Her Beginning

The cell was small, just big enough to hold a frail body and a small bed. The bars held the prisoner in more ways than it should. The pure silver bars held her to the back corner of the cell.

She doesn't know how many seasons have passed since being down here. with no windows in the cell, it was hard for her to keep track of time.

As the long seconds go by, she could feel herself getting weaker, as she went days without food and seasons without blood. It wasn't meant to be this way, she was still a child. She still had a kingdom to run, a throne to claim, even a husband to marry.

Every night questions ran through her head. Why did her father leave her behind? Why did her human family sell her?

The sound of the cell master's footsteps wake up the frail girl. She quickly wiped the tears from her face and tried to make herself look presentable. She knew that the sound of the second pair of footsteps meant that a buyer was present. Rustling could be heard from the other cells as the other girls do the same. The girl lowered her head into her knees and hoped that the pair of footsteps would go past her cell tonight. Unfortunately, hope is not in her favour, as the pair of footsteps stop in front of her cell. She gently lifts her head a little, her eyes landing on a pair of black high shoes, the kind only a king could afford. She followed the shoes up and her eyes locked onto a pair of gorgeous red eyes. Her heart starts to beat faster than her little body could handle. The buyer looked like another pretentious vampire royal but when he knelt down in front of the girl, his sharp facial features softened when his gaze met hers.

"What's your name?"

she didn't want to answer, no in fact she could not answer. Not because she was too stubborn but because she couldn't find the words to say. she felt like putty in his gaze and his piercing red eyes completely wiped her mind.

"Answer him."

The master spits down into her face, hitting a silver rod against the silver cell bars, sending a shrieking noise through the cell. The girl hisses, turning her eyes red as she backed away into the corner of the cell.

"Isa."

Isa spits out her own name like it was venom. She looks up to the royal vampire, eyes still red, who had a look of disgust on his face. When his own red eyes met Isa's, they widened in surprise. He stood up, straightened his coat, before turning to face the cell master. Isa could see the anger spark off him.

"Do you know what you've done? This isn't just some girl you can pick up off the street."

"A human family gave her to me. They told she was human when I bought her off them."

"Do her red eyes look human to you?"

"Swear I didn't know. She looks and smells human."

"The high king will hear about this."

"No, please don't. He will shut me down. This is the only way I can feed my family." "

So he should. You know the rules Jeremiah, only human girls in this territory. You disobeyed the rules and you will suffer the consequences."

The fear in the cell master's eyes turned into amusement. He didn't think that the royal would report one vampire girl.

"But it's only one girl. All the rest of my girls are human."

"Have you lived underground for too long Jeremiah? Do you not smell anymore? She is not just one girl; she is of royal blood. Now open this cell before I deal with you myself, right here, right now."

The amusement fades and fear returns to Jeremiah's eyes, as he fumbles for the keys. Soon enough the door swings open and the royal scrapes Isa off the floor. Isa whimpers when his skin touches hers, heat flushing through her system.

The royal held Isa close to him, he could feel how skinny she really was. They stepped out into the cold, and Isa covered her eyes as the moon light shone through the clouds. Once her eyes had adjusted, she could see that only three seasons had passed. The royal carried Isa to his carriage, carefully placing her down. He watched her as the carriage began to move. He wondered how a royal ends up in a blood whorehouse.

"Where are you taking me?"

Isa spoke so softly, the royal almost didn't hear her.

"To my castle, where you will be fed and washed, before I take you back to your human family."

"Oh, I see."

The carriage finally comes to a stop. The doors opened and the cool midnight breeze blew right through Isa's linen wrap. Isa was reluctant to move when the royal stepped out of the carriage first. Noticing this, he reached in for her and pulled her close. Isa shivered at the contact, bringing a small smile to her tiny face as the royal’s scent hit her nose.

"Do you think you can stand?"

His voice breaks Isa out of her trance and she gives him a simple nod. The royal sets her down and watches her wobble before gaining her footing. The castle's maids rush forward and take Isa into the castle. They wash her, dress her wounds and clothe her, before showing her back downstairs.

The royal was waiting for Isa in the dining room. He had filled the table with food. His eyes flickered orange for a moment when Isa's scent filled the room. He shook his head to get rid of the temptations that ran through him.

"Please sit and eat as much as you can and we will discuss your future living arrangements."

The royal stood, pulling out the chair for Isa, leaving a small hand on her back as she sat down. The contact sent shivers down her spine.

"What's your name?"

"King Marcus Reed the third. My grandfather is on the high council. If you wish to request a new human family, we must send word to him right away."

"Why will I need a new human family? Can't we just send word to my father?"

For centuries vampires have sent their children to live with human families. The council believed that for vampires to blend, they needed to live like humans.

"Rules are rules. You are a vampire child and all vampire children must live with a human family until they come of age. This does not exclude royal children, you should know this."

"My father wouldn't dare put me with a human family."

"Weren't you sold by a human family?"

"That is true."

"What is your bloodline?"

Isa did not want to answer this question. Her bloodline was powerful and she hated the fear that was brought to her people's eyes, whenever she looked their way.

Marcus could tell that Isa was avoiding his question. Isa didn't meet his gaze and continued to dig into the bowl of fruit in front of her. "If you don't talk to me, the only thing I can do is hand you to the council. There they will find you a new human family.

"I do not wish to live with filthy humans anymore. Why should I live with humans who do not respect my rank?"

"There are rules in place for a reason, Isa."

Marcus was starting to get irritated with Isa. Though this didn't scare her, it in fact amused her. No one has ever raised their voice at her, not even her own father.

"I will not go back."

"You will do as you're told and obey the rules."

Marcus jumps out of his chair, hitting one of his fists against the table. The thump makes some of the bowls jump and fall off the table. Now the thought of food going to waste, actually irritated Isa more than Marcus' anger.

When Isa pulled her gaze away from the fallen food to Marcus' angry face, it didn't scare her as much as it should have. Instead it made her more furious than she had ever felt. Isa slammed her fist down on the table and released an earthy growl. Marcus whimpered and cowered down into his seat, a frightened look spread across his face.

"My name is Isa Pentagrim, heir to the original family. How dare you raise your voice at me."