The ritual 10: living in pain.

Two years later.

The previous king had died of food poisoning some months before, making prints Drake the new king after his father. There are still investigations going on about it.

It was on a midnight in the month of May, the air was ceased, but suddenly, there was a huge windstorm.

“ Why is the weather like this?” prince Drake asks himself, rubbing Irene's stomach. Irene is a year pregnant now and there isn't any sign of here giving birth, " no convulsion at all.” The royal matron had said earlier that day.

Suddenly, Irene began to wail in pain, she kept on having one alignment or the other. The prince asks the maid in her care to leave the room, and they are alone in the room. He rubs her legs, her bulge stomach, her shoulder and other parts she complained about.

The wild windstorm stopped as soon as it started.

Irene, with her head on king Drake's laps, suddenly squeezes the skin on his laps a gives a loud push. Everything went still until some seconds later when the cry of the most beautiful creature ever, filled everywhere.

“ Get the matron!” King Drake ordered with a voice mixed with joy and anxiety.

A few moments later, the matron comes in and cleans Irene and the newborn damsel.

“ Congratulations, your majesty, your daughter is so beautiful.” The matron said, bowing as she gives the baby (Juliana) to him.

Immediately after getting to her father's hand she smiled, the most beautiful smile he had never seen, the smile made him forget all his worries for a moment.

He could not help but keep her in his arm all day, except when she was hungry.

Five days later, she was to be named. And that was the very day the great Dracula came down himself to bless her in front of the whole vampires. He names her “Juliana the vampire goddess.”

Many years later, Juliana grew up knowing her mother hates her. Being the eldest, Juliana has two younger siblings, Dennis and Skyler.

She wondered why her mother would not name her after herself, but she named her younger sister instead.

Anytime she tries to touch the tip of her mother's skirt, she kicks her hard and sends her sprawling on the floor, she knows her mother hates her with passion. She was not allowed to go out at night when the other vampires are outside playing a game or the other. She was always indoor, while her mother takes her siblings out for adventure.

Anytime her father went on a business trip or summon for a royal meeting she would not allow her to eat on the royal table. Thea worst part is that she would not even give her anything to eat for days, occasionally.

And she is always doing that to her and her maid, Irene.

Her father, Irene and Dennis were her only hope and joy. Her father loved her so much and would always allow her to sleep in his chamber and on the same bed with him, which he couldn't let her other siblings do so.

As she grows, she realizes her mother does not only hate her but also despises Irene, her maid, who loves her more than anything in the entire world. She feels more connected to Irene, Irene is more of a mother to her rather than her so-called mother, Queen sky who only loves her two younger siblings, Dennis, who is only a year younger than her and Skyler, who is three years younger than her.

Dennis is a sweet little brother to her, he is just like their father and also has the same sea blue eyes as their father and Juliana. He will always tell her about the world outside and within the palace. Dennis will also ask his mother to stop being mean to his sister every so often.

But Skyler is her mother duplicate, she is so heartless and fierce she would sometimes lie against Juliana, which would eventually land her into trouble.

At first, Juliana thought her mother (Queen sky) will change her way of treatment if she did her best to stand out in everything she's doing, but rather than being pleased, she became so cold and angry towards her.

“ You this useless thing, you shouldn't have come to this world, you are insignificant and will always be for the rest of your life." Queen sky always says this whenever princess Juliana tops her class or is given recognition by the entire kingdom for her intelligence.

“ What's wrong" julie” king Drake, her father asks her on his return after a business trip one fateful day. Juliana was eleven years as at then.

“ Nothing, your majesty.” She said, smiling.

“ Why did you look so lean?, have you been feeding well?" he asked looking worried as he was searching her body for any sign of infected cuts but found nothing.

“ I have been studying so hard that I forget to take my meals sometimes.” She said, trying to divert her father's thought to her studies.

“ She is too stubborn and loves skipping her meals whenever she's studying and would not even listen to me whenever I tell her to take a break from her study.” Queen sky said, smiling and patting Juliana's hair as she hugs her lovingly.

“ Why are you doing that, don't you know you can fall sick if you're not feeding well?” her father asks in anger.

“ I'm sorry dad, I just want you to be proud of me” she said weeping.

“ Honey, don't cry. I apologize for shouting at you, but I want you to know I am always proud of you no matter what.” he said, bending to kiss her forehead.

“ She's as sly as her useless mother.” Queen sky thought to herself with a smirk.

Juliana lives through hell when her father dies a day after she was betroth to Desmond, her only friend, and a son to priest Robert. Her father's death came as a shock to everyone. Because he was the happiest on that day to see his lovely daughter being betroth to the most eligible bachelor in the entire vampire kingdom. in this particular year she lived in pain.

That night, Juliana was summoned by her father into his chamber, he advised and blessed her. He also asked her not to ever take off her bracelet. Juliana, take a good look at the bracelet that now feels like a part of her body.

She often forgot she was wearing it because she has never taken it off.

“ Why is it so important for me to keep wearing this? “ She asked, pointing to the bracelet.

“ Just don't off it, no matter what the situation might be.” King Drake said, wincing in pain.

“ You look weak dad, should I call…"

“No” he cuts in, I will, he fine by tomorrow, go to your room and have a good night of rest.

“ I know you wish Irene was your mother” king Drake said out of the blue, making her stop abruptly before turning back to see her father.

“ How did you know that?” Juliana asks, surprised.

“ She is the best creature ever, treasure her because she deserves more than that.” King Drake said, smiling.

She ran to her father and wrapped her hands around his neck" thanks Dad you're the best” she said and exit the chamber as instructed.