The princess lifted her head slightly and smiled…wickedly. Then, in a flash, she was galloping to the forest, which was unexpected. Lucius turned to his cousins and rapidly shouted out commands to trap the princess in the lower towns before the main road to Dragomir Palace. Lucius, himself, pulled at his horse and galloped after the princess. He thought her a stupid girl attempting to go through the woods at night. Clearly, she wanted to get lost and at the mercy of a pack of hungry wolves. So he galloped after her, trying to catch up to her and grab onto her reign.
But her ride was fast, agile and larger. A war horse for a princess? How improper. Suddenly they were out of the woods and up ahead; Lucius cannot see his cousins nor any traps laid out for the princess. How could his polo playing cousins be that slow? Nudging the horse to gallop faster, he was gaining on the princess. When he was an arm length away from her reign, Lucius stretched out to grab it. Suddenly, the princess turned her head and the speed that they were going at pushed her hood off to review a young woman with a black lacy mask and wavy black shiny hair that danced in the wind. Eyes as green as emerald peered at him and rogue lips smirked before a leather cladded hand lifted and smacked his outstretched hand away.
"Come Titan, I grow bored of this", said the princess and nudged the stallion to gallop at a speed that even his own stallion could not achieve.
"You can't run my lady", Lucius lamely shouted. The princess responded arrogantly, "I believe I can". Looking ahead, Lucius felt his heart sank as the princess neared the golden gates and he pushed his ride harder. But the feat did nothing to stop the gates mysteriously open and immediately closing once the princess was through. Arriving at the gate, he aggressively pulled at it but it did not move. The only answer he go was laughter from inside the palace that tormented him and his cousins behinds him in utter confusion as to how Lucius and the princess made it out of the woods that quickly.
"We are not dealing with just a princess, cousins", answered Lucius. "We are dealing with a Dragomir"
Finally, the night of the ball arrived. Lucius sat in his black limousine with his uncles and cousins, adjusting his official suit.
"What's the hold up, driver?" the ever impatient Cezar shouted to the driver.
"Um…my Lord, there are other vehicles in the way and I find it hard to manoeuvre" answered the old driver, whose name Lucius doesn't care to remember.
Looking out the window, Dante noted, "There are a lot of people here tonight. I didn't know the princess was well acquainted with other royal household". At the mention, Lucius looked out his tinted window and saw royal house from all over the known world, make their way to the golden gates that was set to open at 8:30. Of course, they were early. Lucius ordered the driver to stop and together the Vladonovs got out of the limousine and joined the crowd of royals. He wondered how his princess could know all these people.
"It's Tsar Alekzander Romanov of Russian", exclaimed Cezar as he pointed to a tall, built vampire with a piercing cold blue eyes and dark brown hair. At the sound of his name, the vampire looked at Cezar, analysed his cousin then moved on to walk with a female vampire with the same piercing blue eyes and blond hair and a vampire with dark brown hair, beard, and eyes: his parents.
"So you have met Alekzander the Conqueror", informed Julius. "That one there came into power at the age of sixteen and he has never lost a battle since he joined the royal army at eight. Some say that he is also an assassin and that he was his father's left-hand until his coronation. He is rich and to humans, he is an entrepreneur specializing in engineering".
"I wonder whether she is around...hopefully Alekzander and that beautiful creature have broken up", said Cezar besides him.
"Who?" asked Dante and he smirked, "I don't think a barmaid like Estar could tempt a tsar".
Giving his cousin an annoyed look, Cezar explained, "A year ago I heard that Romanov was hosting a great party in the woods in celebration for his victory against some savages. Of course, I'm not one to turn down a party, particular a grand occasion that I wasn't invited to". Cezar paused to allow the cousins to snicker before continuing, "When Romanov presented himself to his people, a girl, the most beautiful person I have ever set eyes on, stepped out from behind him and greet him. I knew they were close because as I watched her, she and Romanov were sharing a cup, his royal goblet".
Cezar grew sober as he continued, "As I drew near, I think Romanov sensed me and set his men on me. They bought me to him. I told him that I was a Vladonov but he smirked and said that he did not care. Right before they Romanov did anything, his woman stopped him. Cousin, if I find out that they are not betrothed, I will find her and make her mine". Lucius clapped his cousin on the back and together they made their way towards the gate.
