Blake, The Vampire King

"We have a big problem," Andreas announced matter-of-factly as soon as Blake appeared in what could be categorized as the dining hall.

It was morning already, and they had gathered to have breakfast... all of them, save for his mate who was still soundly asleep.

"Define big," Blake arched an eyebrow at that. What could be a bigger problem than his mate possibly dying by the end of the seven days he was allowed to have? Only five more days to go, he inwardly sighed, wondering how he ought to make her fall in love with him in such a short amount of time.

"Your face is on TV," Andreas told him, bringing him out of his musings.

Blake tilted his head to the side, wondering how that could be a big problem, and also how it could have reached the media and most importantly for what reason. "Your vampiric face, Blake," Jessica explained in a hushed tone.

"As you killed that damned Carrywell," James continued.

"I tried to do some damage control but the video went viral before I could erase it from the net," Ace said bleakly.

Blake only shrugged in disinterest. "I guess it is time the human world finds out about the supernaturals then."

"And he's not joking, folks," came a deep voice he only knew too well.

Blake's companions immediately bristled, rising to their feet, their faces contorted, their fangs on show.

"Apollo," he simply acknowledged with a nod, not in the least bit surprised. "Where pray tell are your siblings?" "We're right behind him," Aries said in a dangerously low voice as he slowly entered the dining hall.

"Hello Blake," Athena greeted him in her ever so soft voice.

"Anyone ever told you how rude it is to lurk in the shadows?" He quipped.

Could this get any worse? Now, he had the Michaelis siblings to take care of.

How utterly lovely!

"That is absurd!" Aries bellowed.

"Easy, brother!" Athena advised calmly.

"What is absurd is your inability to see that no matter how many erasers we put on this case, there will always be someone who remembers, someone who has saved the video somewhere," Blake displayed no signs of being affected by the one whom everyone feared the most out of the Michaelis siblings... he was not scared, although he ought to be.

Did that make him a fool? Maybe. But he was sure in a one-on-one fight, he could hold his own. Against them three, however, it was a lost cause.

And thus, he tried to reason with them again.

"Give us one sole reason why we shouldn't kill you," Aries hissed through gritted teeth.

Maria decided to make an appearance right when Blake was about to respond.

"Morning everyone," she said sleepily.

"Morning," all of them greeted back rater stiffly.

"Good morning, your highness," one of the servants bowed to her, and she awkwardly waved her off with a "Please don't be so formal with me."

Blake watched her as she approached the table with resolute steps, oblivious as she was to the tension surrounding her. She waltzed in, head held high, chin jutted out... like a queen - his queen.

The need to drink something stronger than juice and coffee arose and he asked for some scotch.

"Isn't it morning?" He heard her mutter under her breath as she took a seat, the furthest away from him. And the distance between them only served to fuel his desire to drink something strong-very strong.

"Where is the damned scotch?" He raised his voice a notch, and the two servants who had been busy serving her scurried away like two scared bunnies... when they were nothing but. They were witches. Descendants of a witch's family as old as time. A family whose purpose was to serve the royal vampires until their death, because of an oath made by their ancestor.

They were powerful witches but they still viewed the royal family like gods, and thus served them like slaves.

"Seriously!" Maria cried out, her temper catching his attention. "What's wrong with you?" She glared daggers at him.

He remembered a time when he believed that if he ever were to take on the reign, he would liberate the witches of their oath. "Never been better," he plastered a fake smile on his face, and she saw right through it.

"Right! Remind me again how we fell for one another?"

Now, that stung.

Blake made a clicking sound with his tongue and rose to his feet. Maria cowered back in fear for some reason. He cocked an eyebrow at her and said monotonously while eying her levelly, "I think we ought to take this elsewhere." A frown marred her features but it soon dissolved when she saw the Michaelis siblings standing up, and trailing behind him.

"What did I do?" He faintly heard her ask his companions.

He tuned out the answers. Andreas and the whole gang were there. They would take care of their future queen.