It was… homey.
My guardians had provided for me over the years. They gave me everything I could possibly need to grow and survive. But the one thing we’d never had in all these years was a real home.
We were running too much for that.
“Class this is Sophie Wallace. Make her welcome.”
I felt every single person in the room look at me and then away. Good. I was doing my best to repel them, which worked most of the time. Sort of an anti —glamour. I could push people away as well as attract them.
Most of the time anyway.
It helped me attract as little attention as possible. The fact that I was wearing the blandest clothes ever and no makeup didn’t hurt either. Most teenage girls made at least a token attempt at being stylish. I did… not. I sighed.
I would have loved to go shopping, believe me.
Half the kids were yawning, clearly wishing they were still in bed. I sat and did my best to look bored. It wasn’t much of a stretch.
There were several announcements over the loudspeaker and then a bell rang. Everyone jumped up and left except the girl sitting next to me. She had light brown hair and glasses over her intelligent blue eyes.
“Hi.”
She smiled shyly and waited for me to grab my bag. I hid my surprise. Kids here were… friendlier than many of the ones I’d encountered.
“Hey.”
“I’m Karen. Do you need help finding your way to first period?”
I nodded. I had no clue which way next period was. Being rude was pointless and anyway, the girl seemed nice. It was too bad Caleb had forbidden me from making friends.
I wasn’t allowed human friends anyway.
He might be okay if I found a damn wood sprite to chill with. Or a vamp or two. I’d only met a handful of other supernaturals, and those were the ones Caleb had known for centuries.
“Can I see your schedule?”
I made a show of pulling it out to show to her. I’d memorized it instantly of course, but there was no way she could know that.
“Yeah, here.”
“Oh, we have two classes together! English lit and bio!”
I nodded, slipping my sunglasses back into place for the stroll through the hallways. I knew it made me conspicuous but it was worth it to keep people from falling at my feet.
Caleb said it gave me a big head.
Personally, I did not enjoy the whole mindless worship routine, but it did come in handy when we were on the run or needed to disappear from a human’s memory. I definitely didn’t need to use it on an unsuspecting high school kid.
“You have advanced Calc 2 first. Wow, that’s a senior AP class.”
I shrugged. I didn’t want to brag. Besides even the AP classes were going to be dull for me. Caleb had been feeding me all kinds of academic books for years. And since I didn’t need to sleep much, well, I read all night. Pretty much every night.
It’s not like I had anything else to do. Train. Read. Blend. Read some more.
I even lugged around piles of books when we were on the run. Hopefully that wouldn’t happen again for a while. I craved stability at this point. And I was tired. Not physically of course. But mentally, I was tapped out.
We all were.
“Come on, slowpoke.”
Karen hurried down the hall, not waiting for me to catch up. Good. I didn’t need to be coddled. I allowed myself a small smile.
I liked this chick already.
* * *
I glanced over my shoulder and frowned. I turned back to the front of the classroom, biting my lip in worry.
Yep. He was still staring. Mr. Blue Eyes was in my first class.
Fantastic.
I sighed heavily, feeling his eyes on my back. The next time I looked back though, he was talking to the guy sitting next to him under his breath.
Good. Weird, but good. If I had glamoured him accidentally he would be focused on me almost exclusively. So he wasn’t glamoured.
He was just… I risked a peek back. Yeah. He was looking at me again. He caught my eye and smiled. I exhaled through my teeth, packing up my books. Not surprisingly, pre —calc was going to be a waste of time for me.
Just like the rest of the classes. I imagined college would be a little more interesting, but maybe not by much.
I sighed. I needed to attend class to appear normal. At least literature and history were somewhat interesting, if only because it was subjective. I liked hearing the different opinions people had on what the great writers and figures in human history had been thinking.
Mostly because it made me laugh. The way people thought was so limiting. Not every author had some higher purpose to teach future generations. A lot of the meaning for them was in the act of writing and sharing their thoughts. They had cherished the act of examining the beauty in the smallness of human life, not trying to make grand, sweeping statements about the meaning of life. And since Caleb had known some of those great writers in person, I knew a wee bit more than I should about them.
I went to my locker and put my books away, already bored to tears. Suck it up, buttercup. A random teenage runaway was much more conspicuous than a shy girl attending classes.
In truth, I was far from shy. And I sucked at keeping my mouth shut. But I had to. Our lives depended on it.
After all, a high school in rural North Carolina was the last place the New Leaders would be looking for me. Yes, that’s what the traitors called themselves. And as ridiculous as it sounded, the name had stuck.
I snickered to myself every time I thought about it. It sounded like a 90s boy band. I could almost imagine them, four ancient Vampires in shiny black leather, singing and dancing in unison while teenage girls screamed.
I couldn’t wait to tell them that. Just before I tore their heads off and saved my father. I’d even come up with fake song titles and bad lyrics for them.
I’m a cheesy Vampire, baby
Let me suck you up
I might be cold, but I’m hot for you
Boop bop beep oooo
Yeah, I could go on forever. I was very easily entertained. It was a good thing too, considering all I did in my spare time was train.
