We walked silently- I walked silently, stewing in the adrenaline staggering through my body in some sort of twisted aftershock.

The two in front of me chatted quietly amongst themselves, occasionally checking to make sure I was still there.

They were in my periphery, though I was more just keeping my eyes on the floor, trying to get myself to calm down.

I could already feel the chest pain and the headache starting to bloom. My blood pressure had to be through the roof right now.

It was a miracle that I didn't fall into a full-on heart attack.

It's never happened before... thank god, but I knew the risks my condition gave me, and felt like that was the closest it's ever gotten.

My hand clutched my shirt in the middle of my chest, digging my nails into the fabric.

I hated that the shock and the weight of the reality that just became crystal clear to me weren't helping me calm down as much as I'd liked.

How was I supposed to calm down knowing what I do now?

No escape, and a floor full of royal vampires.

The children of the man who knew of my family and hated our last name enough to have us slaughtered.

What if they did too?

I found temporary relief in the fact that my last name didn't follow me to that shop, but it wasn't enough to save me from everything else.

"You doing okay back there?"

My head rose back to Marcus, the look on my face and my hand placement giving him enough of an answer.

"Yeah..," He sighed, slowing down his gait enough to where we were walking side by side, "They look intimidating, but there's probably less to worry about than you think."

My brows drew together, appreciating the attempt, but not feeling it work.

These boys must be indoctrinated in some way to not see a problem with this. Not that I could blame them for it, but there was absolutely a lot to be worrying about right now.

Still, he continued.

"Princess Evelyn is just a little intense, but she's always been all words and no action when it comes to that intensity. It's all she needs as you've already guessed."

'a little'?? I thought I was about to get pulverized under the thick tension she brought with her into the room.

"Princess Adeline is definitely the safest to be around, and luckily for the future of this territory, she's the most level-headed. Her and Evelyn are practically inseparable, so she'll always be there to ensure nothing gets taken too far."

Okay... I didn't want to admit it, but this information was helping me feel just a bit better.

Unknowns were frightening, so even filling them with these basic facts on the sisters was enough to make it lessen.

"And Princess Layla.., well..." his words died off, eyes squinting in thought,

"As long as you're not her pet, you don't have to worry," Riley finished for him, taking up my left side.

"Yeah," Marcus sighed out very quietly.

I waited a few seconds for them to keep going. To get to the part where they talk about the vampire I was actually stuck with.

They didn't, so I did.

"And Lucien?" I pressed, dropping my hand down to my side.

I look at both of them in their silence didn't give me much hope. Watching them try to whip up some sort of answer.

It made me wonder if they were trying to hide something.

"He... mostly just keeps to himself." Marcus eventually said.

"When he is out and about, he's... Okay I guess. He's kinda got the same glare that Evelyn does, but the fact that he looks tired all the time works in lessening it." Riley picked up.

Oh, so that's just an all-the-time thing?

"His last pet lasted a while, though, so you shouldn't worry too much," He finished.

Great... very reassuring.

My will to dig for more info died the moment those doors came into view, and the sorrow from my defeat reclaimed its place.

My distaste for the view became more apparent by the second.

We all stopped once we reached it, Riley being the one to make the next move.

"Do you have access to his door?" Riley asked, gesturing to the little box above the doorknob while he knocked in what looked to be a habitual way.

A thick kind of dread ran through me at the question, teeth biting hard into the inside of my lip.

That's right, even these doors required authorization. Authorization that I didn't have.

How could I have forgotten that? I was hoping that even though I didn't get out entirely, I'd at least be able to sneak back in and pretend like I never left at all!

And who am I kidding? One of his sisters was bound to mention me... This plan was a fail from the start.

Shit... He's going to come back, figure out that I've left and-

The door opened.

There he was, standing there in sweats and a sleeveless shirt that still fully covered his shoulders, looking as if he'd just woken up.

Which I knew wasn't true at all. He'd brought me food and left. Food that I knew had been sitting for a bit.

Taking a step forward, he leaned a raised and bent arm against the other door that remained closed.

