My Ice Prince

«Thank you, Maria, I shall remember your advice. Mrs. Rees mustn't get hurt!» – I thought, turning the sheet over to read the other side of it as well:

Now seriously. Never (ever!) break these rules:

1. Eat strictly on schedule.

2. Don't use your abilities on mortals, even in self-defence. They can't do anything to you anyway.

3. Always turn off the lights at night, otherwise, the neighbours will realise that you never sleep at all.

4. Cut off any attempts at contact by mortals. Communicate with them only as a last resort.

5. No flirting with mortal guys.

6. Act like a human, but don't forget who you are.

7. Suppress your feelings of pity for mortals.

8. Do not eat human food.

9. Never interact with Frederik Haraldson. Never.

10. Never break these rules under any circumstances.

I thoughtfully folded the sheet in half and started thinking about all these rules. So: no socialising with humans or Frederik, no eating human food (although I wasn't going to – it's so gross), no disrupting the meal schedule, no drawing attention to my person. Not such complicated rules.

When I remembered that Maria had rented a flat for me, I glanced at the address and smiled broadly: my sister had assured me that the owners of the flat were very intelligent mortals who never disturbed the tenant's peace, which would be great for me, a vampire.

Now all I had to do was pack my bags and wait for my scheduled departure date from Warsaw to London. Martin had nobly volunteered to take me straight to the door of my flat in Oxford, but I talked him out of it, so that I would feel grown up and not look stupid in the eyes of my possible college mates. So I personally booked a ticket on a regular flight so I wouldn't have to fly on our private jet. I had already looked up how to get from London airport to Oxford and eagerly scribbled down the numbers on my calendar.

Finally, the long awaited day for me arrived. I remember how clear and blue the sky was that day, how the dead leaves of the trees in our garden rustled and seemed to say to me, «Goodbye, Misha!». The soft autumn sun glided golden rays across my pale skin. The air – fresh, smelling of fallen leaves, I remembered forever.

My parents got into the car in the garage to avoid the sun, and I looked round the house, said goodbye to it mentally, and only then got into the car waiting for me in the yard.

Sometimes I thought: How strange… Would I, too, eventually hide from the sun? How could I bear to be separated from it?

And so, our car drove to the airport. My things could hardly fit in the big boot because I couldn't choose anything special to live in England, so I took almost half of my huge wardrobe with me.

At the airport, I hugged my parents (we said goodbye to my brothers and Maria a long time ago because they were already parted). Of course, they were looking at me with concern in their eyes, as if I was leaving to live in Africa forever, and their behaviour irritated me a little, so I hurried to go to the control.

– Call me when you arrive. And feel free to use your credit card» Dad told me lastly.

Mum smiled silently, but tears glistened in her eyes.

– Vyslav, why is she crying? I'm coming soon, for Christmas! I'll call you, but I warn you – we won't say goodbye for a long time, otherwise Stefania will flood the whole airport with her tears! – I warned her. Since we looked the same age to people, I called my parents by their first names outside the house.

– She's always been very sensitive» my father smiled and put his arm around her shoulders.

– Yeah, I noticed it at Mariszka's wedding! – I said unhappily (then mum only knew how to sob). – Well, stop it, Stefania, I'm not dying!

– Okay, go to the landing, otherwise, she will not let you go, – said my father jokingly.

I hurriedly moved away from my parents.

– I'll make a phone call! – I shouted to them, and then quickly went through security, found my flight, boarded the plane and took my seat.

«Dear passengers, please fasten your seatbelts» I soon heard and involuntarily smiled in anticipation of the flight.

Everything around was new for me, absolutely unknown, interesting, and I looked at the passengers, the stewardesses, and the situation with all my eyes. I watched people, because I had never been in human society before, and even in an aeroplane: I had always flown only on my parents' private plane, and now the huge real world stu

Unfortunately, I was unlucky with my neighbour: she was an older, full brunette who slept the whole way and snored quietly, sometimes chewing her lips, but it made me laugh and I didn't even turn on the music to watch her.

The flight went by quickly, or maybe it seemed that way to me. After landing, everyone suddenly started clapping their hands, and I was not lagging behind, although I wondered what all this action was for. And when people started to get off the plane, I was breathless at the thought that I was already in England. I walked out on wobbly legs, realising with all my being that I had entered another world, a world belonging to people… And in another country, another culture, another language environment!

Thanks to my keen people-watching, I successfully picked up my luggage, but I had to hire a loadman to do it – my numerous bags were «beyond my strength». Of course, I could have easily carried them myself, but in people's eyes I was just a fragile girl, and I could feel the admiring glances. I felt uncomfortable with all the attention.

I went out of the airport building to hire a taxi (the luggage handler rolled my bags behind me on a trolley), but, as it turned out, there were no cars in the car park. I was confused, not expecting such a turn of events and previously believing that there was a whole crowd of taxi drivers waiting for me, hungry for my money.

– Miss Mroczek! – I suddenly heard an unfamiliar male voice not far from me.

«Is it calling for me? It can't be, because nobody knows me here!» – I thought, but I turned round to see the voice calling my name.

– Miss Mroczek… Misha Mroczek… It's you, isn't it? – A rather tall, dark-haired guy came up to me, and of course he spoke English.

There was no limit to my surprise.

– Yes» I replied. – Do I know you?

The guy gri

– My eyes are actually here! – I told him sternly.

– Oh, I apologise… No, I haven't met you yet, but I've been waiting for you to show up for over an hour» he said confusedly. – My name is Harry Smith: my family is your landlord.

– It's nice to meet you, Harry, but I don't understand why you've been waiting for me. – I was even more surprised.

– I'll take you to the flat» he replied.

– Thank you, of course, but I could have got there on my own.

– I hope you won't insist on travelling alone to Oxford: I just thought it would be more convenient for you if I picked you up from the airport, and you wouldn't have the hassle of travelling and the extra cost of a taxi.

I was confused: this Harry had completely ruined my plans and my independent, carefully thought-out itinerary. At first I wanted to refuse him, but then I thought he'd come for me on purpose, and I felt sorry for the guy for having to wait for me for over an hour. Me, a girl he didn't even know.

– All right, Harry. And thanks for coming to get me, it's my pleasure» I finally said.

– Glad to help. So, where are your bags? – he said cheerfully.

I nodded towards the loader.

Harry gri

– Four huge bags?

– Yeah.

– Did you bring the whole wardrobe with you?

– Almost» I answered seriously, frowning at his mocking tone. – But I don't think that's any of your business at all.