~ Chapter Two: Dead Princess ~

Lucia couldn't move as she was lifted into the arms of a stranger. She couldn't even open her eyes, completley paralyzed, her breathing so soft and low, unnocitable, the same could be said for her heart-beat.

The stranger mumbled words as time passed, mostly soft sorrows: "Poor thing, so young", "It's ashame he didn't want to save you", "The king neglecting his daughter for the last time".

This couldn't be true! Lucia wanted scream and cry out, "Why aren't you saving me? Please, I'm still alive, I just need a doctor", but her lips wouldn't move, and no voice was heard. It wasn't like the stranger could hear the sickly child's thoughts, nor could he assume she was able to survive; afterall, he wasn't a doctor, her pale features and death-like heartbeat were not to her favor.

"May your afterlife be more favorable then your actual life, cursed Princess Lucia Emilia Valtori." Those were the last words the stranger spoke until what felt like hours had passed and the stranger's steps came to a half. She felt the stranger shift while he held her, with a thud against wood the princess assumed he was kicking at a door.

"Your delivery," the stranger finally spoke again.

A woman's cunning voice replied with amusement, "How interesting." She let out a chuckle but then her tone shifted to pity. "What a malnourished thing, so small for her age."

"She's dead, what does it matter now?" the strange cut in.

"I wonder about that," the woman let out another chuckle. "Put her in the backroom and you'll get your pay."

"Do remember she's a princess, witch."

"Says the servant selling her off. Just do as I say and shut your mouth."

If Lucia could run, she would have long ago. If what the stranger said wasn't meant to be an insult. . . if this woman was really a witch what was she going to do to her? Lucia felt the stranger releasing her body onto a soft mattress, the last opportunity she had of returning to the castle leaving. Even though Lucia tried one final time to scream out, yet again, nothing sounded.

Minutes, maybe only seconds went by and the sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor invaded Lucia's ears and got louder as what Lucia assumed was the witch approaching.

Standing merely inches away, the woman spoke, "I bet you can still hear everything, poor miserable thing. The kingdom doesn't know what they've missed—or maybe your father does, but hoped his problem would go away." She let out a wicked laugh, one filled with amusement. As her laughing stopped she seemed to move away but when Lucia finally felt she could collect herself, the woman with those loud heels returned, only this time much closer.

The young princess's lips were parted, her mouth forced open by the witches rough and caullosed fingers. Suddenly, warmth was pressed to her lips and liquid arrived in her mouth, pooling to the back of her throat. When Lucia thought she was going to choke, instead her eyes flickered open to meet the stormy grey eyes of a tan-skinned red-head whose lips were curved into a wicked grin, "Drink up."

Realizing that Lucia's mouth was wrapped around the witch's wrist, she froze.

"Don't stop now child, you need this. Drink it," the witch demanded, no room for argument.

Lucia couldn't deny her immense hunger for what she guessed was the witch's blood. So Lucia did as she was told. Her teeth, or to be exact, her fangs sunk into the woman's wrist even though a small cut was already there for Lucia to pull from. She pulled mouthfuls in, the taste intoxicating and something so deluctible her tiny frame couldn't even imagine such a taste, but as Lucia took in every mouthful, not stopping to breath, the witch seemed more excited.

At last, the witch yanked her arm away from the hungry child and wiped at her arm with a cloth, all while laughing, "A hungry little monster aren't you!"

"What just happened? Wh-why am I like this?" Lucia had so many questions but could only spit out two for now.

"To answer your first question, I pulled you from your coma with my blood. As for your second question, that asks many things," the witch responded. "To put it simply, you have been abandoned by the royal family, youngling, yet you are more royal than any of them. You are a monster, child. One with abilities immeasurable to humans. You're what is called a vampire. To be exact, a pure blooded vampire."

What children's stories! Sylvia would have told such tales at bedtime! Lucia felt like laughing but as she recalled what just happened moments before, the taste of the witch's blood still fresh on her tongue, her mood shifted to wanting to cry. "How is that possible? W-why me?"

