Nicholai Von Stein, the King of Vampires, has it all, or so he thought. He stands at a window in his over-sized castle over looking his vast garden thinking. He has devoted much of his life to his people. It hasn't always been easy.
Centuries ago his people mingled with humans, until a disturbed vampire by the name of Dracul went on a rampage slaughtering many humans.
The humans started thinking of the vampires as evil beings and hunted down unsuspecting vamps, thus killing many of his people.
This caused dissension in his Kingdom. Nic didn't want anyone from his kingdom to retaliate against the humans, he has always been a peaceful King.
He decided that they would move to another realm far away from humans. This wasn't accepted by everyone. With his kingdom torn apart, the ones that agreed with their king moved to the Realm of Giant Elk. With the abundance of elk, they wouldn't have to worry about finding sustenance.
And this is where they have stayed in peace. His kingdom grew and he couldn't be any happier then he is now, but there has been something nagging at his mind lately. He just couldn't put his finger on what was upsetting him.
Maybe he just needed more to do. With no threat of war or famine, he only had to deal with diminutive things. Since they have been breeding giant elk so they wouldn't push the elk into extinction, he hasn't been on a hunt in a long time.
That's what he would have to do.
Cheri Wright is having the time of her life at the club with her friends. Today is her 21st birthday and tomorrow is Sunday, she would have time to recuperate before going back to school.
She is, what her friends call, a nerd. She can't help it if she likes to get her studies done, make good grades, be organized, before partying. Unlike her friends, she has to pay her college tuition. Her friends let their parents foot the bill.
She didn't blame her parents, they had saved enough money to get her through her first year. Her parents did the best they could and she will buy them everything they can't buy for themselves when she graduates an gets a job.
She's studying to be a doctor. Yes, she would take care of them. But right now was her time. She didn't want to think about anything other than having fun!
The music in the club was booming a dance beat that had many club goers dancing. It was smoky from the fog machines and hot from all the bodies crammed into the place.
Laser and strobe lights made the place look hypnotic. Just then a guy bumps into them spilling a drink on her friend Cassie.
"Watch it, you idiot!", she said. The guy grumble an apology and stumbled off to a table. Cleaning her outfit off Cassie was ticked.
"This outfit cost me eight hundred bucks!", she screeched.
"You knew how packed this place gets Cass", Misty stated (Cheri's other friend).
"Maybe we should just go back home", Cheri suggested.
"No! It's your birthday and you should be partying", Cass whined.
"I think I've had more then enough drinks, I don't want to get wasted in a club anyways", she admitted.
"Well, we could go home rent some movies and drink some more. I would like to get drunk too", Lacy chimed in (their designated driver and friend). They were all roommates. It was much cheaper to split the rent for a house four ways then to live in the dorm.
"Okay", they all agreed in unison.
They pushed their way outside and located the car. Driving home they sung as loud as they could with a popular song on the radio.
Arriving at the house they stumbled out of the car, except Lacy. She just watched and laughed.
Once they were in the house they went to their bedrooms to change into something more comfortable. Cass let her clothes soak so they wouldn't stain.
They met in the living room with a bottle of wine and four glasses sitting on the coffee table, thanks to Lacy. She placed her laptop next to the wine and started surfing Netflix for a good movie.
"What shall we watch ladies?", she asked. Moments later they decided on a old cheesy vampire flick.
The movie didn't disappoint in the cheesy department. But the movie had them laughing at some parts.
"How does this heifer not feel him breathing all over her neck? I would be awake in a flash.", Lacy laughed. Her comment sent them into a fit of giggles.
"Stop, you're going to make me pee myself!", Misty insisted, laughing still. After that there was no stopping the laughter. This went on through out the rest of the movie.
"I'm having such a good time", Cheri said after the movie ended.
"So glad to hear it", Cass replied smiling.
The girls hugged Cheri. The bottle of wine was almost empty, most of it going to Lacy. She was trying to make up for not drinking at the club.
"W..What now? I'm a..all out of i..ideas.", Lacy stuttered and hiccuped.
"I have an idea!", Cass blurted out. She went into her bedroom and came back with a book.
