"But you haven't died. Neither has Professor Pops, uh, I mean Adam Henry, or Kenmei."
"That's right. Only those who have been gifted with some of the Vampire Queen's magic can leave Sharra without dying. Unless, like myself, Professor Pops, and Kenmei, they find a way around Sharra's curse." One of his hands found its way to the bear he'd carved the day he turned into a vampire. "Without you," he paused and smiled. It was a heart-melting smile and I returned it. "I would still be under her power."
I nodded, trying to understand what he was saying. "So she woke you after I went back in time with Silindra, and then... what?" I didn't get how the little wooden bear broke Sharra's hold on him.
He untied the leather chord holding the bear, and stroked it. "When Sharra turns a human into a vampire, we're pretty normal afterward, except for the, 'Grrrrr, I must drink human blood, part.'" He'd brought his hands up and curved them to look like bear claws while he growled.
I leaned back slightly in response, but laughed.
He laughed too. "I know, right." He sucked on his bottom lip. Sexy. He was sexy. No doubt about it. "When Sharra makes one of us a Hunter, she takes a portion of our soul, and has command over it."
I felt my eyes raise in question.
Christopher continued, "Not that she controls us, like puppets." He shook his head. "Mainly it's more she can sense us, and we can sense her. She can communicate with us, and vice versa. She can feel any really strong emotion we might have. Basically, it's her way of keeping tabs."
"Oh," I said, remembering the way we'd kissed, the words he spoke to me. Had Sharra felt that? Did she know what we'd done?
Of course she did, my inner voice quipped.
"To reclaim our soul, it takes something incredibly special. For me, it was this bear."
I thought about Professor Pops and Kenmei, and wondered what their special something was.
"What about the chayot?"
He blew out his breath. "The chayot are different. Sharra never had any control over them. She still doesn't, and never will. No matter how many she turns. Their power doesn't come from magic."
"I thought everything came from magic." I thought about Sharra and Silindra's non-parents, the beings that created them. They pulsed magic.
"No. The chayot were created..." He didn't finish, seeming uncomfortable.
"What? Where do they come from?"
He balked. "Who knows. There are only rumors. I'm not sure anyone understands the truth. All that matters is that they can dwell wherever they choose, the same as the dragons."
I stopped him. "Abernathy is alive, right? I heard Pops talk about him." It was weird though because I'd seen Cindy's spell book, and supposedly his eye was on the cover. How did that work?
"Yes, I believe Abernathy lives. Dragons are lazy. Time means nothing to them. A dragon could sleep a century and be none the wiser."
I believed that. When Silindra went to visit Abernathy he'd gone back to sleep before she left his cavern.
"What about the Chosen?" I asked. His eyes shot to mine, and I quickly continued, "Those of us who've been bitten by a Hunter and changed? We exist outside the realm of Sharra. Why don't we die?"
He cleared his throat, avoiding my eyes, and my question. "Tell me what Silindra was like?"
"No, not until you answer me." A flicker of worry swirled through my stomach.
He finally looked up. "Those that the Vampire Queen doesn't choose will die within days of turning nineteen."
Time slowed. Everything around me grew sharper. I heard a spider crawling along the carpeted floor, under my bed. A slight rattling of the houses' pipes. An occasional hum of a car driving by. My mind didn't want to believe what Christopher said. But I repeated his words, his horrible words. "We'll die?"
"You won't. She's chosen you." He scooted closer, trying to be reassuring.
Did I tell him the Vampire Queen chose someone else? That she intended to hurt those I loved? I fought back an urge to smack him, and then changed my mind, letting him have it.
"Ouch," he said, chuckling, rubbing the spot on his bicep I smacked. "What was that for?"
"It doesn't matter who she's chosen. I can't let any of the Marked die. That's unacceptable." I wondered if that was the reason the girl Professor Pops loved died so long ago.
A picture of what I must do, with the help of the Seal, was becoming clearer. With the power of the Seal, I had to restore balance to, not just magical creatures, but all of Earth's beings.
"I have to stop her, Christopher. Will you help me?"
"Any way I can," he said, standing.
I stood too. "Are you going?" He hadn't taken any blood, sank his fangs into my neck. At the thought my knees grew weak.
"Yes. The boys," he said the word boys with arrogant indifference, "are getting antsy and Kenmei has arrived. I believe he has a lot to discuss with you as well."
"Okay." I sighed.
Christopher grabbed my hands. "I know. I wanted to savor the taste of your blood, your lips... all of you." His eyes twinkled as his fingers caressed my neck. "Later tonight, after everyone is in bed. Leave a window open, and I'll come back."
In response, a smile curled my lips. "See you tonight."
My heart beat fast at the thought.
You'd rather drink from Dorian, my inner voice huffed, but I rejected the errant thought.
Christopher opened a window, and stepped onto the roof. Then jumped, landing on the ground with barely a sound. I momentarily worried he might be hurt, but noticed a whisp of wind running from the property.
He's a vampire for goodness sake, I thought, shutting the window.
Chapter 7
On my way down the stairs, I heard a yowl, like the sound of a dying animal. Before I guessed what noise was, my cat came into view, his little paws sliding on the marble floor as he ran to the stairs-to me.
"Gatsby," I whispered, increasing my pace. He met me half way, winding his body between my legs. "You happy to see me, boy?"
In answer, Gatsby purred. I picked him up, rubbing my nose across his soft gray ears. He looked good, well fed. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, he jumped out of my arms and padded his way down the hall. I followed. Someone played the piano, a melodic melody. The notes clung and twirled in the air. Some of the brother's talked softly.