Slumber of the Undead

The beautiful vase shattered onto the marble floor. The girl gasped in shock, then looked around the room frantically for something to clean up the mess before anyone saw it.1

The cover on the coffin in the middle of the room slowly opened, and its lid fell back with a loud thud. The girl jumped at the sound and looked up in horror at the figure sitting up in the coffin, who ran his hand through his long, jet black hair and sighed. He looked at the girl with piercing black eyes.2

Smiling evilly, he got out of the coffin and strolled towards her. He caressed the petrified girl's face, taking in her features, especially her dilated golden yellow pupils.3

Suddenly, a man burst through the door.4

"Wolfgang..." he said. "You’re awake!"5

Wolfgang scowled, annoyed at the interruption.6

The newcomer, dressed in a military uniform, took immediate stock of the situation, his eyes darting from the girl to the man.7

"Yes, Vlasis," Wolfgang replied, matter-of-factly.8

"What are you doing in the Lord's room, slave?"9

"I was sent to clean up the room, Lord Scabious." The girl replied, curtsying nervously.10

Vlasis' gaze fixed on the shattered vase behind her.11

"You have ruined the vase!" he snapped.12

The girl startled visibly, "Fff... for... forgive...”13

"Now, Vlasis. That's no way to treat a lady," Wolfgang cut off her stammered apology.14

"Wolf!"15

"From now on, she'll be my new pet and that's final!" Wolfgang glared back with his piercing black eyes.16

"As you wish sire," Vlasis said with a bow. "I shall inform everyone of your awakening."17

Wolfgang nodded, keeping his eyes on the girl who was looking at Lord Scabious. Vlasis and the girl made eye contact briefly before Wolfgang growled impatiently and Vlasis bowed before leaving.18

"What is your name, doll?" Wolfgang asked.19

"Dieudonnee Millie Alstroemeria," she answered timidly.20

"Do you know who am I?"21

Millie shook her head.22

"I am the Lord of the Undead. Damian Wolfgang Mondschein."23

Millie's eyes widened in fear. "Forgive me, my Lord! I shall go fetch the..."24

"You are no longer a slave but my pet." He growled. "There’s no need for such things. Now..."25

He trailed off and sunk his canine teeth into the soft flesh of her neck, drinking deeply of her blood. She tried to scream but no sound came out. He then closed his bloody mouth over hers and pulled away from the unreturned kiss, stroking the flesh near her collarbone gently with his thumb. Millie felt a burning sensation and then the double punctured wounds disappeared. With trembling fingers, she touched her neck and felt indentations.26

"Now, I consider you my current pet. That mark on your neck means you are my property and NO ONE can ever touch you, or I'll slice off their heads. Understood?"27

Millie nodded vaguely, unable to take in everything. She gave in to the welcome fog and dropped to her knees before everything went black.28

*******************************************************************29

The heavy drapes were flung back by a cheerful feline. From the bed, a man groaned and hid himself under the covers.30

"Millie... Pull the drapes! It's too early to..." He suddenly realised that it was the big day and sat upright.31

He smiled warmly at Millie, the once timid girl slave who had broken the vase and woken him from his 52-year slumber. She returned the smile and sprang onto him with her feline reflexes. He fell back against the soft royal bed and Wolfgang's arm glided around Millie's waist protectively as she leaned against his muscular chest. They lay in the embrace for long moments.32

"It has been two years since that incident, hasn't it?" he said, breaking the silence.33

Millie nodded and pushed herself up and their lips met in a gentle kiss. The broke away when someone knocked on the door.34

"Come in," Wolfgang commanded.35

"My lord, it is time for Mistress Alstroemeria to get ready."36

Wolfgang nodded approvingly and winked at Millie. The slave girl smiled widely at Millie and she returned it, shyly.37

"Come on, Mistress," The slave teased Millie as she half-dragged her off the bed and ushered her into the bathroom.38

After Millie had showered, she stepped out with a towel wrapped around her, to find the room filled with overenthusiastic slaves and servants. They dressed her in a white elegant sleeveless gown with a lacy skirt. Then they did her hair and make-up and lastly, fixed on the veil.39

When they were done, Millie stared at herself in awe, and so did the others.40

There was a knock and the door opened.41

"Is the bride ready?" It was Vlasis, handsomely dressed in a black tuxedo.42

The servants smiled, and parted to reveal the resplendent Millie. She smiled nervously.43

Offering her his arm, he escorted her to the grand hall.44

Wedding bells echoed throughout the kingdom and in the hall, the wedding song was played as Millie walked down the aisle, with her eyes fixed on her future husband. The ceremony was brief but meaningful. At the end, they kissed passionately and parted, before turning to look at the cheering crowd.45

"It's forbidden between a vampire and a feline!" Vlasis thundered.46

"I don't care! I love her! That's all that matters!" Wolfgang said calmly.47

"Don’t you care about OUR nation?"48

"Of course I do! They will continue breeding while I breed a new species!"49

"Damian Wolfgang, you're absolutely out of your mind! You cannot marry a SLAVE!"50

"I can marry whoever I like. I am KING! You have no right to order me around!"51

"You’re right..." Vlasis sighed, eyeing his Lord. "You have the right to do anything you like... I'm just worried. Forgive me for raising my voice."52

Silence descended for long moments before Wolfgang decided he had punished her right-hand man long enough.53

"I've negotiated with Feline Kingdom. They approve of our marriage and have forgiven us for the Vampire-Feline War 52 year ago. Our marriage shall be on the same day that I first laid eyes on her two years ago.54

"Millie's next in line for the throne of Feline Kingdom... she doesn't know yet. I'll explain everything later to her mother."55

"The Queen of Feline Kingdom?"56

Wolfgang just nodded, eyes shut.57

The forbidden love of Wolfgang and Millie, approved by everyone in the Vampire and Feline Kingdoms, heralded a new era of cooperation. Millie's mother, Isabelle Avelina Alstroemeria, blinked back tears of happiness at the sight of her radiant daughter.58

Like all good fairy tales, this one will end with "and they lived happily ever after".