The idea repulsed me. I’d sooner stake myself and that shocked me. “No,” I said, as comprehension filled my mind. “Are you saying he’s got me under a spell or something?” Irritation started to build, but I pushed it down. Professor Pops had said Christopher was a master manipulator.
“It’s called compulsion and it’s what I would have done in his place.” Professor Pops took a long, thin sword from where it sat on the wall. He pulled off its sheath, revealing its glimmering metal. Even from a few feet away, it looked sharp.
I dropped the hand holding the stake and went over to him. “So, how do I kill vampires?” I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but we were in the weapons room. It seemed he wanted to share.
“Hopefully you won’t ever have to, but a drone vampire must lose his head to be killed.” He placed the knife at his neck. A sliver of blood trickled. When he moved it away, the slight cut healed instantaneously. Wow.
“And a worker?” I asked.
“They can be killed by either a stake to the heart or having their heart removed altogether.”
“So the sun doesn’t hurt vampires? That’s just fiction?” That seemed odd since books and movies showed vampire could all be killed by the sun.
“Vampire aren’t make-believe, but real. And these vampires were created with magic. That magic protects and fortifies them.” He swung the sword.
“Stake or rip their heart out. Got it. But what if I chop off a female’s head?” I imagined a writhing body searching for its head.
“The body and the head will reattach, unless of course they can’t find each other.” He shrugged. “It’s rather disgusting to watch, but a fact nonetheless.”
“Yeah, that’s icky.” I stepped away, heading over to the stake. “What about a hunter?”
He brought up his pointer finger and shook it. “Hunters are more difficult because they possess a greater portion of the queen’s magic, which gives them the added bonus of the power of persuasion. Most female vampires don’t have that power. In females, that ability is unique to Sharra and possibly you, since you’re marked.
“Great,” I mumbled.
“Like the workers, the only way to kill a hunter is by removing his heart. It beats thanks to the queen’s magic, so it must be cut from the body and separated from the other organs.”
“That’s gross,” I muttered.
“It is, truly. With the queen’s gifts, the hunter is also able to change the color of his eyes, even shift his appearance slightly.”
“Crazy. Can any of the vampires be destroyed by light?” I was still having a hard time believing sunlight had nothing to do with vampires in reality.
“No. Sunlight does nothing to vampires.”
I took a deep breath. “How can she be killed, then?” He knew I meant the queen. Sharra.
“If you can get through her fifty thousand workers and drones…” He trailed off. “Honestly, we aren’t sure, but we believe she can be killed during the moments she’s shedding her old body and claiming the new one. We think that’s when she’s at her most vulnerable.”
“You think? You believe? I gotta say, Professor, I’m not filled with confidence right now. I have one chance in fifty-five thousand. Those odds are seriously stacked, and not in my favor.” I walked over to a gun. It appeared to be made of solid silver. “For werewolves?” I asked, changing the subject as I wrapped my brain around what I was up against.
He shook his head, placing the sword back on the wall and picking up the gun. “This is for unicorns. A shot between the eyes will kill it.”
“I didn’t realize unicorns were hard to kill,” I said, taking a step back.
“Unicorns are magical creatures, Snow. They don’t die easily. There aren’t many of them left, and most are in the service of the vampire queen.”
My throat went dry. “But they don’t want me dead, right? If they work for her, then they’ll want to keep my body safe.”
“That isn’t necessarily true. We’ve heard rumors of dissentions within her realm. Some believe the queen is too old and should step down. Others have stolen magic from other creatures and are trying to usurp her. Many believe if all of the marked are killed off, she’ll die.” He set the gun down and crossed his arms.
“Is that true? Would she die?” I walked over to some miscellaneous weapons: a club, an axe, some smaller knives, and a spiky looking ball with a chain attached to the end.
“In theory, yes, she would die when her body gave out.”
“Couldn’t she take any body? Why does it have to be the fairest? If it came down to it, if she has the magic, couldn’t she use a dog, or a bee, or any living thing as her host?”
I turned when he didn’t respond right away.
He appeared thoughtful. “Technically, yes, she could, but she’s grown accustomed to humans. And in choosing an animal or an insect she would lose the power she so desperately desires. In the time I spent in her service, her hunger for power was quite apparent. I believe she’d rather die than be diminished to something other than what she is, what she’s become.”
“Okay, so say those who want her power do kill all of the marked; can’t the hunters just mark more?”
“Of course, but they have marked the best of the best in this generation. If she has to choose a lesser human, her power will diminish. It isn’t only about what’s appealing on the outside. Just as important is what’s on the inside. The purer the person’s soul, the better.”
It made some sense. I couldn’t help but wonder if Cindy had been marked as well. Her beauty certainly far outweighed mine. “So, those who want the queen’s power will come after me.” My lesson with the professor was turning out to be more difficult than chemistry.
Chapter 18
“It would seem logical now that you’re marked, which is why you must train.” He paused. “Though I do worry about your hemophilia.”
“I don’t think that’ll be an issue anymore.”
“Oh? How can you be sure?” He came toward me. “Have you noticed more changes?”
