I obeyed, letting my hair fall into my face. Once we were sitting I scanned the commons for Cindy. A part of me hoped she didn’t show. Another part of me worried. If Cindy was one thing, she was a creature of habit. If she had a change of plans, she would’ve told me.
Salvatore and Sebastian walked in, both sporting sour expressions. I waved enthusiastically. They returned my welcome, but it wasn’t with any excitement.
“They’re upset that I’m sitting here,” Chace said, his voice filled with humor.
“Oh, well, they shouldn’t care.” I signaled them to come over, casually tightening my scarf. They nodded.
A thought struck me, and I started to panic. “They don’t know who you are, do they?” I hissed, keeping my eyes glued on the guys’ movements.
“No. At least I don’t think so.” He shrugged. “But then they are Adam Henry’s sons, so anything’s possible.” I heard what sounded like a note of awe in his words and wondered why.
The guys picked up their food and headed over. I searched their faces, trying to discern whether they knew. I didn’t think so. If they had, they probably would’ve been a lot more hostile.
“Hi guys,” I said, feeling suddenly nervous.
“Hey Snow,” Salvatore said.
“Heyah,” Sebastian added, taking a huge bite of pizza. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
I glanced at the unappetizing salad sitting in front of me. “Not hungry,” I responded, keeping my eyes fixed on a wilted carrot. I was, in fact, hungry, but it wasn’t for the tasteless salad. I wanted Chace’s blood. I gave him a sideways glance and he smiled, meaningful.
“You should eat. You need your strength for—” Salvatore paused and glanced over at Chace. “Later,” he finished.
I opened the juice and took a drink to appease him.
“How do you two know each other?” Salvatore asked between bites of food, indicating Chace and I with a pointer finger.
“Oh,” I said, and blushed again.
Chace saved me. “We’re in chemistry together. Plus the track team.”
Salvatore and Sebastian swapped comical looks.
“Have you seen Snow run?” Salvatore asked.
“Not yet. Maybe today.” Chace grinned slightly, a secret smile I knew was meant for me.
The guys busted out laughing.
Dorian and Bart joined us at the table. “What’s so funny?” Bart asked.
Dorian wore an angry frown. I watched his eyes linger on my lips, move to my neck, and then glance at Chace. Did he know? “Charming,” he nodded. “What brings you to our table today? I believe there are ten or fifteen girls hot after your hide. No sense hanging with us guys.”
Chace smiled. “There’s one girl at this table. The only girl I’m interested in.” He glanced at me, and I was sure my face turned the color of ripened cherries.
Salvatore sputtered out his milk.
“You’re in dangerous territory here,” Dorian growled.
I watched the way each guy tensed with animosity and decided an intervention was necessary. “Has anyone seen Cindy?”
“I haven’t seen her since math class,” Dorian said, shifting his gaze from Chace to me.
“Not since chemistry,” Chace added.
The other brothers agreed they hadn’t seen her since morning.
“Great. Why don’t I have a cell phone?” I grumbled, picking up my juice and taking a sip.
Almost as one, all the guys whipped out their phones. I took Dorian’s as a way to appease him, giving him a petulant look.
“Fine,” he hissed, and I smiled.
Unlocking his phone, I dialed Cindy’s number. It went straight to voice mail. After the beep, I said, “Hey Cin. Just wondering if you’re okay. Call me. Oh, I’m on Dorian’s phone because, as you know, my dad and stepmother won’t give me one. So call him, ’kay?” After I hung up I texted a similar message to her number and handed Dorian back his phone.
“Thanks, Dorian.”
“I’m sure she’s fine. Probably just got hung up talking to some guy.”
I nodded, trying to act convinced.
The guys finished their lunch and took off, leaving Chace and I alone once again.
“You don’t need to worry about your neck.” He’d sounded nonchalant and a little smug.
“Really?” I touched my scarf.
He pulled on it, tugging it away. “Yep, the bruises are gone,” he said, giving me a half-smile.
I yanked the scarf from his fingers. “Do I even want to know how you knew they’d be gone?”
“Doubtful,” he chided, and tossed a couple of fries in his mouth.
