I walked slowly down the grand staircase and was greeted by a vast open hall leading to seven different doors and openings in various directions. Confused, I glanced around, realizing I had no idea where I was supposed to go. The floors were gleaming black marble, heavy curtains of red velvet and gold draped the windows, and everything felt like a dream. The walls were adorned with portraits of people I didn't recognize. Freshly picked flowers sat in elegant vases, surrounded by luxuries I had only ever dreamed of owning. It was unmistakable—this was the home of a prince.

Suddenly, my vampiric hearing picked up the sound of voices in discussion, and I took a few hesitant steps toward the open doorway. Though I had been invited, the grand house felt foreign and unfamiliar, and stepping into the large dining room filled me with unease. I didn't know anyone. I didn't know how many people lived here, nor did I have any clue what they thought of me.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such dark thoughts, my dear," a voice behind me teased, making me freeze on the last step of the staircase, my hand still gripping the railing. I could sense the presence of a new vampire approaching, and I refrained from glancing back until he stood on the step above mine. I barely had time to glimpse him before a slender, male hand—painted nails dark red—grazed my own. I studied the delicate fingers for a fleeting second as they traveled up my arm and came to rest at the nape of my neck. "Turn around," he whispered, his silken voice leaving no room for defiance.

Obediently, I turned, meeting a pair of dark green eyes. I immediately knew this was a powerful creature, just like the prince himself. My senses told me that the being before me was old—ancient—and brimming with grace and beauty.  "It's rude to stare," he chuckled, letting his hand linger on my cheek. "But I suppose you've yet to adjust to your new life. You're but a newborn."

I swallowed hard and gave a small shake of my head. "I'm sorry, monsieur. I was merely surprised, that's all."

The slender vampire tilted his head to one side, letting his dark curls tumble over his shoulder. "Surprised by my beauty and charming presence?" he teased, his laugh light and melodic as he stepped past me. "Come, my dear. Let's not keep my brother waiting. He is a most restless creature of the night, and we wouldn't want to irritate him without good cause."

"Your brother?" I asked, finally finding a trace of courage in my voice.

"Yes, we share the same father," he replied, throwing a glance over his shoulder and winking at me. "Just as you and Lumiere do."

So Anthony was his brother, and clearly the head of this household. Yet the vampire before me exuded the same kind of power as my maker, and there was something in his appearance that fascinated me.  "In that case, you are also a prince, my lord? Or should I address you as 'Your Highness'?"

My words delighted him. He laughed, clapping his hands together before cupping my face with surprising gentleness.  "You're marvelous!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with amusement. "I do hope I get to keep you," he murmured, his eyes drifting toward the ceiling as if deep in thought. "And to answer your question, my dear—yes, I am a prince, much like him. But I've never been fond of formalities, so you may call me Luis in private. Surely, though, you'll think of more fitting pet names for... more intimate moments," he added with a sly smile. "But 'My Prince' works perfectly fine if you feel the need to be formal," he said, waving the idea away as though it didn't matter.

I followed close behind the younger prince, and soon we arrived in the dining room, where everyone seemed to be waiting for us.  "I found the lost puppy, brother," Luis announced with a wide grin, placing his hand on mine as he guided me to my seat.

The chair was positioned beside his own and directly across from Lumiere. His hand was cold yet slender, and surprisingly pleasant as it held mine in a steady grip.  The dining room was just as grand as the rest of the castle. The walls were adorned with enormous paintings—dark landscapes and portraits of pale, beautiful faces that seemed to follow me with their eyes. The ceiling soared high above, decorated with gold details and a massive crystal chandelier that hung in the center, casting a soft, warm light over the long oak table. Though the room was decorated like a royal hall, there was a chilling coldness in the air that made the hairs on my skin stand on end.

Anthony sat at the head of the table, shrouded in shadows and the faint glow of candlelight. His black attire blended seamlessly into the darkness, save for the subtle glimmer of gold on his rings and the deep red gem in his brooch. His face, illuminated by the firelight, was a study in calm control—his pale skin nearly translucent, and his eyes, with their feline reflection, followed my every movement as I took the seat chosen for me beside him.  Several men were gathered, though I only recognized one among them.

Lumiere stood off to the side of the room, a silent shadow—his presence barely noticeable yet undeniably essential to Anthony.  The table between us felt like an ocean, a distance both physical and emotional. Yet it was as if our gazes had locked in an invisible tug-of-war, a wordless exchange where I tried to read him, to understand what he wanted from me, while he studied me with a curiosity I couldn't quite decipher.

"So, Clocksworth," he began at last, his voice smooth but with an undertone of undeniable authority. He raised his wine glass, filled with a dark red liquid that could just as easily have been blood. "How does it feel to be born anew?"

His question hung in the air, weighted with more than just its surface meaning. I wasn't sure how to answer. Though I felt stronger and sharper than ever before, there was something deeper buried in the power he spoke of—something I didn't yet fully understand.  "I feel..." I paused, weighing my words. "Different. Stronger, yes, but also... emptier."

