Thank you for the wonderful response to the prologue. Here's the first real chapter. Hope you enjoy. Catch you next week!
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 1
"Edward, come on," Alice yelled from outside my rooms.
"I will be down in a minute, it isn't as if they can start without me." I grumbled. Leave it to Alice to ruin a perfectly good morning.
I finished dressing and made my way down to the living room, to see my parents and sister waiting for me. "Eleazar, Demetri, and Jasper have returned, the seven princes are all expected within the hour."
I looked to my father and nodded, the four of us making our way. I knew my younger brother Garrett well enough, that he'd be in the gallery with my grandparents, saving a place in the front row for my mother and sister. Garrett loved the pageantry of this only because he was a second son.
We walked the short distance to the capitol building and my father steered me into the main rotunda while my mother and sister found Garrett above. For the first time in my 101 years I was offered the throne by my father. It felt strange to have him sitting on the lower seat, but this was how the transition began.
The other princes entered: Felix with his father Caius, Alec with Aro, Benjamin with Amun, James with Laurent, Nahuel with Joham, and Stefan with Vladimir. Each son took the honored seat and for once I was able to relax.
Centuries ago, there had been a shield, a vampire who was able to block out the powers of others. It didn't stop physical powers, we had guards for that, but they could protect their mind. With great practice, they learned to project it, and after a century of playing with their power, the frequency they projected was able to be replicated. That frequency was used in the rotunda to protect the princes from outside influence. It was the only place where my ability to read minds was completely nullified.
It was a wonderful feeling.
The gallery had filled to capacity and we were all waiting for the Seekers to arrive.
The Seekers were a trio of men who had one purpose, to find the next queen. Demetri, the best tracker known to be living. Eleazar, who was able to discern talents, even before a transformation. And finally, Eleazar's son Jasper, who was able to not only sense emotions, but project feelings onto others.
I was anxious to see who they had found. My father was king, and it was no secret we wanted to keep it in our family. Too many of the other princes in my generation were cruel or stupid, not who we needed to rule for a century.
Demetri and Eleazar entered from the opposite side of the rotunda and then the floor opened as the platform rose in the center of the room, revealing four figures. Tanya and Rosalie had been given the honor of guarding the new queen, so they were on the edge of the platform as it locked into place with the floor. Jasper stood near the middle of the room, his hand on the shoulder of a petite young woman.
She was a slip of a thing, coming up to the middle of his chest, her skin was pale and her hair was a warm brown and fell nearly to her waist. The platform began to turn, revealing her to each of us and as I waited my turn, I took in the set of her shoulders and the way she tried to regulate her breathing. She didn't want to look frightened.
As each prince saw her fully, they reacted pleasantly, but still I wasn't prepared for feelings that hit the moment our eyes met.
I felt my father's hand tighten on my shoulder and only then did I realize I had stood. Returning to my seat, a single thought crossed my mind.
Mine.