"I found this the other day at the campus library. I thought it was weird and interesting, so I checked it out. I've been wanting to try this ever since I got it.", she explained.
They looked at the book, it was about the Wiccan religion and how to do different spells.
"What the heck are you planning to do?", Misty asked.
"A spell that will grant us our hearts desire", she shot back smiling wickedly.
"I hope you don't accidentally open a gate to hell and let demons loose in our house! I've watched some Paranormal Witness episodes.", Misty warned frowning.
"You watch to much tv", Cass retorted.
Cass drew on the floor with chalk, place the items the book described in their appropriate places.
"Before I read the spell, clear your minds and only think about the one thing you want the most.", she explained.
Reading the spell the girls thought of what they wanted the most, and then everything went black...
Cheri felt something poking into her back. Wincing, she rolled to her side. She tried to open her eyes, but there was to much light. God, I shouldn't have drunk so much last night, she thought.
Feeling around behind her to see what had been digging into her back, her hand wrapped around what felt like a rock. A rock? In my bed? Had to be something else.
She put her hands over her eyes and tried opening them and letting a little bit of light in. She was hoping her eyes would get use to the brightness that way.
It worked, but as she looked around she didn't see her bedroom or the living room for that matter. Where the heck was she? It looked like a forest.
"Oh God, I'm in a forest!", she exclaimed to no one.
She stood up slowly. Her brain felt like it was pounding in her skull. Hung over, in a forest I have no idea how I got to, she thought. Better find a way out, then she started walking.
Thinking of the spell her drunken friend cast last night, she stopped walking. Well, I sure as hell didn't ask for a forest, she grumbled inwardly. What happened to the others?
Wait...I bet I passed out after that spell and the girls thought it would be funny to drop me off in a park and leave me. I will get them back, she growled, still lost in her thoughts.
A set of hooves running through the forest caught her attention. She hide as best she could behind a tree. Just then she heard voices.
"I know he went this way, I can still smell him", a male said. Smell him? Did she hear right?
"Hold on, I'm picking up another scent", a male with a deeper voice commanded. Could it be me? Do I stink? She sniffed herself quietly. No, I don't smell anything.
Right at that moment the deep voice boomed through the forest, "Stop right now, you maggot!"
A dirty, pale, poorly dressed man grabbed her and held a knife at her throat yanking her from the tree in clear view of the riders.
Cheri screamed and held onto the man's hand that held the knife. As if that would stop him for slicing her neck open.
"Let me go!", she yelled.
"Shut up or I will kill you", the man growled in her ear. His breathe reached her nose and it was rancid. Trying to keep the contents of her stomach down so she wouldn't kill herself on the knife, she swallowed the bile back down.
"Leave or I will kill her!", he commanded pushing the knife closer to her throat causing a drop of blood to roll down her neck and disappear in her shirt. She whimpered and looked at the riders.
The one that looked like the leader arched a dark eyebrow. Then he sniffed the air and she could have sworn his eyes went black. He turned to look at his companions, they seemed to be talking to each other without saying anything.
"You will let her go and surrender yourself", the leader barked moments later.
"What makes you think I would be that stupid?", the man questioned.
"Because you would make Arturo mad and when he's mad he gets trigger happy", the leader said nonchalantly pointing to an area behind them.
The man turned his head and dropped the knife. She fell down and scooted away. She looked behind the man to see what made him change his mind. There was another pale man holding a crossbow and he had a evil smile on his face.
"Wise choice. Blane go get our prisoner while I get our human guest", he demanded and got off his horse.
Human? Why did he call her that, aren't they all human? She saw that the leader was coming closer. Oh a whim, she rushed over to the knife and picked it up and held it out toward him.
"Don't come near me!", she yelled. He stopped an gave her a thoughtful look. Crossing his arms over his chest, he started laughing.
She is very interesting and cute, he thought. Apparently she has no clue he is a vampire, the vampire king no less. Where did this human come from? She was shaking, the poor thing. It's been a long time since he had been around humans. So frail and so emotional.
"I just want to talk", he said when he stopped laughing. She looked mad at him for laughing at her. Just last night he complained to the mage that he needed something to occupy his time, maybe challenge him in a way. Did that sneaky mage cast a spell and that's why the girl was here, he wondered.
