“Oh, yes. And I love him too.” He sighed.
“Surely, you’ve fallen in love more than once since Aurora?” Obviously, since he had at least one daughter.
“Yes, I’ve loved a few times, but none were so great as when I fell in love with her.”
That made me sad. Unrequited love sounded awful. “I’m sorry,” I said.
He shook his head. “Don’t be. Perhaps it’s the heartbreak of a first love, or maybe dragons love differently than humans.” He chuckled again. “Either way, my heart has and will always belong to Aurora.” He paused and wiped at his eyes. Was he crying? “It was the love I felt for her that finally allowed me to break free of the vampire queen’s grasp.”
That was interesting. “How does that work?” Christopher kind of told me, but I was still a little confused.
“The token must have significant meaning for the hunter. It’s different for each of us.”
For Christopher, it was the bear he carved. I wondered what helped Professor Pops. Someday I might ask him.
“I shared this memory with you because I wanted you to understand the power the vampire queen holds,” Kenmei said.
“What do you mean?” I’d completely forgotten everything but being in this moment.
“Sharra drank from me at my weakest moment, when Aurora shunned my romantic affections for another. I was angry, filled with hatred, consumed by grief. When Sharra found me, I believed I was using her—at first. Of course, once she changed me, I realized my folly.”
I was still confused.
Kenmei noticed and went on. “By drinking my blood, she stole some of my magic.” He paused. “Each time you allow Christopher to drink from you, you’re giving him some of your magic as well. And when you healed him?” Darkness passed over Kenmei’s features.
I wouldn’t change what I did. Letting Christopher die was out of the question. But now I understood. Before I was the Seal, Christopher only took what little magic I possessed as a vampire. Now? I shuddered. Some of the Seal’s power passed from me and into him every time I let him drink from me. Holy crap. “Why didn’t you just tell me that from the beginning?” Frustration oozed from my pores.
His eyes softened. “Would it have made a difference?”
Such a simple question. I wanted to give him a haughty yes, but as I searched Kenmei’s face, I knew that was a lie. Before Dorian showed me the truth, I had thought I loved Christopher. “No,” I whispered. “But—” I began, and Kenmei held up a hand to stop me.
“You may not be in love with him. He may not be your true love, but you do love him. And I believe he loves you, too. He’s…” Kenmei turned away and fixed his gaze on Aurora. Her basket was almost full of apples.
“What?” I got the feeling Kenmei wanted to tell me something important. He either couldn’t or wouldn’t. And where Christopher was concerned, my feelings were confusing.
Because of Dorian. With him. On that altar, I felt what true love was. Not that it mattered. Dorian was gone. Still, the experience, his lips on mine… I didn’t think anything else would ever compare.
“Did you speak to her in this memory?” I asked, turning my attention back to Kenmei.
“No. This was before we officially met.”
The landscape smeared like a ruined painting once again, and then I was home. Abernathy and Kenmei were gone.
But his voice whispered in my mind. “Seek out Sharra immediately. Finish this, little vampire.”
Chapter 24
I went to the back door of the mansion. It was unlocked and I walked in. Glints of moonlight cut through the windows, bathing the kitchen in its glow. The clock on the microwave said four thirty. Everyone would be asleep. Quietly I tiptoed up the stairs and entered the bedroom that used to be Dorian’s. Gatsby jumped off my bed and wound his body around my feet.
“Hi, boy.” I picked him up. “You’re freezing.” His fur felt like he came from the blistery cold outside. I went to the window. It was open slightly, and I closed it, but didn’t move away. Through the trees, I could see my house. An ache filled my heart, and I wiped the tear sliding down my cheek. Placing Gatsby back on my bed I sat and removed my shoes. Weariness weighed heavily on my shoulders.
Even though the room was redecorated, in my mind’s eye, I could still see Dorian’s football posters on the walls, his clothes strewn over the desk and on the floor, his laptop flicking through Patriots photos.
“Dorian.” I spoke his name like a prayer. It hurt to realize I finally grasped the power of love when it was too late to do anything about it.
