The Vampire Prince (Stryders #2) PUBLISHED

Chapter 1: The Disappearance

This story's timeline is about the ending half and onward from The Demon Alpha. But honestly it won't even matter because Zeke's own story doesn't get too affected by what happens from The Demon Alpha. (He just likes to pop in on the OG gang)

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Stella POV

"Marie is dead."

The head of our witch coven, Helda announced this to all of us as we sat down on the wooden logs by the fire. All 15 of us. Older witches with some children under 5. There was not much of us. Our numbers were dwindling since vampires have been always kidnapping us at alarming rates.

Marie disappeared, but...dead? 

"She's been kidnapped by vampires and presumed dead," Helda continued, causing everyone to panic. I shuddered. I hate vampires. They always took witches to join them. With our magic, they were even more powerful. Against enemies. Against our own kind. How could they continue doing it?

Our encampment was in the forest, where no one could find us. Helda always told us to never stray far from the camp. Who knew what dangers lied out there. Especially where vampires hunted us like prey and werewolves were just out of control.

"Stells, it's not fair," my best friend Lou whispered to me. "Marie didn't deserve that." Lou was getting up to leave, angry at the world.  Before I could stop her, she ran into the forest. Helda's eyes never missed anything, and they followed her out. Helda's mouth formed a thin line of disapproval. That was Lou- always the rebel. Sometimes I wish I had her bravery. 

Marie had the same bravery. She loved to disobey Helda too. But now she's gone. Just like that. It was only yesterday her and Lou were making fun of me that I never knew what was in the Werewolf's Den.

I heard a loud sigh from Skye, a few years younger than me at the age of 18, and also one of my closest friends. Her bedazzled phone was always in her hands, and this time was no exception. 

"Lou always just has to be so extra."

"She was the closest to Marie than any of us," I reminded her.

Pursing her lips, she sent out a tweet, probably to her thousands of followers on Twitter. She told me once she had a personal Twitter and a stan Twitter account - a Jimin from BTS one that she ran. Filled with fancams of Park Jimin, pictures and posts. Skye was something else entirely that I couldn't quite figure out. But I loved her the same.

"I guess," Skye said before Helda dismissed all of us. I watched her glance back at her own tent.

"You go to sleep, I'll catch up with you." I got up to follow what Helda was up to.

Nearing Helda's tent, into the corner where there is a small peep hole, I froze when I heard a male voice.

I touched my emerald pendant unconsciously. A bad habit of mine. It was the only thing given to me. Ever. Besides the dagger I have fastened on my right hip that I bought for myself when trading with another witch in my coven.

I had this charmed emerald necklace since I turned 16. It had a powerful charm in it that Helda gave it to me. She told me, So no one can smell your scent. In case.

In case what? I asked at the time.

In case you are mates with a werewolf, vampire or faerie...you will be protected from them smelling you and realizing you are mates.

"We have come for a marriage proposal." 

The male voice is who I did recognize. Helda has showed me before the leader of the warlocks. His name is Marden, and he is in front of Helda, unwelcome here.  His hair is gray, but he looks to be young. Probably some enchantment he put. Or magic of the blood.

Either way, he is a sight for sore eyes.

"I don't think so," Helda said, much to my relief.

"You owe us a debt. A great debt."

"Marriage is such a great debt to you egotistical warlocks?" Helda inquired, her voice growing bored.

Marden's voice became angrier, "This is the least you can do."

"The vampires already take us, now our own kind shows the same repulsive behaviors?"

"We are nothing like them," Marden's voice boomed, his stance threatening. Helda didn't care though, she was the one who was sitting on a throne of bones. "You guys can help us take them down, to take down the royal vampires."

"Can we?"

"You are indebted, Helda. Do not forget. With blood magic, you made a vow. A favor for a favor."

"Is marriage your favor or this?"

"Marriage is not just a favor it is a joyous occasion."

"Who are you....proposing for? Yourself?" Helda's nose wrinkled.

Marden let out a sigh of frustration. "One of my sons, Jackson."

"Not as bad as you but still bad."

The warlock coven was stronger, at least in this area. They all joined together, a band of about 40 warlocks, enforcing their own patriarchal nature. Some of these warlocks made Alpha werewolves look tame. Domineering, controlling and restrictive of witches because we were dying out.

"I will not have you pick and pluck any of my witches. We do not have any of age to marry."

"I heard you guys have someone in the coven. Her name is Stella."

Hold up, that's me. 

How does he know about me? I barely see the warlocks- only whenever Helda seldom has to go into meetings with them. Or if we practice a certain type of magic spell that, but even then we are separated from each other and barely seen.

My heart hammers, and I place a hand over my chest to calm myself about this revelation. This is what I get for snooping around. I find out things I do not want to know.

"Someone owes me a personal debt."

"I know," Helda sighed, waving him off.

"Do you know?" Marden seemed to be done with having this conversation. "I do not want to fight my own kind, but do not leave me with no choice. I will come. For the marriage and for your debt to the coven."

Marden makes his exit.

A few moments pass, I think I do not breath.

"You can come out now, Stella," Helda gets up, wielding her staff to aid in her in walking. Or to look cool.

"Is the warlocks going to be a problem?" I asked, entering underneath the tent.

"No, they talk a lot is the problem," Helda said. I stifled a laugh. "What about you? Have you been practicing your magic?"

"Yes," I nodded. Helda's mouth formed a thin line.

 I still got woozy trying to do them, but I had to better control my magic. I forgot how to do even the basic ones. I did extra practice with Lou or Skye in the evenings since Helda thought it wasn't something to worry about too much. The witch coven took me in. I remember being scared at a young age, but Helda was one of the first faces I saw who took me in. I was so grateful to her. 

I didn't know where exactly my family was who they were...my memories were scattered.

And I wanted to remember. So badly I ached.