"I don't want to talk, I want to leave", she pleaded.
"Why don't you leave the way you came?", he teased.
"I don't know how I got here, okay!", she yelled feeling frustrated with this man.
He could do this all day he thought with a chuckle. Blane entered his thoughts, "I have the prisoner and we are heading back. I think you will have more luck with the human if there weren't so many strange faces around." Nice nodded at Blane.
"My name is Nicholai Von Stein, everyone calls me Nic", he introduced himself in hopes that she would relax if she felt she knew him better. Of course he could just go over there and take the knife from her and throw her on his horse, but he didn't want to frighten her anymore then she was.
"Nic, can you point me in the direction of the University of Wyoming?", she asked.
Scratching the back of his neck, he thought of what to say. If I tell her she isn't on Earth she'll freak out.
"To be honest, I don't know. Let me take you to my home and we can get directions.", he stated.
"I'm not going to your house! Can't you look the directions up on your cell phone?", she stammered.
Now he was getting frustrated. What the heck was a cell phone?! He decided he didn't want to be out there any longer and this was going to take forever.
Before she knew what was happening, the knife left her hand and she was thrown over his shoulder. He got on his horse without any problems of her added weight. Sitting her in front of him and wrapping his arm around her waist, he set off.
"What are you doing?!", she cried. She tried to wiggle free, but his grip would not budge. I know I'm not strong, but I'm not a weakling either. How can he be this strong?
"I'll tell you everything when we get to the castle", he simply stated.
"Castle?! You live in a castle?", she asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I'm the King", he said.
A FRIGGIN KING? Where the hell was she. There was no king of Wyoming. He's a lunatic and he's probably taking her to his cabin full of torture devices, she thought.
She tried harder to get loose from his grip not caring if she fell from the horse at the speed they were traveling. She kicked, screamed, dug her nails into his arms, but nothing made him budge or flinch. Finally the tears came, it was hopeless.
They arrived at the Castle. He didn't lie about that. But there were no castle's in Wyoming, that she knew of. It is beautiful she thought. The largest building she had ever seen. There was a village wrapped around the castle too.
This is weird, very weird. It's like something her history professor read to them about the old centuries in Europe.
The castle itself was made of white stones and looked immaculate. Flower gardens were placed in various places around the castle. Such a beautiful landscape, she thought.
Stunned by the sights and fatigue setting in from her struggles, she said nothing. She noticed that for such a large village, there weren't people walking around.
She studied the houses in the village and took note that it didn't look like a poor village. The king must take good care of his people. The houses were beautiful. Better then the house she was currently living in, she thought with a stab of home sickness.
Entering the castle her mouth dropped open. It was something from a fairy tale book. The double doors opened up into a huge foyer with the most beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the middle.
Nic gave her time to look around. He has always been proud of his home, but never had anyone visit that hadn't already seen it or help build it.
In front of her there was a large staircase that split off at the top to go left or right. Looking in the room to her right it looked like a sitting room with a over sized fire place and book cases.
On her left there was a elaborate dinning room. The dinning table was big, he must have a large family. A large painting was hung on one side of the room. It had a group of people in it. She only recognized Nic.
As she looked closer at it she noticed that they were standing in front of what looked like the castle being built. They were wearing old fashion clothes. Nic look to be the same age he is now. How weird.
She turned to looked at him and he simply smiled at her. She wanted to explore more of the castle, curiosity getting the best of her, but looking at Nic reminded her why she was here.
"What are you going to do with me now?", she asked a little scared.
"Show you to your room, unless you want to look around the castle some more. I will be more then happy to give you a tour.", he said.
"What I want is to use your phone", she said in a low timid voice.
"I don't have a phone", he mentioned, still not sure what that was.
"You have all this, she said while moving her hands around, but you don't have a phone?", she asked in confusion.
He nodded and stopped a lady she assumed was a maid. He told her something that Cheri couldn't quite make out.
Nic turned to her and told her Maria would get her room ready. Maria went up the stairs and disappeared.
Cheri stood in the middle of her room looking around. It looked like a princess belonged here, not her. The bed is a huge four posted bed with some kind of see through material tied back to the posts.