“Well, let’s see. I threw a pillow at Gabe, sending him flying across the room. I broke a table, for goodness’ sake.” I glanced down at my shoes. “Yeah, I’m changing, all right.”
He nodded. “That is why it’s important you become familiar with all of the creatures in that room,” he pointed out the doorway. “There isn’t an official Seven Magics Academy, except here in my basement, but you must learn more about the world you now belong to. And you must learn how to defend yourself. A war is coming, Snow. I know you didn’t ask to be part of it and it seems unfair, but you’re involved. And from what I can tell, the queen has put special emphasis on you.”
A devastating weight seemed to sit on my shoulders. The word war felt too big, too overwhelming. “Do you think the others know the vampire queen has singled me out?”
“I’m not sure. I would think not.” He moved back over to the sword and took it from its horizontal storage clamps on the wall, then grabbed another and handed it to me. “These swords should become like second nature to you. Some background about them first.”
“Sure.” Professor Pops always had a history lesson about something.
My mind was elsewhere though, and Professor Pops must have realized it.
“What’s on your mind, Snow?”
“How do you kill a revenant?” I peered down at my pink shirt and tugged, questioning whether he thought about killing me. I didn’t want to die, but what if I hurt people? It was there, within me. The hunger. The need.
His arms went around me, and I stepped into them. He pulled me against his chest in a fatherly hug. Swallowing the strangled cry in my throat, I returned his embrace. It’d been a long time since my dad had hugged me. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him.
“You are, or will be, a lot stronger than a regular human. Most marked who are bitten say they feel like they have superpowers.”
“So, I’ll be less klutzy?”
&n
bsp; Professor Pops chuckled and I couldn’t help the smile that curled up my lips. “Let’s not count on it.” He stroked my head with a hand, and I drew in a deep breath, enjoying the smell of old books, paper, and cigars.
After several minutes I pulled away and considered him. “I’ll be stronger, which will make it more difficult for me to die, but I can be killed the same as any human.” It was a statement. One that I knew, as I spoke, was true.
“Exactly.” He held the blade, still sheathed in a black cover, in both hands. “This is called a jokoto or katana, which is the now universal term.” From the wall he took a smaller sword that rested under the long one. “This is a wakizashi.” He moved into a fighting stance, showing me how to hold them. “Samurai used these swords together during battle beginning in the seventh century.” He indicated with his head that I should follow. Awkwardly I bent my knees and angled the swords. He nodded and started to move, crossing his right foot over his left. I mimicked as best I could.
“The long sword is for enemies at a distance. The shorter for when the enemy gets inside.” He parried, maneuvering the blades as he battled an invisible foe. “Like this.”
I tried to follow but ended up tangling my hands together.
“Very good.”
I laughed. “Really?”
Professor Pops smiled and turned to replace his sword. “Samurai believed the katana held their soul and would only use them as a last resort. They would use the bow and arrow first, then a spear and, finally, if they had to, their swords.” He moved behind me and began adjusting my stance. Several seconds later he had me in the proper position. I felt like a rag doll.
“Every day, after finishing your regular schooling and after track practice, you will come here and attend the Seven Magics Academy. Either I or one of the boys will train you. Dorian is excellent with the swords. Gabe is the best bowman, and Salvatore is brilliant at all of them. Though, if one of those three isn’t available, any of them is more than exceptional.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
“After a couple of hours of training, you will spend an hour or two studying about the different creatures in the other room until you’re acquainted with each one.”
I stood. “What about homework? I’m struggling with chemistry.”
He waved his hands dismissively. “You’ll find your human studies will come more easily and you can breeze through it without much worry.”
“I’ll have to see it to believe.” The prospect excited me. I struggled with several subjects, especially English, Science, and Phys-Ed.
“I think you’ll find many of the regular human activities will come easier, and you’ll want to spend more and more time in your new world.” Professor Pops took the swords and placed them back on the wall next to the other set.
“Are you sure I’ll be okay going to school?” I thought about chemistry and what’d almost happened.
“We’ll give you a double dose of the tea twice a day, then send you to school with a dose for emergencies.” He walked out of the room and I followed. Then he locked it. I stared at the female vampire behind the glass case. Her eyes were red and still seemed to glow.
“What happens if I do drink a human’s blood?” The words came out without my thinking about them first.
Professor Pops stood next to me. “I understand your needs, perhaps better than anyone. Human blood will increase your powers, making you stronger in every way except one.” He pointed at my heart. “The more blood you drink, the more like a vampire you’ll become. It’s like anything in life; if you work to keep yourself as human as possible, that part of you will remain, will be the strongest. If you consume human blood the way a vampire does, that part of you will become the strongest.”
I nodded. “I understand.” I wanted to tell him I craved blood and that I’d almost drunk from Dorian today. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Embarrassment over the almost erotic nature of my desires held me back. They seemed overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure how to control them.
He patted my shoulder. “Don’t misunderstand me. Craving blood is part of who you are now. The time will come when you will drink.” He paused and his eyes dilated, and I saw a flash of what he must’ve been like as a hunter. The image scared me, but the look left his face almost as quickly as it’d appeared. “There are two things you must promise me.”
I swallowed and cleared my throat. “What?”
