"Of course, Snow White. I know exactly who you are. And, I know why you've come." His liquid eyes blinked slowly.
I didn't speak, sensing he had more to say.
"You want to know if the power of the Seal will destroy Sharra."
"That's right."
He regarded me thoughtfully.
"Destruction. Love. Hate. All words burdened with thick emotion. There's also rehabilitation, change, compassion, kindness. Words to consider."
I blanched. Was Abernathy suggesting I don't destroy the Vampire Queen?
Before I could specify, he continued, "Whom do you have with you?"
I moved to the side, preoccupied with my thoughts, but desirous to be respectful to the dragon. "This is Gabe. He is the leader of the chayot."
"Ah, yes. Oberon's half human son."
Gabe stepped forward, his face stony. "You knew my-Oberon?"
"I did. A distasteful fellow. Only cared for himself. What he could gain. What he wanted. What everyone else could do for him." Abernathy yawned. "Are you like the narcissistic Oberon?"
Gabe took a step back. He seemed unsure about what to say.
"No," I answered for him. "Gabe is nothing like Oberon. He's a good man."
The dragon snorted, and a puff of smoke exhaled his nostrils.
"I believe you're right. Though he seems deeply troubled. Like the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. What troubles you, chayot leader?"
Gabe didn't answer. Cindy slipped her arm through his.
"No matter." Abernathy blew out another puff of smoke.
I went on. "This is Cindy. She's a..."
"Oh, yes. The young witch who's been messing around with my book." A hint of what looked like a smile touched his lips.
Cindy flushed, a bright red. "My grandmother gave it to me," she whispered.
"Well it's lovely to meet you, my dear. I see great things in your future."
Cindy glanced up. "You do?"
"Oh, yes. It's no accident you and the young vampire are friends. It's destiny." A sound, like a large kitten purring, escaped Abernathy's throat. He turned his attention to Dorian, who remained deathly quiet since we entered the chamber. "And last but certainly not least, we have you." The dragon blinked. "The only normal, non-magical human in the bunch. Yet your destiny." He paused, and sniffed the air.
Dorian stepped forward. "You know what I'm supposed to do with my life?"
"Oh, yes, young one. Very few have the capacity for love, to love, like you."
Dorian took another step toward the dragon. He looked tiny in comparison. "What is it?"
Abernathy shook his head, and let out a deep chuckle. "You will know when the time is right."
Dorian sighed. His shoulders sagged.
"And you." Abernathy focused his large eyes on me. "You've become the Seal of Gabriel. The magic of the seven dwell within your body, including a piece of my soul."
I nodded.
"You expect an answer. There are several, all of them depend on you."
My throat went dry.
He studied me intently for a long time until I almost believed he fell asleep with his eyes open. "Snow White. The daughter of an elf and a human. You're fated to bring-"
"Hold on." I carefully moved closer to Abernathy, so I had a perfect view of his giant mouth. "My mother wasn't an elf."
Abernathy shook his mane. "She was. I met her once, when she was much younger, before she escaped Sharra, and moved to the human world."
"I've seen elves. They look a lot different than humans. I would've remembered if my mom looked like an elf." I turned away, watching water drip from a stalactite off to the left of the dragon, near the edge of the cavern. Images of my mother flicked through my mind. She was soft spoken. Her hair was light. I used to say it was the color of starlight. Her skin was pale, and she had long fingers. "My mother was human," I finally said.
Smoke trailed from his nostrils. "She appeared human. But she wasn't. Like the bird whose wings imitate snake eyes, or the caterpillar that appears to be nothing more than a stick, your mother seemed human, but was an elf. She was an anomaly, different from all other elves. And they hated her for it. Teased her. Called her a freak. Even her parents didn't like her. They were embarrassed by her.
"After many years she came to me, desperate to start somewhere fresh. I helped your mother escape the magical confines of Sharra."
"You did?" My heart ached for what my mother must've gone through. "Is that why she died? Because she was away from Sharra for too long." The image of Pava, the pixilette, and the way she'd turned to ash after a short time outside Sharra, harassed my thoughts. I was afraid of the answer, but anxious to know the truth.
He stood, his scales clanking together like old metal. The tip of my head barely reached the top of one of his clawed feet. Cindy, Gabe, and Dorian scattered back into the tunnel, which was the smart move, but I held my ground. If Abernathy knew what happened to my mother, I wanted the answer.
"Well?" I asked, the word forced between my clenched teeth.
"It's time you know, I believe." He smacked his lips together. "Care to take a trip?" He stretched his golden wings wide. Each wingtip touched a wall, blocking out the sunlight. He shook like a wet dog. Hundreds of old scales sailed from his body like giant discs. They smacked into stalactites, and stalagmites, knocking them to pieces. One flew over my head, and I ducked just in time. It crashed into the wall behind me, leaving a large hole. Powdered rock filled the cavern like smoke, and the smell of sulfur tainted the already pungent air.
When the dust finally settled, I answered. "What kind of trip?"
He laughed. Loud and hearty. Thousands of bats awoke, circling like phantoms. Their high-pitched screeching like nails raking a chalkboard.
Abernathy lifted his head, and roared, sending a rush of fire at the bats. They fell, their bodies charred and smoking, and I moved to the tunnel entrance, out of the way.
When the bats were all dead, he closed his mouth, extinguishing the fire. Smacking his lips together, he said, "Bats are worse than rats-flying mongrels, really." He bent his front paw under, and leaned his body toward the four of us. "Climb on vampire. And the rest of you. Hurry up. I'm late for my nap."