Moonbloods Season 1
5 Ignored

The applause lasted a few moments. I was able to take in my surroundings at a swift glance as we walked. Many faces swam around me. Men. Women. Children. Drydales. Faries, Vampires. All sorts of Dark Fey. They all regarded me almost with... resentment? But that was impossible. I didn't know these people. I hadn't done anything to them. My eyes scanned their faces, still seeing nothing but reluctance and distrust. I felt my heart sink. These were the people of the Court. The ones who kept the New Government moving. I swallowed, wishing I had learned more about the New Law. Hali and Niko would have to help me with this.

Emris tugged me through the crowded room toward a podium that sat twin chairs, delicately crafted and painted. Drydalien, by the looks of it. When I reached the news of the podium both Niko and Hali stood there.

Hali had been quickly washed and dressed in a long light blue and white servants dress, her hair twisted into a knot above her head. She looked uncomfortable.

Niko was still dressed in his shimmering black armor, his hand resting between the hilts of a his sword and a short dagger. Music picked up the moment we were both seated. Emris immediately dropped my hand and waved to Yesmina who came and stood beside him. Together they whispered to one another for several minutes. I sat there, my hands folded in my lap as people began to move about the room once more. Food was being served in the next room over and people were getting restless. "To you, my fair Prince!" came a loud and clear voice to my left. I turned to see Lord Graven Melbourne with his goblet held up. "And to your lovely wife."

Emris smiled and stood to his feet. His fingers gently brushed mine, gripping my wrist. A gentle reminder. A nudge to follow his lead. I forced myself to my feet before Emris had even straightened himself. He offered me an approving nod, dropped my wrist and nodded his thanks to Lord Melbourne. "You have my thanks, My Lord. Come, let us dine together."

Emris turned and walked down the podium, leaning me behind to follow him. As I hurried after him without looking like a lost puppy, Hali appeared beside me. I sighed , feeling a little more relaxed.

"This Court is larger then you know, Princess," she hissed at me. The servants quarters have feathered beds!"

I looked at her, pleased she found pleasure in her situation. She was bound to a life of service. Service to me. I tried not to dwell on that. I didn't like the fact that I owned Skavi.

When I reached the dining hall, Emris was seated at the head of the U shaped table. I gathered up my skirts and walked around the room towards him. Once I reached the table, Emris pulled my chair out with one hand. I sat down beside him and looked down at my plate. Emris had loaded it up with some kind of red meat and potatoes. When he was ready to load some kind of vegetable to it I raised my hand in protest. Emris frowned at me.

"Niko says you have not eaten in two days," Emris told me.

I sighed and leaned back in my seat. "I won't eat all of this-"

Emris waved a hand. "That is fine."

I sighed and leaned back. "But eat now!"

I sighed and picked at the meat on my plate. Emris leans away from me and started talking to Yesmina again. I felt a wave of annoyance wash through me as they laughed and joked together.

I had accepted there was no way out of this arrangement. But that didn't mean I was going to let myself be taken advantage of. And I wasn't going to let Yesmina continue to flirt with my Husband to be. But I was a stranger here. The Outsider at Court. No one wanted me here.

I needed friends here. People I could trust. People who were not in direct service to me. It's not that I longed for company or companionship. It was rather it would help me in the long run. Hopefully these people would come through if I ever needed them to. In case I ever needed to flee Azga.

"You look bored, Princess," Lord Melbourne told me as he rounded on our table. I offered him a smile.

"Quite the opposite, Sir, I am quite entertained."

Lord Melbourne laughed and bowed before me. "I wanted to welcome you to court and that I look forward to working with you-"

Emris had turned to listen to him.

"I said no political matters!" His voice was deadly. I looked up at him and watched as Lord Melbourne shook his head. "Not at all, Your Majesty," he assured him. "I was only -"

Emris reached and gripped my wrist, pulling me closer as we sat back down. "Leave us," he ordered.

I watched in amazement as everyone around us cleared the area, deserting their plates and seats. Some even taking their food with them.

Emris sighed and released my wrist. "Be carful about Melbourne. He advised me to take an immortal as my wife but that is against our custom. He is bitter that I turned him down when he offered Yesmina-"

I felt my jaw drop as I looked across the room to where Lady Yesmina stood, a group of people surrounding her. They were all dressed in soft leather battle gear. "Lady Yesmina was offered to be your wife?" I asked him.

Emris narrowed his eyes at me, his face almost confused. "I refused him," he assured me his tone almost offended.

"Why?" I wanted to know.

Emris sighed and shoved a piece of meat into his mouthy. After he finished the bite, Emris pursed his lips, seeming to actually give my question some thought.

