Chapter Five

Stefan

I watched as Viorica's face contorted in pain, trying to understand what was hurting her.

"Viorica?"

She looked towards me, but it was as if she was looking through me. Suddenly she fell towards the floor and I caught her before she could hit the cold, hard floor. Ignoring the gasps and titters of my classmates around me, I lifted Viorica into my arms and ran as fast as I could for the throne room.

King Draco and my father were bent over a map, and did not turn when I threw the heavy doors open.

"Uncle!"

It was either the urgency he heard in my voice or in my mind that made King Draco turn quickly.

"Stefan? What happened to Viorica?"

He ran towards me, my father close behind.

"I don't know. We were about to go into the classroom and all of a sudden she just got an expression of pain on her face and collapsed."

King Draco took Viorica from me and I let her go, feeling empty and helpless. He left the throne room and entered the infirmary next door. He laid Viorica on a bed while my father used his gift to pull up chairs for us to sit.

"Thank you, Lucian," the king murmured. "There's not much we can do until she wakes up. I don't know why she would suddenly collapse like this though… Did she say anything before she passed out?"

"No, but she looked terrified."

I pulled up the chair next to Viorica on the other side of the bed and took hold of her hand. I knew my worry and love for Viorica were plainly shown on my face because King Draco looked at me speculatively.

"You really do love her, don't you, Stefan?" he asked quietly.

I looked at straight at King Draco so he would know I was being honest. His eyes widened a bit in shock when he saw my feelings shining from my face.

"Of course I do. How could I not? She's so beautiful, like a black rose, and compassionate and understanding. She's the most important thing in the world to me."

Viorica stirred, her eyes beginning to flutter. King Draco laughed softly.

"Good because if you were to ever hurt her you'd deal with me." It may have sounded joking to someone who didn't know my uncle as well as I did, but to me, his threat was very real.

Viorica's eyes fluttered again then opened slowly. She tightened her grip on my hand and smiled at me. My breath caught at her utter beauty.

"Viorica?" my uncle's voice was low and urgent. "I need you to tell me what happened to you before it slips away."

Viorica nodded. Her brow furrowed and her beautiful violet eyes hardened.

"All I saw was a man's face. I know I've seen him somewhere before, in a portrait maybe…?" her voice trailed off.

Viorica looked imploringly at her father and I realized she was letting him into her mind and see what she had seen in an effort to place this man. King Draco paled, but nodded calmly and helped Viorica to her feet. Taking her arm, he led her back into the throne room. There were pictures of every royal who had ever lived on the walls. Viorica immediately singled one out.

"It's him. I would know that cold face anywhere."

My blood chilled as I read the plaque underneath the portrait. It was Prince Samuel, the pretender to King Propitius' throne.

"Stefan, how close do you think are you to finding that prophecy?" my father asked quietly.

"I was planning to start tonight."

"Good, because this may be even more important than we'd thought at first," my uncle said. "You should start immediately."

"Father, what does this mean?" Viorica asked.

"I don't know, Viorica."

Viorica

I watched the moon rise higher in the sky, feeling more confused than ever. My father had excused Stefan and me from our lecture and I was back in my room. I wondered if my little "faint" was connected to meeting Gregor. I did sense a weird aura around him. Something just wasn't right with Gregor.

I knew he was right; I would go back tomorrow; I owed it to my father and our people. If this boy was going to disrupt our delicately placed integration plan at this academy, then I needed to learn more about him.

It was with this attitude that I slipped back into me and Gregor's classroom some hours later. I shuddered and shook the title from my head- this was just a classroom. A few moments later Gregor came in and shut the door. He sat down at a desk in front of me; I had sat on the instructor's desk.

"I think we got off to the wrong start yesterday, princess," he said, catching me completely off-guard.

"How did you know I'm a princess?"

"Please. I know you're a vampire. Of course I know that you're a princess."

