by J. E Hanson
Papa makes his traditional announcement. “Welcome to my court. This year is extra special for me, because my granddaughter is here. I’m the luckiest and happiest vampire in the whole world tonight. I want everyone to enjoy the Royal Ball this evening, and please remember to have fun!”
We clap after he finishes his short speech. Papa finds me, and he leads me out on the dance floor. “You’re absolutely breathtaking, my darling. Your skin looks so radiant tonight! Where are you retaining your glow from?”
I knew in the pit of my stomach that I would have to breakdown and inform Papa. He will be so upset with Chris and me.
“Papa, I want to tell you that I love you. I don’t want to upset you. Hurting you is the last thing on my mind. I want to make you so proud of me.”
“What’s wrong, my darling? Why would you ever think that I would be disappointed in you? There’s nothing in the world that could ever make me love you any less. So, what do you want to tell me?”
I’m trying to figure out what to tell Papa. Sean happens to stroll into view. “I think I want to go into fashion like Sean, and not own the world.”
“You can do, or be anything you want. I won’t be upset with your choices. Fashion design… now, there’s great money to be made in the fashion industry.”
I keep up with the facade, by discussing fabric and materials. I definitely don’t want him to know, before Chris finds out. I rejoin Chris and he delicately kisses my lips. There are media reporters inside the Royal Ball tonight. They are snapping pictures of us continuously.
He can feel me worrying. “What is the matter, baby? You are acting distant from me.”
I summon Miss Courage, by clearing my throat. “We need to talk.”
“What do you mean by that? I know I have been busy with all these businesses, but please do not fret. I will take a month off. You are scaring me with what you are about to tell me, but please, be reasonable with what I think you are about to do.”
“Can we go outside and grab some fresh air?”
Christian nods, and escorts me outside on the balcony. I excuse the Enforcers, since I’m with Christian.
“We are alone now, so please tell me. What is wrong?”
I kiss his lips with fear seeping in. I need to get this over with, as quickly as ripping off a Band-Aid.
“I have no idea, how to tell you this. You need to know that I love you and only you. You are my whole world, and what I’m about to tell you next, will be extremely difficult, but you need to know this. Okay, you should anyway, but still—,” Christian interrupts me.
Christian kisses my lips and begs. “Please do not break up with me. We can work this out.”
“I have no intentions of breaking up with you at all. I’m sorry that I gave you that impression.”
“You had me for a moment there. Now… tell me. What is the matter?”
“What would you do—if I say? What would happen, if I were hypothetically pregnant? What will you do?”
“That would be extremely bad for us right now. I have no intentions on ever becoming a father again. I do not want children and will never want children in the future. I hope this is a hypothetical situation.”
My heart collapses over the ground. I know what I have to do next, and this will hurt me deeply. “You never want, to have children with me? Why are we together, if you don’t want to have children?”
“Look at us! We are vampires! What do you expect from me? Did you expect to marry me, and give birth to my kids? Do you think I will be around to play daddy, when the sun comes out? Hey… I got it now! I will have to kill rogues by day, and become the father of the year by night! I will have to change diapers in between conference calls. That is a wonderful idea. I thought you knew this! I thought this is why you wanted to become a vampire, because you never want to have kids. I thought we already discussed this issue. I told you months ago that if you want children, you should stay human. You will never find a male vampire willing to bear your children.”
My heart continues to collapse into tiny little pieces. I overlook the balcony. I have to do the right thing for the both of us. “You’re absolutely right. It isn’t as if you will be able to do carpools. You would make a terrible father. Now that you put it that way, it makes perfect sense. How could I have been so stupid, and not pick up the warnings you were clearly displaying to me?”
Christian laughs, and kisses my neck. “I am glad we cleared this topic of children. You may turn anytime you want. We will be together and continue to have amazing sex.”
A gulp of air hits me. I try hard not to breakdown, but he needs to know. “I need to say this then. I love you very much. I will always love you, but we can’t be together. I need my children. I’m sorry, if I gave you the wrong impression of a childfree existence. I want children, and I will become a mom one day. We aren’t compatible after all.”
