I reached out, drawn to the colorful beading. Viv slapped my hand away. “Wash your hands first.” She took the dress from my dad. “I hope this fits you. It’s hard to tell under all those baggy clothes.”
“What size is it?” I asked, drying my wet hands on a towel.
“Tut-tut. Go try it on.” I took the dress and went upstairs. There wasn’t a tag or a size in the dress. Viv probably didn’t know.
When I entered my room I casually peeked around before closing my door. “Christopher. Charming, are you here?” I checked my bathroom, the shower, my closet, even under my bed. He wasn’t there. My stomach sank. He must’ve left. I hoped he’d come back later—after they went to bed.
“Snow! Hurry up,” Viv shouted.
“Okay.” I tore off my clothes and cautiously stepped into the dress, zipping up the side. I went to the full-length mirror and twirled side to side, watching the dress glimmer. It fit perfectly.
“Snow!” Viv hollered again.
“Keep your hair on,” I muttered, opening the door. At the top of the stairs I paused.
Viv noticed me first. “Snow, you look amazing.” She clutched her hands together.
“Yes, you do. Like royalty,” Dad chimed in.
Viv gave him a dark glance. Then she scowled in my direction. “Come down. Let me see you close up.”
I walked down the stairs. Before I reached the bottom, her hands were on me, pulling and tugging. I hoped she didn’t rip any of the material. “It isn’t perfect, but you’ll do,” she said when she finished. “I wouldn’t want anyone at the party thinking we’re cheap.”
I wiped the grin off my face and nodded. I didn’t bother mentioning that Professor Pops had brought me a book filled with Vera Wang designs and that I would be wearing one of those dresses, if any dress at all. “Well I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” I gave Viv an awkward hug. “Thank you for the dress. It’s gorgeous. I love it.” I wasn’t completely lying. If it had been another color, it would’ve been perfect.
She patted my arm. “Of course.” She moved back over to the bags, rifling through them again.
Dad pressed me to him.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“You’re welcome, Snow-Angel. Good night.”
“Night.” Before I started up Viv brought over a hanger nestled in a garment bag along with the bag that held the mask. “Put the dress in here and make sure the mask is somewhere safe.” She pressed them into my outstretched hands.
“I will.”
Chapter 32
Gatsby followed me upstairs and jumped on my bed. He curled himself into a ball, his blue-grey eyes watching me. “Do you think you’re under fed?” He licked his mouth. “Definitely not. You’re the perfect size. Quite handsome.”
I hung up the garment bag and placed the sack holding the mask on the shelf above my clothes. Carefully I stepped out of the dress and hung it up inside the garment bag.
After pulling on a cherry tank and a black pair of PJ pants I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and climbed into bed. I tucked my hands under my pillow. My fingers brushed against… something. Rolling to my stomach, I lifted the pillow. There was a red gem in the shape of a teardrop attached to a long sliver chain. It was about the size of my thumb.
Under the necklace rested a piece of paper with a note scrawled on it. I flipped on the lamp next to my bed.
Frosty, I’d intended to wait until your birthday party to give you the necklace, but I may not be able to make it. So, I’m giving it to you now. The gem is filled with magic, like you. Wear it always, please. It’ll keep you safe. I’ll see you soon.
Your hunter,
Christopher.
I read the note several times. Each pass caused my heart to constrict in pain. He wouldn’t be able to make it to my party? It was more than a month away. Would he be gone that long? I eased the fine chain over my head, watching the gem glint against the filtered light.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
Gatsby came over and rubbed his head against my hand, purring. I scratched him behind the ears. “I’ll be fine, kitty.” Folding the note, I tucked it under the lamp stand and turned off the light. Gatsby nudged me, a not so subtle hint that he still wanted to be petted. With a sigh I accommodated and thought about the last time I’d seen Christopher. We’d been in my kitchen. He was excited, stunned and happy about the wooden bear. “What’s going on?” Weary after a long day, I closed my eyes. My mind wandered back through all I’d done. School. Track. Going to Sharra. Meeting the pixilettes, weapons training, and then my dad and stepmother. It felt like I’d lived a week in one day. I hadn’t done any homework though. Not good. Hopefully I’d be able to get it done tomorrow during classes.