I glared at him as he flaunted his knowledge in front of me again. I needed to get out here as soon as I found out how much he knew. Gregor smiled widely at me.

"What do you say we start over?" he asked, holding out his hand.

The first thought in my head was NO! But then another followed. Why not? So I held out my hand and cautiously shook his. Gregor's smile grew even wider and I wondered if I had played right into his hands.

"How did you find out we were vampires?" I launched right into it.

"Later. For now, let's talk."

I stared at him in shock. I didn't want to just talk. I wanted to get away from Gregor and the infuriating pull he seemed to have. Again another thought intruded. It could help me if I know him better. If he trusts me, he'll tell me what he knows.

"Fine. What do you want to talk about?

"Tell me more about you or your family."

I was taken aback but didn't hesitate for too long. I told him about Stefan and how we were engaged to be married. Gregor's face twisted in disgust.

"Wait, so you're only seventeen and you're already engaged?"

"I've been engaged practically since I was born. It's always been this way for us, since the beginning of time."

Gregor rose as the gong sounded, signaling the end of lunch.

"That's a pity. A beautiful girl already off the market," he said, his fingertips brushing my cheek as he walked out. I stared after him, trying to ignore the fact that his touch made my skin burn as if there was an electrical current running through it.

Before the lecture that night, I was sitting in my window seat thinking. I was doing that a lot lately. I knew that I should stop seeing Gregor and turn him into my father. And yet… when I was around him it was like I wasn't in control of myself. I couldn't help not going to see him.

A knock on my door startled me back to the present.

"Come in," I called.

Maria poked her head in, then came all the way in and shut the door behind her. She stood in front of me nervously, toeing her boots. Maria had never been nervous in front of me before.

"What's wrong, Maria?" I asked gently.

"I could ask the same to you," she retorted quietly, sitting down on my bed.

I raised my eyebrows at her boldness but Maria didn't look ashamed.

"You've been so quiet the past few days. And then you suddenly collapsed yesterday night before lecture… And I was just wondering… are you alright?"

I hesitated before I answered. Maria was as much a friend as one gets when you're a royal child. I considered telling her about Gregor, but something held me back. Gregor was something I had to keep to myself… for the time being.

"I'm fine Maria. I've just been preoccupied with everything that's going on lately. Mostly I'm just tired."

Maria gazed coolly at me. With a knot in my chest I knew she had seen right through me.

"I know you're not telling the truth, princess. But I also understand that there are some things you cannot confide to me."

Maria rose up and headed for the door, apparently done speaking to me. I watched her leave for a second, then jumped up, grabbing my schoolbooks.

"Maria! Would you walk with me to the classroom?"

She looked surprised but pleased.

"Prince Stefan said he would be picking you up at your room."

"Prince Stefan can wait at the door like always. I always walk with my friend to class."

Maria's face brightened and she opened the door. We walked into the hallway together, like old times. Our classmates were waiting for us by the door, Stefan in front. I took his arm and we led the class into our lecture.

Until now, I had never realized how many things we did over and over again. Life always went on at the same pace for us creatures of the night. We had our lecture, we frolicked in the moonlight, and we slept away the day. I wondered how none of my other classmates noticed.

It's because I met Gregor. I never would have noticed if he hadn't come along and disrupted the normal pace of life…

I wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing. My eyes drooped and I struggled to keep them open. My daily visits with Gregor were taking their toll. Maybe he would consent to meeting at night too… No, I couldn't continue these visits. I was supposed to get the information I needed from Gregor, then turn him in. It would kill Stefan if he found out.

"Princess Viorica, I would be much obliged if you would not fall asleep on me," Master Maximus drawled softly.

My head jerked up as the entire class tried to not stare. I nodded at Master Maximus to continue the lecture and I tried to regain a regal expression.

"Are you alright?" Stefan murmured to me.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired."

I fought to stay awake the rest of the lecture. At the end, my mother swept into the room and the whole room rustled with the sound of bows. My mother flashed one of her beautiful trademark smiles.

