Sidney
I woke up early today because my family was coming to visit for my birthday and I wanted to make sure the dorm was spotless before they get here. I was sixteen years old when they sent me here to finish my training and now almost three years later I`m only four months away from this part of my education is over and I start the internship with my father, the Lord of San Diego . That is not the worst of my problems I wish it was. In fact the list of issues gets longer everyday soon I would have to hire someone to keep track of them all. Issue one, I`m forbidden from even speaking to my best friend Darien, I talk to him daily anyway after all he is my best friend and has been as long as I can remember. Issue two, I`m failing economics, the teacher clearly hates me after I corrected him on an assumption about the vampire court history, spiciest asshat. Issue three, my slob roommate… enough said but she is fun so I guess everyone has to have a flaw. Issue four, my dad sent me a report about the erosion issue and a potential pandemic to review and I haven`t the first idea where to start on that, just staying informed is stressful enough. However the most important issue I have is the single rule that pertains to my birthright.
After the turn of the twenty second century humans struck a final blow of nuectual war before mother nature fought back to claim the planet back, the human race became an endangered species which caused the other hidden races of this earth, Magi (wizards, witches, warlocks, psychics, and gypsies), shapeshifters, the fae (elves, pixies, fairies, merepoeple), Vampires, and demons, to leave the shadows to help rebuild but life as we knew it was forever changed.
Many believe that life is opportuntisc but in fact it respects the balance of dark and light. In the new world organization laws are made and enforced by a ruling family in each city, I was part of one such family; my father is Lord Henry of San Diego. These cities ruling families are headed by a ruling pair (husband and wife) who are expected to do their duty to the greater good of the organization, each cities reperestivies or leaders are expected to meet once a month with others in their state then the state reps take any issues or diesions to the highest order a group of leaders of each court or race of peoples of this earth. All of this is simulatiousley very simple and complicated. On my families level our duties include punishing law breakers furthing our cities industry, education, peacefulness , environmental concerns and such like any type of government however like an monarchy we are also expected to further the family line in the proper way according to the Highest Order`s whims. Each ruling pair is expected to have children to take over the city before the Lord and Lady reach the age of sixty. Everything is done by committee including the matching of the soon to be rulers in arranged marriages. The rule is that each child of a ruling pair must marry by their twentieth birthday and my deadline was coming fast. Every time I saw my father or his new family I was grilled on the boys of my acquaintance, if I had found someone I was interested in, no how are you? No, how are your studies going? Just do you have a name to take before the Order for approval? I went to school with most of my options but I was just not interested. I was here to study diplomacy but that was not all, technology and science and battle skills, history and warfare these are all considered important skills for the elite but many girls seemed to be under the impression it was some antique finishing school. I on the other hand was more like the warriors and more aggressive races of men and women, vampires, demons and shifters I lived for the rush of the fight whether it be real or for other gains.
I was turning on the vidscreen in the living room when my roommate Anne burst through the door with a massive bouquet of blood red roses and a black velvet box. "Look what someone sent the birthday girl." She giggled. I knew who would have sent the extravent gift my best friend Darien, The Vampire prince of LA. Or as some people call him the Black hearted prince, son of my father`s best friend King William the only single ruler. William and Darien have regal titles because not only do they rule LA but William is a member of the highest Order, as King of the Vampires. But to me he is just Will the loving kind fair man I grew up watching rule and be a father to my other half, Darien.
I was on my feet and took my gifts from Anne and set the vase on the kitchen island counter and was sitting down to open the box when the doorbell rang. "Damnit" I set the box beside the roses and moved to answer the door.
"So are they from the legendary Darien?" Anne asked poking around looking for a card in the flowers.
