Rosangela: The Runaway Princess (Book #2)

I lay awake all night, beating my brains out to formulate an escape plan. At about five o’clock in the morning, I finally managed to hatch up a perfect plan. It was actually very simple. I was going to steal a blood bag from the kitchen, and then I would drink it to activate my vampire power. After that, I would compel the guards and sneak into the dungeon to release Randolph, and finally we would run away from this kingdom together.

I actually wanted to get away from this kingdom as soon as possible, but I felt completely exhausted. So I thought I needed to get some sleep now to build up my strength again. And I was going to execute my escape plan later this afternoon before the vampires and slaves wake up. I hoped everything would go according to the plan.

Before going to bed, I divested myself of my dirty clothes and then changed into a pair of pyjamas. After that, I pulled up the covers and crawled under. Within minutes, I fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was ten past three P.M. by the digital clock on my bedside table. I cursed myself for getting up late again. Now, I had to race against time to execute my plan because I only had a very limited time before everyone awoke.

Scrambling up into a sitting position, I let the blanket fall down to the floor, and finally leapt out of bed. I then glided over to my dresser, pulled one of the drawers open and selected clean clothes to wear. Without bothering to have a shower, I quickly changed out of my pyjamas into a pair of black denim pants and a hoodie over a light blouse. I slipped on a pair of black sneakers too.

The last time I saw Randolph, he was shirtless, so I took out the biggest leather jacket that I could find in my dresser for him to wear. I also grabbed a pair of sweatpants that I thought would fit Randolph just in case his trousers had been torn to shreds. And finally, I put the jacket and the trousers into a tote bag which I found when I was clearing out my dresser last night. I deliberately hid the tote bag under my hoodie in order that no one would get suspicious if they saw me carrying a tote bag.

Afterwards, I stole out of my bedroom so as not to wake anyone. I then crept stealthily along the corridor, and slipped out of the slave quarters.

Leaving the slave quarters, I slunk towards the kitchen, eluding the security guards who were making regular patrols during the day. Yes, vampires generally sleep by day and are active by night, but they will have some guards watch over the palace during daylight hours too.

Once I entered the kitchen, I hurried to the fridge and pulled out a small blood bag. Fortunately for me, there was no one in the kitchen, so I could get the blood bag without being known.

Turning around, I intended to leave the kitchen as soon as possible. But I stopped in my tracks when I saw Mariana standing in the doorway.

'Shoot! Why must it be Mariana, of all people, who caught me smuggling blood out of the kitchen?' I thought, annoyed.

I quickly shoved the blood bag into my back pocket. “Oh hi Mariana.”

“What are you doing in the kitchen at this time, Angela?” Mariana enquired suspiciously.

“I’m here to get my breakfast,” I replied. Well, I didn’t fully tell lies because I was going to consume the blood that I had just taken. Because I hadn’t eaten anything today, I could consider the blood as my breakfast, right?

“You realize that it’s not the time for breakfast yet, don’t you?” she said.

“Yes, I know. But I’m starving because I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. So I decided to go to the kitchen early to get something to eat. If I come here at the breakfast time, I’m afraid you won’t let me have breakfast again like yesterday,” I reasoned.

“Don’t blame me! It’s all your own fault. You wouldn’t be starving if you didn’t lock yourself in your bedroom the whole night,” she chastised me.

“I wouldn’t have done that, if you didn’t show me the terrifying scene yesterday,” I hit back at her.

“That’s enough!” she shouted, “I don’t want to argue with you anymore. Get out of the kitchen now!”

“What about my breakfast?” I asked only to annoy her even more.

“When will you get it into your thick head that you can’t do everything exactly as you please here, Angela? If you want to have breakfast, you have to wait until the breakfast time comes. Do I make myself clear?” Mariana bellowed at me.

“Okay, okay. I’ll go now. You don’t have to holler at me like that, Mariana,” I said.

I shouldered past Mariana and walked out of the kitchen. A smile spread slowly across my face. 'Finally, I’m going to get out of this place soon. Goodbye, Mariana. I’m glad I don’t have to hear your harsh remarks again.'

However, my excitement was short-lived because before I could get far, Mariana called after me. “Wait, Angela!”

I came to a halt. “What does Mariana want this time?” I asked myself.

I swung back to face her. “Yes?

“What’s that in your pocket?” She pointed to my back pocket.

I tried my hardest to conceal my surprise. “Oh, nothing,” I replied.

“Turn out your pockets!” she commanded.

I played dumb. “What for?”

“I wanted to see what you’re hiding in your pocket,” Mariana retorted.

“I don’t hide anything,” I lied.

“Don’t lie to me!” she growled.

“I’m not lying,” I refuted.

“If you’re really not lying to me, you have to empty out your pockets now!” she demanded.

I shook my head. “No!”

“Don’t try my patience, Angela! Turn out your pockets! Now!” she snapped at me.

I sighed in defeat. “Fine.”

Reluctantly, I pulled the blood bag out of my back pocket and showed it to Mariana.

Mariana snatched the blood bag from me. “How dare you steal from the kitchen!” she hollered.

“I didn’t steal it,” I rebutted.

'Oh yeah, you didn’t steal the blood bag, Rosanne; you just took it without permission,' my inner voice commented.

'Shut up!' I shouted mentally.

“If you didn’t steal it, why do you keep this blood bag in your pocket?” Mariana demanded.

“Oh it’s for Prince Xavier. He ordered me to bring him a blood bag for his breakfast every day,” I lied smoothly.

Mariana looked at me suspiciously. “Are you telling me the truth?”

“Why should I lie to you about the blood bag, Mariana? I am a human; I don’t drink blood. Why would I steal blood if I didn’t need it?” I questioned her.

She gave a deep sigh. “You’re right.”

“Can I have the blood bag back now?” I asked, “Prince Xavier has been waiting for me.”

“I will bring it to Prince Xavier. You’d better return to your bedroom now, Angela,” she stated.

“No, thank you. I can do it myself.” I tried to grab the blood bag from Mariana, but she pulled it away from me.

“Prince Xavier will be furious if he knows I let his pet work again. So I’m the one who will deliver this blood bag to him,” said Mariana.

“I am sure Prince Xavier won’t be angry with you, Mariana. However, he is the one who ordered me to bring him a blood bag. So I’m going to give it to him myself,” I said.

“Fine. Here it is.” She lastly handed me the blood bag. “But I warn you, Angela. If I find out you’re lying about this, I assure you will be punished severely even though you’re Prince Xavier’s pet. Do you understand me?”

I nodded my head. “Yes, I understand.”

“Okay, go now! Prince Xavier doesn’t like to be kept waiting,” Mariana said.

Before Mariana changed her mind, I scuttled off. After I got far away from the kitchen, I stopped running and let out a sigh of relief.

'Phew! That was close. Mariana almost foil my escape attempt,' I thought.