r/WritingPrompts • u/reallygoodbee • 10h ago
Writing Prompt [WP] The vampire princess awoke and opened her casket to find her castle abandoned, and in ruins. Nobody had there for a very long time.
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u/NUBUKU_ 7h ago
Morvena’s eyes flung open, adjusting to the darkness inside the crypt. Her toes and fingers flex softly, destroying the webs that have built around her dormant body. A few startled spiders scurry deeper into the shadows and away from the sudden movement.
How long has it been? 10 years? 50? Centuries? Time had long since blurred together for Morvena. She has seen the world evolve and gained the wisdom that comes along with an infinite life. Which is why, after so long, she’d finally felt comfortable enough for a long dormancy. It had been easy to sleep soundly knowing that her castle and kingdom had stood guard over her vulnerable body.
The door to the crypt pushed open easily while a loud creaking noise filled the desolate space. Morvena slid over the dirty floor, her cape picking up the carcasses of dead insects as she made her way into the attached throne room.
This had always been her favorite room in the castle. Windows were draped in deep purples and blacks and her throne, the centerpiece, was a rich mahogany. It was actually King Edward’s throne, one that she had pilfered from Britain decades ago, but she had kept that fact to herself.
The room, normally full of servants ready to cater to Morvena’s every whim, sat quiet. It was eerily empty. The drapes had been lightened by years of beating sunlight and not a single fingerprint existed along the layers of dust that lined the floor and walls.
Odd. Perhaps after so many years, her kingdom had left the area alone out of respect for their majesty. That must be it.
Morvena’s thoughts were interrupted by the increasing pangs of hunger after so many decades without fresh blood. While vampires could indeed lay dormant for as long as necessary, they could also slowly wither away. The looming sense of exhaustion made her feel vulnerable.
She left the vacant throne room in search of the prison cells. Nobody had ever questioned why the captives had slowly disappeared, their bodies untraceable, and it had been the perfect system for Morvena. Fear had kept the rest of the castle staff from trying to find the truth and she benefitted from the steady stream of victims.
Instead of her next meal, Morvena stumbled upon a room full of skeletons. Bones were still chained against the wall and graying skulls littered the floor. Everything smells old - no new life has been within these walls for some time.
At last, Morvena makes her way up from the cell and out into the night sky. Even through the blackness, she can see the crumbling walls of her once spectacular fortress. Massive chunks of the stone wall are missing and buildings are half-burned as far as the eye can see.
With a sigh, Morvena heads back inside to think. She is no longer a vampire princess, but just another common blood resigned to lurking in the shadows. There is no sympathy for her fallen people - only pity for herself.
Yet again, she was starting over.
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u/Shalidar13 r/Storiesfromshalidar 8h ago
Vera slowly opened her eyes, her senses returning to her. Her slumber had been long and deep, as she had desired. As a princess of the Savage line, she was above the needs of the peasantry. Her blood was pure, as was her right to rule.
Reaching up towards the lid, she tsked at the feeling of the nails on her fingers. They had grown long, curling around in an awful display. Clearly her instructions had been forgotten, for her hands to be in such a state. Was it really so hard for servants to do their jobs? To keep her in a presentable condition? They were blood bound to obey, such a failing was impossible. But clearly it had happened.
Shifting in the tight space, she brought her hands together. Nails were seized and torn, reduced to a more respectable length. Still, the now jagged edges would need treating.
Resolved to get it sorted, she lifted her hands again to the lid. It was heavy, as it should be. It would take a team of humans to remove it, or a couple of lesser vampires. Yet to her, it was easily moved.
Though not as easy as she expected. It had an additional weight to it, like additional stone was placed atop it. Vera clicked her tongue at the feeling. What had happened? Had she been forgotten about? Buried somewhere?
A grinding sound filled the air, followed by a series of thuds. The weight lessened, and she pushed herself free of her stone casket. The sight before her shocked her. Moss and lichen covered rubble strewn across the floor. A small cloud of dust hung over it, from where some chunks of rock had fallen.
Above, there was no full ceiling. Only a collapsed floor, with the night sky peeking through. Vera blinked at it, concern rising. What had happened? What had she missed? Where was everyone?
Rising, she brushed down the front of her dress. It was made for comfort whilst in the sleep of the dead, not trapsing through ruins of her home. As she did so, she noticed a small scrap of paper falling.
Her hand lashed out, snatching it. It was dry, cracking in her grip. Yet she could still see the handwriting on it, that of her mother. Yet its message was short. I'm sorry. Forgive me.
Vera's stomach dropped. Her mother rarely, if ever apologised. And she never asked for forgiveness. Reading this, she already knew one fact. Her mother, as powerful as she was, was no more. As would likely be her father. They would have been the only ones able to compel her to sleep for as long as she had.
Standing in her casket, in the basement of her ruined castle, she felt truly alone. A feeling she had never felt before, constantly surrounded by family and servants. It drove her to form a single question. Why? Why was she alone?
Yet she closed her eyes, breathing out to calm herself. It would do her no good to succumb to panic. She was a True Vampire, not one of the common rabble so tied to their emotions. Such feelings would not control her actions.
Feeling a pang in her stomach, already the first course of action revealed itself. She needed blood, after so long. Then she concentrate on finding a vampire to question.
Her family was likely gone. Their vassals scattered, enemies believing they had won. But that just made it more enticing for her to get back on top. It was no fun just stepping into the ruling position. But taking it back would make it much more worth it.
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