“Azurdee, dear, you must get up.” Her mother knocked louder. She wiggled the doorknob, but Azurdee had locked it before going to bed that morning. “Azurdee, open this door this instant!” Her mother was starting to lose her temper, her voice rising.
She was always losing her temper.
Sighing, she rolled out of bed and unlocked the door.
“Oh! Good! You’re awake!”
Azurdee just stared blankly at her mother. It was still way too early in the night for her to have the patience for her mother’s antics. “Must we do this now?”
“Absolutely! We have to do your hair, your makeup and get you dressed. You wouldn’t want to meet your future husband looking as you do now, would you? It would be a disgrace to the family!”
Azurdee rolled her eyes in the gloom of the room. “Fine.”
Quickly, her mother grabbed her hand and dragged her out of her bedchamber. Azurdee struggled to keep up, her body still sluggish from the lack of sleep.
She had spent most of the day worrying about her coming of age ceremony. For twenty-one years, she had been kept a virgin so she could be offered to the best possible suitor. It was the tradition of her people, and yet, it didn’t feel right.
Shouldn’t she have the right to marry whoever she’d like? Why did her parents have to decide for her?
“I’ve got Juniper ready to do your hair. And then Margareta is going to handle your makeup. Make sure you don’t touch your face too much once she puts it on.”
“Mother. There’s no need to bother the servants with all this, I can do my own hair and makeup.”
“Nonsense. No daughter of mine will do such a thing. The servants are here for a reason, dear. Let them do their job.”
Azaria continued to drag her daughter through the complex maze of corridors that weaved through their luxurious estate. As they did so, they passed a few servants, all of whom were busy cleaning the guest bedrooms, even though no one had used them in years.
The Hallowed clan was once the most powerful vampire clan on the island, but lately, they were losing power to the Vigils, ever since the patriarch’s oldest son took the crown.
Still, they were considered nobles and Azurdee’s mother would stop at nothing to make sure it stayed that way.
They reached a large, marble archway. “You’re having a bath first.”
A couple of servant girls were already waiting, their eyes bent low, knowing better than to make eye contact with their superiors. “Take good care of her.” Her mother whispered, a hint of threat laced within her words.
Everyone in the estate knew never to cross Azaria.
Before Azurdee could utter a word, she was already being whisked toward the large bath. It was filled to the brim with near-scalding water.
“How are you, Miss Azurdee?” One of the attendants asked, trying to be polite.
“Look, when my mother is not with us, there’s no need for you to be so stiff. I won’t report you.” She reached out to touch the young girl’s arm, but she shied away, as if afraid.
The servant couldn’t be older than sixteen and already, she was put to work, no doubt helping her family escape the clutches of poverty that victimized so many lesser vampires.
Azurdee frowned. She hated the disparity between classes. But, what could she do? As long as her mother remained in authority, she was just as powerless as any of the lower-class vampires. She had no say in what she wore, what she did, or even who she married. She was just a pawn expected to play her part and preserve the family name.
She was really getting sick of it.
But what was she supposed to do?
The servants scrubbed her body, running their sponges along her wide hips, large bosom, and thick thighs. Their touch was purely professional, focused on getting her clean, and making sure her otherwise pale flesh appeared pink and full of life.
Azurdee sighed. She had been naked in front of plenty of women. It was almost expected of her. Yet, a man had never laid eyes on her naked body.
Sometimes, she wondered what it would feel like to have a man touch her, to caress her flesh. Some nights, she even yearned for it, her body quivering with desire.
As much as her mother tried to prevent it, she was well-aware of what sex was. Early on in her teenage years, she had gotten her hands on some forbidden literature, reading it in the sunlight that crept through her window while everyone else in the manor slept.
Those books had sparked her sexual libido from a rather young age. She pictured herself in similar situations, her hands pinned above her head, kisses all over her large breasts, hands gripping her hips as the man’s cock rammed in and out of her, harder and harder, rocking the bed.
“Miss? Are you okay?” One of the servants asked when Azurdee had unconsciously moaned in reaction to her fantasy.
She blushed, nodding her head. “Yes, I’m fine.” Feeling embarrassed, she tried to get out of the bath, but the servants placed their hands firmly on her shoulders, keeping her inside the warm water.
“We’re not done yet.” One girl explained as another poured in a bright red liquid, turning the water crimson.
A blood bath.
“Is this really necessary?”
“Miss Azaria insisted that you receive the full treatment today.”
Azurdee knew she would never be able to dissuade the servants from following her mother’s orders. They would be much too afraid. With no other choice, she allowed them to do their work as they rubbed precious oils into her body and massaged her supple flesh.
“How does that feel, Miss?” They asked as they helped her out of the tub and toward the vanity. One servant held out the dress she would wear.
“Fine,” Azurdee answered as they wrapped a corset around her now dry body, pulling it as tight as it would go. It felt like her lungs were being crushed by the infernal contraption. “T-Too tight.”
The servants did not heed her remark, but only tightened the corset further, trying to taper her waistline.
