Prologue
Love is like the wind, you can’t see it but you can feel it all over. When it comes to love, would you do anything to protect what is yours? Even your own life?
Chapter 1
The birds chirped and the sun shown into her room on that cool October morning. Jade sat up in her bed and brushed her snow-white hair from her eyes as she took in the morning light. As much as she wanted to stay in bed, and in her room in general, she knew she had to get up and start on the morning chores before her parents had to tell her to start. Jade Leone, the slave, the peasant girl nobody wanted to be. That’s who she was. Jade braided her long snow-white hair and made her way out to the garden. The feeling of the crisp October air on her face was heavenly, she loved being outside in the garden, to her it wasn’t a chore, it was a small taste of what freedom could be if only she could get away. She dreamed of running away from that place, far away where they would never find her. Where she could be free to do as she wished and not be subjected to the abuse she had to endure at home. To be who she wanted to be and do what she wanted to do. She had so many dreams she wanted for herself, but alas, those dreams would be just that. “Jade!” she heard her father’s voice bellowing as it pulled her from her thoughts. “Jade! Where the heck are you?! Your mother needs you!” he yelled with a booming voice that shook all around them. Jade gulped, anytime her mother, well stepmother, needed her it was never good. Jade took a deep breath and headed inside. “What took you so long?!” her stepmother yelled as she got in her face. “I’m sorry Loraine,” Jade said quietly. “What was that?!” she growled. “I told you; you are to call me Mom not Loraine” she growled into her face. Jade clenched her fist. This woman was not her mother and never would be her mother. Marriage to her father meant nothing, that woman would never be her mother. “You are not my mother” Jade growled. Suddenly, her head snapped to the side and her cheek was burning. “How dare you speak to me like that?!” she yelled. “Jade!” her father’s voice rang out from behind them. “Oh Oliver, our daughter has been so disrespectful to me, and for no reason at all” Loraine cried as she threw herself into Oliver’s arms. “Jade! How dare you disrespect your mother like that!” her dad bellowed. “She is not my mother!” she cried cradling her sore cheek. “My mother died from cancer…and you didn’t care enough to grieve for her! You married this…this gold digger months after she died!” Jade yelled. Suddenly, her head snapped to the side again, the burning feeling in her cheek intensifying. “Don’t you ever talk about her like that again! After all Loraine has done for you and this family and that’s how you treat her?!” her father yelled. “What has she done?! Besides leeching off you! I’m your blood, and you treat me like trash while you treat her and her son like precious jewels!” Jade yelled back. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. “It’s about time,” her dad said as he pushed past Jade to answer the door. Jade watched as her dad answered the door for a man who was dressed in fancy attire. “Mr. Daniels, it is good to see you again” Oliver said. “Mr. Leone, it’s time to complete our transaction” the mysterious man stated rather calmly. Transaction? Jade thought to herself. What transaction could they possibly be talking about? The mysterious man made his way into the house his eyes never leaving Jade. “Yes sir, this is my daughter Jade. She will serve you well” Oliver stated with no emotion behind his voice. Serve? What was he talking about? Jade thought. Mr. Robinson walked over to Jade and gently grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him. “She’s gorgeous” he said smirking. Jade’s eyes widened when she saw the glint of two sharp, pearly white fangs. Vampire! Jade thought panicked. “My Lord will be pleased with her” Mr. Robinson stated. “Sir…. excuse me but, our agreement?” Oliver stated in a nervous tone. “Don’t worry Mr. Leone, the money will be wired to you immediately” he stated. Money? What was going on? Jade thought frantically. “Dad! What’s going on?!” Jade yelled. “Shut up girl! I’m finally doing something useful with you. Mr. Robinson here is going to be taking you to the prince where you will live out the rest of your days as a slave, or a blood bag, I could care less” Oliver spat. Jade felt a knot in her chest and slowly started backing away. “No…. father please!” she pleaded. Oliver grabbed at her wrist yanking her towards the vampire. “Give me my money and take her out of my sight” he spat. Mr. Robinson handed him a suitcase that held his money and grabbed Jade’s wrist. “Pleasure doing business with you Mr. Leone” he said as he led Jade out of the house. “No please stop!” Jade cried as she tried to pull her wrist free. It was no use she was no match for a vampire. Mr. Robinson opened the car door and sat her down in the backseat shutting the door behind her. Jade watched with tears in her eyes as she was driven away from her home to whatever was to await her.
