Cracking the Vampire Prince

"Can't do it, can you? The prophecy, and all that? You need me."

Several seconds passed by in silence before a slow, deep vibrating sound rumbled through Prince Ran, sprouting a trail of goosebumps down Misa's neck to her arms. "You are rather amusing, human."

Then, the prince withdrew, just like Misa knew (to be real, she had been really hoping) he would, slowly, eyes fixed on her like tomorrow's dinner. For a moment, she wondered if that had been a laugh from Prince Ran just now, as awkward as it had sounded.

But then... Man, could he not? She thought after noticing the obnoxiously deep snarl he was leveling at her with his turned-up lips, his eyes cold and judging. 

It was much more likely that he hadn't laughed at all. Like sounds of merriment needed permission to be breathed by him. Misa imagined the prince as the little version of himself--a kid frowning at every kid who dared to be a kid just like him.

Guy's probably never cracked a genuine smile a day in his life. And in his afterlife. She thought, I bet smiles miss him on their way to actual happy people.

"Pfft--" Misa covered her mouth with her hands.

Prince Ran's scowl was instantly replaced with a viciously arched eyebrow. It had Misa bursting with laughter. "Is something funny to you, human?"

Misa rapidly waved a hand back and forth before her face, trying to calm down her lingering giggles. His facial expressions were killing her. But she cried, "No, no! Nothing."

"No, no?" The prince inquired, and then the crooked, displeased lips were back. "So, you lie, too. Humans are an interesting breed, indeed."

"Sure, because vampires never tell lies?"

Now, Prince Ran's expression changed to haughty, his eyebrows up and his chin taut. However, he seemed to distract himself by scooping up the book that had fallen to the carpet earlier. He then took deliberate attention to brushing the dust off with his fingers. It was a short while before he finally said, "I have never told a lie."

The slow and quiet way he said that suggested a story waiting to be told. Misa could tell there was one there. Probably something juicy, she thought, but she decided not to press it... just yet. Instead, she thought of something bold and more pressing to ask the elusive vampire prince. 

"So then, tell me. Now that you've properly met me..." Misa purposely trailed off, waiting until Prince Ran sought her eyes with his own. For a moment, she found herself taken by the subtle beauty of his exotic eyes, unintentionally taking longer to continue. "Are you truly against marrying me?"

There was a flash of something interesting behind Prince Ran's eyes, and a quick moment in which the corners of his lips seemed to twitch upward. Misa smirked a little, fighting hard to control her own expression.

Well, this is interesting, she thought. I think we're getting somewhere.

Yet, the prince replied, "Tomorrow, ask your aide to help you find something nice to wear. Those," he used two fingers to indicate her bunny-and-carrot pajamas, "will not do."

And the miniscule smirk slipped right off Misa's face as she gasped in horror. 

Not only had she forgotten about her raggedy bedtime appearance in front of a whole-ass prince, but she'd also forgotten about Ida! Misa whipped her head around to find the short, ancient vampire rocking on her heels at the back of the room, seeming to contain some barely bottled excitement as she waited for the prince to finish this exchange. 

To Misa, she looked like some snooping child who would wake the whole castle the next morning screaming, 'The new princess and Prince Ran were flirting all over the place in The Vault last night!'

Ohh noo, Misa whined internally, feeling her face grow hot.

She made a show of sinking as low as she possibly could into the chaise, and this time, there was no mistaking the amused look on Prince Ran's face. His eyes totally gleaming, he shook the book in his hand and began to walk away. 

"You know? I think I'll take this. At least you've got good taste in literature, human." Misa groaned loudly in response. "And please do learn a way to sit properly before meeting my parents and the Elders tomorrow." Prince Ran called over his shoulder, "You look like a slug."

Misa wished she had a pillow to throw at him. I'll show you a slug! She thought. And then realized something that, for some reason, made her grin and want to poke the bear again. 

The unsmiling prince knew how to smile after all.

In a sweeping black dress that flowed with her as she walked, with pattern lace sleeves, long, frilled cuffs at the wrists, and a front-side red bodice tied with thin black laces, Misa looked more like a vampire princess than she felt was appropriate considering she was neither vampire nor princess. 

At least not yet, she thought with surprising automaticity and then actually slapped herself with a stiff palm. Walking beside her, Ida gasped and then stared at her squinty eyed and slightly open mouthed. The vampire looked like she wanted to ask Misa a few questions about herself but fiercely held herself back.

Instead, it was Misa who was doing the asking.

What the heck was that?! Do I really intend to stay here? What am I thinking?? Get a hold of yourself, girl! She chastised herself and shook her sanity back into place with a deep breath as she and Ida continued their walk down a lengthy hallway toward the castle's great hall. 

It was the next morning; the portion of her night spent in The Vault still stuck to her brain like a bad song. It had kept her up the rest of the night, the night's dark bags under her eyes only grown larger today. 

"... Please do learn a way to sit properly before meeting my parents and the Elders tomorrow.," Prince Ran had said as if this was just some family gathering Misa could casually attend. As if she could blend in.

In her (not-well-slept) dreams, the family would welcome her with open arms, calling her "daughter" and kissing her cheeks. It was a much better alternative to the nightmarish possibility that they might stick their fangs into her veins and drink her good and dry, dead as a doornail.

"Ooooohhhffff," Misa sang, blowing air into her cheeks as she and Ida neared the imposing archway to the great hall. She could hear faint noises coming from within and her sharp-sighted green eyes caught a few servants hurrying about.

Nerves swelled in the pit of her stomach at the thought of meeting the king and queen of this vampire kingdom. The parents of the prince they all assumed she was going to marry.

"This has to go well." She mumbled out loud. She peeked down at Ida, hoping for some similar words of encouragement. Ida peeked back at her but said nothing and waved her inside the large room they had finally reached.

Two guardsmen stationed at opposite sides of the entrance bowed a curt nod at Misa and gestured for her to hurry in. Misa blew shaky air into her cheeks again.

"It'll be fine." She told herself.