Blood and Snow Volumes 1-4: Blood and Snow, Revenant in Training, The Vampire Christopher, Blood Soaked Promises (28 page)

“Ugh! Where could it be?” Had Cindy taken the pendant? I remembered her telling me about the Locator spell and Viv coming in. I was angry.
About to bite.
Had Viv or Cindy seen my canines? Probably not, or I would’ve been in an asylum right now instead of my room. There was chanting, and I… what? Fell asleep? Passed out? How had I found my way back to my bed? I hadn’t said good-bye to my dad. The night before swam in hazy recollection.

Cindy must have taken the necklace. I dragged my phone from my back pocket, and texted her.

Did u use the Locator spell?
And hit send. It was an easy enough question without sounding accusatory.

Moments later I heard a bell sound, which meant I received a text.

Didn’t get a chance. Viv sent me home. Why?

Sheesh! Where could it be? I texted back
,
No reason. C U in a few.



Had Vivianne taken it? Hurriedly I ran downstairs, fed Gatsby, and got on my bike. It was getting easier to pedal.
Easier to move, period.

With each turn of the wheels, as I moved closer to the school, my worry for the necklace dissipated. If the necklace was gone, that meant I wasn’t accountable for ending the Vampire Queen, restoring balance. Right?

See, everything leaves you, my inner voice chided.

I shrugged.

“Good.”

Chapter 11

O
ne morning, several days after bolting from Professor Pops’ house, I came downstairs and noticed a package sitting on the counter. Under it was a note that said: Remember, twice a day. By the smell I knew inside was my bloodlust tea. Without opening it, I placed the tea in the Sugar canister, and did my best to forget.

I was strong, the tea unnecessary. Whether because of drinking Christopher’s blood, or some other reason, I didn’t know. I didn’t want to think about the questions or the consequences. Plus the tea was another reminded of the guys.

***

S
eptember disappeared, and October was more than half over before I acquired the courage to talk to the guys, Professor Pops, or Kenmei again.

It wasn’t that I held a grudge against them anymore. I’d stopped being angry a week after my outburst. The problem was I didn’t know how to approach them. And they seemed to be doing fine without me. Sure I caught them staring once in a while, but they’d turn away as soon as our eyes met.

In a way being apart was good. Their absence from my life helped me to realize how much I loved them, appreciated them, and needed them. They were my family, and life without them wasn’t the same.
Even if my life with them meant crazy, supernatural drama and training.
Try as I might though, I couldn’t bring myself to break the silence.

At least I had Cindy. We hung out every second she wasn’t working. She would practice her magic with me, sometimes on me. We had fun. One day I went to school with a red streak in my hair, the next a yellow one. She became a pro at changing her nail polish and even “painted” mine red once during lunch.

Cindy was the one who gave me the push I needed to make up with the guys. She drove past my house, and pulled into Professor Pops’ driveway.

After putting the car in park, she shushed all of my lame excuses and said, “Look, it’s like a Band-Aid. Just rip the sucker off.”

I wanted to be upset, but all seven of the guys, and Professor Pops immediately came outside, and were waving and smiling like goofballs. I couldn’t leave them hanging any longer. I didn’t want to.

“You’re right,” I agreed, and got out of her car.

Chapter 12

O
ur reunion went better than expected. Hanging out with them again felt like putting on my favorite shoes. They were comfortable. Even Gabe seemed less tense then before my meltdown.

After several hours of chatting, dinner, and a movie screening—The Avengers—in their amazing theater room, Gabe suggested some training.

“You want to take a revenant on at midnight? You’re brave.” I playfully punched him in the arm, and rose from the supple leather couch. He’d sat next to me when the movie started. At first it was awkward, but as the movie progressed, and we laughed at our favorite parts together, I relaxed, and so did he.

“Training is an excellent idea, Snow. Not for too long though. After an hour, you should head home and get some rest. We’ll be here in the morning for some breakfast, if you’d like.” Professor Pops’ eyes twinkled with happiness, and I was sure my expression matched his.

I’d been away from my favorite people on the planet for far too long.

“I’d like that.”

Gabe stood, and I followed him down the stairs. When we entered the Museum of the Supernatural, it was like coming home. I missed the place more than I realized. After Gabe unlocked the door to the training room I followed him in.

He grabbed the longer sword, the katana, and the shorter one—I couldn’t remember what it was called—and handed them to me. “Ready?” he asked, as he crouched and started to circle.

“Bring it, Gabriel.” I’d started to laugh, but it caught in my throat. For weeks Professor Pops tried to tell me about Gabe. My talk with Kenmei, his story about Silindra and the vampire who’d killed her. His name was Gabriel too. It couldn’t mean anything, right? I shook my head. That they shared the same name was a complete coincidence.

Gabe smacked me on the arm with the flat side of the blade. “Concentrate, Snowflake. These weapons aren’t pretend. They’re real.”

I jumped. “Right.” I copied his stance, feeling my body find its position as I moved with a grace I hadn’t realized I possessed.

Even Gabe was impressed. He raised an eyebrow. “Have you been practicing?”

