. Out of the presence on one Prince and into another, I thought with smugness. I looked up at him and saw the smirk drawn onto his lips.

I was never fond of smirks. “Your Highness?” I bowed in greeting. He nodded his head.

“Hello, Ellie.” He sized me up quickly. I started walking towards my bedroom, trying to ignore his glamour. Today I wanted some time to think through my game plan.

“Your Highness, I am really tired.” I lied to him as I unlocked the door to my room. He leaned against the wall.

“Ellie, you can call me Bradley. And I wish to have a simple conversation with you, if you don’t mind.”

“What about?” I stared at the door.

“Well, for starters, what do I have to do to make you fall in love with me as quickly as possible?”

I scoffed. “I’m sorry to say that I have no intentions of making this easy on either of you.”

I strolled inside of my room, hoping that I let the conversation die there, but Bradley’s leather boots thudded along the floor of my bedroom. I put my necklace back on the chain that dangled from my neck. I wondered if Bradley was anything like Emerson. I didn’t think Bradley would be the kind to take control of his responsibilities. He seemed more the type to lazy about while the council made all the decisions. I sat down at my vanity mirror.

I could hear Bradley sit down on my bed. “Emerson can’t make you feel like a woman. I can.”

I nearly dropped my hair brush. “Are you resorting to that kind of sabotage, Bradley? Telling me all the wrong things about your brother?”

He smiled and stood behind my chair, twirling around a lock of my hair. “Come on, just tell me who you had in mind, before you made this into a game for your own enjoyment.”

I removed my hair from his hand. “I’m not like the other girls, Bradley. I don’t automatically choose the bad boy.” I stood from the chair and whirled around on my heels. He was certainly taller than me, even in my heels. “You flirt with the bad boy not marry him.”

He stared me down. I can tell you this, I was intimated slightly. His eyes burned with an intensity that had my knees knocking together. “Ellie, I don’t play by the rules…so in the end, you will choose me.” He stepped back so I could breathe.

These two were most definitely not here for love, like I was. I went about my room and lit my candles (anything brighter than candles hurt the pure blood’s skin). I didn’t know what to tell him. “Thank you for the suggestion, I’ll take it into consideration.”

“What did he tell you about me?”

I didn’t see any point in lying to him. He’d tell me more lies than I told him. “He told me that you won’t accept your responsibilities. He might be right,” I blew out the match.

Bradley fell back onto my bed, getting comfortable in the comforters. “Hm…I agreed to court you, didn’t I? I could have just said no and forced you to carry my child. But, I think it might be fun to play cat and mouse with you.”

I chortled. “Cat and Mouse? I’m not playing a game. This is my future, why would I play with my future? If I wanted to play a game, I would have made you two pick straws. I don’t want games.”

Bradley laughed. “Lady, I intend to make this a game, and you will have a lot of fun.” He jumped from the bed and walked over and took a candle and blew it out. “Want me to show you what kind of games I –”

“Leave my room, now.” I grabbed the candle from him. If he thought I was going to be that kind of girl, he was wrong. “Go play around with Sia if you want to…but, I am not about to lose my – I refuse to partake in those kind of games, your highness.”

I nearly ran to the door to open it for him. Bradley seemed stunned at my cold shoulder. He should at least know where I stood in his games. Emerson was beginning to catch my eye, at least. How could Bradley think I was into that kind of thing? Oh, right. I’m a Vampire – we were made to seduce. But, I was only half, ans so those human emotions came easier to me. Just like it was easier for Bradley to fornicate. He fixed his jacket before letting himself out of my bedroom.

I needed some time alone.

«×»

I was going through some letters that had been sent to me when there was a knock on my door. I sighed. There were two possibilities as to who it could be. I was hoping it was just a maid with my dinner. I set the letter down and went to the door. “Yes,” I called out.

When I saw that it was no one, I felt disappointed. I would have assumed that someone would have been at my door. I looked down and saw a book on my door. It held a note with it:

You were eyeing it.

Emerson

I smiled and went back into my room before anyone noticed it.

CHAPTER TWO: EMERSON

Behold, the Second Chapter! Enjoy...

I didn’t immediately go back to my room.

