I dropped my fork. “But you just got here. I-I haven’t even had a chance to spend time with you?” I glared at Viv. “And she is not my mother.” Grabbing my plate, I pushed back my chair, and placed the plate in the sink.
“Snow,” my dad said, shocked.
Why didn’t he ever ask me to go with him? I could homeschool, or he could get me a tutor. “Can I come with you?” I asked, working to control my trembling bottom lip.
Cindy gasped. “Don’t leave me.” Tears made her eyes shiny. I hadn’t thought about how my going would affect her, but I had a feeling she’d be fine.
“What about school?” Viv asked.
My dad stood and came over. He placed a hand on either of my shoulders, and I dove into him, hugging him tight. “Dad, I need you. Please take me.” I knew I sounded like a child, but I couldn’t help myself. He was my dad, and all the family I had. I didn’t want him to leave me again. He returned my hug briefly before pushing me back.
I saw the worry in his eyes, and the way his forehead scrunched together. “Snow, I can’t. You have your school here, your life. I won’t take you from the only place you’ve ever known.” His words sounded sincere, but I felt him bristle. He didn’t want me around. I listened to the rapid beating of his heart, smelled the fear overpowering his aftershave. Didn’t he love me anymore? A part of me wanted to shout that my life could be wherever he was, if he would just love me, treat me like his daughter. But I stepped back. My shoulders slumped and I thought I might fall over. Small, warm hands wrapped around my shoulders.
“I’ll take good care of her.” Cindy’s words were filled to brimming with protection, and something else.
Magic, my inner voice whispered.
No way, I thought as the fountain of tears I kept fighting poured out.
I heard Vivianne heave an annoyed sigh. “I guess dinner is over.”
Had I not been so heartbroken I might’ve flashed my fangs, and shown Viv that dinner, at least for me, had just begun. Instead, I pulled away from Cindy, and ran upstairs. Gatsby, and Cindy followed.
Chapter 9
Cindy closed the door, and whispered, “Man, your stepmother can be kind of a bitch.”
“I know, right.” I sat on my bed, and pulled my pillow into my arms. A part of me always believed Viv liked Cindy more than me, and I thought Cindy liked Viv. Her relationship with her mom and dad was good, but they were older, and Cindy was their youngest, so her parents didn’t do much by way of relating.
A naughty gleam lit Cindy’s face. “I could cast a spell; cover her face in boils. What do you think?” She sat down next to me, pushing a strand of hair away from my wet cheek.
I laughed. “Might be fun,” I said noncommittally.
She went over and picked up her backpack. After she’d sat again, she unzipped her backpack, and removed a small book. As soon as I saw it, the air in the room changed. It hummed as though alive. The book possessed some serious energy.
It appeared to be bound by a leather chord. Most of the jacket was covered in a rusty red material. Cindy held it out, and nodded for me to take it.
“What is this?” I asked, feeling hesitant. Creepy, or weird didn’t fully describe the book. Bizarre was close. In the center of the cover was an eye. It looked real, like a lizards. A scaly face, in combination of violets and reds, surrounded the eye. “Can the eye… see me?”
Cindy laughed. “Probably. The book is known as the Eye of Abernathy, the first, and most powerful dragon ever to have lived on Earth.
“A dragon?” I rubbed my thumbs over the edges of the cover, staying clear of the eye. Soft, sleek, and smooth, like a lizard’s skin. “What’s inside?”
Cindy gave me one of her famous looks. “No duh,” this one said. Out loud, she added, “ Abernathy’s spells. This is the oldest, most powerful book on the planet.”
I snorted. “Really? Why do you have it?” Immediately after the words left my mouth I regretted them.
Hurt, she said, “Harsh.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it the way it came out.” I scooted closer and hit her knee with mine. I didn’t know how to ask her where the book came from or when she got it. Something told me the book was related to the pendant. I was still ignoring that part of my new life, and didn’t want to tell Cindy any of it, so I waited.
