Queens Die Proudly for their Kings
I: These Backgrounds Know No Glory
"CHEEERRRRRSSSS!"
The clashing of champagne glasses sang throughout the brilliantly light ballroom. Crystal chandeliers glittered the boisterous room into an excitement of golden and white hues; dazzling the polished plates and teary eyes within the party.
It was walking into heaven for her. Once the servants opened the double doors, a roar of cheer and congratulations sprang forth from the voluminous room. Everywhere was a smiling face and not once did she feel the lingering of an evil judgmental eye. Despite the nasty rumors, envious gossip or snobby standards, tonight was her own and all regulations was kept back to linger outside of the double doors.
"A toast to the lovely couple to be!" One cried. Again a sea of glasses was raised in her honor.
"A TOAST!" The room echoed. The noble who announced it first began.
"May your years be long and filled to the brim with love, happiness…"
"—and children!" A woman in the back cried causing a light hearted chuckle throughout the crowd. The comment made her smile even more.
What a thought. Children…I can not wait! She looked up at the owner of the arms she clung to, her husband to be, her fiancé, her King. He will be a great father.
A pair of mix matched eyes looked into hers. Blue and brown—both shining brilliantly underneath the chandelier lights. Rido…
"And children—children as beautiful and blessed as their parents!" Everyone drank to that. She only took a few sips of the champagne while Rido drained it in one full gulp.
"Darling, slow down." She laughed and whispered.
"KISS! KISS HER!!!!" The crowd ordered. Already her face grew warm with a blush. Though she was an acclaimed actress and loved the spotlight, something about him made her shy. Like a great secret, she didn't want others to see for nothing was more treasured than her love for this man.
He didn't mind at all though. Like her, he was comfortable with the spotlight as well. It was something that made her somewhat hesitant about him on their first date for she read that two Leos always ended in disaster. Yet for some reason she never found anything that made her happier in her life and she would be crazy to let something like him go.
Rido tenderly took her chin, tilt it upwards and kissed her gracefully and lovingly. Every kiss was a Hollywood kiss and out of the many she had in her career, none of them equaled to his kisses. Usually in front of the camera she would have to act in order to appear like a kiss had taken her breath, made her weak in the knees, and see nothing but stars. When she kissed him, there was no acting. She felt it for the first time with him. She felt love.
The crowd roared when they parted; making her cover her mouth and laugh at the attention. Rido as well beamed. Their happiness reflected and bounced off into the crowd, making the rest of the known vampire society beaming with their joy. Despite the fact that she wasn't a pureblood evaporated from their minds and made them regret for doubting their choice to marry. With only a week away from the ceremony, the nobles and upper class society had never seen a more handsome couple that complimented each other as well in a long time. It's been almost 800 years since the marriage between Juuri and Haruka Kuran.
"HORRAYY!!!!" The crowd bellowed.
"Hahaha!" She laughed as both her and Rido managed to escape the many handshakes and embraces by slipping behind the thick drapery that hid the private balcony from the ballroom.
For a brief moment she had only him to herself and she for him.
"Samantha, that was rude." Rido smiled for he was in mid sentence with several other noblemen before his hand was grabbed and kidnapped by his mischievous wife to be.
"Like you care." She laughed as she sauntered closer; pressing her body against his for warmth from the cold December night. "How many more winks and pat on the backs do you need to know you lucky you are to have me?" Her eyes grew heavy as well as her voice while she stood on her tiptoes slowly; begging for a kiss.
Rido leaned down as well but when the moment came for their lips to touch, he dashed away; pivoting around her—teasing her.
He laughed for he caught her off guard and in the end she did as well. But she wasn't done. She was a fighter, just like he was and them being both bold and hardheaded they were also persistent in getting what they wanted.
"Come here, you!" She trotted on her high heels, chasing after him on the balcony. He allowed her to run after him before he immediately turned sharply out of her grasp just before she caught him; keeping him always out of her reach. She finally caught him for the third time even though he allowed her to catch him.
They stared into each other's eyes smiling silently to their own thoughts, which was always about the other.
"I can't wait for this wedding to be over and done with." She finally said.
"Oh really?!" He mused. She nodded. "You mean you didn't enjoy trying on expensive dresses, bossing everyone around, and arranging your dream Cinderella wedding?"
"No! That was the fun part! I just want to hurry up with the wedding so that I can still fit into my dress." Rido froze.
"Why wouldn't you? Is the stress of the wedding making you fat?" Samantha laughed at her fiancé's navie way of thinking.
"So silly rabbit. I just don't want to start showing till after the wedding."
"Ohhh! Oh yes…that." He twirled her around like they were dancing.
"What do you mean that?!" She snarled in a playful manner.
"I was just agreeing with you."
"Hmm. Really? And are you able to handle this position O Great Rido?"
"Position of what?" He asked.
