The Vampire Prince goes to High School (Book 1)

Deeper into the Rabbit Hole

A/N Thanks so much for the wait!

The whispers followed me through the hallway. People's gazes stalked after me as I walked toward my locker. It took every ounce of my self-control not to turn on my heels and walk out. If I skipped school, everyone was bound to grow suspicious of me. I couldn't let that happen because I didn't want to put up with dumb rumors. Besides, I wouldn't be surprised if people suspected something was going on. The Prince had attacked me at school. Keeping this under wraps was going to be very difficult; so much for vampire ways.

I reached my locker and stopped. My face burned. Fang Lover was written on the door with a red sharpie. Fake blood had dried on there in dark streaks. The whispers grew louder, prickling my neck. There were a few snickers as well. I kept staring at my locker and I didn't get it. No one should have known about my contract with the vampires. My face hadn't even shown on the news. Was there some sort of leak?

"Childish words."

I flinched at the familiar voice. The silence behind me should have given me a clue but I was too occupied with my thoughts. Ignoring the Prince, I opened my locker. At least nothing inside had been vandalized. My books were still in place and my notebooks were all there. I traded my books in for this morning's classes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Prince lean against the lockers.

"They're rude, too."

Taking a deep breath, I finally looked at him. "What?" I asked.

He smiled at me. "Give up yet?"

"Don't be a hypocrite," I said. "You said you wanted my total devotion. There's a chance that I might just 'give up' before that happens and you wouldn't want that."

For a moment, the Prince hesitated. Inwardly, I allowed myself a pat on my back. Knocking the Prince down a few steps off his throne was a good thing.

"You wouldn't give up easily," the Prince said to my surprise. "You seem stubborn enough."

I closed my locker unable to respond. The playfulness was gone from his voice. It was eerie to hear him so serious. I cleared my throat.

"The sooner you rethink your entire view of humans," I told him. "The sooner this will be over. As it stands now, you might be the first to 'give up'."

The Prince leaned closer. The devilish smile was back. "The sooner you profess your devotion to me, the sooner you'll get out of this contract."

"I don't think it works like that," I said, matter-of-factly. "I read through the uh, paperwork and it seems like we both have to consent to end the contract for this to be over."

The Prince's fangs gleamed. "That's never going to happen."

"Exactly."

"Excuse me."

Startled, I turned around, spotting a man in a gray suit. His sand colored hair was groomed to one side. He looked neat; no wrinkles on his clothes. He was in his mid-thirties and there weren't a lot of wrinkles on his face either.

"You've got to be kidding me," the Prince said.

"The King sent me," the man said. "He insisted that you must spend the time here wisely. I am to teach you about human culture, their customs -"

"No," the Prince said.

The man stepped forward. "It's part of the contract," he said. "Appearances must be-"

We were being stared at again. Didn't they have class to go to? The tardy bell was about to ring.

"Fine," the Prince said.