The rolled her eyes, she seemed to be annoyed now, "So many questions. Everyome knows this world holds magic and monsters dear child, anything is possible. You have simply been chosen, child. There's a curse in the Valtori family, one that only true heirs have, and seemingly, there has not been a true heir in many centuries except for now. You."

"I've always been told I'm barely a royal because of my eyes, because they're not golden like the rest of the royals. It should be my elder brother, not me."

"Child, you act as if I have placed this curse upon you," the woman huffed a sigh. "Your eyes, that's a sign in itself. You have two colors in your eyes, just like the very first King, you are the true heir, although before me now, you are nothing but my slave."

Such a turn! "Slave?"

The red-head undid her tied up red hair and let the curls fall to her waist as if such a conversation was nothing.

"Listen, I have paid for you child. At first I expected a dead princess, parts I could use, instead I got a noisy little monster so don't expect to be treated kindly just because I know your nature."

"Parts you could use. . ." Lucia whispered.

The witch smirked, "Yes, so be greatful I'm not acting on my original plan, now sit tight for a moment, if you even think about leaving this room I'll change my mind about my plan."

The woman disappeared, her long colored shall following behind her as she walked out quickly. She returned minutes later with some sort of vile.

"Truly, the effects of vampirism should not have taken effect until you were of age, sixteen. Yet you're so malnourished and were on the verge of death I'm assuming the curse kicked in to save you."

"Does my family know? Do they think I died?" Lucia asked.

"I can only speculate what has and will happen. The King saw you on the verge of death and tosses you to some servant, now you're merely a forgotten princess. Most likely he'll announced you died from sickness and life will go on."

Tears burned Lucia's eyes, she didn't bother to stop herself from shedding tears and instead just released them. She couldn't help but to think of Sylvia, a woman who was like a mother to her and how she never got to say goodbye. Sylvia was the only real family she's ever had, and knowing Sylvia, she'll be heartbroken. Then she thought of Sir Frederick who was always kind to her, always ready to make her smile when he saw her. She thought of Sir Lance who may not have always been there, but when he was he would make her laugh, protect her from the Queen's wrath. They would all think she was dead and she never even got to say good bye.

The redhead pushed the vile towards Lucia, "Drink this, your body hasn't fully shifted to your vampiric side so you'll need medicine to lower your temperature for now, at least you'll be more comfortable into your transition."

Lucia didn't bother to listen to the witch's words, only took the vile and finished the contents. When Lucia went to hand the vile back to the witch she was met with a sinister smile. The woman shook her head, "While it was medicine, it also binds you to a slave contract child. In the future, don't be so naive as to trust others."

Blair blinked away her tears now, "Of course it was like this," she thought, but she only said, "I'm completely at your mercy."

"You're quite mature for your age. At least you understand. Now get some rest, its quite late. I'll explain more of your situation tomorrow and you'll learn your role," the witch turned on her heel to leave.

"Who are you?" Lucia called out.

"Many know me as the Red Witch, my name is Sabina."

Lucia's eyes widened hearing the witch's title but as she went to ask for clarity, Sabina had already left, the door closed behind her.

Adjusting her eyes to the darkness of the room which was much warmer than the stablehouse, Lucia was in shock.

The Red Witch was a story herself. Some maids used to whisper about her, scaring one another with tales of her capabilties. She was said to be able to curse anyone with just a name, a flick of her wrist and flames would ignite, her potions able to cure the ill and poison warriors.The reason she got her name was from her powers, she always glowed red when she used them apparently.

Was Sabina really the Red Witch? Sure enough she said so herself, but before hand she also said not to trust anyone. Maybe Sabina said such a thing just to scare her?

Lucia let her head fall to the pillow in confusion. The former princess pulled up the covers and stared at the rays of moonlight that hit the floorboards from the window in disarray. Soon her bewilderment was accompanied by more tears as she softly cried into her pillow, and eventually she fell asleep.