Gabe brushed Cindy's hair from her face, and that was the last straw. My mind zeroed in on Gabe, like a stalker with binoculars. Adjusting my senses, I listened to his rapidly beating heart. Smelled the scent of his body wash, the decadent aroma of his blood, his skin. I heard him talking.
"Want to come with me to Warehouse Video after school? We could grab a coffee, and talk," Gabe said to Cindy.
Cindy giggled. The one she used when she flirted. "Okay. My shift at Bertilinis ends at seven. Can we meet after?"
He smiled. My heart broke.
"Sure. I'll pick you up."
Cindy nodded. "Great." She selected some food, and scanned the room, her eyes finding mine. I heard the intake of her breath, and could only imagine the emotion plastered on my face. Anger. Fury. Possibly avocado-the shade of sick jealousy.
Gabe must've heard her because he glanced up before following her gaze.
"Snow, chill. Really. You don't understand," Dorian said, squeezing my hand.
I yanked my hand away. "No. I understand completely. And it hurts." I picked up my tray. "See you later."
I heard Cindy call my name, but couldn't answer. Fury like I'd never experienced boiled in my veins. The lunchroom turned hazy. Every heartbeat pounded through me, hundreds of harmonized drums. The intoxicating scent of the blood of every person in that room packed my veins, but most especially Cindy's. I knew somehow it was hers, and I wanted to drain her-not in the way I'd thought about drinking from Dorian. Not even close. I wanted her blood to be mine.
I wanted her dead.
That knowledge rocked me with guilt, with fear, but mostly with exhilaration.
Professor Pops' words entered my thoughts. "The more blood you drink, the more like a vampire you'll become. It's like anything in life, if you work to keep yourself as human as possible, that part of you will remain, will be the strongest. If you consume human blood, the way a vampire does, that part of you will become the strongest."
I knew if I drank from Cindy I'd kill her. I wouldn't stop.
She's your best friend, my inner voice retorted horrified.
I had to get out of there.
Someplace quiet.
The library.
I went inside and found an empty table in the back. I dropped my backpack on the table, fell into the chair, crossed my arms, and dropped my forehead on them. Hot tears spilled.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed away the desires for Cindy's blood, my desires to hurt her. She'd told me she liked him. Plus, she'd been my best friend a long time, and she was a good person.
I should be angry with Gabe. He'd caved, broken his promise, because I'd been bitten. That wasn't my fault. How could he be so cruel? I needed him-at least his friendship. Not the cold shoulder he gave me. And Christopher. Seeing Cindy with Gabe would've been a lot easier if he'd been there. If he hadn't left.
Everyone leaves, my inner voice scolded.
I swallowed a sob.
And heard a high-pitched cough. Lifting my head I saw Pava, the periwinkle blue pixilette I'd met in Sharra.
"Pava?" I whispered.
She fluttered to my arm, and bowed. "Snow. You are in danger. Watch the shadows, and tell no one you have the pendant Christopher gave you. Never take it off. Promise." She fell to her knees.
"What's wrong," I cried concerned.
"Promise," she wheezed, falling forward.
"I promise." Carefully, I lifted her into my hand. No longer blue, she'd become dingy, like a dirty, wet sock. A wing fell off. Paper thin, I watched the veins turn from blue to grey to white.
She patted my hand.
"Pava," I whispered, and heard the desperation in my voice. "What can I do? How can I help?"
A smile touched her lips as she began to shimmer. A reddish glow emanated from her, and then she was gone.
"Pava?" I shouted, standing.
The librarian came around the corner. "Everything alright?"
I searched, frantic, a second longer. "Y-yes. Sorry." I swiped my backpack, brushed away a tear and left the library.
I needed to talk to someone, but who?
Professor Pops, of course, my inner voice admonished.
No, I couldn't talk to him. But what about the Museum of the Supernatural? There might be something about the necklace in the book on pixilettes. I'd check it out tonight, right after school. Skip track, and head over to Professor Pops. I could do some reading before training. My insides froze at the thought of practicing with the wise old Hunter.
What about the laptop? If you quit track, your dad and stepmother won't buy you one, my inner voice said sarcastically.
So what. If I wanted a laptop, I'd just buy myself one. What would my dad and stepmother do? Ground me? They never stayed around long enough.
Chapter 5
After school I went over to Dorian's locker to wait. Out of everyone he was the one person I felt most comfortable with, even with thoughts of sinking my teeth in his neck. He allowed me to be myself. He accepted me, liked me. And he wanted me to drink from him. My knees trembled.
"Snow. Can we talk?"
My body tightened. The hall blurred. An angry craving for Cindy's blood strained my heart. I had to get out of there. Taking off, I hollered, "Go away. I-I can't be around you right now."
I knew she followed. I'd zoned in on her heartbeat, the aroma of her blood. My canines pressed against my lips.
Out in the crisp fall air, I searched the school parking lot for Dorian's car. The mustang still sat in the same spot he'd parked in that morning. Relieved I rushed over, hoping Dorian would come soon.
When I arrived at the passage door, I stopped. Trapped. Cindy stood a few feet away, her face screwed up with sadness. My heart sank. "What do you want?"
"I miss you," she whispered, her bottom lip trembled. "Ever since I went to the Cape you've been weird. Different. Did I do something to make you mad at me?" She stepped closer.
The pounding of her heart forcing blood through her veins made the back of my throat ache. "No. You didn't do anything. I-" This wasn't her fault. Gabe chose Cindy. He returned her affections.
You don't deserve Gabe. You've been making out with Christopher, my inner voice rebuked.
I tried to calm down. I closed my eyes, thinking about the necklace resting between my breasts, near my heart. A reminder of Christopher, of the pixilette that'd died in my hand in the library. Being jealous of Cindy was the least of my worries. Inhaling a deep breath, I forced myself to relax and opened my eyes.