The Beginning

"If you don't hurry along I'm going to feed you to the others," the guard growled at me as he pulled on the end of my chains. I took one look at the red eyed vampires chained together behind us and quickly grabbed my little sister, Lily's hand. Lily was only eleven and was pretty tired from the long journey. Our father had been dead only 3 days when the guard yanking our chains, Peter, knocked on our door. He had been kind then and told us we were going to live in the palace. I told him that I was 18 and old enough to care for my sister and I and then he explained to me that we had no choice. His kindness had disappeared the moment we hit the palace gates.

The year was 1886 and we lived in the Dark Kingdom, in a town call Herdia right outside the palace. The Dark Kingdom, name for the twenty hours a day of darkness, was a world completely inhibited by vampires and I was born there, as a human. The palace was the grandest place in the entire Kingdom. I've been told that you can see it from miles and miles outside the city. Humans were the lowest on the t pole in the Dark Kingdom. Some humans, like palace workers were more special. Next there were vampires salves, vampires in normal society, the kings knights and the lords/ the king's court. And then the blooded vampires (born vampires) were always considered better than vampires that had been changed. The longer you family has been vampires also decided where you would be in society.

My family was as well off as we could be for humans. We were law abiding citizens and only had to donate blood once a week to the vampire blood banks. It was against the law for vampires to murder a human in cold blood but many crimes went unreported. My father had always preached about how lucky we were since some human families had to donate 2 and 3 times a week. My father donated twice a week so Lily wouldn't have to. Besides the fact that she was tiny we knew that if she donated her blood would be sour because of her psychic abilities. My father learned this from my mom, who's family Lily had inherited the "gift" from. The sour blood was a kind of built in protection against vampires. If the vampires found out her blood was sour they would surely take her from us. It was a gift found one in a million in only humans. A gift that was usually genetic. I had always been upset by the fact that it skipped me. Lily mentioned once to my father that she thought our family had a vampire in the past and he locked her in her room for two days. She never mentioned it again.

"We're almost there Scarlett", my sister whispered in my ear. I nodded in response. Lily was somewhat psych but her visions weren't always clear. She wasn't sure how to control her gift and my father had never encouraged it. She had predicted his finally illness months and advance but we both decided it best not to speak of it. She was built very small, especially for an 11 year old. She didn't look a day over 8 and her mess of long dark brown curls almost swallowed her face and shoulders.

"I hope they don't eat us", Carla whimpered. Carla was chained to my other hand and was the only other human out of the prisoners. The only thing I knew about her was that she was beautiful. Her chest was full and her body had many curves. Her blond hair fit perfectly with her skin complexion and she seemed pretty nice and looked about 18 or 19. I had had a few moments to talk with her before Peter turned mean.

The guard opened the doors and we all walked in. I stared in awe at two huge golden thrones. One held the beautiful queen and the other was vacant. There was no crown on her head today but there was no denying who she was. I remembered her face from our money and statues of her. The only word I could use to describe queen Ellena was breath talking. She stood at least 5'10 and reminded me of an Amazon. An Amazon in a blood red, one shoulder, long velvet dress. The train on the dress was at least two few feet long, covered in jewels and her split stopped above her knees. In fact, the only thing that was Amazon like was her skin color. She had to be one of maybe 10 vampires I've ever seen in the Dark Kingdom with a tan. A skin quality her husband and son did not share. She looked as if she was in her mid thirties but I knew she was nearing 500. Her skin was flawless.

"You will kneel before your queen," I heard Peter angrily shout as he pushed me to my knees. This guy was really starting to piss me off .

"Now, now peter...careful with the humans, there so...breakable," she smiled. The queen took a sniff from the air and the smile quickly vanished from her face.

"You must be the Winston girls," she asked as if she had smelled something sour. Winston was an old family name that came from my mom's side of the family, but I knew she was speaking to us.

"Yes, your majesty," I answered.

"Scarlett that was Grandma Julia's name, not our's...

"Shhhh, Lily"

The queen took a few step towards us. Her steps were so effortless, she seemed as if she was gliding. I couldn´t get over how beautiful her dress was. There must have been a special occasion today.

"O, Peter dear please take those awful chains off the humans. They won't hurt anything." The queen complained, as I looked around. The other vampires in the room were already on their Knees and looked as if they were preparing to beg for their lives. Lily must have saw the worry in my face because she whispered "We're going to be ok Scarlett". When I looked up again the Queen was bent done in front of Lily.

"And you know this for a fact don't you." The queen asked smiling.

"I can kind of see something's in the future." Lily answered excitedly.

"Is that right," the queen asked sounding surprised as she ran her fingers through Lilly's hair.

"Yes, But only if I try really, really, hard and even then something's aren't completely clear. My father told me i´m not suppose to tell anyone because they'll ship me away to a bad place or turn me into a slave. That's why I didn't donate blood so no one would know. My aunt Jeanne did the same thing also but she died along time ago. My mother and Scarlett though

I stood there in complete shock! Why the hell was Lily telling her all this.

"But you feel safe enough to tell me." The queen beamed.

Lily looked down at the ground as she replied. "You already know, thats half the reason we are here." She then looked up at the queen. "I can see clearer when I'm touching someone." The queen snatched her had away from Lily angrily, as she stood up.