"Duty," he said. "And because I was already promised to you."

I felt blood boil under my skin. "Is that not one and the same thing, Your Majesty?" I asked him, unable to curb my curiosity. His face became curious once more. Emris leaned forward a little. As he did so, I watched confusion wash over his features closely followed frustration. It was almost like he was trying to see something in my face that wasn't there. I kept my face as impassive as possible.

"Have you been to Court before?" he asked me after a long pause. I resisted the urge to heave a sigh of relief as Emris dropped his gaze from mine. I looked down at my hands fisted in my lap. I nodded my head. "Once, when I was vey small. My father had met with the King, to arrange our marriage."

Emris laughed and looked down at his full Court and shook his head .

"They see you as an outsider," he told me and I sighed as I looked down the podium to see groups of young girls and woman standing together and looking up at me, laughing every now and then.

"An outsider."

Emris nodded. "Yes," he agreed. "That you are." Then he went back to ignoring me, turning back to Yemina who laughed and sipped her wine, her wide eyes narrowed at me.

I dropped my gaze quickly.

What was her problem? I was stationed above her. By quite a few classes. She may have the title Lady but she was Head of the Kings Guard. Her father was Advisor to King Alistor, mentor to Prince Emris. Royals granted positions of Power to the ones loyal to them. They could just as easily take it away.

Emris continued to ignore me as the night drew on. No one approached me or spoke to me. None of the Lords or Ladies came forward and introduced themselves to me. It was as if I wasn't there.

I turned in my seat waving to Niko. There was an empty seat beside me. I waved for him to join me.

Niko smiled. "With all due respect, Princess, I can not," he whispered.

I frowned . "Why not?"

Niko leaned forward again. "I am a servant, Princess. It is not appropriate."

I sighed, annoyed now. "What am I doing here then?" I hissed at him.

Hali leaned forward and nodded to the crowded room. "You should be making connections, Princess. "

I raised and eyebrow at her. "What do you mean?" I demanded.

Hali sighed and shoved Niko aside to get closer to me, looking over my shoulder at the Lords and Ladies in the room.

"See that man over there, by the window? The one with the purple cloak?" she whispered.

My eyes scanned the massive room, traced the high arches of the double door windows. There, standing by the golden framed window was a man, dressed in a long purple and silver cloak.

His skin had a warm, pearl glow to it. His hair news thinly dreaded, beaded with feathers and beads.

"Lord Cain Drodic, and beside him, his Lady Wife, Lady Chloè Drodic. Lord and Lady of Negera Pass, Venderas source of goods. They provide grain and produce to most of Azga."

I nodded, looking over Lady Drodic once. She was a rather small woman. Her pearl like skin and electric blue eyes were otherworldly. Her hair too, was dressed in elaborate breads, feathers and braids. I looked away before she could catch my eye.

"Thank you, Hali."

She leaned away and returned to her spot against the wall. I sat there a while longer before I reluctantly reached and tapped Emris on the arm. Lady Yesmina had disappeared with her father a while ago but Emrisnhad remained quite, not speaking. When I tapped his arm Emris turned to look at me.

"I'm tired," I told him, but he just looked down at me. His green eyes seemed to be alive with a fire that burned from somewhere deep inside him. An odd feeling of calm washed over me.

"Niko will show you to our room," he said after a long pause. "I shall join you shortly."

I felt the blood drain from my face as I forced myself to my feet my legs screaming in protest. Emris watched me as I turned away. I could feel his eyes on my back as I walked toward Hali and Niko. They both bowed before me and then turned to follow me from the room. As I walked, people cleared a path for me, most of the people bowing their heads respectfully. Hali and Niko followed me through the high arched doorway of the dining all and out into the cool hallway.

It was almost as if a weight had been crushing down on my chest, making it harder and harder to breath. Air came easier to me now as I slowly walked down the corridor. The inside of Vendera Castle was massive. The halls and stairways were massive, reaching high into beautifully crafted archways. Oddly, brown and fresh green branches with blooming wildflowers grew through the cracks and crevices of the foundation of the Manor. I could smell the sweetness of the wildflowers that bloomed in the branches and thickness of the green leaves.

As I walked, I rounded a corner, a wide doorway coming into view, opening up to an outdoor garden. I stood under the archway for a moment, looking down the hall. No one was there. Just a cool wind, followed by the howling of the wind from outside.

I turned away from the empty hallway and walked outside, my booted feet crunching in snow. Hali and Niko waited in the archway. I sighed and stopped in the middle of the garden, taking a deep breath through my nose.

The air here seemed to always smell of pine and some kind of sweet flower.

Niko cleared his throat. "Lord Graven Melbourne, My Lady."

