The Vampire Queen

Chapter One

Wind chimes sang softly as the town gathered in the soaked square. The cold stones were the colours of the heart as the Necrosis Shadow slit their wrists, watching their blood turn from blue to red. Four men, wearing black suits with Chrysanthemums blooming from their shirts, carried a casket towards the nearby lake. The villagers watched as the coffin was dumped into the sea, regretting what happened that fateful night. Everyone gathered around the lake and threw in something—or someone—special to them. The lake was an arrangement of items that ranged from gold earrings to paper plates and even soaked clothing was there–even though it seemed to sink to the bottom of the lake.

Madeline stood close to the lake. Tears rolled down her face as her family stared ominously at her. The wind blew through her soft blonde hair and dried the tears off of her olive skin. Madeline's amber eyes glistened from the sun's reflection in the water.
"Madeline?" her mother, Lea, asked while holding an old shovel, "Have you thrown in your Diary yet?"
"Yes, mother" Madeline whimpered.
Lea sighed and handed Madeline the shovel.
"You're still sad about Pierre, aren't you?"
Madeline's eyes glared as she spun around to her mother.
"Auntie Wendy chose him to throw in! How could I not be sad?" Madeline screamed as the water ferociously hit the edge of the wooden platform.
"I know it's wrong, but you still can not talk to your elders like that!" Lea roared as her ginger braids soaked from the ascending waves.
"She killed him, mother!"
"She had to!"
"How come? We all know that she prefers Cousin Tyler!"
"Because if she didn't...then I would," Lea choked on her words.
Madeline squinted as tears started to form on both her and her mother's faces. The wind hit the back of her teal dress forcing Madeline to lose balance.
"The storm is starting soon...don't get wet," Lea spurted out as she head back into the family house.
Madeline stood paralysed on the wooden sidewalk. There is no way that mother would have killed Pierre, right? She thought as thunder howled. Madeline ran indoors as the first raindrops of demise fell onto the earth.

The family house was a three-story cabin next to Lake Emerald. The old cottage had wooden panels around all four sides. Its roof was an arrangement of stones found by the lake.
"Alice," Madeline glared at her cousin.
"Madeline," Alice glared back.
"Girls! No fighting!" Aunt Wendy yelled from the kitchen.
"You know there is going to be a ball to decide the next queen," Madeline snorted, "I hope you get picked,"
"Ha! Of course, I would! I'm just worried that all the boys will ignore you after finding out that you weren't enough for the prince!" Alice spat back.
Madeline glared at Alice. She could feel her skin heat up as she turned toward the rest of her family. How could they all act as if Pierre didn't just die?! She thought as her gram stepped towards the two girls.
"Now girls! With all this bickering, you are going to make us forget about the ball!" Gram snapped before smiling sweetly, "Why don't I take Maddie with me, and Granny will take Alice? We can then figure out what you two are going to wear to the ball,"
"Yes gram," Alice sang as Madeline stared down.

Gram took Madeline's hand and led her to her room. The room was painted teal and the border and windows were painted white. Madeline's bed was old and creaked as gram sat Madeline down, crinkling her nightgown. Gram swiftly turned to Madeline's wardrobe and glared. She proceeded to tear things out and throw them on the floor. Gram turned back, her eyes tired.
"How come you have nothing to wear?" Gram questioned, "Don't you want to look good for the boys?"
"Gram, I've told you, the boys in my class are smelly and gross!" Madeline shivered.
"Maddie," Gram sat down, "Tell you what! I'll let you lend one of my old dresses!"
Gram patted Madeline's leg and sprinted towards a side door. Behind were rows and rows of shelves filled with old outfits and dust. Gram sneezed as she looked through the carefully placed fabrics. Finally, gram pulled out a dress and carefully walked back to Madeline. Gram pushed Madeline into a corner and placed the dress in her hands. "Try this on," Gram chuckled whilst turning away from Madeline.

Madeline stared at the dress. It was a lovely deep red and had midnight black trims. Madeline stripped herself out of her harsh teal dress and pulled the soft red dress over her body. She stared at the mirror, her eyes glistening. The dress had sleeves that faded from red into a see-through material, it had a frilly skirt, and around her waist was a black piece of fabric with a bright red ribbon. Gram spun around and held her hands over her face.
"It's beautiful," Gram remarked as she put a black bow on the back of Madeline's medium blonde hair, "It will be perfect for the ball!"
Madeline trembled as she sat down on her bed, "Do I have to go?"
"Yes," Gram smiled weakly, "It is mandatory for all women in our kingdom to go,"
Madeline fell to her side softly, her thoughts racing as the storm grew loud. She shut her eyes hard as everything spun. First Pierre and now THIS she cowered in her thoughts.
"Maddie, dear. Don't worry about all this now! We have worst problems to deal with! Like that ugly storm," Gram chuckled as she lifted Madeline up on her bed.
The two embraced in a hug as Madeline's window rocked violently. Gram stood up gently and went towards the door, flicking a green paint chip off the edge. "Put the dress in your closet when you are finished with it," she smiled as she shut the door behind her.