I froze.
This is a setup, my mind screamed.
It was too late to worry about that. If Claude was inside, the noise would have already alerted him. Steeling myself, I pushed it the rest of the way open. Nothing in the poorly lit room stirred. I slipped inside, closing the door behind me.
If this was a horror movie, I’d definitely be the first one dead.
Although considering the facts, my life right now kind of was like a horror movie. Oh well.
Unwilling to turn the overhead light on, I turned on my phone’s flashlight and shined it around the room, waiting for Claude to jump out at me. He never did. The room was empty. Did Claude just always leave his door unlocked? Was that safe?
“Clearly not,” I whispered to myself, seeing as I managed to get inside. Still believed this could be a setup, but it was too late now.
The room was meant for a prince. Spacious, decorated with elegant furniture. Similar to the style of my room, but with much more. It was hard to make out details and I couldn’t spend too much time gawking anyway. I went over to an armoire almost taller than me, running my hand along the smooth wood on top, shining the light on it. Then I pulled open the top drawer, pointing my phone at it.
I resisted the urge to close it when I realized it was Claude’s underwear drawer. I had to search it. Turning my head slightly to the side, I did a quick scan of it. Trailing my fingers along the edges, trying to feel anything that wasn’t fabric. Would he hide it in his underwear drawer? Wouldn’t that be too obvious?
I was relieved to move onto the next drawer, careful not to disrupt anything in a noticeable way. The rest of the armoire yielded nothing and I walked over to his bedside table opening to check in there. A phone charger, change, notebooks… no pendant. I squatted down and peeked under the bed. Exceptionally clean, but no necklaces.
I stood back up, moving around the bed to his closet. I fidgeted with my phone for a minute. This was a serious invasion of privacy. But it was too late to feel like that. Feeling awkward was better than feeling whatever pain my father decided was a fitting punishment for losing it.
Claude’s closet didn’t have much. It held his uniforms, some shoes, jackets, everyday clothes. Nothing too interesting. I frowned as I abandoned it and walked around the perimeter of the room. Not in any of the obvious places. Maybe he had decided to hide it well. All surfaces in his room were spotless and void of any kind of personal items. Actually, most of the room was. Not very lived in at all.
Annoyed, I searched under his pillows. I touched something that felt like a piece of paper. Pulling it out, I flipped it over to find an aging polaroid photo. I could make out Claude instantly. Much younger, but with the same curly black hair and golden eyes. Beside him, though… someone was scratched out.
I tried to wipe at the marker obstructing the view, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t make out anything about the second person besides they were shorter than Claude. That didn’t discern any information, though. Could this be of the hidden heir?
I went to take a photo of it when a creak came from beyond the double doors and made my heart bottomed out. I crouched down by the bed again, shoving the photo back into place and holding my breath, and listening hard. Moments passed without the door opening and I closed my eyes, trying to calm my pulse. Maybe it was time to get out. I was lucky I hadn’t been caught so far.
I slunk back to the door that led to the balcony. I should have known it would’ve been too easy to get it back like that. Who knew what he had done with it? At least I knew it wasn’t too hard to sneak in if I ever had to go back for any reason.
Exiting the room, I hoisted myself back onto the roof. I made quick work of crossing back to my balcony, dropping back onto the iron unceremoniously. I stood out in the cool breeze for a moment wracking my thoughts. It was possible the pendant was on Claude’s person. How would I go about getting it, then? Sneak it while he was sleeping?
No… I couldn’t do that. That went beyond an invasion of privacy. Even if he stole from me. I’d have to figure out another way. I still had time.
My limbs felt heavy as I dragged myself back into my own room. I locked the door behind me. I didn’t feel brave enough to leave it unlocked like Claude. Not when there were people like me out there.
I looked up at the pale moon as it peeked out from the clouds. “Now what?” I asked it.
“Now what indeed.”
I involuntarily let out a startled shout as I twisted around toward the sound of the voice that’d spoken. A figure lay sprawled out on my bed, back reclining on my headboard, legs crossed at the ankle. Claude’s golden eyes glittered in the moonlight as they met mine.
I stayed rooted to my spot, rendered speechless at his casual appearance.
“Don’t feel self-conscious. Most people are deprived of speech when I’m in their bed.”
“How did you get in here?”
He tilted his head back, baring his throat to me. His right hand snuck up to the nape of his neck and he dragged his fingertips along his skin, over his Adam’s apple, and down to the collar of his silk shirt where he began to unclasp the buttons.
