Broken Beauty and the Beastly Vampire Prince

Raven Haired Beauty

Third Person POV

As he entered the town Damon was visibly aware of the curious looks of the townspeople as well as the ogling from the single females who licked their lips, raking their gazes up and down his body, openly perusing him. He was gorgeous, and handsome, even more so now that he was a vampire and he radiated power and confidence. It made the women practically swoon while the men glared and looked at him with distrust. They radiated hostility, especially since their womenfolk showed such blatant interest in the vampire who had come to disturb their peace and quiet. The older women, were also distrustful, muttering amongst each other, their gazes full of disdain. They knew what he was, where he had come from and none of them wanted anything to do with him or what went up at the castle. Too many had gone there to serve the King and Queen and far too few had come back, if any, to live to tell the tale.

He strode to the center of town, his coat flapping wildly around him. The townspeople gathered around, used to the castle’s inhabitants rather unusual way of requesting things. Despite their misgivings and fear, they were intrigued and wanted to know what it was they wanted this time. Damon cleared his throat. “Greetings everyone,” he said respectfully, dipping his head.

The women giggled at each other. The men harrumphed and folded their arms across their chests, their lips downturned.

“Why hello” cooed a buxom raven-haired woman, batting her eyelashes at him, tracing her lips with her finger in a seductive manner.

Damon inwardly shuddered. She was most definitely not his type, but he could not afford to offend her, or the people surrounding him. He gave her a friendly smile and tried to concentrate on the crowd which looked restless and agitated.

“What is it now? What does the King and Queen want from us this time?” shouted a male incensed, the crowd now murmuring their agreement.

“It’s not that they require anything” Damon protested, the men rolling their eyes in disbelief “but merely that they are advertising a position within the castle," he said, raising his voice slightly so that he might be heard by everyone.

One of the women gasped out loud, another one fainted into her husband’s arms, and the older ones turned their faces away. Damon grimaced. He supposed he should have expected such a reaction. It was to be expected. Still, he was hopeful. Surely somebody would need the money. Or the accommodation. Desperation had a tendency to make even the most fearful of people do things they wouldn't ordinarily do, all in the name of money.

“Are you insane?” asked a heavyset man, pushing his way to the front, crossing his pudgy arms across his chest and sneering at Damon “Most of the people who go to the castle don’t come back” he declared “and those who do, have no idea what happened to them! We know you’re bloodsucking vampires, don’t try to deny it. Monster’s you are” he hissed as Damon swallowed hard, “why should we work for the likes of you?” he demanded "you'll probably kill whoever applies for the position!"

Damon rubbed a hand over his eyes, feeling tired. “I understand your misgivings” he began “but I can assure you that this position will be well compensated" he began.

“Well compensated means nothing if we end up killed” an elderly woman spoke up, her voice carrying clearly across the crowd.

Several other women nodded their agreement, their eyes narrowed and fixed on Damon, while the younger ones still looked mildly interested.

Damon gritted his teeth. “You will not be killed,” he said evenly, fighting to maintain his composure “Nobody has ever been killed coming to the castle, those are just rumors," he said with a twinge of exasperation.

Damn, Lucian and his beastly behavior. He was to blame for all the rumors circulating around town and the fear that was gripping hold of the townspeople!

“Says the vampire” murmured another voice in the crowd with disgust.

This was not going well at all thought Damon wretchedly, cursing Lucian in his mind. He tried a different tack “The position comes with it’s own accommodation, meals provided, and a generous weekly sum as compensation.”

He named a price that raised a few eyebrows in the crowd, several women and men looking impressed. This might get their attention, thought Damon gleefully. After all, who could resist money? Humans were such greedy creatures, it was in their nature. These townspeople would be no different, he assured himself.

“What’s the catch?” asked a man suspiciously, putting pay to people’s thoughts.

If it sounded too good to be true, it generally was. It was everybody’s consensus. Damon applauded him for being intelligent enough to ask what others were too naive to.

“No catch,” Damon said smoothly, lying through his teeth. He wasn’t exactly about to tell them that Lucian was a right ornery bastard who needed somebody worthy of handling them. Let them work that out for themselves. Besides, once they got to know Lucian, perhaps they might actually grow to at least tolerate the bastard. That's what he was hoping for anyway.

“What’s the position then?” the buxom raven-haired beauty asked, sounding genuinely interested, flipping her long hair over her shoulder, still flirting for all she was worth. Damon cringed. He hoped this girl wasn't about to take the position, but beggars can't be choosers, he thought reluctantly.

Damon winked at her and she giggled like a schoolgirl. Then again she couldn’t be any older than nineteen at the most.