He held up a finger. “Promise me you won’t drink from the same human twice.” A second finger went up. “And two, promise me you won’t drink for more than ten seconds. Any more and there is a possibility you’ll kill the human from blood loss or your blood lust. Can you do that for me, please?”
I suddenly felt parched. The idea of consuming blood caused my muscles to tense with need.
“Snow?”
“I promise,” I agreed, though, at that moment, I would’ve agreed to anything. He hadn’t given me the green light to bite, but he said it was bound to happen. I wanted it to happen sooner rather than later.
“And, Snow?” I focused and was met with his piercing eyes.
“Yes?”
“Gabe—”
“I’m what?” Gabe stood in the doorway, looking smug.
I ground my teeth. Why were the guys constantly interrupting Professor Pops when he mentioned Gabe? It was almost as though they had a sixth sense or something.
“Hi, Gabe,” I said shyly. It was weird seeing him in this room full of supernatural creatures.
Professor Pops cleared his throat and I turned. “Why don’t you go home tonight, get caught up on your school work and get some rest. Come tomorrow, after I’ve talked to the boys. Your training will begin.”
Gabe gave Professor Pops an unreadable look. “Will she be safe?” he asked, his face tight with unspoken worry.
“I’m fairly certain no one will come after her until she turns sixteen.” He raised a hand and rubbed it over his face. “Which reminds me, what’s your favorite cake flavor?”
I blanked. I hadn’t had cake since my mother died. They served cake at her funeral. Then and there, I decided I didn’t like cake. Plus, as a vegan that meant no eggs and most cake was made with eggs. “Um,” I glanced at Gabe, though I had no idea why. “Can you make a cake without eggs?”
“Someone can. I intend to hire the best. What’ll it be? Chocolate? Vanilla?”
A twisted smile spread over my face. “Red velvet.”
Gabe and Professor Pops laughed.
“Perfect. I’ll get on it. And your favored color?”
I didn’t have a favorite color. I’d always liked purple because of my mom.
Gabe answered for me. “Her favorite color is purple.”
I glanced away briefly and then at Professor Pops. “Purple is fine, but I’ve always really liked glittering red.”
“Excellent. See you tomorrow, Snow.” Professor Pops waved us away as he went back toward the downy fairy.
“I’ll walk you home,” Gabe said, his smile tight. I sensed his concern and something else. Fear probably. Gabe was afraid of me. That made me sad, but I didn’t know how to change his mind and help him see that I was still me. Still his Snowflake.
Chapter 19
“Since when did you start liking red?” Gabe and I walked side by side at a slow pace toward my house.
I offered him a sideways smile. It gave me butterflies to know that Gabe paid attention. A glowy, tingly happiness bloomed in my chest. “Since the first time I saw Dorothy’s shoes on The Wizard of Oz. Probably at age three or four.” I stuffed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “Then my mom died and most of the stuff I kept of hers was purple, so I sort of adopted it as my favorite as well.”
“Huh,” Gabe grunted.
“I’d guess your favorite color is…” I considered. His car was silver. His room looked like a shrine to the Celtics, but he wore a lot of white and blue. “Either green or blue,” I said.
He smirked. “You were thinking a
bout my room, weren’t you?”
I nodded.
“I guess it’s green.” He took my hand and stopped so I faced him. His heartbeat pounded rapidly. With gentle fingers he caressed my cheek, stroked my hair. “I’ve always loved the color of your hair.”
I looked away, kicking at nothing on the ground in front of me. “You have?”
He played with the ends of my hair, twirling a strand in his finger. “It changes color in the light. Sometimes it’s black, other times there seem to be blond highlights. It’s magical.” He released my hair and lifted my chin. “Like you, Snowflake.”
“I’m not.” My cheeks burned at the compliment. The bloodlust grew by a couple of degrees. Would Gabe offer his blood to me the way Dorian had? At the thought, my heart began to match Gabe’s beat for beat.
“Snow…” he hesitated. Curious, I searched his face. “I’ve liked you for a long time,” he said.
“I know. I like you, too.” I returned, eagerly. The sun gleamed through the thick trees, causing rays of sunlight to streak onto a portion of Gabe’s face. Half of his face was shadowed, and the other half shone in the light.
“No, I mean like-like you.”
Comprehension dawned and I nearly smacked myself in the forehead with the palm of my hand. “I didn’t know. I thought you thought of me as just a sister.” A mixture of gladness and nervousness swirled in my stomach. I’d only just discovered he liked me. Before we had a chance to find out what that meant, the hunter had bitten me. It didn’t seem fair.
He took hold of my hands. “I think of you in ways much different than I would a sister.” A mischievous gleam shone in his eyes.
I giggled nervously, glancing at my shoes.
He leaned in and I realized he was about to kiss me—which reminded me I’d kissed Christopher today, which reminded me I almost drank from Dorian today, which made me feel gross. I was all for being a confident woman and taking what I wanted. But I still wanted Gabe… and more.
“I’ve got to go.” I turned and ran. Fast. And I didn’t trip once.
Blood and Snow: Snow White Reimagined with Vampires and Magic (Seven Magics Academy Book 1) Page 8
