Sold to the Vampire Prince

RIA

As I tread around with an exhausted look on my face, I lean on my broom trying to get one wink of sleep. 'I haven't slept in 2 days.. when will I be able to stop cleaning these stupid floors?' As I lean on my broom and yawn, I feel the hairs stand up on my back. I whip around, but don't see anything. I sigh and turn back, but see the Queen standing in front of me, a frown on her lips. I jump up as my eyes widen a light blush of embarrassment on my cheeks. "Y-Your Majesty! My apologies, I uh.." I search my head for something to say, but I hear a short scoff escape from her lips. I gulp, fixing my posture and standing up straight. I brush some dust off of my maid dress and bow, squeezing my eyes shut.  "Stand up straight, fool!"  I snap up straight at her loud remark and stumble, holding my pale wrist. I nervously look up at the queen, sweat glands forming on my forehead. 'She's going to murder me! Crap..'  "I'm sick and tired of you slacking off. It is unmannerly! I have decided to get rid of you once and for all. You are being sent to another kingdom." I listen to her sharp voice, not believing my ears. 'I'm leaving? Yes! Finally, after years of misery.' I try not to smile but fail as a small grin forms at the sides of my lips, my eyes glazing. "Why are you smiling, peasant? I can't wait to get rid of you.." She starts to grin evilly, looking me up and down. I quickly stop smiling and clear my throat, blinking my relieved tears back into my dry eye sockets. "Go to your room and bathe, for the prince does not like smelly maids. You are being sold for quite an amount of money, so make yourself look presentable." "Your Majesty, will the prince arrive today?" "Yes. Now go, fool! There is no time to waste." She turns around and makes long graceful strides down the polished hallway, the clicks of her heels filling the silent night. I smile widely, not knowing how to react. 'I really am.. leaving!' Quickly, I run down the hallway to my small room, cobwebs forming at the corners. The candle in the corner remains un lit. I light the candle and turn to my bed, seeing a maid uniform. Weirdly, it is black and red with hints of white. The skirt is laced on the bottom with ruffles and the top has puffed sleeves. It almost seems unreal. Telling from the urgency in the queens voice, I hop over things left on the floor and fill the bath with cold water. 'I don't remember the last time I have properly had time to bathe..' I slip into the bath as water splashes out onto the wooden floor. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing the cold slowly, while easing in after time passes. My long pale arm reaches for the soap and I scrub well, all over my face, body, and use some left over  soap bubbles for my hair. I dunk my head in the water as my white, long hair flows around. Hastily, I get up out of the bath shivering and cold, wrapping my towel around myself. I look into my cracked dusty mirror. 'I look.. so much cleaner and better!' I smile at the sight and stand for a minute, until the ticking of the clock interrupts my thoughts. I fleet to the bad and slip the outfit on. Another minute passes. I fix my hat as water drips from my long hair. Two minutes pass. I dry my hair and decide to leave it down, because it makes my face look prettier. After three minutes pass, I hear banging on the bedroom door. I flinch and turn around, feeling nervous. Quickly, I slip on my new flats with pumps on the bottom and open the door to see a guard. Before I can tell him I haven't packed my essentials, he grabs me by my arm and practically drags me down the long hallway. It almost seems endless as his hands grip my wrist. 'At this point, he might leave a mark!' I think to myself. Finally, we turn the corner and I see a young man about my age speaking to the queen in a monotone voice. They both turn to look at me, and I see the queens face looking pleasant. 'I don't remember ever seeing this much emotion from her before.. it's almost like she is a different person.' The guard lets go of my wrist and pushes me towards the two. I awkwardly stand with both of my hands in front of me as I watch the two talk. Taking in his appearance, I realize he is quite the sight to look at. Gorgeous black hair, deep dark eyes, and pale skin. 'His skin might be paler than mine!' I think, shocked to see such a thing. He has sharp clothes and white gloves, and the colors of his suit match mine. 'Perhaps they are very color coordinated at the kingdom.' I think to myself. Suddenly, he turns around, a red glint in his eyes. For some weird reason, I feel the shivers I once felt before. He reaches out his hand and brushes it through my hair, grabbing a hair strand. I blush slightly, standing stiffly and wait for him to stop touching me. But, he doesn't. "Why is her hair white?" I raise my eyebrow and want to hear why too. I've never been told why. "Her mother had albinism, so she has it too, my Prince." 'What is albinism? Some disease? I hope I'm not sick.' I think, nervously. He lets go of the hair strand and looks me up and down, causing me to squirm inside. He reaches his hand to touch my wrist. "That might explain why she is pale too." The queen nods at the prince's remark and they both go quiet as he observes me. Suddenly, he breaks the silence but doesn't let go of my wrist. "I shall take her. Thank you for your deal." The queen smiles and they both shake each other's hand.. and surprisingly he's kept the same face the whole time, not showing one ounce of emotion. He starts to take me and we walk out of the palace, and in the corner of my eye, I see the guard handing the queen a large sum of money. 'How rich is this prince?' I begin to think. He lets me go inside the carriage first and then sits next to me. 'He's very well mannered.. this sure will be a nice time.' I smile to myself and look out the opening of the carriage, taking one last look at the wretched palace. The prince still has not let go of my wrist, and I realize his hand is shockingly very cold, but his palms are soft. The horses neigh and the carriage begins to rumble, hitting bumps on the graveled road. I slowly drift to sleep, not being able to stay awake.

▪️ 1201 words~ thanks for reading my first chapter :D