Blood and Fate

The abandoned cathedral stood at the edge of the city, like a forgotten memory -an ancient estate of black stone and towering spires surrounded by gardens of midnight roses. Draped in moonlight it's halls glowed with thousands of candel and watchful eyes of the elites of world.

It had transformed into the most extravagant wedding venue humanity had ever seen.

And yet it could not stop the whispered rumous among the mortal guests that the wedding was fake. For they refused to believe that such an extraordinary business tycoon would marry a common born, one whose name no one had even heard of.

The bells of the cathedral rang thirteen times though noone had touched the rope in a century. Beneath their echo the bride walked towards the altar, not knowing that the outwardly man waiting to take her hand at the end of it was more than what the human world knew of him.

Alaric Zane

A name whispered in boardroom, financial circles and royal halls. The youngest man to build an empire that stretched across the continent.

To them he was simply an untouchable man, who lacked nothing.

Except, perhaps a heart.

But the bride draped in intricate white wedding gown and crimson red viel gracefully walked the alter with confident steps, for she - MieLan, knew better. She had seen the gentleness hidden beneath, the way his dark eyes softened and looked at her as if she were the only light he had ever known.

Or maybe she didn't know him at all.

Not that his real eyes were not even black but red.

Unseen by the humans surrounding the halls, the cathedral held more than witnesses.

Among the sea of elegant frowns and tailored suits stood creatures older than the walls themselves. They whispered with burrowed faces. Some watched with silent reverence, some hid their unspoken fury, others looked on with interest, expecting a miracle.

From the far corner of the hall a pair of golden eyes watched the bride with such intensity that they could burn the alter right then and steal away the bride. Those golden eyes belonged to no other than Jake Lycoan. Alaric Zane’s bussniss rival and more than that, a blood enemy.

His mere presence made the air heavy, noone around dared to approach him for pleasantries anymore for he looked murderous as he glared at the groom in black designer tuxedos extend his arm to take the bride's hand.

Jake had found out about MieLan's origin only few hours ago, too less time for him to scrape together a plan to steal her away, atleast not through the high security of the enmagiced cathedral. He had cursed under his breath, when he realised he could not even transform in his wolf form under the work of ancient spells. Now, he could not even keep up the pretense of being nonchalant.

His werewolf spies had surrounded the place in disguise but not without being aware of larger number of vampires guarding and ready to dig out their nape at one slip of move.

Jake had no choice but to watch the vow ceremony unfold with clenched jaw.

On the stage, Zane took MieLan's hand in his as they stood infront of each other. His hand was cold in hers, —a secret her human senses could not explain, yet his eyes held a warmth no mortal creature could decipher. To MieLan, he was the man who held her hand like she was something precious, unaware that this very man had strried every realm's curious glance towards them. In her left hand she was holding a banquet of red roses, symbolic of love while stepping into deception.

“You look beautiful,” Zane whispered “prettier than these roses.”

Warm blush crept her cheeks and her heart could not be louder in her ears.

“Thank you, you look as handsome as ever” she whispered back.

Beside them the priest's voice echoed through the ancient cathedral, carrying between the stone walls and endless rows of candles.

“Today, beneath the eyes of heaven and the witness of those gathered here, two souls shall be bound as one.”

The candles flickered as a cold wind slipped through the cathedral, though every glass window remained sealed.

The priest looked towards Alaric.

“Do you, Alaric Zane, take MieLan as your wife? To love her, honour her, to stand beside her through joy and sorrow, through dankness and light, untill your final breath?”

A strange silence filled the cathedral.

Only the mortals did not know that Alaric Zane was a man who had conquered everything.

Except, the idea of loosing her.

Alaric eyes never left the women before him, the only person who had ever swayed his stone heart, the heart he didn’t even know existed. He knew well the dishonest vows he was about to accept for he had not been forthcoming about his true nature to his bride. He had lured her into his deception fearing the worst and now he was not willing to loose her.

“I do.”

His quiet voice carried through the entire hall.

“And MieLan, do you take Alaric Zane as you husband? To love him, honour him, to stand beside him through joy and sorrow, through dankness and light, untill your final breath?”

She smiled softly, “I do.”

The priest continued, “Then speak the vows that binds not only your names but you souls.”

“MieLan…” Zane's deep voice broke the eerie silence.

“I cannot promise you that the road ahead will be easy. I cannot promise you a life untouched by darkness, for darkness has followed me longer than you could ever know.

But I promise this, you will never face it alone.

Your happiness shall become my purpose. Your safety shall be my vow. I will guard the light you carry, even when the shadows around me tries to consume it. I will cherish every moment of your presence.

Today, I give you my name, my loyalty and the part of myself, I thought I had lost forever.

As long as time remembers my name, it will remember that i loved you.

I choose you MieLan, not for a moment, not for a lifetime, but for eternity.” He said his sincerest vow, ones he would keep even at the death's door.

Listening to his vows MieLan felt her eyes brim with unshed tears. Composing herself she began her vows.

“Zane, I cannot promise that I will always know the right thing to say or that I will never make mistakes but I promise that my love will always be honest.

Even in the darkest of times and hardest phases of life I promise to accompany you through. To shoulder you burdens, to stand with you.

Today, I choose not your name, but your heart.

Whatever comes next, whatever life brings us, my hand will remain in yours”

The priest proceeded to bring forward the velvet box with two rings resting upon crimson silk.

“MieLan, “ Alaric whispered, sliding the ring onto her gingers, “with this ring, I give you my devotion, my heart shall be yours.”

A murmur moved through the guests. There were those who knew no vampire makes the promises lightly, for then they shall be kept eternally. It truly a wonder for a vampire to promise forever.

Then MieLan took his hand, smiling softly, as she placed the ring upon his finger.

“Zane, with this ring I give you my trust, my love and my promise to always stand by you.” she whispered looking into his eyes.

The priest raised his voice.

“By the vows you have spoken and the bond you gave choose, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The cathedral fell silent again.

“Alaric Zane, you may kiss your bride.”

The candles flickered.

The ancient walls watched.

Zane lifted the crimson veil from MieLan's blushing face and bringing her close, kissed her deeply.

And beneath the gaze of humans, vampires, and werewolves alike, the most dangerous creature in the world sealed a promise with one person who did not know what he truly was.

The vows had been spoken.

The bond had been made.

Among the disguised guests, everyone held thier breath.

The vampires lowered, their gaze in silent respect, because they knew the meaning of the vow thier king had just made.

Werewolves prepared for their next move quietly.

They all understood one thing, —this was no mere union between two people.

It was a declaration of war.

The war between blood and fate had finally began

--to be continued...