The Princess's Bride

Chapter Six

Thana was walking passed the vast hallways of her palace when someone called out for her.

"Thana..."

Thana turns and waited for her friends.

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you tell us about the examination that our mates have to take?" Thana smile.

"Because if I did you three will said no. Anyway, ask them to be at the Dark Blood pack after school." They all nod and walk away. Thana continue to the palace garage.

"Baron, please send me today." Baron nod and open the car door for the princess.

"Dark Blood pack territory, please," Again Baron nod.

Thana was looking out the window, admiring natures best arts and crafts when she felt uneasy. It’s nothing big or important so she decided to ignore the uneasy feeling. Minutes later, Baron stops in front of Alpha Talan mansion and he opens the door for the princess.

Thana fixes her black plaid shirt and jeans before entering the Morag’s mansion. Meanwhile, Essence was getting ready when she heard a honk. She went to her window and smile at the sight of Thana. Essence immediately ran to gather her things and walk out of her room, skipping breakfast altogether.

"Essence!!! Breakfast?!" Her mom yells for her.

"I'll have mine at the cafeteria." She yells back. As Essence open the front door, Thana smiling face greeted her. Essence never felt so... loved before.

"My queen..." Thana bow, and so does Baron. Essence blushed in a deep shade of red.

"I am not a queen."

"You will be." Thana wink and open the door for her. Baron enters the car and turns on the engine, waiting for the princesses to enter.

Essence gasps as she entered the car.

"Not even Barion can top this." Essence said. Thana chuckled.

"It's my mothers. Mommy can be very... over the top."

"Mommy? Which one?" Thana laughed.

"Queen Kora is a mom. Queen Kharis is Mommy. But for a formal occasion, I'll call them Mother or your highness. But usually, Mommy will ask me to call her Mommy." Essence nod.

"I've been thinking about your invitation." Thana waited for her answer.

"Yes. I think I'm ready to meet the queens." Mentally Thana is doing the happy dance.

"Alright. How about this weekend?" Essence nod.

"Great." Thana doesn't know what to do. Should they kiss? Hug? Shake hands?

Finally, Thana lean in and kiss Essence's cheek. If the only Essence could blush even harder than she is.

"We're here." Essence said, moving away from Thana's lips. Thana chuckled.

"Sorry. It's just your cheek look so scrumptious." Baron opens the door for the two and Thana was the first person to get out. She offers her hand and Essence took it.

Immediately, electric shockwave washes over Essence. She feels something she never felt before in the whole of her life. She felt her stomach bursting as if thousands of little butterflies exploded inside her.

"You okay?" Thana asked. Essence nodded. She doesn't want her voice to betray her.

"I forgot to mention."

"Mention what?" Thana smiles.

"Today you will be training with me. Well, basically the whole pack, your pack." Essence was confused. Why would her pack be training with a vampire?

"Dad asked you?" Thana nod. Essence became more confused than ever. She knows that her father never lets anyone train his pack before. Essence was too deep in thought that she doesn’t even hear her sister calling for her

"ESSENCE!" Moana's voice startled Essence.

"Sorry what."

"I'm saying I will be late today." Essence sighed.

"You always late, Moana." Barion came to his mate side. Thana looks deep into his soul. Well, glaring at him obviously. Barion feels uncomfortable around Thana's deathly gaze.

"You okay?" Moana asked her.

"For now. Yes. I'm okay." Thana said, still glaring at Barion.

"Stop glaring at him." Essence whispered. Thana turns and smiles at her mate.

"I'm sorry." Thana grabbed Essence's hand and walk towards the building.

"I don't think I can control myself around your sister’s mate."

"Why?" Thana abruptly stops, making Essence hit Thana's back.

"He's cheating," Essence's eye widen.

"How did you....." Thana raised her hand.

"4 things. Smell, how he acts, how he constantly looking at other women, and how he would kiss your sister when he has an erection after he watched other women. Basically, he's a s*x addict future alpha." Thana ended her conclusion.