"To be a father of course!" He sighed. "Don't sigh! Fatherhood is not all about politics and meetings like what you do with your noble friends!"
"Samantha—''
"No Samantha! I mean it. I don't want to treat our son or daughter like some topic to be discussed in one of your Council meetings. I want you to love him or her!" She touched her belly. "Like you do me." She pouted.
"And I will!" He sighed, taking her hand in his; placing it over his heart. "I'll raise him like the way my father raised us—''
"NO HITTING!" She roared.
"I'm not going to beat him! Just in case he gets out of line—''
"No! None of it! My baby will not be taught through violence! You were raised in the dark ages when it was okay to starve your child. It's the 90's Rido." Rido sighed. "And I will not treat my dogs better than I treat my baby like how those ancients did."
"Samantha." Rido caressed the side of her cheek. "I swear on my life, I will not harm either you or our child." She smiled at this. "Happy?"
"Hmm…Let me think about it." This made him chuckle.
"My Lord!" Rido's head snapped towards the direction of his servant startling Samantha. "Lady Juuri and Lord Haruka have just arrived. Your brother and sister!"
Samantha's heart sank. The rip in her chest seemed to have made its way up her throat, making it dry and difficult to breathe. Rido heard the faint gasp from her but did not turn to look at her until the servant was told to go and that he'd promise to be out soon. He finally looked at her to find that she wasn't looking at him but at the floor.
"Their my family and what's left of the Kuran—''
"And yet she was meant to be with you!" Samantha snapped. She pushed herself away from him and found the bitter cold of December comforting. The pain of the winter made her numb from some of the pain that the name upsetted within her.
"It was almost 800 years ago—''
"Don't play me a fool." She scoffed. "I know you desired her for your wife all your life. You still do—''
"Now listen to me!" Rido hissed and grabbing her arm too hard. Fear arose within her. "You are going to be my wife! I choose you! You're mine! Mine alone and no one else can have you!" His eyes glowed in a crimson red.
"Rido stop it!" She tried to pull away.
"I love you! You're my forever-not she! Not she! Not she!"
"RIDO! You're hurting me! You're hurting the baby!" At this the crimson that once flooded his eyes evaporated and his face fell into a frown. His released the hold of his fiancée's arm. Samantha grabbed a hold of it, rubbing her arm and praying that a bruise would not show. She kept back the tears. His rage only proved more to her that Rido still desired Juuri and not her. She was only his replacement. This pain was more unbearable than the pain that lingered on her arm.
Rido felt shame wash over his form. He felt lightheaded as he always did whenever this sort of raged escaped from his control. The pureblood could tell that the wimpering sounds were not for the pain he inflicked on her but for the doubt that he gave to her.
He knelt on his knees so that she would look at him and not at the ground any longer; taking her hands in his.
"I love you and only you Samantha. You alone will bear my heirs and for that I desire no one but you. My life is devoted to your happiness and safety. Will you still be my Queen?"
Soft tears of relief rolled down her cheek. She nodded with eyes clamped shut. Rido stood up and held her tightly in her embrace while rubbing her back. This always calmed her. It reminded of what her father use to do whenever she scrapped her knee or was yelled at by her mother.
His arms were always so strong. They were her castle.
"Yours and always." Rido kissed her head as he said their motto. Samantha nodded while drying her tears to a loss memory.
"Yours and always." She smiled.
COMMENT Please! COMMENT Pretty please!
Now I know I have another VK story in the works that MANY are dying to be revived back to life. Let me relieve all that I am still working on it. Right now I'm doing a scene where I'm putting a lot of work and consideration into it because I don't want to upload a chapter that's been waited on for almost a year to be just a lame comeback.
Now to this story! Um…I love Rido. He's my favorite, then Kaname, then Toga, then Shiki, then Kaine. What can I say! I like my moody guys especially evil ones with sex hair (that's what Rido had). So sad that the artist kills him off and it seemed like she didn't give him much of a personality. He was just portrayed as a really EVIL guy and it only makes me wonder, dude-what happened to this guy to make him so?! This explains why I've made this story. Its an usual one for someone like me to write because there's no yaoi…yet. (You never know what I can throw in) But I just want to write something that the manga artist FORGOT to mention in the manga of who Rido was before that fateful night.
I'm basing this story on a song meaning that each chapter is a lyric from the song and even title is simiar to the artist's CD. I want all of you to listen to it so you can get a feel for 'Samantha's' thoughts for Rido. It's called "Overcome" by Juliette Commagere from her album 'Queens Die Proudly'. Check it out! It's a beautiful song!
So Shiki's mom was never really introduced so I gave her a name that I believed would fit her. Also she looks like a Samantha to me. She seemed really interesting and something that the manga artist should have really elaborated more on.
It's gonna be a short story just an fyi. A little side project. Next chapter is gonna be about the first time they meet.