Vampire Seekers

Chapter One

"Well, hello Princess." Maria flirtatiously greets with a large cheshire cat grin.

Maria could not look more relaxed if she tried, with her hands shoved in her pockets and one leg resting against the wall she does not seem phased at being in a castle full of vampires. But then, Vampires are a part of every aspect of her life, work and personal. 

"Nice dress." Maria says, "still prefer the blue one. Very Cinderella-ish."

"Maria. I wasn't aware we had a meeting with the Seekers scheduled for today." The Princess replied.

"Yeah, you didn't. To be fair I wasn't aware that I was gonna be used as a pawn in vampire-human relations politics." Maria says with a shrug. 

"Guess everyone got a surprise today," Maria says pulling the folded letter out off her back pocket.

"Dear Maria Lloyd, you have been anonymously selected to contribute a blood sample for the draft. Please attend your appointment on the 23rd September at 13:10pm. Failure to attend your assigned appointment will result in the involvement of the Vampire Seekers who will escort you to the lab at a later date. Etc etc."

Emily raises her eyebrows at Maria. "You have been drafted? What good news." Emily practically beams with excitement, completely oblivious to her friends annoyance, only one of them is happy about this.

Maria stares at her friend as she takes the paper from her hand and reads it over. Likely checking that the young Seeker is not pulling her leg. It would not be the first time Maria has made a joke about the draft.

As Emily rambles on about the prospect of her being matched Maria is reminded that they are off different species. Their out look on life vastly differ.

To Maria being matched is, at best, a prison sentence. At worst? It's a death sentence. Maria might be the A-hole who has to drag the unwilling kicking and screaming to have their blood taken for the vampires little mate-matching test but that does not mean she is a fan of it. Not by a long shot. 

There may be a few good vampires out their but her line of work gives her a view into the darker side of the vampires world. The one they try to keep out of the press. Not that the freedom of press is still a thing. Vampires own everything.

"Fucksake Em will stop rabbiting on." Maria snaps. The guards behind Emily gawp at her. 

One bears their fangs at Maria. "Watch your tone Seeker! You are speaking to  her royal highness Emily Claire Demonte of Cardina. Youngest daughter of his majesty the King and Queen Clarice."

Maria raises a brow at him. "You got a new guard?" She asks her friend who simply smiles.

"I'm Maria Lloyd. Yeah, that Lloyd, as in the head of the Vampire Seekers in this territory Lewis Lloyd." She brags about her father the second the man shows recognition of her last name. "I'm also your Princesses human best friend."

The guard at his side. A tall six foot bald vampire called Galen turns to him and explains. "Miss Lloyd may have chosen not to wear the gold necklace that would signify her affiliation to the royal family but she is very much under their protection." 

He scowls at the information Galen is giving him. Maria snorts. "The Seeker are as thrilled about that as you appear to be."

"Anywho." Maria dismisses, "If you see the King or Queen could you tell them that I'm not thrilled at the prospect of being used. . . and my birthday is a month after the cut off date."

Emily frowns at her friends. "It is."

Maria sighs. "It is a good thing your sisters the heir to the throne and not you."