Why A Sapphire, of course.

“It has to be tonight.”

Sorrow laced the woman’s words as she whispered them through the crack in the door towards her lover. She daren’t open it too far, otherwise she’d become lost in an entanglement with him for hours, and her lack of presence certainly noticed. Still, she clung to his grip the best that she could, pale fingers kneading at his palms, desperate for just another minute of his touch.

“I have to go.”

The blonde reluctantly released her grip, quickly closing the door with a long sigh. Had fate truly been this cruel? It had allowed her hundreds of years alone, not once longing for the company of another. Only to then have her soul mate dangled before her as a prisoner of her father.

It was no secret that her father, King Fredrick, was losing his mind, and even she hadn’t believed him when he’d retold the story of capturing a prince descended from wolves, and something about it troubled her greatly. After all the wolves had ended the feud between the vampires and the church. Something that she believed all should be grateful for. However, the extra free time had bored her father to no end, and he had been exhilarated to learn of the death of King Ambrose, along with the church’s violent attacks on the wolves. Immediately he offered aid to the youngest remaining survivors of the royal family - Ambrose’s two grandsons, Noah & Eilijah. Rumour was that the youngest, Noah, fled the castle at the start of the attack as instructed by his father Augustus. Elijah, the eldest on the other hand, was still unaware of the shocking events that had occurred, and the King sent several of his elite team to find the brothers, first to warn and protect Elijah in case of another attack and the rest to find Noah.

Mary would have once said that she knew her father better than anybody in the world, and he her. Yet, even she hadn’t been able to predict his true intentions. Noah was quickly found and captured against his will, and immediately hurled into a room in the tallest tower of the castle upon arrival. Mary had only learned of this several weeks into the prince’s capture, and demanded that he be treated like the royalty he was, something her father refused to do. So she decided to take it upon herself to apologize for her father’s behaviour. The very same night that Noah had decided to make his escape. Mary knew she was in trouble the moment she locked onto his amber gaze, despite it being sunken and filled with grief. The second thing she could recall about that night was how bad the room smelt. A horrid pong of manly sweat and stewing bodily fluids. Somewhere certainly not fit for a prince, and she would have gagged had her attention not been captured by the man before her, and instead she scolded him with a huff. Fitting, she thought, since he’d pulled her into the dirty room, and allowed the door to shut behind them, leaving her no choice but to spend the night inside. One that would later become one of her fondest memories.

Mary visited him almost every day after that. Sneaking in tastier food, emptying the bucket of excreted substances, and sneaking him out for showers when her father was away from the castle. The pair had decided to play the waiting game. Neither wanted to lose each other, yet both knew Noah could not survive in the small room for much longer. They’d planned his escape for weeks. The blonde had pleaded with her father to throw a large gathering, a masked ball, the perfect distraction. Nobody would be none the wiser that she’d snuck Noah from the castle, it would be as if he left like any other guest. Mary had asked Noah to dare a dance with her, desperate to experience their time together in more normal ways, but both knew it was not worth the risk.

The blonde hurried down the steps of the tower as fast as she could. Slowing at the bottom and checking both ways before entering the long corridor, and scurrying away to her room further down the hall. Anticipation gripped her body, curling her fingers and toes as she ran, trying her best to hide the knowing smile from her lips. The servants were busy all around her, cheerfully decorating every inch of the castle with white and blue ribbons and thread. The king never spared a penny when it came to a ball, especially one for his daughter and tonight was no different. Mary had picked out the perfect dress for the occasion - a royal blue gown that sat upon her shoulders, exposing her pale collar bones and dipping down to the tip of her chest, leaving her arms exposed. It flared out extravagantly at the bottom, and was laced with dark blue flowers down one side, with a matching floral blue mask, and pearls to line her hair. A sight that would blow each and everyone of her guests away. However there was only one person she wanted to see her like this, and it was Noah. A tingle of excitement ran down her spine as she danced around her room, allowing the gown to swirl around her. The suit she’d slipped him with his breakfast earlier in the day had been plain to ensure he would blend in. However the royal blue tie and pearl cufflinks were a small detail that matched her outfit perfectly. A small detail that only the two of them would be aware of. The sound of the door clicking shut softly behind her, stirred Mary from her thoughts and forced her cold, her father. Slowly she patted down her dress and folded her hands before her, turning to face the man with a soft smile.

“Father, a pleasure as always.”

The white suit he was wearing did little for his figure, but Mary knew he didn’t care. His shirt was barely able to stretch over his somewhat plump bellie, and the thick of his neck rippled as he made her way towards her with a smug smile. He’d even gone so far as to sweep the remaining wispy hairs upon his head to one side, however, it did little to improve anything. The man had been turned into a vampire far past his prime, and no matter how much young blood he got his hands on, it could not rectify the way he had naturally aged. The twinkling grey of his eyes locked onto her figure immediately and his lips parted to form a proud smile.

“My glorious Jewel.”

Mary winced at the words, quickly hiding her discomfort behind a fleeting smile, she hated it when he called her that. The nickname had caught on extremely fast around those that knew her, and then beyond. Meaning that no matter who she met they already knew of her by that name, usually followed by ‘her father’s most treasured item’. Mary braced herself for the soft embrace of his wrinkled hand upon her cheek, and placed a soft kiss upon it before covering it with one of her own.

“If you hate it that much then you should find yourself a new name. Rebrand even. Make a name for yourself somehow.”

