PROLOUGE
Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail, but there was one stray hair that dropped into her line of sight. She took a moment, stopping her work, pulled out her ribbon to retie her hair and wiped away the sweat on her brow. The sun was high and it was a scorching day. I watched as she was knee deep in soil, planting flowers in the garden behind my home.
She had lived here since she was born, her mother, another servant, was pregnant when she came here. I was there with my father delivering her the day she was born; I cleaned her of the blood that covered her small body. The moment I held her in my arms I knew she was made for me, and no one else.
My eyes were always on her, memorizing every detail of her skin, taking note of the way she walked. I notices how she always kept her head down and showed everyone respect, she never failed to do her job to a certain satisfaction. At night I watched her and learned her nightly routines.
My name is Edward Cullen, I am a vampire, and I am a prince of Voltura who's engaged to Isabella Swan from Washington of North America. My heart however, belongs to Nicole Miller.
CHAPTER ONE (EPOV)
~Saturday
I watched from the library windows as she walked from the servant's quarters to the main house, she was working in the house today under Rosalie's instruction. She was the closest thing Rosalie ever had to a child, and she loved her deeply. Quite frankly I was jealous of their bond and how my girl always talked freely with her.
I took a deep breath, ran a hand through my hair, and straightened my suit as I walked towards the door. I quickly walked to the kitchen and my breath was knocked out of my chest as I saw her face. She was laughing with Rose, looking carefree and happy. Her eyes darted to my face and her posture immediately straightened and her body froze. She lowered her head as her eyes darted briefly to Rose.
"Morning Mr. Cullen" she said in a quiet voice.
"Good morning Nicole, I trust you slept well last night?"
"Yes sir, I did"
I walked to my sister giving her a small hug and a kiss on her head.
"Where's Emmett" I asked her walking to the fridge to get some blood.
I turned my back against the counter and watched as she kept her head down standing in the corner.
"Going to meet with the ambassador of France" she said walking to Nicole.
I watched as she grabbed her hand and laid a gentle kiss on it. She wrapped her arm around her waist as they walked out of the kitchen.
"What would you like to do today?" I heard Rose ask her as they settled on the couches.
"Whatever you would like to do" she answered back
"Read to me" I heard he say as she flitted to the shelves and back.
Nicole's voice flowed through the room like honey as she read through 'Pride and Prejudice'. I was lost as I stood in the doorway sipping the cup of blood in my hand. Slowly I opened up my mind to hear her inner voice caress the words like silk.
'You know I'm doing this for you right?' I heard Rose's voice in my head.
I opened my eyes that I hadn't realized were closed and nodded at me.
'You should start talking to her while she walks in the gardens behind the gates.'
"The one behind the stables" I asked in a quick hum.
'Yes, she likes to look at the horses before she goes to bed.'
I gave her a quick thank you as I walked past them to go to my father's office. As I walked behind her, her voice faltered in her readings. She cleared her throat and quickly recovered as she started reading again.
Walking slower than usual I arrived knocking lightly on the door, waiting for entrance.
'Come in son' said Carlisle's warm voice.
"You wanted to talk" I said sitting down in the oversized chair placed in front of his desk.
"It is no secret that you are in love with Nicole" he said with his back facing me. "She's very important to this family, but you do know that you can never be together."
"How did you-
"A father knows" he said as he turned towards me. "I knew the day she was born that your heart belonged to her"
"She's all I want" I whispered looking into his eyes.
"You know of our agreement with the Swan's son, you cannot have her. She will be leaving us soon anyway; once she is gone you can focus on the task at hand, which is Bella."
I nodded knowing she was going to the local university in Italy in the coming months.
"Is there anything else" I asked standing.
"No, just stay away from her Edward, you need to focus."
I walked away knowing I would never part from her.
It was 6:15 Monday morning and I watched from the library windows as she rose from her bed. My eyes followed her movements as she turned off her alarm and walked to the bathroom the servants shared. She was humming as she brushed her teeth and washed her beautiful face. She walked back to her room to change her clothes; I cast down my eyes to give her privacy to put on her school uniform. She went to a private school near the castle that Carlisle got her in on scholarship. The time when she was away at school was the only time I could focus on my princely duties.
When I looked up I saw her grabbing her skateboard and giving her mother a quick goodbye kiss. Rosalie was standing in the garden waving her off as usual and then she was gone.
The door to the library opened causing me to shift my gaze. I turned to see my favorite sister standing in the door.
"You should talk to her, let her get to know you" she said as she flitted to my side.
"She'd never talk to me" I said turning back to the window.
"Never say never" she sang as she opened a window.
"What did you see Ally" I said smiling.
She just shrugged her shoulders as she gracefully jumped out the window. I watched as she leapt into Jasper's waiting arms. He gave a slight nod in my direction before they both turned their backs and sprinted into the forest.
I sighed as I straightened my tie and walked out to the car that was waiting for me. I stepped in giving the driver a good morning as the car pulled from the driveway. My eyes drifted close as I laid my head against the seat, the deep breaths I was taking were relaxing me.
In the distance I could hear the laughter and squealing of the teenagers. I opened my eyes searching for the one face that would ever matter. I saw her hugging a girl with curly red hair and laughing at some joke someone told. She was beautiful.
My eyes never left hers until she was out of sight.
If it were possible for a vampire to have a headache and to be tired than I had to be the first. I was waiting for some blood in the microwave to warm up, when soft footsteps floated through the back door.
"Good afternoon Mr. Cullen" she said with her head down. Her steps faltered as she fidgeted for a moment.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked in a timid voice.
"No, I'm fine" I said, but I immediately wanted to hear her voice again. "How was school today?" I asked conversationally.
Her eyes widened a bit, but she quickly shook her head and answered. "It was fine" she paused for a second, "I saw one of the cars drive by this morning."
"Yes, that was me. I had some business to do today."
She nodded and opened her mouth to say something more but quickly closed it when Carlisle walked into the kitchen.
"Mr. Cullen" she said bowing her head and straightening her back.
"Hello Nicole, how has your day been?"
"It was fine sir, and yours?"
"Quite well, Esme is waiting upstairs for you, run along dear" he said looking into my eyes.
I watched as she left the kitchen taking the service halls to my mother's room.
"Leave it alone son, it will only cause you pain in the end" he said laying a hand on my shoulder.
I nodded knowing he was right, but deep down I knew it was a pain that I couldn't live without.