"Stay out of that!" I called back and pulled the door open and just as expected my family was standing there, three hours early, my Father and my step mother looked normal in their warm weather clothes with my step brother Dean and a strange guy, must be Dean`s friend behind them. My father has grey hair and bright blue eyes and the waist line that says he enjoys a leisurely lifestyle and works a desk job. My step mother Lisa is your typical trophy wife since my mother died when I was born just like Darien`s mother, Stranger yet Darien and I share a birthday. My father was single along time before the Highest Order proclaimed he must remarry, I was ten when Lisa and Dean moved in. Dean is the exact opposite of me, I was born to be strong, dangerous in a fight and smart as far as I can tell Dean was born to be selfish, useless, lying, cheat and soft, luckily he would never inherit my city he was not to be trusted aside from the fact he was not of the blood. I was confused by the presence of the stranger, He was tall and thin with wispy blonde hair cut short to hide that it was curly I was sure. He was a good looking man, too vanilla for my taste but something was odd about him, granted I never really like many guys which was the burr under my parents saddle every time I talked to them.
We all said our greetings and my parents followed me into the kitchen where immidantly they greeted Anne but I could tell Lisa was dying to ask about the flowers. "So how are your classes going?" My father asked as I poured drinks for everyone, red flag something is up they`ve said nothing about the marriage rule.
"It's okay…" I answered when Dean came in from the living room and blabbed.
"Look at the flowers, Did Sid finally pick a side of the fence?"
"Dean!" father admonished him.
"Who are they from?" Lisa blurted.
"Lisa, we talked about this we decided to leave the marriage rule alone today." Father was glowering now.
"Why else did we bring Jamie?" Lisa snapped.
"Oh dear goddess! You brought a person to blind date me?" I snarled.
"Sweetie your nineteen you have less than a year to figure this all out we`re just worried." Lisa said trying to play the mom.
"Whatever … does he know?" I asked pointing at the stranger who must be Jamie.
"We were going to wait till later to talk about this but fine," father seemed to be angry with Lisa. "we`ve decided to give you six months to pick a man or we will pick Jamison, He was suggested by the Highest Order and unlike you he does not fight the rules, he just can`t find a girl he like."
"He is nothing like me!" I snapped.
"How do you know?" Lisa asked.
"Trust me… he couldn`t keep up with me if he trained for the next hundred years." I laughed unhappily.
"Well what are you worrying about … It looks like you have options." Lisa said searching thru the flowers for a card I would guess.
"Yeah who are they from?" Dean sneered; he knew some how that rat boy knew.
"She hasn`t opened the box yet." Anne blurted.
"Anne!" I scolded her.
"Well common` then let's get this over with." Lisa demanded shoving the box into my hands. I knew who it was from and it was just going to make my Dad infuriated. I was not pleased that this was being forced on me but I lifted the lid anyway, Inside was something under a velvet sheet but on top was a blood red card envelope. I pulled the card out and slid the lid closed. I opened the card and sure enough in his perfect handwriting was a message from Darien, my best friend my other half.
Sidney,
Happy birthday, I can`t believe we`re 19 I know I`m breaking tradition you always
Send me clothes and I send you weapons but I have something more important this
Year. My dad gave me this to give to my bride whoever that is but I think the one
Girl I love should have something so personal so I`m giving it to you. I wish I could
See you but I`ll have to settle for calling you, talk to you later.
Darien
Ps. Oh fine look under the lid and there is an audio chip and two silver switchblades
Have fun sorry almost treated you like a girl.
Before I could stop myself I was grinning from ear to ear and looked up to realize everyone was watching me. "So?" My father prompted.
"Your just goanna get mad." I answered.
"Damnit Sidney! I didn`t just decide to separate you two to make life unpleasant."
"Then way? Its not like we were screwing around or fighting, I came home from LA once with a vampire bite and you lost your damn mind." I argued.
"I did not wish the vampire Queen`s life for you its much different then the courts you know elves and gypies are life and light, vampires are darkness and death." He growled.
"Dad we were 13 we were friends not planning a wedding." I fired back.
"Yes , but eventually you would get older and the older you got together the higher the possibility and he is a good looking boy always has been… just like his father and when…" He trailed off.
"That we would what? Fall in love?" I was seething.
"Are you saying I`m wrong?"
"Father, Dare is not in love with anyone and I doubt whether or not we see each other will change that… he is my best friend that is all."
"But what about you? Do you love him?" my father asked already knowing the answer.
"Darien is the only man I trust enough to love if that is answer enough." I stormed off gathering the box and card and fleeing into my bedroom.
I was not alone long before I heard my family leave. Once they were gone I joined Anne in the living room. "So what's in the box?" She asked without looking at me.
