His Symphony: Fated to the Kings

The Sisters. 10 Years Ago.

Thunder and lightning echoed around them. Skies so heavy and dark, taunting and mocking, letting everyone know they would not be able to do anything about it.

They were nervously aware it would rain cats and dogs tonight. A tropical typhoon had just hit the country.

A year had passed since they fled their hometown province. Bringing the three of them to her dead mother's friend's doorstep. Still poor as a church mouse but one thing had changed -they were safe.

From sexual assaults-yes. However, from financial problems -no. Not yet. Still had a long way to go.

Which brought Rie and Anna to their recent concern.

Anna Michelle. Their fragile baby sister.

Her small and frail body was huddled under a huge bulk of worn and tattered blankets. Pained, wheezing breaths were coming out from her congested lungs and she was shivering from a high fever, making them worry it was another bout of pneumonia.

Rie's worried eyes found Anna's. Both blinked back tears and stiffened their shoulders.

Seconds later, having come up with a plan, their eldest sister was frantically dressing in warmer clothes, eyes determined, face pinched, mumbling to herself.

"This is the last spoon, Anna," Rie whispered.

Anna nodded and slipped her feet into her worn rubber shoes. "I have to go out. I'll go to Mrs. Flick and borrow some money. Then head out to the nearest pharmacy. Make sure to keep Mish's fever down. Give her iced baths." Round-eyed, Rie bobbed her head at Anna's instructions. She took a deep breath. "Aunt Delia will be back soon with hot food. Lock the doors behind me and don't let anyone else in."

Her younger sister scurried after her and she heard the bolts click. Good.

It was her turn to shiver from the cold wind. Damn! She should be considering a third job soon. Maybe a servant or a waitress.

She took a deep breath once more, swallowing her tears and her pride along with them. Chin firmed, shoulders straightened, she braved the stormy weather and blowing winds.

She had to be strong for her sisters.

She was all they had.

_____________

"Hello."

"Hi."

He was so big and scary yet she didn't fear him. In her eyes, he looked more like a big cherub with his curly light yellow hair.

Grinning, she squealed, twirled around the room. Happy and carefree. A place where she longed to be, again and again.

Mish was back. To her dream world.

"I haven't dreamed of you in a while." Joyfully scanning the museum-like room -all in black and silver marble-with her light brown and green hazel eyes, her cupid bow-like lips curve in a contented smile. Just like before, a table was set in a corner laden with all types of food.

Mish returned her attention to the magnificent man sitting on the black and gold throne. His gaze was sharp. His jaw clenched. Nevertheless, he was majestic.

"You are sick again, my beloved." Though his voice was dark and strict, she could feel his sadness and worry. For her.

"It's nothing. I like being sick. It makes me dream of you." She answered innocently. Before she could blink, she found her small body cradled in his big arms. She giggled. He moved so fast. Like lightning.

His answer to her enthusiasm was a pained grimace when his cold skin came in contact with hers. She knew she must be burning up with a high fever. And she realized she could barely breathe. So used to it, she just shrugged her thin shoulders.

Out of nowhere, a wet cloth appeared in his hand. He bathed her forehead and brows gently while he chanted in a foreign tongue.

Lights of different colors rained upon them. Her feverish eyes widened in reverence. White, red, and facets of blue, mimicking the jewels in the evening sky.

Blinking, her hazel eyes connected to his crystal-like, ice-blue eyes. Mish watched him closely. Observing.

They were glowing. She grinned once more, showing her crooked white teeth.

His lips quirked a bit and his sharp canines appeared. She was not afraid, knowing he would never hurt her. He had taken care of her whenever she got sick these past few months.

"I'd rather you are okay, my beloved." He muttered. "It would hurt me not to see you but...it pains me, even more, to see you thus."

"You speak funny."

He chuckled, changing his whole countenance.

"What is your name? You still haven't told me." She snuggled in his warm embrace. Odd for her to feel this despite his cold skin. He sighed and hugged her tenderly. Like she was made of the finest porcelain.

"You may call me your beloved. When the time is right, I will come and find you." Mish hummed, her eyes began to droop. Shaking her head yes. At eight years old, she had no idea what he meant by his words. Maybe he wanted to be her prince?

"You mean like Prince Charming in Cinderella?" She loved watching Disney cartoons. With utmost trust in her hazel eyes, she waited for his answer.

He drew her back in his arms and pressed his lips to her temple to check her temperature. Satisfied. He chanted once more and she suppressed her yawn. Her fever was gone, she could also breathe easier. Then she felt his whisper. "More like a king, my beloved. And you...you will be my queen. Someday soon, we will find each. And we will know the meaning of forever."

She smiled, feeling much better, burrowing deeper in his arms, falling asleep with him guarding her.

Beloved.

He was her beloved.

What does it mean?