I wandered the halls, still dazed at the ruling. I was hoping that they would choose Sia, not go by my rules. Now I had to spend the next month and a half being courted by Bradley and Emerson. I should just leave before they find out the truth. It wouldn’t be that hard to sneak out. I could live out there with the mortals. It couldn’t be that hard. I didn’t have to live on blood. I nearly ran to my room. By the time I got there, one of the daughters of the council was standing there with her entourage. Sia, the duchess, was there as well. I took a quick breath. I may be one of them, but they were always intimidating.

Sia stepped forward, her eyes vibrant and threatening. I could understand why. I used her during the meeting. I bowed to her. She didn’t say anything at first, just stared at me. “Do you really think that they’ll court you to fall in love?”

Her words were like venom. I should have figured that she would say that. “I understand your negative tone to this…problem, but you should know that I don’t necessarily agree to it.”

I wasn’t about to hide my discomfort on the subject. The other girls snickered. “Bradley won’t be faithful if you choose him,” Sia added.

I rolled my eyes. “That is a factor, but they both have attributes that aren’t to be desired.” I tried to walk past them, but they blocked my way, “Is this a set up Duchess? Are you trying to scare me away from my duty?”

“Choose Bradley, and I will leave you alone. Everyone knows that Emerson will win the competition for King, and because I am royalty, it should be me who becomes Queen.” Sia crossed me, eyeing my dress, “Bradley doesn’t care if you fall in love; all he wants is an innocent woman in his bed.”

“Your attitude is getting on my nerves Duchess,” I countered dourly. “And I will choose who I wish to choose. If Emerson is who I want – which I am unsure of at the time – then I will choose him. If not, then you can have your precious crown. I have no desire to rule anyway. I’d rather be rid of this hellhole.”

Sia was about to talk back to me when a servant came up to him. The servants here were human, all of them, and I felt sorry for them. They had to watch their necks at all times. “Miss Ellie. Sir Emerson wishes a word with you in his study.”

I looked at the girls. They were all whispering to each other. I should have expected this. I looked to the servant and nodded. “I’ll be there, I just need to freshen up a bit.”

I shoved past the group and entered my room. I didn’t know what he could want, but I should have an idea. Maybe Sia was right. They had no intentions of loving me – they just wanted to save the bloodline. If they knew that with me it wouldn’t work, that I was a half-blood, then I would surely be bypassed. They would go straight to Sia, and then she would get what she wanted.

«×»

I took the steps down the winding staircase to Emerson’s study. He spent more time there then in the council chambers with Bradley. As I said before, everyone expected him to be King. And when he did, he will have forgotten about his special library and everything he enjoyed. He would turn into his Father. I knocked on the door. I waited patiently (on the outside) for the prince to call me in.

I should be calling him by his name, now that all this was happening, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I ran a hand through my hair when the door opened. Emerson stood there, shirt halfway unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, looking less proper than I know him to be. I straightened up, blushing suddenly (yes, with enough blood in our system, Vampires can blush). “Your Highness…?” I breathed.

His jaw straightened. “Forgive me; I was just changing my shirt. I spilled my drink.” I knew what he was drinking from the smell coming from his room. I felt my canines well with thirst. I hated this side of me. I cleared my throat as he stepped aside to let me in. I still didn’t know why he would call me down here.

I looked around his study. Every wall was lined with shelves upon shelves of books. I would kill for a study like this. But because he was a Prince, he got whatever he wanted. I turned to look at him as he buttoned his shirt up. “Would you like something to drink?”

I kept my eyes fastened to the books as I sat down. I didn’t think that I would see when he wasn’t at his best. I would have to expect more of that now. “That all depends on the drink your highness…” I responded. I was vaguely aware of him pouring a drink.

“It’s human. I made sure that it’s fresh,” He held out the glass to me.

I cringed. I don’t think I’ve ever had an actual glass of human blood. It all had something to do with the fact that I was half – I could be drinking a cousin’s blood for all I know. I shook my head. “I don’t drink human…blood. I never had an acquired taste for it.”

He looked down at me as if I had confessed to stealing the crown. “That’s certainly a good excuse.” He set the glass down on his desk, “We do have a choice, unlike the made ones.”

I sighed. If he was anything like the other Born Vampires, then he would start bragging soon. “Why don’t they have a choice?” I asked, going along with where he was going.

