Secret Santa

ERICK
Alina stood in the middle of the Grand Hall, her dress a stunning gold with intricate flowers embroidered from one shoulder to the other. That same embroidery was present on the skirt of her gown, thin at first, but they flared out at the end. Her hair was in loose curls down her back and her green eyes sparkled with fake joy that only people closer to her would understand. She looked like a glorious golden goddess who would rather be anywhere other than the Royal Christmas Party.
“Thank you for inviting us, Your Highness.” A vampire guest came up to me before bowing deeply from the waist.
I nodded, smiling as I held up my Champagne flute and the vampire bowed again before leaving. He seemed to be one of a lower rank. Higher rank vampires did not bow that deeply, in fact, our general and nobility only bowed their head slightest. But my eyes found their way back to Alina.
“I don’t want to look like a slutty Santa!” She’d complained when I’d pointed out to a bright red dress with glitters on the gown.
“Sexy Santa. It would be a pleasure to unwrap you later,” I’d teased, just to ruffle her up a bit.
But Alina had just scowled at me and chosen the golden gown instead. And I have to give credit where it’s due, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
“Why don’t you just go join her?” Kendrick muttered from beside me, his eyes too, on the petite woman standing beside Alina in a purple evening gown, her short hair falling to just below her ears and whose arm was now completely healed. Mia might look as harmless as a snail with her petite form and pretty heart-shaped face, but she was also a fierce warrior who could slaughter anyone who tried to harm Alina, without getting a single drop of blood on her gown.
The only reason Emiel had gotten close enough to Mia to tear off her arm was because he was possessed by a powerful Ancient. She’d trained herself even harder since that day, made sure she was near unbeatable, with and without her arms. Which is why she was now a part of the Castle’s Elite forces that would do anything to protect their Queen. But duties aside, Alina and Mia had also formed a deep friendship, which meant that Mia would risk her life for her, regardless. The only problem was, Mia still kept giving Emiel the evil eye, which forced him to stay away from Alina whenever she was near.
“I think you’re right.” I told Kendrick, who had been silently sulking all evening since we separated from the women to greet the vast number of guests that had arrived for the Christmas party. “Let’s get back to our wives.”
Did I forget to mention that Kendrick and Mia are now married? Well, they are, much to Merida‘s dismay. The Coven head had not taken it well when her mage grandson had not only decided to work permanently for the Royal family but also to wed a vampire. But in the end she’s put her grandson’s happiness first and had arrived at the wedding to bless the new bride and groom.
Kendrick and I moved towards our women and sensing our presence, Alina looked up at us, her eyes meeting mine and the smile she gave me made her entire face light us.
“What’s gotten you into such a grumpy mood?” I asked upon reaching her, Ken and Mia stepped back to give us some privacy. But they were close enough to react if someone tried anything funny.
“Nothing,” she glared at me from under her lashes. “Just getting some pity-lecture from Vampire born bitches who keep smiling big enough to crack their faces, but inside, they’d rather stab me right now so you get to pick all over again.”
“Is that so?” I grinned, having already overheard some pity-lecture she’d partaken in. “Then I guess it’s time to show them I’m not interested in picking anyone else.”
Putting one hand around her nape, I pulled her to me and crashed her lips to mine. Alina came willingly, her shoulders relaxing under my fingers, her lips lusciously moist as they moved against mine. Parting reluctantly to a bunch of cheers and wolf whistles, I nuzzled her close to me as I looked around the room full of our people. Alina’s smile this time was shy, but none the less beautiful.
Alina
A couple hours later and the winks kept on coming, I stood with Selene, Erick’s older cousin Jordan’s wife, Mia and Erick’s sister Athena, by the exit bidding goodbye until our guests retired for the night. Susan as usual had shown up at dinner-time but had disappeared somewhere as soon as dinner was over; Erick’s second elder sister was too shy for her own good.
“That went well,” Selene said as the last of the guests left the palace and we turned away from the hallway and went to sit on the chairs that had been arranged around the gigantic Christmas tree. “You did really well Alina. Everyone was talking about the decorations and food. I especially liked the bacon wrapped asparagus.”
“Thanks,” I breathed a sigh of relief.
Queen Kenna had asked me to arrange this year’s Christmas party, a get-to-know-your-new-King-and-Queen party that’ll reassure the masses that even though we’re bringing in new changes, we’re doing so in favor of their interests. Emiel’s reinstatement as the second Prince had caused a stir; vampires all over the world had been worried about history repeating itself, which is why Erick and Emiel had made an appearance together with our entire family. Seeing the growing bond between the two brothers had reassured our people enough that he now no longer gave Emiel unsure glances, but there were still people who had their doubts. Jordan and Athena’s husband, a Vampire Industrialist, Vincent Rogan, had been accompanying him the entire evening. Erick would join him when he wasn’t busy playing vampiric politics or greeting honorary guests.
