Your Princess is in Another Castle
Chapter One: The Taking
Bella is a princess set to lead a happy married life with her prince Edward. Unfortunately, she gets caught in the ages old conflict between the vampires and humans and is trapped inside a castle guarded by a vicious red headed vampiress named Victoria until Edward can come to save the day. But things are not what they seem as truths are revealed, bonds are broken, and a forbidden love blossoms between human and vampire.
It was not supposed to end up this way.
Bella was supposed to have a happy life. She was arranged to marry the prince of the nearby kingdom, a handsome young fellow by the name of Edward Cullen, in order to join his and her lands together. He was kind, charming, and he had a dazzlingly smile that filled Bella's chest with warmth.
Already they had spent many pleasant afternoons together, strolling in the park, or having tea in the house, conversing about many worldly manners. He was a learned man and he often traveled, helping his father King Carlisle run the vast expanse of lands and resources on which their people resided on. Edward was the first in line to the throne and he was hoping to ascend to take his father's place after he and Bella were married.
Bella had been raised in a learned household. Her father had been unable to produce a male heir so his only choice had been to relinquish Bella to a male suitor in order to preserve his lands. He had raised her as a single parent, Bella's mother Renesmee dying to the plague that struck their country several years ago. It was because of him that Bella knew much of the world. She played violin, piano, could sing, as well as read and write. Not only that but she made her own dresses for fun and she could sew together a nice tapestry given enough time. And her beauty was lauded throughout her land. Her features were delicate, with big brown eyes and soft pink lips that were heart shaped. It turned many a man's head.
She had had many suitors asking for her hand. There had been Prince Mike from the south of Wales, Count Tyler from Scotland, and Duke Eric from France. Yet none of them had captured her attention like Edward, so when he asked for her hand in marriage after only two dates, she said yes and they got to work on planning such an extravagant event that the kingdoms would remember for a long time. Edward mainly made the choices and Bella nodded her head along, knowing that she had to be a good subservient wife to him even as freedom nipped at her heels goading her to run free, go adventuring in the woods, and to live her life wildly with the creatures of the woods. It would be her duty to feed him, make sure he was relaxed, and that she would bear many children for him. While she wasn't too thrilled about such matters, she knew she had to do so or else it would bring disgrace to her family. And she liked him, so it would not be too much of a burden to bear. She had oft been worried she would be married away to some old man and so she counted her blessings that her father had been patient enough with her to let her choose with time the right man.
Yet her happiness had been cut short when one night, as she had been riding in the carriage to get to Edward's country side house off to the mountains near Watzmann, Germany, where she was to stay until he arrived weeks later due from business, terror had befallen her and her driver.
She had been roused from her sleep when a loud cry came from the driver. She sat up in the dark of her cabin and peered out her window, wondering what that had been about, when she saw her driver fall off his seat and onto the ground, the carriage rumbling on and carrying her away from his unmoving body.
Panic settled into her chest as the horses sped up, neighing loudly. What was going on? The loud crack of a whip alerted her that someone else was driving the carriage now and her first thought was that bandits had come to do away with her and steal all her riches, while holding her ransom for the prince.
The carriage door opening and closing to her right drew her attention to her new guest who had some how gotten in while the vehicle was moving. A man in an ornate coat and purple frock was sitting on the seat diagonally from her, his long blonde hair tied back and a relaxed grin on his face. He looked too well put together to be a bandit, his face shaven and young. He was strangely attractive. Bella let out a frightened shriek and pressed against her door.
"No need to worry, my fair lady. We do not wish you any harm." He had a smooth voice, vowels sharpened by his French heritage. He was clearly not from here.
"What do you want from me? Is it money? Because I will give you as much as you want if only you will relieve me from your danger." Bella could feel her breaths coming in deep gasps. Oh she wished her father were here, or Edward! He'd protect her then from this strange man.
"I've already told you, you are in no danger. We wouldn't want to ruin such nice goods as you. No, what we are going to do is invite you to our house."
"We? Who are you people?"
He let out a wild bark of laughter and his companion did too, for she heard two laughing deep voices, one outside and one in. "People," he reiterated as if she had told him some grand joke. "You are a funny one. Perhaps a bit naive."
"Please, just let me go."