Anthony raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair, as if he had been expecting a response of this kind. He slowly swirled his glass in his hand, never taking his gaze off me. "Emptiness," he said thoughtfully. "It's a feeling that most newborns experience. What you feel now, Clocksworth, is the transition. A moment of loss where your old soul meets your new nature." He smiled, a cold, slight smile that didn't reach his eyes. "But don't worry, that feeling will fade. Or rather—you will learn to embrace it."

His gaze burned into mine, and I couldn't help but feel the extent of his power, not just over me, but over everything around him. He was more than just a vampire. He was a ruler, and we all, including me, were pawns on his chessboard.  I took a deep breath, or as deep as my new body allowed. "Is that what you call strength?" I asked, struggling to hide the sarcasm that crept into my voice. "Embracing emptiness?"

Anthony chuckled softly, a gentle sound that almost felt like a whisper in the room. "Strength comes in many forms," he replied calmly. "Physical strength is just the beginning. Mental strength... that is where true power lies. To be able to control your hunger, your will, your emotions. That is what sets us apart from the weak." He leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine. "You have the potential to become one of the strongest, Clocksworth. But it requires you to let go of the old. To embrace your new reality. Without hesitation."

I felt the weight of his words, but also a discomfort deep within me. His promise of strength was tempting, but at what cost? Would I have to sacrifice everything I once was to become who he wanted me to be? Would I have to kill the last part of me that still felt humanity?  I looked down at my hands, which still bore the scars from my time as a watchmaker, and when I looked up again, I met Anthony's gaze with newfound determination.

"What do you want from me, Anthony?" I finally asked. "I have already lost everything. What more can you demand?"

Anthony sat still for a moment, and for the first time since I met him, he seemed to actually think. Then he raised his glass again and smiled, this time broader, more relaxed. "I only require your loyalty, Clocksworth. And in return... I will give you the world."

We stared at each other across the table, as if we had entered into an unspoken agreement. But somewhere deep inside, I knew there was a price. The question was only how high it would be.

The servants moved around the room, and soon my plate was filled with delicacies and my glass with red wine.  "You should try the whole roasted pheasant," Luis whispered in my ear. "It's stuffed with exotic fruits; I believe they're called oranges. Absolutely wonderful," he chirped, giving me a wink. "Just like you."

I felt my cheeks flush, and I cast a quick glance at the older prince and then at Lumiere, but no one seemed to care about the younger prince's flirtation. It might just be part of his personality, I thought, nervously running my fingers through my hair.  He was right, though—the meat melted in my mouth, and the taste of the fruit was unlike anything I had ever experienced, my smile growing wider with each bite I took.

"Your senses are more developed," Lumiere explained from across the table. "Food tastes better, and your hearing is sharper, as you've surely noticed—even your vision." He paused deliberately and gave me a faint smile. "Tomorrow, I will help you understand the rest of the changes in your body. Perhaps you are stronger, or faster, maybe even smarter," he shrugged, "we'll see."

I gave him a short nod, unable to shake the excitement for the events of tomorrow. I would finally have a chance to get answers to my questions.  As my taste buds settled, my ears began to pick up the contents of the conversation around the table.

"The guns will be loaded into wooden crates and transported to the front, Your Majesty," one of the unfamiliar men said.

"Is this really a good idea, Your Majesty? Helping the revolutionaries? We should take the nobility's side; they should be our allies, not the vermin living in the streets," another said, clearly irritated and frustrated.

Prince Anthony raised an eyebrow but said nothing, and the table fell silent immediately—except for his younger brother, who laughed softly beside me.  "The people of France are starving, my dear Gabriel," Luis finally said, "when they're all dead and lying in the gutter, who will you drink from then? The king and queen, or the nobility? My guess is that they won't let you come close enough to even catch a whiff of their blue blood."

"Prince Luis is right," another agreed. "It's an investment for our future. To keep us strong, we need the people in the streets to be alive and well."

I glanced at Anthony from the corner of my eye and saw him eating, but he didn't seem to pay any attention to the heated discussion going on at his table. Until his plate was empty, then he stood up, and everyone fell silent.  "Disrespectful fools, I despise you all," he muttered, and their vampire faces instantly paled even more. "I called you here for a feast, a celebration to welcome our new family member, but you turned it into a political debate." He sighed and shook his head. "I apologize, Clocksworth."

I never got the chance to respond, for a few seconds later, four bodies fell to the floor, and those who had questioned him turned to ash before our eyes.  Anthony's movements had been so quick that no one had had the chance to defend themselves against his attack. My pulse raced, but all I could do was stare at the now empty seats around the table, something that no one else seemed to react to.

"You'll get used to my brother's temper," Luis laughed beside me, squeezing my thigh with his fingers. "And you needn't worry, dear, he won't be like this with you. These men are all expendable; you mean more to us than that."

"To us?" I asked without thinking, meeting his sparkling eyes.

