Vampire Diaries 20: Royal Wedding

"Marry him, Thalia."

Aloha talks to me with authority that I don't like about her.

She looks like Thea but I need to deal with something important than her.

"It seems like you want the spotlight too."

I tell her and walk towards Valmer when she abruptly grabs my arm.

She grips it and I can tell that she's mad and irritated.

However, because of the impact, I feel so dizzy and everything that I can see becomes blurry.

"Aloha, my he–"

I touch my head but I can't clearly see her face anymore.

"Thalia!"

"Thalia!"

I can still hear voices until dark embrace me.

–

"Oh! My head."

I slowly open my eyes as I feel something painful in my head. I look into my palm but there's no trace of blood.

"Perhaps, someone treated my wound," I murmur.

The room is quite huge and it is filled with figurines and portraits.

Yet, darkness glows in the room.

"Thalia,"

I feel weak and drowsy but I look around to find who call be me by name. I see the palace guards standing still at the corner but I know they did not call me.

"Excuse me! Did you call my name just... earlier?"

"No! We are not allowed to talk with the King's soon-to-be wife."

One of the guards tells me without even throwing a glance on me.

I nod and try to stand, but my vision is blurry. Which is hard for me to take a step towards the guarded door.

He quickly shut his mouth according to the King's order.

However, I don't understand why does he forbid them to speak up with me. I am not an important vampire nor part of the royal family!

"Thalia, come with me."

A mysterious voice echoes the entire compartment. "Did you hear it?"

I ask them but still, they didn't.

"Perhaps, I need to rest. This past few days, the only thing that I do is to watch my reflection in a mirror."

I gasp as I close my eyes to set aside my past.

I need to live in the present in the body of a female vampire.

Suddenly, a loud voice sounds of and tells that the King is approaching.

I watch how the guards stand firm and look at nowhere. They were impeded to have eye contact with Jack and all his relatives.

"Where is she?"

Jack sounds too worried about me. And I know I should tell exactly what happened to my head.

"She is awake now, My King."

From distant, I listen to their voices while I lie in bed again.

Although I can't see his expression, I know and I feel that he is happy upon knowing that I am fine and conscious.

Footsteps coming towards the huge bed where I am lying.

As I move my gaze around, I appreciate the entire emblem of the room.

There is a mini-library on the right side and I am hypnotised to touch and read all of it.

But, as I turn my gaze into the ceiling. A warm hand touches my arm without saying even a single word.

"Jack,"

"I am too worried and afraid. I thought you will no longer see my world, my Kingdom and myself. But, as I look at you now. I can say that you are fine now."

His eyes tell the same thing too. Genuine and heartfelt care for me that comes out of the blue. "It's not a big wound for you to act this way! I am okay and I think I shall go to see my parents, outside."

I take off the quilt from my body and get off from bed.

Jack is watching quietly without stopping me. "You don't have to go outside to see them."

"What do you mean?"

My heart beats too fast as he smiles at me genuinely. Jack turns his head into the closed door, "They came to see you, Thalia."

"Wh–"

"Th... Tha... Thalia!"

A tall woman with a pair of emerald eyes wraps me around her arms. She smells like a honey which makes me hug her tightly.

She's breathing heavily while looking intently my eyes and said, "I am so happy for you! Even when you are still young, I know that one day you will marry the Vampire Lord's son. And now, it is not a dream but a reality to be cherished and glorify."

"You... You are my mother?"

I am speechless.

Thalia's mother has the same features as the woman who gave birth to me! From hair down to the feet, it looks like the same.

She narrows her eyes as she's surprised by my question. But, as soon as I realise it. I said, "I missed you so much! I thought I can't see you two forever."

A man behind her is staring at me with a wide smile on his face.

He is taller than my mother and as he walks slowly towards me. I stumbled upon seeing clearly his face.

"Father!"

I run towards him and without a word, I embrace the man that I am missing for how many days.

He said, "Oh! My little daughter will be married soon. Time flies so fast but I know Jack will take care of you."

"But, I don't like to be his wife! He..."

I try to ask for help. But Jack grabs me and murmur. "Perhaps, you need to know the truth."

"Wh... What are you talking about? Truth?"

I am starting at him and my mother gasps and breaths heavily.

"Forgive us, Thalia. But we talked regarding your wedding. Your father and I agreed to the King's proposal. He will give you everything you want and you don't have to saunter around the forest to look for a victim!"

"Are you saying that you sell your daughter?!"

I can't believe that even Thalia's parents can be this too greedy and selfish.

They are grateful and happy for selling their daughter. Their own flesh and blood to an immature Vampire King.

I am speechless and astonish. "Please, excuse us for a moment."

Father tells Jack as he let me pull by him. He brings me to the corner that is away from anyone, but I know Jack can hear our voices.

"Listen to us carefully! Marry the King or we will be going to live in an isolated village! He will be going to do everything to make us suffer and mourn! Thalia, you and Thea are the only precious daughters in my life, and marrying Jack is the best way to keep you safe from the cruel werewolves!"

"You don't understand why I don't like to marr–"

For a moment, I stop and take steps back.

I close my eyes and try to imagine the possibilities. I don't want to see them suffering and if marrying Jack is the only way.

I will take all the risk by myself.

"When is the royal wedding?"

Jack smiles at me and replies, "We'll talk about it later, Thalia. As of the moment, cherish every second that you have with your family."