Candela

“Wow!” Candela looked at Blade’s reflection on the mirror.

“What’s with the reaction, Blade?” she demanded, twitching her brow at him.

Blade chortle before hugging her from behind. He sniffed her hair and later on, buried his head on her neck. It instantly gives her tickling sensation as Blade lick her on her exposed skin. Silent moan escaped from her lips as she pressed her eyes shut.

“I am definitely sure that my mate is the most gorgeous vampire of this night,” he praised.

She just smiled as her eyes remains closed. The night is the most awaited night of all vampires in the whole vampire world. The full moon night has come and vampires now are all busy. Preparing their selves for the full moon which can strengthen and grow their powers. And just like those vampires, Candela is also busy… busy preparing herself not just for the full moon party but for the most anticipated wedding of the Crimson Palace.

“Few moment from now, you will be my official wife, Rabbit.”

“Yeah,” she breathed. “My name will be changed by yours, Blade. Are you really sure for this wedding? Are you not backing out?” she doubted.

Even though Blade’s always made her feel the great feeling of being love, she couldn’t stopped but to sometimes doubted it. She’s not doubting Blade’s feelings for her because she knew, it was all genuine. What she doubted is herself. She still doubt herself at some point because no matter what happen, she is just an ordinary vampire. And yet, her mate is a prince who’s far from being different from her. She heard how others told unpleasant things about her and even though she didn’t pay much attention to it, it still hurts her. Knowing that she maybe Blade’s mate, the prince’s mate… but it won’t change how others sees her as a maid.

Her life… her life seems fairy tale. Yeah, it is. And wouldn’t be a fairy tale if there’s no Blade.

“How about you, are you sure of me?” Blade asked afterwards instead of answering her question.

She smiled as she sighed. “I am sure with you. Who am I to reject you as your mate. I am just a nobody compared to you, Blade. If there’s someone who has the right to call off this wedding, it was none other than but you. You have all the right–”

“Sshh!” Blade stopped her by putting his index finger on her lips. She stared on their reflection in the mirror.

Blade is hugging her on her waist with his left arm while his other hand is in mouth, stopping her words by his finger. He’s staring intently at her, the kind of stare that he only shown when he’s dead serious.

“Do you know what’s our reflection tells?” Blade’s brow twitched.

She just shook her head.

“It tells how I am dead serious with you, Candela. I will marry you right at this night and no one can stop the wedding of our. And after that wedding, I will hold you like there’s no forever. I will love you with all my heart. I will stay beside you and will never leave you. I will showered you my kisses and undying love for you and to our future children. Lastly, I will mark you territorially,” his voice were raspy.

“You will not leave me, are you sure?” she again asked. Blade just nod at her before kissing her on the side of her head.

All she could asked on that moment is his faithfulness to his words. Because after this night, she will wake up the next morning as a Crimson and no longer as Rios. And just like what Blade have said, she also promised that she will love him to the fullest. She will never leave his side and stayed on him no matter what happened. Just like how Blade marked him as his property, she will also mark him this night as something she won’t dare to share with others.

“Shall we?” She clung her arms around Blade’s arm before they walked out from their room and walked through the hallway.

Everyone are waiting for them just like how they are all waiting for the full moon to shown up. She should be felt nervous as this will be time again that she will let herself to stand under the moonlight. But with Blade on her side, Candela knew that she is secured. There’s nothing to worry about.

When they finally reaced the grand staircase, Candela peeked down the ground floor and just like what she expected, everyone is on the ground floor. All waiting for her and Blade’s arrival.

“Smile, Rabbit. You are my mate, the most beautiful mate. Put smile on your luscious lips and show them that you deserve to be my mate. Because me, I will do the same thing. I will smile wide and wide just to prove them that I am deserving to have you as my mate.” She nods at him before Blade put a kiss on her lips.

