The Dragomir Heir (Watty Award)

Wife

Lucius stood as still as he could at the altar of the gothic cathedral. He was wearing his official black kingly uniform, with a heavy silver crown and a black cape. The priest who was to reside over the wedding stood at the centre of the altar, humming the same tune to himself that it started to irritate Lucius. The priest, to Lucius’ amusement, was actually a vampire who was part of the crusade many years ago and every time he ‘died’, the priest would have to reinvent himself.

“I think I ‘died’ and re-joined the crusade like 100 times”, the priest once confessed to Lucius.

Dante stood next to him, smiling at his cousin. “Finally getting leg-shackled, hey cousin?” Dante kept on saying.

“You will get your leg shackled in my dungeons if you don’t stop talking”, warned Lucius but Dante brushed the warning aside. Lucius wanted his wedding to run perfectly; no distractions; no death; no threats, no wars and most importantly, NO missing bride. All the elders and direct family member sat at the front and just behind Frederick Heinz sat Christian. The vampire refused to look at Lucius; clearly he was only here for Valentina. Lucius wondered whether the vampire would stand and oppose the wedding. I dare him to, Lucius thought to himself as he eyed his own assassins hiding in the dark ready to strike at Lucius’ command.

Impatient as ever, Lucius continuously looked out the window and down at his watch; a Rolex, which Valentina purchased for him. It was already dusk and he didn’t want it to be midnight before he got married. He was told that Valentina will be 10 minutes late and Lucius really didn’t know whether she was truly late or just trying to scare him. If she’s any later, I’m going to personally drag her to the altar, he thought to himself.

Suddenly, trumpets sounded and Valentina clad in white appeared at the entrance, with Vladius next to her, wearing his regent king coronet. Time really did stand still at that moment for Lucius and he truly did freeze at the sight of his future wife. Her white dress had pearls stitched to it and she was wearing his diamond set, which he had delivered this morning. She was wearing a veil but that wasn’t what drew Lucius’ attention away. He looked at her face, which was emotionless but her eye glowed with anticipation. Her red lips wanted to smirk as did Lucius’ own.

Finally, the trumpets started playing and at that, Vladius guided his granddaughter towards Lucius. Vera, dress in a bride’s maid white, followed behind with a small gold goblet, a gold dagger, and a gold chain on a red velvet cushion. Dante had placed the Vladonov’s own silver and black set on a table.

Finally, Vladius handed Valentina’s hand into Lucius’ outstretched ones before he took his seat at the front. For a long second, Lucius looked into Valentina’s emerald eyes and she looked at his steely grey ones. As appropriate, Valentina regally placed her right hand over Lucius’ left and turned to the priest.

“We are gather here tonight to join in matrimony His Majesty King Lucius Aramis Caesar Vladonov and Her Majesty Queen Valentina Aurora Daenerys Dragomir”, announced the priest before he opened a large book. “But first…let us bind them in blood.”

At that announcement, two young vampires came away from the wall and placed a stool with a large silver bowl on top between Lucius and Valentina. He was warned about this part of the wedding many years ago…the binding of blood was strong and meant more than a mere gold ring. He was to create a cross on Valentina’s right hand to mark her as his own and he was to do that with the Vladonov’s silver dagger. The blood that came out will be caught in the bowl and then transferred to the silver goblet for later in the ceremony.

Valentina turned to face him with her right hand outstretched. Lucius cupped her hand with his left and accepted the dagger from Dante. Lucius could hear not even a single breath from the audience as they watch him bring the dagger to Valentina’s flesh. She, on the other hand, looked at him, trusting Lucius completely to cut her. Once he made the cross over her right hand, he tilted it to allow the blood to fall into the bowl.