Blood and Snow 7: Seal of Gabriel (6 page)

“Envy, what’s the matter?”

The wispy curls vanished. Extending from Envy’s back was a beautiful, feathery pair of deep violet wings.

I gasped. The girl inside my head, Snow White, did the same.

“They’re beautiful,” I said, unable to stop myself from stroking the downy feathers. “How did you do this?”

She whinny-neighed again. “Magic.”

... “What’s the plan? Continue to take care of her here?”

“We’re moving her to our house. I’ve already explained the situation to child services. With her father gone, and the crazy stepmother out of the picture, I’m her legal guardian. And I won’t leave her in this ridiculous house another second.”

“Good. It’s tragic all that’s happened to her and her family. First her mother dies. Now her father vanishes. Poor Snow. She’s too good for this.”

“Agreed, son.”

“She isn’t as red and glowy anymore. Do you think she’ll wake up soon?”

“I don’t know. Magic is strange. It’s exciting, easy to manipulate if you possess the gene, but it can also be cruel and cunning.” …

Chapter 11

My sister, Sharra, and I were born with wings, and at a young age became quite adept at flying. But I had a training period, a time where I learned what it meant to beat my wings against the air, turn them, or tuck them according to what kind of flying I intended. With the little unicorn, Envy, there was none of that. She leapt into the sky, and soared like she’d been flying forever.

“It took me ten tries before I could fly without crashing into something,” Ryden whispered.

“She’s magnificent,” I said, unable to take my eyes from her.

“This is amazing, wonderful, stupendous,” Envy said, her deep violet wings beating against the bright sky.

I flew over to her. “It really is the best, right?” Her giddiness and enthusiasm rubbed off on me. The girl called Snow White was enjoying herself as well.

I’ve never flown before
, she squealed happily. Her voice caught.
Is it all right if I talk? I was nervous to speak before, but now you know I’m in here with you, it would be… nice.

Of course,
I answered back, wondering if somehow I was talking to myself, but was so far gone in my insanity I didn’t realize it.

Thank you
, she whispered.

For whatever reason, having her with me brought comfort. If I am crazy, then I don’t want to be sane, I thought.

I decided to believe in Envy, as long as I could, and instead of flying inland, toward the land of the unicorns, I headed to the craggy mountains where the trolls lived.

I heard the trolls long before I saw them. Their battle cries. Trees being torn unceremoniously from the base, pieces of rock carved with bare hands from the mountain. They were still at war with the elves.

It appeared Devoran’s mission of peace hadn’t worked, I thought, pushing myself faster. Over the mountain peaks, along the steep ridges, to Ellavera Pass.

The scene I came upon twisted my gut. Death raged below. Bodies of the willowy elves, and the leathered trolls were strewn across the earth. Hundreds of trees in various stages of mutilation amongst the dead. Large boulders broken and powdery, making the bleeding bodies appear covered in ash.

“This has to stop,” Ryden said, her tiny lips trembling in dismay.

“We cannot let this mayhem continue, go on, advance,” Envy added. Her eyes filled with tears.

This is awful
, Snow White added.

It is
, I agreed.

I searched the battleground for Devoran or Titan, the leader of the trolls. Since Devoran came to this fight, I knew Titan would be there as well. I spotted him at the top of the Pass. Angry lines etched his potato-skin face. The troll yelled orders, sending spittle into the faces of those unlucky enough to be near. Pointy yellow teeth seemed to swallow his face.

Steeling myself, I headed over.

Ten feet away, Titan turned his beady black eyes on me, an angry roar sending spittle my direction. Luckily he didn’t have that kind of range. But I took that as his greeting.

“Titan, I have business to discuss.” I stayed in the air, beating my wings to keep me alight so that I could look Titan in the eyes. Had I landed, I would’ve come to his protruding belly button, and that wouldn’t do.

“Can’t you see I’m busy? These senseless elves are nothing but trouble, insects to be squashed back into the earth where they came from.” He focused his attention on the warriors he’d been talking to before I interrupted. “I don’t care if Devoran wants to talk. I’m sick of his mind games. Kill them all,” he shouted, waving his three-fingered hand in dismissal.

As he spoke, I turned away, searching for Ryden and Envy. I could make out the pixilette a ways off, hovering anxiously over something. I couldn’t see Envy. “Where did that little flying unicorn get to?” I wondered aloud, searching the sky. I hoped she was okay. The trolls cared little for other creatures, especially when they were in the throws of battle. Returning my gaze to Titan, I said, “This is of the upmost importance. I cannot wait.”

His shrewd eyes studied me. The trolls looked dumber than rocks. Early on I discovered that was a defense method. They were actually quite competent, especially in the art of war. I believed it was because they held no remorse.

“It’s for your benefit as well as mine, otherwise I wouldn’t be asking.”

He growled. “You have three minutes.” A troll standing to the side of Titan suddenly sprung into action, heaving a large wooden chair, and placing it behind Titan just as the leader sat.

Impressive
, Snow White said.

