Free Blood and Snow 5: Prey and Magic by Rashelle Workman Page B

other things I didn’t want to think about.
    “How long have I been gone?”
    “In Sharra, the Winter Solstice has begun. In the world of humans, it is the fifth day of November.” The voice was deep, and resonated within my chest. It seemed to come from the proximity of the mirror. I was too tired to freak out. Leaning forward, I searched for a body to go with the voice.
    “My name is Zenny . I reside in all of the mirrors within the castle.” A s he spoke, a funny looking man with lemon yellow hair, and skin the color of a copper pot strolled across the middle of the mirror. He wore forest green and navy blue checkered pants, a red shirt, a white vest, and white shoes. I would’ve thought he was a clown, except for the seriousness of his features. Deep grooves etched cr eases between his eyebrows. His honey eyes were alight with a stern demeanor.
    “Oh. That means it’s been two weeks since I left .” I bit back a sob as memories of all of my loved ones broke through the wall I’d built up against my pain, guilt, and sorrow. Swallowing, I forced the wall back together with my anger, and lust for blood, allowing those feelings to reign in the forefront of my mind.
    Zenny sniffed , bringing me out of my reverie . “I would guess three months by the smell of you. Peel off those clothes, and throw them into the fire.” The hearth on my right suddenly roared to life. “When you’ve disposed of them, step into the shower, and I’ll send F ina and Trina to assist you in scrubbing off all the debris.” He sniffed again.
    “No thank you, Zenny .” I untied my shoelaces. I can take care of myself . I don’t need F ina and… Treeny .”
    “Trina, dear. And I think you should reconsider.” He walked across my reflection to my left cheek, licked his thumb, and pretended to wipe off a dirt streak.
    “Funny,” I said, sarcastic.
    He wrinkled his nose. “I’m not trying to be funny. Really, you’re a mess.”
    “Fine, I get it. Now can you leave, s o I can shower in peace? ”
    “Humph,” he snorted and walked to the edge of the mirror.
    Before he was gone, I remember ed my manners. “Thank you, Zenny .”
    He turned to me, his face ablaze with happiness. “ Of course, Snow .” Then he was gone. 

Chapter 4
     
    I quickly stripped, doing as Zenny commanded, and tossed my clothes into the fire. Stepping into the steaming shower, I grabbed some lemon-scented soap and scrubbed . My invisible wall melted, and t houghts of Gabe, Professor Pops, the brothers, Cindy, my dad, stepmother, and Gatsby (hopefully someone fed the poor thing) filled my mind, and stung my heart. Had Professor Pops held a funeral for Gabe? Images of Professor Pops and the brothers all dressed in dark suits, white s hirts, and a tie mocked me. The brothers walked somberly, three on each side of Gabe’s cherry wood casket, toward Professor Pops, and the gravesite where they would lower his cold, dead body into the ground.
    Tears, hot with hurt and devastation, trickled down my cheeks. “What have I done?” Unable to keep myself standing, I curled into a ball on the shower floor and that’s where I stayed.
    I wondered if my dad looked for me? If he knew what I’d done, probably not. Did anyone even care? They shouldn’t. I’d committed the ultimate sin. K illed. Murdered an amazing person. I didn’t deserve anyone’s love , or support. I deserved to die. That’s what it said in the Bible. An eye for an eye. If anyone was searching for me, it was prob ably to find a way to punish me . I shouldn’t have run. I should’ve stayed and suffered the consequences for my actions.
    I still couldn’t believe it. A part of me wanted to pretend he still lived. That somehow he survived my vicious attack, and was only wounded.
    Was it possible?
    How could I find out without returning?
    Should I go back?
    A wave of determinatio n washed over me. I would go home . Face the consequences. If that meant death, then so be it. Standing, I quickly