"No way. Barion is a good guy." Thana chuckle.

"I can show you what he did to one of the girls. Come," Thana again grabbed Essence's hand and walk towards the cafeteria. Thana sniffed the air around her and her eyes landed on a girl who is talking to her friends.

"That's her. Well one of them." Thana dragged Essence to the table and Thana smile.

"Hello." The girls stood up and bow to them.

"Hello. I'm Thana, and this is Essence." Thana offers her hand to the brunette and they shake hand. As soon as Thana made contact with the brunette's hand, Essence can see Barion kissing her. After a while, it leads to other things and suddenly they both panting and Barion just smile, zipping his pants and walk away from the brunette. Thana lets go and excused herself and Essence from the group, leaving them dumbfounded.

"Do you trust me now?" Essence could only nod. How could he do that to her Sister?!

"What should we do?" Thana wiggles her fingers no.

"We won’t, Moana does. We only can observe, not participate." Thana explained.

"But Moana is my Sister!" Essence slightly yells. She noticed what she did and apologize.

"Don't be. Let me think first." Essence nod.

"Moana must be the one making the decision, not us. It's her mate after all," Thana said.

"But we can show her what he did behind her back. It's devastating, but for her own good." Essence looks away. She wishes she could do something to make Barion pay.

"Can you do me a favor?" She asked Thana while looking deep into the princess’s golden orbs.

"Anything my queen."

"Teach Barion how to be a man," Thana smirks.

"With pleasure. It will be a good training for you too," Thana said and lead Essence to the classroom.

***

"Pay attention to what you are about to see. This could be the difference between life or death. You are about to learn how to fight in human form if injured." Thana announced when she begins to fight with Mondo. Mondo was in his wolf form showing how much bigger he is thanThana.

Thana was calling out instructions as she fought. Mondo only had one order. Attack as fast and as hard as he can and don't stop. Mondo lunged for Thana with his mouth wide open. She let him capture her with his mouth.

"Never let yourself vulnerable but if you do get into this kind situation, remember the weakness of the wolf," she begins to say.

Mondo was shaking Thana's body with all his might but Thana just kept talking until she swung with her free arm connecting with Mondo's snout. He instantly dropped her on the floor.

"If you can’t get to the nose, go for the throat or eyes." Mondo came at her from behind. She dodged his attack this time and rolled underneath him and kicked his stomach from below.

"If possible, avoid the fangs and claws. You may be a lot smaller in size but that doesn't mean you have to lose. You use your size to your advantage." Mondo got back to his paws. Thana saw the anger and frustration in his dark orbs. He went for her legs to take her out but she jumped and landed on his back.

She had his head pulled back as she pulled on his ears. He was trying not to whine but failed miserably. He rolled over in an attempt to free himself of her grip. She wanted to make him suffer more but she was asked to be a teacher and not a bully. She removes her hands from his ears and jumped off of him. He was right back up on his feet and took a swing with his claws. She turns and grabbed Mondo’s front paws, sending him up in the air.

With one punch she sent him flying and this time he has no will to get up on his paws again. As she walks over to him, he changed back into his human form, unconscious.

"Now that you have your attacker in such vulnerable position, take him out." They all wondering what she means by taking the attacker out.

"Kill them." Thana summarized.

"Well, that's if your attacker is a werewolf. Now. If it's a vampire, that's another whole lot of different story."

Thana searched for Aurelia. She's nowhere to be found. Thana smirks when her search landed on Barion walks in with Moana.

"Barion, please come forward." Essence smiles. Moana walks towards her sister.

"What happened to Mondo?"

"Thana beat him." Moana's eyes widen.

"Seriously?" Essence nod.

"It's a wonder how she could be fighting with those huge knockers." Essence hit her sister's shoulder.

"What?!" Moana laughed.

"Don't look at her on that area." Thana smiles at this two-timing jerk.

"You know how to fight with a sword?" Barion nod.

"Great." Thana threw a sword at him without warning. Barion was not prepared and the sword nearly stabs him instead.