Beautiful paintings adorned the walls and the vanity table and mirror were just as awe inspiring as the rest of the room and furniture.
She walked out onto a balcony that connected to the room. The view didn't disappoint. It over looked a large lake and a large well kept garden.
They don't do anything small around here, she mused. She walked back in and found the bathroom. Wow! I could swim in the tub! She thought to herself. The tub was built into the floor.
Walking back in the room she sat on the edge of the bed. It was so soft. She wondered if the girls were looking for her. She hoped they were kicking each others butts by now.
She sighed and laid back on the bed trying to think of a way to get in touch with her friends. Nic seemed okay, except for the kidnapping part.
What was he planning to do with her? She had so many questions and she still wasn't feeling good from last night.
She eventually dozed off, not meaning to, but couldn't help herself.
A knock at the door woke her up. She was confused by her surroundings at first. She shuffled her way to the door and opened it a crack. It was Maria.
"My Lady, his Highness would like for you to join him for dinner", Maria said.
Cheri looked down at her dirty clothes, she should take a bath first. What the heck is she thinking?! She doesn't care how she looks, she's a prisoner!
She followed Maria down the stairs and to the dinning room. A huge meal was laid out on the table, she wondered how many others were eating.
Nic got up and pulled a chair out for her, she sat and he helped push the chair up. A psycho gentleman? She wondered amusingly to herself.
She heard footsteps coming from down the hall. She turned around wanting to see who they were. As they walked into the room she noticed that four of the guys had been in the forest with Nic this morning. The other two she didn't recognized.
Then two women walked in and she suddenly felt like she should have cared more about how she looked. These females were beautiful.
She felt out of place and wanted to leave. The newcomers were watching her as they took their seats. Cheri adjusted herself in her seat, feeling uncomfortable.
"I would like you to meet some very important vam...people. This is Arturo, he was the one with the crossbow, this is his mate Eve.", Nic began. Cheri studied the couple.
Arturo has almond-shaped turquoise eyes. His luxurious, straight, soot-black hair is short and is worn in an uncomplicated style. He is tall and has an over muscled build. His skin is china-white. He has a hooked nose and long-fingered hands.
Eve has droopy brown eyes that are like two bronze coins. Her luxurious, straight, black hair is worn in a style that reminds her of a waterfall. She is tall and has a voluptuous build.
"Beside Eve is Blane and his mate Trina", he went on. Cheri studied them next.
Blane has hooded sapphire eyes. His thick, curly, gray hair is medium-length and is worn in a practical style. He is very tall and has a broad-shouldered build. His skin is white. He has a small nose.
Trina has slanted chestnut eyes. Her silky, straight, brown hair is medium-length and is worn in a simple style. She is tall and has a lithe build. Her skin is pale. She has an elegant nose.
"And beside them you have Dante", Nic continued. Turning her gaze from the couple, she studied Dante.
Dante has almond-shaped green eyes that are like two clumps of moss. His fine, wavy, brown hair is worn in a style that reminds her of a porcupine's quills. He is shorter then the others and has a lithe build. His skin is brown. He has large hands.
"In the seat beside you is Issac", Nic said. She turned to see the man grinning at her. She smiled back shyly.
Issac has narrow eyes the color of the evening sky. His thick, straight, black hair is very short and is worn in a handsome, precise style. He has an athletic build and has full lips. Handsome, she thought.
"Alec is beside him", Nic went on to his next friend. She struggled to look. He waved at her.
Alec has large eyes the color of smoke. He is bald. He is also tall and has a wide-chested build. His skin is cream-colored. He has prominent cheekbones and full lips from what she could see.
"Last, but certainly not least, we have Marquis", Nic said and sat down. She looked toward Marquis.
Marquis has droopy coffee-colored eyes. He is bald. He is short and has an angular build. His skin is nut-brown.
"These are my friends. Everyone this is...You never did tell me your name.", Nic questioned her.
"I'm Cheri", she said timidly. They all greeted her. Especially Issac, he seemed to like her she thought.
As they started eating she noticed that they didn't talk much. She never liked silence when she was eating. The food always sounded to loud in her ears when she chewed.