_____________

Anna was soaked to the bones when she entered their small home, desperate to seek immediate warmth.

Trembling, she called Rie, handing her the bottles of medicine, and ran to the bathroom to take a quick shower, wanting to attend to her youngest sister.

After a while, warming her hands on a cup of hot tea her aunt offered, she joined them in their small bedroom.

Halting, she was shocked to see Mish smiling and reclining on their cot, happily sipping her hot tea.

Sickly and undernourished, her youngest sister had always looked thinner and smaller than her actual age.

"Mish, baby, how are you feeling?" Anna bent to touch Mish's forehead, her neck, and her hands. She was cool to the touch. Though flushed, she could detect no fever.

Odd. How?

"I'm okay, Anna." Mish hummed. Smiling shyly at her. Anna frowned when her little sister coughed. Not easily convinced.

"Regardless, drink this." Anna Marie helped her drink the cough syrup -she did it without a fuss. Always a sweet little girl. "And try to go back to sleep."

"Okay. I might dream of my prince again." Mish whispered conspiratorially as if sharing a deep secret. Except, it was no secret at all. She had been telling them of her dreams more often than not.

"Your Prince Charming?" Indulging her at the same time helping her settle back on her pillow, she tucked her in.

Anna and Rie would be taking turns checking up on her all night. They only pray her fever would not return.

"He told me he is my king," Mish mumbled and yawned. "I'll be a queen."

She said so matter of fact it made Anna smile genuinely for the first time since her baby sister got sick. Again.

When will this end?

"Of course, baby. Now, get some sleep. You can't be a queen if you're always sick." She bussed her forehead then her sleepy eyes, Rie did the same, making Mish grin sleepily, asleep in no time.

"Let's get something to eat, Rie. Aunt Delia is waiting." Anna whispered.

"Are you sure?" Rie asked. She returned her gaze to the bed, uncertain if she should leave their baby sister.

"Yes. Everything will be fine." In her heart, Anna pleaded. Hoping she could make everything right for them.

Xavier The Vampire King. Two Years Ago.

This was the first time his beloved would see in him pure vampiric form. He had been careful to ease her into the life that he knew they would share eventually. That choice was taken from them.

Too soon, she was facing his beast.

What he was not expecting was her reaction.

Her eyes widened but not from fright. The pained expression on her face showed utter relief that he had come for her.

"Beloved," she whimpered, holding her palm out to him. The muscle in his jaw ticked. He could hear her whizzing breaths, making the ringing in his ears worse. This was the only time he had ever known fear. However, his countenance was devoid of any emotion bar one.

Pure rage.

His Mish was sick once more. Her face was pasty and she was shivering in Victor's arms.

The vampire elder would pay dearly. Xavier vowed silently.

"Release her!" Her assailant shuddered at the command in his voice. The traitor would be dead before the sun rose.

"Fuck you, King. You can't do anything to me while she is here." Xavier watched in horror when Victor's fangs graze his Mish's swanlike neck, his venom dripping from it. Lethal and deadly.

"Give her to me. I will let you go. Just..just release her." Oliver waited outside. This fucker would not go far.

"Desperate are we? Have you tasted a virgin's blood before? It tastes like the most expensive wine in the world. Sweet and heady. The purest of all." He opened his mouth wider and sank his teeth into her shoulders with relish. Mish's frail body convulsed from the force mark.

"No!" With his vampire speed, he reached them before the bastard drew blood. Victor pushed his beloved's body to him and escaped in a flash.

"Mish, baby?" The scuffles outside the door registered. His men have the fucker. He would deal with him later.

"Xavier," Her voice was so weak. It was killing him. The venom from Victor's bite had an immediate effect.

He shrugged out of his coat to cover her shivering, thinly cloth body. Goddess. She was cold. Barely breathing from her wheezes.

"You will know what to do, Vampire King," Xavier glanced at Esmeralda's glowing silhouette at the doorway. "Only your mark and blood can save her now." Her ominous words felt like a cat o' nine lashes on his back.

His precious beloved lay weightless in his arms, the bite on her shoulders was turning blue from the venom. That was Victor's ultimate goal. To kill his soulmate. Knowing it would kill him, too.

He had no time to spare. With sharply pointed canines, he bit his lips until he drew blood. He leaned down to kiss her softly until drops of blood filled her mouth.

Two fingers pressed her nose, urging her to swallow. She did while she choked at the foreign taste. His blood would help her heal.

"Mark her, Vampire King." The white witch instructed.

"You know what will happen if I mark her, I won't be able to control myself from consummating our bond." His decision was clouded at the moment. He thanked the priestess for her guidance.

"Then she will die. There is a solution. Mark her and disappear. Stay as far away as possible. Hibernate. Come back to your queen when it's time." Could he bear the pain from their forced separation? Did he have a choice?

