The Prince of Blood

Chapter 4: Evelyn

The road to Castle Cretzia was long and bumpy.

Evelynn's bum was numb and sore from sitting in the carriage for hours on end. She longed to get out and stretch her legs. Hell, she'd much rather the comfort of horseback than suffocating in the carriage a moment longer. Being stuck in close quarters with her two sisters set her teeth on edge.

Justine, she didn't mind as much, except for the child never stopped talking or bouncing up and down in her seat. Margaret sulked the entire two day journey. Pouting and glaring out the window as the scenery around them changed from bright green forests to barren, empty lands covered in ice.

The North was a harsh kingdom. The winters were long and frigid. Barely anything grew in the mountains and the roads were always blocked by ice and snow. Vampire's thrived in the cold and didn't need to eat, which is probably why they claimed it as their own so many centuries ago. All they needed was a few human subjugates to feed off of every now and then.

Evelyn glanced out the window, praying to whatever Gods would listen, that their ride would soon be over. If she had to listen to Justine yammer on about the Prince for one more minute, someone would end up with a knife in their eye.

Just as she was about to snap at her younger sister, she caught sight of the red brick castle, nestled between two mountains. Marking the boundary of their land and the entrance to the North, the great Kingdom of Leon.

She sighed a breath of relief at the sight of Castle Cretzia. They finally made it.

If she ever had to do this arduous trip again, she was riding with her brother and father. Margaret and Justine could keep each other company just fine on their own.

The carriage pulled off the road, pulling to a stop down an icy side road. The horses nickered in protest. Frosty air blew out their nose as they stomped their feet against the frigid terrain.

Evelyn nearly kicked the carriage door open before one of their coachmen could open it for her. She hoped out of the stifling box and almost danced at the feeling of being free.

The air was cold, much colder than she was used to down in the South where it seemed like summer would never end. Her warm breath came out in puffs of white. Her cheeks stung and the tips of her fingers were already numb.

Turning back, she saw her brother exit his own carriage, their father just behind. She walked over towards them while the servants prepared their cold weather attire. They couldn't very well show up to Castle Cretzia without wearing the right clothes for the North.

"Father," Evelyn bowed her head slightly upon sight of her father, as was custom.

"Evelyn, dear. How was your ride?" King Linus asked, a small smirk playing on his lips, as though he already knew the answer.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes at her king before smiling falsely. "It was quite entertaining. Margaret was a joy to be around and Justine couldn't stop talking about how handsome the Vampire Prince is," she leaned in to whisper, knowing it would get him back for sticking her with her sisters for two days straight. "I believe Justine wishes that the Prince will choose her as his bride. Something about, living forever, or some nonsense," she waved her hand flippantly.

The King nearly choked on the air he breathed. His face turned bright red, his eyeballs nearly popping from their sockets. If Evelyn didn't know any better, she might actually be worried for him. But no, this was the look of a parent who believed his youngest daughter wished to become immortal.

King Linus cleared his throat, regaining his composure. Evelyn tried her damndest to stifle a laugh and only somewhat succeeded by the look on her brother's face that was now breaking out into a full blown grin.

"If you'll excuse me," the King said, before walking with determination towards his youngest.

Evelyn turned to watch him, her mouth pulling into a cunning smirk. Let Justine talk herself out of that.

She could feel her brother hovering just behind her, his breath hot on her neck.

"You could give a demon a run for his money, you do know that?"

Evelyn snickered, turning back to her brother. She could already hear Justine's shrill voice trying to calm their father down.

"I have no idea what you mean dear brother," Evelyn said coolly.

Lional simply chuckled again, shaking his head at his favorite sibling. "You're going to send father to an early grave with your antics."

Evelyn shrugged her shoulders. "That old man will outlive us all."

"One can hope. Being King looks tedious," Lional said, watching the exchange between their father and baby sister. The King looked to be gaining gray hairs by the second.

Evelyn could only nod her head. "Good thing I'm only a woman. I never have to worry about ruling."

"That law is archaic and outlandish. You'd make a better ruler than most Prince's I know, including the pompous one we're about to meet," Lional grumbled, straightening out his tunic in frustration.

Evelyn watched her brother closely. Watched as his eyes flitted from sister to sister. How he played with the ends of his jacket, rubbing the material between his thumb and forefinger. Something was bothering him.

"What's wrong, brother? You seem nervous."

Lional finally focused his turquoise blue eyes on hers, the family trait of the royals.

"I just have a bad feeling about this meeting with the Prince," Lional admitted.

Evelyn frowned. "If we're lucky he'll take Margaret far away from here. I think she'd thrive in the subfreezing temperatures and ice. At least then I won't have to constantly check my morning tea for poisons."

"It's not Margaret I worry for."

Evelyn could feel his gaze piercing her. She suddenly felt uneasy and weary. "What are you saying?"

"I think you will be the one the Prince chooses. Your path won't be easy."

"Have you had a vision?" she hissed softly.

Their mother's lineage was tainted with witch blood but kept quiet for fear of what their people would do if they learned that the heirs to the throne might possess an ounce of magic. Lional had moments of clairvoyance, but nothing more than a feeling. Except for the day of their mother's death.

"No, just a feeling and it's not good. I'm worried for you Evie."

The sound of her pet name heightened her nerves. Evelyn pulled her shoulders back, straightening her spine, chin held high. "I'll be alright Lional. No matter where my fate lies, I'll get through it. I'm a survivor."

Lional sighed deeply, releasing over a decade's worth of woes. "I know and that's what terrifies me. No one should have to endure the things you've endured and yet, you're the strongest person I know."

"I will not let my past dictate my future."

"Evelyn, darling! Let's get these cloaks on and back on the road before we all catch a cold!" the King ordered about.

Evelyn could only smile at her father, the butterflies in her stomach quickly soured into knots of unease.

If her future really did lie with the Prince, then Gods only knew what awaited her at Castle Cretzia and beyond the border into the Kingdom of Leon.

---

Learning more and more about our leading lady.

We now know that Evelyn and her siblings have witches blood coursing through their veins, but that doesn't automatically make them witches with powers. Still an interesting fact.

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