“Snow White, come closer.” Her voice seemed to whisper inside my mind.
The room was round with walls made of rectangular rocks. A darkened window prevented any light from entering. The vampire queen sat on a large throne decorated in jewels that twinkled in the light from the candelabras. All around the room sat others—all women. They seemed angry, their rage barely contained. Their eyes gleamed a golden yellow like the sun.
Had she brought me here? “Is this Sharra?” I asked, working to keep my focus on her and not the others. They frightened me, their gazes following my every move.
The queen smiled, flashing her sharpened canines. She was so beautiful it hurt. The images I saw in the book at the Museum of the Supernatural invaded my mind—ape bodies and bat-like wings with their faces human-looking. She’d looked like that at one point. I wondered if those kinds of vampires still existed or if they all died.
“I see Christopher has been enlightening you. Yes, this is Sharra, a realm of my creation.” A long, old-fashioned gown hugged her curvy body and spread out around her in tones of emerald and pine. Black ribbing crisscrossed the bodice. Her thick raven-black hair was done up in hundreds of curls, a diamond tiara peeking out in front. An emerald choker captured her neck. Thick black lashes framed iridescent blue eyes. Her lips shone red as blood, as did her long manicured nails. “Come closer so I can look at you.”
My body responded to her alluring voice, and I moved forward. Would she take me now? Had my time run out already? I wasn’t prepared. At least according to Professor Pops, I still needed to drink my true love’s blood. As one of the marked, that was how I was to change.
Gathering confidence, I lifted my chin. “What do you want?” My question angered the other vampires. They launched out of their chairs, hissing and revealing their fangs as they stalked toward me. There was no escape. I was surrounded. A quick look at the queen revealed she was smiling. Did that mean she was through with me? She wanted her vampires to tear me to shreds? To drink me dry? But I wasn’t ready to die. Not even close. “No. Stop,” I shouted, glaring at her with determination. It dawned on me suddenly that I was still in my PJs, but I didn’t have time to be self-conscious. The vampires closed in, circling me. They were so close I caught their cloying, too-sweet scent, but they didn’t attack. It was like they were trying to scare me, not actually eat me. Their tactics were working. I was scared and I crossed my arms over my face. In that same instant, a red light exploded from my palms into the vampire nearest me. She burst into flames.
“Whoa!”
Those closest to her screamed and ran when some of the flames touched them, their bodies blackening. The others froze; their beautifully fanged faces filled with apprehension.
“No, don’t hurt them!” the vampire queen shrieked. I almost laughed though nothing about the situation was funny.
She had been bluffing.
I bolted upright, throwing off the covers and frightening Gatsby. “Sorry, boy,” I whispered, trying to calm my racing heart. Heading into the bathroom, I filled a cup with water and chugged it down. A movement from behind startled me. My heart raced. Something was in my room, near the window. And like an idiot, I moved closer. It was a squat creature, like a big blob of mud with yellow cat eyes. “Are you real?�
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It opened its mouth. A bright pink tongue licked two slits that I figured could be its nose. “She sees me,” it said in a raspy voice.
“Yes, I see you. Is there someone else here?” I quickly scanned the room. Gatsby stood on my bed, his back arched, and hissed.
“Magic, my queen. The girl possesses magic.” Moving more rapidly than I believed possible, it opened my window and jumped.
“Wait!” I called, going to the window. The creature bounded across my back lawn like a giant toad and disappeared into the thick brush that lined the property.
Chapter 33
The next morning after getting ready, I went downstairs and was surprised to find Vivianne in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. She had on a pair of sweatpants with the word SEXY in bold letters across her butt and a matching hot pink hoodie. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
“Pancakes sound okay?” she asked, smiling. She seemed so young.
“Um, sure.” I’d been vegan since Viv and my dad married. I wondered if she’d made the pancakes vegan friendly. Something told me she’d fixed them her way. And, really, did it matter anymore? All I wanted was blood. Christopher’s blood. Regular food no longer appealed to me in any form.