Chapter 2
They pulled up to a big mansion in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees of all types. Jade had heard of the vampire prince and how ruthless he could be. He was considered terrifying by all who were in his presence. It was even thought that he killed his father to obtain the throne. Mr. Robinson parked the car and got out to open her door. Jade gulped, hesitating to get out of the vehicle. “Miss Leone, please exit the video. I have been instructed not to use force on you so please don’t make me have to go against my orders” he stated calmly. Not to use force? Who instructed that? Certainly not the ruthless prince of Rosewood? Jade thought to herself as she slowly exited the vehicle. The mansion was beautiful and so big compared to the little house Jade had grown up in. “Miss Leone, right this way,” Mr. Robinson said as he led her towards the mansion's entrance. As she walked up the steps to the mansion the front door opened and there stood the most handsome man she had ever seen in her entire life. He had long black hair pulled back into a low ponytail and ice-blue eyes that pierced through her very being. He was covered in tattoos of vines and thorns and was dressed in a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans. He was also wearing a necklace that had a jewel as red as blood. “Sir, this is the girl you purchased from the village,” Mr. Robinson said. “Thank you, James,” he said with an iciness in his voice that could freeze Hell over. “Come,” he said, motioning for her to follow him into the house. Jade hesitated at first, being in the presence of the vampire prince of Rosewood was overwhelming. “Come!” he demanded more sternly than before. Jade jumped and quickly followed him into the house. Without speaking, he led her upstairs and to an unoccupied bedroom. “This will be where you stay. You can come and go throughout the mansion as you please, but remember one thing,” he said as he got closer to her. “You belong to me. If you try to escape this place, I will find you, and you will pay,” he stated firmly. Jade gulped as she stared into his ice-cold eyes. “Do you understand?!” he firmly spat. “Y-yes” Jade stammered as she looked away. “Good. Get settled and dinner will be in an hour” he said as he turned around and walked off.
Jade sat on her bed just staring out the window. She couldn’t get the man she met out of her mind. The vampire prince of Rosewood, Kevin Moore. She had heard stories of him back in her village. The village elders had been telling vampire horror stories for decades. Stories of men and women with fangs that could pierce skin like butter and eyes that would hypnotize you into doing their bidding. There was something about Kevin though, he didn’t seem like how the stories portrayed. He didn’t seem bloodthirsty or evil. Sure, he was firm in how he spoke, but it wasn’t as if he was ready to drain her dry right there on the spot, or at least it didn’t seem that way to Jade. But what was with that necklace he had been wearing? The jewel was as red as blood and even looked as if it was moving as blood would move in a vial. Suddenly a knock on her door pulled Jade from her thoughts. She let out a quiet squeak and stood up quickly. “C-come in” she stammered. The door swung open and there stood an elderly woman with short silver hair a shade or two darker than her own, wearing a maid outfit and holding a cane in her hand. “Miss Leone, I am Miss Iris, and I am here to let you know that Mr. Moore is ready for you to join him for dinner” she stated in the sweetest voice Jade had ever heard. “Oh sweetheart, you can’t go to dinner dressed in that, here Honey let me show you your clothes” the sweet lady stated as she hobbled her way over to Jade’s closet. Iris opened Jade’s closet revealing a wardrobe of different clothing from dresses to nightgowns. “Here sweetheart, let me help you get changed into this and then I’ll take you to dinner,” Iris said as she pulled out a powder blue floor-length dress. “Thank you, ma’am,” Jade said quietly as she took the dress from her. Jade removed the clothes she had arrived in and started putting on the dress. “Here honey, let me help you get that tied up” she said as she started lacing up the back of the dress. “Thank you,” Jade said quietly. “Now honey, when you are in the presence of the prince, you need to remember to do as he says, whatever he says” she said gently as she laced up the back of the dress. “Do…as he says?” she questioned. “Yes, when he asks you questions, you answer. When he tells you to do something or go somewhere you do it, no questions asked” she said as she finished lacing up the dress. “He is your master now. The most important thing you keep in the forefront of your mind…” she said as she came from behind her and touched her shoulder. “You are human…he is a vampire. He could end you with one swipe of his claws. In one singular motion, he could drain you dry. Mr. Moore and his brother are the strongest vampires in the region of Rosewood” she said sternly. Brother? “His brother? I didn’t know he had a brother I had only ever heard of him” Jade said. “Alexander Moore is his identical twin brother and second in charge of the vampire kingdom of Rosewood. He and Kevin are nothing to take lightly. They have slaughtered villages and even slaughtered their father. That is how Kevin came to power” Iris said. “But…they’re identical twins. Shouldn’t they both be in power?” Jade asked curiously. “Kevin is the oldest of the two by a few minutes and so by the royal rules, he is the ruler. However, Alexander never had a desire to rule in his father’s place. His only desire was to help his brother gain power” Iris said as she braided Jade’s long white hair. “How do you know so much about them?” Jade asked curiously. “I practically raised those boys as my own,” she said as her fingers weaved through Jade’s hair effortlessly. “Iris” came a calm voice from the doorway.
