“A man who can’t accept someone, so superior like me, as a girlfriend, is no man at all! Get out of my sight, you insolent nerd!” Nicole almost shouted at her poor classmate.

The boy shrugged with ultimate embarrassment and disappeared into the crowd of the student body, which had already filled the cafeteria.

“You were harsh Nicole…” Emily spoke solemnly but the blond with the piercing green eyes made a gesture of disgust.

“My dear Emily, no one who has asked me to prom or date in the last two years was capable enough to be considered as a boyfriend.” She spoke with full of fake sweetness smile.

Emily scowled at her and wondered why she was still considering her as a friend. She knew why; they were both acquainted since they were kids. Emily’s family was serving Nicole’s as butlers and maids. She was always thinking that these discriminations were long gone, but the two families had a long history.

Nicole’s family had a thread of royalty, which was drawing back to the 17th century. While Nicole was spoiled and full of pride, part of her rich and pride her family had over the years as the best businessmen in the country, she never thought of Emily as a servant, the only good point at her, as Emily would usually think.

“Shall we go, your Highness? Class will start soon.” Emily stretched out the title making Nicole smirk at her.

“Sure.”

She got up, pushing back with a dazzling way, her straight blond hair, making Emily smile with her confidence, and feel bad for her brown curls.

While they were both attending still high school, Nicole’s father, Mr. Ederson, was already searching a suitor for his only daughter. But there was a tiny, little problem. No matter how many suitors her father had introduced to Nicole, she would always find a reason to throw them out of the house. Emily still remembers the last one who flew, literally flew out from Nicole’s balcony; she wasn’t doing tae kwon do for nothing.

They passed the corridor, which led from the cafeteria to the classes and soon they found themselves, standing before the History class.

“I only hope today ends soon,” Nicole spoke with a tone of boredom.

“Well, I couldn’t agree more with that.” Emily left a tired breath and opened the door for Nicole to pass first.

Two hours later the girls were entering the mansion of Nicole’s family, which was located on the outskirts of the city, just like a palace Emily would usually think.

“What is that?” Emily pointed from the window of their car and Nicole looked at her direction; the limo, shiny black had parked at one side of their garden. A visitor had come.

“If that father of mine has brought another suitor, I am going to kick both their asses!” Nicole spoke angrily and rushed out of the car, followed by Emily, who almost ran behind her.

They entered the living room, a replica of the Victorian style and Nicole’s mother design, only to come across with him. The man had already sat on the couch together with Nicole’s father and they were both enjoying their tea.

When Mr. Ederson caught Nicole’s gaze, he got up and smiled at her kindly.

“Nicole! You have finally returned. And you too Emily, welcome home.” He spoke to the two girls and Emily made a small bow out of respect.

Nicole rushed into her father, not only to kiss him on the cheek but most importantly to see the guy her father surely had called over to her. She hadn’t seen him from behind since he was already seated, but when her green eyes met his, shivers shook her.

The man turned and looked at her too; except his suit, a sign of being a businessman too, his pale skin and black hair were showing that he was young. His eyes, dark brown, almost black, peered at Nicole and the girl felt like he was trying to read her very core. She would be delighted for his nice features if there wasn’t the beard; black thick beard, which covered his jaw, lips and half of his cheeks.

Nicole wondered how this man could live with something so hideous on his face. She even caught herself staring at him, a fact that made her father cough loudly and draw her attention.

“Nicole this is Peter Rubens, he and his family have been great friends of our family for many, many years.”

Peter Rubens got up and offered his palm to Nicole. She stared at first at him and then at his open hand and the thought crossed her mind.

Does he want to kiss my hand? Seriously? And she looked at Emily.

Her eyes were blazing with fury as she waved at her not to be impolite with the guest. Nicole held a breath and let her hand slide into his strong palm. He gently closed his cold fingers around her hand and gently he crossed his lips on her skin. Nicole felt both goosebumps and detest him.

Just before he could be able to speak Nicole drew her hand and almost screamed at him.

“How dare you do that to me? Get out of here and take your beard with you Thrushbeard!” she laughed with the last word, proud for thinking it in that instant.

