The Eternal Claim

1

FACE-TO-FACE

"V ictoria, now . We have to go before they come looking for us," my mother said. It wasn’t just her tone that was urgent. She was also pointing a knife in my direction.

I shook my head. I told you. I’m not leaving.

But she stepped closer, the blade winking in the sunlight that was streaming through the castle windows.

Mom, please. We need to talk for a minute.

"There’s nothing to talk about. I can’t believe that my daughter—the daughter I hid so carefully all these years and that I’ve given my life to protect—is living here in the kingdom with a bunch of lunatics. And that she’s planning to marry one!"

It was true. I was planning to marry a vampire, Prince Dominic Allard. He was the love of my life. No one was more surprised than I was that, at eighteen, I was eagerly awaiting my wedding to an immortal vampire prince.

My mother wasn’t just surprised by the news—she was enraged by it. When she took another step toward me, I took another step back. She wasn’t the same as the last time I’d seen her. I’d thought that both she and my sister, Isabel, had died in a car accident, but they were alive. They’d traveled through time to the year 3130, which was where—when?—we’d been reunited, because I’d gone through the portal and come through time too.

My sister had put a curse on my mother and the spell had physical side effects. My mother always had honey-colored hair, but it had turned ash white. Her skin was also pale and chalky, a sickly patina I’d never seen before. But her eyes were the worst—instead of their usual blue, they were faded, her irises so pale that they were almost transparent, giving her eyes the overall appearance of being milky.

She came closer, but I refused to flinch. Dominic’s not a lunatic, I said.

My mother kept the knife pointed toward me. He’s a vampire.

That doesn’t make him crazy or bad.

And what do you know about it? She laughed, but it was hollow, desperate. "Have you ever been married to a vampire before?

No, but I know that he’s a good person, Mother.

Therein lies the trouble, she said. The fact that you think that he’s a person at all.

I took a deep breath. She was married to a notorious vampire emperor, and though we hadn’t had time to talk about it, it was clear that the union wasn’t a happy one. Keeping my voice gentle, I cocked my head toward her. I want to explain everything to you.

"It doesn’t matter what you want. Let’s go," she said, motioning for me to follow her to the window.

Mom, we can’t. We’ll never make it out of the grounds alive.

We were in the seamstress’s chambers. Queen Danica, Dominic’s mother, had brought me there only moments before. I was supposed to have the final fitting for my wedding dress, and instead, my mother had ambushed me. I hoped the seamstress was intact, locked away somewhere. If my mother had done something worse to her, our fates were already sealed.

I eyed the knife again. Even if we make it onto the grounds, I said, the guards will catch us. There’s no point. The queen will never let us go, and I don’t even want to imagine what she’ll do to punish us!

My mother looked at me sharply. I don’t care, Victoria. I’d rather die than watch you marry a vampire.

"Well, I would rather not die, and I’m not interested in losing you again so soon. And I already told you—I want to marry him. I tried to keep my tone scolding despite the hysteria bubbling inside me. I know you can’t understand that, but give him a chance."

I’m not giving him a chance, Victoria. If we don’t leave now, if we don’t get out of here and away from them, everything I’ve done will have been in vain. Her milky eyes got watery, and a few tears spilled over. All those years of hiding. Being separated from you… She shook her head. I won’t do it. If you marry him, the queen and the emperor will win. They’ll have the prize they’ve been searching for for all eternity.

"What prize?" I cried.

"You. She stepped closer, the knife uncomfortably close to my neck. You don’t understand your worth. You’ve been bewitched. Your sister thinks I’m deaf and blind, but I know the truth. You’re an intercross, and you’re talented. These creatures don’t love you, she continued. Remember that. They aren’t capable of it. They’ll only suck you dry, use you for all you’re worth, and leave your husk to rot."

Gee, Mom, tell me how you really feel.

But my attempt at humor fell flat. She grabbed my hand and dragged me to the window. It’s time for us to go. She looked out at the sunny grounds and then up at the bright, cloudless sky. May the gods keep us.

