Four days. It's been four days and my plan is still waiting to be put into action. It's been hell living with Andrew. He was getting impatient with me, and every time I did something to tick him off he would punish me with his blood. I've also been using my blood against him whenever he was close to me. Apparently, since I am linked to a Slade, my blood is harmful to any other Vampire or Pureblood. I guess that is a way to keep a Slade's Vampire safe.

"If you touch me again, I will smear some of my blood on your skin." I hissed as I rolled away from Andrew. I cannot get over the fact that he forced some of his blood to drip on my skin. Now, I have ugly burn marks on my once-perfect stomach and on the top of my thighs.

I heard a tormented sigh from behind, but I did not turn. "Such coldness. I love it." he sighed again, this time it sounded like a dreamy sigh.

I made a face and said, "Whatever's in your head, get it out, Old Man."

"She's so cold." he sighed once again. "That aside, there's a ball tonight and since we are meeting the King, I need you to behave."

I stilled. A ball? The King?

"Who'll be there?" I asked, curiosity coating my voice.

"Every Pureblood and their Vampires. Every... Slade."

The way Andrew spoke seemed as if he was holding something back. His voice sounded so far and heavy.

"We're going." I spoke too quickly.

There was a heavy pause in the room. The silence was so strong, it was almost unbearable.

"I suppose we are. After all, the King wants everyone there for his birthday." Andrew broke the silence.

I stood up from the couch and stretched my bones, hearing a few pops here and there. I was going to spend the time to my pleasure, putting my plan into consideration and finalising every move. Tonight— if I'm lucky— I'll get to complete my revenge.

The day ended quickly— probably because I spent it to myself. I stood before the mirror looking very elegant, very alluring.

I was dressed into a strapless black ballgown. It had a heart-shaped neckline and it was backless, revealing a fair amount of skin. The dress hugged my upper body tightly with its smooth satin fabric, but it puffed out, swirled and curved from my waist and downwards. It was simple, yet exquisite and quite frankly, it looked like a black wedding dress. To accompany the delicious black colour, I wore red elbow-length satin gloves. My lipstick was a shiny red and my eyeshadow was a smokey night black that complimented my creamy skin and black eyes. My hair was lifted up into a sophisticated Updo above my head, leaving only two curled strands to fall out from the sides of my head. My jewellery was all red— red pearls. The necklace and earrings.

How delicious.

"You look ravishing, Sweet Little Thing." Andrew breathed, looking at my dress with approval.

I grabbed my red satin purse and gave him a tight smile. "I wish I could say the same to you too, Old Man."

But it was a lie. Andrew was, in fact, very handsome. His light, emerald green eyes had a genuine glint in them and his dirty blonde hair was smoothly ruffled so it looked like he just got out of bed. He looked yummy, but he wasn't my style.

'Probably because you abhor the man.'

Yes, I agreed with my soul on this one. If I hold a grudge on someone, then it is a life-time grudge, not just a few years thing.

Andrew chuckled freely and without any delay he ushered me out of his mansion and into his car, ready to finally meet the King.

To say that I was left tongue-tied would be the biggest understatement of the week. The palace was huge— gigantic! From the outside it had the colours of royal baby blue, a little of gold and red, and a vast amount of pure white— though it was mainly the blue and the white that dominated the outside of the palace. The garden was excellently clean and the grass was the greenest shade of green I have ever seen. There were guards all around the decorated garden, making sure everything went according to plan. Now that is really what I call a King's Palace. It was far better than what I had imagined!

If I was left tongue-tied just because of the outside, then I had probably lost my eyesight because of the ballroom. The ballroom was just... prodigious. Even my word could not compare to its size. It was so large that I was standing at the doorway like an ant lost in a garden. The ceiling was a dark red and had big golden squares in it. The squares had circular openings that allowed the golden chandeliers to come out. The ceiling itself was very beautiful and elegant.

How many years did it take them to design that thing?!

The walls were a completely different story. They were a lighter red with thin, golden zigzags going through them and golden frames surrounding the top and bottom of the red walls. The floor was like an unexpected slap on the face. It was the same shade of red and gold as the ceiling, but the design was different. Instead of squares, it was circles and swirls. This entire ballroom was red and gold, exactly what you'd expect from royalty.

Again, how many years did it take them to design this thing?!

"You look like you've just had the devil slapped out of you." I heard Andrew whisper in my ear as he escorted me deeper into the ballroom.

I exhaled a dreamy breath, trying to take my eyes off of the beautiful walls. Then I remembered who spoke to me.

I rolled my eyes and muttered, "And your voice slapped it back into me."

When I unglued my eyes from the walls, I realised we were approaching a very handsome, muscular man. He looked and smelt of authority. He must be the King.

"Andrew! So glad you made it!" his voice was deep and manly. As he shook hands with Andrew and exchanged greetings, his golden eyes fell on me.

"My..." he breathed in sharply, his gaze locked with mine. "What a ravishing creature."