Azurdee was unlike most vampire women. While others were thin and boney, she had always been naturally thick. For years, her mother had tried to put her through diets, to get her to lose weight, but it had never worked.
Mostly because Azurdee never wanted them to work. When her mother practically starved her, she would sneak into the kitchen and steal leftovers, enjoying them in the privacy and comfort of her room.
She honestly didn’t mind her bigger size. In fact, she thought it looked rather good. As she got older, she noticed the stares men paid her on the streets, their eyes lingering for far too long on her large bosom or round, voluptuous rump. It only inspired her to display her size with further confidence. To flaunt her stuff, as she liked to say.
But, as the orchestrator of today’s event, her mother would never allow her to meet her future husband without at least attempting to slim her down a couple of sizes first.
By the time the servants were done with her, Azurdee had been squeezed into a traditional gown reserved for such occasions. The crimson fabric was made of high-quality silk. Fine thread was used to embroider the hem with scenes from their paradise-like home. Native birds and bright white stags crept up the skirt.
The bodice was left plain to keep from competing with the jeweled neckline. As Azurdee ran her fingers across it, she wondered what she looked like. She leaned over the bath where the water was slowly draining away. Faintly, she glimpsed at her own reflection before the servants grabbed her arms and turned her toward the vanity.
The mirror there was purely decorative as none of the vampires could appear on the reflective surface. Still, Azurdee stared at it as brushes and curlers tortured her hair.
Why was she even going through with this?
It wasn’t fair.
She didn’t even know the man she was supposed to be marrying. She didn’t even know his name.
How, then, was she supposed to love him? To be his wife?
“Look up.”
Azurdee co
mplied, allowing the servants to do her eye makeup. Once that was done, they decorated her hair with crimson roses from the estate’s garden.
“Is she almost done? He has arrived.” Azaria peeked her head into the bath and instantly, all the servants straightened their posture and bowed their heads.
“Y-Yes…” The head servant stammered, wringing her fingers together.
Azurdee noticed her fear and frowned. She hated how much control her mother had over these young girls. It was no secret what she did to them behind closed doors when they dared to break one of her many rules.
“Great!” She waltzed inside, approaching her daughter, a bright smile on her face, her large fangs making an appearance. They were huge, almost triple the size of a regular vampire.
The servants trembled.
“Oh, don’t you just look lovely!” Azaria helped her daughter to her feet, her dark red eyes twinkling with satisfaction. “Fredrick will fall head over heels when he lays eyes on you.”
“Oh… is that his name?” Azurdee mumbled under her breath.
“Look here, Azurdee, you’ve been dragging your feet all month. Don’t think I didn’t notice. But I will not allow you to assume this bleak disposition around him. So, I expect a smile and the utmost politeness when you’re in his presence, do you hear me, young lady?”
“Yes, mother.”
Chapter Two
Azaria grinned at her daughter’s submission, guiding her out of the room without even a word of thanks toward the servants that had spent most of the evening slaving away to make sure Azurdee looked the part.
“Now, you remember what I’ve told you, correct?”
“Yes, mother.”
“Don’t use that tone of voice with me. You’re twenty-one years old. You must stop acting like a child. You’ll be a wife soon.”
Azurdee stopped in the middle of the hallway. They were outside a parlor, where her soon-to-be husband was patiently waiting for her. “Did you ever stop to ask if I wanted to be a wife?”
Her mother narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “Azurdee.” Her voice was icy.
Azurdee held her ground. “Why should I have to marry whoever is waiting beyond this door? Shouldn’t I have the right to choose the man I want to marry?”
There was a moment of deadly silence between the two women. “Say one more word and I’ll make sure you get nothing of your dowry. Fredrick will refuse to marry you and you’ll be forced to marry one of the lower class.” She spat out the last words as if they were an insult.
Azurdee ground her teeth, preparing her response when her mother pulled the doors open with such a flourish that it actually made her jump.
Inside, the man that had been waiting on the couch jumped to attention, bowing in respect toward the matriarch.
“Miss Azaria.”
“Oh, Fredrick, you flatter me with such formalities. We’re about to become part of the same family.” She held out her hand, waiting for him to kiss it.
He did so very delicately, his thin pink lips barely touching her skin.
After a moment, he looked up, making eye contact with his future wife. A bright smile painted his face. “And this must be the beautiful Azurdee.” He crossed the room, approaching the woman who still stood behind the threshold.
The moment she stepped over it, she would be accepting the terms of the marriage.
Fredrick held out his hand, waiting for her to take it.
Azurdee looked at her mother who nearly snarled at her, mouthing at her to take his hand or else.
Having no other choice, she placed her hand in his.
He gripped it, almost painfully, his long, thin fingers bony and cruel.
She instantly disliked him.
He looked like a crook. Just another noble vampire who thought he was better than everyone around him. Azurdee felt her skin crawl and she had to do everything in her power to stop herself from jerking her hand back and calling the whole thing off.
Even if she made a scene, would it really make a difference? Her mother would still force her into this marriage whether she liked it or not.
