:RECAP:
”Thank you, that's enough,” I said bluntly and took a bite from the pear I had taken from the fruit bowl. My father handed a plate full of pancakes to Luca. I ate my pear and a sandwich while Luca ate his portion of pancakes with syrup. After done eating, he thanked my parents kindly. He was like another person with them.
”The food was delicious, Michael... May I call you Michael?” Luca asked smiling.
”Of course you may,” Dad agreed friendly. ”Unfortunately giving a roof over your head and feeding you are the only things my wife and I can do. The rest is up to Kayley.” Luca leered at me, smiling self-content.
”Yes... I feel very lucky.” His eyes were laughing at me, and I averted them as well as I could when I asked from Dad would he take us to school. I didn't wish to use an overloaded bus while I was looking after a vampire. He gave me an understanding smile and promised to take us.
”It's fine with me, too,” agreed Luca also, giving me a grin. ”I love flashy entries.”
****
Everyone must know how it is in the malls under Christmas: people are running around and there are so many kinds of noise and sounds and fuss that one can barely hear what his or her friend is telling right beside her or him. This fuss was nothing compared to my school when Luca de Casadre arrived there for the first time.
Every female in the school, even the librarian Mrs. Maple and the school nurse Ms Hedding alongside many teachers and students went completely nuts after we stepped out of my father's car. At first, the whole yard had gone silent and turned their eyes at us as if we all had been on some of those etiquette courses, and either Luca or I had just let out the mightiest burp of all time.
Luca seemed to be used to this kind of attention. He moved as delicately and elegantly and showed as cool as possible without looking cocky. He lifted his leather bag on his shoulder without a smile, and lifted his pure green eyes forward, slightly lifting his chin and stucking his another hand to his pocket without losing his perfect posture. Sure, it was easy for a mighty vampire prince to hold a heavy school bag up so lightly, while I somehow tried to lift my bag up so I wouldn't have to drag it after me.
"Need any help with that, little one?" Luca offered his helping hand but I somewhat pushed it away.
"No, I can manage, I always have managed," I told and turned my pleading eyes at my father, sitting behind the wheel. He gave an apologizing smile.
"Sorry, dear, but you just have to manage on your own. When you come home, I'll give some instructions on how to deal with him," he promised nodding at Luca who was still waiting me.
"But Dad - what if he kills someone?" I hissed between my teeth.
"He won't, trust me - vampires are not that reckless and even a small amount of blood can keep them happy very long. Trust me." He smiled. "You'll be fine. Luca, I'll see you later."
"See you later, Michael."
"Bye, dear," my father wished and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before I stepped away from the car and he drove around the corner.
"Trust me too, little Kay," Luca smirked beside me. "I'm not here to cause trouble but to enjoy. I won't kill anyone, although I easily could."
I noticed the expression of people on the yard had turned even more astounded. Luca turned to me once more.
"Shall we go then, little one?" he asked now without a smile, but it still managed to annoy me.
"I'm right behind you," I murmured and hurried to walk beside him as we started to approach the school entrance.
It felt like the yard would have been filled with replica dolls of the school students that couldn't do anything else but turn their wide-eyed heads as we passed them. I was almost able to hear the same thought that was probably in everyone's mind:
What the hell is Vance doing with a hot guy like that?!
Little by little, however, they got their ability to talk back and when the girls started to encourage, they followed us right inside like a blabbering wave. The gossip about the new student spread like fire in the school. Everyone wanted to see "the new guy who looks even better than models", even some of the boys. Because Luca was a year older than I was, we went different courses in different classes, and for a moment I had actually thought that maybe I wouldn't have to be near him - but right after the first lesson I found out that he needed to be near me. Right after I had stepped out from the class, he had already appeared beside me with his new fan girls almost right behind him. He didn't say a thing to me but kept close - and wherever I went, he appeared there very soon. But I was content with that - after all, I was his guardian.
Luca had gotten to his own element; his charming, breathtaking smile was shown to everyone around him, and he answered all of the questions friendly and politely. His penetrating, glimmering eyes made every girl blush and I understood very soon that there was nothing I could do anymore; Luca had enchanted the entire school. Not even boys were able to give him condemning glares but on the very contrary, some of them seemed even dangerously interested.
