#1 Demons of the night

A pair of vibrant purple eyes stared into my own, I couldn't look away it was as if I had no control of my own body. I tried to scream but nothing came out. What was happening? Who was this man with violet eyes and why was I unable to speak let alone move by my own free will. It was as if i was bewitched. The violet eyed man took a step closer, and another, and another... until he was just a breathe away from my face. He was stunning... He looked almost unearthly, Too handsome to be of this world. He stared at me for a short while, a slight smile appeared on his face and i could just catch a hint of his teeth. The two front ones being exceedingly long. He couldnt be human, No man had teeth like that. He moved slightly closer, i could feel his hot breathe brush past my skin. And in the span of a second he pulled my hair to the side and dug his long monster-like teeth into my throat. I couldn't move, i couldn't breathe i could hear the sound of him swallowing my own blood. Slowly I fell into a darkness that took over me.

***

"Princess Rosette?"

My body flung up into the air and my eyes shot open, what had just happened? Why was I crying and my cheeks where flushed.

"Yes Ella" I said looking at the maid that had just saved me from that hideous nightmare

"Your father has requested you"

"Tell him I will be right there" I said sliding my robe over my shoulders and hopping out of bed.

I walked into my private bathroom and slipped into the hot bath that was prepared for me just moments ago.

It was filled with extravagant rose petals and oils that seeped into my skin and masked the scent of the sweat that I woke up in due to my terrifying nightmare. Why couldn't i get over it? it was just a dream, alike every other dream I've ever had since i could remember. strangely this one seemed different then all the others. I was attracted to this man, he was outstandingly handsome, but how could i be attracted to a man that had just bitten into my flesh? I didnt understand.

Slipping out of the tub a maid helped me into one of my finer dresses and fixed my hair. I walked through the large empty hallways of the castle I grew up in. I never went outside the protective walls of this cursed place, we were such a small kingdom that there was constantly a war going on outside trying to takeover my fathers land. Larger and wealthier kingdoms tried to take advtange of my weak father. The guards pushed open the large wooden doors that led to the breakfast hall and i saw my father sitting at the head of the table, he was eating his breakfast but something looked like it was bothering him.

"papa?" I said as i neared him and sat down in my assigned chair.

"oh hello my darling!" He said, his eyes always lit up when he looked at me, we had such a strong bond, especially since the death of my mother we were all we had left of our family.

"What is it that you requested me here for father?" I asked, still concerned by the bothered look on his face.

"Rosette, Something had come up and im not sure youre going to like it."

I stared at him with confusion in my eyes.

"go on" I said in a low tone

"Our kingdom is falling, we cannot take another war or I fear we will lose everything, including our lives... And we must take action while we still can"

I was still confused as to what a young girl of my age would be able to help with in such a circumstance.

"A king from one of the largest kingdoms...has asked for...your hand in marriage..." His eyes slowly looked up and met with my own. My heart skipped a beat, i couldnt marry someone and leave my old father by himself! How would he manage alone...

"But father wha-" He cut me off

"Dont worry about me dearest i will be fine, i have my servants and soldiers to keep me company when i need it. Think about the good of the kingdom!"

He was right. This was about far more then just me and him, it was about our people. How guilty would i feel if they were slaughtered just because i didn't want to marry, much less the possibility of my father being killed...

"Fine" I said as i stood up "I agree so long as this is what needs to be done for the good of the kingdom"

"it is, rosette...it is"

"then it shall be arranged" I turned and left the table, i needed a moment for myself to think about everything that had just happened. Pushing open the doors to my room i fell onto my bed. A tear escaped my eyes as i thought about how i would be leaving my father to live with a strange man in a strange kingdom. I prayed to god that he would be a good man, and treat me well, Maybe even fall in love and we would live a long, romantic life together. "Don't be so stupid" i said to myself, that was never the case with arranged marriages. No one was that lucky.