Bloody Chains that Bind

Victoria (5)

Seven a.m. I hear the military-esque alarm sound radiate through my room. 

I walked to my bathroom and splashed my face with some cool water. Then I did my rigorous face routine: cleanser, scrub, toner, serum, moisturizer, and eye cream. Just because I'm dead doesn't mean I can't look flawless, right? I changed into some black workout gear and slipped my sneakers on. Before I left to wake James up, I tapped on some SPF. Yes, vampires can be in the sun. No, we don't sparkle we go outside. We are just a little more sensitive than humans.

I sighed as I walked into James' room. Still sleeping. I figured. I guess I shouldn't make assumptions. He did have a pretty exhausting day yesterday. Thank fucking god I'm a morning person, or else I probably wouldn't be able to do this job.

He looked peaceful, with his dark curls fanned across the silk scarlet sheets. It's truly a shame to wake him.

"JAMES," I screamed, chucking a pillow at his head. Not at the top of my lungs, I'm not that mean, just loud enough to scare the shit out of him.

"What? What's going on?" He replied groggily and blinked his eyes open. I couldn't help but think that he looked adorable right now, although not very kingly. Hopefully, we'll work on that today.

"Get up, get dressed. I'll have breakfast brought to your room. Be ready in ten minutes. The plan was to have you meet Uther as soon as you got up, but he has an urgent appointment with his doctor; something about needing a scan. We'll just start your training early. Once you are ready, a guard will escort you to the sentry workout center in the forest."

"O-Ok. It took me a minute to remember where I was. Who I was. Who you were." He cocked his head a little. "Victoria do you ever smile?" He asked with a playful lopsided smile.

"Depends on how high my serotonin levels are," I smirked back. He was endearing, asking me that while being fully aware that I could snap his neck. My phone buzzed, automatically causing my eyes to roll. I took it out of my pocket; behind schedule. Shit.

"Hurry up," I flung another throw pillow at him before exiting the room.

I jogged down the stairs, through the corridors of the castle, around the main room, and out the glass back entrance. As soon as I got out the doors, I sprinted down the cobblestone path into the forest. There's always time to get a quick workout in, and I definitely need one now. I'm most likely going to be spending the day showing James the ropes anyway, so I won't have time for my usual routine.

As I was running, I thought about how beautiful it was out here. It was still a little damp, but most of the snow had melted away through the night, revealing the lush greenery of Lamia. Vines snaked up the trees and wildflowers were scattered across the grounds. My favorite is the Gentiana purpurea, or purple Gentian. Many people confuse it for a weed, but it isn't. It's just a little more rugged-looking than the other flowers, because it takes a long time to bloom. But when it finally does bloom, its petals are gorgeous shades of mauve and boysenberry. You just have to have some patience. On one of my runs out here, I found a whole patch of them. Maybe James would like them too.

I can't even begin to fathom what's going through that pretty head of his. The amount of knowledge he's learned in the past twenty-four hours has to be record-breaking. For now, he hasn't had a mental breakdown, which is a good sign. Although, that may change when he finds out about Anne. Dear god, I almost forgot about Anne.

Nope. Nope. Nope. Worry about your own life Victoria. Maybe I should do seven super speed sprints around the castle, just to clear my head of these vapid thoughts.

"Ok I scarfed down some waffles and put pants on."

Never fucking mind, I guess. I turn around to see James in grey sweats and a navy tee. Mental note: navy compliments his eyes. I only take notice of this miniscule detail in preparation for his coronation, of course. No other purpose. Perhaps a navy sash or pocket square?

"Good. You've arrived. Let's get started, shall we?"

"Get started with what exactly? And by the way, nice air pods. Didn't know vampires wore em'."

"We're immortal, not poor James," I scoffed. "Anyway we're gonna get started with drinking blood."

"Drinking blood? What about, like, I don't know, that tomato juice crap." 

"I can't start the physical aspect of your training without you being a full vampire. I didn't know what you liked, so I had a servant bring O neg." I puncture the blood bag and pour its contents into a white Styrofoam cup, snapping an opaque lid on. It's his first time, and I don't want to freak him out. 

Can't say I'm a total bitch. At least not to James. He hasn't done anything to deserve my displeasure. Not yet anyway.

"Drink up kid," I move the cup in his direction. He takes it into his hand and gingerly puts in the straw I gave him.

"Kid? I'm not that much younger than you."

"You're nineteen. I'm twenty-one. So, yea. Kid."

James looks a little scared. I now realize that I don't like seeing his features contorted into a grimace. I'd much prefer to be seeing the cocky smirk which usually annoyed me so.

I extend my hand and gently place it on his shoulder without meaning to do so. "Take your time. We can take as long as you need. No rush okay?"

James flashes me a weak reassuring smile and gives a nod. He then brings the straw to his lips and takes a few small gulps. He motions for me to take the cup, but before I can, he pulls it back towards himself and finishes the rest.