“What the fuck are you saying, Jeannie? I thought you knew I have no desire to become a father again! You will not end us like this!”
“For my own sake, and love for my children. I will gladly choose them over you. I will end us, and I just did.”
Christian screams at me out of anger. Ian darts out the door, to see what’s happening outside. Sam and Tommy are right behind him.
“You fucking lied to me! You told me that you want to be with me! Fine… if this is what you fucking want, then you can have it!” Christian yells at me. He storms off, and I collapse to the ground.
Ian stays beside me. “I take it that he didn’t handle the news well?”
My head shakes no, and I sob violently. “He doesn’t even know. I don’t want him to ever find out either!”
Tommy and Sam are confused.
Ian picks me off the ground. “I’m missing something. Why is he mad?”
“I gave it to him as a hypothetical instead. He told me that he doesn’t want to have kids with me. He loves the existence he has now. He thought he could turn me into a full vampire, and we will live happily ever after, just without the kids. He loves the way his existence is now. He still has no clue. I’m asking for one more favor from you. Please, never tell him.”
Ian turns his microphone off along with the other two Enforcers. Ian hands me a handkerchief. “I still have no idea, why he would feel that way. I thought that out of all of them, he would be the one. I thought he wanted to be a father again. Damn, I was wrong on that one!”
“Ian, we broke up just now.”
The Enforcers gasp at each other in disbelief.
“I’m so sorry, and I had no idea. What will happen now?”
I try to gasp for air, and clutch Ian tightly.
“I need a few minutes to myself. I need to clear my head on what I’m going to do next. If you guys don’t mind, I need just five minutes to myself.”
“I will be right over there. I will take you back to your grandfather in five minutes, okay?”
I hug Ian tightly. The other two walk inside with him.
My troubles rest on the balcony, once more I’m crying. I lean my head on the banister, not paying attention to anything behind me. I hear the shuffling of feet from behind me. An unfamiliar hand cups my mouth. I try to scream, but it’s already too late. I black out from a blow to the head.
~~~***~~~
The next thing I remember is waking up, not knowing the time. I’m hanging by my wrists in silver handcuffs on a long chain from the ceiling. My body sways back and forth. Around my neck is a silver collar with a long silver chain from the ceiling. The pain starts to throb throughout my body. I look around, and I’m in some kind of a creepy dungeon. There’s a steel grate a hundred feet above me. The sky is pitch-black. I notice that I’m missing my shoes. The pain makes me whimper in agony.
The large oak door jerks open. An odd man appears, and this man has chalky with raven hair. He has a silver chain wrapped around his leather gloves.
The man walks in front of me and smacks my bare feet with the silver chain. “Well, well, well... It loo
ks like I finally caught the pretty, pretty princess! That’s what happens when you’re all alone boohooing like a fucking little crybaby. I knew the lovely Enforcers would fuck up again. I didn’t realize that I would be so fucking lucky to capture the Vampire Princess!”
“Who the fuck are you? Christian will find you and kill you,” I heroically ask him.
“Oh no, pretty Princess, I happened to overhear you breaking up with Christian. He won’t be looking for you anymore!”
The evil man might as well have staked me in my heart.
“What a sad way to die. Nobody will miss you. I’m the infamous Reno by the way.”
My eyes close as soon as he tells me his name. I’m in deep trouble now. I’m either going to die now—or in the near future. My life is finally over. Reno has me, and I’m unable, to think of what to do next.
“If you’re Reno, then you can go ahead and finish me off. I have heard wonderful stories about you murdering my family members. Do me a favor, go ahead, and kill me now!” I challenged him.
Reno smacks my legs hard with the silver chain. “I would love to kill you, but it isn’t up to me. Khan wants you alive a little while longer. You have to live through my torture first. I’m getting my kicks with torturing you and that stupid mishandled Brotherhood. I wonder what dear old Christian will do now?”
