The Princess's Bride

Chapter Two

Queen Kora scurry the hallways of her castle with pride and determination. If her daughter found her mate, she will have to pass this little exam that she likes to call as the Exam of Strength. She is well aware of how amazing her daughter is on the battlefield, but how would she react if the person she loves in trouble. Kharis didn't like the idea of her loves one stabbing each other but this is for Thana's sake as well.

After thousands of years living with Kora, Kharis knows everything about her wife. She is determined after she said something and this duel will get as real as possible. She heard about the great Talan and how he educated his kids. He's a tough man to crack but his wife, the Luna was very friendly. And in Kharis mind if Thana manages to be exceptional, the great Talan probably will accept her.

Thana walks with her friends towards the open field for the duel. Once her mother had said something, she must obey or else. Dominika, Sephora, and Aurelia are all nervous for her. They know how powerful and skilled Queen Kora is. Thana will be treated like a rag doll if they started to fight. But they all know Thana have to do it since she just found her mate.

Not officially but surely. It's important for her to be strong, for her mate.

Thana took a deep breath when she enters the vast field. She saw her mother in the middle of the field, waiting patiently. The wind gush through her body and it sends shivers down Thana's spine. Aurelia fixes her cloak to cover every part of her body. Even the slightest ray of sunshine hits her body, it will burn her.

But for Thana and the royal family, they don't need to cover themselves.

They can walk in the sunlight with ease. No one knows how but all the royal members of the world have this special power. In minutes the whole field filled with castle servants that want to witness the mother-daughter duel.

Dragons, vampires, witches, every creature that lives inside the castle ground knows about the duel and they want to see how Thana fights her mother, the golden warrior.

Kharis took her wife's crown off of her when Thana arrived. Today she will act as the judge of the duel. Thana's friend bows to Kora and walks towards Kharis. Thana took a deep breath while her mother just smirks.

"Ready my dear child?"

"Nope." Kora looks at her wife and nod. Kharis smiled at Sephora.

"Sephora. A little spark please."

Sephora nods and took her wand out. With a little swing, a ray of light came out of her wand and it exploded in the sky. With that, Kora screams and lunge towards her unprepared daughter. Thana saw her mother coming towards her and pulls out her sword.

"Rule number 1 Thana, BE ALERT OF YOUR SURROUNDING!" With one swing of the queen's fist, Thana was send up in the air and landed flat on the field.

The impact was great that she could feel her whole ribs breaking and beginning to heal. Thana can sense her mother walk towards her gracefully.

"Get up my dear child." Thana struggling to get up. Once Thana on her legs, the queen smiles.

"Attack me. If you want to get to Talan good side, you have to beat me in this duel." The whole crowd gasps when they heard Talan's name.

Thana stretch herself and let go of her sword on the ground. Kora raises her eyebrows at her daughter's decision. Thana ran towards her mother and in a second she pin her mother down on the ground. Kharis gasps as she saw two of her love ones wrestles on the ground.

"This is such a bad idea." Kora smiles and Thana was confused.

"My child, you're weak." Kora flips her daughter and now she's the one who is on top of Thana.

"This is how you want to impress the great Talan?! Don't embarrass me!" Kora knows her daughter well. She will react to taunting. She wants to see how strong her daughter is when she's at her limit. Every taunting that her mother said sends rage onto Thana's body. Kora extended her blood red nails and punctures Thana's shoulder as deep as she can.

Thana screams in agony.

"This is how a werewolf will bite you if you don't stop them, my child. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!" Thana feels her body changes. Her rage was at her limit. She closes her eyes and feels the power inside her threatening to come out. Kora watched as her daughter started to transform.

When Thana open her eyes, it's not the color of golden anymore. For a moment, Kora could feel some kind of aura radiating from Thana’s bloodshot orbs.

Thana grip on her mother's shoulder and screams as loud as she can, sending shivers to all of the people who watch them duel.

"I AM NOT WEAK!!!!!!" Thana kick her mother into the air.

The crown princess got on her feet and jumps to her mother by grabbing her body in midair. As if it's like a bomb from an enemy plane, Thana crushes her mother's body to the ground, creating a huge impact on the earth. Kharis yells for them and that brings Thana back to reality.

Kharis ran to the scene and gasps when she saw how badly wounded her wife is. Thana looks at her mother and fall to her knees. Kora's body was not in the right position anymore. Everything is out of place and its cavity. Everybody was at the very edge of their curiosity.

Did Thana kill the queen?

Everyone was on their toes, trying to get a hold of what had happened. Suddenly everyone heard an eerie laugh from the queen.

Thana looks down to see her mother laughing. Kharis breathe out a sigh of relief.

"THAT'S MY GIRL!" Kora yells and continues to laugh.

"Help me," Kora said to her wife. Kharis smiles and pulls her wife's arms forcefully.