As they drew nearer, they came uncomfortably close to the Romanovs, who annoyingly smirked at the group of Vladonovs and their escorts. As they walked, Anna relently clinged onto Lucius' arm feigning fatigue, which Lucius repeatedly pried off. Lucius prayed that she will behave tonight and not offend his betrothed.
"Yo Romanov", shouted a familiar voice. Turning around, Lucius came face to face with his childhood friends but alas, they were no longer on such terms; King Nathaniel Dimitus and his cousin Duke Isaac. Each vampire was escorting a red-haired woman, who Lucius knew were twin sisters and recognized them from his time at Madam Marion's etiquette classes.
They were Vera and Vanessa Baniski, and they infuriated Madam Marion, Anna and her close friends, Katarina and Iona, with their loyalty to the lost Dragomir princess. They were Katarina Dorog's half-sisters and it wasn't when Lucius was ten years that the twins stopped socializing with the Vladonovs' society. When Lucius questioned Katarina about the twin's absence, Katarina grinned evilly and said, "They just turned up to my father and asked him to sign a document that will permanently disinherit them. Of course, father was happy to; after all they are not his. I wouldn't be surprised if we find them at a brothel; they have no other family".
"Vera? Vanessa?" Anna eyed the women, who responded to their names but did not acknowledge her. In fact, Nathaniel and his escort pretended that the Vladonovs were not there at all and carried on greeting Alekzander.
"It is a happy day, is it not Romanov?" asked Nathaniel as he winked at his friend.
"Indeed, it is" was all Alekzander said.
Finally the gates opened and the crowded moved rapidly to the palace, clearly excited about the mysterious Dragomir princess. As Lucius made his way, he noted the guards positioned at all entrance, attentive and expensively armed. He noted the fountain with a marble statue of an elegant woman clutching a sword: her. As they drew closer to the great golden double doors, it opened and golden light streamed reflected of creamy marble and gold exterior. Every room that they passed through to the great ballroom was expertly decorated with gold trimmings, crystal chandeliers and velvet red roses in gold metal vase.
In the great ballroom, he was flabbergasted at the beauty of this one place. It was indeed an excellent choice to mark your debut to your people. Large staircases lined with scarlet carpet lead to a giant portrait of Valentina as a baby in her mother Queen Elanora's arms, her father King Lucian, her uncle Lord Radius and his wife, Lady Anastasia, Vladius, Elizabetha, and her second and third cousins. Her uncle, aunt, and cousins all perished along with her biological parents in a widespread assassination that also claimed Lucius' parents. All Dragomir kin were spotted with bright emerald eyes, apparently a curse from a witch who wanted to make all Dragomirs easier targets at war several thousands of years ago.
"So the curse is real", remarked Dante as he studied the portrait. Lucius looked to the other side of the ballroom and noted a large gold throne with a velvet red cushion and smaller versions of it on each side. Opposite from where they came from were doors which lead out to the garden and above them behind the gold gilded rails sat the musicians.
Suddenly, a hush came over the gathering and many people turned their heads to the staircase. Lucius moved closer to the centre where the crowd have formed a pathway and his cousins followed. As he arrived at the edge of the path, he can eye to eye with Alekzander on the other side of the path. Choosing to ignore the Tsar, Lucius turned towards the two figures at the top the staircase with their arms linked: Vladius and Elizabetha. As music played, they climbed down the stairs and made their way to the thrones.
Lucius studied his future in-laws. Vladius had the makings of a warrior, tall and lean, with long black hair, which he tied back with a leather string. He had white streaks above his ears, an aristocratic nose and a stern chin that was obvious through his close shaved beard. In all, the man was the epitome of wisdom and strength in his Armani suit. Elizabetha beside him, in a red gown was the epitome of beauty and grace. Her raven hair was tidied up and held in by golden crown adorned with rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds. Her eyes were blue like the sea and her lips were full and red, like Valentina's.
When the pair made it to the throne, they turned around and eyed the crowd before Vladius simply stated, "greetings". The effect, Lucius saw, set a shiver down most of the elders' spines. Obviously, Vladius had a history with some of the elders. Finally, when the crowd settled down Vladius extended his right hand and announced, "May I present to you my granddaughter, Crown Princess Valentina Aurora Daenarys Dragomir".