"Ah, how you wound me. You act as if we are kidnapping you. We are merely taking you on a lovely little detour down the countryside, to our humble abode. Do you try to offend us by rejecting our little offer?" His smile was kind, and his words sweet, but his eyes glowed hungrily and with a red menace. That was when Bella noticed his eyes were red. Humans did not have red eyes.
Demon, flashed in her mind and she thought she might just faint. A demon was stealing her away. She couldn't have this. In a burst of panic, she opened up the carriage door and leaped out, not watching to see where she would land. Sticks and stones dug into her skin as she hit the ground hard, blood flavoring her tongue as she bit it.
She bounced once before rolling to a stop, her pink dress in circles around her. She got up on shaking feet, her knee stinging where she must have cut it. Various smaller wounds littered her uncovered arms and face but she paid them no mind as she tried to hobble away in her heels from the strange men into the deep woods.
She didn't get far, for not even a second after she had gotten up had a rough hand snatched her. The blonde man had moved uncharacteristically fast. "Now you are making me mad. Tis rude to run away from a social calling," the blonde haired man hissed into her ears and she let out a wild scream, praying to God that he would hear her call. "Help, help! A demon has got me! Someone please help!" A cold hand covered her mouth and muffled her cries as she was easily dragged back to the stalled carriage despite her wild flailing. She was unceremoniously shoved in before the vehicle started up again.
"Do not try to run away again like that, or you will regret it," the man hissed at Bella from where he sat in front of her this time. His red eyes flashed in the dark and she let out a frightened whimper. She was so scared. Would he eat her soul? Damn her to hell?
She wished she was home right now, curled up with a good book and Edward holding her in his strong arms. But he wasn't here. And she was all alone with the demon. "What are you going to do with me? What manner of harm do you wish to do me?"
He was silent, red eyes counting each small laceration on her pale skin. Snaking out a hand he grabbed her wrist where small red dots welled up from her wound. His cold tongue flickered out, making Bella gasp and attempt to wretch her arm free. But his hold was steel and no manner of squirming disrupted his actions. Once he was done, he let her go and Bella glanced at her wrist, noting it was now free of any wound. How had he done that? She traced the faint scaring before lifting her eyes up to him. He licked his lips, showing her sharp fangs when he retreated his appendage. "I must say, you do taste as delicious as you smell."
"Are you going to eat me?" Fear took root once more in Bella's chest as tales of poor maidens being ripped off the roads at night to fill the bellies of beastly men filled her head.
The blonde chuckled. "No. I don't intend to eat you, although I could. My purpose is greater than that. I need you alive."
"Why?"
"Your little husband to be has done me and my kind much wrong. And we won't stand for that any longer."
"Edward would never hurt anyone!" Bella wouldn't stand to hear her betrothed's name slandered. He was sweet and considerate of others.
"You truly do not know how politics and war works," the blonde said after a pause.
"Then tell me, what wrongs has he done. I'm sure they were by accident."
His eyes grew darker at those words. "This world relies on survival. I'm only trying to protect my kind, and he intends to kill us all."
"But you are demons, monsters!" Bella spat back. "You do not deserve to live!"
A hand found it's way onto her throat and she let out a gasp as suddenly she could not speak. "The only one who gets to decide that is God. He creates all living things in his image and since we exist, then it means we must be here for a reason. After all, Lucifer was once an angel." He let go of Bella's throat and the brunette drew in a shuddering breath, the sensation of his cold fingers still burning her delicate flesh. She was too afraid to continue talking to him so she stayed quiet not wanting to risk anymore harm to herself. She was tempted to jump out the carriage once more but restrained herself knowing he would catch her just as easily as before. Instead she thought inquisitively on why she was being stolen away.
He watched the landscape through the window, anger brewing in his eyes. Soon the outline of a giant stone castle was visible from among the dark curtain of night. The carriage stopped when it pulled up to the front door, the gate opening slowly.
"We are here," the man informed her, holding out his hand to help her down. She considered ignoring it, but the look in his eyes made her reconsider. His touch was cold on her warm hand as he guided her through the entrance and into the dark halls. Upon his entrance the torches lit themselves and Bella had to marvel at that. What manner of magic could do that?
"I have had a room prepared for you. I do hope it is to your tastes."
"You do not honestly expect me to stay here?" she asked, a touch incredulous. "Not after I know of your devious plans to hold me ransom and twist Edward's arm into doing something of your mad design."
