for the sake of further diplomatic relations

Stepping together once again

Esther readjusted her tiara as she looked at herself in the gilt framed mirror. ‘It’s such a bother.’ She said to no one in particular. Thankfully she hardly ever had to ware her ceremonial crown, which weighed a ton; at her coronation she thought that it was going to snap her neck.

It was a whole year since her coronation now, and she had for want of a better word ‘settled’ in to being the Queen of Albion. Esther had been relived that apart for the occasional traditional ceremonial occasion the actual style of government was actually fairly low key in comparison with the state and pomp of the Vatican.

For the most part the year had been taken up with Esther learning the ropes, as so to speak, meeting with just about every official in what was once England, and perfecting her royal wave. Virgil the count of Manchester had been extremely helpful in helping her understand the inner workings of Albion politics. It was fortunate as he had told her that they had a queen who was so devoted to creating a better understanding between humans and Methuselah.

Esther had at the time shrugged off the complement. The world was still a very long way from been unified. Hatreds had run too deep for too long. It was going to take a long time to breach the gap, but with very tentative step forward that dream came closer to reach. Tonight Esther hoped would be one of those small steps.

After centuries of neutrality Albion was in the perfect position to facilitate negotiations between the two sides. And Esther intended to take full advantage of that fact, especially as she herself had connections in the Empire as well as her friends from the Vatican. Esther was a little nervous it was an important occasion; the Empire for the very first time was sending ambassadors to discuss trade agreements.

Tonight was a small ‘informal’ ball to welcome the guests; tomorrow they would be holding a more formal diner.

There was a brief knock at the door. ‘Your Majesty we await your pleasure. The Count of Manchester sends word to say that the Imperial party has arrived safely and are looking forward to meeting with you.’

Taking one final look at herself in the mirror she fluffed out her full sweeping skirt. ‘Imp ready, let’s go.’

Down graceful stairs and through doors opened by porters the young queen made her entrance. Albion had always loved its monarchy, and the people had rejoiced about there new queen, so young and beautiful like she had stepped out of a fairy tale. Their very own ‘star of hope.’

For the next half hour Esther desperately tried to match names to faces as she greeted the various nobility and government officals of Albion. Praying to God that she didn’t offend anyone but getting their names or titles wrong. She made cursory glances at the crowed hoping to spot the Imperial party, all to no avail.

Perhaps it was silly, but she had found herself hoping since the meeting was arranged that Ion would be among the Imperial party. It seemed such a long time ago since she had seen him last. They sent letters occasionally but it was not the same.

When she was on her own at night in her huge bed (which she loved by the way defiantly a perk of been the Queen) her thoughts would often turn to the blond haired Earl. Her thoughts when concerning him seemed to be turning more and more carnal at first it was just memories of what had transpired in the dungeon when they had been left alone, but soon her mind started adding bits, and she wondered what would have happened if father Nightroad hadn’t turned up.

Father Nightroad, sigh, for a while she had been pretty sure that she was in love with father Nightroad. Yet as a priest he would never act on those feelings. It was a relationship doomed to failure.

Esther was suddenly shaken from her revive with the announcing of the Empires ambassadors. Ion was not among them she noted with disappointment, but tried not to let it show instead asking how they were enjoying their time in Albion so far.

At last the music started, and as the queen it was her job to take the first dance. She figured that it would be one of the ambassadors who would be the first to join her for a dance, but she hadn’t had a chance to check her dance card. In fact Vigil still had it. She descended the stairs perhaps more carefully than gracefully, but it was better than tripping up on her dress and tumbling down the stairs.

At the bottom she awaited Virgil to present her with her first dance partner of the night. From her left Virgil approached with a small smile. ‘Your majesty may I introduce to your dance partner the Earl of Memp…’

‘Ion!’ She exclaimed.

‘Esther.’ He called back. And forgetting all formalities she practically bounded in to his arms in a warm hug.

‘Oh you have grown!’