Chapter 3
“Iris,” came a calm voice from the doorway. “Alexander, we were just finishing up,” Iris said with a small smile. Jade stared at the handsome man before her and could’ve sworn from a glance that he was Kevin. There was one distinct difference between the two. The tattoos they had is how she could tell them apart. Kevin had thorns adorning his body, while Alexander had flames. “It’s my fault,” Jade spoke up, worried that he would be mad that they were so late for dinner. “I was asking too many questions while getting ready,” she said quietly. “Nonsense dear, it’s fine the food isn’t going anywhere. Isn’t that right, Alex dear?” Iris said with a smile. “Let’s just get moving, if Iris didn’t tell you, my brother hates to be kept waiting,” Alexander stated as he turned around and walked off. He was different than Kevin in more ways than his tattoos. He was very stiff, as if being in the room with her was painful. “Is he ok?” Jade asked Iris as they left the room. “Alexander has a bit of a problem around humans, dear,” she said. “A problem?” Jade questioned. “He and Kevin, while they may look the same, they are very different. Kevin controlled his bloodlust at a young age, but Alex had issues controlling it. He knows that you are important to his brother, and so he made sure not to stay in your presence longer than he could handle,” Iris stated. “But you’re human how can he be around you if he has issues with controlling his bloodlust?” Jade questioned. “Your blood is different. Your blood is stronger. I heard the masters talking the day they brought you home. Your blood has called out to Kevin for a while now, which is why he purchased you. He is…curious as to why this is. This has never happened before. As you know, he is the bloodthirsty prince of Rosewood, and so he has never had issues in the department of bloodthirst, not like Alex. However, you, my dear, your blood is…different. It’s as if he isn’t drawn to it in a thirsty way but another way,” she said, smiling. Jade looked over to Iris and then down at the ground. What did she mean? She thought to herself as they entered the dining room. “Thank you, Iris,” Kevin said as he stood up from his chair. Alexander was sitting next to him with a wine glass full of what looked to be wine, but Jade knew better. The color was deeper than that of wine, and from the look on his face, she knew it was blood. “Have a seat,” Kevin said as he motioned to the seat across from him. The table was covered in food that Jade had never had the pleasure of consuming when she was living at home. There were numerous types of meat and vegetables and even desserts. Living at home, Jade was usually given whatever was left over, which wasn’t much by the time her family had finished eating. “This is…incredible…I mean, thank you for this,” she said, staring at the food. “I take care of what’s mine, now eat,” Kevin said as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. What’s his? Jade thought to herself as she lifted a cup of tea to her lips. She hated thinking of herself as property, especially when that was how her family had treated her her whole life. “I don’t belong to you,” Jade whispered into her tea. “What?” he said with a hint of anger in his tone. Jade looked into his ice-blue eyes and put her cup down, “I don’t belong to you.” “Miss Leone!” Iris yelled, appalled at the bravery of this one girl. “I am a person, not some property that you can claim as your own,” she said, staring him right in the eyes. Kevin growled, his fangs glinting in the light of the afternoon sun, he didn’t like being talked back to, especially by some peasant girl. He stood up and slammed his hands on the table. The whole table shook and cracked right down the middle, causing Jade to jump a little. “You are mine, little human! I bought you, no, I saved you from that wretched little family of yours! If it weren’t for me, you’d still be there being treated like a slave!” he spat. Jade could see him changing right in front of her eyes. His fingernails were growing into claws, and his fangs were growing bigger. His ice-blue eyes were turning into a shade of deep ruby red, and his thorn tattoos had a hint of a glow to them. “Brother, calm yourself,” Alexander said, grabbing onto his shoulder. Iris made her way over to the twins and grabbed onto Kevin’s other shoulder. “Honey, you need to calm down,” she said in such a sweet, loving tone. Kevin was shaking and gripping at the table. “Miss Leone, you need to return to your room now,” Iris said sternly. “Why? Because he can’t control his temper?!” she spat. “Now!” Alexander yelled. She stood up, knowing from the looks of things that if she didn’t listen, she was going to see firsthand how he got his name, the bloodthirsty prince of Rosewood. Jade got up and ran back to her room not looking back. She thought the only one she’d have to worry about was Alexander with his bloodlust, but Kevin, his temper was something not to take lightly.
