"Snow," Arial prodded, her hand on my shoulder.
I shrugged it away. "So what does this place have to do with me? Or you, for that matter?"
She licked her lips, a very human thing to do, and I caught myself staring at her, checking to see if she had any hint of elf in her. Her frame was thin, willowy, like the elves, but that's where the similarities ended. Her skin was the wrong color, as was her hair. The way she spoke did remind me of someone. It'd been while I spent time with Silindra.
"What's wrong," she asked, studying me intently.
And I remembered the mannerisms, the particular way she had of speaking. "You're Devoran's daughter."
"Yes," she breathed, a look of amazement splayed across her features. "Which means you are his granddaughter." My mother gazed at me in earnest. "Do you know what Sharra would give to have your lineage as her own?"
I shrugged. "I guess. Which is why I don't get what you mean about this city being built to protect me. If what you say is true, why didn't you bring me with you?" I didn't bother to tell her that Sharra had selected another as her Chosen, and that Sharra had in fact tried to kill me, but the Seal wouldn't allow it. Instead, images of what life would've been like living here with my mother pummeled my mind. I could've helped her. At least spent my life with her.
And I wouldn't have been bitten.
Would that be a good thing? If you hadn't been bitten, you never would've met Christopher, my inner voice quipped.
Maybe not. And I'd fallen in love with my Hunter.
If I could go back in time, which would I choose? My mother, or a life with the seven amazing brothers and Professor Pops? A life without Cindy?
An eerie tension coursed through my body.
I shouldn't have to choose, I thought angrily.
My mother sighed, her shoulders turned in. "The city isn't to protect you from those out in the world, but to keep those who would kill you, in."
It was as though a light bulb clicked on in my head. Bright rays of light ignited my unanswered questions and memories. The day I ran Track with Christopher. It'd been raining. And I was trying to catch up with Christopher. Then I'd felt a prick in the back of my legs, and they'd gone numb. Christopher said I was poisoned. And he told me there were those who wanted me dead. Did he know about Mizu?
Of course he does, I thought.
She must've read the confused expression on my face. She elaborated. "Specifically, my father swore he would kill you if I didn't leave you and return." She sniffled, and I watched her eyes fill with tears. "He said he would kill you to punish me."
I clasped my hands together, hoping to alleviate some of my irritation. So Devoran was behind the attack. "He tried to have me killed anyway," I said through clenched teeth.
She shook her head. "No, he wouldn't." But her words didn't sound very convincing. They sounded hollow, and I sensed she knew as well as I did that she was lying to herself.
And why would Devoran be honest with her? I thought of the stories Abernathy shared, about my mother's parents rejecting her. If they treated her badly before, why would they change now?
They wouldn't, my inner voiced huffed.
In a whisper, I asked, "Abernathy helped you escape your family. Why would he build a city meant to imprison you, and keep us apart?" The dragon seemed much to good for that.
Really though, what do I know about anything, I thought, irritated.
"Abernathy believed the city was built as a safe haven for magical creatures-those who didn't want to remain under Sharra's rule. He didn't know Devoran threatened me, or intended to kill you, until much, much later. Well, thirteen years ago."
I remembered the way Devoran was with Envy. How upset he was at how poorly her family treated her. I couldn't imagine that elf was Ariel's father. It didn't seem possible. "There was this unicorn. Her name was Envy. Devoran was so kind to her," I said slowly.
She nodded. "He brings up that story all the time, about how he's so empathetic, but the truth is, he's only accepting with other people's problems. If anything in his own life is imperfect, then he wants nothing to do with it."
"Why did he want you to come back then?" Her eyes were hooded, like she didn't want me to see something in them. "Mom?" I asked.
In a voice I barely heard, she said, "I'm bait."
"Bait?"
"Yes." She brushed her hands down the front of her pants, wiping away at something nonexistent. "Snow. I'm so sorry, but the truth is my father wants you here so he can use you to help him destroy the Vampire Queen. He wants to rule all magical creatures. He craves power just as badly, if not more, than Sharra. And he knew someday you'd come... for me."