”He is your mystery visitor?” Lily gasped while she and I were watching Luca and his audience from a little distance, close enough to hear what they were talking. ”You sleep in the same room with him?”
”Please, don't tell anyone about it, Lily,” I begged her. ”Garreth knows nothing about him and he must not ever find out!” My friend nodded.
”Believe me, I understand. But how were you supposed to--- Oh!” My friend's reaction made me turn my head - and I realized Janine Hedge had just passed us with her two 'friends', Patty Knoxville and Georgia Clarkson, following her like dogs.
It was no surprise to me that Janine Hedge, the school's worst man eater, wanted her piece of Luca.
”Aren't you going to stop her?” Lily whispered. ”Janine always seduces every boy she sets her eyes on, and now she's going to steal your boyfriend!”
”Luca is not my boyfriend!” I almost growled at her. ”And believe me, Janine isn't able to seduce this fellow.”Lily glanced at me odd but said nothing.
Deviant smirk rose on my lips, knowing the fact that Janine had no idea what she had decided to charm this time. She walked her long chocolate brown hair down on her back, wearing a turquoise tank top and white mini skirt as she pushed her way through the heavily breathing wall of girls.
”Hello, you must be the new guy,” Janine inquired as if she just hadn't fought her way to get to Luca. She flicked her hair in a seductive manner and flashed her most brightest smile. ”My name is Janine Hedge, and I think you and I should become very good friends.”
It took all my will power not to order Luca to sink his fangs on her and suck her dry instantly.
The vampire prince lifted his brows as he smiled. ”I thought the exact same thing in the moment I saw you. I am Luca, Luca de Casadre.” He nodded at Janine. ”Nice to meet you.”
”You too,” the girl said with flirty eyes and a smirk. For the first time in my life, the man eater's tricks didn't look monstrous to me but only pathetic - it was perhaps because I was the only one who knew that they had no influence on Luca.”It's absolutely wonderful that someone as handsome as you has found its way to a far away place like this town.”
”I don't know about that… I have never met so many beautiful ladies in one place before this,” Luca pointed out sweetly, letting his gaze sweep over the sighing sea of girls.
”Oh... Uh, where are you from?” Janine kept asking, trying to sound balanced even though she hadn't prepared to Luca's mind-boggling look and tender, caressing voice:ยด
”What does it matter anymore? Isn't it much nicer that I am now here, and I'm able to ask where you live?”
Janine only nodded this time, since she had lost her voice for a second. Luca smiled. ”I thought so.”
I lifted my brows quite impressed: I was used to see Janine as the one who used and manipulated every hot stud nearby, so it was quite refreshing to see her falling to Luca's web of magical charm like an imprudent fly. Luca glanced over his shoulder and our eyes met for a moment. His eyes were filled with pure self-confidence and contentment. He knew exactly what he was doing.
”I swear, Janine”, Luca mused,”that you resemble very much the model of Colormetics, Melanie Thorssen. You don't happen to be relatives?” Now I got confused. What was he talking about? Colormetics was a company of cosmetics, and I doubted Luca had ever heard about it.
Janine was almost as surprised as I was, but for a different reason. ”R-Relatives with Melanie Thorssen? Me? Why would you think that?”
Luca gave her a sexy smirk and out of nowhere, he leaned closer and touched the girl's hair, getting a full eye contact with the girl. I was able to imagine how Janine felt when losing herself to the wonderful green dimension of Luca's eyes. It was like losing all the negative feelings there has ever been...Janine gasped and her cheekbones blushed– I had never seen her taken off guard like that by anyone.
”Grey…” Luca stated softly, making Janine startle.
”G-grey?” she repeated confused, having a nod from Luca.
”You both have as beautiful grey eyes,” he said, pulling his hand away from Janine's hair. ”Beautiful pearl grey eyes… And most definitely as exceptional as real pearls are. I wait to seem them again.”
