Aeliana

Chapter 2

"She had a long night last night with her friends. Be quiet and let her sleep," Michael said. "Plus, it's her birthday. Let her sleep some more," he added.

"Okay, I'll let her sleep," Vivian replied.

The talking from the living room woke Aeliana in her room. She checked her clock; it was 7:15 in the morning. Usually, Vivian would have already been in her room around 6:30 to wake her up every morning. Wondering why Vivian hadn't come yet, Aeliana got up from her bed and headed straight to the big window covered in royal blue curtains. She spread them wide, allowing the sun rays to hit her bare skin that wasn't covered by her grey nightgown. Aeliana loved the sun, especially during the summer when she and her friends could spend most of their time outdoors.

After a moment of basking in the sunlight, Aeliana turned away from the window and went to sit in front of the pink-framed mirror. As she gazed into the mirror, a soft voice spoke, "Happy Birthday, Aeliana."

Aeliana's reflection in the mirror revealed a girl in her mid-20s, dressed in saggy black clothes. Her dull white hair was dripping with water, and her light chocolate-toned skin showed slight wrinkles. Dark circles surrounded her sad light grey eyes.

"Thank you, Antoinette," Aeliana replied to the mirror.

"What are you going to do today?" Antoinette asked.

"I have no idea. Maybe I'll see what Chad is doing today," Aeliana said.

"Ugh, him again? For a human, he smells funny. Why do you keep going around him so often?" Antoinette remarked, her fangs suddenly sprouting in her mouth.

"Because he's my friend," Aeliana explained.

Antoinette's anger subsided, and she retracted her fangs. "I thought I was your friend?" she questioned.

"Yes, yes, you are my friend. But you see, no one knows about you and that you're in my mind. It would make me look crazy," Aeliana clarified.

"I understand. Because I'm sure your friends would want to see me if you tell them," Antoinette said, accepting the explanation.

"Correct," Aeliana confirmed.

At that moment, Vivian knocked on the door. "Who are you talking to, sweetie?" she asked.

"Nobody," Aeliana replied.

Vivian's ivory face and light grey eyes filled with curiosity as she surveyed the rose-pink room, looking for anyone who might be present. Satisfied that no one else was there, she smiled at Aeliana.

"Oh, by the way, happy birthday, love. What do you want for breakfast today?" Vivian asked.

"A bread, cheese, and egg sandwich with grape juice," Aeliana answered.

"Good. Michael and I would like to discuss something important with you after breakfast," Vivian informed her.

"Okay, Mom."

Aeliana looked back at the mirror, but Antoinette was gone. She proceeded to take a bath, put on a white t-shirt and jeans, and brushed out her curly tangle of white hair. Afterward, she headed to the kitchen.

Her parents wished her a happy birthday, and they all sat down for breakfast, discussing her plans for the day. Once breakfast was finished, they gathered in the living room.

Michael and Vivian sat closely together on the couch. Michael, wearing a brown soft shirt with khaki three-quarter pants and brown sneakers, appeared uncertain. His ivory face betrayed his nervousness as he alternated his gaze between Aeliana and Vivian, while he gently held Vivian's hands in his own. He took out a napkin from his pocket and wiped his sweatless face—a well-groomed man who always looked handsome, with big light grey eyes and orangeish-red hair that never seemed to age. His wife, Vivian, seemed younger, thin, and fragile, with shoulder-length black hair. She always wore a deep shade of red lipstick and had well-painted nails. That morning, she was dressed in a lavender spaghetti strap dress with matching sandals.

Aeliana sat across from them, pondering the nature of the "important talk" they had mentioned.

"So..." Michael began. "Since today is your big day and you're an adult now, there are some things you need to know about your history."

He glanced at Vivian, prompting her to continue.

"Your parents were not normal vampires. They held a royal status," Vivian added.

"Royal? You mean like duke and duchess?" Aeliana asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, like king and queen," Vivian clarified.

Silence fell upon the room.

Aeliana let out a sarcastic laugh. "Haaaaaaa, I know it's a birthday prank you're trying to tell me, and this one is the worst out of all those years."

Michael's expression turned solemn. "We're telling you the truth. You were a princess all along, but since your parents are no longer here, you couldn't assume the role until you turned 18," he said.

Aeliana stopped laughing and stared at her parents, searching for any signs of deception. She had always wondered about her parents' true identities, and now it seemed they were revealing something she had never expected.

"How did my real parents die again?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.

A short silence followed, until Vivian let out a sigh and answered, "They didn't die in an accident. They were murdered."

"By who?" Aeliana inquired, her eyes widening.

"We don't actually know," Michael replied.

"There were speculations, based on inconclusive evidence, that the king and queen were murdered by our enemies," Vivian added, her gaze shifting downward to her lap.

"And who are these enemies?" Aeliana pressed further.

"Werewolves," Michael and Vivian responded in unison. "Since then, many royal vampires have disappeared, which is why Vivian and I took you away to ensure your safety," Michael explained.

"Wolves... I remember seeing wolves," Antoinette whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Their bodies had claw and bite marks all over," Vivian continued, recounting the gruesome details.

"But enough of that," Michael interjected. "You're the new queen of Bresien, and your people are waiting for you."

"Queen of what?" Aeliana asked, her mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the revelation.

"Bresien," Vivian answered.

Aeliana sat quietly for a while, absorbing the weight of this unexpected news. She didn't feel prepared to move or rule over a kingdom she had never known existed.

"Who's ruling now?" Aeliana inquired.

"Your great uncle is the regent of the kingdom at the moment," Vivian replied.

"What were my parents like?" Aeliana asked, wanting to know more about the individuals who had brought her into this world.

"Well, your father was a fierce and respected king. Other vampire kingdoms were afraid of him. However, he had a soft spot when he entered the human world and met your mother," Michael explained.

"So, my mother is human, which makes me half-human, half-vampire?" Aeliana sought confirmation.

"Yes, your father was so deeply in love with your mother that he would have given up his kingdom for her," Vivian said, a hint of fondness in her voice.

"Your mother gave birth to you while she was still human. It was the first vampire birth the kingdom had seen in 500 years. The process nearly killed her, so your father turned her into a vampire and made her his queen," Vivian continued.

"Vivian and I were both bodyguards for your parents. It was forbidden for male and female guards to be in a relationship, but they made an exception for us," Michael revealed.

"We owe it to them to be your guardians until you reach adulthood," Vivian concluded, her voice filled with a mix of duty and affection.

As Aeliana sat in the chair, absorbing the revelations, she felt overwhelmed and at a loss for words. There were so many questions left unanswered, and she sensed that her parents were withholding even more information. It all felt too rushed, too incomplete.