At the thought of Christopher, my heart clenched in my chest and my fingers touched the gem teardrop under my shirt. A dark expression darted across Vivianne’s features as she gave my clothes the once over. Faded jeans and a sky-blue tee shirt. The Pillsbury Dough Boy winked from my chest. It took a giant effort not to ask her what her problem was. This was one of my favorite shirts.
“Have a seat.” She indicated a stool under the counter with the spatula in her hand.
“Thanks, Viv. You didn’t need to do this. I could’ve made myself something.” Like my tea. I’d put the bloodlust mixture in a white stoneware canister with the words Brown Sugar across the front and left it on the counter. I moved a loaf of bread and a mustard yellow bowl filled with red apples and sat. “Have you seen the brown sugar canister?” I asked, opening the cupboards.
She didn’t answer and I turned to catch her watching me, her face unreadable.
“Yes, dear. I threw the contents in the sink and tossed out the canister. It stank.” Viv shrugged. “Whatever you had in there couldn’t have been any good. I know you’re a health nut and I’m fine with that, but I won’t have you doing drugs in this house.”
How did she get to drugs? “They were herbs. For a tea I need.” I ran over to the sink, but it was empty. Fear swallowed me. I didn’t know if my lack of lust for blood was because I drank from Christopher or the tea, and I didn’t want to find out. Come to think of it, I hadn’t had any of his blood or the tea in over twenty-four hours. I breathed in and was relieved to realize that, though I could smell her blood, it didn’t cause a craving.
“Sure, whatever you say. I know how the kids are now. They think because that stuff is legal, it’s okay to do whatever you want. But not in this house. Not while I’m around.” She gave me her signature wicked smile. “Sorry, Snow.” She indicated a plate where she’d just put a pancake. “Why don’t you sit and eat?”
I was furious and ground my hands into fists, forcing back the words I wanted to say. “No, thanks. I’ve got to get to school.” I grabbed my backpack from the dining table and ran out the back door. At the bottom of the stairs I remembered I hadn’t fed Gatsby. No way was I going back in there, though. He’d be okay. Maybe my dad was right: I’d be glad to see him go because it meant he’d take Viv with him.
I crossed the yard, making my way to Professor Pops’ house. I hoped he was home. I needed to explain the tea situation. Hopefully he could get some more from Kenmei. Seconds after I knocked on the door, Bart answered. He wore dark jeans and a white button-down shirt. His blond hair was still a little damp, probably from a shower.
“Hey, Snow. Come on in.”
“Thanks.” I stepped into the high-ceilinged foyer, admiring the enormous sparkling chandelier while he closed the door. “Is Professor Pops around? I need to talk to him.”
“Yep, in the kitchen. Don’t freak out, but there’s a meat extravaganza in there. We didn’t know you were coming.” He looked guilty.
I laughed. My veganism was moot at this point anyway. “It’s okay. I know you guys eat meat.” Then I leaned away, trying to ignore his beating heart. “Besides, with me being a revenant and everything, I probably shouldn’t worry about the whole vegan thing anymore, ya know?”
“True. I forgot.” He sauntered into the kitchen and I followed him.
The smell of cooking meat—bacon, sausage, and eggs—pummeled my senses and I bit back nausea. Maybe I was still Vegan after all.
“Look who it is,” Bart said, taking a seat at the sleek table filled with food.
Eight sets of eyes bored into me, each man in various stages of consuming their breakfast.
“Hi, guys.” I raised my hand, giving them an embarrassed wave.
“Snow,” Professor Pops rose, placing his napkin on the table. “Is everything okay?”
I shook my head. It wasn’t, for several reasons, many of which had to do with my stepmother. “Can I talk to you privately a second?” I didn’t want to worry the guys, have them think I’d become a blood-sucking crazy pants who would try to bite them, or worse.
“Sure,” he said, glancing back at the boys. “There’d better be two slices of bacon left when I get back.”
He was a vampire. How could he like the taste of food? Didn’t he still need blood? Oh, the questions. My head hurt.
“Let’s go into my study.”
I followed him down the airy hall and into his office. “What’s happened?” he asked, closing the door.
