Chapter 18 -

I heard heavy footsteps coming down the long hall way — the kind of footsteps that could only be made by walking on an old wooden floor, the sound echoing eerily in the royal bedchamber — angry footsteps...

"Where's Chaos?" Thomas said.

"She's in the lavatory," Vycandor replied. "I'm afraid she's still not feeling well."

"We have to go, there's not much time," Thomas insisted.

"Did the King tell you the truth about Robert?"

"He did. That's why we have to go."

"I don't understand. Why would you put Chaos in danger?"

"Because the King knows about Jade," Thomas admitted, voice grave.

Vycandor gasped, sounding surprised. "You didn't tell him, did you?"

"Of course I didn't tell him. But he knows something's wrong. If Jade does not return in time for her celebration, I'm afraid there's going to be hell to pay."

I appeared in the doorway, attempting to act normal when I felt like absolute crap. "What celebration?"

"I almost forgot with everything that's happened," Vycandor replied without meeting my eyes. "We need to find her and bring her back."

Feeling more than a little wobbly, I moved to stand beside the bed — using one of the four huge pillars holding up the enormous canopy for support. "What celebration?"

It's hard to explain," Vycandor began.

"Try," I insisted.

"In order to become Queen of Maple Island, Jade must assume her father's authority and, even more importantly, the responsibility of serving as protector of the animal spirits."

"Meaning?" I still didn't get it.

"It means, Jade must become a Walker in order to undergo a specific rite of passage if she is to assume the throne."

I quirked an eyebrow. "How is she supposed to do that?"

"By going on a Spirit Walk where she will encounter her ancestors in order to gain their approval before she can rule. It is a necessary means to connect to the lineage of all of the animal's spirits who have come before her. Passing down of this authority from one ruler to the next is a richly textured series of supernatural spiritual ceremonies, which can endow the Walker with certain characteristics, including unyielding strength and infinite power. It is a necessary process for the legitimate transfer of title from father to daughter. From King to Queen." Vycandor looked pale. Well, paler than usual and genuinely scared for the first time. "If her ancestors do not accept her as supreme ruler, Jade will die."

I gasped in surprise. "But Jade is your Watcher. Your protector. She's physically linked to you."

"Not physically," Vycandor corrected. "I'm psychically linked to Jade. She is my Watcher and I am hers."

It was Thomas' turn to ask questions. "I must be missing something. What's a Watcher?"

I beat Vycandor to the answer, proud of myself. "They're spirit animals. Vycandor is a Siberian Tiger and Jade is a Black Panther."

Thomas stared at Vycandor in disbelief, trying not to laugh. "You, a Siberian Tiger?"

"Correction, I used to be a Siberian Tiger," Vycandor admitted. "I don't actually ever recall shifting. Although, I probably would have had I remained a Drinker like my mom."

"What's a Drinker?" Thomas asked.

Vycandor and I answered him in stereo. "Never mind."

"That's because you were raised by your Uncle," I mused to myself. "He taught you how to become a Drainer instead."

Thomas raked his hands through his floppy dark brown hair, voice angry. "Does someone want to explain to me what a Drainer is?"

"It's a psychic Vampire," I rattled off without thinking. "Vycandor survived by feeding off the life force of his victims, not actually by killing them and drinking their blood."

Thomas balled his hands into fists. "Yeah, like I said. He's a demon."

"Call me a demon one more time, and I'll show you a demon," Vycandor snarled.

I stepped in between them, placing a hand on both their chests to keep them apart. "Uh, technically speaking, we're all Demons."

Thomas stared at me in disbelief. "Come again?"

The awful hunger roared through me again, but I forced it back. Swallowing hard, I shut my eyes and breathed deep. Stay calm. Just stay calm. "According to Christian mythology, all demons are fallen angels. All three of us made the same choice to remain here on earth. Otherwise, we'd still be in Heaven. Duh!" I waited until I was certain, uh...mostly certain...hoped was more like it...that they weren't going to kill each other before I removed my hand from their heavily muscled chests. "Now, are we going to stand here and fight? Or are we going to find Jade?"