And indeed the young vampire had grown. He was now the same height as she was in heals. Apart from that he was very much that same.

Ion was speechless for a moment, he released his hold on the young monarch and still holding her hand stood back to look over her figure. Having never seen her out of anything than her modest nun’s habit, and the equally modest imperial garb he was taken back by her womanly dress.

The gown was elegant, with a narrow waist, then flowing out in to a full skirt if stiff taffeta, all in a grey blue that complemented her eyes perfectly. On anyone else the color could have looked dull, but it showed off Esther’s natural beauty and contrasted nicely with her rich red hair, which now brushed her shoulders.

But the real clincher for Ion was the fact that the dress bared her shoulders. The uncovered creamy skin was perhaps the most indivertibly erotic thing that the young vampire had ever seen.

‘I have missed you, Esther.’ The blond male said as he led the young woman to the floor.

‘|I have missed you too.’ She replied with a dazzling smile.

Ion caught her other her about the waist with his free hand and pulled her close.

‘Oh, Ion we don’t dance so close here.’

He flashed a devilish fanged smile, ‘Indulge me, for diplomacy’s sake.’

She let out an unlady like huff. ‘You still a spoiled child.’ But she laughed and let him keep his hands where they were. To be honest she was somewhat glad, her dancing skills were a little rusty. But he led her through the steps confidently. It was strange she thought, for someone who could look so delicate he actually was really strong.

The crowd watched the pair swirl around the dance floor. ‘They look like a prince and princess.’

‘They are well matched together.’ One of the ambassadors noted over hearing the comment to the count of Manchester. The count flicked his long blond hair back.

‘Indeed.’

Esther was thoroughly enjoying herself by now and was totally engrossed in her partner. To say Ion had aged would be wrong. Rather he had just grown taller; he hadn’t even really filled out, his body although matching his height was just as lean as ever. Still he looked extraordinarily hansom in his black outfit, embroidered with silver, and set off with his dashing white boots. His face was just as pretty as before. No pretty was maybe not the right word; his eyes were too fierce to be called pretty, to strong in his porcelain face.

Ion’s skin was cool, and she was suddenly very aware of his hand resting upon her waist. For a moment she could remember exactly what it felt like to have his cool hand sliding up her inner thigh.

‘You’re blushing.’ He smiled. She met his gaze again.

‘Oh its just exertion form the dancing!’

He leaned in closer and his cool breath tickled her neck presently as he whispered in her ear. ‘Oh, and I was wondering whether it was because you were thinking of me in the carnal line.’

Her blush deepened.

He smiled wider baring more fangs. ‘I was right.’

‘Ion this isn’t like you.’ She replied in a hushed voice now slightly flustered, but the song showed no signs of stopping.

‘I haven stopped thinking of you since we parted last.’

Esther’s heart did a little leap in her chest. She was speechless. The young woman wasn’t quite sure what to think. The night in the dungeons had changed her quite a bit, after that she had to admit that she had a sex drive. A scary thought for a nun. But since then the thought of doing such things with other men still for the most part disgusted her. So why was she so exited by Ion, they weren’t even the same species.

‘I haven’t stopped thinking about you either.’ She admitted.

The music drew to a close and the Queen’s hand was called by other suitors. Ion bowed low and meting her eyes left an openmouthed kiss on her hand, his tongue sneaking out just a little. As he stood he pressed something in to her hand, a small note. Which she stowed in her corset when she thought no one was looking, before rejoining the dancers.

She watched from the corner of her eye Ion join in for one more dance, but he soon decided to stand at the side, and watch Esther’s endless swirling around that ball room. A fact much bemoaned by the many disappointed young women of the court.

Esther finally found herself alone for a moment. She snuck the small neatly written note from her breast and read it fugitively.

‘I feel that I have to apologize for my race, and to prove that we are not all crazed blood crazed monsters in bed, I would like give you a private audience tonight to show you. Leave your window open. Eternally yours Ion.’