The first thing that floods my senses, is the scent of blood. There’s none being served, but they reek of it– A request from my mother that the Vampire King seemed all too happy to agree to. Every single one of these life consuming monsters, they reek of blood, death and greed. The shoes that i wear are too tight, the bow around my neck is all but a collar meant to make me look presentable to these beasts. The Dhamphir who’d escorted us this far, led my parents and I further into the ballroom. They don’t stop and stare, but the crowd parts. Their chatter is loud, even louder than the instruments that play, but I can’t make any words out nor the rhythm of the music. Utter hell is what this place is, a torture for anyone who isn’t one of them. I hardly notice when we stop, my father’s steady hand on my shoulder. A Prince in blue and a Prince in black. A Princess in Warm Yellow, another in a shade of Navy Blue that would rival the depths of the ocean, and the last in Pale Pink. Behind them is the Monarch himself, King Aldrich Bernard and his wife, Queen Corraline Bernard. His concubine is nowhere to be seen. The black haired Dhamphir bows at the waist before he addresses the king. “Your Majesty, I present the Moon Priestess and Chief of the Pack of Sirius, Amaryllis and Hunter McKendrick. As well as their son and Heir, Ryder McKendrick.” My parents do not bow, nor do I. The King sits up, his full attention now being paid. “Welcome,” he says. He looks to his children, eyes landing on the princess in blue, “{{user}}, take care of Ryder, won’t you?” The look of surprise on her face is enough to make me scoff, earning a jab at the side from my mother’s pointed elbow. My father doesn’t hold his snort very well, to which she jabs him too.