A Crown of Blood and Roses

The Moonlit Ball

Thomas chuckled.

"We'll see."

Seraphina narrowed her eyes at him.

"I can behave."

"I never said you couldn't."

"You were thinking it."

Thomas smiled innocently.

"I was thinking nothing at all."

"You're a terrible liar."

Rosalie laughed from across the room.

"She's right."

Seraphina turned toward her foster sister.

"You're supposed to be on my side."

"I am."

"You don't sound like it."

"That's because I'm not."

Seraphina gasped dramatically.

Marianne shook her head as she watched the three of them.

"Enough. We are going to be late."

That was when Seraphina remembered the ball.

Her stomach fluttered.

Not because she was excited about meeting the Crown Prince.

She wasn't.

Absolutely not.

She was simply curious about the palace.

That was all.

At least, that was what she told herself.

She hurried upstairs to finish dressing.

And when she stepped out of her room several minutes later, she nearly collided with Rosalie.

"Careful!"

"Sorry!"

Rosalie caught her by the shoulders.

"You see? This is exactly what I'm talking about.

Seraphina looked down at herself.

"What?"

"Your dress."

Seraphina frowned.

"What about It?"

Rosalie sighed.

"Turn around."

Seraphina did.

Her gown was ivory, but it wasn't plain.

The bodice was fitted closely to her waist, covered in a delicate embroidery that looked like tiny curling vines. The sleeves ended just below her elbows, Where a pair of pearl-trimmed gloves waited to be pulled on.

Her skirt was enormous.

Far too enormous, in Seraphina's opinion.

Layer after layer of soft fabric fell around her, creating a wide bell-shaped silhouette that made walking feel like steering a small boat.

The outer layer was a pale ivory satin, but beneath it were several layers of cream- colored tulle and petticoats that gave the gown its dramatic fullness.

At the back, a modest train followed her like a stubborn little shadow.

Tiny pearl beads had been sewn along the neckline.

A narrow ribbon wrapped around her waist.

And at the center of it sat a small silver brooch.

Seraphina touched it.

"Mother put this here."

"It suits you."

Seraphina smiled.

"Really?"

Rosalie hesitated.

"Yes."

That one word sounded almost painful.

Seraphina didn't notice.

She was too busy admiring herself in the mirror.

"I look like a cake."

Rosalie blinked.

"What?"

"A very expensive cake."

Rosalie burst out laughing.

"You're impossible."

"What? Look at all these layers."

Seraphina lifted the skirt slightly.

"I could hide a whole person under here."

"Don't get ideas."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

Seraphina smiled.

Then she turned toward the mirror again.

Her hair had been arranged in a loose Victorian updo, with soft curls framing her face. Small pearl pins decorated the twists of her brown hair.

She looked different.

Older.

More elegant.

Almost like someone who belonged in a palace.

Almost.

Until she took one step backward and stepped on the hem of her own dress.

"Ah!"

Rosalie grabbed her arm.

"Seraphina!"

"I hate this dress."

"You just said you looked beautiful."

"I do."

"Then why do you hate it?"

"Because it is trying to kill me."

Rosalie laughed again.

"You're going to have to learn how to walk in it."

"I know how to walk."

"Then prove it."

Seraphina lifted her chin.

She took one graceful step.

Then another.

She made it halfway across the room before her skirt caught against a chair.

She stopped.

Looked down.

Then slowly looked at Rosalie.

"Don't."

Rosalie was already laughing.

"I didn't say anything."

You were about to."

"I was."

Seraphina sighed.

"Help me."

...

By the time they left the house, the village had transformed.

The streets were filled with carriages.

Women in elaborate gowns climbed into them carefully, holding their skirts in both hands.

Men in dark tailcoats and waistcoats stood beside carriage doors, offering gloved hands to their wives and daughters.

Children crowded the roads to watch.

Seraphina couldn't stop staring.

She had never seen so many beautiful clothes in one place.

Rosalie's gown was a deep burgundy velvet that looked almost black beneath the evening sky.

Its fitted bodice was decorated with tiny black beads, while the skirt fell in dramatic folds around her.

A small matching hat sat at an angle on her head, decorated with dark feathers.

She looked like she belonged in a painting.

Marianne wore a dark emerald gown with long sleeves and a high lace collar.

Thomas wore a black tailcoat, a crisp white shirt, a charcoal waistcoat, and a silver pocket watch tucked neatly into his vest.

Seraphina looked at all three of them.

"We look ridiculous."

Thomas laughed.

"We look respectable."

"There's a difference."

"A significant one."

Seraphina climbed into the carriage.

Her skirt took up almost the entire seat.

She stared at it.

"I take back everything I said."

Rosalie climbed in after her.

"What?"

"I hate this dress."

"You've said that six times."

"And I mean it more every time."

Thomas climbed in last.

"Perhaps you should have worn trousers."

Seraphina gasped.

"To a Royal ball."

Thomas shrugged.

"It would certainly make walking easier."

Marianne gave him a look.