She took a poker from next to the fireplace and smashed a wide pane of glass, sending shards spraying across the stone floor. Using the poker, she cleared the jagged edges from the window and shoved me toward it. Go through, she said, "then run."

I crouched, but the door to the chamber opened and slammed shut. My mother swore under her breath.

"Oh please. I should be swearing at you, Isabel said. She stalked in. You behave just as badly when you’re cursed, Mother. Next time, I’m taking you straight to the greedles in the moat."

You’ve officially gotten too big for your britches, young lady! My mother stepped toward her, but my sister only scoffed.

Get up, Tor, Isabel said. You’re not going anywhere but to the closet to let the seamstress out. She frowned at us, her hands on her hips. Though she looked lovely in the pale-yellow dress she’d changed into, her expression was anything but pleased. Nice try, Mom. But did you really think I was going to let you run away like this? You’d never make it past the garden, and who knows what Queen Danica would do to you then. Let alone your wretch of a husband.

Mother raised her chin, her crazy-looking eyes filling with hate. I don’t care what they’d do to me, or to either of you, for that matter! We’d be better off dying with honor. We can’t let it end like this. So go on about your curses and your stupid ever-loving threats about the greedles. Let them have me! I’d rather be drowned than watch my beautiful daughter used as a weapon against my kind. I have values, Isabel. It’s high time you tried to remember yours!

A knock came at the door, and all three of us stiffened. If it was Queen Danica, it was game over. The best I could hope for was the greedles if she caught us.

I’m coming in, someone with a familiar voice said. I almost fainted in relief as my friend Anthony entered the room. His bright-red hair, thick and wavy, contrasted starkly with his pale, pinched-looking face. What the bloody hell is going on in here? I heard the window smash from outside. D’you all want to be put in the stocks?

I’ll take the stocks over having my head on a spike. Isabel frowned at him. Who’re you, anyway?

I’m Anthony. He straightened his spine and held out a pale hand to shake. I’m your sister’s best friend. We met before. Don’t you remember?

She sniffed then stared at his hand as if it were infected. "You’re a vampire."

Um, yes, and you are…very pretty. He smiled at her, but her expression remained hostile.

Iz flared her nostrils and turned back to Mom. This vampire is going to take you back to tea while Tori and I clean up the mess you made. She’s going to try on her wedding gown, just as the queen ordered.

My mother’s face crumpled. You can’t let her go through with this.

Yes, I can, and I will. Nothing can be done. Victoria’s made her choice, and now we will make the best of it. We’ll lie in the bed she’s made for all of us. You’re lucky I’m being so lenient, Mother. This was a terrible risk. Cross me again, and it’s lights out for good.

Isabel Elise Edwards! Don’t talk to our mother like that! I scowled at her, but she bent over and cleaned up the glass, completely ignoring me.

Come with me, Empress. I’ve got you. Anthony took my mother’s arm gently and then gave me a WTF look before he led her out, but I didn’t dare say anything in front of my sister, who’d apparently gone completely psycho.

I turned on her as soon as the door closed. You’ve no right to treat her like that! Or Anthony—he was just trying to help!

"I’ve only got one thing to say to you: you’re welcome. Now get the seamstress out here so she can do your gown, and do it quickly. I need to put a spell on her."

I regarded my sister. She was younger than me, but she seemed much older, hardened. What happened to you? I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "You mean what hasn’t happened to me? Now stop being such a baby and help. If we don’t get this mess cleaned up and get you in that wedding dress, we’re dead meat. Quite literally."

My sister expediently cleaned up the broken glass while I eyed the closet. How did Mom get the seamstress in there? I asked.

Isabel sighed. You’d be surprised by how good she’s gotten at seeming old and pathetic. She’s a crafty one, our mother.

I opened the door and the seamstress sprung out, looking quite indignant. Where is the Empress? She locked me inside!

Isabel frowned. Never you mind about that. Stand still, please.

The seamstress scowled, her glasses slipping halfway down her nose. Pardon me?

Don’t say another word, my sister ordered.

