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Civil/Underworld-X

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Nicolette was beginning to bother me. She claimed she only wanted what was best for me, but it seemed she only wanted what was easier for her to handle. That meant dragging me back to the Underworld.

Grayson, my mother's protective gargoyle, and Grandfather himself greeted me. He sat on the stairway leading up to my palace, feeding Grayson something bloody. Once Grandfather turned to me I noticed something that looked like a hand slide down the gargoyle's throat.

Grandfather's eyes were vicious and burned with the intensity of the fires around him. He smiled and I felt my heart stop. Whatever was coming I feared greatly.

"Surely you have heard of the Barron of Beasts, King Alabaster," his voice was calm and reasoned.

I nodded slowly. I wanted to run, but Nicolette had my arm. I cursed her and Grandfather raised a curious eyebrow. Frowning, I pulled away from her and turned to the man before me.

"I have," I said coldly.

"He has been calling for you."

My jaw nearly dropped. Alabaster is the equivalent to the devil on Earth. He is lord of all earthly evil and adopts the creatures Mother Earth rejects. The thought of him requesting me for anything was absurd.

Nicolette stepped forward defensively. "What for?" she demanded.

"He wants you to marry his son," Grandfather said grimly.

Heat filled my body and I glared at him. "And you permitted this?" I growled. "Does Mother know? Why wasn't I informed of this?"

Grandfather stood, towering over me. "You are informed now. Your mother need not know of this arrangement. This is strictly business between Alabaster and me."

"Don't you think this is any of my business?!" I shouted, but it was worthless.

"I have already called for Charon. He will take you to Alabaster's castle. We are not arguing over this, Civillia. The agreement has been made."

And with nothing more than a goodbye, I was sent from Hell to Alabaster's kingdom.

How different the palace was from my own! The walls were white and shining as if new, and the garden behind the fortress was full of the vibrant colors of life. Many paintings hung from the walls in the hallways, and there was a beautiful crystal chandelier in the ballroom. I kept a royal stature, bringing back years of training for this very occasion. All the formalities were annoying, but Grandfather would have killed me if I did otherwise.

I met Alabaster in the throne room, but his son was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until dinner when I met young Gareth Walcott.

I am not quite sure what I expected. I suppose I was prepared to see a man with esteem as high as the king's. Gareth was more like a shy child who wanted to leave the party the moment he arrived.

There is no debate that the boy is handsome. His hair is a beautiful golden color and his serious eyes shift colors almost constantly. He is taller than I, although I am sure he is shorter than Aviary. His cheeks were high and his smile was blinding, but if it weren't for his regal face, I could have easily mistaken him for a schoolboy.

The man behind him smiled warmly at me, but I could sense his defenses were raised. His protection for the young prince reminded me of the way Nicolette stood guard. I guessed the man was Gareth's help.

The elders of the house ushered us away immediately, forcing Gareth and me alone. We spent days of conversation together, but none of our words had any worth. It was obvious neither of us wanted to be wed.

Gareth took me to the garden one day on my request. Again, there was some idle chitchat, but nothing more. I watched him, wondering if the young lord would make a decent husband. He was polite and noble, but seemed kind of spacey. I couldn't help but stare the moment his smile vanished and his eyes turned a deep gray. He looked over at me, and I quickly reacted with a common response.

"Something troubling you, young prince?" I asked softly.

He smiled, but I wasn't convinced. "Please, milady, you may call me Gareth. I prefer it that way."

I returned the gesture. "Then you shall call me Civil, okay?"

He swallowed, suddenly nervous. "That would be alright?"

My smile broadened at his timidity. "I am a princess without a kingdom; my title means nothing anymore," I assured him.

"But it is still your title," he persisted.

My eyes fell to the flowerbed at my feet. The only time I ever felt like a princess was when people treated me differently. I didn't like it.

My eyes found a white rose and I gasped at its beauty. I bent down to pick the flower, but my hand was immediately met with Gareth's.

I looked up at him. "What are you doing?"

He paused, and I watched him curiously. Finally he said, "Must all demons extinguish life?"

The thought caught me off guard, but I kind of liked it. "I would suppose not," I said, standing up straight and smiling. "You are an odd one, Gareth."

He seemed unaffected, but his reply was sharp and hurtful. "What spell are you using on me, temptress?"

I gasped. "I…I didn't mean to!"