"I`m not sure." I smiled putting the thoughts of my family out of my head and sitting on the floor beside the coffee table. I set the box on the table top and lifted the lid, atop the velvet sheet sure enough laid two silver switch blades with what looked to be abalone handles, beautiful custom made blades. Darien always bought the best never less than, " Here put this in could be fun," I handed Anne the chip then I lifted the sheet and gasped, nestled in the black velvet casing of the box was a diamond chain long and fine and from it hung a heart shaped blood red ruby the size of a ping pong ball, I was the Queen`s seed an enchanted stone only the vampire queen could touch I would burn the life force out of anyone else and Darien had given it to me.
"Is that?" Anne gasped looking down at the necklace and moody dark seductive music began to play, Darien`s band obliviously.
"Yes." I whispered still stunned.
"Can you touch it?" Anne was puzzled.
"I … I don`t know… I`m not a vampire or the Queen… But Darien gave it to me and Will said for him to give it to his bride…"
"Will you try?"
"What worse could happen at this point?"
Sidney
"Sidney!" I heard from out in the living room but I rolled over convincing myself I dreamed it, "Sid sweetie wake up we have a spa appointment in thirty minutes I can`t believe you are still asleep." Lisa was berating me while invading my quite bedroom.
"Ugh it is six am what is wrong with you." I groaned as she ripped my blanket away.
"I want you up and dressed in ten minutes… now! Or no coffee!" she was way too cherrie but I knew better whether I get up and cooperate and receive coffee and some spa treatments or be pestered and pestered and miss out but I would not get anymore sleep so I climbed out of bed showered and dressed in record time. In nine minutes thirty-seven seconds I was walking into the kitchen pulling my wet hair into a pony tail at the back of my neck. Anne was yawning and pouring herself a mug of coffee but dress and ready. "Sidney great!" Lisa smiled, "Here we must get in the car now or we will be late." Lisa handed me a steaming mug.
"Alright alright," I groaned and took my coffee and the three of us headed done to the chauffeured town car. We sipped out coffee and rode in silence.
We arrived at the lotus spa right on time despite Lisa`s stressing about the appointment times, The lotus is a grand example of old world indulgence, slick marble and steal and smoky glass. "Welcome to the lotus ladies." Said a razor thin Asian man with bright blue eyes.
"Hello we have appointments at seven, for the full day, under Lisa Dominguez." Lisa smiled running her fingers across the dark glass desk top.
"Of course if you ladies will choose a seat we will start the selection of treatment potions." He responded and came around with tablets for each of us as we took our seats. I began browsing thru the options each one had a ridiculous name like pretty princess, vixen vamp, completely ridiculous. So I chose one that was called knight in shinning armor, massages, basic maintenance Mani and pedi deep conditioning of skin and hair nothing polished or pretty just relaxing. Within two hours we were led to a room with three massage beds and waiting massages as soon as we were all settled the nagging began.
"So Sidney, what was in that box yesterday?" Lisa asked.
"Silver knives," I answered before Anne could say anything else.
"That's it?" Lisa seemed confused.
"An audio chip of Darien`s band…" I answered.
"Hmm… that is not so bad, your father worried it was some grand romantic gift that would compromise your intentions."
"The music was really hot…" Anne piped up.
"No doubt, the black prince has always had a certain allure, it's a vampire thing I believe." Lisa explained like she has ever met Darien or a vampire even. Vampire`s don`t tend to leave they`re cities; LA, new York, Chicago, London, Vegas. New Orleans. Tokyo, Moscow, Juno, and Paris: there is a reason in many cities they are not treated so well but what is to be expected Vampire or were or shifter or demon you can kill first and ask questions never. Fear often is the most dangerous emotion.
"Let's talk about something else." I pleaded.
"Okay, So what do you think of Jamie?" Lisa asked.
"He is cute." Anne placated.
"Sidney?"
"I don`t know him… not that it will matter to anyone but me," I grumbled.
"Oh common he is young handsome polite and giving` that he is human his life span should be about as long as yours, gypies are skilled humans after all." Lisa started.
"My mother was elven; no one knows what my life span will be." I corrected her.
