I understood Titan's passion. I held the same beliefs for the quest I was on, to save magic, but I doubted what Titan was doing down here would matter in the long run. The term "science" was thrown around at the last council meeting. It meant little to me. "What else do you do down here?" I asked."Let me show you." He glanced over and smiled.I held my tongue, working to keep my face blank of any emotion. "You believe I'm heartless, uncaring. Is that it? You're wondering how I can put science above the lives of my people.""Something like that," I acknowledged."It's simple. Down here, we take emotion out of the equation. We take a problem and use science along with our magic to solve it. Up there," he pointed one of his thick fingers toward the ceiling. I understood he meant above ground. "The trolls and the elves fight over an imaginary line - an important line, yes, but imaginary, nonetheless. The elves only desire power. We aren't oppressing them, and they have plenty of food and

I knew Silindra heard all that was being said, and I was glad. Perhaps if she were able to change the past, things could be different in the future, and I wouldn't be marked. I could just be me and wouldn't even know about vampires or magic or anything supernatural. "It doesn't matter anymore," Sharra continued. "Whatever the Seal did, it's ruined you. The chayot, the witches, Adam Henry. Ugh, they all believe you'll wake, but they don't understand the Seal's power like I do. You won't come back, and that's for the best. I've chosen another. She isn't as great as you could've been, but she is part chayot."No! I couldn't let her hurt anyone else. "Besides, she's nearly ready. She's fallen in love, and her craving for her lover's blood burns within her. It's so strong I can feel it. Soon she'll consume him, and then her body will be mine." She cackled. I tried to force myself awake. I needed to stop her. "Stay asleep, Snow. Because if you wake, I'll hunt down and destroy everyone y

"You think I wanted to hurt Envy? I didn't. It breaks me up inside to know I caused that little unicorn pain. But I had no choice. This is the cost of war. Death." I forced the angry fear Snow's words caused to the back of my mind. I touched the horn to the gem, and I watched as it disappeared inside and rested in the center, the pointy end facing upward.I knew Envy was dead, and I had to bury her. She deserved a more honorable memorial than what I could give at that moment, but I had to do something. I dug a deep hole with my clawed hands, then using my magic, I lined it with lilacs. Carefully, I picked her up and placed her inside. "I'm sorry, Envy, but I'll make sure your sacrifice wasn't for nothing." With more magic, I covered her in more lilacs. Tears dripped from my eyes, and I knew it was Snow crying more than me, but I let them fall. The unicorn had been a bright spot in my life for a few moments, and I would never forget her. All around me, trolls banged against the forcefi

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter right now. What does? I still need two more magics: the essence of a vampire and the blood of a hunter." I clenched my hands together, trying not to believe what Zenny said about Gabriel. "I'm not sure how to collect those, but I'm working on it. The thing is - " I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was becoming clear I would need to kill my sister to win. If that was what it took, I would do it. "If something happens to me - " I began."Nothing will, Silindra," Ryden interrupted, wringing her hands.I appreciated Ryden's belief in me. "I know, but if it does, I need you to promise me something.""Anything." She flew around with nervous worry. "I need some watermelon juice to calm my nerves. You shouldn't talk like this."I held out my hand, hoping she would land. Thankfully, she did but started pacing around my palm and up and down my fingers. It tickled. I smiled. "Just promise me you'll take this back to Abernathy. Can you do that?"She

His words infuriated me. I was the first - an original. A creature born of all seven magics and a portion of them dwelled within me. The way I looked, the way I acted, every part of me was precisely right. "You're the freak!" I shouted. "You live only because the blood of a vampire flows in your veins. Don't ever think you're better than me. You're nothing but a whipping boy, a slave to the real master. If not me, then my sister."He hit my wings this time, and I felt whatever was on the ends bite deep. Then his face was next to mine. "You were born first. That is true. But that doesn't make you better. It makes you old. It makes you inadequate. You refuse to see what is right in front of you. Evolution is the answer to eternal life. Instead of choosing to progress, like the rest of the vampires, you stay like this." He yanked on my hair. "In an ugly, good for nothing body. You could've been so much more. Your sister wants that for you. I want that for you. Now it's too late."I spit i