Prince?

"Loren, what do you want?"

"To do the empire a good deed, of course."

Empire?

I pushed Rix off me gently and peeked out from behind Zeke's frame, feeling a like a two-year old. Rather unfortunately Loren saw me and smirked.

"Another one of them, Zeke?" He sneered at me.

"She's none of your business." He replied coolly.

"Is that true, honey?" Loren drawled and turned his scorching gaze on me, I swear he was trying to burn a hole through my chest with his eyes.

"Fuck off." I spat back.

He chuckled darkly, advancing forward but Zeke blocked him with a swift movement of his arm. Somehow a sharp silver knife had appeared in his right hand.

"Don't, Loren."

"Or what, you going to kill me?"

"Try me." He levelled the knife at Loren's chest, "I've had centuries of practice."

"Come on, surrender and I won't blast you and your girlfriend to pieces."

"Dream on."

Loren chuckled then fired not into Zeke but beside him, missing me by a mere inch. I flinched and pulled Rix with me as close as to the wall as possible.

"I told you. Leave her out of this." Zeke's voice hardened then moved slightly again, blocking me completely from Loren's view.

"Why, are you scared of what I did to the previous girl?"

Zeke didn't speak but I saw his fists clenched so tightly that the knuckles bleached white. He backed off slowly until he's in line with me then sent the knife flying at Loren but he blocked it easily but by that time, Zeke had already scooped up Rix and I was running back the way we came.

"Follow them." Loren gave the order calmly and the next thing I knew, I'm being pinned to the ground by two vampires. Hey, I'm not an athlete, I'm a bookworm. Besides, they're vampires.

Loren walked over and knelt down beside me, I did my best to glare at him. I didn't even try to struggle because I knew it would be hopeless.

"Let her go, now." Zeke stopped and let Rix down behind him, his right hand gripped the knife so tightly I'm surprised it didn't shattered.

Loren chuckled and touched my cheek and I spat in his face, determined not to show any weakness. He laughed softly, dark fury beneath it.

"I know you're tough, but how much will you see your special girl suffer, hmm?"

He took out a silver flask and swished it around. "I'll have you know, there's boiling water in here, now if you don't nicely put that knife down." He lifted my shirt, "I'll pour this right over her."

Now, I struggled. I flailed my arms around and kicked around wildly, I was happy to see I managed to kick one of the vampires in the face before one shifted position to hold down my legs.

"You really are heart less, Zeke. Letting an innocent girl to suffer because of you." As he finished speaking, he poured whatever was in the flask over my stomach. I screamed in agony, my body arched off the ground, the pain was excruciating it was like a million tiny knife flickering across my abdomen. I writhe, trying to free to hands that are holding but every time I move, my body goes spasm and I collapsed onto the ground again, panting and gasping.

"How could you do that to her! She's just a girl." His voice raised higher, anger and concern laced his tone. Knowing he had hit a weak spot, Loren grinned darkly.

"Apparently he doesn't like his little girl getting burn. Bert! Go get me another nice, hot cup of water." He called out into the opening. Seriously, Bert? Sounds like someone burping.

I lifted my head to look at my stomach, blisters had already began to blossom across my abdomen, the skin was cherry red. I bit the inside of my mouth to stop the tears coming out. I don't know how many minutes later, another cup appeared in Loren's hands. The steam floated almost dreamily into the air, and even though I'm determined now to show any weakness. I let out a low groan. I twisted my head to look at Zeke, his eyes filled with anguish as he locked eyes with me. I knew he wouldn't give up; he can't because if he did, Rix would certainly be dead. Besides, I'm just a girl, why would he care. Loren sighed then poured a tiny bit of the water over my already blistered skin, when the water touched the blisters, it turned nuclear. But surprisingly all came out of my mouth was a low wounded animal sound and I twisted around feebly.

