He returned my bow. "It's an honor. To what, or whom do I owe for this... pleasant interruption from my slumber?" He smacked his lips, as though he considered making me a meal. I stepped back.
"I need your help," I said, tentative, raising my chin. I refused to let the overgrown flying lion intimidate me.
"Of course you do," he responded. He sat on his haunches, and the earth beneath him shook in discomfort. "Tell me?" Abernathy blinked.
I focused on his long, black lashes. "My sister, Sharra, is ambitious for power. I fear if she succeeds in her plans, the world, as we know it, will be lost. Then only those she deems worthy will retain magic." And I knew that meant her, and no one else, at least not to the extent that she did. I paused, unable to meet his gaze, and took a secret breath.
A big part of me hadn't wanted to come. Doing so meant I was betraying Sharra. That wasn't my intention. I loved my sister. Sharra and I had been the best of friends for more than a thousand years, until she discovered humans, and their uses. Until she realized she could change them into a new variety of vampire, and use them to do her bidding.
Until she decided she should rule instead of me, I thought remorsefully, and shoved those feelings away.
To Abernathy, I continued, "We may drive her back for a time, but she'll return. She's strong willed, and so determined." I swallowed. "I-We need a way to protect a portion of Earth's magic, so it can't be muddled to suit her lust for power."
"I see." Abernathy's tail whipped and curled around his feet. I got the feeling he really didn't see, but wanted to mollify me. "You realize, dear vampire, life is evolution, whether you want to believe it or not." He drummed his clawed paws on the ground, sending wisps of dirt into the air. "Had a tadpole not longed to roam on land, it never would have become a frog."
I nodded. It was the same argument Sharra used. But that didn't make it right.
"Why do you want to stop what so naturally is," Abernathy continued. "Unless you're worried creatures of magic will agree with her instead of you." He gave me a knowing glance, and I cringed.
Clearing my throat, I steeled myself, and tried to glare. The idea of losing one's magic made no sense. Why would someone willingly give up such a gift? Choose to mate with lesser creatures? Weakening their power. There was no rhyme or rationale behind the logic. Flapping my wings in frustration, I said, "The unicorns believed as Sharra does, and they are all but extinct. Each generation diluted until the youngest no longer grow a horn, and can't communicate with other creatures of magic. It's a disgrace! They are called horses, and they do the humans dirty work." My words came out ragged, but that was the truth. It was despicable what happened in the name of evolution.
"Perhaps," Abernathy said thoughtfully.
I fisted my hands, the muscles under my brown fur straining from the pressure. Would he refuse me?
"What's the matter with her? It looks like she has a disease-that odd shade of her skin. And she hasn't moved in weeks."
"I wish I knew. Snow Angel, come back, honey. Daddy's here."
"Let's fly to Italy for Christmas, it'll do you some good to relax."
"You can do what you want, but I'm her father. I'm not going anywhere, in case she wakes up."
"You heard the doctors, there's nothing wrong with her."
"Then get the hell out, Viv. Go! Do what you want. I won't leave my daughter alone again."
"How dare you talk to me like that!"
"No, how dare you! For the past ten years I've chosen you over her. Never again." ...
Chapter 2
Abernathy exhaled, sending smoke through his nostrils, and I took another step back. "If you wish to save Earth's magic, there is much you must do. While I do not agree that the horse is less of a creature than the unicorn, I do think there is merit to what you request. Saving magic will benefit all creatures."
I felt my shoulders relax. My wings vibrated in response. It didn't matter if he agreed with my beliefs or not, only that he told me what I needed to do to protect the world's magic from dying out completely. "You'll help, then?"
"Yes, Silindra, Queen of the Vampires. I'll give you what you desire, but remember all choices come with a price."
"Thank you," I breathed, feeling a little giggly, and wondering where the emotion came from. Usually I was exceptional under pressure.
Abernathy tossed his head back. "Hhhmmmmm. Aaarrgggghhhh. Hhhmmmmm. Aaarrgggghhhh." The noise trembled deep within the dragon's body. He pranced from one foot to the other, as though dancing. Then he rose up on his hind legs, and let out a roar, breathing fire. Flames licked the high ceiling of the cavern. Bats died instantly, falling like black rain all around us. I fell backward, pinching my wings against the floor and the rocky wall. And waited.
After several minutes he stopped, turning his ferocious face my direction. An angry pain burned in his eyes. He opened his mouth, and I had a momentary flash of fear that he would send his fiery breath my way.
Instead, something small rolled off his tongue, landing in the dusty floor beneath him. "Take that," he said, returning to his sitting position, looking as though he'd done nothing bizarre.
I hesitated. "What is it?" A hairball, I thought. Nasty.