I turned to see Graven Melbourne standing under the archway.

"You should not be wandering the Hall by yourself, Princess."

I wasn't sure why but Graven creeped me out.

"What can I do for you, Lord Graven?" I asked him.

He smiled at me. "I just wanted to see how you were after such a long and exhausting day."

I offered him a small smile. "That's quite thoughtful of you. I was quite bored, actually. No one really spoke to me."

Lord Graven smiled. "Give it time, Princess. People will learn to respect you."

I sighed and walked back into the building, Hali and Niko. For some reason Lord Graven unsettled me.

"Why did you leave the feast?"

I shook my head. "I'm tired and was on my way to bed when you happened upon me. Do you keep tabs on all subjects at Court?"

To my surprise Melbourne laughed at me. "It is my job, Princess, to know everyone's secrets."

I raised an eyebrow. "Secrets?" I asked him. Melbourne folded his hands behind his back.

"Of course. We all have them."

I shook my head. "What secrets could I possibly have that would interest you, My Lord?"

I didn't like the way he was looking at me. Almost as if he were trying to intimidate me. However I was about to let myself be intimidated. I had nothing to hide anyway.

"Anything that would harm his Highness in anyway and or anyone else in the Royal line?" he asked him and I felt the blood drain from my face a little. "Anything to add?"

I kept my face as impassive as I could. "Are you accusing me something, My Lord?" I demanded.

Niko cleared his throat, turning to face Graven, his hand going to the hilt of his dagger.

"Let's not make of mess, shall we?"

Graven laughed. "Firstly, if I have offended you, I sincerely apologize!" he said and bowed his head at me. "Secondly, I only look after the interests of his Grace the King and that of his Son-"

Niko nodded. "Yes, we know who you are. What do you want?"

Lord Graven glared at Niko and I couldn't help but fight the smirk that tugged at my lips a

"You allow servants to speak for you?" he demanded.

I looked over his shoulder at Niko. "Niko is not a servant," I reminded him. "He is my adviser."

Graven shook his head. "He is Skavi-"

I cut him off, annoyance washing through me. "You will not use that term in my presence!" I snapped at him. Graven, his face still mocking and smug, laughed at me.

"As you wish, Princess." Graven bowed his head and I wanted for him to leave but he remained where he stood. I clasped my hands before me. "Anything else, My Lord?" I asked him awkwardly.

Graven bowed his head and turned to leave. I waited for him to turn the corner before I turned to face Niko who bowed his head.

"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Princess. Lord Melbourne likes to over step his station when he feels passionate about something."

I frowned. "He is quite arrogant." I shuddered at the thought of him replaceing out and telling Emris. I needed a bath. "Hali, will you help me get ready for bed?"

An hour later I was bathed, and smelling like lavender oil and laying in bed in the verge of sleep. I stared out the window, my mind wandering. Knowing I didn't have much of a real home, I would have to make the best with what little I had here. As soon as Emris discovered I am immortal, he will kill me. I wondered if that would be before, or after I had his child.

Hiram raised his hands to strike me again. I waited for the sting of his fist to hit my face.

"She is no longer hours to do with as you see fit, Lord Hiram."

Emris' voice rippled across my skin, setting my nerve endings ablaze.

"She is mine!"

I watched as Hiram melted away in the shadows, melted away in the same black silk like smoke Emris had conjured the night before. I watched him raise a black, taloned finger, tracing it across my chest.

My lungs filled with air, not sure if I was going to scream or ask him to stop. I was repulsed by the feeling of his touch yet, oddly, my skin tingled in anticipation of it. An odd, pleasurable pain lanced through my chest. "Don't resist me, Nalia," he whispered, his hot breath warming my skin. "Fighting me is futile."

I raised my hands to shove him away but Emris leaned forward, pushing himself flush against me a soft growl rumbling in his throat...

I jerked out of my sleep, the sound of his growl and the heart of his breath flaring against my skin and looked around. The bed beside me remained empty and cold, untouched. I sat up slowly only to stop when I noticed movement to my left.

Emris sat at the massive desks by between the bed and the window, a bottle of wine sat on the table beside him, his boots discarded by the fire place. I watched his face for a moment. He seemed relaxed, relieved of any emotion. All night last night he had done nothing but scowl and ignore me. He was bent over the desk, scribbling away in a notebook.

"Good Morning, your Highness," he greeted me. "You talk in your sleep, did you know that?"

I narrowed my eyes at his teasing tone. "What do you mean?" I demanded. Horror washed through me. What had I said? What had I let slip? Emris scribbled away with his feather for a moment, his face curious. "You mumbled some inaudible inconsistencies last night. Almost as if you were having a nightmare."

