"I don't think so. Maybe you should talk to him, explain how you feel." I definitely wasn't one to be giving relationship advice, but I didn't like seeing Cindy sad.She nodded. "I should. I will." She took a deep breath. "Now, regarding your sexy-times problems," she sniffled and dried her eyes, and I knew we were done talking about her. "The truth is, you don't have a any," she said. "A completely gorgeous vampire wants in your pants. He loves you, and you love him. I see no downside."I reddened at her blunt words. It excited me to think Christopher wanted me in that way, made me feel desirable. But it was such a big step for me. I mean, sex. Ugh. That was huge. "What?" she asked, and I could tell she worked hard not to laugh."It's just that I'm so nervous. What if we do it and everything changes?"She nodded. "Everything will change for sure, but it'll hopefully be a good change. That's what moving forward in a relationship means.""You and Gabe - " I let the rest of the ques
Cindy pulled fourteen thick white candles from her backpack. They were small and smelled of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg - a combination that reminded me of my mother's oatmeal. We placed them on the carpet next to my bed in the shape of a seven-pointed star.I shut off the lights. The sun was setting, and brilliant orange, pink, and golden rays glinted across my shadowed room. "Is there a reason for the scented candles?" I asked as she and I sat cross-legged in the center of them. Our knees almost touched. We were super close, but the position was like second nature to her and me.She shrugged. "No, I just like the smell.""Me, too." I smiled. Nervous butterflies doing the hula in my stomach. "Now what?""Shhhhh," she said. "I'm concentrating.""Oops." I stifled a giggle.She placed her middle finger and thumb together, resting her hands on her knees like she was getting ready to meditate. Then she closed her eyes. Her face became serene. And suddenly, the candles flickered to
"Greetings, little vampire. I'm surprised to see you here. If I'm right, and I usually am, you weren't supposed to come for another six months." His deep voice reverberated off the rock walls, and a few bats flew up and out of the cave. Though I sensed this was the same chamber, it had changed over the thousands of years since I was here with Silindra. The most noticeable difference was the large opening above our heads into the darkened sky. Wispy clouds lazily coasted by. Moonbeams filtered in and, while they didn't reach all the way down, they still bathed the cavern in a little light.The dragon shook his yellow mane, like a lion after a long slumber, and the chamber lit up as if it were noon on a bright, sunny day."Hello, Abernathy." I was surprised he knew so much about me. Would he be angry, I became the Seal? Did he already know? He said he was waiting. I took a step forward. "You know who I am?"He smacked his chops, his teeth clinking together. I heard a collective ga
I peeked over Abernathy's side and saw the deep darkness of the water below. It seemed to be in every direction, along the sides and above us too. The illusion made me a little dizzy. Cindy grabbed hold of Gabe tighter. He touched her arm. "It'll be okay, Cin." She nodded but didn't respond.They were sweet together. "How is it possible we are surrounded by water?" Dorian asked. "I don't know," I answered. "Abernathy, where are we?" It was like we were inside an enormous raindrop."Do not be alarmed. We are within the borders of Mizu. Your mother is here."I didn't appreciate him continually acting like my mother was alive. Perhaps it was because he was asleep a hundred years or even a thousand, but it hurt that he acted as though she was still around. "Abernathy, my mother died a long time ago." Tears stung the edges of my eyes, and I closed them briefly, working to make them stop."You were told your mother died," Abernathy responded. "Doing so was for your safety, but now tha
As I studied the city coming into view, I thought about love as an emotion. How it was like a pyrotechnics display. The vibrancy and beauty were not truly appreciated until after the fireworks erupted, when the sparks burst in radiant color and seem to gloriously proclaim to the sky, "This is what you're missing. This is what you've lost."That was how it was with my mother. I had adored her, loved the way she sang while she cooked, how her eyebrows came together when she read something interesting, and the way she snuggled into my neck when she tucked me in at night.Those memories were priceless, and I wished I cherished her more while I had her in my life. I should've cuddled with her longer. Hugged her tighter. But then, I didn't know she was going to die.The knowledge that she was still alive after all this time but chose to stay away filled me with a pain I hadn't known before. I was devastated and angry, and if I was honest with myself, excited to see her."Promises are lies s
Roads and sidewalks intersected and meandered along and around the fantastical buildings. The streets sparkled in the sunlight, and I guessed they were made from pearls. All manner of supernatural creatures, including trolls, elves, fairies, and even humans, moved around below.Several streams ambled lazily in different sections of the city, and surrounding the city's outskirts was a vast ocean. Did mermaids dwell here? I strained my eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse of one. The idea of mermaids brought up another concern. Where exactly had Abernathy brought us? What was this place? The dragon said the city was called Mizu Atlantica, but what was the town for? Why did it exist?Abernathy flew us above the buildings in search of an unknown destination. None of the citizens below shrieked or screamed. Instead, most waved to Abernathy and greeted him like an old friend. The whole scenario was wild, and I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Up ahead, in the city's center wa
"Starved," Dorian answered.Gabe agreed."I could eat," Cindy said, her hands in her pockets as she studied the room.Blood sounded good, I thought but said nothing."Please, have a seat." She indicated a wooden table. The centerpiece was filled with radiant purple flowers I didn't recognize.When we were seated, plates were positioned in front of us. The food smelled divine. It looked like fish covered in a creamy yellow sauce, green beans, and freshly baked rolls. My friends looked at me before shoveling it in. Obviously, it tasted good, but I didn't even try to fake it. My stomach was already in knots. I wouldn't add human food to the mix.My mom ate a little too, but mostly she answered questions from random people who came in and sent wary glances at my friends and me. I stared at my plate, and I caught my mother watching at me.When they finished, my mother addressed us."Better?""Yes," Cindy said, giving me a sidelong look. She had that look on her face. The one that said
"I understand, Snow. I do. Leaving you has weighed heavily on my heart since the day I left. But look at you." Her eyes sparkled with awe. "You're magnificent. A leader. A creature destined to save us all."I let out a noise somewhere between a snort and a sob. I wiped at my tears, wishing they would stop. "How can you say that? I'm a wreck." But I had to admit her words made me feel better.She came over and gently wiped my cheek with the back of her hand. "Maybe you are a bit of a wreck, but aren't we all? Isn't that what life is about? The mess."My hands trembled. I listened to her words, heard the tenderness of her voice, and all it did was make me angry. How could she console me or tell me anything? She didn't have the right."I don't know," I whispered through clenched teeth.She rolled her shoulders. "Do you want to sit?" she asked, trying to take my hand.I shook my head, moving my hands behind my back."Fine." She crossed her arms. "Abernathy told you the name of this city, c