WendyMy hands shake as I untie the boat and clamber into it. The Silver Hunters haven't caught up to me yet, but I probably only have minutes to spare, if even that.Turning on the motor, I navigate into the open water. The tears turn to sobs, which start to shake my chest until I can hardly breathe.Damn those Silver Hunters. Alec never did a thing to hurt them, and yet they're constantly attacking us. They torched our school. Did who-knows-what to our classmates and teachers.And now Alec might die.And all because he's different. All because they're afraid of his power.I sniffle and wipe tears from my cheeks. It feels like there's a big hole in my chest and I'm going to fold right into it.I have to save Alec.First, I need help, though. The two of us together barely stood a chance against those Silver Hunters, so going up against them solo is pointless.But who will I go to?I glance over my shoulder at the vanishing island. How will I even find this place again? I do
Alec"You don't look so good." The Silver Hunter with a brown beard sniggers and tosses another log onto the fire.Another Silver Hunter scowls at him. "I don't know how you're in such a good mood. We still haven't found the coin. Now, we'll have to report back, and she'll be—""Don't worry about it." The bearded man grins at me. "Our friend here will help us out."It's hard to look tough with my arms bound behind my back, but I try my best. "I don't know where the coin is. If I did, I'd already have it.""And what about your friend?" He juts his chin at me. "I bet she'll tell us."I growl. "You leave her alone.""Or what?" He laughs again. "You'll kill us? You're so weak at this point you couldn't hurt a fly."He's right. Unfortunately. When I came to after falling over the bridge, I was already tied up. I tried to break free, but the strength wasn't there. The fall banged me up too much. I need blood to heal properly, and until I get that, I'm worthless.The bearded Silver
Wendy"Alec!" I scream. "Get in!"More Silver Hunters emerge from the woods. It's like the entire island is infested with them.Releasing the man he has a hold of, Alec jumps into the boat. He turns away from me, wiping his face, but I see the blood there.I steer the boat away from the island, urging it to go faster. The Silver Hunters shout after us, but they're too late. Alec and I—and our little motorboat—are slipping away into the fog.It takes me a few moments to be able to breathe again. When I can, I look over at him. "You okay?" I ask.His expression is flat, almost like he doesn't know how to react. "I'll feel better soon."I nod. "That ... it speeds up your healing?"I hate that I can't even say what I just saw. I saw Alec tackle a man and drink his blood. Since it was a Silver Hunter, I don't feel sorry for the person, but I would be lying if I said I'm still not a little shook up.I'm also glad that Alec got what he needed, so there are a lot of emotions running
WendyAlec and I drive the motorboat to a small island nearby, where the lighthouse stands high up near the water. The fog that had been obscuring our vision has dissipated enough for us to make out the shape of the island, and we can see the light cutting through the night.We pull up closer to shore, and Alec ties off the boat. We make our way onto land, navigating rocks and looking around until we find a path leading up to the lighthouse.We walk along this path, my heart racing as I think about what my mother's voice said at the wishing well. Is this the door she was talking about?Or am I really going crazy? My mother is dead!But what if ... what if one of my abilities is being able to talk to ghosts?The thought sends shivers down my spine. I've never believed in ghosts before, but I can't deny the voice I heard at the wishing well. And if that's true, maybe my mother is trying to help me solve this mystery from beyond the grave.Alec looks over at me, sensing my unease
TyrTaking a deep breath, I lace my fingers behind my back and walk over to the window. The city sparkles below my high-rise apartment.I suppose it's what some might call a beautiful scene. I wouldn't know. Nothing brings me pleasure anymore. I won't be happy until I have one thing in particular.It's been five years since I haven't been able to focus on anything but the Golden Coin. At this point I eat, sleep, and breathe it.And I almost had it too.Or at least that's what I thought on the islands.Gritting my teeth, I turn away from the window and storm down the hallway. The apartment is really three. After buying them, I had walls knocked down and hallways connected. On top of that, I also had the whole place soundproofed as well as outfitted with some other important features.Taking a key from my pocket, I unlock a door at the very far end of the apartment. Entering the dark room, I flick on a light. In the cell installed in the wall, my prisoner sits on his cot.He do
WendyWhenever I've pictured my death, it always had something to do with lying in bed, old and feeble, my grandkids gathered around me. That, or I figured I'd go out in a car accident like both of my parents.I certainly didn't see myself leaping from a tower, holding the hand of a vampire, while people who want to kill us simply for existing nip at our heels.Alec seems so confident that we wouldn’t drop to our deaths. That, somehow, we would—what? Float into the sky?But here we are, plummeting. My stomach flies into my chest, and a scream rips from my throat. I grip Alec’s hand tighter, and it’s just like they say: my whole life flashes before my eyes.My fifth birthday party. Seeing the ocean for the first time.Reading in the tree in my backyard, the sounds of the neighborhood around me. Looking out the window and waiting for my dad to come home. Seeing the cop car pull up the driveway and knowing my life was about to change forever.The dark ground rushes up to meet u
WendyIce floods my veins, and my legs feel like lead. It's impossible to move them. One of the Silver Hunters whistles, and there's a responding whistle in another part of the woods."You thought you could get away, hm?" A Silver Hunter approaches, and though they all look the same under the helmets, I recognize the voice. He was one of the hunters who tried to stop me in the wishing well.Did they get the Golden Coin?My heart squeezes.If the coin is as powerful as Alec says, if it has the ability to grant immense power and wishes to whomever holds it, would the Silver Hunters even be out here looking for us? Wouldn't they be back at Hawthorn, making plans to fry bigger fish?I lick my lips and take a step back. Alec presses against my shoulder. "Stay back," he growls.The Silver Hunter looks at one of his buddies and chuckles. The hounds are straining at their leashes, several of the hunters using all their strength to hold them back."What are you going to do, boy?" The
TyrStopping at the faded brick alleyway between the art gallery and some pseudo-New Age shop full of pointless crystals and sticks of herbs, I breathe in deep and center myself.This is it. This should be the place.So, why isn't the gateway here?Frowning, I walk along the cobblestones and into a small courtyard. It's quiet, nothing but the gurgling of a fountain fills the air. Even the sounds of the city are muted here."Damn it," I hiss.Apparently, you can't trust the word of someone you met in an underground werewolf bar. The entrance to Dyad Marketplace should be here, right past the—Something glimmers in the bricks on the other side of the fountain. Something bright and shiny.Striding across the courtyard, I approach the bit of metal stuck in the wall. A grin breaks across my face."Perfect." Placing my fingers on the thin strip of metal—something that would appear completely innocuous and meaningless to any basic person walking by—I speak the incantation. "Aperta