I knew my mother had the power to charm males. She used this to lure in meals and seduce men for her own pleasure. Gareth's accusation worried me; I wondered if I had obtained the same ability. The thought of me charming someone unintentionally frightened me, and I quickly apologized before rushing back into the castle.

As soon as I entered the foyer, I ran into Alabaster. He looked down at me and smiled.

"Something wrong, princess?" he asked.

I shook my head and pushed past him. I was not in the mood to humor any more royals. I found myself in the library, a room I had only seen once before. In the center of the thousand shelves of books was a brilliant, white, piano. I ran my finger down the keys and smiled at the sound. Naturally, I sat on the bench and began to play.

It had been so long since I was behind the ivory, but no one would have guessed it. My hands flew over the keys, bringing forth sweet melodies that I am sure echoed throughout the white walls of the castle. My hands ventured lower, commanding the tenor of the instrument to sound. I smiled, feeling free and comforted as my fingers explored the entire range of the piano.

There was a slight scuffling outside and I stopped, listening to the footsteps.

"Prince Gareth?" I called, waiting for the door to open.

The large, oak door opened slowly and the prince wandered in. He stopped a few inches away from me and bowed. Naturally, I gave a slight nod to accept his presence.

"I should apologize, princess," he said softly.

I smiled slightly. "Now, now, what happened to familiarity?"

Gareth corrected himself and returned the gesture. "It seemed I had offended you," he continued.

I smiled more, hopefully putting him at ease. All the while I was thinking about how I really did not want to marry him. Gareth was a nice boy, however. I was not about to completely shrug him off.

"No offence taken," I assured him. "Come sit. Do you play?"

He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Not very well, I'm afraid," he said humbly. "Mercutio tried to teach me once, but I became so entranced with his playing I refused to make my own."

That was when everything fell into place. Gareth's eyes always lit the moment he mentioned Mercutio, and once his servant was by his side the young prince couldn't help but smile. I knew that look. I had seen it when Kioni and I had found Aviary creeping out of her mentor's house. Gareth was in love with his help.

"I see…" I hummed, repressing a smile.

A new tune, a romance, escaped my fingers and found its way into the keys. Gareth watched my hands, but I could tell he was thinking about Mercutio. He appeared to want to speak, so I turned to him.

"Do you sing?"

He blushed slightly. "Not really…"

I was beginning to think the boy couldn't do anything. After brief pondering, I whispered to the keys, enchanting them. I then turned to Gareth and held out my hand.

"Then, will you dance with me?"

Gareth turned a darker shade of pink. "Dance?" his voice was soft and childlike.

I stood, straightening out my dress before turning to him. The prince's eyes never left the piano and he gaped. I beamed, thrilled that I had remembered my studies quite well.

"I enchanted it. As a demon royal I have the ability to give life or death to anything," I explained happily.

Gareth smiled and took my hand, and we made our way to the center of the library. The prince was a terrible dancer, he could not lead, and when I tried to instruct him he went the opposite direction. After a few false moves, Gareth finally found the flow and we glided effortlessly on the tile. He spun me the moment Mercutio entered the room. I winked at the help and whirled Gareth into his arms.

I was grateful Mercutio was so disciplined, because he caught the prince perfectly. I could see the blush returning to his cheeks as I sat at the piano and resumed the tune. I slowed down the tempo, forcing the boys to take on a more waltz-like gait.

When I looked up from the keys, there was an unfamiliar expression on Gareth's face. He was blushing, but the action made his entire face glow. His eyes were gleaming as he gazed upon Mercutio. I immediately ended the song and rushed over to the two of them.

I kept a royal stance for Mercutio's sake. "Young prince, you have such an elegant form," I praised. "Would you grant me the pleasure of painting you?" I couldn't help but chuckle as my approach reminded me of Harley asking me the same question.

Gareth smiled dazzlingly.  "The pleasure would be mine, princess."

The rest of the night was spent getting the base down for the young lord and coloring only the top of the picture before he became impatient. Gareth and I were getting closer, and our conversations were becoming more personal. Not that I minded. I knew that one day I would have no choice but to be his queen.

Alabaster forced me to stay the night with the young prince. That brought on an entire new form of awkwardness between us. Luckily, Gareth was interested in Mercutio, so I wasn't too worried about him trying anything. Still, I slept in a frail, little nightdress and Gareth in his underwear, so the two of us were a bit unnerved. Eventually we went to sleep, and I found comfort in the young prince's arms.