I snorted internally.
Yeah, but if that assistant had been a second too late, he’d be dead.

I felt Snow shudder.

Once Titan sat, I lowered myself, pressing my feet into the scraggily earth.

“You now have two minutes,” he said taking a goblet of liquid refreshment from the troll assistant.

I watched in disgust as he drank, sloshing the orange liquid out the sides, down his naked chest onto his trouser-clad thighs, and I wondered how much actually ended up in his mouth. Clearing my throat I said, “I’ve been to see Abernathy.”

He stopped drinking. The troll assistant took the glass. “Go on.”

I had to be careful. If Titan knew I possessed a piece of Abernathy’s soul, he would slaughter me before he would allow me to leave. “He has sent me on a quest to collect and save each of the Earth’s great magics.” I paused, preparing myself to slather on the compliments. “Trolls hold the greatest strength in the world and you, Titan, are the strongest of them all.” He sat up straighter. “I would like the strength of a troll, so that I may keep it safe.” I didn’t add, just in case the troll people were destroyed, or became nothing but diluted sloths.

He wiped his mouth with the back of a hand, and leaned his elbows on his knees. “And how do you propose I give you this strength, Silindra?”

I thought about that. Where did a troll’s strength come from? Sure their bodies were large, tough like a rocks, and skin prickly as porcupine fur (not to mention their blood was black as tar, and tasted like oil). But the trolls’ strength was more than that. It was a deeply embedded part of their personality. After a thousand years of living in the roughest terrain on the planet, they had to be strong or they would’ve died off quickly.

“Well?” Titan prodded.

“Where do
you
think your strength comes from?” I asked, sending the question back at him.

He guffawed, slapping his knee in glee. “I like you, Silindra. I always have.”  Leaning back, he said, “The strength of a troll isn’t in these.” He lifted one arm and flexed his bicep.” Titan winked. I tried not to retch. His bicep muscle was bigger than my head. “It’s in this,” he continued, tapping his hairless head. “Our brains, dear Silindra.” He gave me a surly glare, as though begging me to disagree. “We are more than brute strength, though the physicality of our species is beyond measure in that department as well.”

“I believe you’re right, Titan,” I acknowledged, hoping to appease him.

The troll stood. “I’ve decided to give you more time. Follow me.”

I hesitated. Sure, I was interested in what he had to show me, but I also worried about Ryden and Envy. What were they doing?

Titan didn’t wait to see if I followed. He just walked away. Never mind the raging battle, the slaughter mere feet away. He turned his back on them, and me. With a sigh, I plodded along after him.

He stomped down the side of the mountain, through leafy trees, and plants, over thick, dry roots, and yellow-orange flowers. When he reached what looked like the edge of the mountain, he jumped.

A hitch caught in my throat. Lifting to the air, I hurriedly reached the edge and peered over. More than four thousand feet of sheer rock went straight down, until it reached a small valley below. On the other side of the grassy valley was another mountain, as great as the one I stood on.

Whoa, that’s a long way down. Where did he go?
Snow White asked.

I don’t know
. Flying over, I scanned the valley below, searching. After several minutes I still hadn’t found him. I’d almost reached the bottom. Glancing up, I saw Titan looking down at me from a slight lip in the rock. He had an arrogant smirk on his face.

I worked hard not to shake my head in frustration as I flew toward him. When I was eye level, he said, “Find anything interesting?”

“No.”

“Tsk. Tsk,” he said. The noise sounded like he sucked spit between his teeth. It was annoying, but I ground my jaw together, holding back any comments. The troll leader turned, and I noticed, for the first time, the oblong door behind him. It blended in so perfectly I would’ve missed it had I not been so close. He pushed the door, and it scraped inward.

Not another cave, I grumbled.

… “I can’t stay long. No one knows I’m here. Gabe would probably kill me if he found out. In fact I know he would. It doesn’t matter though, not if you aren’t around. I’m alive because of you. The Vampire Queen released me after your party. She’s thrilled you killed Oberon and believes no one can stop her since the Seal of Gabriel is gone. She would be right, if not for you. You’re the key, Snow. So I need you to wake up. Plus, I want to thank you for saving me.

“Don’t let the Seal control you. It will try to keep you, make you its own. Okay?

“By the way, if you can hear me, I’m going to kiss you now.” …

To be continued...

Afterword

Thank you so much for reading volume 7, “Seal of Gabriel.” In this volume Snow is an outsider. I’m sure most of us have experienced that awful situation at one time or another. For her, it’s even worse because she doesn’t know how she got there, and more importantly, why.

In volume 8, “Telltale Kisses,” Snow will continue to discover more secrets about what she is, the vampires, and all fairytale creatures. Plus, there will be kissing. Lots of kissing. ;)

If you enjoyed “Seal of Gabriel,” do me a favor. Go back to
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Thank you, and happy reading!

RaShelle Workman

Additional Works by RaShelle Workman

YA Series

Aligned: An Immortal Essence Short Story