I applied my makeup and tried to look somewhat pleased.

Of course I wasn’t.

My parents arranged a date for me and another rich vampire, male of course. I had no problem with men, but I planned on dating a girl for once. I had always felt attracted to them just as much as men, but my parents felt different about that. I wanted to explore what women had to offer in terms of romance.

I sighed and stood up from my chair. I turned off the lights on the sides of the mirror. I had put on black eyeliner; not as much as I normally wore. I looked more formal this way. I lifted my black regal dress when I walked down the stairs. I walked past the large painting of my father. His hair was slicked back and He held a glass of red wine.

When I got downstairs I saw my mother speaking with a boy. That must be him, my fiance. At least he didn’t look like a disgusting old man, he couldn’t be much older than me. He wore a black tuxedo and had a thick brown cigar in his mouth. They looked high quality.

It could’ve been worse. He looked handsome, but not my type. I would love to take a tug on one of those cigars. They looked more classy than the blunts I smoked in my room.

He turned his head to me and his face went neutral. “Hello, madam.” He said with a British accent. He was really tall, he towered above my mother. The man intimidated me somewhat.

“Oh, Marlene. This is Connor Graton, he will be your groom. He-”

“Excuse me, Mrs. Maarten. I’m sure I can introduce myself to your charming daughter.”

My mother frowned, then said, “Do as you please. Get to know each other.” Then she left. I let out a sigh of relief. She couldn’t push my nerves from that distance.

Connor looked around to see if we were alone and whispered, “My name is Connor Graton, your fiance. I mean no offence, but you are so much prettier than your mother.”

I couldn’t contain my laughter. I raised my hand to my mouth and giggled. “Marlene Maarten,” I introduced myself. “I don’t like you in a marriage way, but those cigars do get me curious. I see you’re a man of class.” He shook my hand. He had a firm grip.

“I guess you could say that. Do you smoke as well?” He asked before blowing out smoke to the side. He had a very sharp jawline and masculine build. Lots of muscles.

“I smoke sometimes, but no cigarettes. They’re just nasty. I smoke some marijuana sometimes,” I whispered, “Just to get my mind off things. I try to not take too much.”

“Weed, huh?” He pondered. “Well, now that we have to marry under pressure from our parents, I assume you’d be fine with a more open relationship.”

My eyes lit up, “Thank goodness you said that. I won’t have to handle your cigar smoke in bed all the time.”

I grinned and felt fortunate in a way. I still had room to date even if I married. Maybe some female love was still in the air.

“You are actually the first vampire I’m courting. I have dated human girls but due to my secret they lasted about as long as a badly rolled blunt.” Connor said.

I could relate. The boys I had dated didn’t know I was a vampire either. Those relationships often ended quicker than they started.

“I do need someone to bear my children.” He touched my stomach and rubbed it, “When we get married, you’ll have to carry them.” He grinned, his fangs showing.

Shit, that went from great to terrible. Connor was a bloodline obsessor. These vampires were obsessed with having a lot of children to then turn them into their slaves. They often saw the mothers as nothing but babymakers pushing out children, who would then be trained as warriors. He saw me as a ‘compatible match’ to produce strong children with.

I was not having it.

“I am not wishing for any children at the moment, Graton. Don’t just assume that I am willing to have yours-”

He interrupted by grabbing my throat and squeezing. He was strong enough to lift me up to his level. I clutched to his arm and tried to kick him, but my legs were too short. A small whimper escaped my squeezed throat. His face and voice suddenly filled with rage. “If so, then you’ll be of no use to my family. Things that have no use anymore get brought to the scrapyard, or the waste incinerator.”

Suddenly another voice interrupted. “What in the hell are you doing, Mr. Graton?” It was my father. Ready to put oil on this miserable fire, I could see the intent in his shit eating grin.

“Mr. Maarten. I had expected you to raise your children better.” Connor called to him.

“Don’t blame me, boy! Remember I can tear you to shreds in seconds, brat.” My father acted that way towards anyone, even when they were as despicable as him. If Richard wasn’t the most terrible person in existence, he’d shred his way there.

Connor gulped and released some of the pressure on my throat. He still held me up, but at least I wasn’t struggling for air. “Fuck you!” I yelled after regaining my breath.

“See?” Connor said, “She isn’t being compliant, sir.”

“Toss her around some more, she’ll obey eventually,” He looked over at me, “Or you do as your fiance says, sweet daughter of mine.”

“Remember,” Connor added, “We won’t marry for a while, so the children won’t be in your womb tonight. Despite me wanting it. Even I know marriage is sacred.”

I decided to agree, but I’d be damned if I have that monster’s children. I would not give him the opportunity to force himself on me every night. I’d kill him in some way before that happens. It is what he deserved. “I will, just put me down.” I said with a strained voice.

“Good, Marlene. Now that you know Connor a little better, I am sure you’ll be happy forever.” Richard said.

He didn’t deserve the ‘father’ title. I called him Richard from that point onwards. I’m sure he didn’t care either way. As long as he exercised power over me, the title his child gave him was not going to make him doubt himself.

Connor smiled down at me coughing on the ground. I gasped for air and felt tears welling up in my eyes. Drops of tears mixed with eyeliner splashed onto the carpet. My vision got blurry and my throat hurt so much. I felt an uncontrollable rage rise within me, but I knew I had to control myself. I was no match for Connor and Richard if my powers weren’t awakened yet.

“Kneeling before me already, what a good girl you are.” Connor said. He then turned to Richard. “I was wrong, your daughter is exquisite, Sir Maarten. Her genes mixed with my own will produce lovely offspring.”

Richard cocked his eyebrow. “Graton, never say that weird shit in front of me, or I will cut you.”

Connor nodded. He looked at his watch and his eyes widened. “So late already? I need to leave, sir.” He grabbed my cheeks and squished them. He raised my head so I faced him. He gave me a disgusting kiss on the cheek. He licked up one of my tears. “I hope to see you soon, darling.” He said. He then put on his jacket and left the house.

Richard helped me up. “Don’t whine, your mother is happy with me and it went the same way.”

I had lost all hope, I couldn’t control my sobbing. Black tears ran down my pale cheeks. Richard grabbed his handkerchief and dried my tears. How could anyone think raising their kids like this was right? How sick and twisted you have to be to sell your own daughter to a man who just wants to use her as a piece of meat to make strong babies with?

I thought of what Errol would do, my brother would go crazy if he heard what happened just now. In a way he was lucky to be away from this garbage family, but I needed him. My family would not let me call him, because they knew he’d burn this mansion down before I got married to that monster. They kept him in the dark, told him Marlene is doing okay and we’re such a happy family.

Not.

I went upstairs. Richard didn’t say anything. I took a shower, put on my nightgown, and cried myself to sleep.