“Snow?” Professor Pops stood in the doorway, his gray hair rumpled like he hadn’t combed it in days, his clothes the same he wore the night Cindy and I decided to go see Abernathy.
“Pops.” I swallowed. “Mr. Henry.” Once I told him what happened, would me hate me and throw me out? “Have you seen Gabe?”
Professor Pops flipped on the light and rubbed a hand over his tired face. “Not yet.” His eyes darkened. “I’m glad you’re back. Safe.” He extended his arms to give me a hug.
“Dorian’s dead,” I blurted, clinging to him like he was my only lifeline.
Pops froze in my grasp. His arms went lax and hung at his sides. “I don’t believe it.”
I stepped back, desperate to see what he was feeling. His eyes glazed over. Pain convulsed through him. My heart broke again. For him. For me. “I’m sorry, Mr. Henry.” It didn’t seem right to call him Professor Pops anymore, not when that was what Dorian called him. Not when I was responsible for his death.
Pops sat on the edge of my bed; his shoulders turned in wearily. “How?” he asked quietly.
I went over to the loveseat as though space would protect me from the agony he was feeling. Then I explained. When I was finished, he met my eyes. His were filled with tears, and his cheeks were wet. “You didn’t see him die? He just disappeared?”
“Yes.” I didn’t want to give him hope. “He didn’t have a pulse though. I checked.”
Pops wiped at his eyes and sat up straight. “If we don’t have a body, there’s a chance he’s still alive.” He must’ve seen the disbelief on my face because raised his eyebrows. “You should know by now, considering the supernatural world we know exists, that it’s not over until…” A smile broke on his face. “Until we have our Happily Ever After.”
I blinked. My lips parted. Was he serious? Happily Ever After was a stupid ending to stupid fairytales. More appropriate would’ve been Happily Next Chapter, or Happily Ensuing Life… Or… “What do you mean?” I asked, wondering if his grief corrupted his thoughts.
He stood and went to the door before facing me. A little bit of light shone in his eyes. It didn’t matter that I tried to dissuade him. The man still held out faith that his son wasn’t dead.
“I have some research to do.” He rushed over, wrapping me in his arms. “We’ll work this out.”
Without prelude the waterworks flooded my face. I hugged him back and held on tight.
“It’s okay,” he cooed softly, stroking my hair. “It isn’t your fault. It’s okay.” I clung to him. His words were exactly what I needed to hear. He didn’t hate me. He wouldn’t banish me from his house, his life. I was loved, no matter what. It was a sensation I needed and treasured.
Several minutes later he released me. Professor Pops’ smile was kind. “Get cleaned up. Get some rest.” He paused. “We’ll get him back.” He glanced around the room, noticing the candles on the floor in the shape of the star. Wax had melted and left blobs on the carpet. I doubted they would come out. “Perhaps Cindy can assist with this?”
I tried to return his smile. “I’ll ask.”
He nodded. His confidence was contagious. “Don’t worry about the others. I’ll tell them what happened. When you’re ready, come down and we’ll make a plan.”
“Okay,” I said.
He closed the door and I sank onto the bed, grabbing one of the pillows and squeezing hard.
A plan, I th
ought. If the others helped, that would mean more opportunities for those I cared for to get hurt or die. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I would face the vampire queen, and I would do it on my own.
Chapter 25
I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, put my long hair in a ponytail, dressed in jeans and a red tee shirt, and put on my red Converse. When I finished, I went to the bed and stared at the star on the floor beside it. I was still a teenager, still not a high school graduate, yet in that moment, none of it mattered. I had a plan.
It was simple. Find a way into Sharra. Speak to the vampire queen and if she wouldn’t listen, destroy her with the Seal. Once that was finished, if I was still alive, I would have Abernathy take me to Mizu where I would rescue my mother and bring her home. She and I could live in the little house next door. The one I grew up in. It would be perfect and everything else, including school and life would fall into place.