I looked at Loren who was tipping the cup again and whimpered, shrinking against my captures, my heart was pounding so rapidly, my legs started to tremble as the flask tipped steeper and steeper.

"Please, don't." I whimpered softly and looked into Loren's eyes, hoping to find a silver of humanity in there. If another drop of water drips on it, I was sure I would pass out; Loren stopped and looked at me. For a moment, I thought I saw pity in them, his hands stopped for the tiniest moment then his face hardens again and I closed my eyes, accepting my fate. Then the sharp clang of metal against metal alarmed me and I snapped my eyes open, the flask lay by Loren's side, the silver knife beside it. Zeke advanced forward and punched each of the vampires holding me before they even realized what was happening. Zeke moved with lethal grace, murderous rage in his eyes, perhaps even Loren realized this. Just a tag too late, even as he fired two bullets and both found their target in his chest, he didn't even flinch. I watched with amazement as Zeke moved forward and punched him right in the nose then delivered a kick to his balls. Huh, I guess that works for just about any guy. Loren crumpled to the ground like a sack, then he finally turns and looked at my stomach, guilt shadowing his eyes. His touched my cheek with the touch of a moth's wing and gave me a saddest smile I've ever encountered in my life so far. It broke my heart, just a little.

"Is alright, I'm fine once I get some cold water on that. Thanks for saving me." I reassured him and slowly got up, wincing as my knees grazed my stomach.

"Saving you?" He buried his head in his hands; the anguish was evident in his voice. "I almost got you killed." He laughed humourlessly.

"Hey." I lay a gentle hand on his shoulder, "I would've been much worse if you haven't stepped in. Stop feeling guilty because we have to get out of here, and fix you up."

"Yes, you're right."

-An hour and a half later-

"Doesn't this place have any cottons balls?" I grumbled as I searched the hotel room for a first aid kit.

"Just use a towel, Carmen." Zeke said in an exasperated voice.

"Is unhygienic." I protested.

"Then soak it in hot water or something."

"Argh, fine." I threw a glare at him half-heartedly. Then went into the bathroom and retrieve a small soft white towel and soaked it thoroughly in warm water.

"I'm afraid you have to take you shirt off."

He took off his shirt without a word, revealing a muscular chest and for some stupid reason, I blushed.

"Um, can you lie down?"

"Sure." He hit the mattress like a stone and I shook my head and began to clean the blood away. We didn't speak as I clean, I enjoyed this because is an old routine. Every holiday we would go to our grandma's village, and since she is a healer we always helped with the patients. As the years went by, I had learnt some useful skills. As I clean the blood away, most of two wounds had healed, thanks to vampire healing skill I suppose. But there were still two small gaping holes, I suppose if there was bandage I could seal it but there isn't. So I will just have to let it dry.

"You done?" He asked and started to sit up, I pushed him back down and tried not to think how smooth his skin was beneath my fingertips.

"You are not getting up and opening up the wounds again."

"Fine." He grumbled then looked at me, "Carmen, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" I placed the towel on the carpet and looked at him.

"You're not who you think you are, I can't explain it since I'm not clever with words." He took out a small box and opened it, inside was a silver syringe.

"Can you trust me?"

"How can I not trust you, you just saved my life." I replied softly.

He smiled and I lie down beside him so he could inject the needle without getting up. As the needle pricked my skin, the world around me slurred and blurred, then all of a sudden, I'm back in time.

"Mother, do I really have to wear this corset?" I complained as mother laced the laces up tightly.

"Is your first ball, and also the first time you will be meeting Lord Zeke. You must look your part." Mother scowled at me and straightened my golden and brown hair, so that it fell down my back.

"I don't see the point of this ball, when the two courts just want to tear each other apart. Besides, I do not need a husband so soon. I'm only fifteen, mother."

My mother let out a small smile, "Perhaps so, my darling." She held out a sapphire gown encrusted with diamond at the waist, I slipped it over my head and with every movement, the rich fabric swished around me.

