My Vampire King | (REWRITING)

Chapter-3 | Not Just a Stranger

APRIL 

I lay sprawled on the sofa, staring at the ceiling like it held answers to the cosmic mess that was my life. The events of last night kept playing on a loop in my brain like a fever dream. A very attractive, potentially life-ruining fever dream.

Was that real? Did that actually happen?

It felt too wild to be true. Like—hi, welcome to your summer break. Here's a vampire prince and emotional whiplash as a bonus.

After forcing myself off the couch, I took a long, hot shower and downed some breakfast. Then I plopped back down and picked up my half-read romance novel. At least fictional love stories made some kind of sense.

As I reached the scene where the hero drops to one knee and confesses his undying love, I paused, staring at the page.

Did Edward ever have a girlfriend?

Was he just... playing with me? I mean, I'm human. Regular. Average. He's a vampire—immortal, powerful, stupidly gorgeous. Why would someone like that waste time on someone like me unless he wanted something?

He did say I was his beloved. His soulmate. But... how do you even trust something like that?

I couldn't help it—my brain spiraled. Self-doubt crept in like a shadow, slow and cold. I rubbed at my cheek absently.

Wait.

Was that... water?

I blinked up at the ceiling.

Nope. Definitely not rain.

I was crying. Again.

Ugh. These stupid tears—must be the pre-period hormone hurricane. That's what I told myself, anyway.

But then my thoughts strayed back, deeper, darker—back to him. My ex.

"You're worthless. Just die already. You're a waste of space."

I'd tried so many times to forget the things he said, to scrub his voice out of my memory like dirt from under my nails. But it never really left. His words had sunk deep—like rust in my bones, impossible to shake off.

And the worst part? A small, awful part of me believed him. Maybe he was right. Maybe I am useless. People just take what they want from me and toss me aside when they're done. Like I'm nothing. Disposable.

Even my so-called friends only kept me around to copy my homework. I was just... boring. Background noise.

But not this time.

I wiped my face with both hands and stood up, a sudden decision hardening in my chest like a blade.

I'll reject him today. I wouldn't let anyone—even some ancient, ridiculously hot vampire—have the upper hand.

Before he gets the chance to play with me like the rest.

Still feeling heavy, I stepped outside to get some air. My apartment felt like it was closing in on me. I needed space, trees, silence. So I walked to the park, to my usual spot—under that old, stubborn tree near the pond.

Birds chirped above like they had no idea how hard life could be. Lucky them.

I stared out at the water, watching little ripples dance on the surface. Nature always made more sense than people. I'd once read that when a baby monkey loses its parents, others in the group step in to care for it like their own.