Gatsby climbed on my lap. I scratched behind his ears. “I’m going to fix it. Promise.” The cat purred in response before jumping off the bed and leaving the room.
Taking a deep breath, I followed him until I reached the kitchen. There, I opened cabinets and drawers, searching for a lighter or matches. Something to light the candles.
“What are you doing?” Gabe’s voice echoed from a dark corner, carrying a hint of amusement.
I turned. “Hi, Gabe.” Telling him my plan was out of the question. I needed to make something up. “I was going to take a bath and wanted to light some candles. Do you know where to find a lighter or matches?” I shrugged, hoping the movement was nonchalant enough.
He smirked and moved over to a cupboard I hadn’t checked yet. He opened it and pulled out a black lighter—a long-necked one used for lighting a grill—from the top shelf. “Here you go,” he said lightly.
When I took it our fingers brushed, and I had a quick flash of drinking from him, the night we almost did more than kiss, and he told me he loved me.
“I’m sorry, Snowflake,” he whispered.
I searched his features, trying to discover what he was sorry for. He seemed so much older than me now. Hardened. Matured. His green eyes were still vivid, but darker.
“For what?” I asked, running my fingers along my wet ponytail.
“I’m a coward. I should’ve been a champion for you, fought for you, loved you the way you deserve.”
I crossed my arms. He didn’t need to apologize for that. “You are a man with a lot on your mind. I get that. You’ve got the chayot to lead. Cindy.” I sighed. “You did what you had to do. We all did.”
He brushed a strand of hair from my face. “I didn’t love you for the right reasons.”
That surprised me. “What do you mean?”
Gabe stepped back. “The two years you were gone allowed me to see that my love for you was mostly driven by my hate for my father.”
I was confused.
“Not Professor Pops, but Oberon. My birth father.” He spat out the word like it tasted bad. “My desire to rebel against everything he was and all he stood for.” He blew out a breath. “It was immature. I’m an idiot. And I’m sorry I hurt you.”
I swallowed. What he said made sense. I loved him and always would. But it had been a crush, sweet and innocent; it wasn’t lasting. Definitely not what I felt for Dorian in those moments he kissed me. “I get it. And you didn’t hurt me. I’m glad you’re with Cindy. She really loves you.”
A fragment of a smile curled over his lips. “She’s a pain in the ass, but I love her, too.” His eyes caught and held mine. “I really do.”
“You better,” I said, smiling back. “Otherwise she might turn you into a frog.”
He chuckled. “Life is weird, isn’t it?”
“That’s an understatement,” I responded, shaking the lighter in front of us as a reminder of why I came down. “Well, I better get my bath.”
“Oh, right,” he said, slightly embarrassed. “See ya later.”
“Yep, see ya.”
He moved out of my way, leaning his back against the island. I smiled and walked by. Without thinking, I reached back and hugged him, hard, acknowledging all he was, all he did for me. “Thanks, Gabe.”
“For what?” he asked, wrapping his arms around me.
“For everything. Being a great friend, an amazing boyfriend, and, well…” I pulled back so I could see his face. “Thanks for being you.”
He blinked in surprise. “You’re welcome, Snowflake.”
Chapter 26
I closed the door to my bedroom before kneeling in the middle of the star. Then I lit the candles. When I had them all burning, I tossed the lighter outside the circle and sat.
It occurred to me that I was breaking my promise to Christopher. He asked me not to leave again without telling him, but it couldn’t be helped. I wouldn’t put him or anyone else in jeopardy.
Plus, my idea might not even work. I had no clue how to get into or leave Sharra. In the past, it just sort of happened. But I needed to try. It hadn’t escaped my notice that there were seven points to the star, and there were seven magics. That meant something. It had to. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the realm of Sharra. The gardens around the castle. The castle itself. The different rooms I was in, including the bedroom where I kissed Christopher. The bathroom where I spoke with Zenny in the mirror. His flamboyant clothes. I focused on the smells of Sharra—magic and rosemary, and the blood I craved.