Jade sat on her bed, staring out the window, thinking about the afternoon’s events. The bloodthirsty prince of Rosewood, what a temper he has. She thought to herself as she started to unbraid her hair. The tiniest little thing just set him off like a bomb; it was no wonder the stories she had heard were so terrifying. Jade kept thinking about how his appearance was changing right before her. His eyes changed from a beautiful ice-blue color to a deep ruby red, his nails grew into claws, and his fangs grew larger, even the tattoos that adorned his body had started glowing an eerie red color. It was like he was turning into a whole new person right before her very eyes. Was this the better situation? She thought to herself as she brushed her long snow-white hair. Would living here in this place be better than back home? Her father was known for his temper, too, but was his temper worse than that of the prince’s temper? The prince might’ve raised his voice at her and even broke the table, but at least he didn’t hit her like her father used to do back home. Even while he was losing control of himself, he never threw anything at her or physically hurt her in any way, unlike her father, who would take his anger out on her physically. All of a sudden, a knock on the door pulled Jade from her thoughts, and she quickly stood up from her bed facing the door. “Come in,” she called out almost hesitantly. The door opened, and there stood Kevin. His fangs were back to their normal size; his claws had disappeared; his eyes were back to the beautiful ice-blue color, and his tattoos were no longer glowing. “What are you doing here?” Jade asked, being careful of her tone as she didn’t want to set him back off. “My brother and Iris thought it would be appropriate for me to come to apologize for my behavior,” he said as he walked into her room, his arms crossed over his chest. “Well…I…thank you,” she stammered, flustered at his presence. He walked over to her and stared down at her intently. Jade remembered what Iris said about her blood calling out to him and wondered if that was part of the reason for the apology. “I…I’m also sorry…It’s just I’ve been property my whole life. After my mom died when I was very little and my father met my stepmother, I was treated differently. Different than my stepmother’s son and different than how I knew my mother would’ve treated me if she had been here. When you said you take care of what’s yours, I took it as if you were trying to claim me in the same way they have. I am sorry for taking what you said the wrong way and provoking you, Your Majesty,” she said as she bowed her head. “Don’t…please don’t bow to me or call me Your Majesty,” he said as he placed his finger on her chin and tilted her head up. Jade stared into his eyes and could feel her face getting hot as she did so. He was so incredibly handsome; she could see why so many girls in the village used to speak so highly of him. She felt drawn in by his eyes and the sound of his smooth, cool voice. It was as if she was in a trance. “Miss Leone,” came his soft, cool voice, pulling her from her thoughts. “Uhm, yes, sir, I mean, umm, what should I call you, Your Majesty…I mean,” she was cut off by his laugh. Even his laugh was alluring. “Miss Leone, call me Kevin, please,” he said as he picked up her hand and kissed her fingers. “K-Kevin? Are you sure? That seems so informal for a prince to be called by his name,” she stammered as she pulled her gaze away from his beautiful eyes. “Yes, Miss Leone, Kevin is perfectly fine. I am only a prince in name alone. I prefer my name as opposed to Your Majesty,” he said, giving her a small smile and showing off his fangs. “Kevin…. ok Your-I mean Kevin, then please, call me Jade, not Miss Leone. I don’t want to be associated with that name any longer, the name of my father,” she said, giving him a small smile back. “Jade. What a beautiful name,” he said, staring into her eyes. “Thank you. It was a name my mother had picked out when she had me. She said it was the prettiest gem and would make a great name for the prettiest girl she knew,” Jade said quietly, reminiscing about her late mother. “Your mother? The woman that James met with your father back at your home?” Kevin questioned. “Oh God, no!” Jade exclaimed. “That horrible woman is not my mother. She is my stepmother. My father had been having an affair, and when my mom got sick and died, he collected the money from her dying and married my stepmother rather quickly,” Jade said, clenching her fist tight. “I see…my mother is also gone. My father and my mother were…executed many years ago when Alex and I were very young,” he said, gritting his teeth. Jade noticed he seemed to be feeling strong feelings about the execution of his parents, but according to rumors, he was the one who executed them. “You mean…Kevin, about your parents, the rumors I have always heard were that you-” “That I executed them?” he questioned, gritting his teeth. “Y-yeah. The stories in the village always said you had executed your parents to take over the throne, giving you the name the bloodthirsty prince of Rosewood,” Jade said quietly, studying his face and emotions, not wanting to set him off again. “It’s easy to blame someone who wasn’t even there,” he said quietly. “Not there? What do you mean?” Jade questioned. “That story can be for another time, dragă,” Kevin said as he stepped back from her. “It’s time for you to rest; it’s getting late and after today’s…events…I’m sure you’d like to relax and go to bed,” he said as he started walking towards her door. “Wait!” she called out as she grabbed at his hand. He stiffened at her touch. “Dragă, another time,” he said calmly as he pulled his hand from her and left her room. So, he wasn’t a monster after all. The big and bad bloodthirsty prince of Rosewood had a soft side and maybe wasn’t as bloodthirsty as everyone made it seem.
Chapter 4
Jade lay in her bed that night, thinking about their discussion. “It’s easy to blame someone who wasn’t even there,” he had said almost painfully. What did he mean? The rumors had always been that he executed his parents to take over the throne, but from how it sounded, that wasn’t the case at all. He had said the story would be for another time, but maybe Iris would know more about what happened. Jade got up out of bed and quietly left her room. She hadn’t gotten a chance to explore much, so she wasn’t sure which room was Iris’s room, but she would find it.