I awoke before him, Nicolette by my side. She handed me a bowl of some fleshy meat, and I went into the bathroom so the blood wouldn't drip on the bed. It had been months since I had fed like a true demon, and Nicolette insisted I look my best for the royals. I ate quickly, remembering the few dinners I spent with my mother. Mother always had a severe love for the taste of human meat, but I was fine with simple human food. Actually, as I fed, I began craving Dalkon's dinner. Who would have guessed the incubus was a good cook?

My newfound appetite for human delicacies gave me an idea. Nicolette helped me into a white dress and then disappeared. After asking Mercutio to lay with Gareth until he woke, I rushed downstairs and raided the kitchen.

Within a few hours I had made two-dozen donuts and three-dozen other pastries and two kettles of tea. Fruit salad waited on the counter, but I planned on serving that later. I forced my original recipe for red velvet cheesecake cupcakes into the underused oven and gathered my treats to be served on the balcony overlooking the garden. My sight was obscured, so I didn't notice the man in front of me. I stumbled, dropping a few power donuts on his white suit.

Immediately, I placed my treats on a nearby counter and helped him to his feet.

"I am so sorry!" I exclaimed, worried I may have broken a royal.

The man smiled and my heart stopped. He was tall and immensely handsome with charming hazel eyes and chestnut hair. He stood tall and nobly, with an aura that commanded attention. He wore a white fedora that matched his suit and shoes. There was no doubt this man was royalty.

His grin broadened, and I found myself blushing. "That's quite alright, milady," he said considerately with an overly dramatic bow. "I do not plan to hold it against you. Of course, someone of my stature should be paid for the damage done."

My blush vanished immediately once I realized how arrogant he was. The man was still smiling, holding out his hand and waiting for me to make a move. I turned my back on him and repositioned some of the treats that threatened to fall.

I felt his hand on my shoulder. "What's this? No fair maiden has been able to resist the charms of Prince Vascar III!" he exclaimed.

I swallowed hard, recognizing the name. I had just turned my back on the powerful prince of a savage kingdom of vampires. Slowly, I turned around and forced a smile.

Vascar beamed. "That's better." He noticed my pastries and gasped. "My, what a marvelous assortment of treats! Although," he put his arm around my waist and pulled me to him, "you are the sweetest thing here. Perhaps I shall partake from your sugars instead."

He lifted my chin and leaned in to kiss me. I grabbed a scone from the tray and shoved it in his mouth, wriggling out of his grasp. I hated obnoxious princes.

Vascar gnawed on the scone and then reached out for a donut. I promptly smacked his hand and grabbed the tray with the treats.

"Make yourself useful and grab the tea," I snapped.

Vascar clicked his heels together and saluted. "Yes ma'am!"

I groaned. "Just grab the damn thing."

"Oohh sassy lassy!" he teased.

I frowned, and the vampire prince grabbed the rest of my treats. I shot him a warning look that meant "don't you dare eat another bite" and led him up to the balcony. It was nice having an extra pair of hands, even if they came with an overactive mouth.

I set down a frilly tablecloth and put the pastries down on doilies. I set plates and poured tea for Gareth, Mercutio, and myself. Vascar sat down at an open chair and began sipping tea. I rolled my eyes and poured an extra cup.

The vampire prince motioned for me to sit, and I found myself obeying. I picked at a scone and dipped it into the tea, testing the taste.

"These are phenomenal," Vascar said softly.

My eyes met his and my stomach lurched. Despite his haughty nature, I could not get past Vascar's looks. He was moronic, but charming, conceited, but he had a reason to be, spoiled and…well, he had this thing that made you want to give him whatever he wanted.

I smiled at him in thanks, but my mind was already building a wall. I made sure I would not allow myself to fall for him as so many other women had. I was going to be marrying Prince Gareth Walcott; I did not have time to be imagining romance with Prince Vascar III.
Civil takes on a whole new appearance for the royals, and we finally get to see her nobility in action. Sure it's for an arranged marriage, but hey, who knows what will happen? Gareth, Mercutio, and Vascar are old characters of mine in a story of their own. You can read more about them here: [link]

The chapter that merges with this one can be found here: [link]
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NayruChalice's avatar
Vascar, you charming boy