I’d noticed he’d eaten several bites of cheeseburger along with more fries. “How can you stand to eat that?” I asked, scrunching my nose in disgust.
He laughed. “You get used to it. I need to pretend to be a normal human boy.” He smirked and bit into another fry.
I looked around and said, “I think it tastes like ash. I haven’t been able to enjoy food since right after you bit me.” I tried to look frustrated and angry, but thoughts about how it’d felt the first time, his lips on my neck, and each time since, only filled me with longing.
His eyebrows pinched together, but just as quickly relaxed. “You really are exquisite, Snow. I knew you were extraordinary from the moment I first saw you, but I never realized how much until these past few days.”
I would’ve blushed, but he made me curious. “You could tell just from biting me the other day?”
“No, I’m talking about the very first time. When you were young.”
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Had he been the one? “You-you marked me?”
He dipped his head and took a large bite of burger. I watched him chew, biting the inside of my cheek, nervous. But there wasn’t any reason to be. Professor Pops said drone vampires marked the young. I knew the answer. It was him. That meant several things. He was older than seventeen or eighteen. He’d watched me for a long time. “Do you know how my mother died?” I blurted. If he’d been around that long, surely he must’ve seen her.
At that moment, the bell rang. He stood and said, “I’ll see you at practice.” Taking his tray he merged into the thick student traffic and was gone.
Chapter 5
The final three classes of the day were torture. Not because I wanted to drink the blood of my fellow classmates. No. I was agitated—about Cindy, about revenant training, and about Chace coming over. Did I really want to get to know him?
I had a feeling if Professor Pops knew what I’d been doing he’d be upset, or at least concerned. But he’d said he’d fallen in love with his Marked. Now that I’d been spending time with Chace I wondered what that meant. Had Professor Pops bitten her, and she him? Had she died because of their love? I knew Professor Pops would tell me, but raising the subject would be awkward. I felt like I’d already failed him.
Chace would have the answers, but would he be honest? I sighed. I had to at least try.
In the locker room I changed out of my jeans and tee-shirt and into black shorts and a burgundy shirt. After tying my shoes I headed out to the field.
It’d been an unseasonably hot fall with little rain. It looked like that was about to change. Thick storm clouds filled the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. The rest of the team appeared oblivious and stretched on the field.
They never waited for me.
That’s because you never participate, duh, my inner voice reprimanded.
Chace sat in the front, a pretty girl on either side, his legs extended in front of him, his hands touching his toes as the Team Captain counted slowly.
I stopped, admiring him, trying to see any of the telltale signs proving he was a Vampire. He had angular features, his body muscled, especially his arms.
I suddenly remembered Kenmei showing me the arrow tattooed on his arm. He’d said it was the mark of a Hunter. Where was Chace’s? I stepped closer, working to see it. Chace wore a black tank, so it should be easily visibl
e. He glanced up, giving me a smirk.
I smirked right back.
“Hey, Snow, move out of the way.” It was Sabrina, the Team Captain. Apparently I was blocking her view.
I stepped to the side and around to his back. I couldn’t see it on either arm near the shoulder.
“Looking for something?” Chace asked, laughter in his voice.
“Where is it?” I crouched down and touched his arm in the vicinity of the place I’d seen the tattooed blade on Kenmei. At my touch the blade appeared on his shoulder as though it’d been hidden by magic, and I jumped back, falling on my butt.
Everyone laughed.
Chace leapt up and pulled me into his arms. I buried my face in his chest, ashamed of my less than graceful fall.
“Knock it off,” he shouted. Rage radiated from his body so that he was practically pulsating.
So close to him, my heart started beating rapidly. He smelled divine, and I knew he tasted even better.
“How dare you?” he roared at my teammates, his breathing heavy. My heart sank for those he yelled at, and I vowed never to get on his bad side.
You may have to one day, my inner voice whispered.
With a sigh I looked up and placed my hands on either side of his face. “Chace,” I whispered. “It’s okay. I’m fine.” My voice trembled at the depth of his emotions.
After several seconds his features softened and he looked at me. “I’m sorry you were startled. I should’ve known something like that would happen.”