“Hey. Are you a Senior?”
I shook my head. The bell had barely rung and Mr. Blue Eyes was there, standing at my side. He was almost as sneaky as a freaking vamp!
“No, I’m a Junior.”
“Wow, you must be really smart.”
I raised my eyebrows, forgetting to hide my eyes.
“I guess.”
I was freaking smart dammit. But being an honor student was just part of my cover. Maybe I should tone it down a bit… get a B or something.
But that would make Caleb lose his damn mind. I almost smiled, imagining him trying to ground me. Princesses do not get B’s.
“Wow, your eyes…”
I flinched. I did not want him staring into my eyes. Ugh. I realized I must have forgotten my color contacts. They muted the unusual color and seemed to help with the accidental hypnotism as well.
“What about them?”
My voice sounded a little sharp, but I couldn’t help it. My eyes were the one visibly weird thing about me. They were not in the normal range of human eye colors and I was self —conscious about them.
I hated them, to be honest. I said they were like rat eyes, though Caleb told me they looked like Liz Taylor’s. He said that they were beautiful.
He even made me watch some old movies to prove it.
“They are sort of purple. No, they’re violet.”
I shrugged and grabbed my stuff. This kid was making me nervous now. He’d stared directly into my bare eyes and what — not even a hint of mindless adoration?
I must be losing my touch.
“Yeah, I guess it’s a genetic mutation or something. It’s worse under fluorescent lights.”
He smiled and I felt the tension go out of my body. I’d expected a comment about rodents or fake contacts. If only he knew how
unusual my eyes really were…
“They’re nice.”
I watched him walk away, staring after his broad back and long legs. Nice? My eyes were nice?
That was… the most ordinary compliment I’d ever gotten.
“Miss Wallace?”
I realized I was standing in the middle of the empty classroom. I shook myself and hurried to my next class.
Yeah, being back in high school was a boatload of freaking fun.
Chapter 2
“So, how bad was it?”
I glanced at Bernard, pulling a face. He shook his head and I turned back to Caleb —
Just in time to dodge a strike. Time slowed down as I ducked, spinning in a crouch. I swept my leg out, knocking Caleb on his back. He jumped up again without pausing and struck out. This time I flipped up and backwards, using my leg to crack him across the cheek.
Bernard laughed and clapped slowly. I bowed deeply and gave him a cocky grin. Caleb was less amused.
“You’re overusing your kicks.”
“You said legs were better. To protect my neck.”
“Yes, but you need to hone your other skills. You can’t control the circumstances of the fight —”
“You can only control how prepared you are.” I finished his sentence for him, heaving a sigh. “I know, I know.”
“Yes, well, you do need to watch your neck. If they got even a single drop…”
“Right. Vampageddon.”
Apparently, I was extra tasty because of my half human blood.
The theory was, my blood was especially potent to vampires. ‘Ambrosia,’ Caleb called it. So I had to do more than watch my back.
I had to watch my neck, and any other easily nibbled on parts.
Forever.
It was well known that drinking the blood of other magical creatures made Vampires more powerful. And I was special. Unique even among the wide range of supernatural beings roaming the planet.
So drinking from me would turn any old vamp into a vamp on ‘roids.
Megavamp.
Vampzilla.
Vampasaurus.
Actually, those sounded like metal band names. I was good at this. I really could go on forever. But I decided to restrain myself.
Anyway, my blood was like a super smoothie for the undead. And the New Leaders would do anything to get it.
If they knew I even existed.
Which… they might.
There had always been rumors about my existence. But thanks to my royal protectors, they were only that thus far. Rumors.
For now, anyway.
When I was fully trained and at my most powerful, we would begin to call in the alliances Caleb had been forming over the past twelve years.
We would gather an army of the undead. And we would reclaim my empire. Put my father back on his throne. I could learn how to lead at his side, and become a part of the ruling family. Try to make things better.
But first I had to kick a whole lot of Vampire butt. And I wasn’t ready. Not yet. And as eager as I was to win that final battle, a part of me was kind of glad for the ruse.
It was a relief to be a normal girl, attending high school. As bland as toast. Ordinary.
Okay, fine. Almost ordinary.
My fangs popped and I moaned, rubbing my upper jaw. Hunger made them do that, and it was not my most attractive look. Plus, it kind of hurt.
Bernard threw me a bottle of blood and I snatched it out of the air. I tipped my head back chugged it, wincing at the cold, metallic taste. Warm blood was best, but we had to keep ours on ice. The cold blood handled the thirst and kept my powers charged, but it didn’t quite scratch the itch.
I could only imagine how Caleb and Bernard felt about it.
Feeding on humans was out of the question, unless we were just passing through. And even then, it was risky. You never knew who would walk in on you during an inopportune moment. We could glamour a few humans, but it would be really challenging to do it with an entire diner full, for example.
So, ‘Dr. Caleb’ was a frequent visitor to blood banks. He’d stroll in wearing a white coat, glamour everyone, wipe the tapes, and make sure we had enough blood to survive on.