He smiled at sat behind his large desk. “We can regenerate our strength and bodies by going to sleep during the day; they have to regenerate by drinking human essence.” He smirked, “I would have assumed that you’ve heard this before?”

I nodded, curtly. “My Father insists that I listen to his rants. I’m one of the fair few pureblood that don’t want to drink human blood.”

He took a drink of his own glass. “I’m the opposite of you, I suppose. I’ve yet to get used to animal blood.”

I sighed, this would be a problem. I would have to write this down into the pros and cons under his name for this competition. If I could call it that. I didn’t think it was anything else after what Sia told me. I allowed myself to sink into the chair. “So, why did you call me in here?”

“I thought we could just talk.” His fingers tapped against the table.

I let a soft giggle rise in my throat. His eyebrow quirked at me. “You think this amusing?”

“I don’t think you’re a small talker. You normally don’t engage in conversation unless it involves some sort of politic.”

He smiled. “You’re very intuitive.”

“It’s a well used attribute, I admit that. So, really, why did you ask me here?” I stood up to move about the room, glancing at the spines of his books. I wasn’t about to flirt. That was his job, as well as Bradley’s. I slipped out a book and began to flip through the pages.

“You’re not like the others,” he confessed. “You refuse to be forced into mine and Bradley’s bed.”

“I don’t think my body should be used without my consent. I have not yet consented, and I will not go through with it until I have.” I set the book down.

He stood and crossed over to the shelf that I was near. He stared at me, his bright blue eyes slowly grazing over my features. He took in a deep breath before stepping past me. “I wouldn’t have been so willing to participate in your game if I didn’t think that I would have an advantage. Bradley may be the promiscuous one, and may have more talent at courting than I do, but I do hold the same values as you. Choose me over him. It’s clear that I’m the better man.”

I smiled wryly and looked his way. “Do you honestly think it’s that easy to get me to choose you? We may share the same values, but that does not mean that I’d automatically want to bear your child. What if you have a horrible temper? What if you snore in your sleep?”

He smirked. “Are you suggesting that you sleep in my bed to find out if I snore?”

I turned away from the book shelf. “So, the studious prince can flirt.”

He leaned closer. “I am also capable of what Bradley is not. I know my responsibilities – Bradley does not. You have heard my views on this game, and you know where I stand.”

I stood there. They weren’t fighting for the same reasons I was fighting to keep my body morally intact. They just wanted to save the covenant. I looked down. “You may know your responsibilities, but what I am asking is not a responsibility. If I end up loving you, I still will not choose you.”

He looked at me as though I drove a wooden stake through his heart. I guess hearing that was not what he intended. I didn’t want a one-sided love. This went for Bradley as well. I wasn’t going to be used. I didn’t like being manhandled. If this was hard for him to hear, then he would have to get used to it.

“Isn’t that what you want? To love the person you choose?”

I took in a breath, and looked up at him with all the honesty in my eyes. “I will only choose you…if you love me back.”

I took the opportunity to leave before he began ranting about it being unfair. I was going to be as truthful as possible. Until the night that I had to tell him about my impurity. It would be difficult to tell them that when it came to that moment. Would they execute me?

Of course, I’d have to wait until I chose between the two of them.

Oh, joy I certainly can’t wait until that happens.

CHAPTER ONE: THE COUNCIL

Well, this chapter is more on the lines of an introduction to the characters (though you were given an introduction to the boys, but this is something more). I hope you enjoy.

My childhood was different from the average child. For one, I was raised in a castle – the kind that you would normally see Dracula standing in front of. Secondly, my father is a Vampire. This would cause some heads to turn if the truth ever came out. He was the kind that you would expect to see. He wore the usual all black suit, pasty white skin, startling blue eyes (as are everyone else’s), and rather sharp canines. He always slicked his hair back and never smiled. I was raised by him, and so I learned how to be Royalty. But, I knew the truth about my birth.

The one thing that seemed true of all Vampires – they were seducers. They couldn’t stay away from beauty, and they had to have it, no matter what the cost. Well, my Dad wasn’t the smartest. I was the result of a bad decision. Now, I had to hide the fact that I wasn’t a pure blood like the small amount of Vampires that are here. There were two types of Vampires – those who are made, and those who are born. Since the beginning of our kind, the pure bloods and made Vampires have fought and now, well – now the pure bloods are dying.

