Blood and Snow 5: Prey and Magic (4 page)

It’s possible, I thought.

“Of course I deserve the power. I’ve ruled for thousands of years. That isn’t going to change anytime soon.” She walked back over to the thrones and sat. I did the same. She twirled her pointer finger and we were back at the castle.

Standing, she moved to the center of the circular room. With her back to me, she asked, “Have you seen the so-called Seal of Gabriel?”

I gulped and tried to calm my racing heart.
My hearing got better after I turned, so I had no doubt she heard my increased heartbeat and already knew the answer.
“I-I don’t know
,” I stammered, trying to pretend I wasn’t sure.

She spun around. “Where is it? Do you have it?”

Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. “No. I don’t know where it is anymore.”

“You had it in your possession.” Anger burned her features. “Stupid girl. It must be destroyed. That
thing
could ruin everything.” Her voice softened. “If you see it again, take it and bring it to me.” She walked over, and brushed her fingers along my jaw. “That pendant will be the death of all vampires.
The whole race.
Including you. And him.” While she
spoke
she
moved her hand in a whimsical S.
A glass case, like those my stepmother use
d to hold her porcelain dolls
, appeared. It was much larger and reminded me of a coffin. It sat atop a white stand.

Someone was inside.

I took a step toward the coffin
, trying to ignore the ball of fear growing in my chest.

“Who is that?” I asked, giving the Queen a sideways glance as I walked past her.

“You’ll see, my dear Snow.” The evil smile was back. The ball of fear grew into
full-blown
anxiety.

It was a guy, his dirty blond hair
flawlessly
combed. His eyes were closed, but I knew
his
eyes were hazel.

“Christopher,” I whispered.

Around his neck hung the carved bear. The one he made right before he was changed into a vampire. He wore brown leather pants, and a white shirt, with a leather vest. Dark chocolate brown boots were on his feet
and stopped just under his knees
. His hands
rested on
his stomach. “Is he—” I
stopped.

“Dead? No
. But if
you don’t bring me that necklace, he will be.” She came to stand next to me. “
You don’t want that
,
do you?”
She touched my shoulder, and it took all my courage not to shrink away.

“I don’t know where it is. I swear.” I clasped her hand, begging her to believe me.

“I believe you, but I know that if you think really hard, you’ll know where you need to start.” She squeezed my hand back, and I thought the bones in my fingers
might
break. 

And just as I was about to respond, I realized I wasn’t in Sharra anymore
.

“You’re not ready, Snow,” the Vampire Queen’s words echoed through my mind.

Chapter 7

A sound escaped my throat, and I clamped the hand the Vampire Queen
crushed
only moments ago over my mouth. I was happy and scared all at once.

Maybe I wasn’t ready, but I was home, standing in the middle of my room.

Purple wall
s filled with baby animal posters. P
urple curtains
. P
urple towels
still hung in the bathroom
. I was
glad
to see
all of it.
Wistfulness swept through my veins.
At the same time, I
was terrified. How would I confront Professor Pops, and the brothers? Cindy? Gatsby?
And, my stepmom and dad
.
Were they here
?
Using my newfound stealth I
cree
ped
over to their bedroom and p
eeked inside. They weren’t in their bed
. My heart fell.
I’d been gone two weeks. Maybe no one bothered to tell them what happened. I’d lost my cell phone at some
point during my time away. T
hey could’ve called.
What about poor Gatsby?

“Here kitty, ki
tty,” I called, keeping off
the lights. I didn’t need light to see and I didn’t want the brothers, or Pops to know I was home.  I listened, taking in the familiar smells and sounds of
the house
. I didn’t hear any soft padding of kitty feet so I tromped down the stairs. In the kitchen I sat at the counter and pulled over the envelope filled with the invitation to my birthday party. A tear fell onto my cheek. The idea of the party wa
s awful, but the person who planned
it meant the world to me.

How could Professor Pops ever forgive me for what I’d done?

“Gabe,” I whispered.

“Hello, Snowflake.”

His voice came from behind. It was a voice I thought I’d never hear again. I didn’t want to
move;
afraid if I tu
rned around I would realize it
wasn’t
real
or
a figment of my overactive imagination.
But I sensed movement. My body
began to tremble.

Could it be? Was it possible?

I was too afraid to find out.

His voice whispered in my ear. “Snowflake. You’re back.”

I had to see him. Turning,
my eyes caught hold of his face.
I could see him, but even that
could be
my imagination
. My mind still wouldn’t believe. I placed both hands on his face. “Are you real?”

He pulled me off the chair and into his arms.

And I was lost.
Wrapped in his embrace
. He was alive. Gabe.

After I don
’t know how long, I pulled back.
I
needed to
see
him
.

“How? I saw the angle of your neck. It was broken.” I fought hard to keep the tears
at bay.

