Sunday morning, I got up and immediately craved Christopher's blood. Laeddin still wasn't home and Gatsby was gone. I hoped he was okay. Last night he promised to tell me about Sharra, but he wasn't around. The dream or vision or whatever still lingered in the back of my mind. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Was I seeing what was truly happening or was it all a lie? I had a feeling it was similar to what happened between Christopher and me. It was real. If that were true, and I believed it was, the whole thing scared me.After I dressed in jeans, my combat boots, and a plain black tee shirt, I went to the window. Sunlight peeked through the clouds. A light wind blew. Leaves that should've turned brown and died weeks ago rustled in the breeze. I tapped the glass, trying to decide if I should listen to Gatsby and leave the window open or do as Troy suggested and close it. Finally I decided to leave it open. For now. If the cat hadn't returned by tonight, I'd close it. Especially if L
After Gatsby left, I texted Troy: We need to talk. Are my mom and dad back?No. Has Laeddin returned? Troy replied. No. And I'm starting to worry. I can't go back to his realm without him, either. Peter and Zoe just showed up. They need to speak with you too. We're coming over. K. Dress for Akuma hunting. We're going again tonight.Got it. I ran upstairs. Since I was already wearing jeans and a tee shirt, I left those on, but changed into my favorite black boots. Then I grabbed a black hoodie. The back had a teal skull sporting a pink bow. I thought it quite appropriate for what we would be doing. I swiped some gloss over my lips and fixed my ponytail, then went back downstairs to wait. Not too many minutes later, someone knocked on the door. I opened it, expecting my mom, dad, and Troy, but it wasn't them. It was a woman with long red hair, striking blue eyes - exactly like my mom's - and the creamiest skin I'd ever seen. It was almost transparent. She wasn't very tall, and she
The first step in our plan was to capture an Akuma. Alive. Everything else hinged on that. We would set up traps and hunt without killing. I didn't think it was possible, but we all agreed to try. It was two in the morning. We were back at the Harmony Grove Cemetery since there were so many Akuma on our previous hunt. Ariel took the northwest corner. Peter had the northeast. Zoe kept eyes on the southeast. Troy had the southwest. And Laeddin and I had the center. "What's going on with you and Troy?" Laeddin asked. We were standing near a fancy monument complete with concrete stairs leading up to it. To the right was a gothic style church built in nineteen hundred and five. At least that was what I was told. The church had a tall, pointed spire that rose from the center, along with four smaller spires, one at each corner. The carvings were intricate. Some might call it gaudy, but I thought it was amazing. "What do you mean?" I turned away from Laeddin, not sure how to talk to him ab
Since Martial Law had been put into effect, I hadn't been able to go shopping. It would have been nice to buy a new dress and wear it to the dance, but I would be fine. At least we were having the dance. In Salem, for one night only, martial law didn't affect us.I checked the time. Troy would be by in two hours. We were going to dinner first - at his house. Professor Pops had hired someone to cook for us. After that we would take a limo to the dance. Peter and Zoe planned to meet us there. When the dance was over, we'd been given special permission to take Professor Pops' boat out but not far and only until sunrise. Then we would be escorted off the water. Overall it sounded like a blast and I was really looking forward to it. "If I only had a dress," I said to my reflection in the bathroom mirror. "I might be able to help with that." I jumped, grabbing hold of the sink before spinning around. My best friend fluttered in. "Abrea," I gasped."Hey traitor." Her arms were crossed,
We walked in and Pops looked up from the knife. He held the hilt in one hand and had the tip against one of his fingers. It wasn't a huge sword in length, but it was thick."Have a seat." Troy took the one closest to the window and I took the one closest to the door. "What'd you find?" Troy asked, leaning forward, picking up the knife. "It's old. Dated back to the Crusades."Pops handed over the knife when Troy held out his hand. "The craftsmanship is exquisite," Pops continued. "Not many in that time possessed skill required to make something like this.""Was this someone you knew?" Troy handed Pops back the blade."There is one who could have made it, but he's long gone. Sharra put him to rest." I started at the sound of her name. "What's his name?" I asked. "Arthur Pendragon." Professor Pops took the short sword from Troy and placed it in the top drawer of his desk. My body began to shake. "What's wrong?" Troy asked. Professor Pops clasped his hands together. "Jasmine?" "W
I found Laeddin on the upper deck, staring out at the churning water. "Sorry about that," I said, coming to stand beside him. It wasn't that I was sorry about kissing Troy. Only sorry Laeddin had to see it. He shrugged, running a hand through his thick hair. "It isn't your fault. I didn't think; I just came." He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Laeddin was wearing the same clothes he left in more than a week ago. He looked haggard, his face scruffy, and his dark hair mussed.I touched his arm. "What's going on?"Urgency returned to his face. "I found something. An artifact. A crown actually. Made of elven magic and the branches of their sacred komoni tree.""Ko-mon-e?""Right. It's a tree that can only be found in their realm and there is only one." He didn't look at me but continued to watch the ocean. "What's so special about this tree?" As the yacht tilted and swayed, I watched him, wondering what it would've been like if we just met without the whole genie and master