"Don't encourage her."

The carriage began moving.

Seraphina settled against the window.

Outside, the village slowly disappeared.

The road became darker.

The trees of the Black Forest rose around them.

She had been warned about this forest since childhood.

Humans weren't supposed to travel through it after sunset.

But tonight, hundreds of carriages were making their way through the darkness toward the vampire kingdom.

Seraphina watched the trees pass.

She felt nervous.

Very nervous.

"What if they really are monsters?"

Marianne looked at her.

"Who?"

"The vampires."

Thomas answered before Marianne could.

"Some are."

Seraphina eyes widened.

"Some?"

Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"Thomas."

"What? She asked."

Seraphina swallowed.

"So they could attack us?"

"Not at the Royal ball," Thomas said.

"How do you know?"

"Because the king invited us."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

Thomas laughed.

"You'll be fine."

Seraphina looked back out the window.

She wasn't convinced.

Hours later, the carriage finally slowed.

Seraphina lifted her head.

Through the window, she saw an enormous iron gates.

They stood at least twenty feet tall, decorated with twisting metal vines and sharp black roses.

Beyond them—

Was the palace.

Seraphina forgot to breathe.

The castle rose from the darkness like something from a dream.

Tall gothic towers stretched toward the sky.

Hundreds of narrow windows glowed with golden candlelight.

Stone gargoyles watched from the rooftops.

Massive staircases led toward the entrance.

And everywhere she looked, there were people.

Hundreds of them.

Vampire dressed in extravagant gowns and formal suits.

Some had pale skin.

Some had eyes that seemed almost black.

Others wore elaborate masks.

Seraphina's heart began racing.

"Are those…"

"Vampires," Rosalie whispered.

Seraphina swallowed.

The carriage stopped.

A footman opened the door.

The footman offered his hand.

Seraphina carefully gathered her enormous skirt and stepped down.

She almost fell.

The footman caught her.

"Thank you."

She smiled sheepishly.

"First lesson of the evening," Rosalie whispered behind her.

"What?"

"Don't fall in front of vampires."

Seraphina glared at her.

"I didn't fall."

"You almost did."

"Almost doesn't count."

They climbed the grand staircase.

The closer they got to the palace doors, the louder the music became.

A sweeping melody drifted through the night.

Violins.

Cellos.

Pianos.

Seraphina's eyes widened

"This is beautiful."

Rosalie looked at her.

"Try not to stare."

"I can't help it."

"You can."

"No i really cant."

They entered the palace.

Seraphina stopped.

The ballroom was enormous.

A chandelier the size of a carriage hung from the ceiling.

Hundreds of candles burned inside crystal holders.

The polished marble floor reflected every flame.

Long tables lined the walls, covered in silver dishes, crystal glasses, fruits, pastries, cakes, and delicacies Seraphi couldn't even name.

Women moved across the ballroom in gowns of crimson, sapphire, violet, emerald, and gold.

Men stood in groups, dressed in black tailcoats and jeweled waistcoats.

Musicians played from a raised balcony.

Seraphina stared.

"It's…"

"Beautiful?" Rosalie offered.

"Too much."

Rosalie smiled.

"You have finally learned something."

Seraphina laughed.

Then she heard a whisper behind her.

"The Crown Prince hasn't appeared yet."

Another voice answered.

"They say he's choosing his bride tonight."

Seraphina's eyes widened.

She looked toward Rosalie.

Rosalie expression had changed.

Suddenly, she seemed very interested.

Seraphina glanced around.

"I think I'm going to find something to drink."

Marianne immediately caught her wrist.

"No wanderering."

"I'll be right here."

"Seraphina."

"I'll stay inside the ballroom."

Marianne released her reluctantly.

Seraphina smiled.

"I promise."

She turned.

She walked toward the refreshment table.

She took one small step.

Then another.

She stopped.

The ballroom was enormous.

And she had absolutely no idea where she was.

Seraphina looked around.

"Oh no."

She had already lost her family.

She sighed.

"Perhaps I should have stayed at home."

She turned to find her way back.

Unfortunately, she chose the wrong corridor.

And within minutes, the sound of the ballroom disappeared behind her.

Seraphina stopped.

The corridor was quiet.

Dark.

Beautiful.

She looked behind her.

Then ahead.

"Well…"

She whispered to herself.

"I suppose I should find my way back."

She took a step forward.

Then another.

She passed a series of enormous portraits.

Kings.

Queens.

Princes.

Generations of vampires staring down at her.

Seraphina shivered.

She should turn around.

She knew she should.

But then she noticed a set of glass doors at the end of the corridor.

Beyond them was a moonlit garden.

Her curiosity won.

Of course it did.

She opened the door.

Cold night air brushed against her face.

Seraphina stepped outside.

She had no idea that someone was already standing in the garden.

Someone who had been watching the ballroom from the shadows.

Someone whose crimson eyes had noticed the human girl wandering where she absolutely did not belong.

The Crown prince.

Kael.

And for the first time that evening—

He smiled.