When neither of them said anything else, I decided I was leaving. Taking a step toward the chamber door, I almost kissed the floor with my face. Thomas and Vycandor caught me just in time. My legs felt like wet noodles.

"First, we go see Robert," Thomas ordered, "and get him to help Chaos before it's too late."

"Then we go rescue Jade," Vycandor chimed in.

They couldn't stand to be in the same room as each other, but on this they were united. They both wanted to be my savior.

Gee, I felt special.

"I'll feel better when I get some air," I admitted. Anything was better than standing around and smelling them. I couldn't take it anymore. Their faces were only mere inches from mine. So close, in fact, that I could actually hear the blood pumping through their veins. The combined smell of their bodies mixed with the warm aroma of their blood was beyond intoxicating. Thomas with his sweet vanilla and leather, Vycandor with his fruit infused musk, and the fresh scent of coppery metal. I couldn't take it any longer. I had to get away. Had to get away from them.

The mere thought of drinking their blood now sickened me. Thankfully, Vycandor had cured me of that.

Somehow I managed to find the strength to run. Not very fast. Not very far. But I ran like a wayward toddler trying to escape its mother. I tripped over my own two feet repeatedly in the process and ran into walls, but I kept on going. Down the long, winding staircase. Past the many arched stained glass windows. Through the Royal Dining Hall followed by the Great Hall. Out of the archway leading to the gardens at the back of the property. I ran and I ran, as far and as fast as my spaghetti legs would carry me to get the hell out of Cinderella's castle. I didn't even lose a shoe. In fact, I only fell when I got to the prickly rose garden and my feet became ensnared in the many climbing vines because that was just my stupid luck. I couldn't land anyplace soft. No, not me.

Thomas made it to my side first. I instantly became aware of the rise and fall of my chest in his presence, of the breaths I was taking, or not taking in this case, and the ever quickening pace of my rapidly beating heart. "Chaos, just breathe," he commanded gently, placing a comforting hand on my back. The back with all the claw marks. The marks Vycandor had made when I...when he...

I hated myself for what I had done.

"You don't have to be so nice to me, I don't deserve it," I cried like a blabbering idiot. "I needed blood, any blood. What I wanted most of all was his, and he gave it to me. Knowing that it was impossible. Knowing that I needed to take it from both of you. Still, he gave me his blood to drink because I was weak. I was weak and I couldn't resist any longer. I can't really explain it. I have no excuses. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Hungering for his bittersweet caress, I watched in slow motion as he folded his long legs and sat down beside me - shoulders slumped. Once again, he reminded me of a weeping seraph. When I looked into his hazel eyes they were sad, so sad. Sad and full of pain. 

"It's okay, I understand," he finally admitted.

"You do? Why?" Not that I was complaining of course. I changed it very quickly to, "Uh, I mean...what changed?

Thomas shook his head absently. "If only for today, I am not afraid of losing you. You did what you had to do." I mulled that over in my brain. Or attempted to anyway, until he broke into my thoughts. "If I had the courage to offer you my blood, don't you think that I would?" I didn't know how to answer that. Or if I even should. "Chaos, I love you so much it hurts. Do you have any idea how much you take my breath away?"

Grappling with disbelief, I had to ask. "So, you're not mad at me?"

His jaw tensed. "I wouldn't go that far. I admit, I'm still pretty mad at you and I plan on keeping you at a distance. At least until you can find a way to be true to me. And only me. I already told you. I don't share."

"But you forgive me?" I asked, voice full of hope.

"Yes."

I knew I was probably pushing my luck, but I had to know. Had to be certain. I mean, in case I screwed up again. "Why? Does it have something to do with the one cross plus three nails thing?"

His hazel eyes glinted in the bright sunlight. "It has everything to do with that. But also because we are the fated ones. You and me. Not you and him."