Bianca got out of the bed and walked to the bathroom. When she came out, Holly was waiting for her.

"Where is Brantley?" she asked, amused that he had left so early in the morning.

​​

"Your Highness is receiving important guests," said Holly as she circled her to dry her with a towel.

"Oh! Who has arrived?" she asked. If Brantley had gone to receive them, then surely the guests were important. Moreover with just a day left for Samobian, she had so matters to look into and she knew that most guests would arrive today.

"Vampire king, Lazarus and his bride Emma," said Holly in a shaky voice. Fear trickled fro every word she spoke. "I would suggest that Your Highness doesn't go in front of them. They are very dark people." Holly was feeling over-protective. "Besides you have to go to the valley where Samobian will be celebrated to check upon the preparations. Tents have been set up according to your instructions for people to stay overnight. Places have been marked for serving feasts and for the contest. You really have to go and check all that." Holly urged in a way that Bianca should leave the palace or the vampires would pounce on her. She shuddered at the thought of the two of them.

Bianca's eyes became wide, not with fear, but with excitement. She knew that her mother was one of their allies and friends. She also knew that Dawn and Daryn were one of the rare ones whom Lazarus even talked to besides her husband. If they had come, then it was her duty to go and meet them immediately. Besides, she also had to see where to accommodate their troupe, which consisted of the blood vassals and the blood slaves.

Holly dressed her up in a pale green silk gown that pooled at her ankles and had pearls sequined in intricate patterns, which resembled the wild blossoms of Aztec on the lower half. "Since this is the spring festival, I suggest that you wear all the hues we get to see during this time in nature." The sleeves of the gown ended in a gold ring, which was sewed to it. She made Bianca wear the rings in each hand and it pulled the sleeves down baring her shoulders a little.

Bianca smiled as Holly tied her hair in a low bun and fixed a tiara on her head.

"You are so beautiful!" said Holly, as always mesmerized by her queen.

Bianca laughed. She got up and after wearing the green satin sandals, she said, "Escort me to where the king is."

"But—"

Bianca silenced her with her finger and said, "I am not scared Holly. They are our guests and it would put me in the most awkward situation if I don't go to meet them now."

Holly sighed. She pursed her lips and waved her hand towards the door. "After you, Your Highness."

As she walked with Holly all the way to the south wing of the palace, she realized that it was where the sun was least interfering. Covered by thick overhead canopies, which had shockingly seemed to grow wild in a day, the south wing was darker than the rest of the palace. She walked through the garden and looked up at the giant trees. Very little sunlight dappled her face as she walked beneath them. She wondered how the trees could grow so dense overnight.

"Here we are," said Holly in a shaky voice. She was pale by the time they entered the corridor of the south wing. The aisle that led them to Lazarus's chamber was eerily quiet and very cold.

Bianca shuddered with cold but she walked up till the door with her chin held high and knocked. Holly stood behind her like a scaredy cat.

"Come in," Brantley's voice boomed from the inside.

Bianca opened the door slightly and then just enough to step in. She looked at her husband who was giving her amused looks. She smiled nervously. He was sitting on a luxurious sofa. Opposite to him were Lazarus and Emma, and Bianca's breath hitched. She had never seen such beautiful people in her life. They both were pale and had marble skin. While Lazarus's hair was a pale blonde, Emma's had a brilliant sheen. Strongly built, the man looked as if he could lift a mountain without heaving a sigh.

Emma got up with a huge smile and walked to her. "Hello Bianca," she said. "You have taken most of your father's features!"

Feeling immediately calm, Bianca gave a brilliant smile to her. Emma hugged her. "It's lovely to meet you."

"It's lovely to meet you too," she said. She looked at Lazarus who nodded once to acknowledge her.

Emma held her hand and pulled her to the sofa. "We were just talking about you. In fact Brantley was talking about you."

Bianca bit her bottom lip and gazed at him affectionately. Emma made her sit with her. She started conversing with her with ease and soon Bianca felt comfortable. Over the conversation she asked, "Where— I mean—" she hesitated.

"You mean the blood vassals and the slaves," Lazarus completed her sentence.

She nodded as blood rushed to her cheeks.

"They are all sitting in the antechamber—the blood vassals. As for the slaves, they are still in their cages," he replied without qualms. He was pretty open about his demands.

Bianca gulped and looked at Brantley for a moment but he didn't say a word, so shedding her misgivings, she said, "I will arrange for their stay at once."

"That would be appreciated," Lazarus replied in his typical somber tone.

She got up and walked up to the antechamber. There were six men sitting inside and a woman. They all looked at her and surprise registered on their faces. "So it is true…" said the woman.

Nervous at first, Bianca said, "My servant Holly shall show you your rooms. Please come this way." It was hard for her to shake the feeling that they were blood vassals. Her skin lined up with goosebumps.

As soon as they got up, they all bowed to her. "Your Royal Highness!" said the woman.

"Long live the queen!" said a man.

She stopped with a gaping mouth. "Are you— are you from Aztec?"

"Yes!" a man nodded with glossy eyes. "And I think it is time we come back to our kingdom!"

Bianca blinked her eyes several times. Then she straightened her spine and said, "You are most welcome!" This was such a lovely opportunity to get her people back.

They chuckled and followed her to where Holly was. Holly guided them to their rooms, and somehow they all fell into a friendly chatter with her.

Bianca wondered if Lazarus brought these six for a purpose. She walked to where he mentioned were the cages in which the slaves were. It was kept on the porch outside under the sun and there were two males inside. The iron cage was pretty strong and she was surprised as to why they needed such a strong cage for these two men. Suddenly the two men looked at her. Their fangs sharpened and claws jutted out. They charged towards Bianca with howls, clawing the inner walls of the cage as if trying to break them. She staggered back with dread at the sudden attack and was thankful that they were caged.

Werewolves.

They both looked like maniacs with shabby hair and tattered clothes, eyes filled with hatred. The bigger one hissed, "Eighteen years… eighteen years I have suffered…" He stared into her eyes directly.