REJECTING THE VAMPIRE PRINCE

AVA'S POV The gates of the castle opened to welcome me as I stepped into the formidable palace. I could only picture a grandeur that only the Nightshade Clan would ever be capable of owning. Paintings hung about the walls on every side, and I couldn't seem to pull my gaze away from them. Their ghastliness and morbid nature only made them more alluring, which seemed to be the case for most things around here. The uneasy feeling in my stomach persisted, so I gladly accepted the server's offer; a glass of red wine. It occurred to me that these tall walls of stone that held up the castle mirrored the ones that surrounded these royals' hearts. How lonely it must be to be living in a cold world that you fill with weapons and all things violent, never knowing the true meaning of happiness or love. So lost in my own thoughts, I didn't notice the young woman in front of me until her velvety hair was in my mouth. "Umph!" She whipped around to look at me, and I was a little awestruck by her beauty. She had olive skin the likes of which I could never achieve, aristocratic features that were framed by dark waves, and eyes the color of honey edged with a deep forest-green. It took me a second to realize that those eyes were staring directly at me. "Oh! Forgive me, I wasn't looking in front of me," I stuttered nervously as she continued to give me a thunderous glare. "Obviously," she sneered. I recoiled slightly at her harsh tone. Her glare was very intimidating. But then the harshness faded and was replaced by a bright smile that lit up the whole room. "No need to look so frightened. I was just messing with you," she laughed lightly. I sighed with relief. "I'm Eleanor Moreno," she introduced herself whilst extending her hand towards me. I shook it eagerly. "Ava Griffin," I reciprocated the gesture with a happy grin. My first friend! I guess Dad was right; maybe coming here tonight would do some good. I had never been the social type, and most girls in town ignored my presence, anyway. The only friend I ever had was the goldfish my dad got me when I was six. A mop of blond hair behind Eleanor caught my attention, and I froze when the vampire started approaching us. There were some telltale signs that came with vampires, aside from the fangs, obviously. They're astonishing good looks for one, as well as the natural aura of power and dominance that oozes out of them. The crowd seemed to recognize his presence and parted slightly to allow him easy passage. He was walking in our direction with such purpose that one might think he was going to save a life. Eleanor's face became a mask of indifference as she followed my line of sight. He was a few feet away from us, and I dipped into a curtsy quickly, surprised when Eleanor didn't do the same and shook her head at me instead. Is she suicidal? It's common knowledge that you must curtsy to any vampire you come across. "I'll see you later, Ava," was all she said before gliding away, leaving me alone with the man-the vampire. I kept my eyes averted and my head down, not knowing how to proceed. He stared after her curiously for a moment. Fear and anxiety coursed through my veins as potential scenarios with this vampire ran through my head. I bit my lip. "Would you give me the honor of granting me this dance?" The way he asked made it seem like I had a choice in the matter, but I knew better than that. Vampires always get what they want, to hell with the consequences. So, I did what any sane person would do. I smiled and nodded, still staring at the ground. Long, slim fingers cupped my chin and tilted my head back to meet his face with a gentle but firm pressure. I fell into the fathomless eyes that were a thousand hues of blue with a touch of green radiating within them. "There's no need to be afraid of me. Relax," he said calmly. My mind felt instantly at ease. All previous worries and fears were forgotten, and I was suddenly relaxed. "There's no need to be afraid," I repeated automatically. The mischievous fellow smiled widely, revealing his dimples. "Shall we?" He offered his hand to me with a playful flourish as the blues music played and couples made their way to the dance floor eagerly. The vampire and I stood at a respectful distance from each other. He had one of his hands on my waist and the other in my right hand, leaving my left hand to find its way to his shoulder. He was rather tall, so I had to crane my neck to look up at him from my meager height of 5 '5. "So," he began cheerfully, "does the pretty lady have a name?" "Indeed, she does, but whether you are deserving of such valuable knowledge is yet to be determined," I responded. He chuckled, turning his head to the side and allowing me a clear view of his impressive jawline. "Well, perhaps you'll be more comfortable sharing after I have introduced myself." He twirled me around twice before he continued. "I'm Axel Reeves." My eyes widened to the size of saucers. He was a prince; arguably one of the most powerful men in the world. The Reeves family was the founding family of the Nightshade clan and held in very high esteem amongst all the other vampire clans. He watched my reaction carefully. There was a small part of me that was screaming to get away from this dangerous man, but it couldn't seem to break through the numbing calmness I was feeling. So, instead of running away, I returned the gesture. "Ava Griffin," I said softly. "Ava. Is that short for 'Avery' or something?" "No, it's just Ava." "Well, just Ava," he stated, lowering me into a dip and laughing when I squealed, "It's a pleasure to meet you." The song ended, and we, along with all the other couples on the floor, stepped away from each other. The men bowed, the women curtsied, and then most went their separate ways. Prince Axel, however, seemed to have other plans. Before I had even taken a step off the dance floor, he clamped a hand on my wrist gently and began steering me out with a grin.