My skin tingled, and I wondered if she cast a spell.
You should've used your power of persuasion to make her no longer care about what you are, or forget you were gone, or something, my inner voice cautioned nervously.
I still could, but that didn't seem fair. Cindy told me she was a witch. I had to tell her what I was.
"Cindy, it's um... you see... well, the truth is, I'm a-"
She sucked in her breath and stepped back. "You're a vampire. The spell worked. I can see you for what you truly are." Her eyes grew round like two giant saucers.
I nodded. "Yes." I looked away, scanning anywhere and everywhere that wasn't her.
Chapter 8
She sat on the couch and I knew she must be stunned.
"What about your dress? You'll wrinkle it," I said quietly, copying what she said to me upstairs.
She waved away my worry. "My grandmother mentioned vampires." Cindy paused and seemed to be mulling over the word, working out what she now knew to be the truth.
I grabbed her hand. "Still warm, see? I'm still me." I resisted the urge to cry, to pity myself, or feel bad. I couldn't change what happened, couldn't go back and get unbitten, undrink Christopher's blood, or Gabe's, or any of the other humans.
Her eyes squinted in bewilderment and she placed a hand on my chest. "Your heart still beats." Cindy shook her head, surprise shining in her features. "My grandmother said vampires were creatures without a heart-that their internal makeup was completely different from other living creatures. How is this possible?"
"I'm not sure." And that was the truth. Maybe it was because I was one of the Chosen. Maybe the Vampire Queen's magic did something to me, the way it did for Christopher.
Maybe it has to do with you, my inner voice chided. Kenmei said the magic within the Seal of Gabriel was created for me.
I shook those thoughts from my mind. I didn't fully believe the magic in the necklace would work for me alone. If any of the Chosen possessed the necklace, surely it would work for them as well. But I did need to find the pendant. Christopher's life depended on it.
"You haven't seen a necklace, have you? The chain is silver and a red gem in the shape of a teardrop is attached?" I blurted the question before my mind had a chance to filter.
She shook her head. "Not in person, but I saw something about a necklace, it was called the Seal of Gabriel, in my spell book. Is that the one you're talking about?" As she spoke her voice raised an octave. She obviously knew that it contained magical properties. Her people-witches or whatever-probably wanted the necklace as much as everyone else did.
"Yes, that's the one." I nodded, a combined feeling of hope and dread throbbed against my temple.
She went over to the door, grabbed the bag she'd chucked next to it, and pulled out her spell book. The eye on the cover blinked, watching. I held back a shudder.
Scooting closer I waited while she flipped through the pages until she arrived at a picture of the necklace.
"It says-"
A horn blared from the driveway.
"Are you expecting someone?" Cindy asked.
I shook my head, but remembered Professor Pops mentioned someone would bring over my mask when it was ready. "It could be my mask."
She closed her book, and I opened the front door.
In a whisper she asked, "Do you want some of my blood?"
I laughed. "Are you offering?"
"Nooooooo," she said, but laughed as well. "So you aren't some bloodthirsty fiend?"
Dorian stood near the passenger door of a large, black limousine. He bounced up and down.
I quickly regarded Cindy, checking to see if she was all right. No point telling her I was a bloodthirsty fiend. That was beside the point. My thirst remained under control. "I'm just me. Snow White, the girl you've known since kindergarten."
She blinked. "Yes, you are," she gently responded, and I knew our friendship was good.
"Hurry up, you two, I'm freezing my butt off out here," Dorian shouted.
"Keep your teeth in," I uttered.
Cindy used magic to retrieve her mask. It sailed down the staircase and landed gently in her outstretched hand.
How does she do that, I wondered.
To her, I said, "You're awesome."
"Duh."
I lifted my dress, as I took the two steps off my porch, and carefully walked toward the limo. The November night was chilly. I breathed in, enjoying the crisp scent of the pine needles, and the way the frozen air clung to everything in the shape of tiny snowflakes. It dawned on me I felt happy, momentarily satisfied. The feeling radiated with a glow I could almost taste. In that instant everything hung right with the world. Gabe loved me. Cindy knew what I was and hadn't run away. The brothers and Professor Pops cared for me without judgment.
What about your dad and your stepmother? What about Christopher, my inner voice sneered. I deflated. My dad and stepmother I couldn't do anything about. They chose, with great effort, to stay away. Christopher was different. At least I hoped so. I needed to find the Seal of Gabriel.
Dorian opened the door, and waved us inside.
Cindy moved at a slower rate. The walkway was in serious need of repair, and Cindy in her six-inch heels nearly toppled over a few times before Dorian jogged over, and came to her rescue.
"What the hell are you wearing? Stilts?" he asked in mock distain.
"Very funny," she replied, but clung to his arm.
Dorian's close proximity caused my heart to lurch. He looked handsome in his black tuxedo with a burgundy and black striped tie, a white shirt, and burgundy vest, but his blood smelled even better. My canines pricked against the inside of my mouth. I swallowed, and held my breath, forcing myself to calm down.
Cindy and I climbed in, and Dorian closed the door for us. A man sat in the driver's seat. Dorian climbed in next to him. "To the ball, Georgio," Dorian said, pointing toward the mansion.
Georgio said, "You got it." He checked the rearview mirror and held my gaze. Something about his eyes seemed familiar. I couldn't think why though. In the next second he looked away, shifting the limousine into drive.
Cindy leaned close and whispered in my ear, "Tomorrow, you and I are going to have a big, long chat, and you're going to tell me everything. Deal?"
"Deal," I agreed.
Dorian turned to face us. "What are we agreeing to?"