Authors: RaShelle Workman
“Wait,” he said, huskily.
I opened my mouth, and allowed my fangs to grow.
He walked backward until his back pressed against a tree. Then he slid down so he rested at its base. I readjusted, tilting his neck toward me. He was so warm, his skin soft, like the supple leather vest he wore. “Christopher.”
He had his hands in my hair, his body asking,
the
way mine had the other night. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
His question brought me up short. “Is that bad?”
“No.” He sounded pained.
My fangs retracted some. “Why can’t I see your face? Do I know you?”
“If you drink from me, I can show myself, otherwise the Queen’s magic won’t allow it.” I caught the tone, the pleading. Physically he desired me, but there was a hesitation, almost an insistence that I wouldn’t.
I wavered, my fangs deciding what course I’d take.
He sucked in his breath, and pulled me to him. His lips claimed mine. I allowed it, and returned his kiss with fervor. My lips parted at his soft, insistent movement. It was my first real kiss, and if I could’ve popped a foot, I would have. As it was I sighed, pressing my body into his firm
chest.
He groaned, and said my name. “Snow.”
That’s when it hit me I’d kissed a guy I didn’t even know. The word
easy
came to mind. Oh
my gosh
, what’s with me? What about Gabe? I pulled away, shoving him. Mostly mad at myself.
“How dare you?” I pushed off him, working to control my jagged breathing. “I need to get out of here.”
He stood, and came toward me, this time with confident determination. I sensed the hunter in him. It was tangible. Taking my face in his hands, he tipped my head so he had access to my neck. Like before, I watched his fangs grow. My heart beat so fast I thought it’d come out of my chest.
When his teeth met my neck I responded eagerly. His groan urged me on, and I touched his arms, his back, and up to his hood. With a little effort, I focused on tugging it off. A laugh rumbled deep in his chest. And then I heard his voice in my mind.
Seek
out your
true love.
You, beautiful Snow, are the key to
defeat
ing
the Queen.
Chapter 6
I
knew I was back in the girl’s bathroom even before I opened my eyes. And someone was in the bathroom with me. There was a knock on the stall door.
“Snow, are you alright?”
It was Dorian.
I picked up my backpack; thankful he’d found me. Opening the door, I took in his face. Concern plastered his features. “I’m fine,” I answered, trying to reassure him. “What are you doing?” I pushed past him, and walked to a sink, casually peering at my neck in the mirror. Newly healed scars glared back.
“I watched you go in. After ten minutes I thought I’d better make sure you weren’t drinking the blood of some poor, unsuspecting female.” His eyes gleamed with amusement.
“D-Do you see anything on my neck,” I asked, tilting slightly.
He shook his head. “Did… something happen again?”
“Yes. I went into the other realm. He, The Hunter, was there.” I washed my hands, and patted a wet paper towel over my face. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea for me to be at school.”
At my words, his eyes grew wide in mock terror, and he circled his neck with his hands. “Thirsty? Do you
vant
to suck my blood?” He spoke with the lively silliness of an old-fashioned vampire, but the worry in his body was evident.
I sighed. The uncontrollable feeling vanished. “I am worried I might bite someone. Your blood pulls at my bloodlust, but not too bad,” I said impulsively.
His face fell. Dorian actually seemed sad. “Oh,” he stepped closer, his features changing from teasing to seriousness. “If you ever do need some. Blood, I mean. You’re welcome to mine.”
I gasped. “Do you even know what you’re offering?” Anger flashed. How dare he tempt me? His naiveté made me want to bite him, inflict a little pain, a little reality check, but I speculated he’d enjoy it the way I had. There’s one way to find out, I thought. Professor Pops hadn’t told me not to bite humans, and Dorian offered. I decided to give my new fangs a whirl. “Come here, then,” I said.
He gulped, and his heart picked up speed.
“Nervous?” I asked, a smidge glad.
“A little,” he admitted, but saw he would hold true to his word. I placed my hands on his appealing neck and pulled him down, much the same way I’d handled Christopher not too many minutes ago. Tentative, at first, I touched my lips to his neck. He let out a groan. Whether it was from fear or pleasure I didn’t know, and in the next moment I didn’t care. My fangs grew, pricking his neck.
And the door flung opened. Dorian tucked me into his chest. “Just a minute,” he said, his voice heavy.
I quivered in fury at being interrupted, but I didn’t want anyone to see my fangs so I took a deep breath, inhaling the delicious guy smell that was the handsome Dorian. My fangs retracted. Peeking up, I searched Dorian’s eyes. A tight smile sat on his lips. I smiled back before gazing around him, at who’d so rudely interrupted.
“What the hell is going on, Snow?” Complete shock packed her face, and I laughed.
“Hey,
Cin
,” I said with choked amusement. It wasn’t that I found the situation funny so much as I had all of this anxiety stored up, and it was finally coming out.
Dorian recovered, and swung around. “I was making sure she was okay. Our Snow needed a hug, that’s all.” He regarded me. “You’re good, right?”
“Yes, thank you, Dorian.” I closed my lips, trying to hold in the laughter, but that didn’t help. My conscious gnawed with guilt. I’d kissed Christopher, and nearly drank Dorian’s blood. But I liked Gabe.
