The Vampire Prince goes to High School (Book 1)

A Darker Past

A/N: Hey, guys. I'm giving you guys a little warning notice. There's some 'violence' and 'language' that might make some people uncomfortable. Personally, I think it's not graphic but it is an intense scene. I only have it there because it's necessary to the story. Thanks.

"That's a good thing, right?" Sonia asked on the end of the phone.

I rolled on my back, staring up at the ceiling. It had been hours after revision of the contract and the Prince hadn't shown up. I was grateful for the space but I couldn't help but think that he was planning something. Call it a gut feeling.

"Yeah," I replied to Sonia. "The Prince won't be bothering me at home anymore. I'm still supposed to help him "find his humanity", whatever that means. I'm still not allowed to tell anyone."

"And you're telling me this?" she asked. "Didn't you just break the contract?"

I bit my lip. "Well, yes," I said hesitantly, "but who else am I going to talk to about this? Of course it has to be you. Besides, you and your family are involved too."

Sonia was quiet for some time. "So, what about Carlos?" she asked. "Did you guys decide what to do with him?"

Insulted, I sat up on my bed. "Sonia," I said sharply. "We didn't decide to do anything with him. He's not some animal. Geesh, what do you take me for?"

She didn't answer. I looked at my screen thinking she had hanged up but no, she hadn't. Mentally, I kicked myself. I shouldn't have said it in that way.

"Look," I said struggling to keep my voice neutral. "Carlos is on probation, right? This means he can't get into any more trouble with vampires. I'm not sure how long his probation is going to last. I mean, let's be real. The only reason why the royal family didn't press charges was because I agreed to the contract."

"What?" Sonia asked, shocked. "He saved your life. If anything, you should have pressed charges on them but you didn't."

"Yeah, because we settled this out of court with the contract. Like it or not, Carlos hit the Prince. A human hit a vampire and everybody knows but there weren't any repercussions. Can you imagine what would have happened to him if I hadn't stepped in?"

"So-so what?" Sonia asked her voice rising. "We should bow down to you because you finally looked around you and decided to do something instead of bitching about how shitty everything is and doing nothing? We are sooo grateful."

"Do you honestly think I wanted all of this?" I demanded. "I'm doing this for him, and you, and your family. Without me, Carlos would have been killed!"

An angry silence followed. Tears burned my eyes. Regret burned in my chest. I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that.

"Sonia," I began. "Sor –"

The call ended. I let my phone fall from my hand. I was so stupid. How could I say that to Sonia?

"That was entertaining."

Cursing, I jumped out of my bed. Where – ? I did a complete 360 of my room but no one was there. There was a sharp knock on my window. I jumped again. My heart raged in my chest.

"Wh-who is it?" I asked swallowing thickly.

"Are you really that stupid?"

My felt my eye twitch. I didn't have time for him. And – and what was he doing here anyways?

"L-leave," I forced out. "You're not welcomed here. Didn't you read –"

"I'm acting civilized, aren't I?" the Prince asked.

My jaw dropped. "I-is that what you got from it?" I stammered out.

"I knocked," he replied. "So, let me in little piggy."

"Get off my property!"

"I don't take orders from you," he retorted.

Angrily, I snatched my phone off my bed. "We'll see about that," I muttered.

"Hey, who are you calling?"

"Your lawyers."

The Prince appeared in front of me and yanked my cell phone out of my hand.

"Hey!" I protested. "Give that back and get out of my room!"

"Then promise me that you won't call them," he warned. He held my phone above his head so I couldn't reach.

I crossed my arms across my chest. "Give. It. Back."

We stared at each other. I held my head high. There was no way I was going to give up first. Granted, he could probably spend all eternity like this and I couldn't but still. It was the principle that mattered.

"Fine," he said to my immense surprise. "Here."

He held out my phone. Wearily, I glanced at him and then at my phone. Hesitating, I plucked it out of his hand. I frowned at him suspiciously.

"What is it?" I asked. "Why are you being like this?"

"I thought you wanted me to leave," the Prince said. He grinned. "Or have you changed your mind?"

Honestly, I didn't consider myself a violent person but right now, I wanted to punch him. I took a deep breath and silently, exhaled.

"What do you want?" I asked through clenched teeth. "Answer me while I'm being civilized."

The Prince plopped himself on my bed. "I seem to remember that you said the contract was going to be nullified."

I crossed my arms. It seemed like I was going a lot of that lately. "You came here to gloat?"

The Prince smirked. That answered my question.

"You're so freaking childish!" I told him. "You put to shame any prince in history who ever held such a title. The only reason you are royalty is because of your father. You didn't do anything to deserve it."

In the next second, I found myself pinned against the wall, a hand at my throat. A pair of red eyes hovered in front of me. The Prince bared his fangs at me. I clawed at his wrist, uselessly. Gasping for air, my lungs cried out in pain.

"You know nothing human," the Prince growled out.

My eyes bulged and my head started to spin. Dots danced at the edge of my vision. My arms felt weightlessly but heavy at the same time. I tried kicking my legs out – to connect with something but all I hit was empty hair.

"Stop," I tried to gasp but no sound came out.

Suddenly, the pressure was gone. I fell to the floor gasping and coughing for breath. Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't tell how long I lay there but it felt like an eternity. Time flowed in slow motion. Somehow, I found the strength to pick myself up.

Looking around the room slowly, I found myself alone. Tremors shook my body. Tenderly, I rubbed my neck. There was only one thought in my head: Did he just try to kill me?!

A/N: Thanks for reading!