The Devil's Bride

The morning light shine through the gasp from the curtains of the bedroom windows forcing Princess Kathleen to open her eyes. Lazily, she rolled over to the empty space of her bed trying to find a more comfortable position to continue her sleep. She didn't get enough sleep yet.

Turning her head to her left side, she noticed that the beautiful rose she had picked on the floor last night had changed its' color to black. It didn't dry for sure because the stalk and the leaves still green and fresh, but the rose had lost it's redness and turned to the blackest black a flower could be.

She wondered what could happen to the rose. 'maybe the maid had something to do with it' she thought.

Sge rang her maid bell, and in a short while a maid rushed in. The maid had brought her breakfast ready for her to enjoy.

"Lucy, do you know what happen to my rose here? I'm very sure it was a red rose last night, but now it becomes a black rose" Kathleen asked the maid.

"I have no idea your highness. I'm so sorry but I haven't enter your room after you get to your bed last night, princess" the maid replied to her respectfully.

"I see.. oh well, never mind then. I'm going to take bath, please arrange my breakfast on the veranda, thank you" she said with a smile on her face.

"Will do it immediately after I prepare your bath, your highness" the maid bow and rush to the bathroom to prepare the water in the bath tub.

The young princess took her time enjoying the scented bath. Lucy had mixed the water with bath oil with lavender scent in it. It was relaxing.

Once she was done bathing, assisted by her maid she wore a soft pink dress with red sash on the waist, it accentuate her curve. Lucy braided her hair and twisted it to a low bun. She then put a pink flower ornament on the princess hair to match the dress.

Kathleen enjoyed her scrumptious breakfast while looking at the nearby garden. It was another nice weather in Hemsford. 'This is a great way to start my day' she said to herself.

After she finished her breakfast, she gathered with her sisters in the royal study room which suited in the corner of the royal library.

"I met a prince last night, Prince Kael Arths. He was standing at my bedroom veranda", said the princess telling her sisters about her new friend.

"How did he climb up there? it is impossible for a man to climb up the turret and without any guard noticing about it" asked Princess Lily with laugh.

"Well he said he climb" Kathleen replied in protest for being laughed at.

"You must be dreaming sister. Or maybe you did saw him, but he was actually a ghost" said Lily trying to scare her younger sibling, still laughing with Isabelle. Their laugh brought a huffed and pouted lips on Kathleen's face. Her expression was so funny that they couldn't stop laughing.

"Now both of you, stop laughing and start reading this book" said Princess Anne handing them a thick book of 'Morality and Attitude'.

Princess Anne always tolerant with her sisters and is a mediator amongst them, while Princess Lily and Princess Isabelle always quarrel to each other but love to tease their youngest sister, Princess Kathleen.

Though Isabelle was a little shut down after her broken marriage episodes, but with the help from her sisters by always accompanied her, she was on her feet and ready to laugh and play again.

They remained silent while studying the book until Lily asked, "who do you think will be chosen as the devil's bride?"

"If by any chance the devil choose me, then I will be willing to give up myself if it can free our people from those demons" answered Anne.

"I think I'm willing too, I can't stand it when we have to live in fear every night. At least if I sacrifice myself, our kingdom will be free", said Kathleen. Lily nod in agreement.

"I'm willing to do it too if I'm qualified, but the devil wouldn't want a once married women to be his bride" said Isabelle feeling sad.

"Don't worry about it Isabelle" said Anne patting her sister's shoulder.

"I heard from a maid this morning, a family of four was attacked by vampires last night, no survivor" said Lily.

"That is too scary. Will they surely stop attacking out people if father give them what they want? asked Kathleen worriedly.

Nobody had the answer, knowing that the bride will be chosen amongst them.

Then Kathleen, in her curiosity asked again, "How does he look like, I mean the Devil?"

"Well, since he is the Devil, I'm sure he will look like Count Vladimir, right? creepy and terrifying" said Isabelle.

Remembering the Count's evil grin and terrifying presence, they shuddered.

"I cannot imagine spending the rest of my life looking at a scary face like the Count" response Kathleen to her sister's description.

"The bride will know how he looks like soon" Princess Anne added.

"There is a rumors stated that the Devil look young and handsome. They even said that he was tall and tough, that when you lay eyes on him you'll drool" said Lily.

"Lucky for the bride then" said Anne playfully.

At night, when Kathleen entered her bedroom and ready to sleep, she saw a red rose on her veranda floor but she couldn't see anyone else around. This happens for the whole week and each morning, the red bloody color rose will turned it's color to black.