The Prince, His Brother, and the Fae pt. 3

Given that Prince Ran seemed ready to annihilate the Fae princess--Misa was still having trouble getting over that bomb--for suggesting that he owed her anything, Misa shuffled herself into a position where she could see both Tana and Prince Ran's faces. 

Unwilling to miss anything, she even ignored that it put her closer to the vampire quartet sitting like wannabe gods in those wooden chairs. It truly set her bones on edge. However, Misa needed to see what would happen next.

She had to admit that this was like one of her vampire novels, and she was drinking this drama up!

"The immortality of a royal." Tana answered without missing a beat. "A life. Yours or your brother's would be easiest," she sang, as if she'd asked for nothing more than a sip of tea, "since both of you are so graciously within my reach. Or if you'd prefer, your mother or your father? Any will do. I pride myself on making my collections as flexible as possible. To alleviate any stress."

At the exact same time, Ryusei and Prince Ran burst into hectic laughter. The sounds came from deep within their abdomens, sounding heavier and eviler than Misa expected they should.

Chills scattered up her arms, back, and neck like spider webs, and she found herself rapidly shaking her head. No. Nope. No, no. I don't like that. She thought, scurrying closer to the door.

If they're about to flip, I'm gonna be the first one out.

Ryusei stopped laughing and spoke first, "You cocky Fae never fail to tickle my rhythmless heart. Look around you." He said, sweeping an arm to indicate how the vampires outnumbered Tana six to one, Misa included.

"My family and I might be at odds when it comes to humans..." When Ryusei looked pointedly at Prince Ran just then, the younger prince bowed his head, looking away. Misa quirked an eyebrow at the quick exchange as Ryusei finished, "We remain of one mind against the troublesome Fae."

Tana smacked her tongue against her teeth in annoyance. "Your numbers are of no consequence. Prince Ran killed a member of my royal bloodline. Our deal has been broken."

At this, Prince Ran answered, "I captured your sister, Pera, as promised, allowing you access to the throne."

"And I gifted you the magical know-how to craft a blood potion, allowing you to temporarily alter the blood of a human to that of an undead heathen such as yourself."

Misa's mouth dropped open, thinking as Tana kept speaking, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT a damned minute! Does that mean Prince Ran DID know I was human before I got here??

"And yet, you seem to forget the conditions we imposed on one another."

And the prince keeps giving me hell for being a human?? That's crazy work--

Misa, please! Prince Ran's voice interjected. He looked so bothered and unfocused.

Misa nodded, feeling bad. Shutting up. She answered.

Plus... Prince Ran's voice continued in her head, You're wrong. The original potion was not for you.

Gasping audibly, Misa felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She wondered, Who? ... Who was it meant for?

And her question went unanswered; the prince having severed their connection the way Misa needed practice doing. It left a strange feeling behind in her chest.

Who was it before me?

Prince Ran said to Tana, "Princess, you annoy me. The deal stood so long as, equally between both our families, no one beyond Pera was harmed by the opposing family members. If harmed, the victim's family would claim an equal or greater value from the family at fault as they see fit."

"Precisely. Which is why--"

"The deal was broken the moment your brother lured Misa into the Fae realm and drew blood during his attack of her. By then, my killing him had no effect on our severed deal. And by taking his life, I have already claimed what you are incorrectly here to 'collect.'"

Exaggerated clapping from the opposite end of the room started while Ryusei and his goons cheered at Prince Ran, who rolled his eyes and looked annoyed to death. "Way to play the Fae! That's right!"

Meanwhile, Misa stood with her jaw dropped to the floor, feeling touched beyond belief. Family?

Tana was the only one in the room peeved by what she'd just heard. She screamed, "That's nonsense! She is not a direct descendent of your bloodline! She isn't a true vampire, and you haven't even married yet!"

"There was no part in our deal stipulating the victim be of our bloodline. 'Family' is the word we swore over."

"You chose the wording!"

"You agreed to it. From the moment Misa arrived here, the moment she drank the potion which contains my own blood, she has been one of us."

At that, Ryusei stood, his goons quick to follow. He chimed in, "Enough. You have lost, Fae. It was your bad judgement that brought you here tonight, and your inflated ego that has kept you here when you ought to have run."

The group of vampires converged on Tana, the tiny Fae princess. She backed up a couple of steps but, realistically, had nowhere she could go. Her movements were contained to the small circle of space they had boxed her into.

"You seem unable to understand something," Tana said, producing a circle of blue light in her palm. "I am the exalted princess of the Fae realm, soon to be its Queen. I am powerful! You may aim to subdue me, but it will not be simple."

"It will be no challenge at all," said Prince Ran. "I assure you."

"No trouble." Said one of the goons at Ryusei's side.

"None at all," said another.

The air in the room had changed. It felt to Misa like death had already descended on this scene. She shuffled from left to right on her feet as the five men before her bared their fangs at Tana and pierced her with their luminous eyes.

This looks like a slaughter waiting to happen, Misa thought, uncomfortable. Am I expected to join in? Or watch?

She looked at the group, how their nails had grown longer. How they circled Tana, waiting for one of them to pounce, or for Tana to increase her magical energy.

Subconsciously, Misa moved a step closer, not intending to join in. And not intending to watch.

How am I expected to do either? She wondered and decided to just go for it and put her butt on the line for this Fae woman.

"Hi. Um. Can I just say something real quick?" Misa said, leaning forward and waving her hand like someone who knew she wasn't invited but wanted in anyway.

Prince Ran groaned, "Misa..."

"I know, I know. Just hear me out."

"Brother. Your bride. Does this look like the opportune time for interruptions?"

"Please, it'll be quick!" Misa assured the group, talking out of her ass because she wasn't sure just how long this would take at all.

She hurried to the circle and pushed her way inside so that she stood back-to-back with Tana and, terrifyingly, face to face with Ryusei. The vampire cocked his eyebrow at her so drastically that it looked liable to detach and flutter right off his face to the ground. She gave him an impish smile and said, with the voice of a toddler trying to sound tough, "I think we should spare her."

The silence in the room could have burst an eardrum.

Misa thought she heard crows soaring by, cawing to the moon how crazy she was for stepping into a circle of vampires to stand up for their worst enemy. She was shaking in her freaking boots.

Finally, Ryusei broke eye contact with Misa and looked instead at his younger brother. "Does she have brain damage?" He asked.

Misa gasped loudly. "Rude!" She cried, and then shrank backwards into Tana once more who, on her side of the circle muttered at Misa to stop pushing into her.

"She... She is a little special." Prince Ran replied, and before Misa could puff out her chest again and call out his rudeness to the ceiling above, he silenced her with a look. Unhappy, she turned back around as he then continued with, "But this might be what we need from her."

"As in?"

"As in, we shall see where a small truce takes us, don't you think?"

"I disagree." Ryusei responded instantly.

Prince Ran replied more urgently, a bit more force in his tone. "I say we give it a try."