Cassian Legacy: The Vampire Prince
Chapter 7

The next morning I found hersitting up and staring around at my new home, bewildered and confused. Shelooked so tired from last night, but she still hadn’t any clue as to whatactually happened judging from her expression. Once I appeared on the stairsshe relaxed, realizing whose house she slept in. We exchanged greetingsfollowed by questions and explanations. After everything that happened lastnight, all she could remember was a dance she had with a boy at the club, butshe forgot his name and what he looked like.

I left my answers vague and didn’tbother telling her about the compulsion - she wouldn’t believe me anyway. Ioffered her a glass of water and took one for myself, but nearly choked on thefluid when she asked for something to eat. I had forgotten to get any foodyesterday while I was at the grocery store. I usually didn’t keep human food inmy home, for I didn’t need sustenance of that type. But because I surroundedmyself with humans I would need something in the house for future endeavors. Itseemed natural that I should keep food around for my friends. Besides, if thematron found out or had any inkling of what I was, she was sure to throw me outin an instant, which I wouldn’t blame her. Sometimes I even disgusted myself.

I retreated back upstairs anddressed for the day, dodging the question. Once we were out on the sidewalk andon the way to the bus top, I told her we’d stop for breakfast. I made sure Iforged a note before we left so that I could explain my unexcused absenceyesterday. Krista met us on the bus, as promised. She handed a huge backpack toMallory which probably stored her books besides her uniform. We stopped at theavenue where the boutique shops were so that she could dress and grab a cup ofcoffee and maybe a biscuit. Krista purchased a breakfast sandwich, and whilethey ate I sipped on hot cocoa.

“You’re mom didn’t ask twentyquestions when I came over to grab your clothes, so they might be waiting toambush you later,” Krista announced to Mallory once she was done with her eggand cheese biscuit. “I told them you spent the night at my house andaccidentally vomited from too much candy and soda. It ruined your clothes andyou needed some more, but didn’t want to leave my house because you felt icky.While you took a hot shower, I retrieved your clothes. Hopefully it won’t betoo bad.”

Her lie was so elaborate that Iknew she had done this before. It shocked me that the two of them were a partof the partying crowd, when I had guessed otherwise. But it seemed like most ofthe student population drank and smoke, just in different parts of town and atvarying times during the week, exactly like the cliques in other schools. Thiswas the reason why I avoided teenagers to begin with. Their sense of fun endedup not being much fun.

Once we got to school, myconclusion regarding drunkenness and hangovers was confirmed the second wewalked up the sidewalk because, other boys and girls sluggishly made their wayindoors. They all struggled down the cement paths, carrying their baggage andbooks, completely dazed and confused, and hardly paid any attention to theirsurroundings. It was a gross display of the walk of shame.

Upon entering the building, Sethbounded toward us merrily, looking oddly out of place among the other students.“I’m so glad it was only a virus. Thank goodness I can return today, but mystreak of zero absences has been broken.” He pouted.

I blinked at him, not quiteunderstanding that statement. He obviously had no idea what occurred two daysago.

Krista snickered. “I told youbefore, no one has perfect attendance.”

He shrugged. “I tried. But it was asickness, an illness, and not something I could control.”

Nate came up behind us and slappedSeth on the shoulders, causing Krista and Mallory to jump. “You should’ve beenthere last night. Abel looked amazingly awesome in that blue shirt she wore.She looked like a runway model.”

Seth gawked at us, while I kept myhead down, not wanting to acknowledge I heard his compliment. “You went withoutme?” He sounded so hurt.

My eyes swiveled to his and Istopped walking in the middle of the hall. They all continued on ahead withoutme, and didn’t bother noticing that I had left their company in order to shieldmy own thoughts.

Of course it all made sense now.Seth had been there at that club too. Someone had used compulsion on him. Hismind was at a breaking point. When I accidentally revealed my true nature andwas forced into using my compulsion, I nearly pushed his mind over the edge. Nowonder he was so sick. I grabbed Seth by the arm and steered him away from theothers for confirmation. We ended up in an alcove, away from the otherstudents. I gently pushed his head to the side, revealing the left carotid, andwhile I did this, I watched his reaction.

He didn’t stop me, but he didn’tquite yield either. Before he could completely turn me away I spotted multiplehealing scars dotting the skin right above the artery and vein. “What are youdoing?” he whispered to me, more curious than angry about my behavior.

I backed away from him quickly andfluttered my eyes to the ground like I was confused and up to no good. “I’msorry. I didn’t mean to…” I left it hanging and fled from him.

When I walked into chemistry, therewere no students present yet. The bell wouldn’t ring for another five minutes.Ms. Ingram dropped the book she was reading onto her desk. The noise it madewhen it slammed onto the surface nearly made me jump twenty feet into the air.I don’t think I was ever this shaken for something that noisy to bother me.

“Welcome back Miss Harper.” Hersharp eyes greeted me.

I sighed heavily and took a seatnear the window. “I’m sorry I missed yesterday. I took a sick day.”

She nodded to herself, “That’s whatHelen said. She was sure the boy got a touch of mono and thought that you twowere an item. I caught the kiss in the alcove. You shouldn’t be kissing in thehallways anyhow, especially if you don’t wish to get caught.”

I stared at her. How dare shesuggest something like that! But then again, I made it seem like we had arelationship from the start, when our friendship was far from her conclusion.“You misunderstand…” I began.

She walked over to my desk. “I knowmore than you think I do, Abelia.” She plastered an orange sticky post-it noteon the black surface, directly in front of me. Only one word was written therewhich sent chills down my spine…

Vampire.