For those who have seen The Collector: Gabriel will not be as shitty in this story. He will be aloof and sometimes cold, but he does actually care.

Chapter 15

"Her name was Céline. It was the Winter Ball of 1992…"

Céline looked around, feeling horribly out of place at a castle ball surrounded by vampires. She wondered why her master couldn't take any of his other blood slaves; why did he single her out?

She grimaced, clenching the glass of her water a little bit tighter.

It was probably because he considered her to be the most beautiful of his slaves, he told her his opinion of her more than once. He disgusted her. Lord Béranger was already married, and had a daughter almost her age. He had no business flirting with her. It was too bad her master wasn't married to his true Loved One, otherwise he might have not been such a problem to deal with. Instead, he married Lady Beatrice for wealth and for a better connection in society. Céline belonged to Lady Beatrice's family when she married him, and ultimately she herself was part of the deal.

And somehow, Lord Béranger became the sole person in the manor to drink from her. She wanted to tell his wife of his lecherous conduct, but she feared the repercussions should she go through with it. It didn't happen all too often, but she has been slapped more than once for minor mistakes.

Once more she glanced around, thankful that the Lord had left her alone, for once. She would savor the time while she could.

Despite being a lowly blood slave, she was wearing one of the finest gowns someone of her status could have. It was a forest green, the color matching with her eyes. The skirt and bodice were decorated with tulle of the same color, the bodice of which was a sweetheart neckline, but made more modest with the tulle partially covering the 'v'. It was off the shoulder, the material of the sleeves clinging tightly to her arm just below her elbow.

This way her neck would be fully exposed, in case Lord Béranger wanted a quick drink in the middle of the night.

Her fingers idly toyed with the edge of the green ribbon tied around the middle of the gown. She wished to dance, but blood slaves weren't allowed to. They were only permitted to stand aside, eat, and drink. They could only converse with other slaves and some vampires if their masters allowed it. And her master forbade her from speaking to anyone but him.

In short, she was horribly bored.

Supposedly, the Crown Prince of Vampires of France Gabriel (phew, that was a long title) was having this ball in order to choose a bride. She hasn't heard much about him, only that he's solemn, smart, and blunt. Basically, he had a stick up his ass.

She concealed her grin by lifting the glass to her lips. She pitied the poor woman who would have to marry a man like that.

Since she had nothing better to do, she surveyed the ballroom yet again. The music stopped playing and the many couples separated from each other to clap for the orchestra. All at once she had a clear view of almost every single vampire, and that's when she saw him.

"Father once told me that when he first locked eyes with my mother, it was love at first sight."

Céline blinked at the intensity of the man's gaze. His eyes were a warm blue color; immediately she thought of the moon reflecting off a calm pool of water as a comparison. However, she didn't doubt that they could turn cold and unfeeling in an instant should someone tempt him. His hair was a pale blond that was slicked back, the token hairstyle of an influential and refined vampire. His features were sharp, his jawline in particular. She had heard that feature was one many women desired. She had to admit, now that she saw it, she couldn't help but like it as well.

His posture was ramrod straight and rigid. She had a feeling if someone decided to try to tackle him at that very moment that he wouldn't even budge. The attire he wore befitted someone of a very high status, of which she wasn't certain, but it had to be up there.

The longer she stared, the more she was unable to look away. It would seem he had the same problem as well, because he didn't even blink since she first noticed him.

She might've stared at him for the next hour, had it not been for Lord Béranger choosing that opportune moment to strike.

"Just what has got your attention, my dear?" he crooned in a sickly sweet voice, instantly causing her to flinch away and a scowl to almost twist her lips.

"Oh! My Lord, you startled me!" she lied, making herself sound breathless and placing a hand against her heart to keep up the act. Well, she couldn't very well tell him that she was repulsed by him. While she believed that she'd be fine here, where there were witnesses, she didn't think she'd be safe when they got home.

He grinned, in what he probably thought was attractive but it only served to prompt her to mentally recoil. What she would give to be able to slap this man at least once. Too bad she'll be stuck with him for the rest of her life.

"I apologize. It's just that this ball is so tedious, I was hoping to have myself a little drink." He deliberately leaned over to sniff her neck, the action causing her to stiffen. He wouldn't bite her in front of all these people, would he? At least he would lead them to a private room so she would be spared the humiliation.

"And maybe," he breathed, and she had to stop herself from snapping at him to get away from her, "we can do some other things."

"Ahem."

Céline jumped a bit at the new voice. Immediately she and Lord Béranger looked up to find the same man she was staring at earlier. She inwardly winced at her mistake, now he was surely here to punish her for it.