“It’s no problem. A brisk enough wind can trip me up.” I smiled softly, hoping to ease his temper with a reminder of my klutziness.
It worked. He beamed, a glorious, heavenly smile. I sucked in my breath.
“Maybe you should wait a few more days to run, give your abilities more time to kick in.” He sported an amused expression.
“Are you questioning your earlier assessment that I’m exceptional?”
He snorted and I decided to show him, show them all.
“I’m going to run, and I’ll be fantastic.” I jogged backward a few steps, heading over to the coach.
The coach stood near his chair looking antsy. Probably preparing to be referee if Chace or one of the other guys tried to start a fight.
“Hi, coach,” I said lightly.
“Ms. White. What’s going on in that head of yours?” He crossed his arms, waiting.
“I’m running today. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Figured you might have a coronary otherwise.”
He gasped in mock distain. “I appreciate your concern, though I’m more worried about you.”
“Eh, I’ll be fine. You’ll see. I might even surprise you.” I wriggled my eyebrows and he laughed, shaking his head.
“Guess it’s a good thing I’ve got 911 on speed dial.” He pulled his cell from the front of his burgundy polyester shorts and showed it to me to prove he was serious. “Be careful,” he added.
“I will,” I replied and headed back over to Chace.
“All right everyone, four times around the track. Go!” Coach’s voice rang loud.
“Ready?” Chace asked, his voice low, pleased.
“Oh, yeah.”
At that moment the sky opened up and proceeded to soak me, Chace, and the rest of the team.
I yelped, the sudden change so complete. My shoulders rose to my ears and water dripped from my bangs onto my nose and cheeks. The air smelled wet and of peppermint. An eerie gloom gathered around the field in the form of fog.
“Coach, are we going in?” someone asked.
“Yeah, coach, we can’t run in this.”
“Are you men and women, or mice?” Coach roared over the rain, tipping his burgundy cap lower on his head.
There was collective grumbling as we all made our way to the track.
Chace touched my arm lightly. “Catch me if you can, Frosty.” He grinned and took off.
I watched him, his fluid body moving in perfect strides. It looked like his feet barely skimmed the ground. Wiping the hair off my face, I started to run.
One foot in front of the other, my inner voice encouraged.
I did just that, sensing the changes in my body. When I’d run in the past, my body would tense, my knees would freeze and, according to Cindy, it looked like I had a board shoved up my derriere. It felt wrong, and I had no doubt it looked wrong.
But as I ran, the crisp rain slapping against my skin, my body seemed to relax as though it were settling in for the first time—ever. It felt good! I felt good. Taking a deep breath I picked up speed, trying to catch Chace. Each person I ran past gasped or made a snide comment. I ignored them. I was on a mission. Catch Chace.
That was the refrain I chanted with each step. Catch Chace. Catch Chace. Catch Chace. When I was within ten feet of him a sharp pricking sensation struck me in the back of my left knee, and then the right. I ignored it, but seconds later a prickling heat started spreading from my knees up my thighs and down my calves. Seconds after that my legs stopped working altogether. My right cheek and forehead smacked the track. An explosion of stars writhed before my eyes, and there was a loud pop. Nothing from the waist down worked, but man, did my face sting.
“Ouch.” I pushed up on my hands, lifting my upper body off the ground and shaking my head. Red liquid spilled into my right eye and splashed onto the asphalt before diluting with the rain.
“Snow! Snow!” Chace stopped and bent down. Through the pouring rain I saw his fear. “What happened? Can you stand?”
A sob escaped my throat. “I can’t feel my legs.” It didn’t make sense. What had happened?
“I’m going to check your spine. Hold still.” I tried to do as he said, but I started shaking uncontrollably. Whether from the chill of the rain or the fall, I didn’t know.
I heard him curse. “Your spine is fine. I’m going to turn you over and lift you. Ready?” He ripped off his soaking tank. “Hold this against your forehead. You’re bleeding.”
I nodded, taking his drenched shirt and pressing it against my head.
With incredible gentleness he turned me onto my back. “Okay?” he asked.
“I think so.”