I was flying again, and I carefully settled into the dream. Vision. Whatever it was. This time I knew I was inside Sharra's mind so I kept quiet, hoping she wouldn't notice I was there. "It's easy to tell when you're with me, vampire." She clucked her tongue. "Now I just need to get a hold of your body." She laughed into the cool night air. "The dragon you were with was a surprise. I wasn't prepared for him. But no matter."I didn't respond, hoping to get a glimpse of where she was and scanned our surroundings. The terrain was familiar. Not Sharra but Salem. She circled Professor Pops' yacht. Troy leaned against the railing, staring out at the agitated water. Sadness caused me to wonder what he was thinking. I wanted it to be me, but there wasn't a point. How could I be with someone who didn't believe I should exist? Sure, I was stretching. Troy seemed to sense Sharra even if he couldn't see her. "Get out of here." His features were confident as though he believed he could physica
Laeddin went out to speak with the uniformed men sitting in the green truck. They didn't say much except there was some "suspicious activity" in the area and advising us to "stay inside unless leaving was absolutely necessary". That was all the information they gave us. I told Laeddin the truth about seeing the kids in the Harmony Grove Cemetery and I explained about Sharra. "What are we going to do?" I asked when he didn't say anything. "You said she spoke and sprinkled red powder over the spots where they'd been?" Laeddin finally asked. "Yes." I thought about what I'd seen and remembered another bit of information. "Also, before they disappeared, she blew yellow smoke in their faces.""That sounds like something Sharra would do. She's always had a thing for the dramatic." He pulled a water bottle from the refrigerator and drank. Laeddin walked up the stairs. I didn't know where he was going but I followed. When we reached his bedroom Laeddin opened the door and went inside. "When
That night, after all of the festivities were over and we said our goodbyes, Troy and I went back to the small house that used to be my mother's. Now that Sharra was no longer a threat, the chayot set up a meeting between several of the heads of different countries in the human realm and me. There, with the help of the chayot, we discussed relaxing the laws for supernaturals. Together we came to an agreement and I created a magical system with the help of Heathcliff and several other human scientists. After much discussion, I became aware of the KPID, a supernatural government agency known as the King's Paranormal Inquiries Division. The organization had been tracking supernaturals for hundreds of years, at first in the United Kingdom, but in the mid seventeen hundreds, they'd moved over to America as well. Given access to the KPID's super top secret information, I was able to update and strengthen the magic already in place as well as add some newer, more technical attributes with He
"Are you ready?" I asked. We were standing outside on my balcony. I took Troy's hand as my wings fluttered behind me. My engagement ring sparkled in the midday light and I couldn't help but admire it. Troy had asked Jesse and the gargoyles to create the ring for me. A thick platinum band with vines filigreed on either side leading to the center where sat a delicate jasmine flower made of diamonds and blue topaz."Are you sure you can do this?" Troy was teasing me, pretending to be nervous about me flying him around Sharra. "There's only one way to find out," I said, and leaped into the air. Troy whooped out a holler as he clung to my hands, his body dangling below."Don't drop him, Jasmine. It isn't every day you find someone crazy enough to fall for you," Abrea said beside me, her pixilette wings fluttering gracefully. "True." I laughed and the action felt really good."Jasmine? We need to leave for the wedding," my mom called from back in my room. I rolled my eyes and glanced at
Before I knew it, I was laughing as tears of joy leaked onto my cheeks. He set me on the ground and pushed my hair out of my face, then cupped it in his hands. "I love you vampire girl." "You do?" I believed him, but needed reassurance as my hands curled around his wrists. "More than I believed it was possible to love." He bent his head and gently touched his lips to mine, his eyes still open and on me. I kissed him back, as a gurgle of happiness shot through me. The sweet kiss turned hot and needy. I loved him and wanted him and didn't care who knew it. He pressed my mouth open, deepening our kiss as his arms went around my waist and he lifted me off the ground. "Hey you two?" It was my Mom. I froze and opened my eyes. Troy was watching me again. "Should we tell them?" he asked. I knew he was talking about our engagement. "Now's as good a time as any," I said as he set me on my feet. Troy took my hand and I turned to face the group. "We have an announcement," he said. The