A shiver crept along my skin. “What are you—”
When the fourth button came undone, I fell silent. My pendant. It rested against his exposed chest.
“Well?” he murmured. “Aren’t you going to come get it?”
I swallowed, finding my mouth dry. He knew. He knew I’d been in his room. Why hadn’t he confronted me there? I gauged the situation. What was he planning by getting me closer to him? He couldn’t harm me. Could I move fast enough to rip it off his neck?
His hand abandoned his unbuttoned shirt and he swiped it through his hair, pushing the dark locks up and out of his forehead. He beckoned me toward him with a crooked finger. I stepped forward cautiously, trying to figure out his game. Sweat beaded at my forehead at the sudden heat overtaking my body.
He was so attractive but so wicked.
I bit the inside of my cheek, getting myself to focus. If I moved swift enough I could reclaim my pendant. But then what? Would he really just let me take it?
I’d just have to find out.
The moment I came within arm’s distance, I lunged. I went straight for his throat, my fingers curling around the leather cord. His reaction time was impeccable. He caught my wrist in an instant, yanking on it hard and throwing me off balance. I fell on top of him, my free hand going for the dagger on my hip. Pushing myself up with my knees, I straddled his waist, placing the point of my dagger at the hollow of his throat.
“Don’t move,” I warned.
“Mm, I do love this position.”
I pressed my blade harder into his skin, the stainless steel breaking the fragile surface. His eyes flashed and in one whirlwind movement, he switched our positions, my captured arm now pinned behind my back. My dagger fell to the floor as he wrestled it out of my grasp. His hair fell into his face as he hovered above me, shirt flapping down around us.
“Although I prefer this,” he said, easily holding me down as I tried to buck him off me. “A prince is always on top.”
“What do you want?”
“What could you ever mean?”
“Why are you in my room?”
“As an intruder was in my own room, I had nowhere else to go.”
“I only wanted my pendant back.”
“Did I not tell you to take it from me?”
I jerked my hand, but he held it fast. “Don’t you think this is a little unfair? You’re stronger than me. I don’t have any chance.”
“Do you feel like I’m intruding on your personal space?”
“This is different,” I grit out.
“Is it? And what did you plan to do to me when I returned to my room? Stab that shoddy dagger into my heart? Drag me back to your family and carve my bones into your next fashion statement?”
A knot formed in my throat. He knew. He knew. I wasn’t safe. No one would let that slide.
A scowl formed on his face and he let go of my right hand. I thought he was going to let me go, but when his hand headed toward my throat, my fight or flight kicked in.
I screamed. I used my now free hand to punch him in the throat. I arched my back with enough force to get him off me and I twisted to the side, bringing my elbow up into his stomach. He let go of my other hand and I shoved my hands into the mattress and pushed myself out from under him and off of the bed. Landing on the floor, I grabbed my dagger and leaped to my feet, making a break for the door.
“Stop,” he growled.
Pressure sent me crumbling to the ground. I landed on my knees hard, my arms catching myself before I slumped all the way. I tried to fight against it, urged my body to get up and run away, but I couldn’t fight off the Sway.
I’m the prince. I can do whatever I wish.
My breathing came out loud and heavy. He would kill me. Dizziness washed over me. I really was useless. Incapable. Not only a shame to my family but the human race. Nothing would change. I would be blamed for it.
Fingers gripped my jaw, turning my head up. I stared at Claude, wide-eyed, and unblinking.
He crouched down so we were almost face-to-face. “I won’t kill you.”
I didn’t believe him.
“Yet,” he amended. “Not unless you give me more of a reason to. I will give you a warning, though. It is a crime to harm royalty. A crime punishable by death.”
I zeroed in on the nick right below his Adam’s apple. A pin drop size of blood had formed.
He released my jaw. “I will let this go as I might have taken my retaliation too far. Do not raise that dagger against me again. And do not enter my room without my permission. Do that, and I will respect your privacy as well.”
A knock came from my door and the Sway disappeared. Claude walked over to the door and opened it. Kaz appeared and opened his mouth to speak, but Claude brushed by him without giving him a chance to.
Kaz turned to me. “What- what happened in here?”
I hated the surge of fear that went through me as Kaz approached me. Yes, this was the feeling the fueled the wars. Vampires were stronger. Vampires were faster. Vampires were superior.
I had to reassess my plans.
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