He glanced across the three of us through the hair that hung in front of his face, just barely raising his brows in acknowledgment. Meanwhile, the rest of him still looked bored, uncaring, and exhausted.

Either way, I could almost feel the words he was conveying with that simple gesture, and it wasn't in a tone that varied much from his second eldest sister.

'What do you want?'

"Prince Lucien," Marcus greeted and they both bowed their head, "Your sisters requested us to return her to you."

I forced myself to meet his gaze and keep it, returning the hardness of it.

I was already preparing for some kind of yelling or anger from the fact that I'd left in the first place, and almost cursed the relief that swiped through me at the lack of it. Like he didn't even care.

Just an hour ago I wouldn't have given a shit, and that was the mindset I wanted to keep. Recent events just made it a little bit harder.

He may be a prince, but that didn't change a damn thing about me or my intentions.

"I see," was all he said, focusing back on Marcus.

"They also... sort of requested to know where you've been?" He added, "Evelyn sounded like she was looking for you."

The fingers of the arm he had against the door tightened up for just a moment, but that was all the reaction he let out.

He wasn't too good at giving me things to work with I've quickly figured out.

"I've been here all morning," His words were flat, though they sparked a different anxiety thought me.

Wait- He was here the whole time?!

He heard me sneaking around and rummaging through his papers... take the card of ownership and he didn't do something about it?

Okay, maybe he didn't hear that last part. At least I hope not.

Why couldn't I just catch a break today?

Similar questions and reasonings bred through my mind, but the answer to them became clear after a few moments.

He knew damn well that I couldn't leave this floor even if I wanted to. Which I did, but there was no reason for him to know that yet.

He knew that even if I was out of this room, I was still plenty contained.

"I'll pass on the message. Princess Adeline also mentioned a tour of sorts for her later in the day to show her around the floor, if that's alright with you."

My head turned towards him, eyes widening.

I didn't realize they were actually serious about that, but the new realization, for once, was one I was happy to hear.

If I can figure out the ins and outs, then my chances of getting out got better. Maybe I could find a hidden escape or a weakness in these defenses.

These kinds of people have little elevators for food and such, right?

I waited for his answer, readying my response for when he said 'no'.

Ignoring that new and unwelcome churning nervousness in my stomach the sight of him now brought me.

I didn't know much about him. Both he and Layla weren't common topics of interest amongst the people, nor were they seen nearly as much if at all.

"Sure," His response sounded just as disinterested as everything else, "Fine by me."

"Excellent. One or both of us will stop by after lunch then," They both gave another bow as if the motion was perfectly synced into their bodies.

Marcus gave me a little nod as they turned, and Riley offered a playful wink before they made their way back from where they came.

My stomach began to feel uneasy again as they left.

Now I was just... here... with him.

Again.

I sucked in a silent preparatory breath, ready to just go in and hurry to my 'assigned' room

Simmer in my new emotions and prepare myself for whatever came next.

I turned my head and put it into motion, only to find that he hadn't moved to let me through. In fact, he widened his stance to further keep me from it.

When I looked up to question him through my face alone, he spoke.

"Give me your finger."

"What?" The word came on instinct, though I caught myself leaning back while his hand dropped and he finally took a step back.

"I don't want to have to come open the door every time you decide to leave." Was all he said.

And when I didn't budge he followed it up with, "Or you can just sit in front of my door like a lost dog until I get the will to let you back in, and hope that Evelyn doesn't find you suspicious."

"Jesus, fine." I grumbled, taking the step forward I could and lifting my hand.

I watched him place his own finger on the box above the handle, then press one of the tiny buttons that sat on the side of it.

He then looked back at me with the slightest bit of expectancy in those otherwise half-lidded eyes.

Access to his room... that's a start.

I stepped forward and placed my finger onto the box, though that must not have been the right place because he swiftly corrected it with his fingers pulling my hand just a centimeter more to the left.

I jolted at the contact for a few reasons, but one reigned supreme over the rest.

His skin... he was freezing.

I've felt vampires. Many of them. Each one my dad let get a taste of me, and they were cold, but not this cold.

It reminded me of my own skin after holding an ice-cold glass of water.

Weren't royals supposed to be warmer?