It seemed like he wasn't able to tear his eyes off of me. It seemed as though I was the only thing he could see.

I gave a graceful smile and an elegant curtsey. "My King." I addressed, aware of the tone I used.

I heard another sharp inhale from him, and I tried my best to fight off the smirk that wanted to challenge my smile. Who would have thought that even the king would fall for me?

Well, of course he did. It's me, after all.

He sniffed the air around me lightly, and as though it had just unraveled to him, he looked at me sternly.

"Andrew, would you allow me a moment with her, please?" the King requested, his eyes never leaving me.

Andrew bowed, giving the King his permission before he walked away. The King remained gazing at me silently, his eyes traveling all over my face.

"You're a Slade's Vampire. What are you doing with another Pureblood?" he asked seriously, taking me off guard a little. I hadn't expected that sort of question from him.

How he knew I was a Slade's Vampire? I have Sebastian's scent flowing through my veins and with my blood ever since the day he linked me to him. That's how any attacker would know whether I belong to a Pureblood or a Slade.

I cleared my throat, taking my eyes from him for a while and answered shortly, "I was taken."

The King looked fascinated as he tilted his head to the side a little, a side smirk curling the corner of his lips. "What did you do?"

"Well, you could say that I hold a grudge against my current owner. So naturally, when I saw him, I kind of went against a Slade's orders when he told me to behave." I was on guard now. It was like a death wish for someone to disobey a Slade. Whatever the King would do, I must be prepared for it.

"Who's that Slade?" the King asked quickly, his voice having a hard edge to it. I knew it, he is going to order for my death.

Not showing the slightest bit of fear, I answered the King proudly. "Sebastian," my voice sounded dreamy as I said his name. "Sebastian Slade."

The King was silent for a while, again. I observed the way his eyes roamed around my face, I observed his body language carefully.

"You're a bloody fool, you know that?" he asked, smirking again.

"Why? Because I disobeyed a Slade?" I folded my arms together against my chest.

The King laughed and shook his head, seeming amused. "Not just that. That Slade is widely known. He's the most caring Slade you'll ever meet."

I shrugged, not knowing what else I could have responded with. "Putting that to the side," I gathered my gown in my hands, ready to leave. "I wish you a happy birthday, My King."

I gave him another curtsey and turned around to leave. I'm surprised he did not say anything about the tone I used with him.

"You think I'd let you go just like that, after using that provocative tone?" his tone was seductive, very delicious. I could scent his faint desire around me.

I turned around to face him, this time not bothering to fight my smirk. "And what would you do, My King? I'll have to warn you that so far, the only man who could more than satisfy me is that Slade himself." I was challenging the King. I mean, who wouldn't want to seduce the King? He is gorgeous. But even the blindest eye could see that he was nowhere near as gorgeous as Sebastian.

'That's because Sebastian is a Slade. The King is nothing but a powerful Pureblood.'

Yes, I have noticed that. The King was just a strong Pureblood, not a Slade.

"And what if," the King slowly walked closer to me, the flirty smirk and playful glint in his eyes making my smirk widen. "I could pleasure you more?" he whispered in my ear.

"I would like to see you try, My King." I gave him a slight push, catching him off guard. When his stunned eyes met mine, I gave him a playful wink.

"I see why you have so many men worshipping your feet. You're truly something else."

"How do you know I have worshippers?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.

The King raised his hand and moved it around the ballroom, gesturing for me to look around. "Look around you. Approximately every man in this ballroom is undressing you with his eyes."

True enough, every man was looking at me with nothing but desire and want.

I huffed mockingly, not bothered to actually laugh. "That's not something new to me. But you know," I looked at him, biting my bottom lip teasingly. I noticed how his eyes fell on my lips, and I noticed how they darkened to a fierce orange— the colour of a Pureblood's lust-filled eyes. "I've never had a King undress me with his eyes."

The King made a sound of approval. He stalked closer to me with large strides and when he was in front of me, he lowered his head to whisper in my ear, "Follow me. That is an order."

I almost snapped, my left eye twitching. But he was the King, I can't snap at him so easily.

"My King," I breathed deeply, trying to kill my rage. "Don't order me around. I am not the type that would not snap at you for ordering me around."

"Follow me. Are you going to go against my request?" he shot an eyebrow up, daring me to refuse.

Not wanting to get on the King's bad side, I smirked. "Desperate, aren't you?"

"I believe any man here would do the same." he replied quickly.

"I don't wish to go against you, My King. However, If I agree to follow you, there's going to be a condition I need you to agree on." I reasoned. A part of me was dying to be in the King's arms, to feel his touch and prove if he can really pleasure me more than Sebastian. But a part of me was willing to use him in order to complete my revenge. I need his assistance if I want my plan to go smoothly.

"A condition?" the King asked, his eyes looking into my eyes. I guess he never had someone talk to him like that. "What is it? Anything. Ask for anything and I'll grant it."

