Meet Me in the Graveyard [Book One] #Wattys2015

Chapter 4

        I looked up at the castle and walked slowly to the gate. Luckily for me, they were open so I was free to just walk right on in. A gardener was working to my right and a few kids were running around a maid to my left.  There were a few commoners out and about shopping in the market and even a few people with titles.        

        I couldn't blame them, it was a beautiful day and the wind wasn't too strong. A cat runs past me and hot on its trail was a small dog. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood today. I keep walking through the town until I get to the courtyard. The courtyard gate was open so I walked in and continued up the steps to the castle doors. A guard stops me as I reach for the brass knocker.

        "Lady Amelie?" he asks hesitantly.

        "Yes." I reply with a curtsy.

        "I apologize. I didn't recognize you at first. Please head on in." He says keeping his head down.

        I nod in his direction and enter the castle. I walk to the study and find the person I was looking for.

        "Look, I'm not in the mood to- Amelie?" Vincent asks baffled. He stands up and walks over to me.

        "What are you doing here? I thought you had moved?"

         "We have. But I have terrible news." I say taking his arm and walking to the sofa.

        "It must be pretty bad if you came all the way here." He said as he poured a cup of tea for each of us.

        "Well, as you know, we moved to a werewolf town. On my first day I may have had a run in with their prince or whatever and kicked his ass, excuse my language, in front of about two hundred people."

        "Are they declaring war?"

        "They might as well. According to their prince, I'm his mate." I say not looking at him.

        "Is he like..." He trails off.

        "I don't know. I rejected him in front of the whole school. I didn't want to go down that path again."

        "Well, why are you here?"

        "I can't go back. The entire town hates me and they'll want my head for rejecting him." I say grabbing his hands.

        "You're always welcome here." He says giving into my puppy dog eyes.

        "I know I am. That's why I came to you." I say with a smirk.

        "But aren't you worried about what people will say? We aren't married. They'll think something's up."         

        "We're engaged. The wedding is being planned as we speak. Couples move in before marriage all the time."

        "But it's different for us, you know that."

        "I'll be staying in the guest room. It's no problem. Besides, no one cared when I stayed here the night you proposed." 

        "Well. I have work. Why don't you go get changed into something more appropriate for dinner and I'll see you in about an hour?"

        I walk upstairs and into my room, even though it was technically a guest room, Vincent made it mine during the war and I had to stay here for safety. I grab a gown out of the wardrobe and called for a maid to help me with my corset. Corsets weren't really necessary for vampires but we stuck to our roots and kept the old fashions alive.

        I put my hair into a French braid and added a few pearl clips to it. My white gloves were on along with my engagement ring and promise ring. A small pearl necklace and I was ready for dinner.

        For dinner we had rolls, turkey, ham, green bean casserole, yams, broccoli  soup, and corn. Then for dessert we had a variety of little cakes and sweets from a nearby baker. I didn't sleep that night, I stayed up and read Voltaire's Candide for the hundredth time.  I was happy that I was away from the werewolves. I was finally back inside a castle, where I belonged. I wasn't made for this modern age. Sure I had adjusted easy enough but after three days, I was glad to be back in my normal routine.  I can only hope that it stays this way.