The moment I woke I knew things are going to go wrong. "Congradulations with your birthday, my prince." Jason said with a friendly smile. "Thank you, Jason. Will you please call the palace doctor for me?" Jason pailed instantly. "What is wrong, my lord? Should I get your father also?" I growled in annoyance. "I said to get me the palace doctor. Do it." He hurried out of my room and I layed back on my bed. Minutes later our doctor entered my room. "My Prince, what is wrong?" I sat up. "I want you to keep an eye on my temper at the party. If you fail and hurt a mortal. Let us say you would not be a doctor anymore. Understand?" He nodded. "Good. Tell Jason to come to my room." He exited as Jason entered. "Jason, I am not sick. Go get my formal clothes, cloak, crown, sword and my slippers. Please remember to bring my jewelry and wash supplies." He left to fetch the items. He returned with a snow white wollen chiton, silk slippers and the rest of my clothing. Firstly he undressed and washed me. The hot water calmed my nerves and my muscles relaxed. After I was washed, Jason started oiling my skin. He dressed me in my chiton and and put on my slippers. Then he fastened my cloak over my shoulders and my swordbelt at my hips. Lastly he put on my golden rings and bands on my fingers and arms and after that my crown was placed on my head. I observed myself in the mirrior. I looked as handsome as always, one would look at me and see I am of royalblood. "Come, the guests are waiting." Jason and I left my room. We walked untill we reached the ballroom where Jason left me. The gaurds opened the doors and as I entered the room fell silent. Everyone was on their knees except for my father. "Rise." They stood up. I walked through the crowd towards my father. He smiled at me,"Gongradulations on your eighteenth year!" He embraced me in a hug. "Thank you, Father. Where is Heira and Demetri?" He looked behind him. There stood my old friends. Demetri was in his child form dressed in a white chiton and sandals. He had a few rings on his fingers. Next to him stood Heira. She looked gorgeous. The servant who dressed her did not use special silk or even cloth.  Heira was dressed in a simple white chiton with soft sandals and her hands and arms were decorated with simple jewelry. Her hair hang loosley over her shoulders. If the two of them stood next to my father and I, they would look like mere wealthy mortals. "Prince Alexander." Demetri and Heira bowed. "Rise. Heira, you look stunning and Demetri it is good to see you." They smiled. "Happy Birthday, dude! Please excuse me, I saw a lovely dragon around here. Bye." Demetri hurried off into the crowd. "Do you want to dance?" Heira smiled as she took my hand. We walked to the dancefloor and as the song began we also did. In the sidelines I saw my father with a disapproving expression. "Alexander, eighteen? I can't believe it!" I smiled. "It is still young. Years from now people will still be celebrating my eighteenth year even when I am seven hundred." Heira frowned. "What do you mean?" I laughed at her confused expression. "You look amazing when you frown. Still when a born vampire turns eighteen they can decide how old they want to look for the rest of their lives. I can chose two ages since I am a wizard also, but I chose to stay in my eighteenth year. Do you understand?" She nodded. "What is your other age?" I found her curiousity interesting. Last time we had seen each other she was not like this. "Thirty five." I do not know how she knew, but her next question took me by suprise. "Why are you so different from last time. You seemed strange, almost as if you have new emotions." I could not look her in the eyes,"You and Demetri had an effect on me in a negative way." Her expression hardened. "Well, if we are bad for you. Maybe it would be better if we left." I did not know where these words came from. "I did not-" she cut me off. "Leave it. Don't talk to me again today. I don't want to see you now." She stormed away from me. The next thing I knew, I was dancing with another girl and another and another. So it went on for most of the day. Finaly it was time for the eighteen-course dinner. As I sat down someone walked up to me."Prince Alexander?" I looked at the man in front of me. "Yes?" He bowed. "It is an honour for my family that you will take my eldest daughter for your bride." I laughed, he sounded very merry. "It is my pleasure to take your daughter as my... bride?" I almost choked on the last word. My father put his hand on my shoulder. "Son, I have told King Promethus you will wed his daughter. She is a fine lady, I must say." I glanced in Heira's direction. She sat at the table in front of the our table. Her expression was sad and furious at the same time. Since our dance she has not approuched me. "Father, who said I am going to wed already?" He sat down next to me in his high chair. My chair was only a few inches lower than his. "I did. You are eighteen now and should marry." My eyes darkened. Literally. The green irises turned black in an instant. Only people near me could see the change. "I do not know this woman." Behind Promethus a girl stepped in front of me and bowed. She was tall with a pale skin and dark hair. The girl must have been seventeen and she was mortal. I could see it in her innocent eyes. "Prince Alexander, I am Princess Yigrette, daughter of Promethus." I gave her a mocking smile. "I see, Princess. Tell me how old are you?" She told me she was seventeen. "Father, I refuse to wed her." My father snarled. "I am your father-" I growled. "I know who you are. I am eighteen now and you will not control me like a slave. I am your son!" His fangs started to came out, fortunately no one noticed. "Listen here boy, as long as I live you will listen to me. I know best, I wed to your mother when I was eighteen." I almost yelled to him he was eighteen hundred years old. "That is why Mother died. You could not look after her like a proper husband would." My father paled and his fangs vanished. Suddenly he looked distant and unhappy. I realised what I did. "Father, I did not mean to hurt you." He looked me in the eyes. "Leave, Alexander. Go to your chambers! No one will visit you. You will stay there untill I will let you out. Anyone who sees you outside your chambers have my premission to attack you and bring you to me. Leave!" Two gaurds took me by the arms and pulled me out of my chair. I tried to fight him, but they held me. These two must be vampires. "Father, please! No!" I pleaded him as they took me away. When I passed  Heira she would not meet my eyes. With a guilty expression I left the room.