"You may all rise. I have come to borrow your prince and princess, Maximus."

"As you wish, Queen Anise," Maximus replied, sweeping her a low bow.

Stefan and I stood up and climbed down the steps towards my mother. Our classmates bowed again, holding it until we had exited the room.

"Is something wrong, Mother?" I asked, anxiously searching her calm face. My parents had been adamant about Stefan and me not having any allowances for being royalty.

"No, darling. I just felt how tired you were and decided to move our joint lesson up a few hours."

My mother's gift was the ability to sense people's feelings in her surroundings. She was trying to school me to be open to my senses, but I wasn't really practicing lately. I felt a little guilty, and my mother smiled gently.

"Later, Viorica."

I nodded as we walked up to my mother's room. I hadn't been paying attention to where we were going and I gave a little jerk in surprise. We usually had out joint lessons in the throne room. To invite the men into my mother's drawing room was… very different. My mother opened the door to reveal my Aunt Aloe, Uncle Lucian, and my father already seated.

My father and uncle looked at ease in the dim, calm-natured, feminine room. Stefan and I sat in the two chairs across from our parents and waited expectantly for what they had to say. My father cleared his throat, immediately capturing our attention.

"Viorica, Stefan, you both know we were planning some sort of social event to bring our entire student body together. We want your opinions on what sort of event we should hold."

"I was thinking something along the lines of a banquet," my mother said, and my Aunt Aloe nodded her approval.

I shot a glance at Stefan. Banquets were an event for the older members of our society. The only banquets I had ever attended were when I had to make a public appearance with my parents. They were terribly boring, and all the nobles were always watching Stefan and me as if we were exotic animals on display.

"I don't think that the humans will be entertained by a banquet, Mother. Maybe… a ball?"

My parents exchanged glances. I could see they were wary about accepting the idea, but at least they were considering it. It was quiet for a full minute, then I glanced towards Stefan for help. He grinned at me as if he had been waiting for me to ask.

"I agree, with Viorica, uncle. The human students are teenagers and will warm to dancing more than they will to a formal dining event. They will also look back on the ball at our unveiling graduation and know that they were safe in rather close areas with vampires."

I looked at Stefan approvingly. He had presented the idea better than I could have. My parents and aunt and uncle were exchanging thoughtful looks now. I crossed my fingers under the table. Banquets were so dull.

My father winked at me and I knew I had won. Literally, my father's word was law. He gave one last look towards my mother, who nodded favorably.

"We all agree that your idea would be more adolescent and human friendly. We will plan this ball for about two weeks from now."

My eyes widened. Two weeks was no time to an immortal. Most of the time, time will pass in the blink of an eye. It was an advantage to being a vampire- you weren't bound by time like humans were. They worried about having too much time, or too little. Always aware of time in some form or another…

"Viorica?"

My mind snapped back to the situation. Everyone was staring at me curiously. I smiled in what I thought was a reassuring way and laughed softly.

"Sorry, I guess I was just daydreaming."

Again my father came to my rescue, giving a short chuckle. The attention turned to him and I shot him a grateful thought.

"How the mind wanders when we're young. Good night, Viorica," he said, kissing the tip of my nose on the way out of the room.

"Uncle," I said respectfully to Stefan's father, curtseying a little. "Aunt Aloe."

"Good night, child."

Stefan turned to my mother imploringly. She smiled gently at him. She laid a hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze.

"You may wait outside, dear. I just want a quick word with Viorica and then she is yours for the night."

Stefan smiled back at my mother and bowed respectfully.

"Yes, Queen Aunt. Viorica, I'll be in the courtyard."

I nodded to him and he crossed the room, closing the door behind him. I turned to my mother, waiting for whatever she needed to discuss with me. I prayed that my father hadn't read my thoughts and found out about Gregor.

"Sit down, Viorica, darling. This isn't an interrogation," she said softly, gesturing towards the small bed in a corner of the room.

