Eye of Abernathy (2 page)

He pulled back momentarily and my eyes searched his, the incredible new color, like nothing I’d seen before—except on Envy’s horn.

What did the magic of the Seal do to him, I wondered, touching his face with one hand and placing my other over his heart?

“Does it hurt?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No.” His lips found mine again, a new urgency in each kiss. I responded, my body coursing with desire. I wanted him to bite me, drink from me.

I sighed at a
realization. He would never do those things again.

Christopher noticed. “What’s wrong?”

I didn’t want to answer. It wasn’t his fault I was changed, my blood no longer alluring. “It’s nothing,” I answered, trailing a finger along his collarbones, down the middle of his chest to his stomach muscles. I felt his body tremble at my touch.

“You’re sad.”

I swallowed back the lump in my throat. “I’ll miss your lips on my neck. The way your fangs part my skin. I’ll miss that part of us,” I said.

He didn’t respond and I looked up. An unreadable expression puzzled his features. As if making a decision, his gray-violet eyes focused on mine. And he smiled, a genuinely happy smile.

“What?” I asked, curious about what changed.

He nuzzled my neck. “You mean like this?” he asked, kissing
a line down the vein.

“Yes,” I gasped, clutching his shoulders.

He moved to the other side of my neck and kissed the vein there. “Like this?”

“Yes. Yes.”

I craved him so badly.

When his fangs pricked my skin, I
thought I should push him away. Do the right thing. I didn’t want my blood to burn him again. But I couldn’t. It felt too good. And when he sank his teeth into my flesh, I felt it low in my belly.

Wrapping his arm around my wa
ist, he pulled me to him so my chest was touching his, and he began to suck.

I figured
at any second he would pull back, that the pain would be too much, but he didn’t stop. Instead he sucked harder, and I clung to him, lost in ecstasy.

Many beats later, he
paused, lifting his face, his fangs still drawn. My blood still on his white teeth. A look of exquisite pleasure in his eyes. They were darker, richer. The most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen.

“A-Are you alright?” I asked.

He ran his tongue slowly over his fangs, and they retracted. “I’ve never felt better.”

My heart leaped. “My blood didn’t
hurt you?” I asked, just to verify he wasn’t in any sort of pain.

He cupped my face in his hands. “Your
delicious blood didn’t hurt. It…” he pushed his fingers through his hair. “It soothed me, lit me on fire in a good way, helped me to realize something.”

“What?” I asked, breathless.

He pressed my hand against his heart. “I’m yours. Heart. Body. Soul. If you want me, I’ll stay with you forever.”

My heart jumped.
Was he saying what I thought he was saying?

“
I love you,” he continued softly. “But it’s more than that.” He shook his head. “Can you promise me something?”

“Anything,” I whispered.

“Don’t let anyone else drink from you. Okay?”

It seemed a strange request, but one I could honor. “I promise.”

He smiled and wrapped me in a hug, brushing my hair with his hands. “I’m going to shower. Want to join me?” he asked.

Say yes. Say yes. Say yes, my inner voice screamed.

I leaned back, so I saw his face. “Pops said no hanky panky.” I giggled.

He huffed. “You’re right.” He unbuckled his belt, slid off his boots, and undid his pants. I stood there watching. In awe of the gorgeousness that was my Hunter. When he slid his thumbs under the elastic of his maroon boxer-briefs, I jumped.

“K, I’m going.”

He laughed and said, “Fine.”

I closed the door, and leaned against it. My heart raced. At the memory of his lips on mine, his words… At the idea of almost seeing him naked. I so wasn’t ready for what naked bodies together meant.

How do you know until you try, my inner voice
huffed.

I took a deep breath, working to slow my racing heart.

Someday, for sure. But, not today.

Chapter 3

When we finished showering (separately) and getting ready (together), we went downstairs. Professor Pops was in his office. He saw us, and stood, tucking his reading glasses in his breast pocket. “Ready to see Kenmei?”

We both nodded.

“There is an interesting new development,” Christopher said, as we made our way down the hall.

I looked at him. There has, I thought.

“I see.” Professor Pops said, as he grabbed his keys. We followed him to the garage, and got in the car.

On the drive to the train station, Christopher told him about my blood no longer burning him. Although Pops seemed upset about the possible hanky
panky, he didn’t say anything.

Neither did I. Instead I mulled over his words, listened to what Professor Pops and Christopher had to say.

We arrived at Kenmei’s and I was surprised. I hardly recalled getting there.

“Come in. Come in,” Kenmei said with a bow.

We entered his home, and took off our shoes. Then he led us down the hall we’d come through last time. As with last time I visited Kenmei’s house, I was struck by the feeling someone watched my movements, like those paintings in old movies where the eyes moved.

I didn’t see any moving eyes though.

At the end of the hallway, we turned left. I didn’t think there’d been a hallway to the left last time. Nervous tingles raced along my skin. Did his house move?

You probably just forgot, my inner voice chided.

I shrugged.

Kenmei took us left, and then left again.

The room we entered was glorious, like an Asian garden and a sitting room combined. All three walls were painted green. The exact color of the bamboo sticks vertically lining the walls. Lotus flowers adorned the walls, as though they grew from the bamboo.

In opposite corners of the room stood
cherry blossom trees. A tan leather couch sat in front of the wall directly across from the entrance. A matching love seat on the left and right. In the center was glass-top coffee table. The glass rested on an intricately carved wooden dragon.

Christopher and I sat on the love seat to the left, and Kenmei and Professor Pops took the one on the right. 