This is where I come in.

Because I am a “pure blood,” in their eyes, I had a duty to my kind. In other words, “you’re going to bear the children of one of the princes.” It doesn’t sound very fun, and I didn’t think that I was ready to do that. I was only eighteen. I wanted to leave the castle, like others of my age, and visit the world. Now I had to become a mother and raise children in hopes that they will carry on the bloodline. But the problem with that is – I’m not a pure blood. And if the truth were to come out about that, then I would surely be executed for lying to the royal council.

My dilemma was by far the worst that anyone has ever had to deal with. My mother had to live with the truth, and the reminder everyday of her husband’s infidelity, only seemed to make it worse for her. Eventually, she began to stay in her room. My mother was a beautiful woman, with a golden soul – but she was too vain. She didn’t want her family to look like a troubled one. She always stared out the tinted window, and I knew that when the sun came out, she often imagined walking into it.

She never referred to me as her daughter, which I didn’t say much about – I was just Ellie. And it was always said with a dejected tone. Luckily, I looked like my father, so they others who lived in the castle with us didn’t really assume much. I had his dark, black, wild locks, and his heart shaped face. My figure was skinny, but rather just petite, and my eyes were a paler blue than the others. I assume it was because my blood was tainted with human blood. I had the human’s full lips (my mother’s thin), and high cheek bones. I was a very beautiful girl, but it didn’t seem to be a factor here in this world.

You were either pure, or you were one of them. I, unfortunately, am neither. I didn’t know of any half bloods, part human and part Vampire, and I was afraid to even ask.

I finished getting ready; braiding my hair to keep it out of my face, and fixed the dress I wore (light purple and short). I had to speak with the council today, for the thousandth time, and tell them that I had not yet decided between the brothers.

In truth, I did not like the idea of being ordered to choose one of them as a partner. It was too much pressure on a girl my age (though I had just turned eighteen), and I needed some time to think. And yet again, what if they found out the truth? What if one of the brothers found out that I was a hybrid? The venom that runs through my veins was slowly eating away at the human blood, of course, but it would take years before it was gone entirely. I still had a very, very small heartbeat. And a heartbeat is very difficult to hide.

The walk to the council room was so short; I wished that it had been longer. I stared at those cold, mahogany doors and tried to cool down my nerves. Not everyone on the council approved of their decision. There were other females who would have been more than willing to take my place. But, my Father wanted to make sure that he was in the good graces of the king. Could a father be anymore self-centered? Although, if you could point to me one who wasn’t, then I would surely be shocked.

I took in a deep breath and pushed my palms against the wood and listened to the doors slowly creak open.

The room was rounded with twelve large oak chairs lining the walls where each council member sat in their large black robes and head pieces. My father sat second closest to the eldest prince, Bradley. The Princes were not twins – most had assumed that they were, but in truth…the king was promiscuous and Bradley was from the Duchess.

Bradley had black hair that never went in the direction he wanted, startling blue eyes (as expected), and was rather toned and lean. He always had a leg slung over the side of his throne, and never wore the suit the way it was meant to be worn. A few buttons were always undone and his tie was too loose. If you looked into his eyes, you could see little flecks of gold from the Duchess’ side. It was an impurity.

Emerson was the exact opposite. He had light brown hair, lean and muscular, and wore his suit and proper attire. His tie was never crooked, all the buttons were fastened, and his vest was never slung open. Emerson was the true heir, but he still had to fight against Bradley for it. His eyes were the brightest, because his bloodline wasn’t diluted. His mother was a princess from another clan. He sat with his back straight as if a pole had been strapped to his back and stared straight ahead at me. Everyone knew he would win the race for king. I thought we needed a president, personally.

I sighed and stepped forward. My shoes clicked lightly against the smooth granite floor as I walked to the center. A single chair stood there, and I knew that I would have to sit there as they spoke to me. There were shackles attached to it, from where they would force a prisoner to sit while they called out their verdict as they acted as a jury during prosecutions. I swallowed thickly and stood, waiting for the King to wave his hand, ordering me to sit.

