My Plump Vampire Mate

2 Lungs and water

Chapter: 2

Lungs and water

Alice

I kept my head down, tracing invisible patterns on my desk as the final bell rang. The classroom emptied quickly, students eager to escape, but I didn’t move. I knew what waited for me outside.

The whispers had started again today, like they always did. Soft, sharp, and piercing deep.

“She’s such a fat weirdo.”

“always hiding all alone in class, breathing in all the oxygen.”

“I don’t see what the student council president sees in her.”

“I know right, she must have bewitched his highness.”

I gripped my arm trying to block out their words, but they made sure to say it all to my hearing.

I’ve always been a misfit, though born a pure-blooded vampire I was as good as a human with vampire characteristics. I drank human blood, I had fangs and I needed magic to walk under the sun but my strength was nothing compared to that of my mates, I didn’t heal as fast as they did and I could fall ill.

My lack of strength made me an easy target. I had survived till now because of the second Prince Lucien. He was the student council president and my protector.

Though my bullying increased after he started standing up for me, I was still grateful to him.

I grabbed my bag and unzipped it, my mind disconnected–a coping mechanism I had developed to drown out the murmurs.

While rummaging through it for my lunch box, I felt a sharp sting, like two fangs sinking their teeth into my skin, “ouch” I winced. I looked in only to see a hissing snake.

I jerked and flung the bag to the floor, the snake slithered out–calm and unbothered, a stark contrast to the frightened mess I was,

“How do you like my present,” I heard Harper’s voice, her minions, Mia and Zoey snickered behind her.

My grip on the table tightened as I forced myself to lift my gaze. She was now standing in front of my desk, her arms crossed, brown waves falling effortlessly over her shoulders. Mia and Zoey flanked her, their usual smirks plastered on their faces.

I swallowed hard. “Are you trying to kill me? Why the hell did you put a venomous snake in my bag?” I asked, my voice heaving as the words came out.

“Did you think Prince Lucien would always protect you?” Zoey snorted.

“You guys won’t get away with this,” I said feeling myself start to lose consciousness.

“And is it your dad that hates you that’s going to stop us,” Mia retorted grabbing my hair.

“Oh Alice just see how pitiful you look, who would believe you’re a duke’s daughter,” Harper added giggling.

Zoey stepped behind me, her hands pressing into my shoulders, forcing me to stand. “Gush she’s so fat and heavy,” Zoey mocked.

My pulse hammered. I wanted to run but I couldn’t feel my legs anymore. The door was locked, and even if I screamed, who would care?

I’d learned a long time ago that the teachers ignored what they didn’t want to deal with. Even with my high ‘daughter of a duke’ status, I didn’t get any preferential treatment like other aristocratic children because my father didn’t care about me. It was no news that every important person in the kingdom knew about my father’s indifference towards me.

He had never treated me the same since my mother’s death which only meant he blamed me for it. My mother got sick after giving birth to me and she died two years later.

The snake venom had taken full effect and I lost consciousness. The next time I opened my eyes I was no longer in the classroom but tied up in an unfamiliar store room.

“Where did you guys take me to?”

“Oh, you’re still alive,” Harper said in disappointment.

Zoey giggled, “Don’t worry Alice we didn’t plan on killing. Normally that snake venom has no effect on vampires, SOooo you passing out could only mean you’re a freak,” Zoey added.

“I found it,” Mia’s voice came in, as I saw her coming closer with a bucket of water but it wasn’t just any bucket it was a mop bucket.

My breath hitched as she slammed the bucket of water in front of me. The water inside was murky, filled with streaks of dirt and grime.

“What are you trying to do?”

“We were only planning on using the water to wake you up but now you’re awake I have a better idea,” Mia said smirking.

“Aren’t you thirsty Alice?” Harper asked while laughing with Zoey.

“No,” I said immediately, shaking my head. “I’m not—”

Zoey grabbed my hair steadying my face. “Oh, come on. It’s just a little drink.”

Mia leaned against the wall, inspecting her nails. “You act like we’re poisoning you.” Her gaze lifted, sharp and full of malice. “Unless you want us to get more creative?” She added arching her brow.

I looked between them, my body frozen and before I could react my head was plunged into the bucket of disgusting water.

I tried to hold my breath for as long as I could but I soon couldn’t hold out any longer.

My mouth opened up and the murky water flowed into my system. I was drowning and my struggles were futile. I could feel life slipping out of me. Everything went pitch black and only my muffled screams could be heard.

Till Lucien’s voice broke the silence

“What the hell Alice, what are you doing?” He screamed.

I felt his strong arms with great effort lifting me out of the bathtub full of water. He placed me on my side tapping my back to let the water in my system out.

Gaining my senses and scanning my surroundings I realized I wasn’t at the school’s campus. I was at home in my bathroom taking a bath and got stuck in my memories.

“Alice, speak to me,” Lucien said looking at me frantically

“Why are you trying to kill yourself?” He questioned.

We were on the bathroom floor and I just laid in his arms not saying a word. I was confused, did I want to kill myself?

These days I felt tired and drained. Maybe that was why I ended up reliving my past from almost two years ago.

“Why do you want to leave me Canary?” This time his voice low as tears trickled down his face.

Canary was another name he called me. I raised my hand wiping his tears as he helped put me in dry clothes.

We walked back into the dimly lit room, where the candlelight cast jagged shadows of the furniture on the stone walls. He picked me up and laid me on the towering canopy bed, its crimson and gold hues easing my tension.

“Aren’t you going at least say something to me? I’m your husband Alice and I need to know what is going on.”