Snow

It was if I was trapped somewhere, unable to see, or smell. I couldn’t even hear. The only thing I had was my thoughts and my ‘inner ear’. I could feel of course, and the pain was unimaginable. It was as if someone had injected liquid fire into my veins. This must be the Unspeakable’s poisonous talons at work, working with the previous one, the first one I’d ever killed or helped to kill.

I remember when I was sucked into the world where vampires sparkled and fell in love with humans. Bella Swan went through something like this. The pure darkness surrounding me but I could feel the pain eating away at me, at what made me, me. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, the image of Trevor's life ending replayed in my mind constantly, as if the pain and where I was stuck wanted me to destroy myself mentally.

 I wondered if this was the All-Powerful One's doing. I wanted to call out to Lycan, to tell him I loved him, I wanted to feel his lips on mine. But somehow, I knew I couldn't. It was like someone had clipped my vocal cords, silencing me, letting me be consumed by the white-hot pain, like lava coursing through my fragile veins. I felt myself changing between wolf and human form and I knew I was scaring whoever was watching me.

I don't think I realized that Lycan couldn't be my true love; I couldn't comprehend him not being my True Love. I couldn't face the fact that if Trevor had been my True Love, I would never wake up from this awful slumber, unlike my other trips into the dream world, I wasn't ever going to wake, not unless someone kissed me, or found another way to wake me.

I was scared for the first time in my life, scared that I was going to die. I was in a Death Sleep, I've read about it in the books my father gave me, it was a deadly spell cast by an Unspeakable. But I had done nothing to deserve this; so, I was left with this question, what did I do?

I knew deep within myself, that this couldn’t possibly last forever, that someone would rescue me from myself. I had read about the countless attempts of Guardians trying to rid others of the Death Sleep. One case stuck with me though. It was the inspiration for the fairy tale, Snow White. Knowing me, I memorized the whole thing, the very first time I read the account.

It wasn’t difficult, most of the stories in Guardians: A History of Our Race was full of the after effects of curses, jinxes, and spells Unspeakables and other creatures could cast. But the Death Sleep was what filled me with dread. It rendered the victim powerless, and confined within their nightmares. The only nightmare I have suffered from was one where I was completely alone; with no one but myself for company; I couldn’t imagine what past Guardians saw and felt.  

The account was pretty straight forward really; but instead of an Evil Stepmother, there was an Unspeakable, and instead of a beautiful princess, there was an equally beautiful Guardian woman. The Grimm Brothers got most of the facts correct of course, as they were Protectors at the time. But to keep with their themes in their fables, they changed some of the key elements; to make sure our race stayed a secret.

Of course, in the Guardian account, Snow White never woke up. Her ‘prince’ kissed her, and searched the land for a cure; but nothing was ever found. The Guardian died in her Death Sleep while he was on his quest nearly ten years after his initial attempt. He died of a broken heart. I didn’t want that for Lycan, of course I didn’t want to die either, but the thought of the world without Lycan Taylor Johnson in it, just didn’t seem right to me.

Echo

                I was watching as Luna wrote furiously in her notebook. I assumed its where she wrote down all the visions she has, even the ones not important enough to share. It was her private thoughts so I didn’t push to read it. I was doing my own research, to help Lycan and in turn help Snow.

                I managed to find a spell that could help wake Snow fully once Lycan finally worked up the courage to kiss her…but the price to fulfill was hefty and I wasn’t sure if it was worth it. I loved Snow like a sister…but I didn’t think anyone was worth the price the spell asked for, so much blood. I shuddered, but wrote down the ingredients, I would get them tomorrow.

                I still loved Lycan, but I didn’t think I was in love with him…but there was really only one way to actually know what I felt for Lycan was platonic or not, and that was to ask for a kiss. It was insane and insensitive but I needed to know, Luna deserved all my love with no reservations.

                I enjoyed watching her without her knowing, she was so focused on what she was doing, I doubted she knew I was even there. I had read ahead in the book we had been given after our birthdays…I got to the part about mates and reading about True Mates made me think about the way I was with Luna.

                Could it be possible that she was my True Mate? If homosexuality was so forbidden for us Guardians, why would the Creators pair us together? Wasn’t the point of mates to continue the line?

                But who was I to question the Mighty Duo? If Luna was my True Mate, I could do a lot worse…hell I could’ve been paired with Accalia. Luna was beautiful; she had really come into her own as a Guardian and the new powers that were weird even for us.

                Today, her ebony hair with the rebellious magenta streak was pulled back in a messy bun, her face free of make-up, not that she even needed it, her greenish gray eyes were dark in concentration, her tongue kissed her upper lip, the cutest habit I think she had. Her lithe frame was covered in the shortest pair of shorts I had ever seen, and a skin tight tank top, fluffy unicorn socks covered her feet, the ankles drooping so the unicorn looked more like a rainbow pancake.

                She was the most beautiful person I had ever seen…and I had dated Lycan and he was quite arguably beautiful for a guy. It wasn’t just her looks that made her beautiful, it was her personality. The fire that drove her, the stubbornness and her need to rebel against antiquated views and laws, her need to stand out from her cousin, who was almost her mirror image in looks.

                While Snow was just as beautiful as Luna on the exterior, that was where their similarities ended. While both cousins were near geniuses, Snow was a born leader, outgoing, mature, and quick to act. Luna was more reserved, content with research and diplomacy. Luna was rarely ever violent; she didn’t share her cousin’s quick temper and need for bloodshed.

                “I can feel you looking at me Eck.”

                “How can you feel someone quietly appraising you across the room?”

                “The same way I can feel if you are in the house or in close proximity. I just know.”

                I closed my book and stood from my perch, my favorite spot in her room, the bay window that overlooked the wooded area behind her house, the woods that led to the Ridge. I crossed the room, and sat on her lap, knocking her pen from her hand. She didn’t seem to mind.

                “Eck, I need to write this down before I forget.”

                “If it was so important, you would have told Snow or the Elders.”

                She shut her mouth, knowing that I had a point. I rested my head in the crook of her neck, and just listened to her breathe. I had never felt so content with just being with someone, not like with Luna. Her very presence just calmed me. She was like a lavender candle but one I could cuddle and kiss.

                “Eck, is something wrong?”

                “No…well other than the usual crap. I just want to be with you.”

                Luna wrapped her arms around me, and I held her a little tighter. We stayed like that for what seemed like hours, and it very well could have been hours. Luna had turned on her T.V and put a random movie on, all without dislodging me from her lap.

                “I love you. More than I have loved anyone ever.”

                “I love you too Eck.”

                “I’m sorry I’m going to leave you.”

                “It isn’t your fault.”

                “I’m sorry you saw it happen.”

                “Again, not your fault love.”

                “I’m sorry you have to see it happen twice.”

                “Eck…”

                “I know it isn’t my fault. But you saw me die. You saw it…and then you just didn’t talk about it again. I. Am. Going. To. Die. Dead, gone, a doornail.”

                “You want me to cry, to kick and scream and lock you away so nothing ever happens to you? I thought about it, I really did…but if I did that I would be just as bad if not worse than the All-Powerful One. He loves his Queen so much that he hides her from his subjects and locks her away in his chambers when he isn’t with her. I won’t do that to you. I would like to believe that I would be strong enough to live on without you. It would be hard, but I would live for the both of us.”

                “Never change…never.” I whispered, and pulled her in for a kiss. She was crying, and the salt mingled with her lavender scent.

                “I love you so much Echo.”

                “Forever and always.”