She hold on tighter on his arms as they began to climbed down the stairs as the melodious music filled the whole palace as they climbed down together. There is spotlight that only focus on them. Making her and Blade standout from the rest. And when they reached the last step, everyone clapped their hands as they began shouting their names. It surprised her. Last time she checked, not everyone wants her to be Blade’s wife but now… all she could heard is their acceptance.

“People of Crimson, let me introduce to you the newly crowned princess of our kingdom, Lady Candela Crimson. The mate of our very own lord, the first prince, Lord Blade Crimson!” It was Lord Magnus who announced them officially as one.

Everyone shouted, the whole place filled with loud cheered of the crowd. As they walked through the middle of the floor, everyone are congratulating them. Candela just smiled at them with her teary eyes. Her heart is also crying out from delight. It’s aching as she continued to feel their acceptance and their supports that she didn’t think she will earn as she married Blade.

What she is in now is far from what she planned.

And those memories that she had before she entered on the Crimson Palace flashed through her mind. From her plan to expose all evilness of the Royal Family to the plans of assassinating them. How did it happened that she is the one who will stopped her own plan of killing them just because she met Primo and afterwards, she met him. She met Blade who’s the reason why she changed.

Love changes her. And yeah, the love of her life changes her. She’s once an enemy but now, she is now a princess. Lady Candela Crimson, wife of the Lord Blade Crimson, the first prince of Crimson Palace.

Everything are just like a dream. A dream that she doesn’t want to wake up on.

“Congratulations, Son.” Lord Magnus give his son a manly hug. Then Lady Lorraine together with Primo drew near them. The Queen hug her son and when she looked at Candela, she smiled at her before caging her into her arms.

“Congratulations, Candela. Welcome to the family,” she said.

Candela smiled in contentment. “Thank you, Lady Lorraine.”

“Lady Lorraine? Nah, call me mother.”

“Mother…”she trailed off. ” Thank you, Mother.”

“That’s better. Come on, join us on our seat.” Lady Lorraine dragged her to their table where there are two people waiting for them.

“Rouge, Liza… this is Candela, Blade’s lovely mate,” Lady Lorraine introduces her to the two people who’s also seating on their table. “Candela, meet Lady Liza and Lord Rouge of the Falcon Palace, from the West. They are Lord Liam’s parents.” Her eyes got widened.

This is the first time she met them.

“It’s nice to meet you, your highnesses.” She bowed her head.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Lady Candela. Liam’s never been this right about giving definition to a woman. You are truly beautiful.” She flushed with Lady Liza compliment but instantly faded when she heard Blade groaned beside her.

“That jerk… he’s obviously hitting with my wife before. If I didn’t warned him, he will definitely steal my mate from me,” he ranted making the olds laughed at him even her.

“You can’t blame my son, Blade,” said Lord Rouge. “You can’t blame him if he falls for your wife. She’s beautiful and really deserves to be on the spotlight. If Liam didn’t notice him, then he’s a fool,” he added.

It made Candela felt the sudden awkwardness. Instead of butting in to their discussion, she just choose to eat her foods as her stomach is already growling. Beside her is Primo who’s also busy eating his foods rather that joining the conversation of the olds lords and ladies. She heard them laughing gradually but Blade remains irritated beside her because of the topic about Liam.

Just like the other tables, their table is also busy and noisy. But then, the noise was being replaced when the light suddenly turned off. Everyone gasped in shocked and when the light came back, their whole attention was caught by an unknown visitor. Their eyes glued on someone, sitting on the throne where the queen supposed to sit.

“Blessed your full moon night, everyone!” she greet in loud voice.

When Candela’s eyes focused on that visitor, her jaw dropped. Unknown panic quickly attacked her entire self as she stared at that woman. Maybe others didn’t notice what she noticed but she was sure, beyond sure that the unexpected visitor is looking like her on some point.

“Hello people of Crimson, did you miss me?!” She stood up from the throne and walked through their tables.