"You did say you know how to use one." Thana joked.

"Warn me next time!" Barion yells.

"You think an enemy will shout at you?"

"Shield?" He asked for a shield. Thana raised her brows.

"This is just practice." Thana faces the pack members.

"Imagine Barion as a vampire. His fangs extended, sharp claws, hissing at you, fully equipped with armor suit." Thana turns to Barion.

"Attack me with all your energy," Barion smirks. It's time to revenge. He lunged to Thana as she waited for him to Attack. Thana moved to the left a bit and watched as Barion swing his sword at nothing but air.

"What the... When do you move?!" Thana smile.

"That's exactly how a vampire attack. They depend a lot on speed. But you can take advantage of that speed by watch your surroundings. Every movement, the wind, every noise, beware of them. You practically fight with a blindfold on." Thana nod at Barion to attack.

This time she let Barion stabbed her. Everybody in the gym gasped. Essence could feel a slight pain in her abdomen.

"You okay?" Moana asked. Essence clinched her stomach hard. She never felt this pain in her whole life. Essence reached for her sister and knelt on the floor. Thana noticed Essence sudden changes.

"s**t, sorry!!" Essence looks up and gave Thana a thumbs up.

"It will be done in a minute. Please hold." Essence nod. Thana looks at Barion's handy work.

"Well. This is not a fatal blow. It will only weaken your attacker." Thana pulls the sword carefully and watched as Essence reacted to each pull.

"Sorry." She mouth.

"To kill a vampire, either decapitated its head or just slice them to bits." Thana reached out for her sword and smirks at Barion.

"Now..... READY!" Thana ran and just disappeared right in front of Barion.

Barion turned and search for the princess.

"THE f**k!" Without any warning, Thana landed on Barion's shoulder and twisted his head using her legs and completed flipped Barion to the ground. Thana jumped off of him and kept her sword in its scabbard.

"Usually I would stab him repeatedly while on top of him but he's my sister in law mate." They all watched as Thana beat two future Alpha in matter minutes.

"Take a break shall we..." Thana said and walk towards Essence.

"I'm sorry. I forgot about the connection." Essence looks up and asked Thana to kneel. Essence lifted up Thana's shirt and watched as the wound slowly heal.

Essence traced her fingers on Thana's cold skin.

"Doesn't it hurt you?" Thana shakes her head.

"My whole life was based on pain. The pain of losing someone I love, war, and heartbreak. I don’t care about myself anymore. But now I have to care for you, your family and my parents."

"Promise me you will protect yourself while in a real fight. I really don't want anything to happen to you." Essence said as if begging.

"I promise." Thana smiled. Essence smiled back.

"Anyway. Get up. We need to train you." Essence was about to protest when a group of Royal Guards walked in the gym door. The guards line up in two straight lines consist of man and woman guards. Thana stands and wonders what’s going on. She tilted her head when two figures wearing black silk cloaks walks in. When they removed their hoodie, everyone gasped as the queens graciously smile at them.

"Hello, boys and girls...." Kora greeted everyone.

***

ESSENCE'S POV

I think I'm seeing things. It's the... Queens!

They never showed themselves at the academy before. Now that I am face to face with the queens’, it’s like what they all say about them. They’re the most beautiful vampire in the realm. Thana is beautiful, but, the queens just... Wow! And she came out of Queen Kharis!

Now I can see where she have her perfect body from since both queens’ have quite the volume around their chest as well. I shouldn't think this about my mate's parents... my in-laws... Oh, Goddess I just have dirty thoughts about my in-laws. Everyone in the gym kneels on the floor and bow to them, that includes me. I heard Thana chuckle.

"Essence get up. You don't have to do that." I look up to see the queens’ smile at my action.

"So this is Essence Morag?" Queen Kharis asked her daughter.

"Yes, mother." Thana helps me up.

"Essence, this is my mother, Kharis." She offers her hand to me. I hesitant at first but her warm smile just invited me to shake it.