I smirked. He was so easy. A man who's filled with desire is just too easy to manipulate.

"Didn't you ask me to follow you? I'll tell you as soon as we're alone, My King."

Using the same seductive tone on him, I evaded the question for now. I looked around the room one more time, checking if Andrew was keeping an eye on me. To my greatest luck, he was nowhere to be found.

The King began walking away from the crowded ballroom, and I followed him cautiously. He took me to a dark hallway which was quiet. Not even the loud noise of the ballroom music could be heard.

I was taken by surprise when he had pushed me against a dark wall so urgently and without giving me a sign, he took my lips hungrily. I moaned, not believing how amazing his lips felt. I thought Chase would always be my number two, but the King had managed to eliminate Chase effortlessly. Of course, eliminating Sebastian would be the world's most impossible thing to do.

Circling my arms around his neck, I pulled him closer to me. One of his hands glided to the back of my head and pulled it down a little, allowing him more access. When it became too hard to breathe, I pulled back and arched my neck towards him, where he began trailing kisses down to my collarbones.

"You're so beautiful." he breathed unevenly, his voice deep and husky with desire.

When he was almost about to slip his hand inside my gown, I pushed him down on the floor and straddled his waist whilst keeping his hands pinned beside his head. All of this was done in less than the blink of an eye.

"Now that you've seen how amazing I am, I bet you think I am the only woman who was able to pleasure you with a kiss only, correct?" I cocked an eyebrow up, feeling arrogant and proud.

The King's eyes were still a fierce orange, clouded and hazy. His breathing still uneven. "You're right."

When he tried to reach out for me, I hissed at him warningly. I seem to be forgetting that he is the King. "Ah, ah." I shook my head mischievously. "I am the one in charge. You want a piece of this, then you have to follow my rules."

"You're treating the King badly, Beautiful." he chuckled. He's more laid back than I thought he was.

I leaned down and made sure my chest was rubbing against his chest. He grunted and closed his eyes. "I need you to do something for me, My King." I purred, trailing kisses along his hard jaw.

"Anything." he gasped when I began rocking my hips against his.

I chuckled, moving down and kissing his neck. "I need your assistance." I manipulated him slightly, getting him aroused and worked up.

I informed him on some of the details of my plan, leaving out the bits that he did not need to know. I was surprised when he had agreed to assist so easily.

"That's all there is to it. Thanks for your cooperation." I stood up from his waist and smoothed my dress a little. The King stood up after, looking beyond shocked.

"It's time to greet your guests, My King."

"You're really loyal to Sebastian, aren't you?" he asked after he got over his shock.

I scoffed, puffing my cheeks. "Loyal? Me? Please." I gathered my gown in my hands and was about to walk away, but something stopped me. "What's your name? I bet it gets a little irritating when people refer to you as My King or Your Highness all the time."

He was silent for a moment, looking at me with a funny expression. His expression was funny, and I didn't know why I didn't like it.

"Ash." he spoke at last. My eyebrows knitted together unknowingly. The name is cool, but why would he be called that? I was about to ask him why, but as though he knew what I was going to say, he began explaining.

"When I am furious, anything I touch turns to—"

"Ash." I breathed with disbelief, interrupting the King. I've heard a rumour about it. The gift itself is something frightening, but when you look at it, it's still not as frightening as some of the Slades' gifts. Some Slades have gifts that could efface an entire village.

"But if you think about it, my gift is still not as scary as some of the gifts the Slades have." the King said, surprisingly thinking about the same thing as I was.

"You know," I folded my arms, getting comfortable because I knew this was going to take a while. "Why are you just a Pureblood and not a Slade? Slades are more feared than Purebloods, so even you as a King don't have as much power as them."

He sighed, smoothing his hair back with a hand. "I was born into the royal family as a Pureblood. If you know about our ancient history, every member of the royal family was a... Slade."

I gasped, my eyes widening in astonishment. No way. Does that make Sebastian is someone royal?!

"Long ago, the Slades were all royalties and had servants and slaves... Pureblood servants and slaves. When a war between the Witches, Werewolves and Slades took place, the Slades were worried. If something happened to them and they were all gone, there wouldn't be any royals left." Ash paused, frowning a little. "Besides, they were getting bored with the royal life and duties, and they didn't want their children growing up to take those dangerous roles. Some Pureblood servants and slaves were asked to fight a Slade."

"Why?" I asked, stopping him.

He smiled lightly. "This was to see which Pureblood was the strongest, thus proving the Pureblood's ability to protect our kind. My first ancestor was the only one who was capable of ripping a Slade's heart, and so, the royal status was passed down to the members of my ancestors. The royal duties were entrusted to my ancestors, and after some of them were either assassinated or had passed their duties down, eventually they became my duties." he stopped once again, looking at a nearby painting.

It was of a beautiful woman with a carefree smile and a fair complexion. She looked like Ash— she had the same hair and eye colour.