“Christian won’t care if I’m alive—or dead now. I’m sure Saber can move on without me too. You really have nothing to gain by killing me, but if you must—go for it.”
Reno pulls out a gold dagger. “I would love to rip you apart. Unfortunately, Khan wants to meet you. I want to see the look on your face, when you see what we have got in store for you! Enjoy the show, Princess!” Reno slams the oak door shut. The fear and panic sweeps me away.
I stare at my stomach. “I’m so sorry baby. I’m already making a horrible mother!”
I try to remain calm. The first night in captivity isn’t so great. The silver chain clanks against the wall. My neck burns badly, and I gasp a few times from the pain. I stare at the door, and look at the hinges. There has to be a way out of here. My wrists are burning from touching the silver. I try to keep focused, because I’m carrying Chris's baby. I try to reach the back of my hair to pull out the bobby pins. None of the Enforcers ever taught me this.
I remember James locking me in an old wardrobe trunk one time. I had pins on me too. This is no different from James’s torture. I felt the lock again, and start working on it. I almost have it unlocked until Reno returns with a silver chain in his hands. This can’t be good. He hits the back of my legs, thighs, and back with the silver chains. I’m screaming with agony. The bobby pin slips out of my hand. The torture doesn’t end there. Reno takes out a stun gun, and he shot me with it.
~~~***~~~
The days start to climb. I don’t have any bobby pins left. After the first couple of weeks, I have lost track of the days. They gave me a crust a bread with a small glass of water to drink. That’s all they give me. Reno enters my prison cell every day, torturing me in a new way. One day it will be electrocution, and the next day, he hits me with chains. The sun burns my skin, and I’m already swelling out. I know that I’m in deep trouble. I can barely open my eyes now. The silver chains are the worst part of the torture. My dress turns into a slip.
“My boss wants to summon you for a night of entertainment. Khan wants to meet his adversary's granddaughter,” Reno informs me.
Reno takes out a set of keys. He forces my body, to hit the ground hard. “GET UP!”
I trip over the gown that’s laying on the ground. Reno jerks the chain that’s around my neck. I whimper from the pain. There are many rogues here. All of the rogues are snapping at me. My fangs descend out of fear. Reno slams me against the ice-cold floor. I protect my stomach the best way that I could. Reno jerks me up by the collar. He does this a couple of times until we reach a double set of blood red doors. Reno mashes the button to open these doors. There’s loud thrash music echoing from the large room.
A man sits on his throne with gray spikes as the frame of the chair. In all four corners of the room, there are scantily clad women dancing on stripper poles in cages. Reno wears a long pale jacket that ends at his knees with charcoal trim. He chose charcoal pants with boots underneath his pants. The boots have silver spurs with silver tips. He has long raven hair with a chalky strip of hair that reminds me of a skunk.
The man sitting on the throne reminds me of Vlad the Impaler. Chills run through my spine. I knew if he were anything like Vlad, he would see fit to torture me. He has straight long raven hair. The blood red cape makes him sadistic. The strange man has a raven handlebar mustache. The evil-looking Vlad has a long angular face, pasty skin, with jet-black eyes. His long fingernails are also jet-black. He appears volatile. He stands up, and flings off his cape. The man has a thing for blood red and charcoal. Like Reno, he’s wearing a blood red jacket that also goes to his knees. I notice fashion wherever I’m at these days. I hope he knows that he’s clashing terribly. The charcoal vest, crimson with charcoal jacket goes together, but where is he going with the ebony and ivory striped pants? They aren’t even pin stripes. The stripes are about six inches, running vertically down his legs. He reminds me of Beetle Juice meets Vlad the Impaler. Reno tosses me hard across the room.
“I normally would bow to royalty, but you’re not even a vampire,” the odd man spoke.
Reno jerks me and forces me to my knees. “Fuck you! My Grandpa, will kill you!”
Reno punches me in the face hard. “Show your elders some fucking respect!”
