There were two other crewmembers on the twinkling flat-bottomed vessel. They went to work, pushing us away from the dock until a circular paddle smacked the water at the rear, pushing us forward.It was nearly dark. Insects came out and played us their songs. Night pixies, their iridescent wings changing colors in the moonlight, fluttered along the water's edge. When they saw us, they flitted forward. I could hear their giggling and whispering. But before they reached us, they stopped and turned back. They no longer giggled. In fact, I sensed apprehension. Something spooked them.I tried to remind myself I was the scariest thing in Sharra. None could hurt or defeat me. Plus, I had Dorian. He seemed to sense my trepidation and pulled me against his chest, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Isn't it beautiful?"I swallowed, forcing down the strange feeling in my gut. "Yes, it's exqui - "The boat smacked against something hard. My body tried to lurch forward, but Dorian held me fast."
"Cindy Croswell, will you - " Gabe, the angelic chayot leader and my boyfriend studied me, his glorious features a painting of perfection."What?" I asked, glancing at Pops nervously before focusing on Gabe. My heart picked up speed. Was he going to ask me to marry him right here? Right now? In an alley full of smelly trash and debris.His hands circled my arms, and he pulled me to the side. "Will you move out of the way? You're blocking my view of the street." He gave me a grim smile. "Oh." My heart sank. How had my thoughts gone to marriage? I clucked my tongue and clenched my fists together. "Sure." The town of Salem, Massachusetts, was quiet, which was unusual for a Saturday morning. Typically people were shopping in the market or children played in the park. It could be that it was before seven in the morning, and none of the shops were open. Plus, Pops, Gabe, and I were in the alleyway behind several stores. The backs of the tall, brick buildings lined one side. Green trash
If the world was created with a bang, then magic began in a whisper. The utterance of one word: Bloomous, that single declaration, articulated softly, started it all. Bloomous.I thought about that as I considered the lesson I was preparing for next week's classes. The ideas brought back memories, some recent, others happened years ago. While many weren't good, I was grateful for them anyway because they made me step up and become the witch I was today. And in my opinion, I was pretty damn awesome. The lights flickered, and I searched the room. It was large with reformatory cells along the far wall. Desks covered in various magical items were placed in the middle of the room. The door resided on the other side. Wide and arched at the top, it was made of wood with a black wrought iron handle. Shelves lined either side of the entrance and were filled with dusty old books interspersed with old boxes and ancient-looking artifacts. On the two short walls stood an enchanted sentry.
I ignored Sera and went back to my lessons. Monday would be the first day of the new year at the academy. Even with Sera yelling like a crazy person, I couldn't stifle my excitement. I always looked forward to the opening ceremony. Abernathy presented me with an orb, which allowed me to see which house the new students belonged in. Sometimes I wondered whether I should use the orb on myself to discover which house I belonged to, but I was too chicken. In A Study on Charms, I would teach the class how to select an object suitable for a magical charm. It was a serious process choosing and preparing a charm before it was altered with magic. Charms worked best when paired with the person's magic, and that's why we had the opening ceremony. A student with fairy ancestry would have better luck creating emotional charms, like love, while a witch with troll magic would excel at offensive or defensive charms. Witches with elven magic could produce amazing luck charms. Of course, my st
By the time Coco came by to get Sera on Sunday, the girl was more than ready to get out of the basement, and I couldn't blame her. More than once, I had to leave her down there alone. Each time I returned, she looked frazzled, though she was no longer dirty. She donned some of my clothes, including a faded pair of jeans and a blue sweatshirt with Merde across the front as well as some shoes and socks. I'd used magic to clean her up. Beneath the multiple layers of grime, she had long, red naturally curly hair, azure blue eyes, and light, freckled skin. "Let me know if you need anything," I said as she followed after Coco. Sera nodded, still slightly nervous. "I will. Thanks." When she was gone, I stayed and tidied up the cell, then finished my lessons for the week. By the time I was done, I had to rush to meet Snow for dinner. Snow wrinkled her nose when she opened the door. "I didn't think you were going to make it." She hugged me, and I hugged her back. "Wouldn't miss dinner
Curfew was eight o'clock during the school year. Students didn't have to be in bed, but they did have to be on their floor. With vampires and other predatory supernaturals roaming the land of Sharra and the castle, it was a precaution most students adhered to. As I made my way back up to Snow's floor, I thought about what Mizrabel said. She dared me to go after her. Why? Who was I to her? The words shook me, though. No doubt about it. I needed to discuss what happened with Snow. The worker vampire known as Dina opened the door leading to Snow's floor. "Thank you," I said, my thoughts still on Sera and Mizrabel, and I shook my head. Something about Sera wasn't quite right, but I didn't know why I felt that way. I would keep an eye on her. Snow closed one of the doors, standing in the hall. "Hey," I called, waving.She put a finger to her lips. "Hey," she said in a whisper. That's when I remembered Jasmine. Snow and I had a lot to talk about. "I was just on my way to find yo
She huffed and said something, but I couldn't understand with her back to me. I watched her shoulders rise and fall. Then she turned. "I'm Quilla Templeton. Your fairy godmother. Maybe you remember me?" She stuck out a hand wrapped in a fingerless glove.I got on my knees and moved toward the edge of the bed. "Um, Quilla, is it?"She nodded, blowing her bangs off her forehead. "Yes."I took her hand. "I'm much too old to need a fairy godmother, and you seem too young to be one."She rolled her eyes. "It's a title, Cinderella." Her cheeks reddened. "And I'm older than I look. We fairies age at a much slower rate than humans." She stepped back."If you're a fairy, where are your wings?" I didn't mean to sound presumptuous, but fairies were supposed to have them. That much I knew.Her cheeks got even redder. "Well, aren't you just a tactless bundle of appallingly bad manners?" She crossed her arms. I didn't see a need to respond to that. "A mean and awful fairy by the name of Tinker
After breakfast, opening ceremonies for the academy took place in the grand ballroom. Since the academy only officially existed for a few years, there were fifty-five students in varying classes. All of them came from the human realm, and they all possessed at least one of the seven magics. Two students could change into werewolves, and one was a werecat. There were three vampires and a plethora of witches. There were also several varieties of other magical creatures, including a half-troll, and a few half-elves. A rag-tag group, to be sure, but still, it was a start. Coco, Professor Pops, and Snow went out of their way to find great teachers. There was a teacher from each of the seven magics as well as others, like me, for a total of fifteen instructors. Some were only part-time, including Professor Pops, Snow, and Heathcliff, while the rest of us taught permanently. The other adults were already on stage, and I hurried to make my way up. The grand ballroom was decorated to g
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