Please read the author's note at the end of this chapter!!!

All standard disclaimers apply.

I was still gazing at Antanasia from my undetected spot in the crammed hallway when a sudden, annoyingly high-pitched shrill reverberated off the faded lockers and concrete stone walls. The noise went straight to my over sensitive vampiric ears, making me cringe and grind my teeth in mute frustration. It was really quote interesting to watch the affects that such a measly noise had on the unsuspecting students. They all scattered immediately, running and screeching like bats straight out someplace akin to hell. I took this to mean that this strange, urgent , ringing, noise was some kind of signal. What a strange culture this is...

Antanasia made a move towards a classroom just off to her left when she was suddenly cut off by a large group of laughing boys. I couldn't believe my eyes. Here was the princess of the Dragimors and these boys had the nerve to be rude to her. They should be opening doors for the princess, waiting on her to enter the room before themselves. I took a calming breath. These little boys didn't know that she was a princess. To them, she was just another girl, just Jessica Packwood. I momentarily imagined their facial expressions if the did know who she truly was. I chuckled softly at the thought then preceded Antanasia into our first class of the day.

I took a seat in one of the available seats, to the right and a little behind the princess, watching her as she took her seat, across from her friend. The teacher made her way to the front of the talkative class and attempted to shush them into submission. After a few grumbles, the room quieted done. The teacher then began her speech but I didn't really listen. I had already taken these courses. I was only her to get the girl, then leave.

"...epic quests, heart-stopping romances, and the clashes of great armies..." I thought it was quite humorous that this Mrs. Wilhelm chose those words because here I was, Lucius Vladescu, on a epic quest for the lost princess, hoping that I could win her over, all in the hopes of avoiding the clashes of great armies. I almost chuckled. Almost.

Mrs. Wilhelm began to pass out a seating chart. We weren't allowed to move from these seats from the rest of the year. I was quite happy with were I was sitting, in actuality. I had an excellent view of the princess.

The chart was passed around the room, going from person to person. When it finally came time for the princess to make her mark, the male in front of her threw the chart in front of her, then preceded to call her names. Antanasia remarked back at him with a snarky, "At least I can spell my name." She had stood up for herself but I had to hold myself back from strangling him. He didn't know who he was messing with. Antanasia may not be mine yet, but she someday will be and I protect what is mine. This little boy had never met the likes of Lucius Vladescu before. I reigned in the angry growl that threatened to rip from my chest. Then again, as an afterthought, maybe I should have let my anger go. That would have gotten his attention, and everyone else's as well.

I curiously watched Antanasia. She grabbed a writing utensil from her worn backpack but as she tried to write, it wouldn't work. Her beautiful face crunched into a frustrated scowl. She tried again, with more force. She turned away from me, toward another male. She was going to ask him for an untensil?! I don't think so. This was my opening, and I was going to take it.

I reached into my bag, with a speed no human could ever possess, and pulled out one of the pens supplied by my uncles. I reached out my arm to tap the princess on her shoulder. She didn't respond or acknowledge my presence whatsoever. I tapped again. She was going to acknowledge me. "Excuse me, but are you in need of a writing instrument?"

She slowly turned around. It was the first time I could truly see her, up close and personal. Time seemed to slow to a halt. She really was beautiful, with her long, curly hair and heart shaped face. Her brown eyes widened with recognition. The silence stretched on and she still hadn ??t made an attempt to take the pen. I asked again. Still no response, other than the staring. I was growing impatient.

"You do recognize a pen, right? This is a familiar tool, yes?" I hadn't meant to be so short with the princess, but my emotions were running high and I was on a short fuse.

Still the staring and I was even more confused. Maybe offering a pen was some sort of taboo here.

Suddenly, the blond from behind the princess reached up and pinched her on the arm. "Just sign the chart, JENN, all right?" Her voice was snarky and rude and I didn't like her. Not a bit. She had no right to touch Antanasia in such a manner. Who did she believe she was? "Hey!" It was the first time I had heard the princess' voice and even with it tinged in anger, it was beautiful. I wouldn't mind hearing that voice again.

Slowly, Antanasia reached out for the gold pen I offered her. As our hands met in brief contact, I felt the strangest feeling race through my veins. It felt almost as if electricity had sizzled up my arm, making me feeling warm and tingly. It was a strange sensation, but still pleasant. I couldn't help the smile that flashed across my face.