With her mouth tasting like bile, she followed the scrawny young man onto the couch where they both sat down. Their ceremonial blood tea had already been prepared for them, steam rolling off the liquid and disappearing into the air.
Fredrick finally let go of her hand and picked up the smaller teacup, handing it to his fiancée. With shaking fingers, Azurdee took it, her stomach churning with disgust.
The herb-infused blood, which on any other day was one of her favorite drinks, now smelled absolutely putrid. This couldn’t be happening.
There had to be a way to stop all this.
The cold gaze of her mother told her otherwise.
“Are you nervous, my dear?” Fredrick asked, his voice high-pitched and irritating. Azurdee flinched, her tea sloshing around in her cup, nearly dropping onto her gown. Such an event would immediately be proclaimed as a bad omen.
“No.” She managed to answer through gritted teeth. She held onto the teacup so hard that her knuckles turned white.
“Then, let us drink to our good health and happiness!” He said, his voice light and cheery. He didn’t seem to mind marrying a complete stranger.
Reaching forward, he tipped her teacup toward her lips, letting her take a sip. Some of the liquid spilled from her lips, as it was supposed to.
Fredrick allowed it to run down her chin and onto her neck before he leaned into her body, licking up the blood with his long, pointed tongue. He lingered on her neck, his lips dancing across her flesh, toying with her.
Azurdee thought she would vomit if he kept this up a moment longer.
To her relief, he pulled away, offering her a handkerchief.
All too quickly, she wiped up the residual blood. If only she could wipe away the feeling of his papery lips just as easily.
“In our bed chamber, I will not be so gentle…” He murmured, his hand on her knee, squeezing it tightly. His beady eyes were devoid of emotion.
She couldn’t marry a man like this. She had to find a way to get away.
“If you don’t mind, I’m not feeling well.” Azurdee excused herself, rushing out of the room before even her mother could respond.
The large doors slammed behind her and without stopping to think, she started running down the corridor. She barreled into one of the servants, knocking her down, along with all the dishware she was carrying.
It shattered, little pieces of glass littering the floor.
The servant looked horrified, her golden-colored eyes instantly turning bright red when she saw the blood spilling from a cut on Azurdee’s arm.
“Fuck…” She cursed under her breath, knowing she had little time before the lesser vampire’s bloodlust kicked in.
She scrambled to her feet, running down the corridor. The servant growled, bending over until she was almost on all fours. Her eyes glowed crimson, her small fangs bared and ready to sink into her flesh.
Azurdee turned the corner, breathing hard, her hand on her injury to prevent further bleeding.
She could hear the servant following her. The sound of footsteps echoed off the cavernous hallways, making Azurdee panic.
Sweat formed on her temples as she struggled to find an escape route.
Up ahead, she spotted the doors to the royal garden. Looking over her shoulder, the servant had yet to turn the corner. Picking up the pace, she rushed for the doors, opening them wide and slipping outside, just in time to lose the rabid girl.
She breathed in relief, a hand on her chest, trying to recuperate. But, she knew she wasn’t safe in the garden. Her mother would surely find her there. She needed to find somewhere else to hide for the time being.
Picking up her petticoats, she marched forward, heading for the mountainside.
Chapter Three
Azurdee had been in the forest plenty of times before. She always stuck to the path, knowing it would be dangerous for her to deviate.
>
Now, the forest looked uninviting, the large trees looked like giants preventing her from venturing further, but still, despite this ominous feeling, she continued forward, determined to put as much distance between herself, her mother, and her alleged fiancé as possible.
The hem of her dress was becoming covered in filth. Her mother would certainly chastise her for this, along with everything else she had done tonight.
But, Azurdee no longer cared.
She needed some fresh air. She needed to clear her head.
She reached a fork in the road, the trail breaking off in two directions.
The right-hand path was weather-beaten and smooth, the other overflowing with high grass and hidden obstacles.
Azurdee braved the grass. Brambles and branches snagged at her delicate skin, but her emotions were running high, masking the stinging pain.
She tripped on an upturned root, nearly tumbling to the ground. Her palms scraped against the ground before she managed to regain her balance. As a result, she slowed her pace, carefully navigating through the thicket of trees.
The sound of running water began to rise from a nearby valley. She decided to follow it.
Soon, she arrived at a beautiful lake, its water sparkling in the starlight. A massive waterfall seemed to flow from the heavens, crashing into the calm water, creating a numinous mist that danced like fairy light.
Despite the countless times Azurdee had walked through the forest, she had never come across this lake.
She walked toward the water’s edge until the tips of her toes nearly grazed the surface. She leaned down, running her fingertips along the surface, distorting the near perfect reflection of herself that had appeared in the water. All the makeup, the done-up hair, it wasn’t her. She wasn’t that kind of girl.
She sighed, sitting down. Her arms wrapped around her knees, pulling them close to her chest.
Why couldn’t she be one of the lesser vampires? Sure, most of them lived in poverty, but at least they were allowed to love and marry whoever they wanted. They weren’t trapped like her. Just because her room was luxurious, didn’t mean it wasn’t a prison cell. A golden cage.
A Secret Baby for the Vampire Page 11