"And what's the other reason," She spat at her.

"I don't know Lily" yelled afraid and taking and sliding closer to me

"Liar!"

"She's not lying!" I screamed, wrapping my arms around Lily. "She can't see everything, like things in the past for example. and she doesn't lie!" I barley finished my sentence when I felt the queens hard hand against my face.

"And who asked you," she questioned nastily. "Raise your voice at me like that again and you will lose it." She then turned back to Lily. "I've waited almost 250 years for a Winston like you. Don't disappoint me."

The queen was interrupted by the double doors opening. Through them walked King Henry and their son Prince William. I'd only seen them from afar a few times but they were both as beautiful as I remembered.

"O William dear I've missed you desperately" she opened her arms and he ran into them. "I could kill your father I told him to bring you straight here and you smell as if you made a few stops."

She shot King Henry a stern look as he pretended to look innocent. Henry and William looked more like brothers than father son. I wasn't sure of William's age but he would have only been 22 or 23 in human years, His father looked around 40 but there facial resemblance was remarkable. They were both beyond stunning.

"And goodness sake what have you been doing to your hair." she fussed as she ran her fingers through it. "I"m going to have a chat with that little girl May that I hired to take care of you." she frowned "You dont even look like you've been eating properly." The prince laughed at his mother's response seeming to enjoy the attention.

"Trust me mother, she's been "taking care of me", he smiled. …"Well what do we have here" he asked looking around the room excited.

"O come, come William!, these are treats for you. I know how you enjoy court, we only have it on once a week now, but I figured I'd bring a few in today just for you."

The fact that she was treating court like a game for him to play nauseated me.
I looked around the room at the vampires and they seem even more afraid then before. There were 12 of them in all. 10 of them were in chains and were red eyed. A sign that they we're starving or angry and the other two were well dressed and brown eyed. Out of the two of them, the man seemed to be extremely wealthy and they both stood a good distance from the chained vampires. The man was pale white and had long dirty blood hair that was neatly tied in a ponytail.

"Travis!" The prince questioned confused. "What are you doing here" The wealthy man stepped forward and answered.

"We'll, Sir William, I had sort of a little accident a few nights ago." Travis pushed the girl standing behind him gently forward. "I kind of bit her and turned her".

I could tell by the fact that Travis called William Sir instead of Prince that he must of been from only one social stat beneath him. William laughed but the guard Peter looked extremely pissed off.

"You kind of bit her ", he asked. "you dont kind of bit people. You know the damn rules. I doubt that you didn't do it on purpose…your family has always believed they were above the law. I've had it up to here with yo..."

"Enough Peter!", William said, cutting him off. Surely we can understand if our dear friend and old school mate slipped up. I'm amazed you even brought him in for this little misdemeanor. Travis I will expect two of your humans for this crime, you pick the two… and do try to be more careful. We can discuss any farther payments over our hunt tomorrow."

Misdemeanor I thought! It was illegal in the Dark Kingdom for anyone to be turned without permission from the King and queen. The law had only been in affect for about 10 years but some vampires were even killed for the crime. This was done to keep the half blood count in control. Anyone else would have been enslaved or killed for the crime.

"He always slipping up", Peter answered. Travis thanked William and headed for the door.

"What are the crimes of the others", William asked laughing. "Besides being half breeds". Many of the vampires looked disgusted by the prince's claim. But most Royal people considered anyone with a drop of human blood a half breed.

"These four, stand up when I address you" the queen called, "are charged with treason against our family.

"They will be burned alive" the prince answered. Except the girl, Send her to the house maids.

"Those 3 cannot pay debts owed to the crown "

"they'll pay it off in slavery"

"And these three girls are only a few weeks vampires. They are payment for their master crimes."

"send them to my to my chamber" he smiled…. Uh the nerve of this guy i thought.

His mother frowned disappointingly. "You shouldn't touch such filth. Peter sweetie will you take them all away. Take the prince's new slaves and the girls STRAGHT to the slave quarters.

William you did a wonderful job today, you going to make a great king one day." Peter did as he was told and William took a few steps towards us. I wasn't sure, but it seemed he was starring. His honey brown eyes were mesmerizing me.

"And are these three mine also"

"NO!" The queen said quickly walked towards us. "Only the blond one. The other two are projects of mines. The blond one answers to Carla. Her Family runs a whore house and are behind on their payments to us. Her mother swears she's pure.

"She sounds tasty", the prince smiled. "But this one" he stared at me "Will be delicious". The queen snatched me behind her and almost seemed angry for a split second.

"They are projects of mine not your little play things. Carla is one of your gifts. If you didn't spend so much time with your filth than we would have an heir by now." She grabbed Lily also and we walked out of the room as I glanced back at the prince. He looked utterly speechless but a low growl was coming from him. "you'd do best to keep your eyes forward she spat at me.

"No one every tells him no." Lily whispered to me as we walked. The queen quickly let go of her hand. I didn't look back but I heard the prince yell.

"Mother I will trade them all for her!"

I know there was a lot of information in this first chapter but the next ones will be more exciting...Let me know what you guys think?