Finding our Serenity (Stryders # 0.5) HOLD

Chapter 1

These are more like drabbles (puts less pressure on me) than a complete novella to be honest, but enjoy because I come to love writing Dad Damien lol. 

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Damien age 20

Everything hurts.

Pain, Damien realized, is the only solace he has in this world. It meant he was alive. Not in the way most vampires were, but the royal family. Part of him hummed with the blood of a demon.

Pain is the only feeling he had experienced recently. His father's brutality against him, to shape him into being a king, cruel and viscous always left him wanting to be alone.

Hours of physical beatings, mental torture and never being enough did that to Prince Damien Stryder.

"Dami," an elder voice called out to him. His grandfather, Wyatt, old and frail, followed him out the corridor, into the back where the lack was of the council meeting room. Former King Wyatt used to be a kind gentle king, until his two sons fought each other to the death and only one survived- the current King, Tidas. "Let me see your injuries. You never let anyone see them."

"I'm fine."

His grandfather gave a knowing smile. "Showing that you're injured is not a sign of weakness, Dami."

Damien's throat constricted, but he stared hard into the lake, hoping something would happen. Willing it to happen just by the force of emotions churning inside him. Their magic, their line it could, couldn't it?

"I'm sorry."

This caused Damien to get up. "I don't need your apologies. I don't need anything from anyone. Ever." 

He walked back to his room to he could be completely alone, but his grandfather's words stopped him.

"There are things in this world worth fighting for."

"Like what?" Damien paused at this, turning back to look at his smiling grandfather. How someone like him created the monster that was King Tidas, he always wondered. His grandfather always had to have the last say. Always spewing wise advice Damien found himself listening to. Wanting to follow it.

"Somewhere out there, is your mate, my little Dami."

Damien scoffed at the idea. The thought never crossed his mind. Another weakness, his father would say. Another thing to have someone use against you. He didn't see the reason. His father was fine without one, marrying into the royal vampire family to keep their bloodline as pure as possible. It was what would be expected of Damien eventually.

He accepted his duty as much as he hated it.

"What's so special about a mate?" Damien asked. Curiosity getting the better of him. The hope of even having one...would he be lucky?

"For the lonely ones like you."