Peter Rubens left her hand fall, staring at her astonished, almost petrified. Mr. Enderson left an angry groan, butting quickly between them. He looked at Nicole with detest and severity and quickly he turned to Peter Rubens.

But he had already stormed out from the living room, passing near Emily, who stood petrified from the whole scene. She rushed to open the door for him, mouthing quickly a “Sorry” for the behavior of her friend. But he looked at her coldly and left.

“How dare you speak like that?” Mr. Ederson screamed at Nicole.

“He was hideous with that beard! And he wanted to kiss my hand? Where does he think he is? The Victorian Times?” Nicole shrugged and placed her hand on her waist, pushing back her hair.

“That’s enough!” her father shouted and Nicole stopped laughing.

“Let this be known to everyone and Emily is our witness! I swear in our family’s name, that the first man, who will enter our house, WILL be your suitor! I will not let you shame the whole family with your ways!”

Nicole stared at her father for a moment, astonished by his sudden outburst. And then it hit her.

First man. Suitor. End of the line.

“There is no way for me to agree with that!” she screamed at her father and stormed out from the living room, having Emily, following her quietly from behind.

That night Nicole refused to dine with her parents and neither tried to convince her. Of course, she wasn’t going to agree with her father’s decision and neither was she going to just woo with the first man who would enter her house.

“He was just threatening me that’s all.” Nicole came to that decision as she wore her nightdress, a silky white one, which was almost transparent and laid on her bed.

Emily had visited her earlier bringing her a tray with her dinner but she soon dismissed her, wanting some time alone. Nicole’s room was her pride. She herself has arranged everything and for now, she had just left the balcony doors open, letting the warm winds of the coming summer calm her. She drifted to a dreamless sleep, forgetting about today’s events but still she was haunted by the mesmerizing eyes of the Thrushbeard.

The night brought suddenly coldness and with the coldness the man jumped from roof to roof, heading to the open balcony doors. He was carving for the scent and his senses had led him to her. Night was nothing for his trained ruby eyes and his movements were silent, almost impossible to hear.

He slipped into the room and gazed around, finding the one he had come for; the blond girl was sleeping soundly on her bed, her locks falling down to her chest but the man had taken a different notice. His trained ears caught the sound he so much carved for.

Bump, bump.

The sound of her blood was calling him and he didn’t deny it. Slowly he leaned closer to her and brushed his lips, across the base of her neck, searching for the spot he wanted. A sudden movement had him retreat and his eyes locked with Nicole’s green.

She looked at him at first with surprise and soon with horror as she screamed so loudly that the man had to cover his ears. Nicole lit her room and quickly, she stood to the other side of her bed, looking at the man horrified.

“Who are you? How did you come here?” she demanded but the man simply smirked.

She saw him better under the light of her room. Apart from the clothes, which looked like a punk’s with black skinny trousers and a ragged red shirt, the man had black hair, perfect white face but eyes which made Nicole’s feet tremble.

His eyes had the color of rubies, shining even under the light of her room. She gasped as he made a step closer to her and she grabbed the item closer to her, lifting it as a weapon.

“Are you going to threaten me with your school bag? Seriously?” he teased her with a melodic voice but Nicole still held the bag tightly.

“I can make a use of it, I assure you.”

“Cocky…I like that.” He titled his head to the right, draining her with his eyes.

Her room’s door opened with a thud and her father along with most of the security men rushed into her room.

“Father!” Nicole spoke relieved and came closer to him.

“How did you come here?” Mr. Ederson spoke to the man.

He bowed with respect and looked at him.

“Word has come out about the vow you gave. I have come to take her.”

“What?” Nicole gasped with the man’s words but her father stood still, holding his breath.

“I assure you that I will keep her safe and no harm will befall at her. I give you my word.”

“Father no!”

“You can’t take your word back.”

Mr. Ederson looked at the man with the alien eyes and then at Nicole; she was almost pleading him not to agree. But he took her elbow and led her to the man’s side.

“I always keep my word.”

“Thank you, sir.”