"Y-Your Highness!" her master stammered, completely off-guard by the Crown Prince's presence. However, his reaction was nothing compared to Céline's inner panic. She had been staring at Prince Gabriel the entire time?! She probably wasn't even allowed to look him in the eyes, but then she just had to go and creepily ogle him. Not only would she be reprimanded by him, but Lord Béranger's reputation would suffer because of it.

She didn't even want to think of the repercussions for it.

Prince Gabriel nodded at the greeting, even if it did sound frightened. The only thing was, he kept his focus solely on her. She couldn't even tell what his current emotion was, his face was as readable as a closed book.

"Maman said she didn't know what to think of him at first."

"Good evening, Lord Béranger. Are you acquainted with this woman beside you?" he asked, his tone low and betraying no hints of whatever he was thinking. That, combined with the current stoic expression he was wearing, helped her conclude that he must be an excellent poker player. Although, she did have to admit that her worry increased now that he was directly speaking about her.

"Her?" her master questioned, confused as he looked at her. "This is only my blood slave. Has she done something wrong, Your Highness?"

Céline could easily detect the hints of warning of what would come at home in his voice.

Prince Gabriel's lips pulled further down into a frown. Was that the wrong answer?

"No, she hasn't. I want to dance with her."

She nearly choked on her own spit. He wanted to dance with her?! He, Prince Gabriel, wanted to dance with her, a blood slave? Surely he was joking!

But his mouth didn't hold any indications of turning up in a smile. She doubted he joked very often, if at all.

"D-dance?!" her master, understandably, stuttered. His eyes were fully bugged out, as if it was the most outrageous thing he ever heard. It probably was, with good reason. "I-I told you, she's only my blood slave. Did you just want a drink of her?"

She had to admit, she was getting tired of being talked of like she wasn't there. Even worse, they made her sound like she was just an object, and she hated nothing more.

At this the Prince faltered in his rigid stance. She saw his eyes darken for a moment too quick to fully register.

"No. I want to dance with her." Despite the earlier slip in his appearance, he managed to keep his tone as perfectly even as it was before.

"But my daughter Veronique is near, Your Highness!" Lord Béranger began scanning his eyes across the room, desperate to find the woman in question. "I'm sure you'd much rather dance with a noble lady, and not a mere slave."

The Prince's lips morphed into a frown, obviously displeased by this new offer. She had to wonder if the man had truly lost his mind by this point, Lady Veronique was regarded as one of the most beautiful of vampires in France.

"No. I wish to only dance with her." Prince Gabriel's right hand went behind his back. She noticed beforehand that it had tightened into a fist. "Now, are you going to ignore a direct order from your Prince?"

She swore her master trembled in fear. If she wasn't already nervous for this dance, she likely would've laughed.

"N-No, Your Highness! Of course not." He bowed his head in submission. "You can dance with her."

Prince Gabriel nodded once.

"Adequate."

He held his hand out to her, the same that was previously behind his back. She could only blankly observe it. She had to take it, she knew that, but that didn't stop her from being almost afraid. Almost, because she prided herself on never being afraid of anything.

She placed her unfinished glass of water on the table behind her. Slowly, her fingers reached out to hover over his.

She paused. Her eyes flickered up to see the Prince returning her look. That darkened blue locked straight onto her green, and without taking her eyes off him she placed her hand in his smooth, cooler one.

"She thought he hated her. Little did she know at the time he thought the exact opposite."

As he led her to the ballroom floor, immediately she began to hear the astonished gasps and whispers. They knew when a human was in their midst, they could smell it on her. The only reason a human would be there was if their master decided to bring them along to occasionally drink from. Blood slaves never danced, especially with princes. So why was she there?

She wondered the same thing.

Prince Gabriel didn't appear to look the least bit affected by the whispers he had to have heard, given his enhanced hearing as a vampire. He didn't even spare them a glance as he continued to lead her to the center, where the crowd has parted to give them more than enough room. They had the entire floor to themselves.

She wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

He stopped directly in the center. Then he turned to face her, and it wasn't long after that she felt his arm slide around her waist. She lightly gasped as he tugged her towards to his body, her cheeks blooming into a blush to this vampire who now looked even more handsome up close.

She noticed that the hold on her waist momentarily tightened at the same time his eyes darted to her lips. Her tongue instinctively poked out to wet them, her eyes not missing the way his jaw clenched.

It was eerily silent, the guests by now beginning to accept what their Prince was doing, however outlandish it may be. It took another couple seconds, but finally it seemed the orchestra regained their senses and began to play. It was a slow tune, but one that would likely quicken the longer it lasted. The perfect dance for a couple.

