Chapter 1
The castle walls were shrouded in darkness. It was a warm night; the sky was clear. All one’s eye could see was stars twinkle in the deep blue of the night sky. A carriage had pulled up outside of the castle, sending the guards in a frenzy. They stood in front of the door as a tall, broad man stepped from the carriage. His hair a shoulder length mane of a deep black. His eyes a silver gray and snake like. He wore a black suit with deep red accents. His right hand having several rings on with different jewels. Yet, his left hand bare, seeming only one ring belonging on it.
“I am here to cause no harm, my good men. I have a presence with the king of this country. I couldn’t attend it during the day so he agreed tonight.” His voice coming out a smooth deep tone which sounded like it pulled from his chest. The guards eased as soft boot clicks came over the tense silence. Another small tap from a cane echoed through the greeting hall as the king walked up. He was taller, due to his age he was hunched over. His hair a soft white color as his eyes a warm brown, a smile on his lips.
“Welcome to my humble home, Lorcan.” The man said as he placed his arthritic eaten hand on one of the guard’s shoulders, easing them. The guards eased their stance before bowing to him. A small chuckle left Lorcan’s lips as he flashes his fangs at them, bowing himself. His right hand on his chest as his left extending out.
“Kirk, it is nice to finally meet you. I am sorry I could not attend in the daylight for as I am a vampire. I would burn.” Lorcan expressed, straightening himself up. Kirk just lets out a soft guffaw as his hand came up before shaking his head. He knew what he was, he also knew he was looking for a wife. Yet, Kirk wasn’t going to marry his daughter, Savannah off to anyone. That was his one only child. She was seventeen years old. She has barely seen the world beside what was around the town adjacent to them.
“Please, this way, Lorcan. We have much to discuss and such little time unless you are planning to stay in the castle?” Kirk inquired as he motioned him with his free hand. Lorcan followed him taking note of his frail, crippled posture. Even though Kirk wanted to conjoin both of their countries as one, Lorcan couldn’t help but worry about him. If they both agreed, he, himself was going to be Kirk’s son-in-law.
“What shall our first order of business be? I know you want to join our nations. We agreed to that, but your daughter. She is past marrying age is she not?” Lorcan voiced. Not wanting to sound too eager or too uninterested. He did want a wife again, it had been a century since Elizabeth, his first wife passed. Kirk looking at him with a small twinkle in his eyes as he led him to the dining room.
“She is. I hope that does not disinterest you? She is a beautiful, very caring young girl. Humble, sweet, and honest; but I will not marry her off to anyone I deem unworthy.” He articulated shamelessly, pushing open the door to the dining room.
The room was a deep blue with silver accents. A knotted Turkish rug laid at the banquet tables feet. Kirk, hobbling over to a chair motioned Lorcan with his other hand to sit down. A quiet, stiff grunt escaped his lips as he slowly eased himself into the chestnut oak chairs. The cane he walks with leaning against the table. His cane was simple, a wooden walking cane with a knob at the top and a spiral design down the neck of it. His daughter got it for him so he was always using it.
“I am afraid I cannot agree with your beauty part, but the way you speak of her. It is genuine, is it not? You are her father, but this is different.” Lorcan mused slightly. He could tell, being what he was made it easy to catch a deceiver. Kirk looked at him, chortling lightly before it got cut off with a small cough. A shake of his head let him know that was really what he meant.
“Excuse me. Most fathers do talk highly of their daughters. I do as well, I will not deny that. Savannah, she is truly those things. If she was running around the castle you would mistake her for a maid. That has happened on many occasions.” He explained, raspily as he cleared his throat. On those occasions, Savannah was treated poorly. She was the princess being bullied for helping her staff. Once her father cleared her name for them, of course, their actions changed rapidly. He didn’t have to show them off, Savannah did herself. Those who treated one woman badly because of a title would just do it to the next. That is something she always told her father.
“I see, I have my own cleaning and caring staff. Even if I were to run into her I would treat her with respect. How can you expect to get respect back if it is not given?” Lorcan muttered, thinking back to his own daughter. Yet, just briefly talking about Savannah has now peaked his interest even more for her. As much as he wishes to meet her, it is late and she is surely in bed by this hour.
“Let me see, she is usually up right now… but I am not sure on where she might be.” Kirk explained standing up, gripping his cane once more. He will show him too her if she is awake. Lorcan was shocked she would be up this late, but that made her more fascinating to him. He stood along with Kirk as he began to shamble out of the dining room and down the hall. In an attempt to find his daughter. She could be anywhere in the castle, but the first place he is going to check her bedroom.
A long walk through the castle as they stopped at a beautiful set of doubled French doors. They were white with golden accents. He lifted his hand to peck on the door before opening it and peeking in, unsure if she was in there. The room was dark, his body casted a shadow over her bed which was empty. His eyes scanning as the door opens all the way showing more of how she lived. A small quill and ink bottle sat on her desk. Pictures, she had drawn of flowers, birds, or anything that passed by her bedroom window lay on it. The room was neatly tidied, it was a pale pink color with some white here and there. Her sheets where a purple velvet color, which was perfectly made.
“If she is not here, she is in the library.” Kirk said, knowing exactly where she would be hiding. Kirk and Lorcan began to head to the library. Lorcan more than excited to meet this girl who which he might call his own in the near future. The doors of the library were large wooden doors with a square pattern with a larger wooden casing around it. Kirk pushed the door open with a small creak before stepping in.
“Savvie?” He called out her nickname softly, not wanting to surprise his daughter. Their footsteps echoed along the book shelves and the empty spaced between them. Both looking for any sign of her before Lorcan caught something and slowly moved over to it. His eyes and any other sense he has sharper that of a mere human and a sick one at that. What he caught was a dim, yellow glow of a candle on one if the far tables. She was sat up by the large pane windows to look out them as she read. Books were piled up on each side of her. Her head laying on the table as she slept soundly.
Savannah was a very beautiful young girl. Long, thick, wavy long white hair like her father’s falling to the back of her thighs. She was a petite girl with a cinched waist but no more could be told from the white nightgown she was wearing. Granted, Lorcan was looking at her body before turning as a soft chortle came from her father behind them.
“She does this often, will come in here to escape and fall asleep in her fantasy world. My baby is an avid reader, she always has been.” Kirk said with a thoughtful tone as he moved over to brush her hair out of her face with his fingertips. Savannah was almost a carbon copy of her mother that passed away during child birth.
“She is breathtaking, I have to say that. Any man would be lucky to have her, sir.” Lorcan admired as his eyes trailed over her. Kirk looked at him with a shocked but very warm and approving look. She was young but very wise and extremely inquisitive. A sad smile formed on his lips. At the same time of finding a possible suitor for her, he didn’t want to give his little girl away.
“Do you mind carrying her for me? I need to take her back to her room… Sadly I am too weak to take her, Lorcan.” Kirk explained to him, also giving him the chance to hold Savannah in his own hands. With a nod, Lorcan eagerly lifted her up in a bridal style carry as he followed Kirk out, heading back to her bedroom.
