He nodded. "You're wondering how I can allow a war to rage above while this goes on below."
"That is curious," I agreed noncommittally.
"This mountain, and what goes on down here, is of the upmost importance. Devoran and his band of elves think to take the mountain, believing it belongs to them. But, if they were to gain control, they would discover our secrets, and Devoran would never let the science continue." His face grew angry. "The elven King is ancient, and set in his ways. I won't allow him to destroy everything we've worked for in the name of old-fashioned beliefs."
I understood Titan's passion. I held the same beliefs for the quest I was on, to save magic, but I doubted what Titan was doing down here would matter in the long run. I'd heard the term, Science, thrown around at the last Council meeting. The word meant little to me. "What else do you do down here?" I asked.
"Let me show you." He glanced over and smiled.
I blew out my breath in frustration.
"You believe I'm heartless, uncaring. Is that it? You're wondering how I can put science above the lives of my people."
"Something like that," I acknowledged.
"The reason is simple. Down here we take emotion out of the equation. We take a problem and use science, along with magic, to solve it. Up there," he pointed one of his thick fingers toward the ceiling, but I understood he meant above ground. "The trolls and the elves fight over an imaginary line, an important line, yes, but a line nonetheless. The elves only desire power. We aren't oppressing them. They have plenty of food and shelter. It doesn't matter. They fight because one of the elven chieftains believes a troll chieftain should give him more land. He says his land is far greater, and that it's unfair."
Titan threw up his hands, flashing long, unkempt armpit hair. "They don't realize if they would work together, use the resources from each side to benefit the other, their lives would be far better." He spun in a slow circle, his arms extended wide. "This, down here, is the true power. Down here, we have harmony, accord, a group of intelligent beings working toward the betterment of the entire world." He moved toward one of the corridors. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
As Titan walked, he continued talking, "You probably think none of this has anything to do with you. Vampires are lucky they can't die of disease." He raised a finger, "But other magical creatures can, and you, Silindra, have the equivocal title of Earth's Queen." He waved his hands in a circle. "All of this should matter to you. Once you've seen what we do, perhaps you'll encourage more vampires to join our cause."
I wanted to snort in disgust. Instead I said, "What kinds of sicknesses?" I wanted to take the focus off what I wouldn't do, and turn it toward what he found so fascinating about this place.
He gave a knowing smile. "The top rung houses the center for disease control. One ailment our scientists are working on is the loss of fairy wings at half a millennium. Did you know that happens?"
Worry formed in my belly. Ryden wasn't a fairy, but a pixilette. Still, I wondered if she ever got sick? If her wings would fall off. I'd never known her to be ill. "I didn't," I answered quietly, still lost in my own thoughts.
"We've discovered it's a degenerative disease. And our scientists found a cure."
That surprised me. And Snow White.
Cool. I never really thought about fairytale... um, I mean fairies getting sick or old, she said.
Me either.
... "Snow. Merde! I'm so over not being able to get your advice. I need to tell you about Gabe. The guy has lost it. Last night I was at Warehouse Video and he pulled up in his silver CRX wearing a sword across his back, like some kind of Knight of the Round Table. He looked sexy and completely stupid. Sexy, because I know what he is-the leader of the chayot. Stupid, because everyone else thought he'd gone nerd. I mean, really, if I didn't know what he was, I would've laughed my ass off. He didn't even notice the kids laughing at him. It was like he saw no one else, except the vampire dude who'd been sniffing around one of the cheerleaders. Gabe grabbed him by his coat collar, and yanked him into the car. I have no idea what happened to him, but I'm guessing Gabe killed him.
"Honestly, I don't know what to think about Gabe. I'm pretty sure he doesn't believe witches did anything to you, so that's good. But, ugh, how do I say this? I guess I'll just spit it out. See, he's... I... Kuso! That's Japanese for dammit. Anyhoo, Gabe asked me out. It was weird. He came into work, sat at a table in my section, and when I brought his water and bread, he was all, 'Hey, Cindy. Want to see a movie with me on Friday?'
"I think my mouth might have dropped open. I was like, 'No way. What about Snow?' His features grew angry, and I thought he might hit me, but then he crumbled, like his heart was fractured. He said, 'I just need someone to hang out with.' Well I couldn't say no to that, so I agreed. I hate to admit it, but after the movie, which was all blood and guts and totally gross, he took me home. We kissed... like a lot.
"Please don't be mad. I'm so sorry. But that's why I need you to wake up, so everything can make sense again. See, I think I might have feelings for the idiot. Ugh, please Snow. Wake up."
Chapter 3
For the next several hours Titan took me through the immense innards of Varden, winding us through the most elaborate structure I'd ever seen. Like the inside of an anthill, or a beehive, everything was precise and grand.
When we finally reached the bottom I sensed a change in the air, like the crackle of electricity right before a lightning storm. There was a vibe, a droning energy. It made me nervous.
"What's this level for?" I asked, moving after him into a tunnel. A reddish glow pulsated to some unknown rhythm, and a coppery smell inflamed my nose.
Titan turned back, and smiled, the light bouncing off his sharp teeth with a menacing radiance. "Down here we extract, study, and discover the delicacies of each creatures guts."
I stopped. "You what?"
Snow White shivered.
"This is our lab. It's fascinating."