I glanced at both princes, both different in every single way, and sighed. I needed more time with this. The King finally allowed me to sit down.

The King was very handsome, with light brown hair. He had pasty white skin, as did everyone else in the room, and was a little lankier than the others. He didn’t smile, though I wasn’t sure if he ever did, as he looked me over like last time. This time it was just for his amusement.

“Ellie, is it?” He queried.

I nodded, temporarily speechless. I licked my lips that had suddenly become dry. “Yes, your majesty.”

“You have been brought to this council to discuss your decision. It has been deigned that you carry on the royal bloodline with one of my sons – Bradley or Emerson Kensington. Have you chosen?” He spoke with strength and cunning.

This was when the hard part came. I had to tell him that I haven’t chosen. How could I choose so quickly? I didn’t want to just choose blindly. “Your majesty, I’m afraid I haven’t.”

A sudden uproar of angered outbursts sprang forth. A bad thing to say, I suppose. The brothers glanced at me suddenly, both equally surprised. I wonder which one had thought that I would choose them? The King stood; the most outraged in my words, and went down a step. I sunk in my chair. “We’ve given you two weeks, Ellie, and you haven’t chosen?”

I nodded. “It’s an impossible task – how can I choose between the two when the decision is far too complicated to make in such a short amount of time? Sir, they are your sons and therefore you know that both of them are very much qualified. But –”

“But, what?” It was Emerson who spoke, softly and gently.

I looked away, blushing. “If it’s my decision to make, then I should be able to make the decision in the way I see fit. And I don’t want to choose someone based on the purity of their bloodline.”

The King’s gaze narrowed. “Are you telling me that you wish to base your decision on likeness?”

“As well as other factors. Like whether he will be able to support and help raise the child, and if we will be able to make the right decisions and above all, love –”

They all laughed, except for Emerson. It hurt to know that what I felt didn’t matter to them, but Emerson didn’t seem to think that it was at all hilarious. I sighed and looked down. The King looked down at me, with disappointment. “You think you are going to marry them? You are just going to bear their children, that’s all you are asked to do.”

I snapped my gaze up at him. “Then find someone else to do it, perhaps the Duchess Sia will do it. I won’t let neither of them father my child if I am not attracted to them. If all is needed of me is my womb than you can go find someone else to do that job. I’m not about to waste my life with something that is the outcome of a stupid decision.” I stood, confident with what I just told them. They were all silent. But I was positive that some of them were considering executing me for talking back to the King. But I wasn’t about to become a mother for someone who could possibly be the worst father on earth. I’m sure that any modern woman thought that way.

Emerson looked over to Bradley. Bradley, who had been silent the entire time smirked and nodded. Another thing about us Vampires, they related ones could converse through thought. There was no telling what they were talking about. Emerson and Bradley gave a quick nod and both stood and stepped down onto the floor. The King watched the both of them as they turned to face the council.

Emerson took in a breath. “Bradley and I have decided that we will meet her requirements. Because we have chosen her, I believe that her rights should be considered as well. So, we will court her…” They both turned to their father, who had gone red in the face from frustration.

Bradley smiled. “And whoever she chooses will become her husband and the father of her children.”

Prologue

They didn’t know the truth. They expected me to hold on the bloodline of Royal Vampires, pure bloods, but I wasn’t a pure blood – I only pretended to be one. How could I tell them the truth? How could I tell them that I was really a half-blood? How could I tell the royal council that my father had cheated with a human slave, and that I was the outcome of his stupidity?

Now I was given a destiny, one that I didn’t want. The princes were two different beings. Emerson, the kinder of the two, was a lover of the fine arts, and rarely left his study. He had so many books I hardly saw him without one. He seemed like the kind to stay and take care of his children.

Bradley, he was the darker one. He always had some sort of woman beside him, and a drink in his callous hands. I knew that it would take him a while before he realized that he had responsibilities. But I was sure that he would try to be in his children’s life. But Bradley had a fire about him that I couldn’t ignore by simply looking away.

How could I possibly choose between the two, when they both had something to offer? And on top of that, how could I keep my secret while saving the entire Vampire race? It seemed like my life has just turned upside down, and there was no ladder to help me back.

I was doomed, I know it.