A faint green light shined from under my finger and was a welcome sight compared to what it was in the elevator.

It appeared that's all he was waiting for because he just turned and walked away.

"You're the prince," I heard myself say at the sight of his back.

I don't know why I said it. If I was just thinking out loud, or needed his confirmation before I actually believed it. Before it finally sunk in completely.

As if seeing his sisters wasn't enough and didn't nearly leave me a petrified mess on the floor.

"Mmhm," Was all he apparently had to say on that subject, offering no further information or explanation.

I don't know what I was expecting.

Instead, he plopped himself down onto his desk chair and pulled my file back into his hands.

My stomach knotted, knowing that I still had a very important part of that file hidden away in my pocket.

I kept the door open with that thought in mind, just in case I felt the need to run.

As if it would even work. The thought at least was mildly comforting.

"The things that were said about your condition," He pointed to a specific spot on the page in front of him, "Is it true?"

My chest tightened in a weird sort of hesitation.

I just didn't understand where this question was coming from. Was it so he could get a taste for himself?

The tone of the question didn't seem malicious, so I truly couldn't tell.

He'd already heard the general explanation back in the shop. All the important parts at least.

And I don't think I can exactly lie to a vampire, especially this one.

"It is," I answered, willing the door shut at the change of topic, and at the sight of him snapping the file shut at my answer.

I fought with the pleading in my body for the release of my blood, but I wasn't to the point of asking him to do something. If I can't find a different way to handle it myself then... maybe.

For now, though I still have some time.

"Good. Then I've got a friend who's gonna stop by tomorrow morning to get a look at you."

My muscles tightened at the words, at the nearly exact words my father used before letting in a vampire.

"He's a doctor." The clarification made a sudden world of difference.

A doctor... Dad never let me see one of those.

"I'm hoping he can give whatever you've got going on a name. The whole thing feels a little too good to be true, I'd like to know exactly what I'm dealing with here."

Oh of fucking course.

I nearly rolled my eyes at his explanation, starting my way past him and back to the other room.

"Sounds like a plan," The sarcasm was nearly dripping from every word I said.

"And I'd like my card of ownership back."

I froze, slowly looking over to see his outstretched hand waiting for it.

There was no doubt in his mind that I had it, and that fact didn't look to bother or deter him from his seemingly natural look of never giving a shit.

Was he just too damn tired to? Was that his problem?

Maybe this doctor will check him out while we're at it.

I shoved my hand into my pocket, grabbed the card, and dropped it in his hand. All with a look that I wished could kill.

"You really didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you?"

His words were like gasoline on my pre-existing flame of frustration, further adding to the look on my face.

"I didn't realize who you were," I grumbled through grit teeth.

There was a ghost of a vile grin creeping onto his face.

"Now you know."

He turned his chair back to his desk after that, though I was caught for a moment by what I'd seen in his mouth just then.

This guy... this vampiric prince... had his tongue pierced. The silver stud in the middle of it just so happened to catch the light as he spoke.

Though the way that he turned away from me as if deciding for himself that the conversation was over had me silently reeling.

All my shock, my disappointment, my nerves and even my fears were all just balling together and expressing themselves in the thick pit of anger growing in my chest.

It took everything in me not to expel it in a grunt before I turned myself back to my destination.

Instead, it barely showed in a quick and weighted exhale, stomping my way through the bathroom.

"Did you at least find the kitchen? I'm not gonna be bringing you your meals every day." He spoke up again.

A quick look showed me that my plates were no longer there.

"Oh were you expecting a 'thank you' for that, "I snapped back out of what felt like instinct alone.

There was a pause that almost made me regret it. Almost.

"Not exactly, though it'd be nice. For what I paid for I thought that word was to be expected at least once by now."

Something in his voice, I just knew he wasn't saying that with complete seriousness.

When I turned to face him, that same subtle glint of amusement as last night showed in his eyes and hinted at his lips.

He was taunting me. This prick was actually taunting me.

My nails stung my palms from how hard my fists were keeping themselves together.

I threw the door open, leaving him with my final words on the thought of this interaction before I could slam it behind me.

"Fuck you."