“It’s the position of a personal servant,” he said calmly “You will be required to attend to this individual at all times, day and night, fetching their food, and drinks, taking correspondence, cleaning for them, whatever they require, within reason” he added firmly, seeing the look in some of the women’s eyes.

He did not condone Lucian asking for s****l favors and he would be making that clear upfront.

“Why aren’t you saying who it’s for?” the heavyset man said suddenly, his voice loud and full of annoyance. “I bet I know why” he shouted, turning to the crowd “It’s because it’s for that beast isn’t it? That’s who you want the personal servant for!”

Fuck. The man had managed to put two and two together. Damon didn’t bother to deny it. The crowd grew louder with exclamations and worry. The women fretted, while the men grew tight-lipped and furious. At any moment Damon feared he might be lynched, and he tensed, prepared to flee if he must. To his surprise, another raven-haired girl spoke in his defense.

“Hold up,” she said loudly, the crowd turning to look at her with skepticism “Nobody is forcing any of us to take the position. He’s merely stated that they are looking for someone in case anybody is interested. There’s no point taking out your anger on him when he’s merely the messenger. If you don’t want the job, then don’t take it. It’s that simple” she said with a shrug, completely nonchalant. She studied her fingernails, looking completely at ease. The crowd glared at her.

The crowd hushed. Damon could have kissed her. Finally, someone with an ounce of common sense. “Well then, why don’t you take it Bree” an elderly woman said nastily “seeing as you don’t seem to be afraid of him.”

Bree, the raven-haired girl, took a deep breath and stared at the crowd, raising an eyebrow “Fine then” she said with a scowl and turned to Damon “I would be happy to apply for the position” she told him firmly "That is if you'll have me?" she asked calmly.

“Foolish girl” cried another elderly woman, glaring at the first one “he’ll eat you up and spit you out. Don’t listen to that other woman. Have a care for your life" she yelled.

“Hush now, I’ve made up my mind,” Bree said to the old woman gently and turned to Damon “What do I do now?”

Her tone was curious.

He grinned, liking this girl. “Well, if you are really serious about this then go and grab your stuff and you can come back to the castle with me” he murmured, shaking her hand.

The girl's eyes were sparkling as she nodded.

The heavyset man snorted and held his hands out wide “Well it’s your funeral” he said grimly “Don’t say we didn’t warn you” he told Bree with a shake of his head, his eyes full of derision as he glanced at Damon one last time.

The crowd muttered and began to disperse, casting scowls and glowers at Bree and Damon. Bree hurried back home to grab her stuff and Damon shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably as he waited. An old woman came stumbling up to him, grabbing his arm as he blinked in surprise. For an old woman, she sure as hell had a strong grip. It was a little unnerving, considering she was managing to almost match his vampire strength.

“Can I help you?” he asked her politely, fighting the urge to shake her arm off.

He had been raised to respect his elders and even now, it was so deeply ingrained in him, that he couldn't quite bring himself to be rude to her.

She gave him a small toothy grin and he flinched in reaction.

“No but I can give you some much-needed advice,” she told him in a croaky voice “But it’s up to you if you’ll listen to it. This girl is not the one,” she said as he looked at her in confusion “she is not the one” she repeated hoarsely.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” Damon said bewildered “Not the one for what?”

“Hair like a flame and eyes so green is the girl that holds the key” she continued, and he felt her hand slowly withdraw from his arm.

“Hair like a flame and eyes so green” he repeated, the old woman shuffling away as he looked off into the distance “The girl that holds the key.”

What on earth was the crazy old woman talking about? Key to what? He didn't have a blasted clue what she was on about. He scanned the crowd and realized she had completely vanished. He sighed. Most likely the poor thing was confused or had dementia or something. Still, the words were embedded in his mind, and he couldn’t shake off the feeling they were important in some way. He felt a sense of foreboding. He tried to shrug it off as he saw Bree approaching with a small suitcase in hand and a wide smile on her face.

“Is everything okay?” she asked perplexed, eyeing him carefully “You look as white as a ghost” she joked.

“Vampires are always this white” he muttered and held his arm out to her “Aren’t you afraid of me?” he asked with interest.

She shook her head “You seem too nice to be a monster. Besides, unless you do something bad, I reserve my judgment until I get to know people, vampires included” she said sweetly.

The words gave him a warm glow. He tucked her arm into his and together, they began to stride towards the castle in the distance, Damon for once, content to slow his steps to match hers and take his time, wanting to prolong the inevitable meeting between Bree and Lucian, and the trouble that might follow soon afterward. He had a feeling Lucian was not going to take the suggestion of a personal servant well, no matter how Damon approached it.