SOPHIA'S POV;
Athena finally gives me back control once we make it into the bedroom. " What the actual fuck was that? Why did you make us leave!" Grabbing a change of clothes I make my way into the bathroom. " I'm not letting you do something you'll regret. You haven't decided on who to give your virginity to yet, until you're completely sure, consider me your personal cock block okay." Before I can get another word in she disappears leaving me to enjoy my shower in peace. As the hot water hits my back my muscles relax and I can already tell how sore I'm going to be tomorrow. Throwing on a pair of shorts I open the window letting in some much needed fresh air. I still haven't been able to leave the room unattended by Connor which is a complete pain in the ass.
Half asleep on the bay window seat I feel someone gently picking me up. His scent hits me and I know that it's Connor. When he tries to lay me down and leave I grab his hand pulling him into bed with me. I wake up to the smell of food and mentally prepare myself for the hours of training ahead of me. " I went to your favorite diner remember the one we use to go to all the time? Anyways, I got you french toast, sunny side up eggs, bacon, and a cup of coffee just the way you like it." sliding out of bed I run into his arms and kiss him while grabbing my food setting it on the bed. The second I enter the bathroom my actions hit me and I realize what I just did.
I walk out ignoring Connor and start eating looking at everything except for him. After that we get ready to start training the rest of the remaining day start to blur together with him always bringing me food and then kicking my ass afterwards. With three days left to do the ceremony and me actually managing to kick Connor's ass, we start preparing for everything, including moving me into a secret room so that no one knows where I am. It's not completely boring at least I have a ton of books and Connor's best friend Nick brought a tv and some videogames for us to play. I've even managed to re decorate the entire room in one day, even though I still feel like harry potter under the staircase.
All of my stuff from my shitty parent's house was brought back to me, including the emerald necklace that belonged to my grandmother. She gave it to me and told me to keep it safe a couple days before she passed away. I'm honestly surprised that Connor managed to find it, it was hidden inside of one of the base boards in my wall. I was told that I could wear it during the ceremony, which is tomorrow, but i decided against it not wanting my grandmother to be a part of the whole neck biting thing. I've been freaking out the entire day and still have yet to see the dress I'm meant to wear.
CEREMONY DAY;
Waking up at the crack of dawn on a day that you intended to pretend wasn't about to happen is the worst. Especially when you know the reason for all of the noises is because of you and what's about to happen in a couple of hours. Connor told me that he can't see me until I'm on the stage so that no one know where I'm hiding. At first, I honestly didn't mind the idea of thinking things through alone, but now here I am on the verge of a panic attack hoping that if someone challenges me I'll be able to take them.
Deciding that I'm not getting sleep any time soon I grab my necessities and head into the small bathroom. It's honestly one of the smallest bathroom's I've seen so far, but the water gets really hot so I guess that I shouldn't complain about it, especially since it's the day I have to stay down here. After the shower I throw on a pair of pj's, seeing as though I have to change later on, might as well be comfortable until then. Curling up in my bed I grab a book and start reading to pass the time.
Before I know it Nick is knocking on the door asking if he can come in and talk to me. I sit up while yelling a quick come in and closing my book in the process. " Hey, there's a couple of hours left before the ceremony, so I figured you could use something to eat and maybe hang out?" Nick has honestly become one of my closest friends, especially since he's the only one allowed to come and see me down here. " Sure, I honestly could use the company, if your not too busy of course. I know that you probably have to oversee everything to make sure everything goes as planned." Nick shakes his head no while handing me a tray filled with a ton of fruit and some pancakes. " Me and a select few of the guards search through everything immediately before you or the king enters the stage to perform the ceremony, that way nothing is missed or can be tampered with afterwards."
