A Crown of Blood and Roses

Seraphina had always believed that bad things happened whenever she she tried to help. Not because she was unlucky. At least, that was what she told herself. She was simply…. Clumsy. There was a difference. Unfortunately, nobody in the Vale household seemed interested in acknowledging it. "Seraphina!" The sharp cry came from the kitchen. Seraphina froze halfway across the hallway. Her hands were covered in flour. Her hair was a mess. And in her arms was a basket of freshly washed clothes that was slowly slipping toward the floor. She looked down. "Oh." One of the shirts had already fallen. Then another. Then a pair of trousers. Seraphina sighed. "Not again." She hurried to pick them up. That was when her foot caught the edge of the rug. She stumbled. The basket flew from her hands. Clothes scattered across the hallway. Seraphina landed on the floor with a small yelp. For several seconds, she simply lay there. Then she heard footsteps. Slow. Deliberate. She closed her eyes. Please don't let it be Rosalie. It was. Rosalie stood at the end of the hallway, staring down at her. She was perfectly dressed despite it being early morning. Her long brown hair was neatly braided, and not a single crease disturbed her pale blue dress. Seraphina, meanwhile, had flour on her cheek, a loose strand of hair stuck to her forehead, and one sock that had somehow disappeared. Rosalie stared. Seraphina stared back. "You fell again." Seraphina slowly sat up. "I didn't fall." Rosalie raised an eyebrow. "I tripped." "Onto the floor." "Yes." "So you fell." Seraphina frowned. "That sounds unnecessary complicated." Rosalie sighed. "You're seventeen years old, seraphina." "I know." "Sometimes I wonder if you're ever going to grow up." Seraphina's smile disappeared. She lowered her eyes and began gathering the clothes. "I'll clean it up." Rosalie watched her for a moment. Then she walked away. Seraphina waited until she was gone before making a face. "I am growing up." She looked at the scattered clothes. "Slowly." A laugh escaped her before she could stop it. That was Seraphina. She had learned long ago that if she took every little insult seriously, she would spend her entire life unhappy. So she laughed when she could. She apologized when she had to. And whenever she made a mistake, she tried again. It wasn't always easy. Especially in a house where she sometimes felt like a guest rather than a daughter. But it was the only home she had ever known. And she loved it. Even if it didn't always love her back in the same way. By midday, the entire village was talking about the royal carriage. Seraphina didn't know what the commotion was about until she stepped outside with a basket of vegetables. People had gathered in the village square. Children stood on barrels to see over the crowd. Shopkeepers had abandoned their stores. Even the old men who usually spent their afternoon arguing over cards had come outside. Seraphina frowned. "What happened?" Nobody answered her. She moved closer. Then she saw it. A magnificent black carriage stood in the center of the square. Four enormous black horses were attached to it. Their coats were so dark they almost seemed to absorb the sunlight. Silver decorations covered the carriage doors. And stamped in the center was a symbol seraphina recognized immediately. A crown surrounded by thorns. Her stomach tightened. The royal crest. The vampire kingdom. Seraphina took a step backward. "Oh." Her foster mother had warned her about vampires all her life. Never go near them. Never speak to them. Never enter their territory. And above all- Never trust one. Humans and vampires had lived in separate kingdoms for generations. There were stories about what happened when the two races crossed paths. Some stories were probably exaggerated. Others, Seraphina suspected, were not. She had never seen a vampire up close before. And she had no intention of changing that today. A tall man dressed entirely in black stepped out of the carriage. Seraphina's fingers tightened around the basket. He wasn't monstrous. That was almost worse. He looked completely human. Tall. Pale. Sharp-featured. His eyes were a deep crimson. Seraphina quickly looked away. The vampire unfolded a parachment. "By order of His Majesty, King Alaric of the Night Court…." The crowd fell silent. "All citizens of the surrounding human territories are invited to attend the Royal Moonlight Ball at the King's Palace." A wave of whispers moved through the crowd. Seraphina looked up. A ball? The vampire continued. "The invitation is extended to humans and vampires alike." Someone gasped. Seraphina's eyes widened. Humans? Inside a vampire palace? That sounded like the beginning of a terrible story. "The purpose of the gathering," the messager continued, "is to celebrate the coming of age of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Kael." More whispers. Seraphina had heard the name before. Everyone had. Kael was the Crown Prince of the vampire kingdom. The King's eldest son. The future ruler. And according to the village gossip, he was expected to choose a bride at the ball. Seraphina blinked. "A bride?" The girl beside her whispered excitedly. "Imagine marrying a prince." Seraphina made a face. "A vampire prince." "So?" "So… he's a vampire." The girl shrugged. "He's still a prince." Seraphina stared at her. "That's the part you're worried about?" The girl giggled. "You've always been too cautious." Seraphina looked back at the carriage. "I've been warned." "About everything." "That doesn't mean they're wrong." Before the girl could answer, the Royal messenger began handing invitations to selected families. Seraphina's heart started beating faster when she saw him approaching their house. "Oh no." She knew immediately. Their family was going. "No." Marianne Vale placed the invitation on the table. Seraphina sat across from her foster mother. Rosalie sat beside her, looking far too interested in the conversation. Thomas, Seraphina's foster father, remained silent. Marianne shook her head. "We are not going." Rosalie frowned. "But Mother— "No." "We were invited." "I know." "Everyone important will be there." "I said no." Seraphina stared at the invitation. The black envelope looked almost threatening sitting on the wooden table. "Why?" Marianne looked at her. "Because it's a vampire palace. "But it's a Royal event." "That doesn't make it safe." Seraphina lowered her voice. "I won't go near anyone." Rosalie laughed. "You?" Seraphina looked at her. "What?" "You can't go ten minutes without wandering somewhere you're not supposed to be." "I can too." "You got lost in the market last week." "I was looking for apples." "The market is three streets long." "I know." "You came two hours later." "I found a bakery." Rosalie rolled her eyes. Thomas tried to hide a smile. Marianne did not. "Seraphina," she said firmly, I don't want you anywhere near those vampires. Seraphina nodded. "Okay." But something about the way Marianne said it bothered her. It wasn't ordinary fear. It was almost personal. As if she knew v something about vampires that Seraphina didn't. "Have you ever met one?" Seraphina asked. Marianne went still. Thomas looked up. Rosalie stopped smiling. "No," Marianne finally said. The answer came too quickly. Seraphina noticed. But before she could ask another question, Rosalie spoke. "I think we should go." Marianne looked at her. "Rosalie." "Why not?" "Because I said so." Rosalie crossed her arms. "The crown prince is looking for a bride. This could be an opportunity." Seraphina frowned. "An opportunity for what?" Rosalie smiled. "For me." Something about her expression made Seraphina uncomfortable. She didn't understand why. Rosalie had always been beautiful. Confident. Graceful. Everything Seraphina wasn't. If anyone belonged at a royal ball, it was Rosalie. Not her. Seraphina looked down at her hands. "Maybe you should go without me." Marianne immediately shook her head. "No." Rosalie smile faded. "Why?" Marianne didn't answer. Instead she picked up the invitation. "We'll all go." Seraphina looked up. "All of us?" "Yes." Her foster mother's eyes met hers. But you'll stay beside me." Seraphina smiled. "I promise." "And you will not wander." "I won't." "And you'll not speak to vampires." Seraphina nodded seriously. "I won't." Rosalie muttered, "That should last five minutes." Seraphina frowned. "I can behave." Thomas chuckled. "We'll see."