“Now, Reno… that really isn’t nice, to treat our guest that way. I must introduce myself to Jeannie. My name is Khan, Julius Khan. You must be the hybrid that the media loves to worship,” Julius evilly sneers at me.
There’s blood pouring from my nose and lips.
“Will someone please turn down the fucking stereo? I want her to hear my every word!” Khan yells over the stereo. The stereo flips off, and the strippers stop dancing to listen. There are twelve of his Enforcers, but they’re wearing fake leather outfits, with tattoos over their heads. They have scantily clad female vampires all over them.
Khan jumps from his throne, and he walks over to me. He lifts my face to his. “So, you’re the one, whom Christian has fallen for. How fucking romantic! Sadly, she isn’t a virgin. How disgusting is that? One of our own fucks his dinner!”
I boldly spit in his face, and Reno punches me again. “Learn your fucking manners, you whore!”
“Did you enjoy fucking one of our own?” Khan chuckles as he asks.
I refuse to answer right away and this pisses Reno off. He jerks me up by the silver collar. “He’s fucking talking to you! You fucking better answer him!”
Khan sneers evilly, and he grabs my neck. “Did you enjoy fucking one of our own? Did you enjoy fucking a vampire? This is a simple question.”
I fight back and narrow my eyes at him. “I enjoyed it, and I highly recommend fucking your food!”
The room erupts with merciless laughter. Khan twists his face with disgust. “I never fuck my food. That’s fucking disgusting! I have an announcement, to make in front of my men. You will need to stick around and enjoy the show! I enjoy torturing you, especially since you belong to Christian. This will make the torture seem even more enjoyable! You will feel… shall we say, angry soon? Enjoy your stay!”
Reno slams me against the wall. I whimper aloud again.
“Attention ladies and gentlemen! Come gather around me, my fellow vampires!” Khan announces to his rogues. The rogues gather around him. He holds up his hand. “That’s good enough.” Khan’s arms are behind his back, and he’s pacing. “Saber believes that it’s okay for our men and women to fuck humans. Can you believe in that abomination? Not only does he want you, to accept that… but he also believes that we can coexist together. We are supposed to coexist with our main food source. That’s completely appalling!”
Khan steps over to me, and he j
erks me up by my silver chains. “Any vampire caught fucking his food supply, deserves to have his—or her existence ended! They are not even a true vampire, and they never will be! Not only does Saber recommend fucking humans, but now Christian Hunter. A man, I’ve known for centuries. He used to be a vampire that would end a mortal’s life in a split second. Now, he grew a fucking heart. Christian has been fucking this abomination. What is worse is that they feel the need to have children. That’s fucking gross! Jeannie is disgusting, not only her own race—but to ours! When should this ever be acceptable? I will never accept a mortal as my equal. There’s a reason, why we’re here and humans have a short life span. Humans were put here for our food!”
The crowd of rogues cheers.
“Reno we need to show some reality television for our dearest, Princess Jeannie. We want her to view her men in action. She must understand that they will never find her alive again. Let’s bring out the television sets,” Khan orders his second-in-command.
I watch with horror, to see a cube descend from the ceiling. The television cube turns on with the channel set to Vampire News. They make the announcement of my kidnapping.
A vampire reporter sits behind a desk. “We are about to listen to a statement issued by the BIB.” To my horror, Alexander is the fall guy. My heart fell, to witness that Christian isn’t with him. Alexander’s shades are covering his eyes.
He takes the stage. “Sadly at eight in the evening of the Royal Ball, our princess was kidnapped. Her shoes are the only things that remain. We have reasons to suspect that Khan and Reno have captured her. I am extremely upset, because they took her from our watch. The Enforcers are combing the area for her right now. We will not rest until we find her. Jeannie… if you are alive, please let us know something. He will know, just give us a sign!”
Khan caught on. “That makes it even better! I can torture two, for the price of one. That’s splendid to learn!” he says, sneering evilly.
They ask Alexander personal questions. “We heard that Princess Jeannie and Christian broke up, can you confirm—or deny that?”