Cindy took the book from me, and slowly started turning pages. A sweet stench rose from the pages, like dried flowers. “Remember the other day, when I left school?” Her voice was soft, filled with wonder.
“Yes. You scared me.”
“Sorry.” She looked at me, sorrow on her face.
I smacked her knee with mine again. It was no big deal now that I knew she was safe. “Anyway, my mother’s aunt showed up at school, and said she needed to talk.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, it was weird. She said…” her voice trailed off. “Don’t freak out, okay? Promise?”
“How can I freak out if I don’t even know what you’re going to tell me?”
Cindy laughed nervously, and brushed her hair off her neck. “It’s just…” She drew in a deep breath. “You know how I’m a descendent of the Towne sisters?”
“Yeah,” I said slowly.
“Well apparently they really were witches, and powerful.” She crossed her legs.
“I thought we decided if the sisters were real witches they would’ve kicked some serious townspeople butt, and escaped, or at least turned the accusers into frogs.” That was the story Cindy and I told each other since second grade when we first found out she was a descendent. Our teacher, Miss Field taught about the Salem Witch Trials, and the Salem Hysteria in social studies. We knew most of the craziness happened in the town now known as Danvers—not in Salem.
Cindy cleared her throat. “It turns out when the town accused them, the sisters made a pact to fake their own deaths, if necessary, and allow the townspeople to think they died so they could move on, and live their lives elsewhere. My aunt says she believes they may still be alive.”
“Wait, so did they hurt those people? Make them crazy?”
Cindy huffed. “Of course not. They were to important, their magic too special for such trivialities.” The words sounded rehearsed. “The sisters used their magic more subtly, for a greater cause.”
“Oh, okay.” My mind went back to Kenmei’s words. He’d said the pendant never worked for anyone the way it worked for me.
Cindy continued, “The book is passed down to the next closest female descendent in their sixteenth year. So she gave it to me.” Her hand stopped flipping pages, and I read the words across the top.
“Locator spell,” I said aloud.
“Yes, it’s so cool. If you lose anything, even a person, you can use this spell to find it or them.”
For some reason the fact she chose that particular spell made the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. What did she hope to find?
The Seal of Gabriel, my inner voice whispered.
“R-Really?” I closed my eyes, and quickly opened them. I certainly didn’t want the responsibility of the necklace, but every cell in my body told me it would be bad, very bad, if Cindy got her hands on it. Tomorrow I’d give it to Professor Pops. Surely there was another Marked who could restore balance, and destroy the Vampire Queen.
“Want to help me give the spell a shot?” Cindy pulled a candle from her backpack.
“Um, yes. Okay,” I said, trying to think of a way to postpone what was about to happen. No part of me doubted her words. I sensed the book’s power. And if she said she could do a spell, I believed her. I wondered briefly if that was what Dorian meant at school earlier. Did the guys know something about the sisters? About Cindy’s family? About the Eye of Abernathy? .
“What should we try to locate?” Cindy asked.
Before I answered, Viv poked her head in. Her eyes zeroed in on the candle, and the spell book simultaneously. “We’re leaving, Snow. You should come down and say good-bye to your father.”
Anger—at her, at my dad, at Professor Pops, and the brothers, at Kenmei, and even Cindy—overwhelmed my body. I felt my canines grow, and without thought I ripped open the door, and grabbed Viv, her neck and shoulder exposed.
Viv gasped.
That’s right, I thought. I’m not some little kid you can push around anymore. As suddenly as I thought the words, darkness began to creep through my mind.
Someone chanted sounds in a strange language. Peace enveloped me, and I closed my eyes.
“Sleep, young one. You’re almost ready.”
Chapter 10
The next morning, when I woke, I felt different. Stronger. More relaxed with what I was—a revenant— and nothing more.
Sure my dad left. And, I’d pushed away the people most important to me, namely my seven best friends and their adoptive father, Professor Pops, but I could handle the situation. I just wanted to feel like myself again. A normal, if klutzy teenager.
Certainly not some Deliverer for the supernatural.
The necklace wasn’t created for me. It was made more than seven thousand years ago.
