RED

Red {1}

Picture is of Leia :) Read my other story 'Wingless' if you like supernatural romances & forbidden love!

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Catus crashed his lips onto Leia's, unable to resist her. She had been looking at him in that innocent way she did, with her pale green eyes glinting like emeralds beneath her thick dark lashes and her auburn hair ruffling against her pale face. She bit the corner of her bottom lip, looking totally kissable. When he at last pulled away she buried her face into his neck.

'What would I do if I didn't have you?' he whispered into her hair. She looked up at him.

'Soon you won't,' she answered softly.

His eyes flashed angrily and he grabbed her wrist, so aggressively it was almost violent. She looked freaked, which only made her look more beautiful, which made him grip her harder. She meant too much to him now for him to let her go. Yeah, she was a nerd at a rich mortal's private school, and he was the Prince of Vampires. Their status in the public no longer mattered to either of them.

'What do you mean?' he asked angrily.

'Catus, soon you'll be sixteen! You'll get married to some beautiful girl from my school who goes to the ball wearing red.'

Catus' eyes flashed. 'Ugh. So some stuck-up rich chick who's Little Miss Popular gets to marry me because she goes to some fancy ball in a red dress and the rest of the school vote for her to be my wife without even asking me if I like the look of her or not. No thanks.' He kissed her forehead. 'Leia. Go to the ball wearing red.'

She pulled away, looking at him in anger and surprise. 'Catus, are you insane? No! I can't!'

'You're beautiful, Leia, you're rich, and I love you,' he yelled desperately. 'I want you and what does my father have to object to?' He pulls her close to him, looks at her, his hazel eyes staring deep into hers. Usually when he did that Leia almost immediately did as he asked. He was so beautiful. But this wasn't the usual daring stunt or the late night date. It was actually insanity.

'I'm also the most unpopular girl in school,' she snapped. 'Who would vote for me?'

'Me.' He smiled. 'Listen, I'm the king of popularity.' He dropped a kiss on her lips and pulled her close so their bodies curved together like a jigsaw. Her body tingled at his touch. Her heart started thumping, like a bird's wing against her chest. He looked at her. 'I'll help you, I promise,' he whispers. 'Just do it, baby. For me.'

*

That had been around a month ago and right now, Leia wouldn't do it for anyone. But in her red dress she was. It was a beautiful crimson, the colour setting off her pale caramel skin and luscious, thick auburn hair. It was sleeveless, the bodice hugging the curves of her top, sliding into beautiful satin ruffles, eventually filling out in a thick dark-red skirt. Solid silver decorations adorned the dress and silver earrings fell from her earlobes. She hugged herself, and bit her lip. There was still time to grab an ordinary dress from her room, cast the red satin to the back of her wardrobe and never look at it again. But if she did that, she'd lose everything she valued. The respect of her parents - they had been so proud, so happy when she told them she was wearing red. Their shy, awkward daughter had been nothing but an embarassment to them. And of course, Catus. The only person that she thought had ever loved her.

And then, there was some actual attention attached to being the girl in red. People would in fact look at her, talk to her, ask about her. Though she'd probably lose, and be the victim of Katy Mandon, the most popular girl in school whose life ambition was to marry a Vampire Prince, for the remaining weeks of her life, at least they'd be attention-filled ones.

So she was keeping it on. It was decided then.

*

Everyone was dressed in gowns. Every single colour imaginable was recognizable - except red. The girls in red always made a dramatic entrance when everybody was already there. A low buzz hissed around the room. Who would be foolish enough to come in red when Katy Mandon was going for it? As well as being the most popular girl in school, she had dirt on everyone that mattered. If it came to blackmail to get her votes, she'd do it.

So when she came in red, it was no surprise.

Blonde, with a perfectly done fake tan, Katy sauntered in. Her tight red dress was short and low-cut, pushing up her chest and emphasizing her curves. Her red-painted lips were stretched into a fake smile, but her dark eyes scanned the room, looking for another girl wearing red. If someone dared to come to this ball and try to own her prince, Katy was ready to put them in her place. She would dress them down right here and now, find out who was planning to vote for them and then either get rid of them or convince them to vote for her instead. If they were still a threat, she would arrange a mysterious accident.

Pleased to see that nobody was here in red yet, she sauntered in and gave the crowd a pleased smile as she took the hand of her date, Bryan Hollins. He was handsome, but ridiculously stupid, and her little lapdog. They went to get drinks, as the girls eyed her enviously and the boys stared at her. Then the door was flung open. The next girl in red. Her name was Melodie Newman and she too was popular. Bright red hair flicked around a pale face and her short red minidress, instead of ridiculing, flattered her small thin frame.

Katy walked up to Melodie and slapped her face.