Tick...tock.

Tick...tock.

Tick...tock.

Heavy mechanical ticking echoed through my mind and I felt the veil of unconsciousness lifting. Sensation started to return to my limbs and I started to register small pieces of information. I was lying on my back with a heavy blanket on top of me that was pulled up to my chin. Sleepily I pushed the blanket away from me and opened my eyes.

I was disorientated, tired and completely at lost as to where I was. The room was unfamiliar bathed in reddish amber glow that came from a fire place at the far side of the room. In the dull light I could see that the room was highly furnished with large pieces of mahogany antique furniture, large oil paintings landscapes and portraits, as well as tapestries with royal crescents on and family trees. It was beautiful but felt out of place in this time and era.

I sitting up in bed I lifted my arm and noticed it was attached to something. A blue IV needle was stuck into my arm and attached to it was a tube that was feeding me blood from a large IV bag that was hooked up to a metal drip stand next to my bed.

Was I ill?

Suddenly a wave of nauseous hit me and I rolled over on to my side and began dry heaving violently. Nothing came up and the pain in my stomach subsided, but an aching in my head started to grow. I rolled back and rested my head on the cold pillow and tried to remember how I got here.

I remembered the dream about Celia and the restaurant dinner with Luc but everything else was hazy. How I got to this room, and how I ended up with an IV transfusion in my arm was a mystery. When I tried to recall anything the pain in my head grew worse to the point it was unbearable. I wanted to cry I was in so much pain.

The large antique clock above the mantel let out a loud chime and I accidentally screamed in fright. Before I could curse myself or the clock, the door of the room swung open and Nico rushed in.

"Mia?" He said in a worried voice.

"Nico," I said weakly lifting my head from the pillow, "Where am I?"

Nico moved across the room and crouched down next to me, "You are in the castle keep outside the palace." He explained.

"Where is Luc?" I asked.

Nico hesitated and replied, "Luc isn't here. He is out chasing Casper."

"I don't understand." I said sitting up.

Why wasn't Luc here with me?

How could he leave me all alone in this strange place?

"Mia lie back down," Nico said pushing me gently back against the pillows, "You have been asleep for nearly a week. You have been very ill."

"I have." I said shocked by the length of time I had been asleep for.

"I am sorry Mia," Nico suddenly said, "I didn't know your condition- none of us did."

The look in his face made me think I was dying. Panic swept over me and I grabbed a fistful of Nico's shirt and demanded to know, "What do you mean? What kind of condition?"

Nico went to answer but stopped as someone else walked into the room.

I looked over Nico's shoulder and saw a man who had the same height and coloring of Luc, but he was much leaner looking than Luc. His face was narrow and had a strange waxy complexion about it, as if it had wasted away with years of worry or disease. Behind him another figure appeared, someone whom I recognised- Henrietta.

Henrietta smiled sympathetically at me, but quickly shrunk back into the shadows when the man, who I had deduced was none other than the vampire King himself, shot her a scathing look. Henrietta lowered her gazed and disappeared out of the room while King Louis studied Nico and I.

"I am glad to see you are up Mia, but I am disappointed to see that Nico is already worrying you with his penchant for over dramatics." Louis spoke softly.

Nico stiffened then straightened up and turned to his King and said, "Your Majesty, I-"

Louis silenced him with a dismissive hand, "That is enough Captain, you can return to your duties now that you have been reassured that the Princess is back in the land of the living."

"With respect your Majesty, I wish to continue to oversee the Princess' security." Nico said.

"Captain, do you remember the last time you were in charge of a Princess? Do you remember the Princess Celia, my beloved first wife, my one and only true love who I spend each and every night longing to join?" Louis asked Nico.

Nico nodded his head, "There is not a day that goes by where I don't think about her too your Majesty."

"Then you will understand why I am reluctant to place the Princess Amelia under your clumsy care. I wouldn't want her getting killed in her own palace after all." Louis said.

"But your Majesty-" Nico began to protest.

"Captain, please leave. Your services are no longer required." Louis said.

Nico clearly did not want to leave. He stood by my bedside hesitating what to do but soon relented. He straightened himself up and said with a cool tone, "As you wish your Majesty."

Nico gave me parting glance and without another word he strode out of the room and left me alone with the vampire King. The King waited for a minute and then turned to me and said, "I apologise that you had to witness that unpleasantness. I understand Nico means well but he sadly lacks the necessary skills to protect you, and you need protecting. Unfortunately it seems my baby brother has taken an interest in you Mia and until we catch him and lock him back up in a cell, you are in terrible danger."

A hazy memory floated into my head and I recalled hiding under a table and an unfamiliar man calling my name. It had been Casper, he had escaped from prison and sought me out... but first he had gone to the town and into the hospital and he had-

"Mia would you like me to call a nurse? You are suddenly looking very gray." Louis commented.

The image of Laura Taylor stood in her green hospital gown with the blood pumping out of her chest haunted me. The sickness in my rose up again and I turned away from Louis as I began to dry heave. The muscles in my chest burned and ached as I doubled over and began to wretch.

Louis circled around the bed and put a waste paper basket in front of me. I gratefully took the metal basket in my hands and replied, "I don't know what's wrong with me."

Louis smiled, "Something incredibly special, something magnificent- something that others have failed to do."

As he spoke that last past he glowered coldly at Henrietta who made a sobbing noise and abruptly turned on her heel and walked quickly back up the corridor. I was in so much pain I couldn't began to process what was going on. Louis sat down on the edge of the bed and smiled, "Mia you are my salvation- you are my freedom."

"I don't understand." I said weakly hanging my head in the waste paper basket.

"You are with child Mia- a royal child, or more precisely an heir that could relieve me of my duties as King." Louis smiled.

I blinked and with a dry laugh replied, "What are you talking about?"

"The pregnancy is early, but vampire pregnancies are unpredictable and some can progress faster than others. The doctor informs me that part of your illness is caused by the rapid development of your pregnancy." Louis explained.

I shook my head, "No, that is impossible. Luc and I haven't even been together that long- I can't be pregnant!"

Louis flashed a sympathetic smile, "Well the fact of the matter is that you are pregnant Mia and until you deliver my heir, you will stay in this room under lock and key. I will not risk the health and safety of the child that grows inside you, and neither will you, do you understand?"

"Wait- you can't expect me to stay in here! I have university and family and friends-"

Louis raised his hand to silence my protests and replied, "Mia, you will stay in this room either on your own accord or by physical restraint, but I promise you either way you are going to staying in this room until my heir is born."

------------------------

Hi my angels!

Just a quick note to say that you can now follow me on facebook!!! I will be posting regularly on my facebook page with news of planned updates, and when updates are being released as well as just generally hanging out! I hope you can join me :D Check out my profile for the link :D xxxx

Plus let me know what you think of the update so far? It's really nice to hear what people think, or what people would like to see more of :D I love hearing from you guys so please let me know your feelings in the comment section below!

XxXxX