Kenmei’s been alive that long, my inner voice whispered.
No. I refused to believe in a sea of billions the gem was meant for me.
After my shower I put on the usual—jeans and a white t-shirt, along with my Converse, and a black belt.
And even though I refused to wear the Seal of Gabriel, after last night I knew the necklace needed to be kept safe. Reaching behind my lavender dresser, I felt for it, but couldn’t reach. So I pulled the dresser away from the wall. Other than a few dust bunnies, and a pencil, the necklace wasn’t there.
I went over in my mind exactly how I’d thrown it. For sure the chain hit a perfume bottle. I shifted all five of the pretty bottles, their scents permeating the air as I moved them. Then, thinking maybe I was mistaken, I rummaged around in my closet, checked under my bed, in my covers, and behind my window curtains. By the time I finished I was sweaty and still empty handed.
“Ugh! Where could it be?” Had Cindy taken the pendant? I remembered her telling me about the Locator spell and Viv coming in. I was angry. About to bite. Had Viv or Cindy seen my canines? Probably not, or I would’ve been in an asylum right now instead of my room. There was chanting, and I… what? Fell asleep? Passed out? How had I found my way back to my bed? I hadn’t said good-bye to my dad. The night before swam in hazy recollection.
Cindy must have taken the necklace. I dragged my phone from my back pocket, and texted her.
Did u use the Locator spell? And hit send. It was an easy enough question without sounding accusatory.
Moments later I heard a bell sound, which meant I received a text.
Didn’t get a chance. Viv sent me home. Why?
Sheesh! Where could it be? I texted back, No reason. C U in a few.
Had Vivianne taken it? Hurriedly I ran downstairs, fed Gatsby, and got on my bike. It was getting easier to pedal. Easier to move, period.
With each turn of the wheels, as I moved closer to the school, my worry for the necklace dissipated. If the necklace was gone, that meant I wasn’t accountable for ending the Vampire Queen, restoring balance. Right?
See, everything leaves you, my inner voice chided.
I shrugged.
“Good.”
Chapter 11
One morning, several days after bolting from Professor Pops’ house, I came downstairs and noticed a package sitting on the counter. Under it was a note that said: Remember, twice a day. By the smell I knew inside was my bloodlust tea. Without opening it, I placed the tea in the Sugar canister, and did my best to forget.
I was strong, the tea unnecessary. Whether because of drinking Christopher’s blood, or some other reason, I didn’t know. I didn’t want to think about the questions or the consequences. Plus the tea was another reminded of the guys.
***
September disappeared, and October was more than half over before I acquired the courage to talk to the guys, Professor Pops, or Kenmei again.
It wasn’t that I held a grudge against them anymore. I’d stopped being angry a week after my outburst. The problem was I didn’t know how to approach them. And they seemed to be doing fine without me. Sure I caught them staring once in a while, but they’d turn away as soon as our eyes met.
In a way being apart was good. Their absence from my life helped me to realize how much I loved them, appreciated them, and needed them. They were my family, and life without them wasn’t the same. Even if my life with them meant crazy, supernatural drama and training. Try as I might though, I couldn’t bring myself to break the silence.
At least I had Cindy. We hung out every second she wasn’t working. She would practice her magic with me, sometimes on me. We had fun. One day I went to school with a red streak in my hair, the next a yellow one. She became a pro at changing her nail polish and even “painted” mine red once during lunch.
Cindy was the one who gave me the push I needed to make up with the guys. She drove past my house, and pulled into Professor Pops’ driveway.
After putting the car in park, she shushed all of my lame excuses and said, “Look, it’s like a Band-Aid. Just rip the sucker off.”
I wanted to be upset, but all seven of the guys, and Professor Pops immediately came outside, and were waving and smiling like goofballs. I couldn’t leave them hanging any longer. I didn’t want to.
“You’re right,” I agreed, and got out of her car.
Chapter 12
Our reunion went better than expected. Hanging out with them again felt like putting on my favorite shoes. They were comfortable. Even Gabe seemed less tense then before my meltdown.