He lifted me and I wrapped my one arm around his neck. “I’ve never been so grateful for rain in all my life, Frosty. Hang on. I’m going to get you someplace dry and safe.”
I closed my eyes, tucking my head into his chest.
And he ran.
The rain beat against my body like icy pebbles. It hurt, and I pressed my eyes tighter. I couldn’t help but wonder where Chace would take me. Maybe to my house. He obviously knew where I lived. Or his. I had no idea where he lived. Did he go to the other realm every day after school? It was so weird to think about another dimension. I had so many questions.
After several seconds—minutes, I’m not sure—the rain stopped and I felt the sun warming my skin. Birds sang, their song bouncing back and forth above us. I opened my eyes. Chace’s gaze bore into me, filled with concern.
“I’m going to lay you down and roll you onto your stomach.”
“Okay,” I answered, feeling unexpectedly shy.
He squatted, and I felt my back brush against something soft. Gently, he moved his damp shirt from my forehead. “Healed already,” he grunted approvingly. “I’m going to roll you onto your stomach.” One of his hands touched my shoulder and he said, “Ready?”
“Yes,” I whispered, trying to gauge from his expression how bad off I was.
Tenderly, he turned me. I moved my arms upward so that I could rest my chin on my hands. He’d laid me in some mossy grass. Running my fingers over it, I was amazed at how soft it felt. In front of me sat a small brown cottage, built of wooden logs. The front door was closed. A medium-sized glass window sat on either side of it. The roof looked to be made of tree branches and steepled along the top so it looked like an upside down V. On either side of the cottage was lush forest, filled with trees, ferns, and colorful flowers. I could hear the rush of a stream nearby and
guessed he must’ve brought me to the other realm.
“I’m going to check the backs of your thighs. You felt a sting behind your knees?”
“Yes, I did.” Had I told him about the stinging sensation right before I fell? I didn’t think so.
After several moments I heard him suck in a breath.
“What? What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to turn my head so that I could see him.
One of his large tanned hands appeared. He pinched something between his thumb and first finger. I squinted, seeing nothing, but suddenly my eyes adjusted like the lens on a microscope, and I saw it. A tiny arrow, no bigger than a sliver. “What. Is. That?”
“It’s a pixie’s arrow. The tip has been dipped in toxin. I need to make a poultice to draw out the poison. The ingredients are nearby, but I’ll be out of sight.”
“Don’t go,” I cried.
He ran his hands through my wet hair. “You’ll be safe here. Only a creature whose heart is pure can pass through the enchantments I’ve put in place.” He came around so that I could see him. “You’ll be fine,” he added.
“Where are we?” I asked, changing the subject, trying to keep him with me.
Christopher’s eyebrows furrowed in a way I was beginning to understand meant he was anxious.
“We are in Sharra, the realm of the Vampire Queen.” He quickly kissed the tip of my nose and rushed away.
“Hurry,” I called after him, softly. I turned my head, resting my uninjured cheek on my hands. He’d answered one of my questions. The name of this place was Sharra.
“Sharra,” I mouthed. Then said it again, a little louder. “Sharra.” I liked the sound of it.
One question down, one hundred twenty-three more to go, I thought with a sigh as I stared into the forest. A beautiful bush, filled with all different pastel colored flowers, grew directly in my line of vision. The leaves seemed to be moving. I took a deep, cleansing breath, knowing Chace would do all in his power to fix me up.
How do you know? My inner voice asked with a growl.
I thought about it. He was my Hunter, which meant he had to keep my body safe at all costs. It wouldn’t do if I died.
“He will come back,” I whispered.
I continued to watch the bush and something strange happened. The flowers separated and began to flutter upward, like butterflies taking flight. It was beautiful. Once all of the flowers left the bush, the branches looked stark, empty, like a barren tree in the deep of winter. Alarmed, I wondered why they’d abandoned it. The petals continued rising and headed toward me. Surprised, I tilted my head to continue watching. A bubble-gum pink flower fell onto my arm. I shook it, trying to get it to drop, but it wouldn’t budge. Then a periwinkle blue flower landed further down my arm, near my elbow, followed by a mint green one. I peered closer, and the flowers moved. Under the petals were little bodies attached to little heads.