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1069 Words
Bonnie helped Tessa to get her things from the office and they were heading to class when they came across Prince Derek again. His stare at Tessa is different and intending.
Tessa clutched her dress with the papers in her hand and squeezed her friend's hand, feeling so nervous.
This young man is the definition of a pretty man in black. His short black hair was packed in a bun and the messy remains curled up by the sides like babies.
Cold shivers ran down Tessa’s body the more she remembered how cold his hand was when he touched her face and the tender look on his face towards her.
“ Greetings your highness”, Bonnie greeted him, to which Derek said nothing but made a head nod to acknowledge her respect.
Bonnie punched Tessa, who let out a short cry before saying her greetings too.
“I’m sorry for my friend’s behavior earlier today your highness... I ...”
Before she could finish her statement, Prince Derek removed a hard black paper from his inner pocket, a card.
“There is a feast tonight at the royal palace and only a few people are invited, but you can come with that if you want,” he said stretching it out to Tessa.
Tessa blinked her eyes repeatedly and even slapped her ears as if she was hearing things, but Bonnie was quick to stop her from embarrassing herself and the prince.
She pushed Tessa forward to collect the card.”Thank you so much your highness”, Bonnie grinned.
Tessa snatched the card and hid behind Bonnie immediately, courtesy of those waiting to see the whole situation again.
“Don’t people learn to mind their business here?” Tessa whispered.
Prince Derek laughed and pat her hair before leaving . “This is the only place they can gossip” he said.
Tessa gasped in surprise but soon covered her mouth.
“How did he hear me? I was not even loud.” She said.
“He is a vampire Tess... by the way, are you going for the feast?” Bonnie asked with her heart pounding against her chest.
“What? No, I can’t!” Tessa shouted, but when she saw the murderous look at the girls, she lowered her voice and pulled her friend away from the hallway.
“I have always dreaded my first day but I never had this on the list! The prince... Not a vampire prince noticed me? He doesn’t even know me! What if he invited me to be his dinner? Who do I know?” She started rumbling, as she was not settled.
Bonnie stopped her from pacing up and down and took her seat.
“Listen, Tess, I would love to go but I have things to help mother with tonight, so I’m sorry, “ she said.
Tessa stood up immediately with her hands in the air. “Are you saying I should go? Alone?” She questioned.
“ It is a royal invitation, you must go. It’s just like a royal order and you don’t get to turn it down”, Bonnie warned.
The two stared at each other for a while before the big bell rang and they went to receive their first lecture for the day.
Hours later, school was over and Tessa’s stepsisters took her to ride home, so she was left with no choice but to go home with Bonnie.
On getting home, she was attacked by her two stepsisters while her stepmother watched.
They searched for her body for the card and found it after rough handling her when they asked.
The two sisters had already informed their mother about everything that happened today, how her necklace flowed brightly when she was with the prince.
Mrs.Hawthorne approached Tessa who was still dabbing her bruised lips as a result of her two sisters coming on her at once.
“Is it true you seduced the prince to give you his special card?” She asked.
“What? No mother! I didn’t do anything” she said defensively.
Mrs.Hawthorne’s nostrils flared and she landed a resounding slap across her face.
“Your first day and you’ve turned into a prostitute already? Do you think he will turn you into one of them so you can run away from us? If anyone is going into power in this house, it should be my daughter!” She said.
Tears flushed Tessa’s face with the weight of the accusation and she muttered “I am your daughter too”, she said.
“Don’t you get greedy girl, I know my babies” she said, then handed over the card to Faye.
Tessa fought hard to hold the tears threatening to fall from her eyes but they trickled freely down her cheeks anyway.
She ran out of the main house to her room to cry.
Faye and Lola laughed at Tessa’s helplessness as they came together to discuss Faye’s outfit for the feast.
Faye had always desired to marry a prince, not just hers. The prince is every girl's dream and desire, but Faye wanted the prince for something else. The love would be a bonus for her.
During their discussion, she remembered Tessa’s necklace glowing earlier today and she had never taken it off.
“What if it’s that necklace that is drawing men to her? What if she is not that beautiful after all?” She thought to herself as she weaves a plan of how to steal the necklace tonight.
She would steal it and wear it out instead of her. Maybe the prince would be tempted by her too.
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Late at night, Lola prepared hot tea and carried it to Tessa’s room. The sweet smell sailed into her nose and her stomach grumbled. She's so very hungry.
“I brought this for you since they won't be feeding you tonight,” Lola said with a pretentious look.
“And why are you nice to me today?” Tessa asked.
“Well you can't starve yourself to death, I will have no one to torment all my life again,” she said to her then walked out of the room.
Tessa could not resist the call in her stomach and her room is cold as it is so she lifted the mug and savor the hot tea comfortably.
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