"Snow! How was the dance?" Cindy asked, slapping the menus down on the hostess table and rushing to me. Even in a uniform - white ruffled shirt, black pants, black tennis shoes, and a black half apron wrapped around her hips - she still looked like a model. Her blond hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and she wore some shimmering shadow on her eyes and pink lip gloss."Hey, Cindy," I said, hugging her back. "Spill. I need details." She released me, studying my face."The dance was fun. Dorian was amazing, but - " I glanced around the dimly lit restaurant. "Can we talk?""Is this about Dorian or Christopher?" She put her hands on her hips, a slight smirk on her pouty lips. "Christopher." "So, this is serious?" She went back around to the hostess stand, and I followed. "Yep," I said, trying to sound like it was no big deal. Cindy looked at her watch. "My shift ends in thirty minutes. I'll finish here and then shower and change. But I can meet you at your house in like an hou
An hour later, Cindy finally showed. Before she arrived, I called Christopher to tell him we needed to push our overnighter until Sunday. He reluctantly agreed, which left Cindy and me plenty of time to talk. And I desperately needed to speak with her. When she came into my room, a trail of magic came with her. The scent of enchantment was so strong, and I instinctively glanced at her neck. For the first time, I wondered what her blood would taste like.She noticed and covered her neck with her hands. "I love you, Snow, but I draw the line at you sucking my blood."I sighed dramatically, falling back on my bed. "Dream crusher."She tentatively sat next to me. "Are - are you going to be able to handle my being this close?"I rolled onto my side, trying desperately to keep a straight face, but the seriousness of her expression caused me to laugh so hard tears leaked from my eyes. "I'll manage," I finally got out. Cindy slapped my leg before crossing her arms. "You're rude. A rude, r
"I don't think so. Maybe you should talk to him, explain how you feel." I definitely wasn't one to be giving relationship advice, but I didn't like seeing Cindy sad.She nodded. "I should. I will." She took a deep breath. "Now, regarding your sexy-times problems," she sniffled and dried her eyes, and I knew we were done talking about her. "The truth is, you don't have a any," she said. "A completely gorgeous vampire wants in your pants. He loves you, and you love him. I see no downside."I reddened at her blunt words. It excited me to think Christopher wanted me in that way, made me feel desirable. But it was such a big step for me. I mean, sex. Ugh. That was huge. "What?" she asked, and I could tell she worked hard not to laugh."It's just that I'm so nervous. What if we do it and everything changes?"She nodded. "Everything will change for sure, but it'll hopefully be a good change. That's what moving forward in a relationship means.""You and Gabe - " I let the rest of the ques
Cindy pulled fourteen thick white candles from her backpack. They were small and smelled of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg - a combination that reminded me of my mother's oatmeal. We placed them on the carpet next to my bed in the shape of a seven-pointed star.I shut off the lights. The sun was setting, and brilliant orange, pink, and golden rays glinted across my shadowed room. "Is there a reason for the scented candles?" I asked as she and I sat cross-legged in the center of them. Our knees almost touched. We were super close, but the position was like second nature to her and me.She shrugged. "No, I just like the smell.""Me, too." I smiled. Nervous butterflies doing the hula in my stomach. "Now what?""Shhhhh," she said. "I'm concentrating.""Oops." I stifled a giggle.She placed her middle finger and thumb together, resting her hands on her knees like she was getting ready to meditate. Then she closed her eyes. Her face became serene. And suddenly, the candles flickered to
"Greetings, little vampire. I'm surprised to see you here. If I'm right, and I usually am, you weren't supposed to come for another six months." His deep voice reverberated off the rock walls, and a few bats flew up and out of the cave. Though I sensed this was the same chamber, it had changed over the thousands of years since I was here with Silindra. The most noticeable difference was the large opening above our heads into the darkened sky. Wispy clouds lazily coasted by. Moonbeams filtered in and, while they didn't reach all the way down, they still bathed the cavern in a little light.The dragon shook his yellow mane, like a lion after a long slumber, and the chamber lit up as if it were noon on a bright, sunny day."Hello, Abernathy." I was surprised he knew so much about me. Would he be angry, I became the Seal? Did he already know? He said he was waiting. I took a step forward. "You know who I am?"He smacked his chops, his teeth clinking together. I heard a collective ga
I peeked over Abernathy's side and saw the deep darkness of the water below. It seemed to be in every direction, along the sides and above us too. The illusion made me a little dizzy. Cindy grabbed hold of Gabe tighter. He touched her arm. "It'll be okay, Cin." She nodded but didn't respond.They were sweet together. "How is it possible we are surrounded by water?" Dorian asked. "I don't know," I answered. "Abernathy, where are we?" It was like we were inside an enormous raindrop."Do not be alarmed. We are within the borders of Mizu. Your mother is here."I didn't appreciate him continually acting like my mother was alive. Perhaps it was because he was asleep a hundred years or even a thousand, but it hurt that he acted as though she was still around. "Abernathy, my mother died a long time ago." Tears stung the edges of my eyes, and I closed them briefly, working to make them stop."You were told your mother died," Abernathy responded. "Doing so was for your safety, but now tha
As I studied the city coming into view, I thought about love as an emotion. How it was like a pyrotechnics display. The vibrancy and beauty were not truly appreciated until after the fireworks erupted, when the sparks burst in radiant color and seem to gloriously proclaim to the sky, "This is what you're missing. This is what you've lost."That was how it was with my mother. I had adored her, loved the way she sang while she cooked, how her eyebrows came together when she read something interesting, and the way she snuggled into my neck when she tucked me in at night.Those memories were priceless, and I wished I cherished her more while I had her in my life. I should've cuddled with her longer. Hugged her tighter. But then, I didn't know she was going to die.The knowledge that she was still alive after all this time but chose to stay away filled me with a pain I hadn't known before. I was devastated and angry, and if I was honest with myself, excited to see her."Promises are lies s
Roads and sidewalks intersected and meandered along and around the fantastical buildings. The streets sparkled in the sunlight, and I guessed they were made from pearls. All manner of supernatural creatures, including trolls, elves, fairies, and even humans, moved around below.Several streams ambled lazily in different sections of the city, and surrounding the city's outskirts was a vast ocean. Did mermaids dwell here? I strained my eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse of one. The idea of mermaids brought up another concern. Where exactly had Abernathy brought us? What was this place? The dragon said the city was called Mizu Atlantica, but what was the town for? Why did it exist?Abernathy flew us above the buildings in search of an unknown destination. None of the citizens below shrieked or screamed. Instead, most waved to Abernathy and greeted him like an old friend. The whole scenario was wild, and I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Up ahead, in the city's center wa
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