Hussy, my mind screamed.
Dorian escaped the bathroom without a backward glance.
Cindy huffed, and stopped her foot. “What’s gotten into you?” She walked to the mirror, and checked her reflection.
I faced her, my image still taller. “Oh,
Cin
. It’s a long, crazy story.”
She gave me the eye, the one that questioned my motives, the one that got right to the center of me. “I want to hear all about it. First, Mr. Wallace wanted me to tell you you’re supposed to go to the office for a tardy slip. He said you’re not allowed in class without it. I’ve got to get back.” She ran her hands through her ponytail. “Chace seemed concerned. He even took off after you did. For a minute there I thought you were in his arms.” She let out a sigh. “See you in a few. Au revoir,” she added as the door closed behind her.
I straightened my shirt, and picked up my backpack. Cindy’s strong perfume lingered, and it dawned on me. Cindy’s blood hadn’t inspired even a little bit of hunger. “Huh.”
In the office I called Professor Pops, and explained in brief details what’d happened—the way my fangs grew, and how I’d gone to the other realm where the Hunter, Christopher, bit me again. I left out Dorian offering himself. The confession would be pointless, and I didn’t want what he’d done getting back to Gabe, or the other brothers.
Professor Pops spoke with the school’s secretary, excusing me from the rest of my classes.
He picked me up in the front, his distinguished face lined with worry. In the cup holder between the seats sat a carafe. “Bloodlust tea?” I guessed as I buckled my seatbelt.
“Drink up. I made a double dose in the hopes that will help.”
I took a sip, and grimaced. It was strong, but I finished. When I placed the empty container back in the holder, Professor Pops mumbled his approval.
After clearing his throat, he said. “I’ve heard of the Hunter, Christopher. He is very good at what he does. I’m sorry I must say this, but at this point, propriety be damned.” He gave me a quick look, probably to determine my level of shame.
“What is it?”
“He’s skilled in the art of seduction. From what I understand, he also has an unlimited lust for power. He wants to be the Vampire Queen’s second.”
At hearing his words I didn’t blush, but became angry. Well, more hurt. I guess I wanted to believe Christopher reacted to me the way he did, not because it was his job, but because he felt something for me. Ugh, I groaned. I would not be that girl!
Professor Pops pulled into the driveway. After I followed him into the house, and sat at a barstool in the kitchen, he said, “Your revenant abilities are developing a lot faster than most. And I think I know why.” As he spoke he peeled a banana, and tossed it into a blender. Then he pulled some soy milk from the refrigerator, and some ice from the freezer, and put them in the blender.
He turned it on, the noise drowning out everything running through my head. Several seconds later, he turned the blender off, and poured the smoothie into a tall glass.
“Here you go,” he said, handing it to me.
“Thank you.” I sipped. It was delicious.
He handed me a napkin. After I wiped my mouth, I asked, “Why?”
He took a deep breath. “First answer this question. Did you crave Cindy’s blood? Or another female’s blood at any time this morning?”
I thought a moment. “No, I didn’t.”
Professor Pops blew out. “Your best friends are seven guys, young men who are desirable, and who find you desirable.”
At those words I blushed. “Nu-uh,” I said.
He patted my hand. “You may try to hide it, Snow, but you are very, very beautiful. Truly one of the fairest in the land,” he added, his face softening.
My face felt like it was on fire. “What does that, or the fact that my best friends are guys have to do with anything?”
He waited until I got it. “Not every teenage girl is in a situation like yours. Seven young men vying for her attention.”
“We’re just friends though,” I said, taking another drink of my smoothie, thankful I had something to do.
“True, but I believe every one of them would gladly be your boyfriend, if you allowed him. I noticed the way you and Gabe are together. There’s something going on with you two.”
I stared into the drink. “I wanted something, but ever since my bite, and the note this morning, he’s been different.” I took another gulp, worried I should mention what Christopher said, but I couldn’t bring myself to blurt it out.
Professor Pops sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. It seemed he’d aged a hundred years in the past few days. “I’ve been training the boys since I adopted them. Gabe, though he’s younger was actually my first.”
I nodded, remembering the day I rode my new bike along Professor
Pops
circular driveway and fell off. Before I could start to cry, Gabe ran out, all legs and arms, and thick curly hair, and helped me up. ‘You’ll be okay,’ he’d said, brushing off my knees. ‘Shake it off.’
“They’ve been learning, though they didn’t know it, how to kill vampires, and anything else that comes after you.”
I lifted my glass to take a drink and stiffened. “Why would anything else be after me?”
Professor Pops came around, and stuck out his hand. “Come with me. I need to show you something.”
I set down the glass and rose, hesitantly placing my hand in his. “What?” I asked, my nervousness easy to hear.
“You’ll see. I’ll give you your first vampire slaying lesson.”
I snorted. “Don’t I just stake him through the heart with a wooden stick?”
“Afraid not, Snow.” He led me down a set of stairs, into the basement. Opening the door to the storage room, he walked over to the furnace, and pressed a button. The wall behind it swung opened, revealing another set of steps leading down. “Come,” he said.
I hesitated. It was dark, and smelled muggy, like dirt, and wet cement.