Mary parted her lips to speak, but quickly decided against it, her birth name was the only part of her mortal life that remained. Something she didn’t feel she could give up as easily as her father had, it had also been her mother’s & grandmother's name, a family tradition passed through the ages. The blonde shook her head in her father’s grip, taking comfort in how his hand tightened against her cheek.

“Come now. Our crowd awaits.”

~

Midnight. Mary felt she had never waited so long for anything in her life. Her father had insisted that she be polite and dance with every one of their guests, including him several times. Each time she’d smiled and did as she was told, ending each with a gentle kiss upon the cheek and a giggle, and every time they had thanked her the same way - ‘May we do this again soon my glorious Jewel.’ The nervous giggle had become involuntary towards the end of the night. Giddy to see her love once more and eager to finally release the man from her father’s grip, Mary grabbed for the nearest glass of wine she could see and swallowed it in one gulp, the blonde wasn’t usually a drinker, but even she needed some courage for what was about to occur. Placing back down the glass with a clink she turned towards her father, at the very front of the room, sitting upon his golden throne, eyes as usual locked onto her, just like a tiger’s on its prey. Watching his ‘Glorious Jewel’ was his favourite hobby after all. Smiling softly she waltzed her way across the room, nodding respectfully towards each guest who bowed at her passing presence.

“My Father.” She cooed upon arrival at the bottom of the steps towards the throne, before slowly ascending them and placing a kiss upon the top of his balding head. “I fear this is not quite entertaining me.” She sighed, “I shall with your permission, go find myself some live prey?”

A smirk lined her father’s lips as he eyed his daughter with delight. It wasn’t often that she indulged in the darker side of herself, and each time she did it pleased him greatly. With an approving nod, he took one of her hands in his placed a delicate kiss upon it and shooed her away. Mary could no longer hide her giddiness and with one last smile at her father, she ran from the room faster than she ever had in her life. Every fibre in her being wanted to scream for Noah. To shout his name as loudly as she could through the castle, taking pleasure in the way it would echo through its walls. The urge was so strong that she had to hold a hand in front of her mouth to silence herself. But the moment she reached the door to where Noah was contained, she pounded upon it. Tears were spilling from her eyes before she even turned the key in the lock, and the moment the man crash landed in her arms, they both fell to a heap upon the floor.

“We need to go!” Mary insisted through her sobs, “I won’t let him have you! He can’t have you…”

The pair cradled each other desperately, fingers grasping at every inch of their bodies they could reach through their garments, as their lips battled in love and lust. Noah was the first to break contact, leaning his forehead against the blonde’s with a smile.

“Yes, my love. We need to go.”

The sadness lingering upon his words surprised even him, and Mary responded by smothering his face in a flurry of kisses, before wiping away her tears and hauling herself to her feet and offering the man a hand. Noah’s golden gaze blazed with delight as he took in the sight of her, and he hopped to his feet, placing his hands upon her hips as best as he could against the bloom of her gown.

“Shall we have one final dance?”

The blonde pushed her forehead back against her lovers with a gentle nod, followed by a sigh. Before placing her arms around his neck and allowing one hand to wander in the blonde of his somewhat greasy hair. How could she refuse? The next few minutes were bliss. A slow dance of need and goodbye.

“It’s time.” The pair whispered in unison, reluctantly breaking their embrace.

One last kiss and they were off. Mary clung to Noah’s hand as she led him down the steps of the tower, once again slowing at the bottom to check the coast was clear. Granted Noah looked like any other guest, but if anyone were to spot where he had emerged from, word would swiftly get back to her father. Noah allowed his fingers to dance against his lovers as they hurried through the castle, squeezing at their embrace tightly each time she pulled him round another corner. The castle was bigger than Noah had first realised, and he noted that it almost mirrored the layout of his own, just above ground. Clearly it had been built by wolves, his grandfather to be more exact.

The cold from the outside world came quicker than they had hoped. Yet Noah couldn’t deny he was pleased. If they hadn’t been in such a rush to escape the castle grounds, he would have most certainly stopped to enjoy the flow of air against his cheeks, and inhale the earthy scent several times over, but for now he had to wait. Mary’s giggles pulled him from the earth’s trance as they neared the beginning of the neighbouring forest. Despite it being past midnight it was alive with sounds. The calling of owls, arguing and courting echoed all around them and the skitters of small critters rustled over the woodland floor, along with the swaying of trees in the gentle breeze.

“We did it!

Noah crashed into Mary as she turned on the spot to face him, immediately re adjusting to pull her into an embrace. A million thoughts crossed his mind. More than he could cope with in that single moment and once again he began to cry. Tightening his grip on his lover, he allowed himself to release all of the emotions he had contained throughout his time in the small room, and she responded perfectly in tune. Kissing at his cheeks and caressing his chest whenever comfort was needed, it was as if she knew his body better than he did. But he had to let her go. The release of his grip caused the blonde to lower her silver gaze with grief, extinguishing the usual vampire twinkle that usually sat in the corner, calling for prey, leaving her eyes dull and grey.

“Go.”

Mary whispered the word so quickly and quietly that even she wasn’t sure she’d said it aloud. But Noah didn’t need to be told twice. The man began to distance himself from her as quickly as he could. Knowing he had to leave immediately, otherwise he’d find himself running straight back into her arms.

“Noah?!” The blonde called with a sob, forcing the man to turn back and face her.

“Yes my love?”

“What’s your favourite jewel?”

Noah sent a knowing smile her way, “Why a Sapphire of course.”