"And this is my other mother, Kora." She didn't smile and she looks at me thoroughly. A little intimidating, scary to be precise.

"Nice meeting you Essence." She said and offer her hand. I shake it and Thana smile.

"Call us by our name. I can hear you hesitant to call us queen or our name."

"Mom can hear your thoughts," Thana whispered.

"Not intentionally." Kharis smile.

"I can feel your pain. I can help to heal you." She suddenly said.

"Mommy is a healer," Thana whispered again.

"Just don't get to her bad side." Kharis chuckled.

"I can see you were showing some demonstration?" Kora asked.

"Yes, well partly. My pretend vampire was a weak future alpha." Kora raised her eyebrows.

"I'm here now."

"NO!" Kharis suddenly yells. Everyone stops dead on what they doing.

"Come on honey. I want to beat Thana. Last time I was being nice." Kora begged.

Did the queen just beg?

"No! No means no. She's our daughter, not your personal punching bag." Thana laughs.

"Mommy it's cool. Can we please....?" Did Thana just being all cute?!

"No. And I mean it. Essence you're with me yes? Nod if you want to be in my good side." I abruptly nod.

"Honey! No fair. That's blackmailing."

"Am I blackmailing you Essence?" I shake my head.

"See." I heard Kora sighed.

"Fine." Kharis lean into her wife's ear and whispered something. Kora smile and nod.

"Watch and learn Thana," Kora said and walks with her wife to the center of the gym. Slowly the queens stripped off their cloaks.

"Oh no...." I heard Thana said.

"What's happening?" I asked

"They going to duel."

"THANA MY CHILD... BE OUR JUDGE ON THIS." Kora shouts and Thana can’t just ignore her orders.

"What's happening?" Moana asked me.

"They going to duel," Sephora answered for me.

"They seriously will?" I asked. Sephora nod.

"They both well-trained soldier. It will be a very good demonstration."

I looked around to see everyone's reaction. They are either weirded out or curious about it. They begin by circling each other before Kharis pulls out her sword. Kora laughs and she too pulls her own sword. Both swords look so much different than anything I ever saw.

"Ying and Yang... They compliments each other" Moana said.

"This is the time for you to back away now honey," Kharis smirks.

"No way,” she smiles

"ATTACK!" Thana yells but the queens’ both disappear in thin air.

We know that they’re dueling because we heard their swords clanging to each other until a huge gush of wind hit us when they made contact.

"I thought you will be a little worn off my dear," Kora said while Kharis pushes against her.

"Well. This is the good exercise for us anyway." Kharis smirks and lifted her sword up. Kora managed to block her sudden attack. We finally manage to see them both in midair.

"Close call there!" Kora said.

I could see Kora ball up her fist and hit her wife's side. Before it made contact to her side, Kharis jumped high and landed on the ceiling.

"THATS DIRTY TRICK!" Kora laughs.

"Honey, we're vampires. In a battlefield, we all play dirty. REMEMBER THAT, BOYS AND GIRLS." I look up and notice Kharis practical hanging upside down on the ceiling.

"She really looks like a bat now." Moana chuckle.

"Are you coming down?" Kora asked her wife.

"Oh, that reminds me. Beware of your surroundings, especially on top of your head. Like my wife did, they like to hang high up on the trees and even buildings," I notice Kora nodding to her wife. Suddenly, we heard loud shrieking before we glance up to see a fuming Kharis.

"Oh dear," Her eyes change bloodshot red and her nails begin to extend. Her fangs started to protruding from her gums accompany by loud hissing.

"And when a vampire started to hiss, JUST RUN!" Kora said.

Kharis hiss even louder and shot off to attack her wife.

"Queen Kharis is fully at rage." I heard the guard said out loud.

"SEPHORA! SHIELD!" Thana yells to the Witch.

"What's with the shield?" I asked.

"You'll see," Sephora said and I continued to watch the duel.

Suddenly, a flash of light blinding all of us.

"That's queen Kharis power. If that light hit us, we’ll turn to dust by now." Sephora explained.

