A/N: OKAY, so here is the first chapter! I hope you guys like it and check out my other stories as well. Okay, bye!
Prologue
"Stay here." She whispered with urgency.
Unable to speak, the little boy nodded, his lips tightly pressed into a thin line. He stared into her warm eyes and he knew she was there to protect him.
"Good boy, I'll come for you later." Finally, she sighed and hugged him close. Before leaving, she pressed her lips to his forehead. "Be safe." And she pulled the canvas over his small body, secretly hoping that he would stay hidden in a cart of hay.
He trembled, but he listened to his mother and stayed there without moving a single inch.
He couldn't see much as it was too dark even with his powers. The only source of light came from the full moon. The full moon that caused whatever that was happening.
However, his hearing was sensitive enough. He could still hear the wind blowing, the leaves hustling, the sound of his mother voice, and the voice of their gardener.
He heard the sound of a bag of gold coins, and the sound of approaching footsteps even it was far away.
"Hurry now!" The gardener voice came out in hushed tones.
The little boy heard his mother climbed under the canvas. A familiar hand laced into his and he felt her squeezed it tight.
Then the cart speed onto the dusty road.
The little boy wasn't sure of what was happening. He didn't know why everything was a chaos when it was perfectly peaceful hours before. He didn't know why his father was laying on the steps to the throne, covered in blood. He didn't know why that man had his father's crown on his head. All that he knew was that all he had left was his mother…And that they were leaving this horrible place, which was once their home.
OOOOO
Chapter 1
13 years later
"Princess, Princess Jezebel!" He panted, trying to catch up with me. Well, he was barely succeeding in it; there was a huge gap between us.
I ignored the voice, and continued walking ahead. No one was going to stop me from leaving the palace today, nobody. Not even my guardian slash teacher. I hummed the familiar tune in my head, as I hear the sound of my boots splashing into the water. My pants were tucked into my boots, my red hair hidden under a leather cap.
I would rather let my hair flow freely while I ran, however, that would make me noticeable even from a mile away. Okay, maybe that was slightly exaggerated. Still, I didn't want to take the risk.
I turned back to check on Harvey, my guardian. He had decided to stop and rest under a tree. Sweat dripped down his face and he was wiping it with his handkerchief. As usual, I win.
The familiar landscape took its shape. The old wooden tree house sat perfectly on the tree, undisturbed. Small wooden planks were nailed onto the bark of the tree, leading up to the tree house. I climbed up and took out the necklace which I tucked it under my shirt. Many people thought the key I hung around my neck was just a fake. Not many knew it actually opened something.
Click. The lock clicked open. I pushed the hatch opened and glanced around. It had been a few weeks since I last visited this place. A fine layer of dust covered the wooden floor. Shutting the hatch, I walked towards the huge window.
A palace could be seen on the other hill, and a village surrounded beneath it. A high concrete wall was built around the base of the hill, separating the villagers from the outside world. The burn marks could still be seen on certain walls of the palace.
I sighed as I let my hair fall loose. I didn't remember much, but the Lovett's Kingdom, formerly known as the Blackthorn's Kingdom used to be so different. I was only four back then and my memories were blurry. Nonetheless, I remembered that King Blackthorn was a close friend of my father's. The King and Queen would always send us gifts, and whenever they visited father would make sure that they get the best treatment from the servants and everyone else, and vice versa.
Other than that, there was this little boy that always tagged along as well. I couldn't remember his name, but I was pretty sure it starts with an 'M'. We were close enough back then, and would have play dates and things like that. Heck, he was also the one that gave me this tree house.
It was all that he left me with.
On this very same day thirteen years ago, something terrible happened to the Blackthorn's Kingdom. My father's dear friend was murdered and the prince and the queen disappeared. No one knew where they went. There were rumors circulating, and each was a different version. Some had say that both the Queen and the Prince had died, some say they were living in the human lands, some say that they were still alive but living under a different name, worst of all, some even say that they were eaten by werewolves…The same werewolves who had killed the King and took over the kingdom.
I remembered the night where father held my hands in his, his eyes sad and his lips in a frown. Mother stood by his side, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"What's wrong, daddy?" The four-year-old Jez asked.
Father breathed in and spoke, "Do you remember King Blackthorn?"
"You mean Uncle Armand, the one who always bring me strawberries?"
Father tried his best to explain the situation to a little girl. He tried not to make it too gory with the details. But then, his facial expressions told me everything I needed to know.
The very next day after that, I woke up to find a surprise at my windowsill. A small bronze key was what I found. There was a note attached to it written in a child's writing.
Keep it safe
Those three words I had stored it permanently in my heart and mind. It was the only thing that was left by the Blackthorns. And I had kept it with me ever since.
OOOOOO
By the time I reached back home, it was already sundown.
With years of practice from sneaking out, I managed to climb into my window in a matter of seconds. Yup, I was just in time to get prepared for dinner. My bath was already drawn, and my dress hung and shoes prepared. Well, this was a life of a princess. Everything is always prepared for you. It can get annoying, trust me, especially when you can't choose what to eat or what to wear.
Still, the trip today had worn me out and it was delightful to have them all prepared.
