Blood and Snow 7: Seal of Gabriel

by Workman, RaShelle

  “The Seal—” she stopped as though she couldn’t tell me.

  “Are you somehow here to stop me from collecting the magic I’m trying to preserve?”

  She gulped. “No,” she finally whispered. “I think I’m here to help… somehow.”

  I shook my head, and I noticed hers shook like mine. “Are you inside my head?” I already knew the answer. How it happened I didn’t know.

  “I am,” she said matter-a-factly.

  Chapter 9

  I had so many questions I wasn’t sure where to start. And I got the feeling she had more than I did.

  “Silindra?” Envy stood in the doorway, her sympathetic violet eyes searching. “Can I help, assist, aid you in some way?”

  “No.” Then I remembered Ryden. “Can you look for Ryden? I need to find her.”

  She bowed slightly, and said, “Of course.” Backing out, she turned and bounded away. I heard her calling Ryden’s name.

  I went back to the mirror. Peering closely, I watched her do the same. She wore a white dress. It was simple, elegant, beautiful even. The collar circled against her neck, accentuating the blood red of the gem. The sleeves of the dress were long and her hair was turned under at the end. A white ribbon tied in a bow on top of her head. She looked very young.

  “How old are you?” I finally asked.

  “I’m sixteen, but I-I think I’m having a birthday soon.” She cleared her throat, and I noticed she fought back tears.

  “You think,” I asked simply.

  She nodded. “I keep getting these flashes of conversations from where I’m from, from people I care about… one of them. Gabe. He said I had a birthday coming up.”

  “Do you know how long you’ve been like this?” I tapped my head. “Inside here.”

  A tear ran down her cheek, and as though the feelings were my own, I felt an overwhelming agony.

  In my mind I saw a flash of steel. Heard the clips of conversation. Saw her in a beaufitul dress. Watched her get bitten. Saw her kiss a dark-heaired boy. Walked through a room full of magical creatures. Talk to a blond witch she called Cindy. I saw her mother. She was part elf, but this girl didn’t know it. The girl believed her mother was dead. There was a funeral. Her mother lay in a wooden box. Pixilettes I didn’t know visited her. This human girl was special, filled with magic, more than she realized. More even than her friend, the one she called Cindy. The withdrawn chayot, Oberon, fought the girl. A flash of red light…

  I gasped. The visions vanished as quickly as they’d come.

  “I think it’s been almost a year, according to my time,” she said, sniffling.

  I took a deep breath. “Do you know why you’re here?”

  “You’re trying to collect all of the Earth’s magic?”

  “Yes, that is correct.”

  “I think I’m supposed to be with you, help you in some way.” The girl moved back, wiping her wet cheeks with the backs of her hands.

  “You aren’t from this time, are you?” I whispered, wishing I could take back the question. I didn’t want to know.

  “No. I’m from a much different time—in the future.” Her voice sounded as scared as I felt, though I couldn’t believe it was possible. Fear wasn’t an emotion that plagued me.

  Changing the subject, since I didn’t want to understand what she meant. A different time—that made no sense. “You heard what Abernathy said?”

  “Yes.” Her lips pinched into a tight line.

  I nodded. “Can I only see you in this mirror?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, her voice pained.

  “It’s alright, Snow White,” I said, trying to bring comfort. “We’ll talk again soon. I need to find my precocious friend Ryden so we can be on our way. If that—” I pointed at her necklace, “brought you, perhaps once I complete the quest you’ll be able to go back to your time.”

  A look of fear crossed her face.

  “Oh, Silindra. I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It isn’t your fault you’re stuck in my head.”

  She gulped. “That’s not what I meant exaclty. See, G—”

  “Silindra, I’m here!” Ryden flew into the room.

  I turned. “Where have you been?”

  She shrugged, her teeny cream cheeks blossoming a deep shade of chartruse. “Too much watermelon juice,” she said.

  “Humfph.” I lifted the mirror off the wall. “Hang in there, Snow White,” I said. The mirror vanished.

  … “Happy birthday, Snow Angel. I… don’t know if you can hear me, but I love you. Daddy’s here. And when you wake, the two of us are going to catch up on daddy/daughter time. Okay, sweetheart?”…

  Chapter 10

  I tried to bring the mirror back, but it wouldn’t reappear. “If you can hear me, Snow White, I’ll figure out a way to bring the mirror back, but we’ve got to move on.”

  I know. It’s okay. I heard her voice inside my head.

  “Ryden, let’s go. We need to find a…” I stopped and glanced at Envy. She stood a little ways off, her tail swishing behind her, her bright eyes watching.

  “You need the healing power of a unicorn horn, don’t you? Am I right, correct, assured?” Envy asked slowly.

  I closed the door to the cottage. “Yes, that’s right.” I glanced errantly at her stubby nub, at the spot where her horn was trying to grow. “I planned to speak with Lorenze, the leader of the unicorns.”

  Envy shook her mane. “No need, you can have mine, as soon as it’s fully grown, developed, supplanted.”

  I smiled. Meeting this sweet creature, seeing the way she loved so unconditionally, filled me with a joy I hadn’t experienced in a while. “Thank you, Envy, but I couldn’t ask that of you.” I moved toward the waterfall, enjoying the loud roaring, and the way the mist splashed against my skin. Ryden and I would fly to the land of the unicorns. It would be a quick trip.

  Ryden fluttered near my ear. “Where are you going to put the horn, anyway?”

  I didn’t respond. Ryden didn’t know the whole plan yet. She didn’t understand what I was doing. I would tell her, of course. I told her everything. But I hadn’t found an opportunity yet.

  “Silindra, it’s my destiny, my fate, my calling, to do this,” Envy said, trotting so that she blocked my way.

  I looked at her, searching her kind, generous eyes. “But your horn is still growing.” I reached out to touch it, but resisted. “Does it hurt very much?”

  She shook her head. “No. It’s fine. My horn will be ready very shortly, soon, swiftly.” Her long black lashes batted considerately.

  “Envy, I’ve lived a long time. For a couple of centuries I even dwelled in the land of the unicorns. And I know it takes years for a horn to regrow.” I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I would’ve done anything to keep her from more pain, but her horn couldn’t grow as quickly as I needed.

  She whinnied, shaking her head. “If you’ll believe, I promise, when the time comes, it’ll be ready, developed, complete.”

  How could I tell this amazing creature no? It was impossible. I wouldn’t. It might take longer than I’d planned, but if Envy believed it was her destiny, then I wanted to make her happy.

  “Thank you so much, Envy. I’ll go to the trolls next. I need their strength. On my way back, I’ll stop here and check on you.”

  Envy laughed. It was a neigh-whinny-neigh type laugh. I had to join in.

  “Okay?”

  “I’ll come with you. It’ll be fun to travel, to voyage, to trek,” Envy said, pushing her nose against my thigh.

  “Oh, I—”

  Envy interrupted. “Don’t say no. I’m supposed to go. Devoran even decided, agreed, approved.”

  If I took her we’d have to walk. Or, I guess I could carry her, if she let me. “Ryden and I are going to fly.”

  “Oh, to fly, to soar, to flutter!” Envy closed her eyes. Her lashes trembled against her lids and her whole body shook, like she concentrated too hard. A black cloud twisted around
her legs, and over all of her body, like velvety tendrils.

  “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 physic
ality 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.