"Well we talked to an elf from Portland as well but thankfully you father was persuaded to offer up Jamie, Royce Melbourne is an unattractive creature," Lisa grimaced. "I mean common Jamie and your children will be beautiful."
"Cause of course the most important thing for your children to be beautiful …" Anne mocked her but Lisa didn`t notice.
"Finally, someone agrees with me on something!" Lisa exclaimed then continues to ramble on but I had tuned her out and snuck into the relaxation my father was paying so much for.
Sure enough after our spa day Lisa demanded Anne and I accompany her shopping where she continued to talk obsessively about this Jamie person and gasp bought me the perfect dress for a spur of the moment dinner with the men, what luck? Ha! What a joke!
Then there was dinner my parents talked for me, I was completely confused why I was even expected to be in attendance Jessie was all charm and politeness but that was not as impressive to me. "My Lord and Lady, I shall see Sidney and Annabelle to their dorm, enjoy the rest of your evening." Jessie led our way out to the curb outside the restaurant.
"How kind of you? Thank you." Lisa smiled and she and my father climbed into their town car and drove away, leaving Anne, Jamie, Dean and myself to catch a taxi back to the university.
"So Annie what is your plan for next year?" Dean asked.
"Oh, I`m following your sister home. After all my degree is to be an advisor, we`ve been working together for years now." Anne answered.
"What will she need an advisor for? To help with charity drives and party planning? Nanny work?" Dean snickers.
"What the hell is that suspost to mean?" I snapped at Dean.
"You will learn, don`t worry …" Dean sneered as the taxi stopped at our building.
"Good night." I snapped bolting from the car and up into the building if I saw my step brother once more tonight I would once again be an only child.
I got up to the dorm and into my room without incident but I did not get to enjoy the peace for too long after ten minutes there was a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in…" I said pulling my heels off. "Since when do you knock?" I asked looking up expecting to Anne to my surprise it was Jessie. "Can I help you?" I asked frozen in my tracks.
"We need to talk frankly." His voice was flat and serious, as he let himself into my room and closing the door behind him.
"That may be a good idea." I said as he wandered around looking at my things with a disgusted look on his face. Finally he sat on my bed making himself comfortable.
"Take a seat." He seemed to demand.
"I`ll stand,"
"Okay, be that way if you must. Lets be honest, I`m your last option to legible to inherit your city. You need me, no one else will have you and why would they." He started getting to his feet.
"Not the last option…" I began and he sneered at me.
"The Melbourne elf would not want you after what I`ll say about you if you can`t get in line." He stepped up to me pinning me against the wall.
"You`ve got some nerve." I was stunned by his change in demeanor.
"And you have no choice, so if you wish to be Lady Sidney ever? You will do as your told, I will not tolerate this unlady like puristiutes, you will do your duty bare my children and appear to be a proper woman and I`ll allow you to attend court as my advisor so you may still have a role in your city." This guy is an asshat of epic portions, and he reached up to touch my face so naturally I knocked his hand away so he smiled widely at me and the backhanded me with his opposite hand catching me off guard. I licked the blood from my split lip and then spit the blood tinged saliva at his face and he reached out to hit me again only this time I expected it caught his hand spun it around into a wrist lock and pushed that extra inch and snapped the joint.
"You will never touch me again…" I growled into his face, he was red with rage.
"You cunt… you will be my wife and you will pay for this later and you have no fucking choice." He snarled at me.
"You cannot make me." I shouted
"No… but your parents and the highest order elders can and will it is already decided. It is me or I guess you could just disappear up to you." He was now scary calm and the pulled a gun and pushed it into my face resting the barrel between my eyes. Not only is he a sociopath he's` ambidextrous. "Also next time we got out in public I expect you to make a better effort of looking presentable or you will be punished. Now get some rest." I was stunned completely speechless as he tucked the gun into his waistband and left cradling his broken wrist. I was frozen leaning against the wall blood running down my lip I could indeed disappear but where would that leave my city, a shiver ran down my spine as I realized it was true I had no choice, in order to be given the Lordship I have to be married according to the law and unfortunately the options I had even last year have all entered arrangements with other heirs or people who I`ve had unfortunate encounters with, me have such fragile egos especially in their teen years. What am I going to do?