He leaned down, his lips pressing against mine. I responded with
all the guilt, the sorrow, the excruciating pain I’d held inside
over the
past
two
weeks. He scooped me up and carried me upstairs, into my bedroom, and lay me on my bed. His kiss deepened, and I clung to him
as his hands went under my shirt sending
fiery heat
along my skin
. After a long time, he lifted his head. “Snowflake, I didn’t die. It may have appeared that way, but Professor Pops and the brothers overreacted. I was just u
nconscious.”

I wanted to believe him. But something in his voice, a slight pause when he said ‘overreacted’ gave me pause. The memory of the way his body felt under me, the way I grabbed his body, and I remembered the sound of his neck breaking. The moment ripped through my consciousness as though I was reliving it. I shook my head. “No, you were dead. Why aren’t you telling me the truth? D-Did you…” I paused. “Are you a vampire?”

He jumped off the
bed, a look on his face like I
ju
st slapped him. “No,” he
said.

A little offended, I responded, “You know I
am
a vampire, right? Drinking from you changed me.”

He let out a heavy breath. “Yeah, I know.”

“Does that make you uncomfortable because you didn’t seem all that uncomfortable a few seconds ago.” I got to my knees, pulling down my shirt, pushing back the apprehension fluttering like nervous butterflies in my stomach.

He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze focused on the floor. What was wrong with him? Ever sinc
e my Hunter bit me he’d been
hot and cold. I couldn’t figure him out. 

“No,
it doesn’t make me
uncomfortable. I
t makes
—” He paused
momentarily
before continuing, “I am beyond happy to see you. But…” He let the word hang in the air.

Finally, I said, “But?”

“It’s just. Ugh! Why is this so difficul
t?” His green eyes plead
ed
,
as though I should understand what
was wrong.

“Tell me,” I uttered.

He sat on the bed and grabbed one of my hands in his. “Professor Pops told me he told you about those who might want you dead.”

“Yes
. He explained that other vampires, even other creatures, believe that if all Marked and Chosen are killed then it will be easier to destroy the Queen.”
The internal butterflies quivered.

“
That’s right. And j
ust as the Queen is the leader of the vampires, there is a leader o
ver
those who stand against her.” He started to fidget, playing with a tassel on one of my pillows.

“Makes sense,” I said quietly.

“When I was little Professor Pops adopted me.
You know that.” He chuckled nervously. “
From a young age I knew I was different, that Professor Pops was different, and that the world wasn’t as simple as it seemed.
Then when I turned twelve Pops showed me the Museum of the Supernatural. Something clicked
inside. I felt drawn to them and inclined to hunt those who served the Vampire Queen
.” He brushed some hair out of his eyes, and cleared his throat. “Of course Pops wouldn’t let me. He continued to train me, but that was all.
But
I
knew
there was more. That
a big piece of the puzzle was missing.
I didn’t know why until a few days after I turned sixteen. A visitor came to see me.” He stopped and searched my eyes.

“What? Who was he,” I asked, taking his hand.

“The man was the leader of those who oppose the Vampire Queen. He told me he was my father.”

I gasped, interrupting him. “Your father is alive.”

He nodded. “Yes. He’s been alive a long time.”

Not really understanding, I asked, “Why didn’t he want you?”

He pu
lled away. “It isn’t
that he didn’t want me. He’s just busy, and
those who are loyal to the Queen killed my mom
. He
believed
Professor Pops would be able to care for me until I
was old enough to understand
.
And Professor Pops did. I couldn’t have asked for a better father.
”

Comprehension washed over me. “
Okay, so y
ou’re the son of the man who wants me dead. But how does that explain why you’re still alive?” I knew there were many other questions I needed to ask him as well.

“There must be balance in all things. For every sunset there i
s a sunrise.
For each sadness
, there is happiness. And for every evil there must be good.” He paused to
let the words sink in. They sunk in all right. And I started to get mad.
Was he saying I was evil? Had he come to kill me?

“Okay.” I leaned away from him.

My movements didn’t go unnoticed. He frowned, but didn’t try to pull me closer.

Sighing, he went on, “When
v
ampire
s
were created so was another species. Equally as powerful, but
keen on living
in seclusion
.
”

“Please don’t tell me they were werewolves,” I
said, mocking.

“No, not werewolves, but chayot.

“Chayot? Did you just make that up?”

“No, Snow. This is serious. If yo
u don’t believe me, look up the word on the Internet.
It’s there, though a lot of the information about them is incorrect.”

“I see.” I sat
cross-legged
, and s
ettled my hands in my lap. “W
hy aren’t these chayot in Professor Pops
’
books? Or on display in the Museum of the Supernatural?”

He scooted
nearer
. “Any written mention of the chayot
is considered blasphemy. The chayot are
sacred, and to be revered.” While he spoke, his voice softened. But that just infuriated me more.

“
Let me get this straight. You’re telling me you
chayot are the good guys and we vampires are the bad guys? Is that what you’re saying?”

He let out another
weighty
breath. “Yes, basically.”