There was probably no one other than Luca in Janine's world at that time. He smiled one more time before retreating from her and turning his back on her. She seemed confused and she was still red.
I grinned. At your face, Janine! There was at least one person who Janine Hedge couldn't charm.
But I forgot my gleeful thoughts as the friendliest and kindest voice came behind me:
”Hello, Kay, what's up?”
It was him: Garreth Maddox with his brown eyes, slightly tanned skin and golden hair. He was my dream bachelor - and another Janine hadn't been able to charm.
”Garreth!” I exclaimed turning around in joy and ignoring Luca now completely. The most important thing was that Garreth wouldn't notice him and go to say hello.
”You are still coming to watch my game tomorrow, right?” he asked and I nodded in enthusiasm.
”Of course, I will!” I blabbered. ”I mean, we planned this over a week ago so it would be terrible if problems would come up…” My thoughts were in Luca and how I would deal him out of the way but thank God Garreth didn't know that.
”Problems? What kind of problems?” he asked odd. I was horrified when I realized what I had just said and hurried to explain:
”A-ah, I meant that it would be quite troublesome if it rained tomorrow! I've waited this so much.” Garreth smiled gently.
”Same here,” he admitted, and his words and smile made me blush. Garreth's smile wasn't coy and smug like Luca's but sincere and beautiful. It was a smile I enjoyed seeing, no matter what my mood was.
”I'll see you later then, Kay,” Garreth said, and he and his three friends passed me and Lily as they walked away.
”You seriously aren't going to tell him about Luca?” Lily asked from me and even managed sound like she'd been accusing me.
”Not in a million years,” I said strictly. ”Garreth can not find out about Luca - and I trust that you won't tell him either, Lily.”
”Tell what?” asked voice behind me as a hand landed on my shoulder. I froze like a statue. Lily's eyes had widened and her cheeks had started to blush like all of the other girls'. I coughed and turned to meet Luca's cool eyes.
”None of your business,” I said coldly, making him sneer. He glanced towards the direction where Garreth and his friends were standing.
”I see," he said a smirk on his lips so softly only Lily and I were able to hear him. ”Garreth was his name, am I right?” My eyes spread in fear as he touched lightly his ear with his fingers with a coy smile and winked. No one else but I understood what it meant.
”Forgive me, ladies, but I must leave you now,” he said turning to his fans. ”Ms Vance here wanted to show me around the school and howam I able to concentrate if there areso many fabulousgirlsstealing my attention?" He winked. What a beautiful way to say piss off, I thought poisonously.
”Understand that even she must have a chance - even though no one is able to tell which gender she represents.” The girls snickered and my anger level only rose. I glanced at Lily giving her ”I-told-you-so" -look, andshe glared at Luca.
”I hope I will see you all later on,” vampire prince kept going his performance. The girls sighedwhile I rolled my eyes. I hadn't actually promised to show him around the school - he probably just wanted to ask some things about Garreth and tease me about him, but not under so many curious eyes and ears.
Suddenly Luca had already taken my hand and was pulling me after him, still waving to the girls who left behind. And when we were far enough, he put up more speed, and more, and more.... And...
"Lu-ca!!" I heard myself yell in growing panic - my feet were hardly touching the floor anymore! He waspulling me with a speed of lightning, so fast that I doubted anyone we passed even had a chance to recognize us. I feared so much we would crash into something that I squeezed my eyes close and fought the growing obnoxious feeling.
"YOU ARE GOING TOO FAST, STOP!"
And right then, I felt a terrible throb in my guts like I'd been thrown up somewhere high - and I felt someone catching me.
"Oh, come on, you can open your eyes already," said that velvet voice, and I did as he told - and almost immediately closed them again with a horrified gasp, squeezing myself against him.He laughed.
Somehow, Luca hadbrought us both on the top of the school's roof - he had swung me to his arms and was now holding me like a bride while standing on the edge of the roof.
"It sure is a great view. Are you sure you don't want to open your eyes?"
"Put me down, put me down, put me down, put me down this instant!!" I begged from my heart. He sneered. "As you wish, guardian."
