"Come in." I called out.

The door opened and in stepped mom's assistant.

"Princess Arabelle, your parents requests to speak to you." Marry-Anne said.

"Okay, I'll be right down." I gave her a quick smile.

She bowed slightly and left, as I got to my feet.

"I'll be right back." I told Corey.

He gave me a thumbs up sarcastically and I shook my head, smiling slightly as I turned and headed out of the room.

I took the stairs and once again turned into the office.

"Have a seat, Arabelle darling." Dad gestured as I came in.

I did as he said, sitting in the same chair as this morning.

"What's this about?" I inquired.

"I wanted to let you know that your slave-"

"Corey." I interrupted, giving him a smile.

"-Corey, will attend school with you starting tomorrow. And I trust you'll actually do as I say."

"Why?" I questioned, out of curiosity.

"Because one of the reasons I wanted you to get a slave was for protection and since you have no protection at school it's best that he goes along with you so you're not completely alone."

"Okay," I agreed nonchalantly.

"The party begins at six; don't forget." He said as I went to leave.

I nodded and left the room.

I came back into my room and Corey was standing by the bed where I'd left him, and I went over and took a seat on the mattress by where he was standing.

"Uh, so I'm having a birthday party tonight. It should be somewhat fun. Do you want to attend?" I asked, flicking my gaze up to him.

"Do I have a choice?" He countered, giving me an incredulous look.

"Well, yeah, that's why I was asking you."

"Does it look like I care?"

"...No."

He gave me a look that told me to take the hint and shut the hell up.

I didn't take the hint. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

He rolled his eyes with annoyance. "Will you stop?"

"...Stop what?" I inquired, puzzled.

"Stop playing nice."

"I-I wasn-"

He cut me off shortly. "Don't even try it, I'm not falling for it."

"I was just hoping we could be, you know, like friends." I shrugged.

"I just bet you were." He mocked.

"Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there is."

"Go on," I prompted.

"Aren't you that dim or are you just playing stupid? You bought me at a fucking auction and you think I want to be friends with you? Go fuck yourself."

I rebuffed from the acidic tone of his voice.

"It wasn't my idea, I didn't want to get a slave-"

"You're not convincing me. Try a little harder." He said with disdain, his voice patronizing.

I sighed with a small noise of hopelessness.

I was getting nowhere. This was not going how I wanted it at all.

I didn't attempt to say anything more on the subject because I did want to see him even more pissed off.

"I'm...going to go help set up things for the party." I muttered, getting to my feet and hastily leaving the bedroom.

I sighed tiredly, walking down the hallway to my parent's bedroom.

What the hell was I going to do with a vampire?

This guy hated my guts and I couldn't blame him.

I peeked into the doorway, finding my mom with her hair stylist, getting ready.

"Darling," She greeted, her strawberry blonde hair curled elegantly around her heart-shaped face.

My hair used to look like my mom's before I died it black. She almost had a meltdown when I came home with my long auburn locks chopped off and dyed jet black.

That was a few years ago though. Though I still think she was upset about it.

"Hey, mom." I greeted, sauntering inside the room.

"You're not getting ready." She noted.

"Am I supposed to be?"

"I have your dress." She pointed to the garment bag on the lush canopy bed.

"Oh," I uttered, shuffling over to open the bag and take a look inside.

I pulled out the dress; it was knee-length and made of gorgeous black velvet with a sweetheart neckline and thin straps.

"Oh wow, mom. This is gorgeous." I praised.

"Isn't it? I thought you'd like it."

"I love it." I agreed.

"Well, come on. Get changed. We only have an hour until the guests arrive."

* * *

Once I was ready, dressed in my velvet attire and pair of black pumps, I mosied through the house, killing time until I had to go downstairs.

I wandered into the library, scanning the shelves of books.

I was in here often, I could be quite the bookworm.

My eye caught the spine of an old hardback book with the title, "The History of Vampires'.

Curious, I picked up the title and starting flipping through the musty, yellowing pages.

The pages fell to a chapter at random and I glanced over it;

"Chapter 8: Ways to kill a vampire

'It is said that a silver bullet that has been blessed will kill a vampire when fired through the heart or into the vampire's coffin.

There is belief in Serbia that a silver coin inscribed with a cross and cut into quarters, then loaded into a musket or shotgun shell can kill a vampire-'"

Suddenly someone placed a light touch on my shoulder and I jumped, dropping the book.

I put a hand to my chest, regaining my composure as I looked back at Corey.

He laughed slightly.

I let out a breath. "Don't do that, you scared the hell out of me." I breathed.

"Obviously," He noted.

He reached down and picked up the book, looking at the pages.

His green-eyed gaze then traveled back up to me.

"Are you planning on killing me?" He inquired, flipping the book over to show me the page I'd been reading.

I couldn't tell if he was serious of if he was being sarcastic. Either way, the answer was the same.

"No, I was just reading." I muttered, taking the book back.

"Yeah, reading how to kill a vampire. Very inconspicuous."

"No, no I was just..." I trailed off, not knowing how to finish.

There was a stiff silence for a moment before I perked up, changing the subject.

"So...are you coming to the party?" I inquired lightly.

"Might as well. It's not like there's anything else to do." He responded.

I smiled slightly, bemused.

He simply glanced away, uninterested.

I spared a glance at the clock; it was already after six.

"We should probably head downstairs." I mused, placing the book on a nearby table.

© hauntmeup