Queen of My Immortal Heart

Chapter 1: Present Day

“Nicoleta! Why in God’s name aren’t you ready? The ceremony will be starting in 30 minutes!” Tawny shouted as she entered Nicole’s bedroom. Nicole was sitting on her bed in her underwear hugging her favorite blue velvet pillow her father had given her when she was five. It was stained from the many tears she’d cried on it. “Nicoleta, what’s wrong my pet?” Tawny asked as she sat next to her on the bed and wrapped her chubby arm around Nicole’s slumped shoulders. Tawny K Ulrich had been her nurse since birth and had stayed on as her maid and personal assistant as she’d gotten older. She was a heavy set older woman. She had been changed over by Nicole's father, King Valtar, after he'd found her bleeding and dying outside her burning cottage that laid just outside the city of Bacӑu. Her husband, Hamish, had been murdered inside and they'd been robbed by a band of gypsies. She'd been sixty three at the time, so her hair was a silver-gray and always in a very tight bun on the back of her head. Her brown eyes still held a twinkle of laughter, even when she was cross. She had been in the family for centuries now and Nicole loved her dearly. Tawny was like a second mother to her. “Nicoleta, you must get ready my pet. Your parents and the whole Kingdom are out there waiting for you.” Tawny said softly as she rubbed Nicole’s back. Today was her big day. The day she, Nicoleta Ara Maria Morganthe, would be crowned Queen of the Romanian Vampire Kingdom and her father and mother would step down as rulers. That also meant that in a week’s time, her parents, who had lived for two thousand years, would take their Death Walk. They would walk hand and hand into the sunrise and be turned to dust, thus ending their lives. Nicole began to cry all over again. At three hundred and twenty five years old, Nicole was prime age to take her parents throne and rule, but in her heart, she felt unsure, scared, and depressed. She didn’t want to lose her parents. They were the only good thing in her life besides Tawny. How could she bear eternity without them? More hot tears fell from her eyes. “Nicoleta!” Tawny shouted as she shook Nicole by the shoulders. “Sorry, Tawny. I was thinking. I’m just so upset. I don’t want to do this. I can’t lose mom and dad now.” Nicole said in a strained voice as she wiped her face with the tissue Tawny handed her. “I know this is scary and hard, my pet,” Tawny said as she stood and walked to the closet. “but your parents and the whole kingdom are counting on you. You’re ready for this, dear. It’s just one big step and can be very scary.” Tawny explained as she pulled out Nicole’s beautiful new ceremonial gown. Made by her cousin, Tessa, the gown truly was fit for a Queen. It’s corset style bodice was blood red with black beading. The full, flowing red silk skirt was smooth and felt like butter, with thin black lace on top. It was gorgeous and fit Nicole perfectly. Tessa had also made a beautiful red velvet cape to go with the dress. It was a work of art with her family’s crest carefully embroidered in 24kt gold string on the back. It was a little heavy and dragged the floor a foot behind Nicole. Good thing her parents made sure the maids kept the marble floors spotless. “Nicoleta!” Tawny said again, a touch of annoyance in her voice. “Sorry again, Tawny. I’m getting up.” Nicole said. She stood and stretched her cramped muscles. She’d been in that position on the bed for hours. She walked to the bathroom and brushed her teeth as Tawny ran the water for her shower. Nicole sighed as the cool water ran down her back and through her long hair. She’d never liked hot showers. They always made her feel sweaty when she stepped out instead of clean. “Hurry up, my pet. Gandmir just came to the door to announce that we have fifteen minutes before the ceremony.” Gandmir Sokolov. Now there was a strange character, Nicole mused as she scrubbed shampoo into her long hair. He had been her father’s right hand man and most trusted body guard for the last century. An honor given to him after he saved her father’s life by sacrificing his own. Her father had been battling Mortimer’s father, Lucard, and was badly injured when a young Gandmir jumped from a bush and tackled him to the ground just as Lucard swung his death blow. Instead of staking her father through the heart, Lucard had stabbed Gandmir in the back and straight through his heart for his insolence. Lucard had traced away laughing and her father, feeling very grateful, had promised Gandmir a second chance at life. When Gandmir, then a young warrior in Peru, had nodded in agreement, her father had transformed him and nursed him back to health, then trained him. They had become like father and son and Gandmir had gladly taken the position as her father’s right hand man when Nicholai Hayes, who'd been her father's guard and friend for centuries, had married and stepped down. Nicole heard Tawny clear her throat and quickly rinsed the remaining conditioner from her hair and soap from her body. Like a robot, she had washed her hair and body while her mind had wandered. “I’m done, Tawny. Do you have a towel?” Nicole asked as she shut off the water, which had grown icy in her musing. “I should let you freeze for being so slow,” Tawny said as she handed Nicole the towel and pulled out the hair dryer and brush and set them on the vanity. Nicole knew there was an annoyed look on Tawny’s face, she could see in reflected in the mirror above the vanity. Humans believed vampires didn’t cast a reflection. That was just a myth and Nicole thanked God for it. Like any girl, she loved checking herself in the mirror to ensure she didn't have lipstick, or in