Bloody Chains that Bind

James (2)

The final bell of the day rang, signaling that seventh period was over. Thank god. I wasn't the biggest fan of Pre-Cal. I mean it's not like I'll be using logarithms on the daily as a veterinarian. 

I crammed my earbuds in, refusing to hear the meaningless chatter of the students scattered throughout the parking lot.

My helmet was on and my worn leather jacket was zipped up, and before I knew it, I was on the road heading home. The wind whipped past me as I zipped out and in between the traffic. That's probably the greatest perk out of owning a motorcycle. You don't have to heed by the rules of the road. If there's traffic and enough room, I can go in between each car until I'm out of the mess. The bad news? It still took me a long time to get home. 

My grandma decided to enroll me into private school, wanting me to get the best education possible. While I'm grateful that she cares, the ride gets a little tedious by having to drive almost an hour in any kind of less than sunny weather. Luckily it was snowing. It was the kind of snow that sticks to the pavement and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stick up. While most people are turning on their heat to full blast, I was embracing the cold. 

On the way home, I was getting lost in my thoughts as per usual. Usually it was dumb things like what I had to do when I got home or how everyone at my school was caught up in the little things. It that cliche? Yes. Do I care? No, not really. It's not like people dislike me and it's not like I've ever been rude. Okay that was a slight lie. In the beginning, a lot of guys at my school tried to be my friend and the girls batted their lashes at me. After enough rejection and avoidance, everyone got the hint. I wasn't there to make friends; just graduate.

I parked my bike in the garage, setting the helmet on the shelf. I closed the garage door and went into the cozy one story my grandmother and I shared. Walking towards the kitchen to fix myself some lunch, I halted. My grandmother was sitting on the couch, and in the armchair next to her was a stranger.

The first thing I noticed about her was her eyes. They were an emerald shade of green with golden flecks throughout, which complimented her olive skin. I had never been this close to a vampire, seeing as they preferred to stay on the eastern hemisphere. She had dark hair with some chestnut streaks, clearly from sun exposure. Her hair was braided back, framing her delicate features. She was covered from head to toe in black, from the leather jacket to the combat boots. After staring at this stranger for half a minute, I remembered that's what she was. A stranger.

"Grandma, who is this?" I asked calmly.

The stranger stood, dusting her jacket off. "I'm Victoria Collins, one of King Uther's most respected guards. Now your personal guard, Prince James." She extended her hand, and I remembered to take it in my daze. It was cold and calloused.

"I've been sent here by the King to bring you back to France. Uther is ill and seeing as you are now eighteen years old and his only child, you are heir to the Lamia throne. I will need you to accompany me to the kingdom at once so that we may begin preparations for your ascension to the throne."

I stood there in awe and looked at my grandmother, who was motioning for me to sit down next to her on the couch. This can't be right. My grandmother is human. She's been taking care of me since my parents died in a house fire when I was one. We've always been together. None of this makes sense.

My grandma cleared her throat and finally broke the silence, "James, I love you. You know that. I've spent eighteen years raising you and caring for you and what I'm about to say doesn't change the fact that I love you: You are not my grandson. I'm a human, but you are not."

I opened my mouth in protest. This doesn't make any sense. Grandma put her hand up to stop my oncoming objections, "Before you start explaining things to me and trying to tell me I'm wrong, let me finish." 

"And close your mouth while you're at it." The stranger commanded. I glared but did as she asked. Not because she told me or anything, but because I wanted to.

"You may have been raised as one, but you are a vampire. More specifically, a vampire prince. Your mother was Arabella Laine, a vampire duchess. She married your father, King Uther, when she was very young. Arabella was murdered on a diplomatic trip to Argentina by human nationalists. This isn't well known information, as Uther wanted to grieve her loss in peace, and kept the details of her death hidden from the press. While your mother was hated by some, many humans loved her. Including me. I studied abroad in France, where I met her. I was her lady in waiting and before her death, she requested that her son be raised in the human world. She begged Uther to let me take care of you. He adamantly refused, wanting his son to be raised in Lamia as he was. But after Arabella's death, he became busy, and consumed with grief. Humans waged the war on Lamia when you were thirteen months old. Uther knew it wasn't safe for you to stay in France. So, he entrusted me to raise you here in my hometown of Chicago. I loved you as my own and always will James."

Victoria looked at me, "But now Uther is ill. The King can see that his time is coming, and an eligible heir must ascend the throne. I am sorry to uproot your life and I can't imagine what you must be feeling right now." For a split second, I thought I saw her cold expression twist to a more empathetic one, before she shifted back to neutral, making me wonder if I was imagining things. Her eyes moved to the watch on her wrist. 

"We must leave now if we are to make it back before the nor'easter. Please go and pack some essentials. We will have most things you may need at the castle and I promise I will explain more on the plane." 

I glanced at my Grandma and waited for her to clap her hands and announce that this was all a prank and she was just messing with me. She had to be messing with me. Vampires and humans have been at war with each other for as long as I can remember. It's like the classic cat and mouse game, it's always been that way. Why would my supposed mother entrust my Grandma, a human, with a vampire prince?

They stared at me, waiting for me to leave the room. They weren't joking. Oh, God. 

Without another word, I walked to my room and pulled the grey suitcase from the bottom of my closet out. I was in shock; I could feel it. Or maybe I couldn't. I was feeling everything at once: deceived, confused, honored, shocked, but also numb. I could tell that the reality of the situation hasn't sunk in yet. It probably never will. This is some messed up Princess Diaries shit.

I threw some belongings haphazardly into my suitcase and zipped it up. I said goodbye to my grandmother, if I could even still call her that. I think I can. She raised me my entire life and I don't think you can fake that kind of love. She has been lying to me for my entire life though. It doesn't matter, not right now anyway.

I hugged her goodbye and walked out of the house with Victoria, feeling the cold hit me like a breath of fresh air; a much needed one.

Victoria opened the car door for me, and I clumsily staggered into the black limousine. She got in on the other side and we began driving to the airport. Neither she nor I exchanged a word, only momentary glances every now and again. I watched as the town I grew up in, the people who I've seen my entire life, pass me by. 

At least I won't have to take another Pre-Cal class ever again. Silver lining. 

Wait...I'm a vampire prince now...vampires can't touch silver, without bursting into flames anyway. Well shit. 

Then, gold lining.

I won't have to take Pre-Cal ever again. Gold lining.