"She may be one of the easy-going vampires in the world but once she's full mode rage, no one can stop her except queen Kora. You see how fire starting coming out of her fingernails." I nod.

"With a simple touch, you’ll get burnt easily. The Goddess herself give her the gift." The witch explained.

"Aren't vampires afraid of fire?" Moana asked Sephora.

"Not the royals. They can't be burn. The only way to kill them is to kill their soul. And that's hard because they’re the creature of the undead. Their soul are concealed deep inside their void. Decapitate them all you want, but they consumed so much enemy's blood with their sword, they all can't be killed."

I can see how worried Thana is. Suddenly, a loud explosion startled us all.

"ITS A TIE....." Thana announced.

***

THANA'S POV

"ITS A TIE!" I shouted when both of my parent's sword not in their possession.

"Damn! Honey, you completely forced me to be vulnerable. Good job." Mom said to mommy. Mommy smile sheepishly.

"Thank you, baby!" They both laugh. I can see mommy is back to normal again. Why would she turn to her beast mode in a simple demonstration?

Mom slides her hand to mommy's waist and walks to me.

"Thana my child, we want to eat lunch with Essence and you at the cafeteria," Mommy said.

"Serious? At the cafeteria?" They nod.

"We brought our Chef here." Of course, they did.

"Sure. You guys can go first. I'll talk to the girls." They nod. I walk towards Essence.

"Hey." She smiles.

"Sephora, can you take over?" She nod.

"Essence, come with me," Essence bid her goodbyes and I lead her to the cafeteria.

"Why are we going to the cafeteria?"

"My parents want to see you," Essence pulls my hand, making me stop dead on my track.

"What?!" I smile.

"Don't worry much. They don't eat werewolf," I joked. I can see she's nervous.

"What if they hate me?"

"Nonsense! No one can hate you. I promise I will there next to you." I convinced her. She gave me a small smile. I open the door and I can see my parents on the far end of the cafeteria.

"Hello, Essence." Mommy greets her. Essence smiles but mom decide to be nonchalant.

"Can I see your palm Essence?" Mom suddenly said. Essence nod and offer her palm. Mom took her palm and look into her future. Mommy hold on mom's arms and smile all the way. At some part, I could see mommy's eyes twitched.

"Poor girl...." She said and mom let go.

"What just happened?" She asked me.

"They just look into your life since you were born. I inherited mom's gift but her version was a lot of advances that mine. I can only see a few years back on someone’s life but she can see you when you're in your mother's womb." Essence looks rather skeptical.

"That banana suit is hilarious." Mommy suddenly says. Essence blushed.

"I don't like your brothers." Mom said.

"Thana kill them." She added. Essence's eyes widen.

"What?! No! Their wife needs them!!" Essence yell. Mom smile. Essence abruptly apologizes to my parents.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to yell at your highness."

"It's okay. That's the reaction I want the see." Mommy turns to the maid and smile. The maids nod and walk to the kitchen.

Soon, all sort of food was placed in front of us.

"Essence, you ever been to a royal gala?" Mommy asked her while drinking her blood. Essence shakes her head.

"I was never invited."

"Nonsense. You're the daughter of great Talan." Mom said.

"They never allowed me to followed them. My brothers and sisters did. I never exposed to anything royalty."

"That's going to change from now on," I said and took a huge bite on my roasted pig.

"Thana is right. That's going to change. We have a gala to attend in Budapest next week. Follow us. I will introduce you to the whole lot of people and my sisters." Mommy said. Essence sighs.

"I don't know if my dad will allow." I touched her hand.

"Essence, you're my mate. He has to let you go. You’re not his little girl anymore. You're the crown princess of this realm. The future queen of all kings and queens." I may just add a little too much info.

"What Thana meant, you will be the next queen of this realm. It’s important for you to meet everyone." Mommy explained.

Essence looks like she's thinking of a way.

"Thana have to ask my dad first."

"That could be arranged." I smile.