"Do not do this," Christopher said, a look of complete disbelief on his injured face. "You have the power within you to destroy her. You know you do. So why?" I couldn't explain. But I hoped one day he and the rest would understand. If I failed, Laeddin could tell them the truth about the Unknowns, what they had planned. In the end my family would see I made the best choice. The only choice."Silence, Hunter. I'll deal with your insubordination later," Sharra said, sending a bolt of magic at Christopher. He was thrown back, landing against the other side of the cell before falling to the ground with a groan. Chris bared his fangs in anger and jumped to his feet, though slower than expected. "Hurt them and the deal is off," I seethed, facing her, my hands in fists at my sides. She gave me an innocent look. "I didn't do any permanent damage." She crossed her arms, sauntering toward me. "Now then, let's do this."I swallowed, forcing myself to remain calm. My plan would work. It had t
Determination weighed my shoulders down as I traversed the inkiness. As I went, I called out in my mind, using the magic within me to speak with Silindra and Laeddin. At once, my mind was there, in Laeddin's realm, in his library full of books. He and Silindra were there, standing close, reading something aloud. "Laeddin," I said. Laeddin glanced at me, or rather, my mental presence. Silindra looked up as well. "Is it just me or am I seeing Jasmine?" Surprise flickered across her too lovely face. "I see her too - somehow." Laeddin reached out, but his fingers couldn't touch me. I was there, but not really there. "I'm going to Sharra," I said, and looked from Laeddin to Silindra. "The darkness will swallow the earth soon. There is no more time. I need your help now. Please find me." "We're coming, Jasmine," Laeddin said, and took Silindra's hand. Were they a couple now? There was no time to figure it out. Silindra said, "Watch out for my sister. She's tricky.""I will," I said, a
Now that we had nothing to fear, Lirle and I moved quickly and undeterred toward the stronghold. As we went, Lirle talked more about the dragon she liked as well as growing up in the dragon realm. Hearing her talk, I couldn't help but admire the Hollow. It was stark and vast and though it wasn't blooming with all manner of flowers like Sharra, it still held beauty. That night as we rested and ate under a canopy of trees, I was able to witness one of the wonders of her realm. Here, the forest stirred to life at night. Everything seemed to possess a bioluminescence. Trees whose leaves were pink during the day glowed a soft white, like millions of fireflies covered them. Animals I hadn't known were there, insects and little creatures that reminded me of spider monkeys, lit up as well. It was beautiful and a little terrifying. "Why does it do this?" I asked, mesmerized. Lirle took another bite of whatever she was eating. Her lips were luminescent blue like the spider monkeys and I force
He looked up and for the briefest moment, I thought he was staring right at me. No longer angry, but still unsure. Troy spoke: I love you, too, Jazz. He stopped speaking and adjusted his weight, sitting up straighter. They added: Someone is coming. He closed his eyes and pretended to be sleeping. His cell door cranked open and a female voice spoke. "I brought you a friend. Try not to kill each other." Christopher stumbled into the room before turning and flashing his fangs. "You touch me like that again and you won't live to tell anyone about it." His hands were behind his back and black magic held his wrists together. The person he spoke to laughed. It was Sharra.I focused on Troy. His eyes burned into Chris like he would kill him. To Troy, I begged: Please remember, Chris is on our side. He believes in our love too. When Sharra forced me to kiss him, Chris stopped me and freed me from her magic. He's changed and he can help.I hoped that was true. As much as I trusted Chris
"How nice to see you, Lirle." The voice came from a gray dragon with blood red eyes. His sharp and pointy teeth glistened like they held their own light. Huge talons clamped around Lirle from behind, holding her like a sharpened straight jacket. She gasped and struggled but couldn't move. Her captor's clutches were bigger than Lirle's body. The first dragon looked at me. "And you are Jasmine, heir to Sharra and an original vampire. But where are your wings?" He opened his mouth and I thought he intended to burn me to a crisp. Instead his tongue came out and he licked me. Tasting. "Strange," he said. "Gross." I wiped my cheek with the sleeve of my shirt. It occurred to me he was speaking like Abernathy did, with his mouth and not in my mind like Lirle. Perhaps speaking aloud was a skill that came with age. The first dragon pushed through the trees, causing them to snap and break. Then he pounded his tail on the ground several times in a rhythmic fashion while lifting his head. He ro
Lirle took to the air, her attention on the direction where the sound came from. Her whole body trembled. "You're frightened. What is it?" I asked, fighting my own nerves. Lirle's eyes bore into mine and her terror shone brightly as she said: We're too late. The Ondror's magic is upon us. Listen carefully. A dragon's magic comes from the soul. Our greatest weapon is using the weaknesses of our enemy against them by showing them what they fear most. She flew over to the stream before coming back to me and pointing with one claw. Lirle asked: Do you see the soul magic coming?I followed her gaze and squinted until I saw the blackness, traveling like a deadly mist through the trees, and heading right for us. "Can we outrun it?" She shook her head and said: No. It's everywhere. She spun in a circle and I followed her. Lirle was right. It was coming from every direction, like we had a homing beacon on us. She met my gaze and said: You see? Whatever happens, whatever you experience o