I shook my head. “Maybe,” I said, just to throw him off. We circled a few more times, and then he lunged. I blocked the blow, and spun around.

“Aren’t you Little Miss Kickass!
”
He smirked.

“You know it,” I responded, smirking back.

After that, we were a blur of blades.
An orchestra of clanging metal, breathing, and synchronized heartbeats.
We moved in time to music of our own creation. Sweat mingled with the warmth of his skin, the delicious bouquet of his blood.

He tripped me, and I fell, landing on my butt. He took my swords and put them away. When he finished he came over and stuck out a hand. I grabbed hold. He yanked, but I had a better idea. I yanked back, hard. Surprised he fell toward me, but caught himself.

“Nice move,” he said with a smile, trapping me under him, his arms on either side of my shoulders.

I was mesmerized by his bright green eyes
. They danced with a happiness I hadn’t seen in weeks, not since that night in my bedroom. Our faces were close, and I kept checking out his lips, soft and full. What’s changed? Why is he being friendly again? I didn’t have time for an internal debate because his lips were suddenly on mine.

I gasped in surprise, and gladly reciprocated, twining my fingers in his hair.

Gabe groaned, grabbing my hips and rolling so I was on top.

He pulled back, releasing my lips. I let out a sound like a pouting kitten; upset he wasn’t kissing me. He smirked and brushed some hair out of my face.

“I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk. I promised I wouldn’t leave and that’s exactly what happened. Can you forgive me?” His voice was hoarse, full of emotion, full of sincerity.

I responded by pulling his head down, claiming his lips with mine, hungry for more. I needed this Gabe.
Sweet, kind Gabe.
His tongue flicked inside my mouth, and I felt it low in my belly, a fiery desire.

Sensual Gabe, my inner voice cheered

My heart beat faster, keeping time with his.

“Snow,” he murmured, foraging a trail of hot kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and to my collarbone. My lips found his neck, and I kissed him. Once. Twice. He smelled like sweat, soap, and more.
The scent of his blood.
It sang to me. I kissed him again, directly on the quick beating pulse. An unquenchable ache slammed into me. 

“Yes,” his voice pleaded. Urgent. Needy.

He wanted me to bite him. I sensed it. He wasn’t being subtle either as he pressed his neck into my lips.

It seemed fitting that Gabe should be my first.

My canines grew, and I sank them into his flesh. He shuddered.

The first taste of his blood was something I’ll never forget. Like lust and love combined.
A heady combination.

All my life I struggled with food, and settled on strictly vegetarian, but in that moment—the instant I tasted Gabe’s blood—I knew I’d never crave anything else ever again. It was exactness, precision, completeness. And I couldn’t get enough.

I sucked harder, yanking his neck closer. The more I drank the more I needed…

“Snow! Stop!” Professor Pops’ voice sounded far away. He tried to force me off Gabe, but I was stronger. Faster. I withdrew my fangs momentarily, and sat up, sending the palm of my hand smashing into Professor Pops’ sternum. He let out a grunt as he smacked against the wall with a crack.

There were others in the room. From the edges of my blood-filled vision I heard their cries of concern.

“I told you something like this would happen.”

“We shouldn’t have left her alone.”

I closed my eyes to clear my head. Who were they talking about? It couldn’t be me.

Someone gently pulled me off Gabe. I opened my eyes, and saw Dorian’s concerned face.

“Snow. Can you hear me?” he asked.

“What happened? Gabe and I were training and…” I followed Dorian’s gaze. On the floor lay Gabe, his body twisted at an unusual angle; part of his neck gaped opened. He was covered in blood. So were my hands.

My body began to shake. Not Gabe. No! “Is he—?” I couldn’t finish. Please, no. “Tell me,” I shouted.

No one moved.

An unbearable agony crawled up my stomach, into my chest, and settled in my throat. I screamed, the sound unearthly. Most of the brother’s and Professor Pops covered their ears. But I couldn’t stop.

“Snow.” Dorian sounded more pained than he looked, and he looked completely broken. I pulled out of his grasp.

Gabe is dead. Gabe is dead. I… killed Gabe.

You’re one of
them
now, my inner voice spat.

The brothers, and Professor Pops regarded me like I was an untamed animal—a monster.

The scream in my throat grew louder, and I bolted. As I went through the Museum of the Supernatural, the glass cases shattered. I stumbled up the stairs, through the front door. 

Windows broke.

Glass fell like rain.

Still I couldn’t stop.

I ran.

Afterword

I hope you enjoyed the first four volumes in the Blood and Snow series. Snow White
from Salem, Massachusetts
is one of my all time favorite characters. I lov
e that she starts out sweet, somewhat bumbling, and totally unsure about her clothing situation. After the bite from her Hunter her life begins to change—physically and emotionally. At the end of volume four there is no doubt even bigger changes lie ahead.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you’ll continue the series and find out what’s next for the revenant, Snow White.

If you loved reading the first four volumes in the series, do me a favor. Go
back to amazon and leave an honest review. It only takes two minutes, and will help me a great deal.