Royalty with fangs

"Snow, come down here," my mothers voice rang up the stairs . I really wanted to ignore her, but hearing anger, even mild anger, in the queen of your entire civilization's voice was hardly ever a good thing. I started down the large marble staircase into the living room, making a quick detour to the kitchen for a glass of water before making my way to my mothers office.

"What's this I hear about you refusing to get a slave?" she asks. "If you plan on being Queen any time soon, you will. For 200 years in the royal family, every child has bought a human slave for their fifteenth birthday, Snow." She tries to say this so I'll see things her way.

"I promise it isn't as bad as it seems to you. Anyway, Salem will be taking you in an hour to the auction house, if you don't pick a slave, he will do it for you."

I begin to protest, but I know it will be no use. If she has my brother, Salem, in on this its going to happen.

I head up to my room and select an outfit for the day. I look im the mirror, wondering how I'm supposed to take on the responsibilty of owning a human being. I only just turned 15. I shake my head at myself, I'm beimg selfish. It's my duty as royalty to follow tradition.

I head downstairs. My mother gives my light wash skinny jeans and loose v-neck a disapproving glance, but doesn't otherwise protest. Salem dutifully leads me to his car. He tries to reason with me by saying something about his human slave, Violet. I say something of mild reassurance, it seems to pacify him for now.

We pull up to the auction house. I walk inside, forgetting to be angry, and gaze curiously at the gothic interior of the place. A large stage, Black velvet seats for the bidders, its almost like they're trying to perpetuate vampire stereotypes. I take a seat at the back. I hear a few people mumbling. The owner comes up and starts babbling off praise for the royal family to me. I nod my head at him and he scurries off.

The auction begins. I am relatively bored, until the sixth slave walks up. He has brown hair and striking green eyes. To put it bluntly, he's beautiful even though he is pale and undernourished as he is.

I raise my bidding card. Nobody dares bid against me. It would be disrespectful to challenge royalty, anyone well off enough to be here knows the customs. The slave is ushered off stage and I am led to a back room. I sign papers and pass over a stack of bills.

I am given a stack of paper that contains his information. He is one year older than me. His name is Dimitri. What the paper doesn't have to tell me is that he looks terrified, that's clear on his face.

"You don't have to be scared of me, I promise I won't hurt you." I say quietly. He looks at me, still obviously scared. I lead him to the car and introduce him to Salem. The ride home is silent. The car stops in front of our castle. I get out of the car and gesture for Dimitri to follow me.

Salem swings the large marble doors open. My father greets me at the door. Dimitri grabs my hand and stares at my dad with terror.

"Hey, don't be scared of me, I treat my slaves well." says my dad.

"Its the queen you have to worry about, she is very...traditional." He says. Dimitri nods.

We walk to the foyer, where my mother is waiting. "He looks like he has potential." she states. He grabs my hand. "How dare you touch the princess!" she shouts. "Mum, its fine." I say. Dimitri just stares at her. "Your first task is to learn some manners, am I clear?". Dimitri nods. "Am I clear?!" she says again. "Yes" he says. "Mum, you're sacrin-" I am cut off by her shouting "Yes, what?". "Yes, your majesty." says Dimitri.

I shoot my mother a dirty look and lead Dimitri upstairs.

"Im sorry about her," I say.

"It is alright, Princess." he says and bows.