The blonde jerked his lips up. "Ah, so you do have something inside that soft head of yours," he said mockingly. "I do intend to get Edward to do something for me. And I suppose I do owe you some truth if you have already figured out this much. But first, dinner. You must be starved." He swept into a massive dinning room, a single chandelier hanging down and lighting up the area. It looked to be made from expensive jewels. Bella wondered where this man's money came from. Probably from entrapping some unfortunate souls.
On the table was a single plate, the warm smells wafting up to Bella's nose. Her stomach growled in hunger but she refused to eat it. She didn't trust him to not poison her. He let her sit down but she did not reach for a fork or knife.
"Not hungry?"
"No."
"Not even when such a lavish meal was prepared for you?"
"No." Bella set her jaw and the man let out another laugh as he leaned over her shoulders, boxing her in under him as he placed his hands next to her plate.
"A stubborn princess I see. Very rare to find one today. But I will tell you, it will not serve you well here. You will find that not many are as patient as me. Or even tempered."
Bella wanted to snort out that he was not even tempered if the marks on her delicate throat were any indication. Instead she redirected her statements. "You were going to tell me about your intentions."
"Ah, yes. You seem to be a very capable person. Maybe even a reasonable one. So do listen in. You see, your little prince and his father have decided to lead siege against my kind. And because I am the ruler of them, it is my duty to take care of them. All they want to do is live their life in accordance, in peace, but your betrothed won't let that happen." He circled around to his seat, a server coming over and handing him a glass of some very red and rich liquid.
"And you would have me do-?"
"I want to appeal to him. I want him to stop his acts. If he does not then I will kill you."
The words made Bella's stomach twist and her breaths go deeper. "I thought you were not going to harm me." The words come out weak, weaker than she intended.
"Oh, I will not. It will be his actions that will harm you. You are free to explore the castle, to do what you will in your free time here. I carry no hatred towards you. But if he does not stop hurting my civilians or listen to my requests for negotiations, than I will be forced to kill you."
The scent of the food became nauseating and she pushed the plate away. Oh god, what was she going to do. She had to escape this demon! "Edward will not let you do this to me. If you kill me he is going to rain down God's judgment on you."
The blonde gave her a wry smile. "I do hope to avoid that, so I really hope he is reasonable when we make the deals."
There was a loud bang as the door snapped open. Bella jumped in her seat and noted with wariness the new arrival. Clad in black tights and a billowy shirt that is open at the top, they make an imposing figure, their clothing choice almost scandalous. It's a woman with pale skin, and red flaming hair that shines under the candle light. Her eyes too are that cherry red and she carries an unnatural beauty around her like the blonde does. Except on her it is a death sentence for those who find her attractive. Their desire is their doom.
"I see the fresh blood has arrived." Her voice is high pitched and crystal clear. She gives Bella a hungry smile and it makes the brunette shiver. Bella feels pinned to her chair, like a mouse frozen by fear at the sight of a cat.
"Yes. Princess Isabella Marie Swan of the House of Swan," the blonde speaks the full title, but it is unable to break the spell from which Bella is under. She watches the red headed demon, mesmerized by fear at her every move. While the blonde vampire is calm and his actions are human for the most part, her energy and motions are sharp, jerky, like she is holding back some cataclysmic force from being revealed. She is a predator through and through. "And you will be the one watching over her while I tend to my business."
No. Bella's mind warns her that this situation will not end well. She suddenly wishes that she can stay with the blonde. She shifts in her chair as far away as she can even as the red head approaches, and trails a hand down to her chin grasping her and wrenching her head up painfully. "Pleasure to meet you, princess. My name is Victoria."
"Do be delicate with her. She does need to last until word gets to the prince."
"Hm." Victoria makes an noncommittal noise. "As long as she behaves, you have my word James that no harm shall come to her."
"Do not take this lightly. After your last mishap, you have yet to make it up to me. So do not make a mess of things." James is not amused by Victoria's flippant tone.
Victoria is not happy at his distrust of her. "Very well," she growls out and let's go of Bella's face roughly. "Come along princess. It is time for bed."
And like with the piped piper, Bella is forced to follow Victoria upstairs to an uncertain fate.
A/N: Let me know what you guys think; it helps me decide what to put in for later chapters.
Updates for this story should be once a month since I'm using a different writing style and am going to make the chapters longer than my previous Vicella/ Belltoria story.