Beyond the walls (Ruby Rose)

°prologue°

My heart is pounding heavily as I make my way to the main square of the town. The fear within is a lot to bare, I even contemplate running away from my possible doom.

'what if I'm chosen? what if this is the day I am taken away from my life forever?'

The haunting questions taunt me farther while I scurry through the grimmy alley of the slums, trying to avoid drunken men and theifs. I've lived in the poor side of town for all twenty years of my life but I still can't stand being around some of its awful characteristics.

'you'll be far from this place if you are chosen...' My conscious tries to reason, pointing out the only positive to this unpleasant situation.

The church bell starts to ring and I hurry as not to be late. That'll only bring more attention to me which is something I aim not to do at all.

I finally arrive at the square and watch as the people crowd around the area to watch. I quickly make my way to the line of the young women that lined up in the middle of the square, all facing the church and waiting nervously.

'glad to see I'm not the only one on edge...then again, what sane person wouldn't be..'

The ringing of the bell is the only sound to be heard as we all wait scared to death. For what, you might ask? Well, let me explain.

About a week ago, a decree was sent out to Solris, our town, stating that in a weeks time, all the young women of the village, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-three, are to be dressed in there finest clothes and lined up in the square so the Count of the town can choose a bride, at midday exactly.
Obviously, this is not a strange thing in our time. Every nobleman finds his bride from the village inherited from his father before him or just marries a daughter of another noble family from a neighbouring village.

What was strange, however, is that in our village, we are lead by a supernatural family, vampires to specific. Many believe it is a myth but it is indeed true. The thing is, instead of the process of choosing a bride happening every couple of years when the new nobleman is of age to take over, it happens every thousand of years here since vampires live for a longer period of time, if not immortally.

And today was the day some unlucky girl will be taken as a bride by the young vampire nobleman that has taken over from the one before him. And I say unlucky because these creatures are known to be quite vicious and cruel. At least that's what we were told as children, not many people have been in and out of the Count's home to tell the true tale and those that have are either sworn to secrecy by him or are deemed foolish liars for saying he is anything but awful beings. This is the main reason no one truly knows the life beyond the high walls.

The church bell stops and we all take a deep breath in fear and anticipation as the sound of hooves and wheels of a carriage carries through the silent square. I clutch onto the skirt of my navy blue dress tightly as I try to calm my beating heart.

'stay calm, Eva it might not be you'

The voice of my mother echoes through my racing mind. I can only imagine how she would've comforted me upon receiving the news a week ago if she was still alive.

The carriage comes to a stop in front of us and I am too afraid to look anywhere else besides its black and gold wheels. The coachman steps down from his seat and brings with him a small stool, placing it by the door of the fancy black carriage and stands on attention waiting for his command to open the door.

We hear a slight knock, and everybody holds the breath as he slowly opens the door. This will be the first, and probably last, time we'll be seeing the Count.