Kenmei answered by moving his shirt. Where his shoulder met his arm an evil-looking blade had been tattooed.
"What does that mean?" I asked after looking, and sitting back. My heart had begun to beat rapidly, which made me happy. I still had one.
"When a drone vampire is chosen to be a Hunter by the Queen, she marks him with one of these." He touched the blade hesitantly, before covering it.
"D-did you mark me? Are you the one who bit me?" I stood, jumped over the desk, and pulled open the door, before I grasped what I'd done. Fear occupied my veins.
"No, Shiryo-san."
Both Professor Pops and Kenmei rose in unison, as though their movements had been synchronized. Professor Pops had his arms out, a look of pleading on his face.
"We were a part of the Queen's hive many, many years ago, but we left. For me, it's been over a thousand years. For Kenmei, almost six."
My hand dropped from the handle. "Six thousand years? You're so old." I also remembered the man who'd bitten me was much taller than Kenmei, his body firmer, younger. The way he'd smelled. Like Heaven, my mind whispered. I closed my eyes, trying to regain focus.
He bowed. "Yes, Shiryo-san. I was the first Hunter. With my help the Queen transferred into a new body. With my help the Queen became the first Snow White, the fairytale child which is your namesake."
Chapter 2
"You're saying that the Snow White from the movie was real?" I needed to sit before I fell. On rubbery legs, I walked back over to my chair.
"Yes, Shiryo-san. She was real, and very beautiful, just as you are. Though the story was more of a Brother's Grimm tale, and even they were way off."
It seemed strange to have others say I was beautiful. I didn't think I was ugly, just plain. I looked down, studying some nonexistent lint on my jeans. After a few moments of silence, I asked, "Am I the only one the Vampire Queen is after?"
Kenmei smiled. "You are one of many. Hundreds. Adam Henry and I have made it our life's mission to help the marked, the chosen.
"I am your Protector," Professor Pops stated.
I caught what Pops said, but couldn't fathom the meaning behind them at the moment. Instead I fixated on what Kenmei had said. "There's hundreds? She only needs one body. Why not just take mine, or one of the other's right away? What's she waiting for?"
The two men looked at each other, and something I didn't understand passed between them. "A lot must happen for the body of a chosen one to be ready. Many will die," Kenmei said.
Professor Pops continued, "In order for the Vampire Queen's magic to work the revenant must drink the blood of her true love, and consume his heart."
The memory of my dream, where I'd tasted the heart, and his blood, filled my mind. It'd been the heart of my true love. A warm hunger rushed through my body, and I shuddered. Professor Pops noticed.
"What is it, Snow?"
"I dreamt of a heart. Of drinking blood."
Both men started, I somehow perceived their panic.
"Tell us everything. Leave nothing out," Kenmei said.
I told them about the guys, and that I'd known the heart had been my true love's, but I hadn't cared. When I finished they didn't speak for what seemed like forever. Finally, Professor Pops asked, "What did the boys chant?"
I thought a moment. "Lips red as rubies, hair dark as night. Drink your true love's blood, become the Vampire, Snow White," I repeated. As I said the words, a thick darkness filled the air. It was as though the Queen entered me.
"This is worse than we believed," Professor Pops uttered.
"Yes," agreed Kenmei. "It seems she may have a distinct interest in this one. Perhaps it's her name, or her beauty. I must admit, she does have something extra special."
The tremor in my hands traveled into my arms, and down my body. "Is there nothing we can do?"
Professor Pops patted my hand. "Yes, of course. But we've shared enough with you tonight. Let's get you home."
I wanted to yell, tell him I needed to know everything right then. I didn't, though. He picked me up, tucking my head against his chest. Kenmei said something about the tea, and he set my shoes on my lap. I thanked him, and closed my eyes.
When Professor Pops stepped into the alleyway, I recognized the odor.
"Were you one of her Hunters too?" I whispered.
"Yes, Snow, I was."
A part of me wanted to be afraid, but I couldn't. He'd been nothing but good to me. "Why did you leave?"
"The same reason Kenmei did. I fell in love with the girl I bit." His voice sounded sad.
"Does that happen a lot?" An idea, or an impression wiggled its way into my mind. I tried to grab hold of it, understand it, but too much had happened. Too much information weighed on me.
"Yes, it does."
I got the impression he wanted to say more. "What happened to the one you loved?" I asked, fearing the answer.
"She died."
"I'm so sorry, Professor Pops."
"As am I, Snow White. As am I."
I fell asleep, the pounding of his heart, the warmth of his arms, and the movement as he walked making it too difficult to stay awake.
When we stepped off the train, my strength vanished. Professor Pops led me to a waiting car. Though I didn't see his face, I heard Gabe ask, "Will she be alright?"
"I hope so. That's what we're here for."
Chapter 3
When I woke my immediate reaction was anxiety. This isn't my room, I thought. The bed was king-sized, and made out of brushed pewter. The sheets were white as was the comforter, and pillowcases. Everywhere else hung posters of the Patriot's-Dorian's favorite football team. For the briefest moment I wondered why Gabe hadn't let me sleep in his room. Then he walked in, a mug of something steaming in his hand, and all thought left me. I focused on the emerald green of his eyes, and his smile.
"Hi," he said, sitting on the bed next to me.
Seeing his teeth made me think of morning breath, and the fact that I hadn't brushed last night. Covering my mouth, I sat up, and responded, "Hi back."
He laughed, and moved my hand. "So, you're a revenant? How you handling the news?" He held out the mug, its steaming contents dark and uninviting.
Taking it, I pressed the cup to my lips, and took a small sip. Then said, "Yep, that's me. Snow White, the revenant. And I'm handling the change," I paused gauging my real feelings. "Fine." I shrugged. A part of me wanted to tell him everything, that I heard his heart thumping, the sound of it pumping blood through his veins, and how I longed to reach over, and taste him. I didn't. Instead I swallowed a large portion of bloodlust tea.