Crown Bloodline

Chapter 1: The Betrayed

The church stained glass glowed brightly as the midnight moonlight shone into the church, radiant, beautifully, saddening, as if signifying a stop and end and a closure. That midnight was special. It was the very night that the vampires and the humans are coming together, unifying after thousands of fruitless years battling useless battles. It was the love story between the vampire prince and the human girl. How romantic, how beautiful, how forbidden. Naturally the humans and vampires did not agree to this impossible love story, until a sacrifice was brought in. 

A sacrifice for their past mistakes, a body to represent their mistakes, a scapegoat. Funnily, there was a love story before this as well, one that turned out to be more tragic, more dreamy, more cruel. Before this vampire prince was here at his power, his position and his crown, there was a princess, an heir to the Vampire empire, Crowne, one trained for years to be the perfect successor, until a lost duchess and a certain prince entered the photo. They were supposed to be a legendary vampire couple, one that would bring the vampire empire from its ruins right now to the glory it radiated of many generations before. 

As people started to fill in the seats at the churches, dressed in black dresses and pants, as if to attend a funeral, but all were pinned with a beautiful vermillion red rose, freshly picked, at the peak of its floral life. I never got why people love flowers like these. They are dying, while they are looking at its final beauty. Was beauty turn eternal, is the beauty of love eternal, faithful and never failing? I beg to differ. 

People scattered before my eyes, gathering last minute flowers, ornaments to get this ritual started, going around giving paper, scripts as people got more and more excited. I was strapped down, bound down, chained from my wrist to my ankles, all while wearing my familiar black dress with velvet edges, simple lasing, something too simple for a princess or a heiress to wear. I stared emotionless, lifeless into the ceiling of the church. There were happy angels, couples, brimming with happiness. I thought I could be that too, i was so close as well. I did everything I could to help my once love. I was just a tool. 

I am tired. 

The ritual started, the priest commencing the usual greetings, an opening hymn, an opening prayer before my once love stepped ahead of me onto the small yet polished podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, vampire and humans, my brother and sisters, we did not come here so easily today. Our ancestors fought futile wars, they were foolish, short sighted, out of love. Through my prized and precious journey of love with Colette, did I realise the shortcoming, the difference between us and you. We did not have love, we were selfish and blind. But after we got through this together, through the love given to me by Colette, am i ready to help the whole race, vampires and humans enter a new era. My fellow brothers and sister, an era of prosperity, happiness, good luck. We are finally ready for our century late union, we are ready to merge and become a whole, from 2 half puzzle pieces. Join me my fellow siblings to witness this ritual.” From my angle, I could see his black flowing hair, gentle hair that I would have wished could hold my hand and embrace me now embracing another human girl who was not even worthy. Or was I the one that was not worthy. I no longer believe that what I once thought was right was of that anymore, questioning my loyalty to my very own empire from my direct bloodline.

The once familiar low voice resonated across the church, as I saw more humans and vampires look up in anticipation of what he was going to say. They never did this when I am talking, was I not worthy of being their leader? Was blood purity no longer the strongest factor in deciding the throne. I don’t know anymore. “Brothers, sisters, the vampires have decided in unison that we instead show our loyalty and interest by giving out our very own heiress, one of the old crude ways, one who was the person to continue this futile war, this disparity. We are offering to the lord our good, the messiah and my fellow people, we are willing to burn this witch, kill her as a sign of new, a sign of separating from the old. Such a witch can never exist for unity, for our love , peace and harmony.”

Colette the human girl has the signature smile filled with happiness, as if on the brink of overflowing out, or like she could not contain it. Her plan had succeeded, I know, she had gotten her favourite toy, just like a child. 

I am sick and tired. 

I watched in the corner of my eyes, him ushering towards the long sword and dagger, a Crowne heirloom, raising it up as the metals reflected the bright moonlight.

“When I was young, I learnt that Royals of the vampire race cannot be killed in conventional ways. But what if we did so with their strongest weapons?” His long white pale fingers slid across the blade of the dagger, while his eyes followed the movement. His finger began to bleed as he smiled his most gentle of smiles I have seen before. His eyes instead glinted, giving me a sense of disingenuous , discomfort and uncertainty. Why had I been so blind before, I saw all the red flags, but I chose to ignore it, at the price of my crown and heart.

I followed the blade as he pierced through my chest cavity, pain surging through my head to my fingertips and toes, I wanted to struggle and break free. He noticed this as well, before signally for a shot of holy water, injecting the poison into my blood, further enhancing the pain all while saying, “I am sorry lady Jeanne, this hurts but I am sure it will be better later…”Then whispering softly, In your next life.” It was then I hated my blood purity and bloodline, me being a royal, my life tolerance and vitality was much stronger than normal vampires, which meant it took longer for me to die. 

I could feel the blade grinding harshly through my skin and muscles, violently breaking a few bones or two if it were to ever get into the blade's way, ripping and tearing, before finally reaching the last vein where he pulled my heart out with his own hands, smiling so brightly and victoriously. I finally started to lose my control, my consciousness. My very own weakness was exposed and there was nothing else left, no second chances, no reborn. 

“When I was young, my fellow brothers and sisters, this witch formed a contract with me, in front of all the vampires where all of the damage she received would be inflicted onto me, where I could be dead and she would be perfectly alive even after a stab through the heart. But it is after 13 years of research I finally broke the curse. I am finally free.”

He lied. He lied. He knew very well the spell was a double sided effect, but he eventually convinced me to reform the contract and my heart such that only his damage would be inflicted onto me. He lied. I hate him. I hate him. 

I hate myself. Why was I so trusting? I had let my people down. I could not blame them for not following me and being loyal to me anymore. I know. I know. I know. I want to end this life. But where could I go? There is no more road left for me…

With my final senses, I felt the people begin to stand up and chant with him. As if announcing my final verdict. “With the power from the new unity formed between us, my family, the lord, the god and the messiah have given me this very power to end such a horrible and painful era, as I destroy her heart, sealing her , may we see a better future. A better tomorrow.” 

I could feel him bending down and whispering, “Good night Jeanne, I thank you for your contribution, you have been a very obedient and useful tool for me.” Before he took a final plunge into my heart. Everything began to spin, spiral, and mix up, they sang even louder, as if to laugh at me. 

All has ended but if I were to ever see to the end again, I know I will have a different answer to this. I can't just die like this.