Blood and Snow 9: Love Bleeds (5 page)

“Everything is taken care of,” Professor Pops said.

I shrugged. “Okay.”

“I have a meeting with the chayot council members. They’ll want to know what’s going on.” Gabe rose, and left the room without a glance, or a good-bye.

Chapter 10

After Gabe left, I looked at the clock. It was late, after midnight. I wondered if Christopher waited in the darkness. “I’m going to go to bed,” I said, glancing at Professor Pops. It’s been a long day.”

“Agreed.”

I stood. The brothers and Professor Pops followed.

“Um, did you want me to go back to my place?” For some reason tears sprang into my eyes at the idea. I was comfortable here. Home. My house would be lonely.

“
Pish
. Posh,” Salvatore said.

“If you’d like, we’d love to have you stay. Your dad’s house has been empty for several months. I have a service keep it clean. Thankfully, your stepmother took all of her Disney stuff, so it’s quite empty.”

“I’d love to stay. I hoped you’d ask,” I
said,
wishing my hair could cover my face, hide the tears.

“You better. My room is all girly now. It even stinks like girl. I can’t go back. A man needs his man smells,” Dorian said, hugging me.

I laughed. “But where are you sleeping?” I hadn’t considered where his stuff was moved.

“In the upstairs library.” His eyes gleamed with mischief. I knew why. The inner library wall, which looked unassuming enough, hid a secret passageway. I’d forgotten all about it. Professor Pops had a large tube-slide installed. It took us into a hidden room in the basement. The brothers and I played in there for hours on cold, winter days.

“Is the room big enough for you?” I asked.

“Plenty big.”

“You sure?”

“It’s the perfect size.”

“Okay. Well, goodnight.”

Each brother (except Gabe, who’d left—again) hugged me. As they did, I focused on the words they spoke while my body lay motionless. I blushed at the memories of their kisses, their secret confessions.

When it was Daniel’s turn, I whispered, “You’re in love? I want to hear all about her sometime.”

He moved back, his complexion turned the color of red roses. “Sounds like a plan.”

I gave Dorian one more look. “Positive?”

“Yes. Now go. Get some rest.” He gave me a little shove toward the door.

“Fine. I’m going.”

I walked slowly, admiring the pictures hanging on the walls in the hall. Each boy had five framed pictures. I watched them grow, their faces aging with each new picture. I reached the stairs, and climbed.
Gatsby’s padded behind, rubbing his body against my calves.

“Thanks, boy,” I said softly, happy he hadn’t forgotten me.

When I reached the room that used to be Dorian’s, I went in, locking the door.

The bathroom was perfectly cleaned, and my white nightgown was gone. I hadn’t seen a drawer with pajamas, but then I hadn’t looked in them all.

On my way to the closet I noticed the dresser Dorian pulled my clothes from. After opening several drawers, it became apparent they were empty, except the outfit he’d so dramatically grabbed for me. In the closet, and after several tries, I found PJ’s.

With all the red everywhere, I kind
of
missed purple.
My mother’s favorite color.
I put on silky purple bottoms, and a matching tank. In the bathroom I took out my braid, and brushed my teeth, rinsing my mouth with Scope.

Gatsby was curled in a ball on the love seat, eyeing me curiously. The cake stain near my bed was completely gone. “Impressive,” I said, turning on the bedside lamp, and then shutting off the lights. I moved the pillows, and climbed under the covers.

My fingers trembled, and I knew why. I hoped Christopher showed.

Would he, I wondered.

I didn’t have to wait long for my answer. He was at my window, and tapped once before pushing it opened.

Gatsby arched his back, and hissed.

“Hush,” I scolded him.

In answer, he stuck his nose in the air, and moved to the other side of the loveseat.

“Hey,” Christopher said.

I pushed myself into a sitting position, tucking my hair behind my ears, and organizing the bedding. “Hi.”

He wore the clothes I’d seen him in earlier, and I felt very underdressed. “I shouldn’t have changed,” I said, pulling the covers to my neck.

He sat on the bed next to me, and gently pushed the covers away. “You look perfect,” he said, his eyes shining with appreciation.

I forced myself not to blush. “Thank you.”

He slid off his boots, and pulled his shirt from his jeans. “Better?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered, nervously running my hands through my hair.

Christopher scooted closer, touching my hair. “It’s always been beautiful, but I love it long.”

“Oh? I was thinking about cutting it.”

His eyes darkened. “If you must, but I find your long hair very appealing.” His voice was throaty, low,
sexy
. If he didn’t want me to cut it, I wouldn’t.

At least not right now, my inner voice huffed.

When Cindy braided my hair earlier, she dyed a chunk of it red. The color was still there, and he flicked it between his fingers.

“Cindy,” I said, feeling like he wanted an explanation. “It’ll be gone by sunrise.”

He let the strands fall. “I may stay until then, just to make sure. His fingers stroked my collarbones, and his thumbs brushed my neck.

I shuddered at his touch. I knew what was coming. As though our bodies were two ends of the same string, we moved closer. He pushed the covers off the bed.

“What if I get cold,” I teased.

“You won’t,” he smirked. “And I don’t want to get tangled in them.” His eyes said so much more than his words. While I watched, he unbuttoned his shirt, peeling it off his body, revealing his beautifully taut chest, the muscles on his arms, his rippled abs, and the small wooden bear he wore around his neck.

A little noise escaped my throat, and he smiled. “I know, Frosty.”

My fangs pushed against the inside of my mouth. It didn’t even matter that he was teasing with my nickname. I wanted to fall on top of him, and take more of his delicious blood. But it was his turn. 