"Come now, we must go."

We both hurried down to the palace's hall, filled with people.

"Look after yourself, dear." She patted my hand softly then left to join the other court's queen. Being the Queen of our court, she must socialise with the other queen to maintain peace without our kingdom.

"Stupid annual ball." I cursed under my breath and sank down into one of the velvet chairs.

"Lady Jalien, you should watch what you say." An amused voice came behind me and I let out a soft gasp.

"Lord Zeke." I immediately stood up and curtsey.

He chuckled softly, "lift up your head."

So I did and stared into a pair of eyes so black and mysterious that it robbed me of my breath for a moment, a mischievous smile tugged at his lips and he smiled at me teasingly.

"So, you are destined to be my wife."

"So, you are destined to be my husband." I said just as smoothly.

I jolted awake, gasping; Zeke looked at me with a concerned gaze.

"What did you see?" He asked.

"A Prince Zeke and a Lady Jalien?"

"Ah. That must have been the annual ball."

"You know about this ball?"

He scowled at me, "We were both there, and you just didn't remember any of it. Jalien was you; can't you see yourself in her?"

Now that he mentioned it, I can. Especially in our eyes, it was the same shade of violet, the same expression on her face when someone surprises her. There is no doubt that she is a younger version of me.

"You don't seem that surprised."

I shrugged, "my mother told me a very similar fairy tale once."

"This is no fairy tale, Carmen. This is something you have understood in order to find who you really are."

"Then tell me, what was that supposed to mean?" I stared at the ceiling, tracing the elegant decorations with my eyes. I do not believe any of this, if this is a joke, by all means, he can go on with it.

"It meant that you are meant to be my wife, we were and still are meant to be the next rulers of the vampire race."

"Huh?" The words had to linger in the air for a moment before it sinks it.

"What? What do you mean rulers? And I am meant to be your wife?" I stared at him, giving him a shocked look. He flashed that trademark smirk back at me. Me and him? Married? I'd sooner marry a horse.

"Yes."

"This is crazy; you can't expect me to believe this."

"I'm not, that's why I'm going to take a shower and wait for Rix to wake up." He got up, taking his bloodied shirt with him and went into the bathroom, after a while, I heard the shower being turned on.

I was still starring at the empty space beside me long after he had gone into the bathroom.

"You know he cares about you."

"Jesus." I let out a small gasp and turned my head to find Rix's gaze piercing my face.

"Yeah right." I snorted.

"He does, otherwise he wouldn't have stepped in."

"You were listening?" I turned to face him, "then why didn't you help?"

He gave me an exasperated look, "the bullet paralysed me but that doesn't mean I can't sense anything."

"Oh. Speaking of which, how is your chest?" I changed the subject, he followed. I think I'm beginning to like Rix.

"Well, aren't going to make me feel all better, mommy?" He batted his eyelashes at me.

"Oh please." I laughed and some of the tension in the air eased. "You need to shower first, you shirt is completely stuck onto your chest."

"Why don't you come into the shower with me to help than?"

"You wish." I retorted back.

"Alright then, can I tell you something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Come closer."

"Why?"

"Please?"

I groaned and shifted slightly forward until our noses were inches apart. "Happy?"

"Yup, so, I want to tell you that." In the distance I think the running water stopped.

"Yes?"

"That I find you quite beautiful." Then his arms snaked behind my neck before I even realized what was happening, he gently pulled me forward and just as our lips met.

The bathroom door opened, a new presence stepped into the room.

Zeke.

Ahahahaha…. Now, how will our dear Prince react?

AN: I know, I know. We all know how we feel about back stories. Sadly those are necessary. So, what do you think about this chapter? Still like Rix? Meanwhile you're thinking, help yourselves to the 'review' button at the bottom right. If you click it, you would make my date and earned a quicker update. Please review!

Until then, next time my friends. Which I hope will be soon.