The King, Lord Magnus seems alerted and quickly stood up together with Lord Rouge. They both stood in front of their table and it looks like the two king are protecting their table. When the woman reached their post, she stared at the two kings. A kind of stare that says she wasn’t intimidated. Candela peeked out to scan the woman who’s slightly blocking by the two king. And right there and there, she realized that she wasn’t mistaken. She really looks like her.

“Why are you here, Lady Amary?” It was Lord Magnus who first spoke.

The woman named Lady Amary laughed at him mockingly before answering. “Tonight is full moon night. Everyone are expected to celebrate so do I,” she replied.

“But you are not a vampire to celebrate with us,” Lord Rouge reasoned out.

“Ah, sorry I forgot.” She laughed again. “But on the second thoughts, am I not allowed to celebrate with you? Does the moon goddess wasn’t allowed to celebrate with these vampires who once adored my enchanting beauty?”

Moon Goddess? Candela felt confused.

“That was before. Before, you are allowed and we are honored to have you in our full moon night. But now, the things already changed. Since the day you made yourself an evil, we already forget you.”

“Forget me?!” She laughed again but this time, with so much evilness. “Sad to say, I don’t forget those people who owned a lot from me. And that’s includes you, Lord Magnus and the rest of your allies!” her voiced boomed the whole palace.

Her voice seems echoed on Candela’s ears and even it was weird to say, she thinks that she already heard that voice. She just can’t point put when and where.

“I don’t forget, Lord Magnus. Of all people, you should know that.”

“What’s the reason of showing your presence here, Lady Amary?” Lord Magnus inquired, on his voice there creeps his patience.

“What’s my reason? You already know that, Lord Magnus. Don’t tell me you didn’t read my letter days ago? It states what I really need and the reason why I am here–”

Lord Magnus cut Lady Amary’s words. “We can’t give you what you asked for, Lady Amary. You better leave my palace with peace. We will not give you what you want,” Lord Magnus said, clenching his jaw.

When Candela’s eyes roamed around, everyone’s eyes are still glued on the woman. Even Lady Lorraine and Lady Liza, they are both looking at the woman. Their eyes shouts strange feeling, maybe they are confused or somehow felt threat because of Lady Amary’s presence. When her eyes landed on her mate sitting beside her, Blade is also looking serious at the lady. She wanted to ask him but restrained herself not to as it might attract their attention which she didn’t want to happen.

“You know I always find my ways to get what I want, right?” Lady Amary take some steps to walk around on the free space that is specifically meant for dancing later on the party. But it didn’t happen because of her presence that is not expected.

“Leave now, Lady Amary. We don’t want any troubles. I want my kingdom at peace.”

“Then give me what I want!” Lady Amary roared.

“We can’t. I can’t give you her!” Lord Magnus exclaimed back, clenching his fists into tight balls.

After Lord Magnus yelled, she felt Blade tightened his grip on her hand making her look on him. He’s still serious but there’s also a hint of alertness on his eyes.

“Give her to me, Magnus and I will leave your kingdom at peace. Simple as that, Magnus.”

“Don’t pushed me to my limit, Amary. You will see what you’re looking for,” Lord Magnus threatened.

“Oh, should I run wimps now? What do you think of me, a coward? Do you really think you can shoo me away just because you threatened me? Oh, My King… my dear Highness. I am Lady Amary, the Goddess of the Moon and you are just my venerator before. I will not leave your castle unless you give me her to me.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“I already told you, we–” Lord Magnus’ words was cut as his body flew on the nearest pillar causing damage on it because of the impact.

It was sharp scene and everyone are alerted as their King’s body is easily thrown into the pillar. Others gasped in horror while other tried to attack Lady Amary but all their efforts became futile as they are also easily thrown away.

“If you want piece, give her to me. That’s all I asked. Give me my daughter and I’ll leave. Did you hear me, Magnus?! Give that woman to me.” Then Lady Amary’s eyes went back on their table.

“Give Candela to me!”

Lady Amary’s voice echoed on Candela’s ears. Not because of its earsplitting loudness but because of what she just demanded.

She needs her.