I don’t know how long I sat like that, visualizing everything I remembered, but after a time my mind started to wander. I started thinking about the little cottage near the edge of the forest. The trees and foliage, the bush where hundreds of pixilettes rested. I recalled the earthy smells, the babbling brook, the soft ground covered in moss.
And suddenly, I could hear the brook.
Cautiously, I opened my eyes. I was in front of a cottage. The place Christopher brought me when I was poisoned. My heart lurched with joy. I did it! I was in Sharra.
Standing, I went over to the hut and climbed the steps. Dirt covered the window and I used a hand to wipe it away. Then I peered inside. It was small, smaller even than my house, but it looked homey. A little kitchen with a stove, a sink, and a tiny wooden island with copper pots hung above it. The floor was wood. To the right of the kitchen was a living area. A wooden rocking chair stood next to a rock hearth. Beneath it was a furry rug in the shape of a bear. A table rested against the wall, under a window. In the center was a vase. Inside were two dead flowers. They could’ve been daisies, but it was hard to tell. Most of the petals had fallen and lay scattered on the tabletop.
For some reason the children’s song, “Ring Around the Rosie”, came to mind. I learned in World Civilization that the supposedly sweet song, taught to small children everywhere, wasn’t sweet at all. It was about the bubonic plague and death.
Perhaps it was the way the petals touched each other, as though they were holding hands, like the children did as they sang the song. Or maybe it was the wilted stems in the vase. I didn’t know, but it filled my stomach with dread.
Maybe I should’ve brought Christopher with me, I thought nervously. But it was too late. I was already in Sharra, and I wasn’t leaving until one of three things happened: I was dead, the vampire queen stepped down, or she allowed me to rule in her stead. I snorted, my confidence waning, but I couldn’t go back. I wouldn’t.
“Snow.” The voice was minute and high, like a light gasp wind. It still made me jump. I spun in its direction and saw a pixilette. But not just any pixilette. It was Ryden. The pixilette had been alive for thousands of years. Back when Silindra was alive.
“Ryden?”
“How do you know my name?” She placed her teeny fists on her tiny waist.
There was no time to explain my linked consciousness with Silindra. “My name is Snow White. It’s a long story, but I know you helped Silindra.”
“Then it is true.” Her voice filled with wonder and she came closer, studying me like I was a
new plant. “Silindra kept a journal. After she died, I hid it away and read it, hoping for answers. In it, she mentioned a girl called Snow White and that you would be the key to Sharra’s undoing.” She rested a hand on my cheek. “You can imagine after a few thousand years, I thought Silindra had gone crazy when she wrote about you. But here you are.” As she spoke, a flurry of hundreds of pixilettes, including Arianna and Eon, came in behind her. I watched them, admiring their colors as they seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. I thought of Pava, the little pixilette who came into the human realm to talk to me. She was yet another who had died needlessly at my expense.
“You were a good friend to Silindra,” I said to Ryden. The pixilette looked surprisingly young, considering. “There was no one she trusted more than you.” I blinked back tears as I thought of Silindra’s death.
“Thank you.” She kissed my nose, but I barely felt it. “If you don’t mind my asking, what are you doing in Sharra?” She landed on my cheek and I went cross-eyed.
“How about my hand?” I asked, holding it out for her.
She flew over and landed on my palm before sitting cross-legged. “I’m too old for continuous flying.”
I glanced at the others and wondered how old they were. Instead of asking, I answered her question. “I’m here to stop the vampire queen.” I swallowed, hoping they wouldn’t stop me. Abernathy seemed to believe Sharra could be reasoned with. If it was possible, I would certainly try. “I’m here to help her see the truth,” I said, my voice quivering with determination.
Ryden laughed, but it wasn’t because she was happy. “Glad to hear it,” she said with a grunt as she stood. “Well, we will assist in whatever capacity we can.”
I glanced at the others and further, beyond the trees. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of magical creatures—elves, unicorns, fairies, and trolls—hovered in the shadows. Listening. Waiting.
“I want to do this alone,” I said. “You can help by staying out of the way. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
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