She shook her head slightly, as if to make herself come back to her senses, and then turned back around to write her name on the chart. As she was passing the chart to the incredibly impatient female behind her, the piece of paper grazed her skin, shallowly cutting it. I watched in fascination as her precious blood, her life source, flowed freely from the injury. The blood dripped down her fingers and onto the gold pen. I could have cared less. All I was focusing on was the blood. The rich, warm, sweet blood. It smelled absolutely tantalizing. I had never smelled anything akin to that. I wanted to lick the blood off her fingers, I wanted to suck the cut, I wanted...everything. I wanted her.

The only thing holding me in place was the fact that I was in a crowded, over populated room full of school children. My uncles would kill me. No, I had to wait. I would wait, and then I could truly make Antanasia mine. Forever...

Antanasia tossed the pen at me, then turned back around. I barely noticed. I was still trying to calm myself down enough to not lunge across the aisle to get to her. Just then the teacher decided to introduce me.

"Let's take a moment to welcome our new foreign exchange student, Lucius...Vlades..coo."

I was outraged. My family name was everything to me. Everyday since I was born, it has been engrained in me that I was a Vladescu. A noble, and her this woman was, messing it up.

"Is that correct?" The teacher looked at me questioningly.

"No. No, that is not correct." I was angry. When I got angry, it was a bad thing.

With that, I strolled up to the front of the room, grabbed a marker and popped the top, then wrote my name in bold print across the top of the board.

"My name is Lucius Vladescu," pointing at the words. "Vla-DES-cu. Emphasis on the middle syllable, please." I spoke with authority, letting my noble upbringing reign. The teacher was looking more than slightly scared. She should be. She should have known better than to make that kind of mistake.

I locked my hands behind my back and paced, taking the time to look everyone in the eye, just as my uncles had always said. I could tell that none of them understood why I was making such a big fuss over my name. They did not understand that my name was my pride. I decided to educate them.

"The Vladescy name is rather reversed in Eastern Europe. A noble name," I looked into Antanasia's eyes. "A royal name."

"Does it not 'ring a bell,' as you Americans say?" I was watching her closely. She continued to stare blankly at me from across they room.

My reverie was broken by the voice of Mrs. Wilhelm asking if I would like to tell more about myself. I didn't really, so I declined. I really only needed for Antanasia to know me, no one else mattered at this point.

"I'm sure we'd love to hear more about your heritage. It does sound interesting!"

My eyes went back to the princess', allowing all my pent up frustration seep into my gaze. With a high intensity, I answered, still holding the girls eyes with mine. "You shall learn more about me in due time. That is a promise." She would see me. She would know me and she would be mine. "A promise."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Aye!

So, first off, I want to apologize to a few of you guys. Some of you have very graciously reviewed this week and I messaged some folks back claiming that I would update this last Monday (Tuesday at the very latest) and as you all can see, that didn't happen. I'm sorry, guys. I didn't intend to lead anyone astray. I had some medical emergencies come up this week that needed attention by professionals (thank God for awesome Dr.'s and nurses). All that kept me away from the computer and it definitely kept me away from a functional state of mind. No worries though, most of the issues have been straightened out but I am going to have surgery Monday morning. The med's and the aftereffects will keep me down for a little while so please bear with me, I may not be up to par for a few days. Please keep my mom in your prayers, she's going to be the one that has to hear me moan and groan and just alright whine for the next week or so! :D

Secondly, As I was looking back over my last chapter, I came to see some mistakes that really irked me. I'm sorry I didn't catch them sooner. I know that I could go back, fix them, then repost the chapter, but I'd rather spend my time doing something much more fun, like writing a new chapter in Lucius' POV. Don' t you think that's more fun? I hope none of you mind the grammatical errors all that much. In my defense, I was understand the influence of cough medicine when writing the last chapter. Maybe that's were the mistakes came from.

Last, by most definitely not least, I just want to say a bignormous thank you to everyone who has reviewed, PMed, added the story to their alerts list or favorite's lists. You all have rocked my socks!

I wish I could hug you all, but then again...that freaks some people out. You know, when strangers hug them randomly and stuff. Ha.

I hope that everyone has enjoyed this chapter. It would make my heart exceptionally happy if you reviewed and gave me your opinion because to me, suggestions are always appreciated, and honesty is highly sought after.

Have a great weekend everybody! Please be safe and have tons of fun.

As always, lots of love,

-Kennedy