3 Declaring War

As Princess Layla discusses corn, of all things, with the Duke of Martonel, trumpets ring out and the musicians stop playing. 

"I apologize for intercepting everyone's fun, but I'd like to inform you all that dinner is ready to be served." King Lucian speaks. 

The crowd of hungry subjects voice their appreciation, and are led towards the next room. Rows and rows of tables are lined up, dressed in brown and white linen clothes. Vases of flowers were spaced throughout them all. 

Despite how beautifully their dining hall was set up, the three other kingdoms don't think it up to their standards. Based on the crinkled noses, at least. 

The Four Royal families sat at one table. The Vampire family sat across from the Witches. The Witches sat next to the Werewolves. And the Werewolves sat across from the humans, leaving them to sit right beside their enemy.

The air around them is thick with tension as one by one, large mounds of food is brought out to their table. Different varieties of dishes begin to fill the space. 

"This looks very," Queen Molina trails off, "Appetizing." 

"Do you have any blood this year, King Lucian? I'll be very disappointed if you don't." King Valentine addresses him. 

"As I've said the last few times I've held this ball, no." King Lucian sends a subtle glare to his rival. "Since this is being held in my Kingdom, then you must abide by my rules. Much like I must abide by yours when I'm in your kingdom." 

"Is it so hard to not drink our blood for just one dinner?" King Atticus sips his glass of wine. His eyebrow raises in a challenge.

"Of course not!" Olivia scoffs back in return. "Your majesty." She says as an afterthought. "We vampires. . ." 

Princess Layla sighs. It will continue on like this, just as it has every year, no matter where the ball is held. The different species will brag about themselves and their kind, and never get tired of it. Why couldn't they have pleasant conversations? 

And if they didn't want to be here, then why attend the ball in the first place. 

It doesn't make any sense. 

Still, Princess Layla endures the rough dinner.

"Before we eat," King Valentine clinks his fork against his glass and stands. The entire room turns their focus onto him.

"I'd like to thank King Lucian for inviting us all here for the annual dinner ball between our kingdoms." King Valentine begins. "Though this much what I prefer." He directs his gaze to the Alpha king. 

Princess Layla squirms in her seat at the glint in his red eyes. 

"Next time it is your turn to host the Ball, don't. If i had known you would be neglectful to us Vampires by not serving blood, we never would've came in the first place. Mandatory or not, you disgrace us." He continues, voice lowering into a hauty tone. "Not to mention we find your kingdom to smell foul. It stinks of wet dog." 

Princess Layla gasps at his blatant disrespect.

"How dare -" King Lucians face is red. His wolf is at the surface, his dark eyes now glow yellow. 

"I'm not done yet, how rude." King Valentine frowns. 

From next to them, King Atticus snickers into his hands. 

The witches, Princess Layla glances at them. King Nolan and Queen Nevaeh shift in their seats, eyes watching King Valentine like a hawk 

"I, King Valentine of the Vampires," He smirks, "Declare a war against you foul werewolves." 

Queen Nevaeh gasps.

"I thought it would be best to announce it here, with wittness to account for it." The vampire smiles at King Lucian. 

Princess Layla couldn't tell if it was the witches magic, or if it was all inside her head. In slow motion, she watches with wide eyes as King Valentine pierces her fathers chest with long claws. As soon as his hand pushes past flash and bone, blood ran a river down her fathers suit. 

She watches in horror, jaw locked shut and preventing her from screaming. King Valentine rips King Lucians heart out of his chest. 

For a moment, it beat in his hands before he crushes the organ between his fingers.

As soon as the action is finished, the ball room turns into a battle zone. Vampires fly in through the windows and glass flies everywhere. 

To Princess Laylas disbelief, they only targeted her people, the werewolves. 

Every with and human in the room is disregarded by them. Not wanting to get caught in the cross fire, Princess Layla barely registers King Atticus and Prince Beckett running away. 

She turns to King Nolan and Queen Nevaeh, the desperation to ask for help was on the tip of her tongue but dies when she sees they too, were running for the door. 

She is by herself now, in her own home now ever run by the enemy. She eyes her fathers lifeless body and a sob escapes her. 

She scrambles to her feet and runs for the nearest exit. She has to get out of here alive! 

If she wants her kingdom to survive, she must survive herself! 

"Where do you think your going, beta mutt?" 

Princess Layla gasps when Olivia intercepts her route. 

The black haired vampire clicks her tongue, a bloody smirk on her face. So much blood. 

"Why are you doing this?" Princess Layla whispers with wide eyes. 

"Why not?" Olivia smiles. "We hate you werewolves and everything you stand for. Did you know that werewolf blood smells like wet dog too?" 

Almoat like a switch was flipped, Princess Layla's fear turns into rage. All consuming rage. 

As if she can see it on her eyes, Olivia prepares for a fight. 

Princess Layla doesn't strike at first. 

These are vampires. They dont know she's an alpha. Not yet at least. Maybe this will give her an advantage. 

Layla lunges forward, but Olivia quickly grabs her wrists and twists them. 

Her left hand snaps and she screams. Pain envolops her but she tries not to focus on it. She slashes at Olivias face with her right hand. 

The vampire Princess is too fast though. She jumpa back in a blur before she conter arracks with her own swt of claws. 

Fangs protrude from Olivias lips, and Layla shivers.

She won't be coming out alive.