Survive, but not thrive.
It was especially hard for my protectors. They couldn’t eat human food. I could.
I had to say, it was a major perk of being a hybrid. A new race, Caleb called it. According to him I was more than just half and half. I was more than the sum of my parts, or so the theory went.
He said that my unusual abilities were just starting to make themselves known. That I might be the most powerful Vampire ever. Not just vamps either.
I was potentially the most powerful everything.
I sighed and rubbed my shoulders. I got sore after working out. Vampires didn’t. That wasn’t much of a perk, was it?
“Is it almost dinner time?”
Bernard smiled at me.
“I was just coming to get you. With Caleb’s permission, of course.”
Caleb waved his hand in annoyance. He took my training seriously. And my education.
The real education that started after school.
“Go on then. Stuff yourself.”
I grinned and bowed to him. He bowed back, signifying the end of training for the day. We were in the backyard, and the light was dim enough not to burn him at this hour. The yard was surrounded by thick pine trees on all three sides, extending into a forest that went on for miles. That was why he had chosen this house.
The farm house had privacy and darkness. Two things Vampires required.
Personally though, I just loved the rickety old house.
As usual, Caleb chose to buy it, instead of just renting. It was part of our routine now. We didn’t want nice old landladies popping over, especially at odd hours.
Odd meaning daylight hours in our case.
It was kind of hard to explain the coffin-like sleeping arrangements in the basement. Or keep from accidentally killing someone in a millisecond who intruded on their rest. My guardians slept in shifts so I was never alone, but still, it was easier just to pay cash and get the deed.
Unfortunately, we ended up leaving a lot of these places vacant, or burning them to the ground.
I ran my hand over the ornate door to the screened back porch. Not this place though. Even if it did cover our tracks, I wouldn’t let Caleb burn this one down.
It was just too sweet and cozy. Yes, the pipes rattled whenever you used hot water. And the closets were tiny. The floor boards creaked. There were probably mice, and definitely spiders.
But it was an adorable little house, all the same.
With all the old woodwork, huge fireplace and tin ceilings, it was cute as a button. I loved it and had since the moment I saw it online. In fact, I’d made Caleb get this one, even as he muttered about rat traps.
“If Your Highness will have a seat? Unless you want to wash up first.”
I rolled my eyes at Bernard. He knew I was almost always ravenous. No way would I wait to eat, unless I was legitimately filthy, which I was not.
I did give myself a quick sniff though. After two hours of training, I was a little ripe.
Oh well. I ate alone most nights. There was no one to offend but myself.
“Don’t call her that. What if someone heard you?”
“You call her Princess.”
“That’s a common nickname. And I’m more disciplined than you are. I never do it where humans can hear.”
Bernard looked hurt as he hastened into the kitchen to get my food. I gave Caleb a dark look. He was a real ass sometimes.
Especially since it was fairly obvious that Bernard was in love with him. And his feelings were apparently unrequited. I didn’t know if Caleb just pretended not to notice, or if he really was that dumb.
Sometimes, the smartest people were the most oblivious.
Either way, it was hard to watch. And from what I could tell, they had been like this since they both enter
ed in my father’s service, hundreds of years ago.
Bernard had been a newly made Vampire, the youngest in the royal army. Never before had someone less than five hundred years old joined their ranks. Only his extraordinary strength had given him a shot at taking his place among the King’s guard.
And Caleb had been there, taking him under his wing. Guiding him. Taking the place of the human family that Bernard had lost. But apparently not wanting to get involved in anything more than a working relationship.
I watched Caleb’s face change as Bernard brought in a plate of something that smelled absolutely delicious. He looked slightly guilty. Good. He should.
I forgot all about two-hundred-year-long unrequited Vampire love sagas as I got a whiff of my dinner. I inhaled deeply. Chicken over fettuccini with some sort of cream sauce.
Ah-mazing.
I lifted my hand to my throat, clutching at imaginary pearls.
“Oh Bernard, you have outdone yourself.”
He preened a bit, casting a glance at Caleb. I sighed as I started cutting up my food. It was too bad Bernard couldn’t cook for Caleb. The fastest way to a man’s heart was through his stomach after all.
That made me stop mid-bite.
“How do you know without tasting? How to cook this well, I mean.”
He stood up straight.
“My father was a chef, in the household of a wealthy French nobleman.” He smiled widely. “He would never admit it out loud, but my mother’s cooking in our little servant’s house was even better.”
“Do you miss them?”
He nodded sadly and I immediately regretted my question. Bernard had a massive heart in that burly frame of his. Even if it was technically dead, the man was a walking Hallmark card. He had many wounds, but losing his family was the deepest.
And I’d just poked it.
“Always.”
They left me alone and I finished eating in silence. I knew Caleb would want to hear about my day but I didn’t want to talk about it right now. I was moody.
What was I going to say anyway, that I liked it? I could never tell them that I may have met someone I might not be able to glamour. Dylan had looked right into my eyes and… nothing. That had never happened before.
Vampire Princess Page 2