After several hours of chatting, dinner, and a movie screening—The Avengers—in their amazing theater room, Gabe suggested some training.
“You want to take a revenant on at midnight? You’re brave.” I playfully punched him in the arm, and rose from the supple leather couch. He’d sat next to me when the movie started. At first it was awkward, but as the movie progressed, and we laughed at our favorite parts together, I relaxed, and so did he.
“Training is an excellent idea, Snow. Not for too long though. After an hour, you should head home and get some rest. We’ll be here in the morning for some breakfast, if you’d like.” Professor Pops’ eyes twinkled with happiness, and I was sure my expression matched his.
I’d been away from my favorite people on the planet for far too long.
“I’d like that.”
Gabe stood, and I followed him down the stairs. When we entered the Museum of the Supernatural, it was like coming home. I missed the place more than I realized. After Gabe unlocked the door to the training room I followed him in.
He grabbed the longer sword, the katana, and the shorter one—I couldn’t remember what it was called—and handed them to me. “Ready?” he asked, as he crouched and started to circle.
“Bring it, Gabriel.” I’d started to laugh, but it caught in my throat. For weeks Professor Pops tried to tell me about Gabe. My talk with Kenmei, his story about Silindra and the vampire who’d killed her. His name was Gabriel too. It couldn’t mean anything, right? I shook my head. That they shared the same name was a complete coincidence.
Gabe smacked me on the arm with the flat side of the blade. “Concentrate, Snowflake. These weapons aren’t pretend. They’re real.”
I jumped. “Right.” I copied his stance, feeling my body find its position as I moved with a grace I hadn’t realized I possessed.
Even Gabe was impressed. He raised an eyebrow. “Have you been practicing?”
I shook my head. “Maybe,” I said, just to throw him off. We circled a few more times, and then he lunged. I blocked the blow, and spun around.
“Aren’t you Little Miss Kickass!” He smirked.
“You know it,” I responded, smirking back.
After that, we were a blur of blades. An orchestra of clanging metal, breathing, and synchroni
zed heartbeats. We moved in time to music of our own creation. Sweat mingled with the warmth of his skin, the delicious bouquet of his blood.
He tripped me, and I fell, landing on my butt. He took my swords and put them away. When he finished he came over and stuck out a hand. I grabbed hold. He yanked, but I had a better idea. I yanked back, hard. Surprised he fell toward me, but caught himself.
“Nice move,” he said with a smile, trapping me under him, his arms on either side of my shoulders.
I was mesmerized by his bright green eyes. They danced with a happiness I hadn’t seen in weeks, not since that night in my bedroom. Our faces were close, and I kept checking out his lips, soft and full. What’s changed? Why is he being friendly again? I didn’t have time for an internal debate because his lips were suddenly on mine.
I gasped in surprise, and gladly reciprocated, twining my fingers in his hair.
Gabe groaned, grabbing my hips and rolling so I was on top.
He pulled back, releasing my lips. I let out a sound like a pouting kitten; upset he wasn’t kissing me. He smirked and brushed some hair out of my face.
“I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk. I promised I wouldn’t leave and that’s exactly what happened. Can you forgive me?” His voice was hoarse, full of emotion, full of sincerity.
I responded by pulling his head down, claiming his lips with mine, hungry for more. I needed this Gabe. Sweet, kind Gabe. His tongue flicked inside my mouth, and I felt it low in my belly, a fiery desire.
Sensual Gabe, my inner voice cheered
My heart beat faster, keeping time with his.
“Snow,” he murmured, foraging a trail of hot kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and to my collarbone. My lips found his neck, and I kissed him. Once. Twice. He smelled like sweat, soap, and more. The scent of his blood. It sang to me. I kissed him again, directly on the quick beating pulse. An unquenchable ache slammed into me.
“Yes,” his voice pleaded. Urgent. Needy.
He wanted me to bite him. I sensed it. He wasn’t being subtle either as he pressed his neck into my lips.
Blood and Snow Volumes 1-4: Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises Page 16