I ran down the stairs, dodged the servants, muttered a few greetings and…arrived at the table. Just in time. Mother was already seated, shaking her head slightly at me. Father sat at the very front, drinking his glass of blood.
As usual, late, Uncle Bracken spoke in my mind.
I stuck out my tongue at him and took a seat next to mother. She has a slight smile on her lips, a knowing look in her eyes. She might not be a vampire, but she seemed to know what we were thinking. Yes, my mother was a human. Everyone knew that there was a fine line between both the human world and the Nightworld. You were not supposed to mix with each other.
Guess what, my parents broke the rule. Well, father actually kidnapped my mom in the starting; well at least that was his plan. I mean she was absolutely gorgeous for a human, with her dark red hair and captivating eyes. No wonder my dad would be tempted to kidnap her. He planned to kill her in the end. Somehow, the soulmate principle happened and boom, they were in love.
They got married and she decided to stay human and have half vampire half human children. Well that's me. She missed her human family as well, and she tried to visit them. But the human villagers from her village just called her a betrayer and chase after her with pitchforks and torches. Her own family asked her to leave and never visit them again.
And they called vampires heartless.
"Where have you been today, Jez?" Father questioned, with a knowing tone.
"Oh, just in my room, reading up on Nightworld history." I replied with an innocent tone.
"Oh really," He said with fake surprise. "I thought you would have sneaked out and run to the land across like a crazy, wild child.
I stuffed a piece of chicken in my mouth. "Well, I'm not the one who named his own daughter a wicked, shameless woman." I smiled triumphantly.
"Fine, being the gracious king that I am, I'll let my daughter win."
I feigned surprise. "Oh, thank you father, so, so much for allowing me, you dear daughter to win." I clasped my heart and sighed dramatically.
We looked at each other and burst into laughter.
OOOOO
I covered my self with my book as I yawned. Ugh, listening to the people's problems and appeals were so boring. I shifted uncomfortably in my smaller throne, next to the King's and the Queen's larger ones.
It was only midday, and a long line of people could still be seen, all the way from the front doors to the door leading to the throne room.
Must I be here? I groaned mentally, sending the message to my father, the King.
He replied shortly after. Yes dear, you have to learn all these to be my successor in the future.
I rolled my eyes, which is when, a century from now? You can choose not to age, dad.
I could almost hear his mental laugher. Count this as punishment from yesterday. Besides, I'm having so much fun having you here.
Hmph, my reply was short. I adjusted my crown; silently wishing that someone would bring some exciting news to my dad this could be cut short.
This was when one of the royal guards rushed up to the bottom of the throne. He then bowed down and held out a letter with his both hands.
"Your Majesty, here I have a letter from the Youngblood's Kingdom." He said. The Youngblood Kingdom was one of the neighboring Vampire kingdoms.
The royal advisor took the letter and opened it.
"Youngblood?" Father continued, "Royal advisor, read out the letter please."
The royal advisor cleared his throat, "Yes, your majesty." He opened the folded paper. "Princess Jezebel Redfern from one of the many Redfern Kingdoms is invited to attend the eighteen birthday celebration of Prince Adrian Youngblood of the Youngblood Kingdom on the fifteen of April. Prince Adrian will to be choosing a bride on this very day as well."
"Fifteen of April, that is three days from now." I muttered.
Mother began to smile. "From what I heard, he is a very handsome fellow." Her eyes twinkled.
"Good looks will not take you anywhere, mother." I rolled my eyes. "Anyways, I'm not going."
Father was silent the whole time we were talking. He then laughed abruptly. I shot him a weird look. There was a look in his eyes that suggested something…something that I would not like.
"Of course you are attending sweetie." Father said. "You are already seventeen. It is time for you to get married soon."
I inhaled sharply. "What, no, I don't want to get married. Not yet," Then added, "I don't even know the guy!"
He shooed my excuses off, "You'll have plenty of time to get to know each other after marriage."
Shocked, I stared at him with disbelief. "But, but…"
"No buts, you are going."
"If he doesn't choose me and chose someone else instead, then your efforts will all be wasted." I insisted. "I'll not be chosen anyways so there's no point of going right?"
"No. I say you are going."
I groaned and shifted my attention to my mother. "Mom, please say something." I pleaded. "Okay, what if I stop sneaking out and study instead. I'll listen to both of you and follow the rules."
Dad rubbed his chin, "Hmm that is a good tempting offer…however, my answer is final. But-
I broke him off. "Dad, are you serious?"
"Let me finish my sentence first," He shushed me with a finger, "My answer is final but if you go, I'll allow you to go out and explore every twice a week and no more listening to people's complains." Smirk. "Good enough?"
A wide smile formed on my lips. "Okay, deal!" I did a very un-princess thing. I ran up to him and grinned happily. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I engulfed him into a hug. "I love you, dad!"
I skipped, yes skipped, down the steps and pulled my royal maid, Jeanne along. "Come on, Jeanne, we have some packing to do!"
From the corner of my silvery blue eyes, I could see my parents shaking their heads at me, smiles graced their lips.
What are we to do with you, Jezebel? Dad thought with a smile.
A/N: Hmm, any idea who Prince Adrian might be? Could it be Morgead? Well, keep guessing and next chapter will be uploaded soon! :D Remember to leave a review!