Vampire Princess

Chapter 4

I feel myself being dragged away but can't keep my eyes off the body. It's the first dead person I've ever seen in real life and no matter how hard I try I can't stop looking. 

Brown eyes meet gray as I look at Daniel whose towing me as far as possible from the sight. "Are you alright?" he asks quickly looking me over trying to spot any injuries. 

"Fine," I say a little breathless. If my heart still beat it would be racing right now. "What's going on?" I try to tiptoe so I can see over the crowd that has formed around the circle of guards barricading Grandfather from view. They have also had a doctor there already. Please let him be alright I try to pray to whatever deity that will listen. 

"He'll be fine," Daniel says. I didn't even realize I had spoken aloud. There are guards locking down every exit trying to find the person who fired the shot. I shrink back into Daniel's side in fear as I look at all the partygoers around me. Any one of them could have done it. The only people above suspicion were my family and friends. Everyone else were people that my parents had invited but I didn't know. 

"Let's go," he says. "It's not safe in here. The assassin might still be here and we don't know if they're stable or not."

"Where are you taking me?" I demanded fearfully as I try to wrench my arm from his grip. He's the first person I ever met whose who’s stronger than me. Even before I Manifested I was physically superior to most people. 

"Safety," he deadpans  still pulling me towards one of the windows. "Jump," he commands pulling it open. 

"What?" I practically screech. "Why would I do that? You may be suicidal but I'm not."

"Trust me. You'll be fine," he assures me. "Just close your eyes and leap." His silky voice makes me want to do anything he asks and I am was about to jump when I hear another shot being fired. It shocks me out of my trance and I back away from Daniel eying him warily. 

Every one of my instincts are screaming at me to run from the predator before me. I can could sense that he is more powerful and that I will be easy prey for him but years of friendship aren't do that easily forgotten. I still feel as though I can trust him even though he seems insane right now. 

He moves towards me slowly like I'm an animal he's trying not to startle into bolting. "We have to get you out of here," he says quietly. "Trust me, just this once, you never have to trust me again if you will just come with me now." 

I briefly glance at the chaos in the ballroom and see that another person was shot. Fear grips me as I wonder who it is now was this time. It could be one if my friends or even another member of my family. I swallow hard. If someone I love dies I don't know how I'd cope. Anyone could tell you that I wasn't that good under pressure and right now I feel frozen. 

There are guards locking down the room to prevent the gunman from escaping. Running will put us under suspicion but staying would make us vulnerable. But what would be worse? Being suspects or being trapped in a room with a killer? 

"Cole," I hear Uncle Harry calling me. "Run!" He suddenly jumps in front of me unnaturally fast just as I hear a gun go off and then he's laying at my feet bleeding heavily. I have no doubt that the bullet was meant for me and if I stick around I'll be killed. 

My body acts if on its own accord and I find myself soaring through the air as I jump through the open window. Primal survival instincts take over my mind and I run as far and as fast as I can from the ballroom. Daniel is right behind me and we run through the still night together. News of what happened hasn't spread yet but as soon as it does all of London will be shut down until the gunman is found and apprehended. 

"You got me out, now what?" I ask when we stop to rest near the stables on the other side of the grounds. 

"Now, we go see Gran," he said leaning against the wall.  

"Who's Gran?" I ask in confusion. Why would I want to see his grandmother at a time like this?

"You don't know about her?" he asks in confusion. "She's-" He's about to tell me when we hear approaching footsteps approaching. "Run," he whispers urgently pushing off the wall silently. "I'll distract them, you go."

I nod once and take off full speed towards one of the back gates. My mind is consumed by one thought. Safety. I need to find a haven quickly or something bad will happen. I can feel it. 

All I can hear is my own rapid breathing and my heels clicking on the hard concrete walkway. The sky is black but I can see relatively well in the darkness, probably a new vampire ability I'm developing. Father told me that it'll come gradually but after my initiation it might all hit at once. I'm glad my night vision chooses now to develop because I wouldn't make it more than two steps without it. 

I pause when I near the gate listening for any guards who might try to stop me from leaving. Instead I hear Daniel's familiar steps approaching with someone unfamiliar trailing behind him. 

They run towards me and Daniel motions frantically to me. It takes a minute but I eventually get the message. He's telling me to run. 

I go immediately and don't stop until Buckingham Palace is little more than a looming shadow in the light of the moon. 

"Can we stop now?" I pant. I don't know why but I feel tired after exerting myself so much. And I feel hungry, so hungry. We’re on the outskirts of the city far from the rich part where Daniel and I have spent most of our lives. I can’t help but feel jumpy at being so far from home.

"Yeah," he said catching his breath. "We should be safe here. I hope." he turns and motions the other person forward. They had been hidden in the shadow of a building before but now I could see that it's a pretty dark haired woman. 

She's about the same height as I am with fierce gray eyes but the small smile she has makes me like her right away. "My name is Chloe, Princess." She bows slightly and extends her hand for me to shake. When I take it I feel her strong grip testing my own and I return the pressure fixing my best charismatic smile in place. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I say extracting my hand from her now vice like grip. "I'm Nicole."

"Chloe is your Guard," Daniel said to fill the silence that fell. 

“My what?”  I ask confused and angry that he thought that I was so defenseless that I needed a guard. 

"Guardian," she says. "That means I'm your protector." 

"I'm not a child. I don't need anyone protecting me," I say indignantly crossing my arms. "I can probably beat you in a fight anyway." I run my eyes along the length of his body as I speak and he reddens. 

"I like you," Chloe says laughing. "We'll get along just fine, girlie."

"We will if you stop calling my girlie," I quip giggling at Daniel's still red face. He must be terrified of us. One guy against two girls. This should be fun. 

She just laughs at me. "Whatever you say, girlie. Whatever you say. "

"Okay," Daniel interrupts.”Let's get going. The faster we get out of the city the better."

"Wait!" I say. "I'm not moving until you explain to me what's going on. I still don't really know what a Guardian is or why I need one and I want to hear everything you know about what happened back there." I stomp my foot in a very bratty gesture that I would never use on a regular basis but now I'm tired and scared and I want answers. 

"Let's make a deal," he says sensing my irritation. "We'll get out of the city first and then I'll tell you what you need to know." I nod my agreement after a few seconds consideration . I don’t think he’s ever lied to me before and I trust that he won’t now.

"Awesome," Chloe said. "Now hurry up and get a move on, I'm freezing standing out here."