Page 4 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
“Camille told me about this,” she says softly. “I’m sorry it’s gone this far. You took the pictures down and closed your social media account, right?”
“Yes.”
She nods empathetically, then glances around my room and toward the barren shelves between the windows. The empty desk in the corner. “This feels excessive—even for him. He took your phone, too?”
Closing my eyes, I lie back against the headboard. The wood is hard, ornately carved and, therefore, uncomfortable. “He did. From today onward, my sole purpose in life is to please His Royal Highness Prince Alexander Kendrick, and to ensure that the Blakeley Clan is finally designated as a Royal House of Eden. That we become one of the Five Major Houses governing our aristocracy since the inception of the peace treaty and the end of the vampire wars.”
This rhetoric has been drilled into my brain for as far back as I can remember.
Major Houses.
Royal Order and Governing Board.
Peace Treaties and Historical Records.
All capital letters. All integral to the systemic culture of our society. It’s been reiterated to me by tutors, relatives and servants. At society parties and in a particularly ostentatious fashion at the Annual Eden Spring Fête.
Above all, it has been emphasized by Lord Blakeley. Privately and adamantly.
Sasha shifts to sit upright, her teeth clenched. “Speaking of ‘pleasing Prince Alexander,’ it’s scheduled for tomorrow night, isn’t it? Your first mating attempt?”
I exhale, my shoulders slumping with dead weight. I do not want to talk about this because it’s mortifying. The heat of embarrassment rushes up to my neck and cheeks. I close the book in my lap since I can’t focus on it anyway. “Yes,” I groan.
“How are you feeling about it?”
I rub my palms against my face. “Like I hate my life.”
“Well, that’s baseline for you. The royal council won’t expect you to bond right away. Everyone knows that it takes a lot of time, so don’t feel too pressured.”
Dropping my hands, I meet her eyes, incredulous. “Don’t feel pressured? Everything about this situation is pressured. How can I not feel stressed about a group of old and snobbish purebreds watching me have sex for the first time—and with a vampire that I have nothing in common with. That I have no chemistry—”
“Oh, come on, Ollie. You and Alexander have loads in common. You’re the same age, you’re both the youngest in your households… you’re the same species—”
“Wow.”
“No, but seriously. You’ve known him for fifteen years!”
“And we’ve never once spent an iota of time alone together—is that natural?” I ask as the anxiety sits heavily in my chest. “All of our interactions have been supervised, scheduled and planned. Rehearsed and with Lord Heartless breathing down my neck to be on my best and most docile behavior. There isnothingtangible or remarkable between us and I just…”
I pause, overwhelmed because my life is truly spiraling out of control.
The things I dream about—those ridiculous and silly thoughts that Lord Blakeley accuses me of—they rise up within me now and I have to let them out. Even though Sasha has heard this speech at least a thousand times, I can’t help myself.
“There are places—communities and aristocracies in the world—that don’t do this stuff anymore,” I say, lifting my palm to the top of my head and closing my eyes. Trying to rein in the sadness and injustice crushing my heart. “Most have stopped, because this system is invasive and outdated. They let vampires choose their mates freely. Not because of politics, treaties or power. Not anymore. They do it because their aura speaks to them or their eyes alight. I feel nothing like that for Alexander—none of us who are wrapped up in this charade ever do! And I… I don’t want this, Sash. Idon’t wantthis.”
“I know…” My sister sits up and reaches out, taking hold of my free hand near my thigh. “I know.”
The room is silent, the sun shining brightly through the windows at a golden slant. In the eastern wing of the castle, where my room is located, it’s always quiet.
I was relocated here around the age of ten. At the time, my much older manservant was having trouble keeping track of me. In the main estate, there are too many corridors, rooms and exits that lead out into the greater gardens and I had a habit of escaping—usually to the woods and lavender fields. On one too many occasions, my whereabouts were unknown. And so, I’ve been confined to this tower ever since.
Twelve years. One way in and one way out.
“Is it preposterous to want freedom?” I ask, opening my eyes and sincerely meeting Sasha’s gaze. “To want to learn and discover, and to maybe eventually bond with someone because I feel drawn to them in my nature and they reciprocate these feelings? Not because vampires are forcing me to do it for political gain but because my eyes alight for them. Lots of purebred vampires live that life. In the modern era, it’s more natural—”
“Yes, it’s natural for some, but not for us.” She exhales a heavy sigh, and I can see it. I’ve pushed her too far. “What we do… The rules of our aristocracy are important, Oliver. If the Five Major Houses hadn’t signed the Peace Treaty of Eden, we—”
“We wouldn’t exist today. We would have killed each other in the clan wars, and we’d all be dead. Extinct as a race.” I shake my head. “Well, I’d rather be, honestly. For all the good it’s done.”
