The Lure of a Vampire

Chastity sat down on the bed quickly, her eyes full of terror as she stared fearfully at him. Her mouth screwed shut tighter than ever before and she didn't dare say a word.

Max looked at her impatiently, and after a few long moments of silence he asked, "So..."

Chastity thought hard for a moment, taking care to think of the most important questions. "You said you chose me... Why?"

"Next question."

"But you didn't--"

His emerald stare cut to her before he snapped, "I said next question."

Chastity gulped and asked, "Why do you need to buy a... a... bride? Who were those people in the other room? Why do they listen to you?"

Max smiled, as if pleased by her questions. He gestured towards the empty spot on the bed next to her, "May I sit?"

"No," Chastity told him sharply, she didn't want him near her until her questions were answered and she was sure he wasn't a serial killer.

Max glowered at her but didn't argue before saying, "I should start with a formal introduction. My name is Maximus de Laurentiis, the rightful heir to the Vampire ruling family and coven master."

"You're a prince?" Chastity squeeked disbelievingly.

"Yes," he stated baldly before continuing, "As for the ones who trapped you in the first floor bedroom; they are my subjects, other vampires who answer only to me as their prince and coven master. As for why I need a bride, to ascend the throne and take my rightful place as King, I must have a Bride to rule by my side."

"But... isn't there someone else? Ya know, like a nice vampire lady who wants to marry you?"

Max's expression was annoyed as he leaned against a dresser and stared back at her, "There is no other and I chose you so it would not matter even if there was."

"Why won't you tell me why you chose me?" Chastity demanded, "I deserve to know. I deserve to know what's going on."

"This is the exact reason you don't need to know. Patience, sweet Chastity, is most definetly a virtue you will have to learn if you are going to be Queen." Max spoke softly, his words sure and slow as if he was speaking to a small child.

Chastity frowned and bowed her head, trying to hide the tears that were pooling in her eyes before she whispered, "What if I don't want to be a queen?" Chastity knew she sounded pathetic, her strong will and stubbornness deminishing the longer his overpowering presence was near.

"You should be honored to be the future Queen of all Vampires," Max stated proudly, "There is no race more noble, none as strong as us."

Peeking up at him, from beneath her eyelashes she tried once more to plead with him, "Max, please, I just want to go."

"Go back to what?" Max asked, immediately walking towards her. His long legs eating up the distance between them so fast Chastity didn't have time to cower away in fear.

Squatting down so he was eye level with her, Max continued on, "Back to a father that drinks so profusely he does not care who he wrongs or even who he sells his only child to? You would rather go back to that man; a man who abuses you in more ways than one, instead of being cared for and coddled. I could give you the world; jewels and furs and anything your heart desires but instead you'd rather go back to him."

"I never said I would go back. I... I always planned to leave, to get away from him but I wanted to finish school first." Chastity explained, "I was headed to Oregon when you found me; I was going to try to find my aunt, my mom's sister and if I couldn't I would make it on my own. Even if i had to sleep on a park bench for awhile."

"You would rather live in squalor rather than be my Bride?"

"To anyone not just to you! Please, you have to understand how weird this all is. I come home to some strange guy and my abusive dad telling me I've been arranged to marry someone I've never even met, that I'll be living with him. And to top it all off he's some princely vampire! Of course living on the streets seems like a better option."

Max remained quiet before a few momentz, his intellegent gaze giving away that he was weighing her excuses carefully for merit. "That is all behind you now. I will make sure you are cared before and want for nothing but I do not want you trying to escape again."

Chastity frowned, "So you're going to lock me in this bedroom forever?"

Max barked a short laugh before saying, "No, sweet Chastity. The house will be open for you to roam once we introduce you to the coven. I want to avoid anymore confusion as to whom you belong to."

Chastity disregarded his claim of ownership and asked, "What about outside?"

"Not without me. I will take you out once you have settled into your accommodations." Standing to his full, and towering height Max looked down apon his Bride and said, "Now, I want you to wash up and make yourself presentable. I will be back in an hour to retrieve you and introduce you to the others."

"How many more... vampires are there?" Chastity asked curiously, even though her fear and anxiety piqued at the thought of countless blood sucking creatures living in the same household.

"Fifteen including myself."

A chill went through Chastity as a vision of mayhem overcame her; of being stalked by the whole of the coven, drank from and ripped to shreds like a B-Movie damsel in distress.

"Max?" Chastity called after him when he turned away from her to leave the room. When his attention was once again on her she admitted, "I'm really scared. What if I... What if they--"

He let out a long sigh at her stammering and assured, "There is nothing to fear, my little Bride. This introduction is more of a formality than a nessesity. I'm sure the news of my Brides arrival has spread through the household like wildfire."

"What if they, ya know, try to suck my blood?"

Max's emerald eyes seemed to darken as he growled, "I would dare them to cross me and try to take what is mine." Chasisty could have swore she saw a flash of elongated fangs as he spoke. "Now if you will please clean yourself up, I would like to progress with this evening."

"Will you answer more of my questions afterwards?" Chastity suddenly asked, jumping to her feet.

"If I must, now hurry it up," he drones as he shut the door behind him.