"You have captured my interest, my dear Watchmaker. And I will enjoy getting to know you," he said, adjusting his cuffs.

I turned my gaze back to my food and couldn't help but feel trapped in Luis's grip. I was fascinated by him, flattered by his attention, but I was entirely sure that these two brothers were accustomed to getting everything they touched. So what would happen if I said no to his games?I felt Lumiere's eyes on me and lifted my head to meet his gaze. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and his icy blue eyes radiated a sense of calm, as if he were trying to tell me that everything would be alright.

***

After dinner, I was left alone to wander the castle. My feet took me through corridors and elegantly furnished rooms until I found myself outside in a garden, surrounded by chirping crickets and the scent of roses. The evening breeze was chilly, and I was surprised that my body still reacted to the cold.

"Your body remembers how it reacted when it was alive." My creator's voice was deeper and richer than his younger brother's, and I knew immediately that it was him.

"Can you read my thoughts?" I asked hesitantly, keeping my gaze on the rose garden in front of me, afraid of what he might see if he looked into my eyes.

"Yes," he replied shortly before I felt a hand on my shoulder. "But Lumiere will teach you how to block your thoughts and prevent us from entering your mind."

"A-and what if I want you to?" I stammered, suddenly feeling small in his presence.

He laughed and squeezed my shoulder. "Then you let me in. You can even send messages to us over short distances—it's very useful," he said playfully, stepping forward to lean his elbows against the stone railing.

I took a deep breath and followed his example. "Is it like that for all vampires?"

"No," he explained calmly, twirling one of the rings on his fingers. "Only Luis and me. So you can relax; no one but us knows your fears." Instantly, all the color drained from my face as I realized that Luis had probably heard my thoughts during dinner. All of them. Including the ones about him. "Don't worry, Clocksworth, he understands your fear. He's not an idiot," he smiled, "but he has already claimed you as his. If that's what you want, of course." He studied me for a moment, interpreting my silence as an invitation to continue. "No other vampire will ever lay a hand on you or make a flirtatious move until you have accepted or declined his offer."

I couldn't help but gasp and frantically tried to organize my thoughts in my head, which was far too difficult with the mix of emotions tumbling through my body. "I barely know who I am, and I haven't even had time to adjust to my new life, and you're saying he wants me as his," I looked up at him with a deep furrow in my brow. "I don't even know what that means!"

Anthony shook his head and raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. "My brother rarely asks for things, but he asked me to let him have you as his personal entertainment. A lover, a confidant, a partner."

"But why?" It was an impolite question. I should have been happy, even flattered that the young prince wanted me, but I couldn't stop myself.

"You're right; you should be flattered. But a relationship with a prince means more than just sharing his bed," he said, and his expression turned serious. "He felt your strength. Even as a newborn, you are stronger than most vampires in this city. If you two form a bond similar to human marriage, you will both be virtually invincible."

I gasped and took a staggering step back. "But why would you allow that? Wouldn't we become stronger than you?"

"Yes," he replied with a smile. "And that would make my house the strongest in all of France."I swallowed the little saliva I had left in my dry mouth and desperately rubbed my forehead.

"Why him? I don't mean to be disrespectful, my Prince, but you are the eldest, and I..."

Anthony's dark laughter interrupted me, and I fell silent immediately. "So you wish it were me? Does your heart flutter when you look at me, my child?" He teased, stroking my bearded cheek but clarified, "I am your creator; it would not be moral of me since I have the power to control you."

"Control me?" I muttered, confused, trying not to sound as scared as I felt.

"It's exactly as it sounds," he grinned, pulling my body closer to his and embracing me from behind. "Let me give you an example," he whispered close to my ear while we both looked out over the garden below us. "If I give you a direct order to jump off the balcony, you will feel a strong urge to obey me. You would break your legs without hesitation." His lips placed a light kiss on my cheek, but the simple touch sent an electric wave through my body. "But rest assured, I never abuse my powers."

"I understand," I whispered back, biting my lower lip to distract from the growing pain that washed over me.

Ever since I tasted his blood, I had longed for his touch, and suddenly knowing it was not allowed made my yearning for him even stronger.

"You don't have to decide now, not yet anyway. Luis is patient, unlike me. He will let you mourn your loss and get to know him first, because it's a big step, Clocksworth." His arms remained around my body as he continued, "And if you already know that you can't share your life with him because he is a man—or the principle that you never want to remarry—then he will understand. And so will I."

I nodded slowly, overwhelmed by his closeness and strengthened by his powerful aura. But there was also something else that stirred in my body, a feeling I had never felt before.

"You are hungry, and you need blood," he explained. "At first, when you are near me, your body will react this way. The feeling will fade. Once the transformation is complete, you will be able to drink human blood."

"So one time isn't enough?" I asked as he unbuttoned his sleeve and offered me his wrist.

He brushed a lock of hair from my eyes and smiled. "Usually, yes, but we have big plans for you, my child. And you will need all the power you can get to succeed."