I kept expecting to see Hiro, but realized he was probably at school since it was close to nine in the morning.

A beautiful woman
brought in a tray of tea. I studied her; curious about whether she was Kenmei’s wife or daughter. Her looks were fresh, classic. She could’ve been thirty or fifty. I didn’t have to wonder long.

“
Adam, you’ve already met my wife, Mulan.”

Adam stood, and bowed. “Hello. So nice to see you again.”

Mulan bowed. “And you, Adam Henry.”

Mulan wore a turquoise
silk blouse, black pants, and black slippers. She didn’t have any makeup (and didn’t need any) on. Her hair was long, straight and black, except one thick streak of grey. It started above her right eyebrow and went all the way down to the ends. She held an air of innocence, except when she caught my gaze. Her eyes were like two black pools, filled with wisdom and knowledge.

“
Christopher Charming, this is my wife, Mulan.”

Christopher rose, and bowed. “Lovely to meet you. And may I say you’re more beautiful than the stories tell.”

She snickered. “A sweet talker, huh.”

Christopher
’s face flushed, the tips of his ears turned red.

I hid my surprise, highly entertained at how much meeting
the
Mulan affected him.

Then Kenmei introduced me.

“Snow White, this is Mulan,” Kenmei said.

I bowed. “Nice to
meet you,” I said, realizing she must be thousands of years old. And, how was that possible? Was she a vampire? Or… a chayot?

Mulan returned my bow and said,
“It is a great honor, Snow White.”

Nervous, I smiled.

Anyone would be hard pressed to get something past her, I thought, taking the cup of tea she presented.

After she left, Professor Pops and Christopher told Kenmei what happened. I let my mind wander.  Occasionally
sipping the tea. It wasn’t bloodlust, thankfully. This smelled like lemons.

“Snow?” Kenmei asked, bringing me back to the conversation

“
Hmmmm?” I answered, and then flushed. Kenmei must’ve asked me a question because Christopher and Professor Pops were staring at me. “What did you say?”

Kenmei smiled. “I asked
if Christopher’s blood tasted different when you drank from him?”

I thought about it. “No. It tasted the same.” I gave Christopher a glance.
But, if my blood tasted different to him, I wondered if his blood might taste different. He smiled.

Kenmei said,
“I think we should try an experiment.”

“Okay,” I said, but was
nervous. “What do you need me to do?”

“
You healed Christopher with the power of the Seal. Yes?”

I nodded.

“And before you healed Christopher, your blood burned him?”

Christopher answered this time. “That’s right.”

“But you drank from her since she healed you, and it didn’t burn.”

“Yes,” I said, seeing his mind was on the same metaphorical page as mine. I knew what he would request, but I wasn’t sure now was appropriate.

Kenmei continued, “I want you to taste his blood. Tell us if it’s different.”

“Right this second
?” I asked, my face flushing. When Christopher and I drank from each other it was very intimate.

“Don’t be a child, Shiryo-san,” Kenmei scolded. “Take his wrist.”

I
swallowed, and my heart rate jumped. Christopher turned, his face unsmiling. I sensed his tension. I think a part of him worried I wouldn’t like his blood anymore. “Are you sure this is necessary?”

“
It is. We must test the theory.”

I gulped down on my fear, ignoring the feverish dancing of butterflies in my stomach.

Christopher
lifted his wrist to my mouth. He caught my gaze and held it. I extended my fangs, and sank them into the tender, inner part of his wrist. I sucked slowly at first, but his blood was like liquid pleasure. Magic blended within his blood. I wanted more, and sucked harder. I couldn’t get enough. I didn’t want to.

Finally Kenmei said, “
Shiryo-san, stop.”

I
withdrew. It took great effort not to attack Christopher. I wanted more. His silvery-violet eyes raked over me. He didn’t want to be done either, not by a long shot. And my insides quivered with the knowledge.

“I take
it from your furious drinking his blood is pleasing?”

I blinked several times, trying to focus.
“It tastes better than any blood. Ever.” I wiped my mouth, and cleared my throat. “Also, I feel…” What was a word I could use without it sounding sexual? “Incredible,” I said.

Kenmei clapped his hands, and sat back in his chair.

Professor Pops leaned forward, a grim line on his lips. “What does this mean?” As he spoke, he waved a hand in my direction.

I watched Christopher absently stroke his wrist.
The holes had already vanished, but the feel of his skin against my mouth lingered. Leaning forward, I sipped some tea, desperate to be rid of Christopher’s blood in my mouth. Hoping that doing so would calm my desires for my Hunter. After I couple more drinks, I placed my teacup on the saucer.

“Yes, what does it mean?”
I prodded. I knew what it meant for Christopher and I. Private time, exchanging blood, kisses, and more. But what did it mean where everyone else was concerned?

Chapter 4

Kenmei took a turn glancing at each of us, and I c
ouldn’t help but shudder at what I saw in his eyes… endless horizons, stars, the Universe. They were as vast as eternity.

He said, “I believe it means we have a shot at destroying the Vampire Queen.”

“Really?” Professor Pops asked.

“How?” Christopher asked.

“Well, it’s simple really. When the Vampire Queen tries to take over Snow’s body, the magic of the Seal will destroy her. Burn her, as it did Christopher. And I’m guessing Snow’s blood would kill any one of us, except of course, Christopher.”

“Why, exactly?” I was happy about it. I didn’t want to kill my Hunter.

“The magical combination within the Seal, along with the dying essence of Silindra has sealed Sharra’s fate. When you healed Christopher, you gave him some of the Seal’s power. We agree on that?”