her case blood, on her teeth. “Nicole, come here now and let me dry your hair.” Tawny said tapping her white heal against the floor impatiently. “Yes, Tawny,” Nicole said in a little child’s voice as she stepped up to the vanity. “Don’t even play that game with me, young lady. I can tell when your being smart with me and now is not the time for it.” she said as she stepped behind Nicole and flipped on the hair dryer. Nicole did the best she could to hide her smirk and giggle. She didn’t mean to tease the older woman so much, but life over three centuries got boring sometimes and keeping Tawny on her toes was fun. “Stop fidgeting,” Tawny said as she turned off the dryer and put it on the vanity top and grabbed the brush. “I swear it’s like you’re barely over one hundred all over again.” If only she could go back to those carefree days of running across the meadows and chasing Luke around. Luke! Nicole felt a sudden warmth in her belly at the thought of him. She'd been so busy lately preparing for this ceremony, she'd almost forgotten about him. She missed him so much. Luke Sangre and her had always had a special connection to each other. He had been a gorgeous man as a “teenager” when they'd first met. His father, Ulrik Sangre, was moving their headquarters and he had come to ask her father’s permission to move it to the far northern corner of his property. It was all thick forest up there and her father had heartedly agreed if Ulrik agreed to have part of his pack patrol the forest for Cast Outs. Ulrik had quickly agreed and a long standing permanent alliance had been formed, even though the two had been friends long before then. Luke and her had been close from the first night they'd met. Love at first sight, but then one night, their headquarter had been attacked by a rogue pack of Cast Outs. Luke had come to see her instead of guarding the place like his father had ordered. She’d never seen him again after that night, but she remembered his last words to her like it was yesterday, even though it had been a little over two centuries now. “I’ll always love you, my precious Nicole. Queen of my Immortal heart.” He had kissed her cheek and left in a full sprint, changing into a werewolf mid stride, and disappeared into the forest. “There, I think that’s perfect,” Tawny said, pulling Nicole from her thoughts. “We’ll just pull your bangs back and put in your diamond barrette.” She stepped back to admire her work. Nicole’s long wavy platinum blond hair was so thick, it took a few minutes for Tawny to get it under control. Tawny had done the same pretty style she’d done for Nicole’s last birthday, long and flowing down her back with her bangs and sides pulled back. The diamond barrette had been a gift for her from an unknown person. After carefully checking it for poisons and silver, Gandmir had declared it safe and her parents had allowed her to keep it. All the card had said was, ‘A gift fitting a Queen. Queen of beauty.’ Everyone had assumed it came from one of her many admirers, but she didn’t know who. None of them were exactly shy. As a matter of fact, most of them were very up front and made it well known to her that they wanted to be King and have her pregnant right after the wedding night! Ugh. Men were such pigs sometimes. “Come on, Nicoleta. You need to get dressed and we have to do your make-up before we finish your hair.” Tawny said walking out of the bathroom without turning to look at her. She felt like a five year old sometimes. Nicole allowed Tawny to help her dress in the beautiful gown and heavy cape. Next, Tawny painted her eyelids in her favorite red eye shadow with midnight black liner, thick like Cleopatra’s and gold sparkles added for effect. Her cheeks were dusted a light rose so not to look over done on her pale white skin. Then a little red lipstick with black lip liner and clear lip gloss to finish and keep her lips moist. Tawny brushed back her bangs and sides and clipped them in her diamond barrette. She put Nicole’s stunning red, strapy, high heeled sandals in front of her and helped her step into them, then fastened the ankle buckle for her. She stood and took a step back to admire her work. Her brown eyes quickly misted over with unshed tears. “You look gorgeous, my pet. I couldn’t have done better if I tried. You truly look like a que….que….” Tawny sniffed and pulled out a tissue from the box and dabbed her eyes, careful of her own makeup. “Please don’t cry, Tawn Tawn,” Nicole said, using her favorite nickname for her beloved nurse and friend. “I’ll start crying too and we’ll be a mess and have to start all over again.” “We don’t have time for that, dear,” Tawny said with a small chuckle and finished dabbing her eyes dry. “We’re a little late already.” Tawny sniffed loud, took Nicole by the hand, and took a deep breathe to steady her nerves. “My pet, My dear beautiful Nicoleta Ara Maria Morganthe. I hope I have served you well as your nurse and maid and as this day I see my precious girl become a Queen, I can only hope you will allow me to continue to serve you and the future children you will have someday.” “Tawny stop it,” Nicole said, her own eyes beginning to mist. “You know damn well I will keep you around forever and working hard as ever if you’re nagging old ass will let me.” Nicole laughed as Tawny got that annoyed look on her face, but it was quickly replaced with a smile and laughter of her own. “Come, my Queen. We must get downstairs to the ceremony before Gandmir comes back and starts shouting." Nicole stuck out her tongue and scrunched up her face. They both let out a loud laugh as Tawny opened the door and after one last look in the mirror, they both walked out of Nicole’s room together.