“Alright people, it’s present time!” Erick said as he made his way to the centre of the circle that had gathered around the humongous Christmas tree, a tree that Erick had teleported in and had helped decorate along with Emiel. Emiel had been ecstatic to help in the Christmas planning since this was his very first Christmas. It’s devastating to know that the descendents of Marcellus, a banished part of the Royal family who had the responsibility to care for a child, would just neglect them in such a way. No wonder an Ancient had any difficulty at all to invade a vulnerable mind.
Never again! I promised myself. That rule was now out of the books for good.
“Come on, everyone gather around,” Erick’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Emiel, you go first.” He said turning to a hyper Emiel, whose eyes bugged out of his skull upon Erick’s suggestion.
“Can I?” He asked, bouncing on his feet.
Fortunately, Emiel had decided to wear his hair longer than Erick’s so people can recognize him at first glance, since his eyes didn’t look that different from afar.
Emiel bounced over to the colorful gift paper wrapped boxes that had been neatly placed under the tree. He unearthed nine gifts, one each from me, Erick, Kenna, Valroy, Selene, Jordan, Kendrick, Athena and Susan. He unwrapped them right there and then, sitting cross-legged on the floor and the boxes spread out all over the surrounding floor. In the end, he received several new clothes, a Rolex watch, perfume and a gold chain with Erick and Emiel’s picture in a round locket containing the Royal emblem.
This year we’d played Secret Santa, so when we receive the presents, we’ll have to guess who had given them to us. But I was pretty sure that some of them had already spoiled the fun since there were several cards attached to the gifts already. We all received nine or ten gifts each, and soon the space below the tree was emptied as people started un-wrapping their gifts and showing them off to others. I’d received three diamond jewelry sets from Kenna, Athena and Valroy, Selene had gotten me a beautiful green knee-length dress that matched my eyes, Kendrick and Mia had gotten me a charm bracelet for my protection, Jordan had handed over a holiday voucher to Hawaii and Erick had, of course, gotten me the sexy red dress that he had wanted me to wear for the party.
Content at having my closest family and friends with me, I still felt a void inside that didn’t go away even as we all gathered together for another round of Champagne and blood for all the vampires.
“Hey! There’s one present left! Alina, it’s for you.” Emiel’s voice distracted me out of the conversation I was having with Valroy and Vincent.
“What?” I walked over to the tree, the lights places all over it providing enough light that we’d used candle lights to decorate the rest of the hall.
Emiel held out a large box covered with golden glitter paper just as Erick came to stand beside me. I took the box from him, finding it wasn’t as heavy as I’d expected, and found that it only had my name written on top of it.
“Looks like you have a real Secret Santa this year.” Erick told me as Emiel came to stand on my other side, watching intently as I un-wrapped the box.
“It looks like a portrait.” Erick said, leaning forward to inspect the thin box that covered the contents.
He held out his hand for the box and I handed it over, cutting open the seal on the top with my nails as Erick held it still. Finally, the top of the box came loose and I could see the portrait frame inside. By now some curious onlookers had gathered around us, while others kept chatting in the background.
Taking a hold of the frame, I pulled out the portrait… and felt my heart skip a beat.
The woman staring back at me could’ve been called my twin, except that her hair was a darker shade of blonde rather than brunette. Her eyes were so kind and full of love that it brought tears to my eyes. In the portrait, she wore a beautiful blue silk dress and appeared to be seated on a throne, though the portrait showed till only a few inches below her waist. Her hair was twisted in an elegant knot at the back of her head with a few tendrils fanning her face. She wore dangling diamond earrings, the same ones she’d been wearing when she’d been put to ground. And in her arms was a tiny baby who was looking up at her mother with pure adoration in her eyes.
“Hey,” Erick swiped his thumb under my eyes to wipe away the tears that had escaped before he drew me into his arms.
“He’s gone.” I sobbed, knowing deep inside that the void I’d felt for the past few days was precisely for this reason. My father was gone, and this was his last gift to me.
“No, he isn’t,” Erick held me tighter. “He right here… watching over all of us. And he wouldn’t want you to be sad.”
I nodded, wiping away the remaining tears. I knew this day would come, but the knowledge was still impossible to bear. He’s with mom now, no longer alone and hurting. And I should be glad that I’ve had the opportunity to know two such wonderful people that were my parents. I’d grieve later, in private, but right now, surrounded with my closest friends and family, wrapped in the arms of the man I love, who is my husband, I felt that void close us slow inch by inch, until all that was left was a promise of a bright future ahead.