Acknowledging my intended patience, I lay back on my pillow, watching him pull off his socks and his belt. For some reason seeing him undress made me squirm. I wanted to help, rip them off, and be done with it. I wanted him to hurry. The sooner he took his turn, the sooner I got mine.

His eyes darkened, and he walked on his knees over to where I lay. “Are you going to let me go first? You look like you’re about to burst.”

I didn’t speak, just nodded.

“I’m impressed.” He lay on his side, next to me, and I turned to face him. “You can go again,” he said, his eyes smoldering.

“No, I want you—” my breath caught as he pulled me to him, his warm body covering mine.

Chapter 11

I tilted my head
, giving him easier access. His breath tickled, in a good way. He pressed his soft lips to my throat, leaving a trail of heat across my neck. “Snow. I’m so glad you’re back, that you aren’t hurt. I was going crazy without you.”

“Me too.” I wrapped my legs around his hips, pressing myself closer. He felt so good, so incredibly right. He was a vampire, like me. He understood my needs, shared them even, and accepted me for what I was. I didn’t have to be anything but myself with Christopher.

Was that love?

I didn’t know, but I was willing to find out.

Christopher sank his fangs into my vein slowly, and my eyes rolled back. I enjoyed drinking from him, but having him drink from me was amazing.

“Christopher,” I sighed.

He began sucking, but almost immediately let out a cry, and pushed away.

“What’s wrong?”

He wiped his mouth with the back on his hand. “Your blood, it’s changed. It tastes like…” He stopped.

“Like what?” His face reminded me of the first time I tried a lemon.

He leaned up, resting his hands on his thighs. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever had, and it burns.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“I wonder if it’s because of the Seal.” He climbed off the bed, pulling on his socks and boots. “I should tell Kenmei.”

“So, we’re done?” I asked, sliding closer. I didn’t want him to stop. I wanted him to do more than drink from me. I wanted him to kiss me, and…

He buttoned his shirt. “I think we have to be.”

“But—”

“Frosty, you have no idea how badly I think this stinks.” He buckled his belt, and pulled his sword over his head. “It’s just that if you’re blood—”

A thick, red-black fog swirled in the air next to Christopher.

“What is that?” I asked.

The haze cleared, and Sharra was standing in my room, her blue-black gown rustling around her.

“Hello, Snow. 

“Sharra, what are you doing here?”

She turned, facing Christopher. Without a word, she shoved her hands into his chest and ripped him open.

A bewildered look flickered across Christopher’s face.

I screamed.

Christopher’s blood sprayed the Queen, my white bedding, the white carpet, and me, like the mist from a spray can.

Anger burned, hard and fast. “Get your filthy hands off him.” The power of the Seal pulsed and vibrated. I wanted to crush her, twist off her head, and burn her to ash. Kill her for hurting my Hunter. I grabbed her arm, and she screamed.

Horrified pain spread across her features, and Sharra vanished.

Chapter 12

Before the last of Sharra’s red-black haze
disappeared
, I ran to Christopher’s side. He lay on his back, his chest spread so wide I could see his beating heart. He wasn’t breathing, and his eyes were closed. Blood was everywhere.

“Christopher!” I wanted to comfort him, fix him, but he looked so bad I wasn’t sure where to begin. “What can I do?”

Tenderly, I tried pushing
his chest closed, but stopped short when someone pounded on the door.

“Open the door!” It was Gabe.

He
beat
on the door again.

Then Dorian said, “I’ve got a key.”

“Crap. Crap. Crap.” My hands shook.

The bedroom door flung
open. Seven brothers, and Professor Pops stumbled through the door and froze.

I tried to imagine what the scene before them must look like.
Me, kneeling on the floor next to Christopher.
His bloodied body.
Blood all over me.

“Help,” was all I could utter.

The brothers let out a stream of profanity.

Professor Pops came forward. “
Are you alright?”

“The blood isn’t mine.”

“
What happened?” he asked, touching Christopher’s forehead.

“Sharra,” I responded, my voice hard.
“
She
tried to kill him
.” I touched Christopher’s chest. “His heart. She
would’ve ripped it out
.” Angry tears filled my eyes.

Dorian knelt beside me
, and took my hand
.

“Don’t,” I said, pulling away.

Gabe, the rest of the brothers, and Professor Pops circled us.

Professor Pops said, “
But she didn’t. How did you stop her?”

I searched his face. Did I tell him? “I was angry, and I touched her.”

“That’s it,” Gabe asked, looking like he didn’t believe me.

“Yeah! I wanted to
slay
her. Turn her to dust, but as soon as my
fingers
brushed her arm, she screamed and vanished.” My breathing was heavy as I spoke.

“Well, you saved him. It’s going to take a while for his body to heal though. He needs blood.” He glanced over
. “Understand?”

I shook my head. “He said my blood tastes different, that it burns. He thought it had something to do with the Seal.” My bottom lip trembled, and a tear hit my cheek. I wiped it away furiously.

“He said your bl
ood burned him?” Professor Pops said, his voice shocked.

“Yes.”

He patted my shoulder. “I’m sorry this happened, but he’s going to be alright, and it’s urgent I speak with Kenmei.”

“That’s what Christopher said, too.”

I leaned over, pressing my lips to Christopher’s
. “Hang in there, Hunter.” As I spoke, two of my tears dripped onto Christopher’s cheek. They turned
violet
and glimmered, spreading across his face, and down his arms, his neck. When it reached his chest, the gaping hole stitched itself back together.