As the king and queen and their court continued toward their destination, Ryden, Gabriel, and I made good time getting home. We arrived at the castle swiftly and parted ways. Ryden said she needed to get cleaned up. I wanted to do that, as well. It was too long since I bathed. Gabriel went to report to Sharra that I was found, and all was well.When I entered my room, two male humans greeted me. Neither wore clothing on their top halves, and their trousers hung low on their hips. My mouth watered. "Well-kept humans," I muttered, taking my fill of one and then the other. No doubt, they were a gift from my sister, and I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I'd be doing more than that soon enough when I proved to her once and for all I was and would always remain ruler of the vampires - when I possessed the power of all magics inside the gem Abernathy had given me. That would be soon. I still needed the essence of a vampire and the blood of a hunter. I wondered if I would have to slay
I shook my head. "It doesn't matter right now. What does? I still need two more magics: the essence of a vampire and the blood of a hunter." I clenched my hands together, trying not to believe what Zenny said about Gabriel. "I'm not sure how to collect those, but I'm working on it. The thing is - " I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was becoming clear I would need to kill my sister to win. If that was what it took, I would do it. "If something happens to me - " I began."Nothing will, Silindra," Ryden interrupted, wringing her hands.I appreciated Ryden's belief in me. "I know, but if it does, I need you to promise me something.""Anything." She flew around with nervous worry. "I need some watermelon juice to calm my nerves. You shouldn't talk like this."I held out my hand, hoping she would land. Thankfully, she did but started pacing around my palm and up and down my fingers. It tickled. I smiled. "Just promise me you'll take this back to Abernathy. Can you do that?"She
Had he poisoned me? I did as he said because my lids were too heavy to do otherwise, but not before noticing the wisp of a malevolent gleam cross his features.It won't be long now, Snow whispered through the dark. I know, I responded, letting the anger evaporate into an overwhelming sadness. I didn't know how, but Gabriel intended to kill me, and he found a way. At that moment, I understood whose blood would seal the gem. It would be Gabriel's. I didn't know how it would happen, but without a doubt, it would. I didn't believe Gabriel could betray me. It seems my arrogance has gotten the best of me. I'm sorry, Silindra, Snow said. ***"Oh, man. I can't believe Professor Pops and the guys talked me into this," Daniel said. Daniel! He wasn't dead. A chayot had stabbed him at my birthday party. His blood had been everywhere. But he was alive, and I was so happy. Relief rushed through me, and I wondered if perhaps he was a supernatural as well. "They're confident one of us is your
His words infuriated me. I was the first - an original. A creature born of all seven magics and a portion of them dwelled within me. The way I looked, the way I acted, every part of me was precisely right. "You're the freak!" I shouted. "You live only because the blood of a vampire flows in your veins. Don't ever think you're better than me. You're nothing but a whipping boy, a slave to the real master. If not me, then my sister."He hit my wings this time, and I felt whatever was on the ends bite deep. Then his face was next to mine. "You were born first. That is true. But that doesn't make you better. It makes you old. It makes you inadequate. You refuse to see what is right in front of you. Evolution is the answer to eternal life. Instead of choosing to progress, like the rest of the vampires, you stay like this." He yanked on my hair. "In an ugly, good for nothing body. You could've been so much more. Your sister wants that for you. I want that for you. Now it's too late."I spit i
"I, Snow White, do solemnly swear to right the wrongs." My eyes opened, and I stared into the surprised eyes of Dorian. The edges were crinkled with gladness, and he had a huge grin on his face. "I, Dorian, swear to help you right those wrongs in any way I can," he said, his voice overflowing with emotion as tears filled his eyes. His face hovered above mine, and I wondered if he'd kissed me. At the thought, I blushed and tried to sit up, conking my forehead into his."Sorry," I said, my throat scratchy. It was seconds ago that I witnessed everything happening to Silindra, feeling her pain and suffering through her anguish. So many emotions dashed through my body. But I was beyond glad to be back in my time and looking into the face of one of my favorite people in the whole world. I was also sick inside at Silindra's death, the lies and deceptions Sharra had spewed, and I was determined, resolved, to accept my destiny. Silindra's death came with the knowledge that I was responsibl
Time was a flighty fiend, I thought as I watched Cindy rummage through my closet. Not the one at my little cottage of a house, but the one in Professor Pops' mansion."What about this one?" Cindy asked, holding out the dress my dad and stepmother had brought home for me. I swallowed down the raw hurt over my father leaving. Shook my head. "What else?" I eked out. Cindy was getting frustrated. She threw her hands up. "I need a break. Your turn." She gave me a haphazard look and I smiled, getting off the chaise. "Fine," I said, watching Cindy fall onto the same chair I'd been sitting in.As I pushed through all of the amazing dresses Pops had purchased for me, I considered again the strangeness of time. How seconds flickered in slow motion until an instant later, weeks simply vanished, disappearing without a backward glance.A month had passed since I woke from my time with Silindra. Though I was still desperate to end her - Sharra - the vampire queen, I wasn't meant to be her next v
As we entered the dance, it was like everything moved in slow motion. I took the whole scene in at once. The crowd of students dancing and talking - most of them I didn't know. The music blasting so loud it seemed to be coming from inside my mind. The scent of several hundred blood-filled bodies pummeled into me, and I held my breath. It wasn't that I craved the blood, only that it was powerful, and a bit overwhelming. Although, when I smelled Dorian's blood, I decided I wouldn't mind a taste. I glanced at him, but he was focused on the decorations. The gymnasium was enchanting. Thousands of paper snowflakes dangled from the ceiling. A disco ball spun from the center, filling the darkened room with white dots of light. Sparkling white bunting that was supposed to look like snow covered the walls and perimeter of the dance floor. The tables were covered in white tablecloths. In the center of each sat an oversized snow globe and chocolates wrapped in white foil.As we skirted the edge o
The next day Christopher came by the house, but instead of heading straight for me, he winked before going to Professor Pops' study. I followed, but I wasn't able to hear what was said and figured his office was probably spelled against eavesdropping. At least until Professor Pops raised his voice. "Fine, but if anything happens to her, I will hunt you down and finish what the vampire queen started."I felt my eyes grow wide, and contentment filled my heart. I was so loved. It was a feeling I cherished beyond belief."If anything happens to her, I'll expect nothing less," Christopher answered.Those two and their testosterone-filled bullheadedness. Sheesh!Christopher yanked open the door to the study, nearly running me over. When he saw me, his face lit up. "Hey," he whispered, taking my hand in his. "I want to take you away for the weekend - just the two of us. What do you think?"Him and I alone? The idea sounded exciting, but it also made me nervous. We hadn't gone all the w