My first fic! Tell me how you think about it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The Clock strikes Twelve

Chapter 1 - Ut Wisi Pomum (I bit the apple)

Darkness. It was all she saw before she began to break into a run. She didn't mind where she was going; all that she cared was to run away from that evil monster following her. She didn't know how she was lured into the dark forest where the vampires lived. Must be one of that blood-sucking Antonio's plan. In all means, she knew that the one vampire she hated the most was following her.

Occasionally turning back to see whether he was still in her track, Princess Natalia Arlovskaya's heart beat began to get unusually regular, due to fear and anger. It was always the same thing that happened before her transformation into a werewolf. Was she turning back into one again? She glanced at the sky while running quickly. It was not a full moon, and she cursed the spirits for that. Where were her powers when she needed them? Sweat trickled through her face as her mind began to set upon her only goal, to reach at least Toris's house and then to her nation.

Bushes and branches began to hinder her way towards escaping. She knew he was following her. She had to keep him offtrack. But how? Her eyebrows knitted together as anxiety and desperation began to build up. She could run very fast, thanks to her siblings and her being born as half-werewolves, but the forest seemed endless. The forest was supposed to be at the border of her Balticland. Was she going at the wrong direction? Her face went pale at imagining that.

Suddenly, the light of the crescent moon was shadowed by some kind of animal jumping in front of it, blocking the only source of light Natalia had for escaping. She instinctively looked up and froze.

It's him. Second prince of the vampires.

The figure jumped in front of her, landing gracefully in all 4 legs. The moonlight contrasted his devious features and blood-sucking nature. He looked at her lustfully through his spectacled blue-eyes, and Natalia gulped. The tomboyish, cold nature which she showed upon minorities was all gone, now being replaced by the fear of a mouse.

"You should know better than running around in circles, Natalia…" He emphasized her name with a masculine drawl, showing his small white fangs with which he killed so many people, to satisfy his blood-lust.

Natalia began to hyperventilate. The place was awkward beyond limits, and the prince was starting to make it worse by slowly approaching her. She took a step back and frowned.

"You know I will never give up my kingdom to your kind, Alfred. So stop trying." Natalia said with anger and adrenaline coming and her emotions changing as quickly as weather. Wow, no wonder Ivan was telling her she had personality disorders.

Alfred F. Jones looked amused, and smiled darkly. The girl in front of him, nevertheless being extraordinarily beautiful, had an arrogant and stubborn behavior. But his clan was equally stubborn, and wished to have her land which stretched across the Circassian sea to the Indian Ocean. It would be a wonderful pleasure if they did, their clan would no longer need to live in secrecy and they can dominate the World.

But every contract must have a deal. King Arthur, brother of said Jones promised him that if he managed to make Natalia hand over the kingdom to him, even if it means by sucking her blood or kidnapping her, he would have the complete freedom to do whatever he wanted with the girl. He was in lust with her, and wished to ravage her body before making her into a vampire.

His eyes glowered with the thought of that. Natalia at once knew what he was thinking, being born with an ability to read minds. She suddenly had the tendency to grab the knife strapped to her thigh and slash him with it, only to realize that would be of no avail. He'll have no harm, he was vampire after all.

"Pity, pity then." He began, his voice full of mock-sadness to tease her. "It'll be a great pity to corrupt such a pure soul."

"You can't change me into a Vampire. I'm already a werewolf." She answered back confidently.

"And neither can you do that to Ivan or Katyusha."

"Oh yes, but you see your curse…." He paused and pointed his long pale finger towards the moon, "Only works on the full moon. The other days, you are complete human, unlike us."

'Damn it!' She thought. What was she going to do? Running will prove worthless. All vampires were swift runners, and she'll easily get outrun. Her palms began to get sweaty again.

"Tick tock, Arlovskaya. Either I change you to a vampire, or you hand over your nation to me. What's your choice?"

There was still a choice left. But it had only a 4 percent probability to escape. To run.

She chose the third.

Before he could realize what was happening, Natalia ran towards her right as fast as she can. Alfred growled and began chasing her, intent on ripping her to pieces. But as much as he wanted to kill her, he wanted to claim the girl as his own.

The 19-year-old girl ran, her blue gown getting partially ripped from the small weeds and plants that blocked her. She could hear Alfred coming and ready to pounce, and swiftly moved to the right, hoping that the 21-year-old vampire would miss her. Unfortunately, he had already anticipated this move.

Pouncing just as she jumped to the right, he pinned her palms using both his hand towards the thick tree next to them. Natalia wriggled under his grip and glared at him, but he just smirked in accomplished victory.

"Why Natalia, you are a mischievous, misbehaving kitten."

He softly nuzzled her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. She wanted to escape, and her mind was racing at the speed of light, thinking of a way to run. She noticed then suddenly, his grip on her left hand was weaning, and she took the opportunity to grab her knife swiftly from her thigh and shoved it near his neck, the blade almost causing a tear in his pale skin. She was threatening, but Alfred showed no fear. He merely smiled.

"You, of all people should know that trick has been played one too many times and it won't work."

"But it would work this time!" Said Natalia, smirking as she shoved the knife into his shoulder and into the bark of the tree, fixing his stance there. Alfred's eyes widened as he realized what happened. He was stuck! He pulled at the knife but it was firmly pressed to his skin and already positioned itself into the tree.

"Why you….!"

"And now, no bad words! I won't feel any bad at leaving my friend, the knife there. If at all, you might actually get to know more about my friend! да спаткання, Alfred." She said, blowing a kiss before running into the darkness towards her home, happy at last that she had overcame her stalker.

Alfred had no choice but to look helplessly after her. But he knew that he will get her soon, if not sooner. She might've torn his favorite jacket, or outsmarted a vampire, but he will get her. The reassurance made Alfred smile darkly and pulled the knife out easily. He proposed going back and pinning her once more but he knew that would be of no avail. She'd have already reached home. But before he went back to his clan, he muttered a promise.

"I will get you Natalia, I solemnly swear."

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