Céline supposed the dance went flawlessly, neither of them faltered in their steps at all. To be honest, she could barely remember in what way they moved at all in exception to a few turns; his eyes held hers completely captive throughout the entire song.

She questioned why this was happening at all. Vampires absolutely did not dancewith blood slaves, yet Prince Gabriel did. Vampires didn't tenderly hold blood slaves close, but he did. Moreover, vampires didn't stare at blood slaves that caused a shiver that wasn't distinctly fear to run down their spines. But he did.

He wasn't…attracted to her, was he? Human and vampire relationships were incredibly rare, she heard that there were only less than 10 throughout the history of vampires. Additionally, he was a royal, and royals and humans never mixed. Ever.

Plus, there were her feelings on the matter to consider as well. While Prince Gabriel was indeed handsome, he also didn't seem to possess any sort of happiness. He didn't crack a single smile throughout their dance, not even his lips twitched as if trying to suppress one. He was also stiff, too proper…boring.

If it came down to it, she would try to let him down gently. That is if he didn't force her to marry him.

No, no that was ridiculous. Now she was just jumping to conclusions. He didn't want anything like that. Marriage…she would've laughed had it not been for the Prince's permanent frown bringing her back to reality.

As soon as the dance ended, he gently let go of her waist and hand to step back and dip into a low bow. It was a bow that which was reserved to those who deserved the highest respect. Céline shook off her momentary paralysis to drop into a deep curtsey, lowering her eyes to the ground as she did so. It was the first time she looked away from him since they started dancing.

As she rose back up, the guests around them began to clap. Her ears could also pick up on the sounds of whispering, but with only her human hearing it was impossible to fully decipher.

Prince Gabriel took the step needed to close the distance between them. Céline blinked at him owlishly in response. Shouldn't he be securing another dance partner now?

"Come with me," he coolly commanded and took her hand, before proceeding to lead her out of the ballroom. Her temper flared at his treatment of her, like she was just one of his many servants to follow his orders. But it wasn't like there was anything she could do about it, she didn't have any sort of power over him.

She snuck a peek behind her as they exited out of the large double doors at the end of the ballroom. The last thing she saw before she was tugged away was the displeased looks of Lady Veronique and her parents.

The halls were silent as Prince Gabriel led her through them, yet she had a hunch that somehow he could be even quieter if he wanted to be, like now for instance. Should she ask him where they were going?

She opened her mouth to ask that very question, but didn't get a chance to speak the words. Abruptly he opened a door and pulled her inside, before turning and locking it behind them.

She fidgeted in her stance as she looked up at him in curiosity. Leading her to a room away from everyone else and locking the door? Now she was beginning to get a little nervous.

"You have nothing to fear," he spoke evenly. She supposed it was meant to be comforting, but without any sort of emotion in his tone it came off as cold and unfeeling. "I just want to speak with you."

She quirked a brow. Speak to her? What?

"You mean," she trailed off, trying to piece together this puzzle. "You mean you don't want to drink my blood?"

"Oh, I never said that." Slowly, his lips curled into a wicked smirk. It made a chill go down her spine, a mixture of both fear and…something else. She also couldn't help but notice that he showed her the closest thing to a smile since she first saw him.

He bent down to her eye level, the piercing blue of his eyes never leaving her stunned green.

"In fact, there's almost nothing I desire more. But I won't without your consent."

Just…what was that supposed to mean?!

Abruptly he straightened and walked away, to the little desk that she just now noticed. Taking a look around the little room, with its book-lined shelves, plush red carpet, and desk, she deduced that this was a sort of private study. Prince Gabriel sat in the leather armchair and beckoned her with a nod of his head.

"Please, sit."

She nodded mutely and followed through with the request. Just what in the world could he possibly want to talk with her about?

Once she sat down, he didn't speak right away. Instead he simply stared at her, his eyes travelling over her face and eventually to a lower area. Her lip curled in disgust, and she was about to berate him for it when his attention snapped back to her eyes.

He folded his hands together on top of the desk and sat up straighter, if that was even possible.

"I wish to court you," he stated. No smile, no warmth, no hint or warning beforehand.

Céline's mouth dropped. If she thought she was bewildered by all that had happened so far, she was gravely mistaken. No, this right here took the cake. He wanted to 'court' her? Why?! She never heard any rumors of Prince Gabriel's sanity being questioned, but now she would actively start looking, because she had no doubt that he was a few keys short of a piano.

"I see you're surprised," he observed, just as even in tone as ever. As usual, his eyes betrayed nothing of how he truly felt.