"Another of this foolish antics, I'll send both of you to Hades." Thana cringed.

"You have to admit. It's the only way to see how strong our daughter can be," Kharis tore a part of her dress and wipes the blood from her wife's forehead.

"Yes but this is violence." Thana looks away from her mother's gaze.

"Thana comes here," Kora calls for her daughter. Thana stood up and walks slowly to her mothers’.

"Kneel." Thana did what her mother wants her to do and waited for a slap of something. She knows she‘s in trouble for what she had done.

"You make me proud today and....." Without Thana knowing, Kora pulls her daughter in and mess up her daughter's hair. That earns a hearty laugh from Kharis and Thana.

"Mom! This is embarrassing."

"What? Too old for mother-daughter bonding time?" Thana looks up to her mothers’.

"Nope. I'm always too young for that." Kharis smiles at both of them and joins the hug.

"I love both of you. More than my own life." Kora said and kiss both of her girls.

"Now. Help me up. I need to put my legs back to its position." Thana smiles sheepishly.

"Sorry about that." Kora laughs.

"Honey, if it’s the real enemy, just break them to pieces. Remember, your mate is your life." Thana nods and helps her mother up.

***

ESSENCE'S POV

I was on my way to my room when something hit me on the head.

"Oh look, the weakling. I bet her mate will be as weak as her." My oldest brother, Mondo sneer. His wife came through the hallway and smack his head hard.

"Stop being childish." Ricca came to be my savior. I smiled at Ricca before she smiles back. I hurried to my room and close the door.

Today has been very tiring for me. First, that dragon attacked our school, the princess saves the pups. We just look at each other and I can feel the hots for her and Barion knows. This is not the way I planned my day to be. Usually, I would just let people talk about me and they will hit me or call me names but not bow and be scared of me.

I was too engrossed in thinking of what had happened, I didn't notice the room door was being open.

"Essence....." I looked up to see my mother. The soft voice brings me back to reality.

"Hi, Mom." Mom smiled.

"How's your day?"

"Eventful."

"We heard what happened at school. Are you and Moana alright?" I nod.

"She's going out with Barion." Mom nod.

"I know. They went home and told me what happened today. That Barion has such a huge mouth." I froze. Did he tell her about the mate thing? Dad will have a fit if he knows.

"Umm... Errr. Mom. Did Barion told you about anything else?" Mom looks at me with puzzling looks.

"Well, he did mention the princess looking at someone in particular." I wish I could kill Barion right now. I sigh and slumps my body on the bed.

"Does dad know?" Mom nod.

"I'm dead am I?" Mom chuckled.

"Oh honey, I won't let your dad do that to you. I carried you for 9 full months. He will have to face me before doing anything stupid like that," I got up and hug my Mom tightly.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too Essence. Anyway, dinner will be ready soon. Ricca and Luce are at the kitchen, why don't you help them?" I nod and pulls away.

While I was walking towards the kitchen, I heard my dad on the phone with someone in his office. He sounds angry. I quickly walk towards my sisters-in-law in the kitchen and help them preparing the plates.

"Hey, Essence." Luce greeted me. Luce is my second oldest brother’s wife. She has long wavy blonde hair with the heart of gold.

Suddenly, I feel a slight pain on the back of my head before I heard laughter.

"CYRAN! Stop bullying your sister!" Luce yells at her husband, my brother.

"She's so weak I could just kick her off this kitchen and she will land on Mars," Cyran said and let his fingers through his brown hair.

"It's okay Luce, I'm used to it." Cyran smirk.

"See honey. She's okay with it."

Luce and Ricca glare at him. He held his hands up, surrendering.

"Damn sis you have a lot of protectors." He said and walk towards the dining room.

"Ignore him Essence. He's an idiot." Luce said and smiled softly. I smile back and continue to help them. My older sister, Aura came in and smile at me.

"Essence, how are you?" I'm starting to getting sick of hearing that question.

"I'm great Aura." Aura smiled and patted my head.

"That's good news little sister." Suddenly, Abe, her Husband came in and laugh.

"Aura! You should see how your brothers act like Essence." Aura glares at him.

"Oh! Hi Essence." He slowly walks out backward.

"Don't listen to them. You're always our pride and joy." Aura said while Luce and Ricca nod.

"Where's Moana?" Aura asked.

"With Barion." Aura nod and help us getting the table ready. Aura removes her long brown hair from view and started to tie it up in a messy bun.

"This pig is heavy!" She said and pulls it out from the oven. Ricca went to help her while I help Luce bringing the other food to the table.

After several minutes of grunting, trying to put the food on the table, it's finally done. The first person to sit on the table was my brothers and Abe. Dad came from his office and sits in his usual seat. Aura and my sisters-in-law sit next to their husband and I took a seat next to Luce, at the far end of the table.

