-The Human Girl-

Chapter twelve - The Prince Edward.

First published on Tuesday the 14th of March, 2017.
Isabella's POV:
(Age fourteen)

Angela, Jessica and I slunk into the Great hall, sticking to the sides, away from the main party. "I can't believe it!" Jessica whispered next to me. "This is the first dance we've been allowed to attend!" I giggled beside her, my eyes wide as saucers as I took in the grand dresses, the decorations and beautiful dancing that surrounded us. We had arrived ahead of the Queen — instructed not to dance with any of the vampires — so that she could enter later with her husband, to celebrate the birthday of her child.

Of course, the hall was beautiful. Easily big enough to house the thousand or so people milling about — courtiers and servants alike — it was a grand, architecturally brilliant piece of work. Jessica had told me once that it was the Queen herself who had designed it originally, and with a little help from her daughter Alice they had decorated it quite spectacularly. The ceiling was high up, with gold and red decorations hung from the giant chandelier; which, in turn, was set off by the drapes and white dog-roses (the only kind that bloomed this time of year). I gaped at the sight of such a lavish ball, my eyes just as much on the beautiful dancers as on the room. Music played loudly in the background, inviting the guests to dance with the melodious sound of the Citole and the Harp — not to mention the simply marvellous Hurdy-Gurdy, which I'd never seen up close before.

Angela tapped the top of my arm, leaning in to whisper in my ear. "Your dress is beautiful, Isabella," I smiled and put my hand over hers. "Thank you, Angela, it was a gift from my father," she raised her eyebrow sceptically, her face growing darker as she looked me up and down. "Are you sure about that, Isabella?" I was taken aback by her remark, wondering how on Earth she could have known something that I'd had to guess at.

"Of course I am, who else could it have been from?" She shook her head and gestured around the room.
"Look, Isabella, who else can you see wearing red?" I scanned the dancers, hoping to see a glimpse of the blood coloured fabric. None, not anywhere.

"Red is a royal colour, Isabella, or at least that type is anyway. And it's silk, isn't it? Don't you know it's illegal for anyone other than royalty to wear silk like you do?" I felt my palms go sweaty and my cheeks burn bright red. Angela was whispering so low that I could barely hear her, but of course some of the vampires could. A few, those who were nearest, were already slightly turned towards us, discreetly listening in on our conversation.

"I know that you haven't had time to properly memorise all of the imagery and etiquette that they use, but if you've been given this dress, then it's for a reason — and they all know it," she motioned at the entire room of vampire courtiers, who were all sneakily snatching glances at me, curious looks in their eyes. "What do you mean?" I asked worriedly, biting my lip in hesitation.

Angela looked at me kindly, her soft brown eyes magnified by the blue hood she was wearing. "From what I know, whenever they plan on adding a human to their ranks they mark them out, dress them in burgundy colours and let all the other vampires know that they have been singled out." Jessica was still oblivious to our conversation, she was prattling on about some Page boy who'd stopped to talk to her, the son of a Squire, apparently... I was riveted to the spot, not by Jessica's futile attempts at gossip but by Angela's words — how on earth did I not know this?

"But this is all far too strange, Isabella, this hasn't happened in decades, not since one of their cousins in Denali found a mate. The only unmated royal is the Crown Prince Edward; but he is much too old for you, and he probably doesn't even know your name," I shuddered at the mention of the cool, distant prince who had ended my relationship with Rose and Alice, and nearly killed me before that. "I cannot understand why this would happen, Isabella, but it seems as though you have made your mark upon one of their family."