"She will feel empty from our distance," he stated in anguish. "Wipe her memories of me. That will lessen her pain. Her heartbreak." Her pain was a guarantee and he would not have it. His beloved had suffered enough already.

Yes. He could carry this burden alone. Knowing his beloved was alive would suffice. Nothing else mattered. Only her.

"Are you sure? That is a heavy cross to bear alone, my king." The sadness in the High Priestess's eyes was a small consolation.

"I'm sure. It is the only way. Promise me, you will do what I asked. Give my beloved a protection spell while I'm gone." The universe was the limit for his queen.

The High Priestess nodded, her face pinched with worry. "I admire your selflessness, Xavier. Do what you must. And I will help in any way." She paused. Then her voice firmed. "I'll give you time to say goodbye to your destined one." Esmeralda bowed in respect to both of them before leaving.

The vampire king watched her go with tears blurring his vision. He only had minutes with his beloved before he had to go, too. Far away from her. Back to a lonely existence. His heart constricted in pain.

"Mish, my love, my beloved. You are my heart and my soul. You may have no memory of me but your heart will always remember. Because yours and mine beat as one. I'll come back to you. This I promise. You will always be my home." With a shaky breath, he began to murmur in the most ancient vampire language to bind her to him.

"I, Xavier Moravia Rastislav claim you, Anna Michelle Greyson as my queen, the other half of my soul, mine for all eternity. Until we both rest in eternal bliss. Hear me with your heart. Dream of me with your soul. Until we meet again, my Mish." With tears in his eyes, he sank his teeth into her neck, sobbing as he claimed his beloved Michelle.

"Until we meet again, beloved."

***

St. Petersburg, Russia Hours Later Xavier didn't talk to anyone and they left him alone. Oliver had known what to accomplish on such short notice. His brother-in-law had his instructions.

The Vampire King's sister would support her beloved, Xavier's second in command.

He envied them. He could have been holding his queen tonight. This should have been a wonderful honeymoon had evil not intervened.

Everything was planned to a tee. He had twenty-four months to court and pursue her then claim her as soon as she turned 18. Everyone had approved, including the Lycan Queen, her eldest sister.

All his careful planning had turned to ashes. He was now a thousand miles away from his beautiful innocent queen. And he felt empty.

It was true what they said. One can barely function without his soul. His Queen. He had claimed her and yet he cannot be with her. To protect her. From himself. Talk about irony.

Emptiness. Like falling into a dark void. An abyss. With no bottom on site. The only way to get out of it was to be with his Mish. Not even the killing of Victor in cold blood had filled a small part of that empty space.

Two years. It was nothing compared to the centuries he had waited for her. However, that was before he met her. Had known the blissful life they could have with each other.

This time, it would feel like a lifetime even with the forced hibernation. He would feel pain. The suffering would be intense.

He had her in his arms, took care of her, savored her sweet lips, and untutored kisses. She tasted of honeycomb and smelled of roses.

Two years. His Mish. He closed his eyes at the searing pain engulfing him.

His Queen would want for nothing. He took care of everything for her. Her funds, her medical needs, her studies, her security, and anything he could think of.

One thing he couldn't do. He couldn't pick up the pieces of her heart. She would not remember him, nonetheless, at her tender age, she would experience heartbreak. She won't even know why.

But the other option was unthinkable. Which was better for her than walking this earth half-dead. With him gone, it was inevitable. A shell of a girl on the cusp of womanhood, only 16 years old because he left her for her own good. Wiping her memories of their time together was the best the priestess had done for them.

He would never bring her to his bed while she was a minor. That was unacceptable. He prided himself on being a gentleman. An ingrained trait instilled by his mother and father.

They would have liked her. Loved her, too. He thought.

Ice blue eyes blinking, he focused on his surroundings. A familiar family mausoleum. A vault made of gold, silver, and black marble. The sun was kissing the horizon, reminding him of his purpose.

"It's time, Мой король." Focusing on Oliver and his sister, face taut, devoid of any expression, he nodded his consent. (My king)

"Take care, my sister. And Oliver, I give you full power to handle our realm until I return." In two years.

Please wait for me, Anna Michelle.

"Мой король, it would be an honor. We will wake you up two years from now. At the exact date and exact hour and not a minute further." He nodded once more. Already dreading the isolation. The void. The loneliness. (My king)

This was the only way.

Determined to do this for her, he tilted his head to the side and gave his sister access to inject him with an ancient serum for hibernation. For two years. And not a day further.

Xavier would be asleep and he would be dreaming. His soul would wander. His heart would long. For his Vampire Queen.

Dream of me, my love. Just like before.

The effect was instantaneous. Rapidly coursing through his Vampire blood, he felt like stone. He blinked. His sister was crying silently in Oliver's arms. He would take care of her. He trusted him.

Only two words passed his lips before he succumbed to the inevitable.

My beloved.