"That's an understatement, Your Highness," she shot back, although just barely. She was still trying to wrap her head around all this.

"About that. You will be allowed to refer to me by my first name, no titles necessary."

In a daring move, she rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks."

She didn't really care much anymore. At this point she just wanted to go home and face whatever punishment the Bérangers had in mind.

One of Gabriel's eyebrows rose in a rare show of emotion.

"You're not pleased?"

"Pleased?!" she spluttered, grabbing the hem of her gown since she had nothing else to grab onto. "What the hell is even going on?! First you stare at me, and then you practically force me to dance with you, and now you take me here and say you wish to court me! Don't you realize that you're a vampire and I'm a human? More than that, I'm a blood slave! Are you crazy?!"

His eyebrows furrowed as a frown tugged the edges of his mouth downward.

"There's no need to be so overly dramatic, and I can assure you that I am in perfect psychological health. As for your concerns, you have no need to worry about those minor details. As Prince, I may court whomever I want, and I want you, Céline Lemaire."

His eyes slightly darkened toward the end of his speech, and that combined with his words caused an uncommon blush to redden her cheeks. She looked on completely dumbfounded, that is, until she was able to shake it off and focus on the specifics of what he said. He considered their statuses to be 'minor details'?

"It-" she started before she stopped, wanting to be sure she got all her words together. "They're not 'minor details', Your Highness. Blood slaves and vampires don't fraternize with each other, and they especially don't get into a relationship together." Her eyes narrowed in suspicion at the same time her finger pointed to his chest. "And how do you know my full name, anyway?"

Now he just gave her a deadpan look as if he was saying 'really? Did you really just ask me that?'

"I know every noble house's occupants, including their blood slaves. It's one of the requirements for someone of my role. But back to this minor detail you still deem to be a problem. I do not care of the social norms, of vampires typically not courting their blood slaves or any other humans. The only opinion I care about is my father's, who I am sure I can persuade to let me court you."

He raised a finger to his lips, his eyes straying off to the side as he pondered whatever strategy he was going to use. His father might be stubborn, but Gabriel was very skilled at getting what he wanted.

"But what about what I think?" Céline interrupted with an indignant scowl. "What if I don't want you to court me? What if I want nothing to do with you?"

Gabriel pursed his lips. "Is that so? May I ask why?"

"That, for one thing," she pointed out. "It's 1992 and you talk like you're from the 18th century or something! You never asked me to dance, either. You asked Lord Béranger for permission. You didn't care whether or not I wanted to; you had no consideration for my feelings at all. And then there's your personality."

"My personality?" he repeated, his tone having dropped a few degrees in temperature.

"Yes," she affirmed with narrowed eyes. "You never smiled once. You're stiff and you act like you have a stick shoved up your ass. I want a man who can make me laugh, who's warm, loving, and caring. Not an emotionless robot. I want passion."

"Passion?" He matched her glare with one of his own. "You want passion, hm?"

She opened her mouth to reply in confirmation, when she quickly herself pressed against the wall and Gabriel pinning her wrists on either side of her head. All the breath left her lungs due to the shock of it; she'd completely forgotten about vampires and how they could move faster than the blink of an eye.

She tried to ask him what the hell was he doing, but found her question halted by his mouth.

Her eyes blew wide in astonishment. He was kissing her. Prince Gabriel was kissing her. She was kissing a vampire! It was cold, and rough, as his lips moved against hers, trying to coax a response.

She could admit that he was handsome, but she wasn't interested in him like that. And now he just went and kissed her without her permission! Just who did he think he was?

She wriggled around his grip, trying to force him off, but she was no match for his strength. He might not have even registered her movements. His legs were up against her own, so that option wasn't any good either. So she did the only thing she could do. She opened her mouth, then bit down on his lower lip with all the power she had.

Gabriel shouted in pain and jumped back, allowing her room to escape to the door. He glanced up just in time to see her steely look.

"I forgot to mention. In addition to the traits I mentioned before, I also want a gentleman. Good-bye, Your Highness."

With that, she opened the door and calmly closed it behind her.

"I can't believe he did that! No offense, but your father was an asshole. But if she rejected him, then why is she, you know, your mother? Did he force her to marry him? Did he kidnap her?"

Adrien chuckled. "He was an asshole, I won't argue with you there. But he became better. As for your other questions, you won't know unless I finish the story."

Marinette crossed her arms, doing her best to suppress the childish pout threatening to show. "Fine."

"Thank you. Now, let's see, about three days after that…"

"No way! Is that the Prince?!"

