Crowne Bloodline

The church stained glass glowed brightly as the midnight moonlight shone into the church, radiant, beautifully, sadening, as if signifying a stop,end and a closure. That midnight was special, significant, important. It was the very night that the vampires and the humans were going to come together, unifying after thousands of fruitless years battling useless crusades. It was the love story between a vampire prince and a human girl. How romantically beautiful and forbidden it was. Naturally the humans and vampires opposed the union between the two, challenging and not supporting this impossible love story, until a sacrifice was brought in.  A sacrifice for their past mistakes, a body as a representation of their mistakes, and a scapegoat. Ironically, there was a love story before this as well, one that ended with much more tragedy and cruelty,despite the dreaminess of their romance. Before this vampire prince came and rose to power, with his current position and the crown, there was a princess. An heir to the Vampire empire, Crowne, one trained over centuries to be the perfect successor, until the return of a lost duchess and a certain prince entering the photo. They were rumoured to be a legendary vampire couple, one that would bring and build up the vampire empire from its ruins right now to the glory it radiated of many generations before.  Äs people started to fill out the seats at the churches, dressed in black dresses and pants, as if they were attending a funeral, with the exception of all the guests’ outfits being pinned with a beautiful vermillion red rose, freshly picked, at the peak of its floral life. I never got why people love flowers like these. They are dying, while they are looking at its final beauty. Is the beauty of love eternal, faithful and never failing? I beg to differ.  People scattered around before my eyes, gathering last minute flowers and traditional ornaments required for the commencement of this ritual, going around distributing out papers and cards as people got more and more excited. I was strapped and bound down by thick black leather, chained from my wrist to my ankles, all while wearing my familiar black dress with velvet edges and simple lacing. Something that was much too simple for a princess or a heiress to wear. I stared emotionless, lifelessly glancing at the ceiling of the church. There were angels and couples, all brimming with happiness and contentment. I once thought i could be and have that too, i was so close to achieving that as well. I did everything I could to help my once love. Ultimately, I was just a tool.  I am tired.  The ritual started, the priest commencing the usual sacremental greetings, an opening hymn and prayer before my once love stepped ahead of me onto the small yet polished podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, vampires and humans, my brothers and sisters, we did not easily progress to where we currently are today. Our ancestors fought futile wars, they were foolish, shortsighted and out of love. Only through my prized and precious journey of love with Colette, did I realise the shortcomings and differences between them and us. We did not have love, we were selfish and blind. However, after we triumphed through these struggles together, through the love given to me by Colette, am I ready to help the whole race, vampires and humans alike enter a new era. My fellow brothers and sisters, an era of prosperity, happiness and good fortune. We are finally ready for our century late union. We are ready to merge and become a whole, from 2 half puzzle pieces. Join me, my fellow siblings to witness this ceremony of our union.” From my angle, I could see his black flowing hair, gentle hand that I would have wished could hold my hand and embrace me, now embracing another. Another human girl who was not and never would be worthy. Or was I the one that was unworthy? I no longer believed that what I once thought was right was of that anymore, from questioning my loyalty to my very own empire from my direct bloodline. The once familiar low voice resonated across the church, as I saw more humans and vampires look up in anticipation of what he was going to say. They never once did this while i was talking. Was I not worthy of being their leader? Was blood purity no longer the strongest factor in deciding the heir to the throne? I don’t know anymore. “Brothers and sisters, the vampires have decided in unison that we instead show our loyalty and interest by giving out our very own heiress, one of the old crude ways, one who was responsible for the continuation and support of this futile war, this disparity. We are offering to the lord our god, the messiah and my fellow people, the heiress responsible for all the blood split. We are willing to burn this witch and kill her as a sign of the new, a symbolism of separating from the old. Such a witch can never exist for unity, for our love , peace and harmony.”  Colette, the human girl, had her on her signature smile. The signature smile filled with happiness, on the brink of overflowing out, as though she could not contain it. Her plan had succeeded, I know. She had gotten her favourite toy, just like a child. She had won. I am sick and tired.  I watched from the corner of my eyes, him ushering towards the long sword and dagger displayed on the altar, a Crowne heirloom, raising it up as the metals reflected the bright, glittering moonlight.  “When I was young, I learnt that Royals of the vampire race cannot be killed by conventional ways. But what if we did so with their strongest weapons?” His long white pale fingers slid across the blade of the  glistening dagger, his eyes following the movement. Red droplets began to sprout on his pale skin, his finger beginning to bleed as he smiled his most gentle of smiles. Ones I have seen before. His eyes instead glinted, giving me a sense of disingenuous fear, discomfort and uncertainty. Why had I been so blind to before? I saw all the red flags, but I chose to ignore them, for the price of my crown and heart.  My sight followed the blade as in one smooth arc swung, he pierced through cloth and muscle, into my chest. Pure agony exploded, radiating throughout me, pain surging everywhere from my head to my fingertips and toes in short bursts and unrelenting waves. I struggled, wanting to break free and escape from this torture. He noticed this as well, before signalling for a shot of holy water, injecting the poison into my blood, further enhancing the pain. All while murmuring reverently, “I am sorry lady Jeanne, this hurts but i am sure it will be better later…”Then whispering softly, Ïn your next life.” It was then I hated my blood purity and bloodline, me being a royal, my life tolerance and vitality was much stronger than normal vampires, which meant it took longer for me to die.  I could feel the blade grinding harshly through skin and muscles, violently breaking my bones if they were to ever get into his way before finally reaching the last vein where he pulled my heart out with his own hands, smiling so brightly and victoriously. I finally started to lose control of my consciousness. My very own weakness was exposed and there was nothing else left. No second chances, no chance of rebirth.  “When I was young, my fellow brothers and sisters, this witch formed a contract with me, in front of all the vampires where all of the damage she receives would be inflicted onto me, where I would be dead and she would be perfectly alive even after a stab through the heart. But it is after 13 years of research, that I have finally broken the curse. I am finally free.”  He lied. He lied. He knew very well the spell was a double sided effect, but he eventually convinced me to reform the contract with my heart such that only his damage would be inflicted onto me. He lied. I hate him. I hate him.  I hate myself. Why was I so trusting? I had let my people down. I could not blame them for no longer following and being loyal to me anymore. I know. I know. I know. I want to end this life. But where could I go? There is no  road left for me…Not anymore.  With my final senses, I felt the people begin to stand up and chant with him. As if announcing my final verdict. “With the power from the new unity formed between us, my family, the lord, the god and the messiah have given me this very power to end this horrible and painful era, as I destroy her heart, sealing her, may we see a better future. A better tomorrow.”  I could feel him bending down and whispering, “Good night Jeanne, I thank you for your contribution, you have been a very obedient and useful tool for me.” Before he took a final plunge into my heart. Everything began to spin, spiral, and mix up, they sang even louder, as if mocking me and all the decisions I have made that led to this, their loudness, further punishing and condemning me. The unrestrained happiness from them, to humiliate me. All has ended but if I were to ever see to the end again, I know I will have a different answer to this. Maybe then, would I truly be a Crowne. (I am a cut) Sometimes, love will never be the answer. Love is a drug, when you have it, you feel lifted high but when the withdrawal symptoms start to kick in, the person is in such pain that even the thought of death looks like a great option. Who will even love you unconditionally, without the sense of duty or wanting something from you? Alexander never believed in a thing called unconditional love. After ripping out the heiress’ heart, all vampires felt an increase in their power, especially Alexander who had formed a blood bond with her. The books were right, his mother dearest was right, the division rule in the vampire realm was and will indeed be his in favour. He never liked her, neither did he care for her, let alone love.  She was too thirsty and blind for that fake stupid love . He hated her. He hated that she had both parents to give her whatever she wanted, having the whole empire to bow down to her whenever she wanted them to. While they humiliated him in every social event there was, they laughed at his failed dukedom lineage. He wished for a loving mother too, who loved him as a son not a way to tap into the Albeo riches, he wished for his father to be by him all the time, not always serving this foolish king, while his own family started to rot from the inside. He wished for a warm meal too,with a warm family, a warm home. He finally fulfilled Albeo's prophecy, his very own father’s wishes. A few hundred years ago when the former crown prince, Albeo, was winning the inheritance battle with the help of then illegitimate sibling, Sterling Crown. It was with the compassion, kindness and naivety of the young Albeo that led to his demise. Before power and glory, love does not stand that precious to him after all. Alexander will make sure he will never make such a stupid mistake.