“Nothing. Yet.” I absently stroked the old wooden desk next to my leg. “It’s just my dad and stepmother came home last night.” That wasn’t how I meant to open. I’d planned on getting right to the point. I needed bloodlust tea.
Professor Pops let out a frustrated huff. “How is that going?”
“Viv threw away my bloodlust tea,” I blurted, worried he’d be mad. There hadn’t been a need. Warmth soothed his features though there was some irritation. Vivianne tended to cause that reaction in people.
“That woman.” He went around to the business side of his desk and sat in a large camel-colored leather chair. “Have a seat,” he said.
I obeyed and watched him dial a number on his cell phone.
“Kenmei-sensei. It’s Adam.” There was a pause and a smile flitted across his lips. “I’m well, old friend.” Another pause. “It seems we’re in need of some more of your special tea.” Pause. His lips pressed together in a thin line. “Yes.” Pause. “Great. I’ll send one of the boys by to pick it up later today.” A longer pause. “Are you sure?” Pause. “Great, I’ll see you then.” He hung up the phone, rested his hands on the large calendar on his desk, and gave me a wary look. “Kenmei-sensei will bring the tea by later today. He’s also asked that he be the one to train you this afternoon.”
Nervous flutters pirouetted across my tummy. The man was scary, but my fear came from more than knowing the oldest hunter would be training me. I was also worried about school. “Great,” I said, knowing I should go, but I wasn’t ready.
“Will you be alright at school?” His intense gaze bored into me.
“Yes. I think so. Thank you, Professor Pops.” I forced myself not to fidget under his contemplation. For some reason Christopher’s face appeared in my mind. He wouldn’t be in chemistry or at lunch or track practice. I swallowed sadly. In the past few days, he’d become my ally, my friend, the only person I wanted to be around.
“Excellent.” He came around to the door. “Take care.”
I readjusted my backpack. “I will.” My voice belied the apprehension I harbored.
He smiled kindly. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”
We made our way back into the kitchen. The guys were mostly done eating and were packing up to leave. I searched for
Gabe, but he’d gone.
“Dorian, will you give Snow a ride to school?” Professor Pops asked.
“I’d love to.” Mischief twinkled in his eyes. That’s how Gabe used to be. I thought of the night Gabe helped me up after I fell in the parking lot at Warehouse Video. That wasn’t very many days ago—maybe five? It felt like a lifetime. As I followed Dorian to the garage and got in his beefy black Mustang, my thoughts turned to Cindy. “Did you ever hear back from Cindy?” I asked as he started the car and it roared to life.
Distress or sorrow crossed his face but was gone immediately. “Yes. She’s fine. I believe a dude was involved, like everyone thought. No biggie.”
Dorian was lying. Why? The teardrop gem warmed under my shirt and I grabbed a hold of it.
“Really?” I asked, not sure how to call him on the lie. “You heard from her, her actual voice?”
“I’ve talked to her, Snow.” His voice betrayed the sarcasm oozing over his words.
His heart pounded—steady, but was it faster than normal? I wasn’t sure. Taking a deep breath, I caught a whiff of his aftershave. He smelled good. Clean. Appealing.
His blood sang me a sultry song. My mouth watered. I’ll be fine I told myself, covering my nose and mouth with my hand.
“You alright, Snow?” He glanced at me; his eyes full of concern.
“Sure. I rest my hand over my nose and mouth all the time,” I mumbled, irritated.
Illumination dilated his eyes. He knew what I needed, what I wanted. The way the muscles in his thighs and shoulders tensed told me as much.
My face heated and I looked away, out the window at the houses and trees zipping by.
“Snow, I told you if you ever needed blood, I’d gladly let you take from me.” The car slowed and he pulled over to the side of the road. He shut off the engine and scooted beside me. “Go ahead,” he said, his voice soft.
Shocked, I watched him, studying his face, my eyes lingering on his lips. He swallowed and my gaze shifted to his fully exposed neck. His pulse beat loudly, begging me to take what I wanted. Mesmerized, I took hold of his arms and my canines grew. “Dorian.” I heard the word leave my mouth but didn’t recognize my voice.
Blood and Snow: Snow White Reimagined with Vampires and Magic (Seven Magics Academy Book 1) Page 14