The seamstress, who typically gave her opinions freely, began to object. "The Queen will hear of this! No one speaks to a royal staff member like that without repercussion! I don’t care who your father is!"

But she stopped yelling and put her hands on her head, as if she had a sudden headache. "Gah! What are you doing to me?"

Getting you to shut your mouth, and forget all about this little incident. Isabel closed her eyes and reached out toward the vampire. "This won’t hurt a bit."

I watched, mesmerized, as my sister kept her arm extended. She seemed to concentrate, a small v forming in between her eyes. A few moments passed in silence. You aren’t going to remember anything about what just happened—my mother, the closet, or what I’m doing to you now. And you’ll be quite polite from now on, Vampire. Remember who you are serving: your new Princess.

Isabel’s eyes snapped open. The seamstress stood there, blinking at us. She no longer seemed upset. Instead, she reached for her tape measure and smiled. Time to get to work, Lady Victoria! I cannot wait to see you in your dress.

How did you do that? I whispered to my sister.

The same way you do it. Isabel tossed her hair. Although I expect I will never be quite as adept at magic as my big sister. Now then, try on your dress. You’ve got a vampire to marry.

The seamstress smoothed my gown and made some final markings, humming to herself, blissfully unaware that she’d been briefly taken hostage and vanished. Isabel didn’t stay long, and she averted her eyes once I’d been zipped into the gown. She couldn’t bear to look at me in my wedding dress.

The seamstress secured the clasp of the beautiful diamond-and-sapphire necklace at the base of my neck. Dominic had given it to me as a wedding gift; it had been in his family for centuries.

She sucked in a deep breath as she positioned me in front of the full-length mirror. Perfection, she said as her glasses slipped halfway down her nose. And you know I don’t say that easily.

My reflection took my breath away. The necklace sparkled at my throat, and the wedding gown was gorgeous, unlike anything I’d ever seen. I almost didn’t recognize myself. Fit for a princess, it was strapless and had a tightly fitted bodice and a full skirt that was ruffled and flowing. It looked like I was floating on the most exquisite cloud. The train spread out behind me in white billows, reaching halfway across the room. You did an amazing job. This is magical.

I agree, the seamstress said. She seemed a bit nicer since my sister had vanished her.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized that my mother would rather see me dead than in that dress. Yet to me, it represented the possibility of so much happiness.

We should get you back to your guests, my lady. I’m sure His Highness is missing you.

I nodded at her, too overwhelmed to speak. My emotions were running from excitement to dread and everything in between. I’d been so focused on being reunited with my mother and sister, so elated at the news that they were alive. But now that they were here, my situation seemed even more impossible.

This weekend, I was to marry Dominic Allard, the vampire prince. I was in love with him, and being with him was what I wanted. But how can I overcome my mother’s hatred? She was married to a dangerous, notorious vampire, Emperor Lucas. I understood that he wanted to help my impending mother-in-law, Queen Danica, enslave the human race. I held perfectly still as the seamstress undid my dress. But inside, my heart was breaking. I had to choose between my past and my future. And the choice might very well break all of me.

2

FITTING

Istopped by my chambers before I went to the salon for tea with the royal family, Emperor Lucas, my mother, and my sister. Though I wasn’t even sure if the queen wanted me there. She wanted many things, but it was best to discern them clearly before taking action.

You’re looking quite pale, my friend and maid, Mistress Olivia, said. She frowned, her smooth, pale skin puckering as she brushed the hair back from my face. What’s the matter?

I’m not sure where to start. I sank onto my bed. Do you think it’d be okay if I skipped tea? They must be almost done by now. I checked the sun, which had traveled halfway across the sky.

Of course it’s okay. Take a nap, my lady. If anyone comes calling, I’ll tell them you needed to lie down. The foreign dignitary reception is this evening, so you must rest.

I nodded and lay back against my pillow, not bothering to change out of my gown. I can hardly wait for tonight. The lack of excitement was clear in my voice.

She tsked at me. "I know it’s a lot, but you’ll be with His Highness, and it will be okay. You just need to get through the next few days and stay under the queen’s