Céline turned toward her best friend Bernadette in surprise. The feather duster she had been holding lay forgotten on the table as she rushed to join her friend looking out the window. Sure enough, there was a black horse with Prince Gabriel himself sitting atop it, although this time he lacked the official uniform she last saw him in. This time he wore a pair of white riding breeches accompanied with black boots. He also wore a black, long-sleeved jacket, but she doubted that he really needed it since the cold weather was hardly a hindrance to vampires.

But why was he here? To punish her for her behavior in rejecting him? Or just rejecting him in general? She figured that would've been done the day after, yet nothing had happened. She figured it was all over and done with.

Apparently she was wrong.

"Why do you think he's here?" Bernadette whispered, not taking her eyes off the Prince who was getting closer and closer by the second.

"I don't know," Céline quietly replied.

. . .

Neither of them were summoned to assist in serving their masters and Prince Gabriel. Instead they were told to remain in unoccupied rooms, to clean, stay out of sight, and otherwise act like a member of the royal family wasn't a few rooms away from them.

So imagine their surprise when a butler walked into the room they were currently in a requested that Céline may follow him to the main sitting room. Bernadette observed her friend in confusion while Céline merely nodded and began to walk to him. No need in delayed the inevitable.

After he led her to the room he bid her a 'good luck' before turning and returning back to whatever task awaited him. She inhaled a shuddering breath; she would need all the luck she could get for this.

She walked inside and was only slightly taken aback by the absence of the Bérangers. It seemed that Gabriel only wanted to talk to her when they were absolutely alone.

He nodded and she took a seat on the chair opposite of him. For a while neither of them said anything, with Céline content to stare down at her jeans and twist the hem of her shirt around her fingers.

"I'm sorry."

Her head snapped up at the apology, Prince Gabriel's apology. He was frowning, and his eyes were lidded and dulled with shame. He was the very picture of someone who was remorseful, something that she was honestly astonished by. She had the feeling he didn't apologize to anyone very often, and when he did hardly ever meant it.

"My actions that night were inexcusable. I acted out of anger and pain, and you didn't deserve to be forcefully kissed like that."

She stiffened at the word 'kissed', and briefly worried if there was anyone who might be listening. But Gabriel shook his head.

"Don't worry, I ordered them to stay on the other side of the manor until we finished talking. No one will hear a word we say."

She nodded, her mouth expelling a sigh of relief.

"Again, I only wish to apologize for my actions. And," he paused, glancing away from her, "to tell you that you're right."

Her eyebrows knitted into a frown. "Right about what?" She was also still reeling from the fact that this might be the most emotion she has seen from him yet.

"You deserve a man who will make you laugh, and is warm, loving, and caring. You deserve a gentleman, one who will not force his affections on you. I have realized that I am none of those things and I will not keep you against your will, or anything like that. This is the last time you will ever have to see me. I can only hope that one day I shall have your forgiveness."

She stared. She stared and stared, unable to say anything. She was completely stupefied. What could she say to that? He was truly sorry for what he did, he regretted his actions and didn't even ask for her forgiveness. He only wished that one day he would be able to have it. If she was so inclined, she didn't have to consider forgiving him at all.

"I will be taking my leave now," he announced, interrupting the swirling mass of questions in her mind and stood. He bowed low and without another word began to walk away.

She knew that once he walked out that door, she would likely never see him again, just as he promised. Yet instead of the happiness she expected, she felt conflicted. He regretted how he acted, and sought her out just to apologize and assure her that she would never have to look at him ever again. She should be happy, so why wasn't she?

Something nagged at her to stop him, to give him a second chance. Her mother used to tell her to give people second chances if they were truly sorry for how they earlier behaved, before she was taken away from her family. But could that apply to here, too?

She heard the twisting of the doorknob. It was either speak now or be silent forever.

"Wait!"

She heard him pause. Inwardly she prayed she wasn't making the wrong decision.

"You said you don't believe you're warm, loving, or caring, and that you can't make me laugh. You also implied that you're not a gentleman. Do you believe that?"

She heard an almost inaudible breath leave his nose.

"I don't know."

He was doubting himself now. The Prince was insecure?

"Well…" she trailed off, heaving a sigh of her own. "Maybe if, we can keep seeing each other, I can determine that for myself."

He took the steps needed to stand beside the chair she was sitting him. She peered up at him, trying to distinguish whatever he was feeling in his eyes. For the first time, she could detect something in their warmed depths: hope.

"Are you sure?" he murmured, and she was made aware that this was her final chance to change her mind and cast him out of her life forever.

She nodded.

"I'm sure."

I've wanted to write this for a while, so I'm happy to finally have it out there lol. Next chapter Adrien will wrap up the story.