With a swift move he caught Nicole from the waist and before she could realize it, she was flying out from her balcony, into the darkness. Everything was passing like floating images around her and she continued screaming and kicking from anger for her father and feeling the betrayal soaking in her.

Suddenly cold lips touched her neck and a piercing sensation filled her as the fangs made their way into her neck. She felt her blood oozing out from her, and she tilted her head back, feeling her eyes heavy and her body numb. Only the red eyes stared at her before she loses consciousness and the soft voice whispered to her ear, like a lullaby at night,

“So sweet…”

The morning rays found Nicole on a small bed; she felt her body aching and her neck throbbing from pain. She got up slowly and sat on the bed. The room was small, wooden and almost empty from furniture except the bed and big wardrobe across the bed, close to the door. An old round carpet was covering the part of the floor between the door and the bed, while the curtains on the window to her right were the only clean part of Nicole’s room.

“Where am I?” she mumbled and got up.

She fell to her knees, feeling really weak and her neck ached with pain. She brushed her soft skin to the part she was feeling the throbbing and left a squeal; the tiny two holes, perfectly lined to the base of her neck sent new shivers to the girl.

“It can’t be…” she gasped with horror and got up, heading to the door.

Nicole walked towards the door but soon she felt the emptiness below her feet. There was no floor below the carpet.

She sunk together with the carpet and Nicole screamed as she fell to her death. Strong arms caught her before reaching the ground and soon she was flying upwards, entering a different room.

Now that room could look like a kitchen if it wasn’t for the destroyed fridge and the stained from humid walls; Nicole was now seated on a chair and the playful red eyes were looking at her from the other side of the table.

“Rise and shine cutie.” The man spoke and he smiled at her.

“You! You did this to me!” Nicole showed the fang marks on her neck.

“I am sure that you know what these are.”

“Vampire? You are a vampire?”

The man crossed his feet on the table, not daring to take his eyes from her.

“But it’s day! You should be burnt to crisp!”

“Oh, there are so many myths you mortals have thought. I love the sun actually.” He admitted and raised his hand, letting the sun rays, which were coming from the hole in the ceiling, warm his skin.

Nicole sat again, afraid of the new revelation. She covered her body by curling her arms around her chest and looked at him warily.

“Take me home!” she hissed at him but the vampire looked at her with a question.

“Why should I? I am your suitor after all.”

“Don’t tell me you believed my father’s words!”

“He hadn’t sent so far anyone to search for you and trust me; I know the business around here.”

Nicole felt her heart sinking. She and her big mouth had brought her to this situation. Trapped with a vampire into a deserted house.

“Where are we?” she dared to ask.

“Downtown. This deserted block of flats is the perfect house for me and I can work with peace and quiet.”

“Putting carpets on holes is not safe!”

The vampire looked at her and then the hint or memory made his eyes widened.

“Shoot, I had forgotten about that!”

“That’s not our point here! I am going home.” And she stormed to the door.

The vampire in an instant was standing in front of her, blocking her way. She tried to pass by he lifted her and soon they were both down to the floor, his lips stroking her delicate skin, his weight pressing her down.

“I could dry you in an instant.”

‘Then why don’t you do it?”

The sound of a grin made Nicole look at him; he touched her cheek with such gentleness, she almost stopped breathing. His red eyes, locked gazes with hers but soon he got up, pulling her with him.

“My name is Mins. Hold it in mind Nicole.”

“How do you know my name?” Nicole demanded and the vampire smirked at her.

“Who doesn’t know the daughter of Ederson family, who can make the ground shake with her tremendous pride?”

Nicole ignored the sarcasm and stepped away from him and his embrace. She hated Mins for bringing her here and she hated her father who agreed to her kidnapping just because he had made that stupid vow.

But most of all she regretted speaking in such a harsh way to Thruhbeard; she hadn’t thought of the consequences.

“So what can I do now?” Nicole wondered out loud, looking at the floor and Mins took her hand.

“Work for me of course.”

Nicole soon discovered that Mins wasn’t like ordinary vampires. He wasn’t glowing like diamonds, neither he hated garlic, in fact, he loved it. What was surprising was his job.