When we begin to eat, my brothers and Abe literally eat like animals they are. They always fight for the best part of every food.

Their wives was having a hard time controlling them. We were eating heartily when Moana and Barion came to the dining table.

Barion clears his throat to gains everyone attention.

"Did everyone know what happened today?" My brothers and Abe looked at him.

"What happened today?" Mondo asked him.

"Did Essence cry again?" Cyran added. Barion shakes his head.

"Essence found her mate!" My brothers laughed. I wish I could disappear.

"Who was that unfortunate fella? He's going to be so disappointed when he saw how weak Essence can be." Cyran said.

"The mate is not a ‘he’, It's a she," Moana replied. My brother's eyes widen, so does my sisters-in-law and Aura. Abe, on the other hand, choking the piece of meat he tried to swallow.

"Not only you're the weakling of this pack, now you want to smear our family name? Such an embarrassment. Well, at least you won't be giving birth to another generation of weakling." Mondo said to me.

His words pierce deep into my heart. We were all speechless when our dad stabbed Mondo's hand with his fork.

"I would like you to shut up for once!" Dad says and looks at me. Everyone was stunned by his action.

"Essence are you sure she's the one?" Dad’s voice was soft. Not at all authority.

I slowly nod.

"I feel all tingly and calm around her even though she's a... Vampire." My brothers and sisters gasps.

"NO!" Cyran yells. Dad glares at him. He just sat on his seat quietly.

"Tell your father who she is Essence." Mom said, softly. I look at him and sigh heavily.

"Princess Thana Akeldama." Now, dad’s expression was priceless. For the first time, he was speechless.

"WHAT?!" My siblings said but for Moana, she just laughs.

"See I told you they will be shocked. Now, pay me up, baby." They were betting on this?! Barion pays Moana up and kiss her.

"THERE'S NO WAY A WEAKLING LIKE YOU BE THE NEXT QUEEN! That's absurd!" Abe said. Aura slammed her hand on the table. He yelps and pulls her hands under Aura's while rubbing it.

He's right, I am weak. She will reject me right away once she knows who I am.

Why am I even bother to think she will accept me?

"Don't listen to Abe, Essence. She will accept you for better or worse." Luce said beside me. I notice Cyran wanted to say something but Luce quickly turns to him.

"If you say something insulting, I'll kill you." Cyran turns to his food and just eat silently. Luce turned to me and smile softly.

"Am I in trouble dad?" I gather up my will to ask the alpha himself.

"I mean sir." Dad shakes his head.

"If that's what the goddess choose for you, I can't say anything. It's beyond my power." Is he angry or just being nice? Now I prefer him being angry. I'm not used to him being nice. Dad offered me a smile.

It goes as quickly as it comes. Mom smiles at him and kisses dad’s cheek. I finish my food and excuse myself. I was walking down the hallway towards my room when Mondo grabbed me by the neck and pin me hard on the walls.

"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN BE ALPHA EVEN IF YOU MARRYING THE PRINCESS?! Not on my watch little sister." I can't move.

His grip on me was too strong.

"I'm not trying to be alpha!" I yellS back. I'm struggling under his gaze. I can see his eyes change colors. He's going to shift.

"MONDO!" Dad’s alpha voice booming the hallway. Mondo flinched and let go of me.

"A delta always be a delta..." Mondo said and walk towards his room. Dad looks at me and turns to walk away.

***

THANA'S POV

I was trying to sleep when my so-call best friends barging in my door.

"THANA!" That's Sephora. I got up from the bed and stare at them.

"What?" I lazily said and yawned.

"I thought vampires don't sleep?" Dominika stating my current position.

"I need sleep to regain my power. What do you girls want?" Aurelia smirked.

"We've done some research about your mate." Aurelia handed me a file.

"She's from the almighty Dark Blood Pack. Her dad is the alpha. Her brothers, Mondo and Cyran is the next Alpha and Beta. While her sisters both marrying and dating an alpha from neighboring packs. So they will be the Lunas." Aurelia stated.

"What about her?" Sephora turned the pages.

"Well, she's the delta." I traced my fingers on her picture.

"Beautiful," I whispered.

"Mine is hotter." Dominika shoves it in.

"Dominika, your mate is a dragon. For you, she's all beautiful. For us, she's scaly and bitchy." Aurelia countered back.

"Well, yours sucking blood all night Long." Aurelia gasped.

"Excuse me! She needs to suck something to live. I prefer it will be me."

Sephora stops them both when she noticed I'm pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Sephora why don’t you join banter with them? Don't you think your girlfriend is hotter?" I asked her.

"Well for one, I'm wise. Two, she's hotter than everyone's mate is. And lastly, I don't think they all can compete with mine." I smiled.

I looked at the files again. Essence Morag.

I am looking forward to knowing you better.