Dorian was still on the ground, his breathing laborious, but his lips were no longer sewn shut.
He was my first priority. I placed my hands on his chest, near his heart.
"Hi," he said, gently.
Even after all I'd been through, all I'd done, I felt suddenly shy.
"Hi, yourself," I responded.
He lay down, giving me easier access to his wounds.
"Hold still."
He swallowed. "Alright. But go easy on me." He tried to smirk, but it looked more like a grimace.
If he weren't so broken I would've slapped him. Instead I sent the power of the Seal into him, healing him.
After several long moments, he looked better. His eyes were both bright, the wounds on his face and chest gone.
Dorian's hands slid up my arms. My body shivered. Tingled. His fingers wound their way through my hair, and he pulled me forward so my face was above his. "You're awesome."
I smiled, and was about to say something smart, when I really looked at his eyes. They were no longer hazel, but black, except around the edges, which were flecked with all the colors of the magics. His eyes reminded me of the gem still in my pocket. At the thought, the gem heated.
"Your eyes. They've changed," I whispered. We were so close I could smell his blood, and I yearned to taste, to suck, to drink him in.
"So have yours," he whispered, touching my cheek.
"What? No way. What color?" I asked, surprised.
"They are black, and the edges flecked..." He pulled me closer, so we were nose to nose. "Gold, green, red, vio-"
A mournful scream interrupted him.
Back to reality, I thought, and stood. Dorian stuck out his hand. I grabbed it, and yanked him up. He bounced to his feet.
"What's wrong with that guy?" One of the girls cried.
I glanced from the group of girls to the spot they were pointing, which was at Christopher. His body and head were trying to reattach themselves. It was a gruesome sight.
Dorian placed a hand on my arm. "Maybe you could help him?"
My first thought was to tell him no. If I helped him, he'd just try to kill me again. But then I thought about what happened to Sharra. Perhaps I could heal him, and use the Seal to give Christopher a change of heart. Maybe. If he disappeared, the way Sharra did, then all the better.
I knelt beside my Hunter. His eyes found mine. They were filled with pain and fear. "It's okay. I won't hurt you."
He blinked.
I touched his chest, in the spot where his heart should've been beating. But it no longer did. Sharra no longer had any power here. That meant Christopher could no longer be in the sun. Nor would he ever have a heartbeat. I wondered about the Marked, but knew their hearts no longer beat either, which meant mine didn't either.
Sighing, I placed my hands on Christopher, and pressed the power of the Seal into his body. My thoughts swirled with healing, mercy, and kindness. There was regret, and anger too. But I pushed them down. For now.
His head and body reattached, the insides reassembled. When it was done, I stood.
Christopher gave me a wary look.
"You're free to go, on one condition."
"What is it?" he asked, his voice hard.
Dorian stood next to me, and I was grateful for his support. More than anything else, he was a friend.
"I don't ever want to see your face again."
"Deal," he said, and ran.
I turned toward the Worker vampires. "You're free. Go. Do good. Don't kill. Don't hurt others. Be kind." I felt like I was speaking to children.
"Will you lead us?" One vampire asked.
"It is your right," another said.
"We'll see," I answered.
Chapter 12
With the power of the Seal I reversed the magic placed on the girls that'd been Marked. Then I sent them back to their homes. Pocahontas wasn't dead, but wounded. It turned out her Hunter convinced her that if Sharra claimed her body, she wouldn't disappear, but would rule in Sharra's stead.
Once I explained that wasn't the case, she changed her tune. But she was a vampire, and one who'd consumed the heart of her true love. He'd been a human. She wouldn't be welcomed back home. So I gave her a room in the castle.
Then I returned to Professor Pops' mansion. When Dorian and I got there, no one was home.
Except Gatsby. He yowled like he hadn't been fed in days. Dorian got him his food and water.
But I was antsy, and worried.
"Where could they be?" I asked, pacing.
"Hey," he said, and pulled me to him. "I'm sure they're fine. Relax."
He kissed my nose. "I'm going to take a shower." He pushed me back and wrinkled his nose. "You outta clean up too. You're a mess."
I laughed. It felt good.
"Okay."
We climbed the stairs together. When we reached my door, he pulled me into a hug. "See you in a few."
I hugged him back, desperate to talk to him, but I definitely wanted a shower first. "K," I said into his chest.
I quickly washed. Then threw my wet hair in a messy bun. In my closet, I pulled on a pair of black and white checkered PJ pants, carefully tucking the black gem in a pocket, and pulled a black t-shirt over my head. I went to the library-Dorian's new room. He wasn't there. And my first thought was to head down to the kitchen. But I noticed the secret door-the one that led to the basement, and the room we'd hung out in as kids.
A little giddy, I pulled it opened. The circular tube slide was still in place. Climbing in, I pushed off. The ride was longer and more winding than I remembered, but as it neared the end I prepared myself.
I slid out, and onto my butt with an oomph.
I heard Dorian laugh, and searched for him. He sat in a large yellow beanbag chair. His sandy hair was wet, and combed back. He had on a pair of gray sweatpants, and a Patriots t-shirt. "You're so elegant. The great and powerful Seal has the grace of a bumbling ox."
"Hey," I said, walking over to him.
He pulled me onto the beanbag, next to him.
"I'm not an ox. Sheesh."
"Fine, a drunk rhino."
I smacked him on the arm. "Don't make me regret saving you," I joked.
His face grew serious. "Did I thank you for saving me yet?"
I huffed in mock distain, crossing my arms. "No. Not a peep of gratitude."