Sacred Bloodlines by Wendy Owens Page B

Gabe realized this must be what it’s like to have a friend.  A true friend.  Not one who is scared of you or being nice to you out of obligation.  Gabe had trouble explaining it.  It was as if he had always known Uri.
    “See you in the morning,” Uri said, vigorously rubbing Gabe’s head and tussling his hair into a heaping mess.  A second later, Uri was half way down the hall, laughing and leaping up to see if he could touch the rafters.
    Gabe walked into his room thinking about everything he had learned that day.  He was still panting from the romping sprint to his room, a huge smile plastered on his face.  Gabe’s heart skipped a beat when he realized his fire was lit.  He looked around the room in a panic but didn’t see anyone.  He cautiously approached the high back chairs and noticed one of the chairs cast a shadow that included a figure; clearly there was someone perched in it.
    Gabe’s breath caught in his throat with a low grunt as he attempted to tip toe quietly around the exterior of the room, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the intruder.  Gabe crept through the shadows.  Just before he emerged, Sophie popped her head up over the back of the chair, “Gabe!”  she shrieked.
    Gabe jumped and let out a shrill screech.  He felt a bit silly afterwards and hoped Sophie hadn’t heard him.  
    “Sophie!  What are you doing here?”  He felt odd asking that when all he wanted in the world was for Sophie to be right where she was, looking at him.  Her hair was an intense red in the firelight and he wondered if she noticed how obvious his attraction for her was.
    “I was just wondering, are you in the mood for an adventure?”  Sophie asked twisting her body and leaning forward on the arm of the chair.  She glared wickedly up at him from beneath her eyebrows.  Gabe wasn’t sure if he should be filled with fear or excitement.

Chapter Seven
    Gabe was excited and anxious at the same time about Sophie’s promise of adventure, but he knew he should probably do as Uri suggested and sleep. 
    “Sophie, umm, it’s not that I’m not interested in your proposal.  It’s just that I’m supposed to begin my training tomorrow.  Uri told me I needed to get plenty of rest.”
    “Oh come on, Gabe!” Sophie pleaded hopping to her feet.  “You have your entire life to sleep.  Let’s have some fun.”  She grabbed hold of his hand and pulled him toward the door.  
    Gabe felt rather helpless in her presence.  Sophie put her hand on Gabe’s chest, halting his movement.  She placed a single finger to her full rosy lips signaling his silence as she peaked out the door into the darkness.  He hoped she could not feel the quickened beating of his heart.  A moment later they dashed into the hall, Gabe pulling the door closed behind them.
    “Now you have to be quiet.”  Sophie whispered, looking into Gabe’s eyes. “Stay close to the wall and follow me.”
    “Sophie, if we’re not supposed to be out, maybe we should just go back to my room.” Gabe suggested.  
    Sophie slapped his hand giggling as quietly as she could.  
    “I’m sure you would love that wouldn’t you?” she teased.
    “No, I didn’t mean—” Gabe felt his cheeks flush hot.  Before he could finish his thought, Sophie had once again shushed him.  She looked around cautiously before she tip toed down the hall, slinking along the wall as if she were some sort of night cat.  Gabe was quite impressed by her stealth as he did his best to mimic her.
    The further they went, the more Gabe realized how massive Rampart was.  Part of him started to regret the tour he had passed on earlier.  Sophie waved a hand in the darkness to gain Gabe’s attention.  She motioned to a large door at the end of one of the halls.  
    “That’s the library,” she whispered. “It is absolutely amazing.  There are books from all over the world.  Hundreds of the books which date back so long ago that most current libraries aren’t