I shook my head... and realized I couldn't recall what I had been dreaming. At least not fully. I could remember Hiram and then Emris and his hands reaching for me... anything after that was dark.

"You are mistaken," I suggested. "I slept soundlessly."

Emris pursed his lips and then dropped his pen, leaning back in his seat. "Lord Melbourne has requested your uncle to come to Court. He will be here by the end of the month."

I felt the blood drain from my face and my mouth to dry. By the end of the month? I cursed myself for not having fled when I had the chance.

"You and I however will be on our way to the capital, for our wedding."

I knew there was no color left in my as I drew up knees.

"Nalia."

His voice was much closer then I expected and my skin flared with awareness and goosebumps. I shied away from him, pulling the sheets around me.

I looked up to see Emris towering over me. I gulped, taken aback by his sudden closeness. Emris smiled and reached forward. His fingers caught a stray hair and tucked it away. "You will be mine. I will not wait forever..."

I gulped. What was I supposed to say about that? I scowled at him.

"What, are you talking to me, now?" I asked him. Emris blinked, his face mocking. "No," he assured me. "Just watch what you say yo Melbourne."

I shook my head. "If you don't trust him, why let him advise you?" I asked. Emris sighed.

"That, unfortunately is not up to me." Emris leaned away, the reluctance in his eyes confused me.

"How old are you, Nalia?" he wanted to know.

I blinked. "I'm seventeen," I told him. Emris sighed and shook his head. "I thought you knew-"

Emris shot me a annoyed glance. "Knew what?" he demanded and leaned away from me. Emris reached for his cloak that was draped over the back of the chair he had been sitting in.

"You are young, Nalia... perhaps I should rethink my promise to you." I felt the blood leave my face.

"Please, you can't do that!" I pleaded before I could stop myself.

Emris laughed. "I am the Prince," he reminded me. "I can do as I see fit!"

I felt a tear threaten to wash down my cheek. Emris cocked his head to the side curiously. "What is it?"

I opened my mouth but Emris had reached forward and touched my jaw. "The bruises on your face and arms..."

Emris looked down at me, waiting for an answer to his unspoken question. I sighed and tugged at his hood on me. "My Uncle is a firm believer in physical punishments, My Prince." My voice came out low, almost a whisper.

Emris shook his head. I jerked my chin from his grasp and he frowned at me. His face turned sour like it had the night before and then he turned away. "We leave tomorrow morning at day break. Make sure you are ready and that you can ride."

I sighed and nodded. At least I wouldn't be seeing Hiram anytime soon. Just the thought of him being near me made me feel. And Emris wasn't any better. His touch repulsed me. But the fragments of the dream I'd had were still bright and foremost in my mind.

"I'm not much of a rider," I reminded him. Emris sighed and nodded. "We are wardens of the North, my Lady. If we do not defend it, it will not defend us when we need her to You are the Lady of Vendera now, Princess of Azga. You must learn and hone skills of combat."

I felt my heart skink. "Combat?" I echoed. I looked down at my thin frame. Did he understand what he was asking of me? I was an island child. I grew up vegetarian most of my life, eating meats only during special occasions.

Emris sighed, almost annoyed. "If you can not fight or even defend yourself, what use are you to me?"

We glared at each other. Before I could think of what to say, Emris heaved a sigh and shouldered his cloak, gathered up his pen and the book he had been scribbling in and left the room.

I sat in the silence that followed, watching as the sun slowly came up over the side of the high mountain. I got up and walked to the dressers that lined the side of the wall. I started going through them, looking for my riding gear. When I finally found them, I went with a black outfit of thin wool pants, thick, leather boots and a long grey and silver riding cloak were thick and delicately rimmed with silver and gold threads. Leaving my hair in a long braid, I fastened the cloak around my neck and left the room.

Niko, already waiting outside the main door with my horse, smiled when he saw me.

"Good morning, Princess," he greeted me and bowed his head.

"Thank you, Lord Niko-"

He sighed and almost laughed at me. "Princess, I am not a Lord-"

I nodded. "I know that," I assured him. "But I can not call you Sir, as that is for Knighthood only and Lord means many a thing-"

Niko shook his head. "You are at Court now, Princess. These are not just new rules you must play buzz it is the law."

Hali sighed and stepped forward. "He speaks the truth of it," she assured me. "I used to be be of Noble blood."

I raised an eyebrow. "You were stripped of your title?" I demanded.

Hali nodded. "Yes, Princess, but since my mother was Moonblood I have been Skavi for the last twelve years."

I felt my heart sink. "I'm sorry, Hali-"

She smiled at me. "Don't be. My father tried to assassinate the King."