"So Nic, when were we going to talk about finding me a way home?", she asked bravely, not feeling that way.
"After dinner", he replied and gave her a smile. The others looked at him. She nodded and with nothing else to do, she started studying Nic. She never noticed before, but he is really hot.
Nic has gray eyes that are like two pools of mercury. Unusual color, but she liked them, a lot. He has luxurious, wavy, brown hair and he wore it in a style that reminds her of a flag blowing in the wind. He has a masculine build and his skin is pale. He has an elegant nose and prominent cheekbones. And he's got five o'clock shadow. Sooo sexy, she thought.
They finished their meal in silence.
The table was swiftly cleared away and cleaned. Nic stayed in his seat, so Cheri stayed in hers. Everyone else left. She felt a little more comfortable with everyone else gone.
Nic didn't know how to start the conversation, he knew she would freak out. She needed to know everything because he had no idea how to get her back to her home.
Unless he contacted the mage to see if he really was behind her appearance in his realm. But she still needed to know what he was. He didn't want everyone to hide what they are, it would be to stressful. She would end up finding out anyways.
"Cheri, I don't know how you got here, but this isn't Earth. Me and my people used to live on Earth a long time ago, but unfortunately we had to move. We are in the Realm of Giant Elk", he began, but stopped to see how she was absorbing the information thus far.
She started laughing. Shaking her head she looked like she was about to get up and leave. He stopped her by placing a hand on her arm.
"You're crazy, I knew it. God, how did I get myself in this situation?", she said mainly to herself.
"Look out the window Cheri, tell me what you see in the darkening sky?", Nic said pulling her up and over to the window.
She looked out the window and noticed that night was approaching. She looked in the sky and saw a couple of moons.
"Two moons? How are there two moons in the sky?!", she bellowed. She turned to look at Nic and started wringing her hands.
"Don't be scared, you have nothing to fear. I will take care of you and try to help you get back home.", he assured her.
She began pacing in front of the window not sure what to do. The Realm of Giant Elk, huh. She stopped and looked out of the window, but didn't see any giant elk.
As if he read her mind he took her arm again and lead her to the kitchen. You can see the elk we breed and raise, look out this window.
She looked out the window and in a pasture stood the biggest elk she has ever seen. Her mouth dropped, she was speechless.
"You see, I'm telling you the truth.", Nic proclaimed. So far it seemed he wasn't lying to her, she thought.
"I don't understand how it's possible for me to be in my living room with my friends one moment and here in the next.", Cheri whined. Then she thought of the spell her friend did. Could it have actually worked?
Trying to think back on what she wanted most at that time, she stopped and looked at Nic. She remembered. She wanted to find her soul-mate. She was tired of being alone. Does that mean?...
"No...That can't be it", she voiced her thoughts. Did her soul-mate live in another realm? Was that possible? Before a few minutes ago she didn't know realms existed.
"What is it Cheri?", Nic asked worriedly.
"Right before I woke up in the forest me and my friends were playing around with some kind of spell book. We had to think of what we wanted and we were suppose to get it. Well, I ended up here.", she told Nic.
"It seems the spell has worked, but what could you have wanted that brought you here?", he asked.
"I can't remember", she lied not wanting to tell him what she asked for.
"I'll have to talk to the mage and see what he thinks. He would know how to get you back home...I hope.", Nic said looking hopeful.
"Mage?", Cheri questioned.
"Yeah, he deals with anything magical and I would say this is magical.", he replied with a slight shrug.
"There's magic here?", she asked.
"Yes and speaking of magic, there is something else you should know.", he stated.
She wasn't sure if she could handle any other news, but she didn't want to be left in the dark. She wanted to know everything she could about the place she was going to be living in until she could find a way home.
"Please understand that I won't hurt you, nor would I let anyone else hurt you. I know there must be all kinds of tales about my kind of people on Earth.", he said in a serious tone.
She wondered what was wrong with him and his people that would frighten her. They all looked pale, did they have a disease, she wondered.
"Go on", Cheri demanded.
"We are good people, we left Earth because humans were hunting and killing us. We didn't want to retaliate, so we left. Cheri...we are...vampires.", Nic blurted out the last part.