Bloodlines of the Damned

Alexandra

Alexandra's POV: The Silent Storm

It was late afternoon when Alexandra Windsar stood at the window of her family's private chambers, looking out over the sprawling landscape of their ancestral estate. The winds of the Elemental Kingdom were calm today, as they often were in the fall, but there was an undercurrent of change in the air—one she could feel deep within her, like a quiet tremor beneath the earth's surface.

She had always known this day would come. The day when she would stand beside Vane Erebus—not as an ally, not as a distant acquaintance—but as his future wife.

The thought had always been distant, an abstract concept that she had accepted as part of her birthright. The Windsar family had never been about love. For them, marriage was not a bond forged in affection, but in power, alliances, and survival. Alexandra had never questioned it. She had grown up understanding the truth of her place in the world. She had been taught since childhood that emotions were a luxury, that the heart could not be trusted. Power was the only thing that mattered, and alliances, especially one with the Erebus family, would solidify the Windsar family's dominance in a world that was only growing darker.

But now, as she stood alone, gazing out at the horizon, something stirred deep within her—a longing, a desire for more than what her family had promised her. She had always been told she would marry the next heir of Erebus. The arrangement had been set long before she'd had the ability to form her own opinions. And yet, despite everything, part of her had always quietly hoped that Vane would look at her, not just as an alliance, but as something more.

That hope had been crushed, buried beneath layers of duty, until now. The realization came with a sharp clarity: She was to marry him not because of some childhood fantasy, but because her family had decreed it. She was the instrument of this union—a means to an end.

She had never been given the choice. But now, as the marriage loomed closer, she found herself longing for the kind of love she had only dreamed about in secret.

Flashback: Childhood Dreams and Silent Longing

When Alexandra was young, she would often watch Vane from afar. He was different from the other children she had known in the Elemental Kingdom. His presence was commanding, even then. He was not just the son of the Erebus family—he was more. She could feel the pull of his aura, even as a child. There was something about him, a quiet strength that set him apart, something she couldn't quite explain.

And though she never spoke of it, there were nights when she would lie awake, imagining a life where she and Vane weren't bound by politics. She fantasized about what it would be like to be by his side—not as an asset in the larger scheme of things, but as a partner. To stand beside him, not because it was expected of her, but because he wanted her there.

But those dreams had always felt like a forbidden fruit, out of reach. Her father, King Alistair, was an unyielding force, and her mother, Queen Seraphine, was even colder. From an early age, Alexandra was trained to be the perfect daughter—stoic, obedient, and above all, loyal to her family. She had long since buried any notion of love in favor of ambition. After all, the Windsar family's power was built on control, not affection.

And yet, despite her understanding, her heart had always been drawn to Vane.

The Truth of Her Place

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Her mother, Seraphine, entered, her footsteps echoing like the wind itself. Her mother's presence filled the room, her power radiating like a storm just waiting to break.

"Alexandra," Seraphine's voice was calm, but it carried an edge of authority that only a mother like her could wield. "Your father wishes to speak with you. There is much to discuss."

Alexandra turned away from the window, forcing a neutral expression onto her face. "Of course, Mother."

She followed her mother down the grand corridors of the Windsar castle, the weight of her impending marriage heavy on her shoulders. Despite the calm exterior her family demanded of her, she couldn't shake the feeling that everything was shifting.

As they entered the royal study, her father sat behind a massive oak desk, his fingers steepled, his eyes fixed on her with the calculating gaze of a king who never missed a detail. His elemental power—control over the very winds themselves—was legendary, and his calm demeanor was often more dangerous than any show of aggression.

"Sit, Alexandra," King Alistair instructed, his voice carrying the authority of a ruler who had long since learned that power was wielded with subtlety.

She did as she was told, taking a seat across from her father. Her mother stood beside him, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

"You know why we've arranged this union with the Erebus family," Alistair began, his voice measured, every word chosen with care. "Their strength will bolster our own. They are a key to securing the future of this kingdom."

Alexandra nodded, her heart sinking slightly. She had heard these words countless times before.

"I understand, Father," she replied, her voice steady.

Alistair's piercing eyes softened just slightly, but the intensity of his gaze never wavered. "Vane Erebus is no ordinary vampire. His power has been honed through discipline, through pain, and through sacrifice. He will be a strong partner for you—stronger than you can imagine. But you must remember, Alexandra, this is not a marriage for love. It is a marriage for power. You are to bear him an heir. That is your duty."

Alexandra's heart clenched at his words. She had known this, of course. But hearing it out loud, in such stark terms, made the weight of her future feel heavier than ever before.

"I understand, Father," she said again, though this time the words felt hollow.

The Awakening of a New Storm

As Alexandra left the study, her mind raced. She had been prepared for this, trained for it, her whole life. But as she thought about Vane, about the bond they were about to form, she realized that it wasn't just about duty anymore. A small part of her had always longed for more—for a connection that went beyond strategy, beyond power. But she knew that kind of connection was rare, fleeting, and perhaps not meant for her.

She had seen him from afar before—the way his power surged, the aura that surrounded him. But now, she would finally stand beside him, a position she had always dreamed of, yet never thought she'd actually take. Would he see her as more than just the heir of the Windsar family? Would he look at her with the same longing she had harbored for him all these years?

Her heart, ever the silent storm, whispered perhaps. Perhaps, this union—this bond forged in the fires of necessity—would become something more. But for now, she would be content to play the role her family had set out for her.

And as the winds began to pick up outside, a quiet storm brewing on the horizon, Alexandra Windsar made a decision. She would marry Vane Erebus, not just because her family expected it, but because she would shape this fate. She would not be a passive participant in her own life.

The storm inside her was only beginning.