I feared that he would drop me down and then catch in the mid-air... But nothing like that happened. I felt the firm roof under my butt after a moment and finally I had the courage to open my eyes and let go of him. My heart was beating madly.
"Are you afraid of heights?" Luca askedodd, sitting right beside me.I managed to give him a staggering nod. Thank god the roof was so wide that we weren't even near the edge.
"You wanted to get away from everyone else and this is the best option you came up with?" I asked still shaking.
”Yes - a moment of loneliness is only good. My father has always told me that I have to know my limits,” young vampire said and poked my nose with his index finger. ”And now, when everyone's gotten a taste of me, the real game may begin.”
”What game? They are living people, even though they were… ummm...” I searched the real word, ”making a fool out of themselves, in my opinion.”
”That's funny, I would have said the exact same thing about you when you met goldilocks and his three bears,” he pointed out with a grin."You are going to watch his football game tomorrow, eh?"
”I'm really starting to get sick of the fact that you have unnatural powers,” I growled at him. "Garreth is just a friend, nothing else."
”Don't give me that, I could have danced in the beat of your heart,” Luca almost accused now. My brows rose and a tiny mean grin appeared on my face.
”Is that jealousy, Your Royal Highness?” I inquired. ”Can't stand the fact that I'm the only one who isn't fallingfor you?”
He burst in laugh immediately as if I'd told a very good joke.
”Believe me, you are no exception!” he laughed. And when he got hold of himself again, he leaned closer and said softly: ”You are only fooling yourself if you think you can resist me. No one can resist me.”
”You onlytalk big,” I smirked although I felt chills going down my spine. I just didn't want to lose to him in this conversation, no matter what. ”And what was that with Janine Hedge? How have you heard about Colormetics and Melanie Thorssen?”
He sneered. ”Oh, that. I heard Janine herself bragging to her friends how identical they are with that model and how pearl grey her eyes are. It was as simple as that. I've learnt to listen and use the things I've heard for my advantage.” He leered at me when he said this, and I understood that he meant also me and Garreth with his words.
”Is there any particular reason why you chose Janine Hedge out of everyone else?” I asked curious. Luca smiled.
”Yeah... She smells incredibly good,” he said briefly. Then, when seeing my face, he asked: ”Why the long face?” He smirked. ”Jealous?”
”No!” I exclaimed. ”It just... annoys me so much that every guy seems to be falling for her, even though she is the greatest cow in the entire school!”
Vampire prince looked at me oddly for a moment. ”You know, you shouldn't be annoyed because she smells good,” Luca finally said. To my surprise, I found the look on his eyes almost... kind.
”You smell even better, believe me,” he assured.
"Great. What a relief to hear that," I murmured with sarcasm. Luca chuckled.
"It's quite usual that those with angel blood have more tempting scent than normal humans," he told. "How would I put this... Janine Hedge and other normal humans' smell is like.... a normal home-cooked dinner, when those with angelic blood have the scent like a meal made by a gourmet restaurant chef."
I stared at him - and then let out a laugh. "So you are telling that the Lord of Upstairs is the greatest cook of all?" I chuckled pointing up to the sky. Luca also laughed. "Yes - something like that."
We both laughed some more. It was weird - this was the first he had actually made me laugh.
”By the way, you only seem to worry about the girls. You don't think I can charm a guy like I can charm a girl?” he asked. I frowned.
”I never said that...”
”But you thought so,” Luca said with a sly smirk and stood up. ”As I already said, father has taught me to know my limits, and that is why I brought you here with me. Do you know what knowing my limits means to me?"
I stared at him still solemn. "Don't tell me that you are already hungry."
"Yes, I certainly am," he agreed. "Lunch-time has almost passed and I haven't got any blood on the entire day."
"Maybe Janine Hedge..."
"No, enough of Janine Hedge, already." He smirked at my disappointed expression. "I was thinking something stronger... Like the blood of an athlete. Maybe... a footballer?"
He met my terrified eyes and tilted his head while smiling sweetly. "Maybe that goldilocks of yours would be a good feast?"