Nick sets up our headsets and the Xbox for us to play cold war after I finish eating. We can only play with the sound going through the headsets so that no one can hear us. " Sophia, can I ask you a question?" Putting my plate back onto the tray I nod my head yes waiting for him to continue. " Are you sure that you actually want to go through with this? I'm not doubting you or anything like that because I believe that you are a very strong person. It's just that, in the small amount of time that i've known you, your always doing things that you feel like you have no decision in. I might be Connor's friend but i'm hopefully yours too?" Everything that I've been thinking about starts to overflow my brain and I start doing the one thing I swore thar I wouldn't, cry.
I find myself being held by Nick while he tells me that everything's going to be okay. But as much as I want to believe that I don't think it's true. " What if someone challenges me and I don't win? Doesn't that mean i'm too weak to become the queen, and more importantly, what if no one accepts me at all?" Removing myself from Nick's embrace I sit down on the floor wiping my face looking anywhere but directly at him. " At the beginning of your training you got your ass kicked by Connor, he never went easy on you because he knew the risk, but now your flipping him all over the practice matts. He might not acknowledge it but he's proud of you and how far you've come, anyone that can kick a royal bloods ass, can take any vampire that dares challenges you." I laugh at his encouraging speech and head over to the tv ready to kick some butt on the game.
A FEW HOURS LATER:
Nick checks the time and leaves saying that he'll be back with the ceremonial outfit I have to wear. I will admit that when he came back and handed me the dress it was absolutely beautiful covered from top to bottom in full white lace. Going into the bathroom I quickly change putting on the matching heels and tying my hair in a bun. Deciding not to do makeup I look in the mirror and try to calm myself down. " Sophia, I don't mean to rush you, but we only have five minutes before the ceremony and me and the guys have to do a last minute check on everything.
So now here I am standing in the pitch black dark hallway out of sight and waiting for Nick and the other guards to come and escort me to the stage. My mom's voice comes into my head telling me that I look beautiful and I can do this. After what felt like forever the guys show up and take me to the stage stairs. Connor stands in the middle giving me an encouraging smile while I walk up the three steps and make my way to him. " You look very beautiful in that dress. Are you ready to begin?" I smile while giving him a quick nod. An older man approaches standing in between us and begins the ceremony. " Ladies and gentlemen, we stand before you today to announce that the true vampire king is here to claim his title along with his beautiful mate, and our future queen. Everyone please have a seat."
Connor puts on hand on top of mine allowing his eyes to become completely black. He begins kissing my neck on the side no one can see. " I promise it only hurts for a little bit okay?" He looks at me asking for permission to continue. The second I nod I can feel his fangs tearing into my neck causing a burning sensation to travel through my entire body. After a couple of seconds the pain starts to fade, and he retracts his fangs wiping the blood from my neck preventing it from dripping down onto the dress. " Before we complete the ceremony is there anyone here who wishes to challenge Sophia Wilson for the title of vampire queen?"
Connor stares out at the crowd waiting for anyone to stand up and challenge me. The moment we were about to proceed with the ceremony a man in the crowd stands up making his way to the front. " She doesn't deserve the crown, that thing that stands before all of us is an abomination, it shouldn't even exist to begin with!" Connor releases my hand and starts to move towards the doctor, the second he's completely away from me a loud noise fill the space. I reach my hand down to the center of my chest, looking at my hand I see nothing but blood. " How dare you stand before me knowing that I am the king of this relm and call my mate YOUR QUEEN and abomination. I will rip you apart limb from limb and make you beg for mercy, and then-" Blood starts coming up my throat " Connor I, I can't breathe."
He finally turns around looking at me in a shocked state. My body becomes to heavy for me to hold myself up any longer and I fall into Connor's arms. He stands over me with tears in his eyes constantly telling me that i'm going to be okay. After everything that I went through all the years of pain and suffering, it doesn't compare to this moment. I thought everything was going to be happy, it started off that way, I was accepting this newly discovered side of me and all the traditions that I have to do to accept this part of me. My eyes are slowly closing and I feel warm all around me with my heart rate slowing down by the second. Fighting this is difficult and looking into coco's eyes I whisper a slight apology before closing them completely. I keep replaying all of the events that led up to this moment and wonder if I should've done things differently.