I sat down slowly, and my mother sat down behind me. Instead of saying anything, she picked up a strand of my hair and gently began braiding it. This was something she had done since I could remember, and I immediately relaxed.

"There, that's better. You've been so tense lately, Viorica. And what are these little waves of guilt I keep catching? What's the matter dear?"

I kept my feelings in check as I pondered what to tell her. I knew I could not tell her about Gregor; I couldn't even say anything to Maria, who was not in a position of power and influence.

"Oh, I don't know, Mother. I… I haven't really been practicing being open to my senses lately. I didn't want to let you down."

My mother laughed in her quiet way and gave a playful tug on the braid she was holding.

"Is that all darling? It is not a big deal if you don't learn to be open to your senses. I would highly recommend it, but it's only to help you. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?"

Emotions tight…

"No, Mother. I'm fine."

"Very well then. Off you go, Stefan is waiting."

We both got up at the same time and my mother hugged me tightly. I breathed in her flowery familiar scent, and I let all of my tension go. I was used to being close to my mother, and lately we had drifted apart. Every mother has to let go sooner or later I suppose… My mother released me and smiled, lightly pushing me towards the door.

"Don't keep Stefan waiting, dear. That boy really cares about you."

My emotions welled up and I turned my back on her so she couldn't see the tears that came to my eyes. Each time I went to see Gregor I felt like I was betraying Stefan. But when I thought about stopping my visits with Gregor, another part of me denied the idea. Who was my greater allegiance to?

I realized that my mother was still waiting for an answer. I cleared my throat so I wouldn't choke on my words.

"I know, Mother. We are engaged, after all."

I hated the fact that I sounded like I was reminding myself of the point. I left my mother's room before she could ask any more questions. I saw Stefan in the small courtyard, his back to me. I used a second to compose myself, then walked smoothly into the courtyard. Stefan turned as I came closer, his face breaking into a small, sweet smile. It was the smile he reserved especially for me, and I couldn't help but smile back at him.

"What did your mother want?" he asked, his arm stealing around my waist.

I shrugged nonchalantly, blowing it off.

"Nothing, she just wanted to know why I was so tired."

Stefan looked down at me, concern and confusion etched into every feature in his face. I kept my expression smooth and blank.

"Why are you so tired, Viorica? We sleep for the entire day. Are you ill?"

Someone who didn't know Stefan would have thought he was being obtrusive. But to me, someone who had known him his entire life, he was clearly only asking to make sure I was alright. Again, my heart ached for deceiving him. He was so good and perfect… and I didn't deserve it.

"I've just been a little restless lately, I suppose. It's nothing to worry about; my mother said it would pass."

Stefan's face brightened, and he took my hand, leading me out of the courtyard.

"Where are we going now?" I asked.

"Back to your room so you can sleep."

I mouthed a silent thank-you. I was exhausted, and I definitely needed time alone. A few seconds later and we were at my door. Stefan turned and kissed me gently.

"I love you, Viorica," he whispered against my lips.

I froze, unsure of what to say. Stefan quickly pulled away, speaking fast.

"You don't have to say anything, Viorica. It's alright. I just want you to wait until you really mean it."

I felt unhappier than I ever had in my life. I nodded and quickly turned to my door.

"Good night, Stefan."

"Good night."

He waited until I shut the door to leave. I sighed and turned for my window seat. To my surprise, a little white note was sitting on the windowsill. Thinking it was a note from Maria or my father, I picked it up.

Tomorrow morning, two o'clock, the classroom. Figured I'd do you a favor. –G

The world spun and I sat down heavily. Gregor had been in my room? I knew he probably hadn't meant any harm, but my room was my space, and I only let people I really trusted in here. This was getting out of hand. I had only known Gregor for a few days, and his being in my room when I wasn't there scared me.

This hardened my resolve; I could not see Gregor anymore. It was becoming wrong on many levels. And then I wouldn't be risking almost everything…