The Turned Queen

MATE

"SCARLETT STANWOOD!!" Scarlett jolted awake and sat upright on the couch.

Artemia pouted like a child,

"How do I look?" She twirled around and striked a pose as Scarlett observed the gown.

It was a sky blue evening gown with a flrill end. Artemia's left shoulder was exposed as the right one had a beautiful embroidery in which ran down the gown.

"You look amazing." Scarlett spoke honestly as Artemia giggled.

"Alright I'll take this one." Scarlett released a breathe she was holding. "Finally!"

"Don't be relieved yet, we need to pick a gown for you too." Artemia smirked at Scarlett slumped on the couch in low spirit.

"Just pick any gown randomly. You know my size, don't you?" Artemia shook her head at Scarlett.

"No way. Get up, look for the one you like."

Scarlett stood up unwillingly and started to look around but none of them caught her eye.

"I don't like an-" Scarlett stopped in mid sentence as a navy blue high slit gown caught her attention. Scarlett walked towards the gown and turned to Artemia. "I like this one." Scarlett pointed at the navy blue gown and Artemia sequeled like a child.

"Oh my god! It looks so beautiful. Go on and try it."

Scarlett went in the fitting room with the gown and wore it carefully.

Artemia waited outside eagerly for Scarlett. Scarlett was already gorgeous, Artemia was curious to see her in the gown. When Scarlett walked out of the fitting room, she looked a little awkward while asking Artemia.

"How is it?" Artemia sequeled while jumping up and down.

"Oh God Scarlett! You look so fuckin' gorgeous." Scarlett looked up at Artemia in surprise. 'Do I?'

The right thigh had a slit which highlighted Scarlett's features while the off shoulder gown made Scarlett's collarbone look magnificent.

"This color suits you so well, Scarlett." A small smile made it's way at Scarlett's face.

"Thanks. I'll take this one."

Artemia insisted on buying the gown for Scarlett as an apology gift but Scarlett turned her down. Scarlett had enough money after she invested in some stocks the returns were good and she was earnings quite more than she expected.

_____

Scarlett swirled the glass of wine lightly as she scanned through the ball. The aesthetic vibe of the venue had Scarlett wondering about it's foundation. People were socializing, making contacts, giggling and messing around. Scarlett had this feeling in her gut which she couldn't pinpoint. She couldn't distinguish this feeling if it was luck or misery. Scarlett oddly felt really strong as her energy seemed to skyrocket her nerves. Her heart was beating a little faster than usual. Scarlett couldn't figure out her intuition but something was definitely going to happen. She scanned the place to look out for it. The place screamed Royalty, Scarlett was bored out of her wits when Ryder approached her,

"You are still keeping a low profile? It's useless now."

Scarlett rolls her eyes at him, "It won't harm to continue it even if my cover was blown by the troublesome royal siblings. Hope is the sense of security."

Ryder chuckles as Artemia waves at Scarlett from afar gesturing to come over but Scarlett nods her head in a 'No'.

"Moreover I don't like socializing since childhood."

"I can't even imagine how you managed to survive on your own given your socializing skills." Ryder says in a sarcastic tone.

Scarlett chuckles as she notices Athanasius coming over, Ryder scoots closer to Scarlett and whispers to Scarlett.

"This guy has a thing for you. You need to be careful."

"I know, He is definitely planning something. He thinks he can outstand a vampire? Let him try." Scarlett speaks sarcastically as Ryder laughs out loud.

"What is so funny?" Athanasius glares at Ryder as Ryder smirks.

"Nothing much."

Athanasius turns to Scarlett,

"May I have a word with you?"

Scarlett raises her eyebrow at him as he tilts his head, "Alone." Scarlett nods and gestures him to lead the way.

"I'll be right back." Scarlett winks at Ryder who responds with a smirk.

Scarlett followed Athanasius upstairs, Athanasius leaded the way to a big study filled with books which looked a few centuries old. Scarlett observed the old yet sophisticated study which screamed Royalty.

Athanasius grabbed the small jewelry box which was placed on the big table.

"Miss Scarlett Stanwood, you are new here but I'm sure you know a little about how it is in Ceben." Athanasius stated as Scarlett looked at him puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

Athanasius sighed,

"You know about the Royalty and the anti royal community, don't you?"

Scarlett tilted her head a little,

"I've heard about the anti royal community but I've no idea what it is." Scarlett honestly didn't know much about it. Ryder didn't fill in to her about this community.

"Scarlett, as the name suggests -it works against the royals, us. They have been looking ways to drag the monarch system down from decades."

Scarlett nodded,

"But what does that have to do with me?"

Athanasius continued, "They have been targeting us and the people around us. Since we always arranged and did background check on the people we keep around us."

Scarlett retorted sarcastically, "Been there, I don't really want anything to do with you both siblings. Saves me trouble."

Athanasius's amber eyes hinted a little disappointed at Scarlett's comment.

"Don't worry, I've a solution for that. Take this." Athanasius opened the small box and a gold bracelet decorated with Amber stones and an emblem which Scarlett knew was the symbol of monarch of Ceben was craved in the middle of the bracelet.

Scarlett looked up at Athanasius and raised her eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Wear it, this will ensure your security. This bracelet is legitimately a safeguard."

'Dude, I'm a fuckin' vampire! Of someone needs protection here that'd definitely be you, dumbass.' Scarlett said inwardly.

Scarlett stared at him sharply as Athanasius sternly stared back.

Scarlett's eyes flashed silver as she used compulsion on him.

"Athanasius La Croix, What else does this bracelet mean?"

Athanasius spoke in a daze, "This bracelet symbolizes the Royals of Ceben. If you wear this bracelet, you'll become my fiance and I will be able to marry you soon." Scarlett was baffled to hear him but she kept interrogating him.

"Why will you give that to me?"

"To make you mine." Athanasius was in a deep daze.

Scarlett rolled her eyes at him.

'This stupid prince has such a weak mind, I can use compulsion so easily on him. He will ruin the country if he succeeds the throne.'

Scarlett gazed at him sternly, "Stay in the daze."

Athanasius nodded as Scarlett walked out of the study leaving him and his stupid bracelet.

'This guy is crazy, I need to stay away from him.'

Athanasius gets out of his daze as he looks around but Scarlett was nowhere to be seen. He runs out after Scarlett while yelling her name.

In a distance Scarlett could hear him as she fastened her pace and rushed downstairs, she didn't look where she was going until she bumped into something very hard and on cue she heard a low melodic voice, "MATE."