"What are you doing?"
"Hmm? Holding your hand."
"I can see that. Why?"
"You don't want me to?"
I looked around the hallway. For some reason, no one was looking at Alexander. He was probably doing some mind trick on them.
"We are at school," I reminded him. "You aren't suppose to pretend to like me."
"When will you understand that I'm not pretending?"
I didn't say anything to him. Instead, I pulled my hand from his. Before he could grab my hand again, I opened my locker and took my time grabbing books. There was a squeal behind us. It was so high pitched, I flinched.
"Is that really necessary?" I asked.
Alexander smirked. "They see and hear what they want to," he said. "I don't do anything."
Sighing, I shook my head. It was just like him to not take responsibility for anything.
"I'll see you upstairs," I muttered and closed my locker.
Before I could take a step, Alexander grabbed my hand again.
"You can't leave my sight. I have to protect you."
"You can protect me without holding my hand."
I tugged at my hand but this time, he didn't release it.
"You know what I realized?" he asked.
"I don't really care."
"I realized that humans are so fragile," he said, ignoring my comment.
"You should be proud," I retorted. "The world already knows that but thanks for your observation."
"Humans are extremely fragile," he continued. "You get pushed down the stairs and your neck might snap. You squeezed too hard and their bones break "
Warily, I looked at him. He still held my hand and he was looking at it like an artist. I didn't like the look on his face. Before I could protest, he brushed his lips against the top of my hand. He was fond of doing that.
"What's your point?" I asked.
"It's why you shouldn't leave my side," he explained. "If I turn my back on you, you'll end up dead."
"I managed to survive this long without your protection," I reminded him.
"A mystery for the ages."
"Just, just let go."
"As you wish."
Grumbling, I walked past him and headed upstairs. I didn't know what was worse, the Vampire Prince of now or then. At least before, Alexander wasn't trying to hold my hand. A part of me missed that.
Alexander met me at the top of the stairs. He kept pace with me as I headed into the classroom.
"Rin," he said.
My stomach did a flip. I was probably still hungry.
"I need to ask you something."
"I'm not going out with you," I answered quickly.
"It's not that."
The tone of his voice made me frown. I stopped and turned to look at him.
"Do you believe in my innocence?" he asked.
"What? What brought this on?"
"Just answer. Do you believe I would crash a car and hurt all those people?"
"Where is this coming from?" I asked. "Did you find out who's behind it?"
"Rin, do you believe I did what that video showed?"
"No," I told him. "I don't. What's going on, Alexander?"
A strange look came across his features. "You know, that's the first time you called me by my name."
"Is this really time for that?"
"But," he continued. "I'm glad you believe me. It means a lot."
There was something strange about him. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
A smile appeared on his face. "Just watch the news tonight," was all he said.
#
That night, after dinner, I sat down with my parents to watch the news. My parents liked to stay on top of things.
"You alright, sweetheart?" Mom asked. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to."
I hugged the couch pillow to my chest. "I know," I said. "I feel like staying with you guys a bit longer. We haven't really spent that much time together lately."
I didn't miss the look that passed between my parents.
My mom joined me on the couch. She draped her arm around me. "I know," she said. "There's a lot of stuff going on, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Will you look at that," Dad said.
Frowning, I turned to the television. Dad put the volume up.
"While it has taken us a very long time, we are here now."
Violet's voice came from the television. I sat up straighter. Was this what Alexander was talking about? Was the Royal family finally doing a press conference?
"There is nothing I can say in regards to this matter," Violet continued. "The Prince will speak now."
Alexander stepped forward into the spotlight. My heart lurched forward. What was he going to say? Alexander looked relaxed and there was a slight smile on his face.
"It's been an interesting days since that video came out. Who believes that was me?"
Alexander raised his hand. "It looked pretty convincing to be honest," he said. "I almost believed it myself."
I covered my face with the pillow. What was he doing?
"I'm here to say that I wasn't the one in that video."
I lifted my head up.
"Now, I know everyone wants to know where I was that night."
Was he really going to say where he was at?
"But I won't," Alexander said. "I can't reveal what I was doing that night, or who I was with, or where I was. It wouldn't be fair -"
Static buzzed from the speakers. Behind Alexander, the screen flickered into a blue light. Alexander's lips moved but there was no sound. The static buzzing continued.
"They might have technical problems, Dad said.
"That's new," Mom said.
The screen flickered once more and a video started playing. The camera suddenly focused on the screen. My stomach dropped. The video showed a room, destroyed. All the furniture was in pieces.
There was sobbing in the video before it focused on a crawling woman. She looked to be in her mid-thirties. Blood has closed one eye.
"What is going on?" Mom asked. "What is this?"
"Stay away," the woman whimpered. "Stop please."
"Why would I do that?" said a very familiar voice.
The Prince suddenly came into focus. His eyes glowed as he walked towards the woman. How was this being filmed? A secret camera? The Vampire Prince grabbed the woman by the shoulder. Something snapped and the woman screamed.
"Humans are so fragile," the Prince said. "You squeezed too hard and their bones break "
My chest felt heavy. I could only watch in horror as the Prince lifted the woman up. His fangs gleamed. I was shaking my head before I realized what I was doing.
"It's your fault," the Prince told her.
His mouth drew closer to her neck. The woman pounded her fist against the Prince but he wouldn't budge. And then, he sunk his fangs into to her -
"Turn it off!" Mom yelled.
The television shut off. I couldn't look away from the screen.
"Rin?" Mom asked.
A sudden touch made me jump.
"I-I'm fine," I stammered out.
I'm fine.