I closed the door to my bedroom, leaning against it. There was so much to do. I still needed to get the final piece of the crown. It was in Sharra - my home. I'd never admit it to Pops or Christopher, but I was nervous to return home again. What would everyone there think of me? It would probably be along the lines of what I thought of myself. That I was a coward. That I sucked as a daughter, a friend. That I was an arrogant, spoiled princess with no clue how to run a kingdom. But I couldn't let my fears stand in the way of what I had to do. I needed to defeat Sharra, which would stop the darkness. Once her spell was broken, the Akuma would vanish, and the world would go back to the way it had once been. I also needed to rescue Troy and my mom and dad. I would do whatever it took to save the people I loved. Troy's voice entered my mind, accusatory and sad: He's sleeping over?I jumped, my insides nearly zinging out of my chest as Troy's voice came into my head again, loud and clear. "
The room was enormous and bright. Thousands of lights twinkled above, like pretend stars. Sharra sat on a throne at the other end of the long black and white checkered floor. "There's a prophecy you should hear, dear Jasmine. Let me tell it to you," Sharra said. Her voice was soft and steeling at once. It penetrated my mind, though her lips moved as well. "I don't want to hear any of your lies." "Is that so?" She pounded her staff on the floor once and my body stiffened before it abruptly went lax. Words I wanted to say couldn't be uttered as she took control. Like a puppet on a string, Sharra forced my legs forward until I stood in front of her. An eerie greenish glow spewed from the orb on her staff. She leaned forward and flexed my wings. They beat against her back. Splendid and glorious. I ached at the sight of them. "I'm not going anywhere." Her eyes glistened, like the shining feathers of a raven, dark orbs dancing with excitement."The prophecy goes like this: One shall
I sat on the bed, burying my face in my hands. "I'm so sorry." The words were meant for both Christopher and Troy, but I felt the emptiness again and knew Troy was gone. "It was Sharra. The link between us is growing stronger. She did that. Not me." Christopher sat beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I was torn between shrugging it off and burying my face in his shoulder and sobbing. "I am in love with Troy, but I think I might have lost him after what I just did." Christopher gave me a light shake. "Bull. I won't tell him and if you don't tell him, everything will be fine." I leaned my head against his shoulder. "That's not true. He witnessed the whole thing." Christopher stiffened, and I lifted my head. "Explain how that's possible." I told him about Troy and the dragon vision and the telepathy. All of it while clutching the dragon dangling from my wrist like it was my lifeline. When Troy first contacted me, I'd been so excited, but Sharra had taken Troy's beautifu
My head felt foggy. Had I passed out? Something I learned in the past few months was that it didn't matter how strong my physical body was, emotional exhaustion could still get the better of me. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt so heavy. Voices floated to me."Where did you find her?"I knew that voice. It was my aunt Cindy. Gratitude filled me and I knew I made it to Polonias. "A guard discovered her on the floor outside your bedroom door. It's a good thing you heard the commotion and came when you did. Otherwise, with things as they are with this horrible darkness, the guards might have cast her into prison. Or worse.""They wouldn't have been able to kill her." Cindy clucked her tongue with motherly irritation. "Bring her into my bedroom, please, and then you may go. I know you have a lot you need to do. Thank you for helping me. I spent most of the night enchanting more of the serum and my magic needs a break." I felt my body floating through the air before it drifted
I, Silindra had been ruler of the vampires for over a thousand years. I ruled because of systematic planning, a shrewd knowledge of the citizens I governed, and the cunning to deal with other magical creatures in the world.Like dragons.Dragons and vampires coexisted peacefully, for the most part. While some of the human vampires craved dragon blood, the originals, like me, had no stomach for the foul-smelling creatures. The oldest and most impressively magical dragon of them all was called Abernathy. He was kind of a prickly character but, once you got around his rough edges, he had the heart of a gentleman. I needed to speak to him. His cave reeked of mortality. A mixture of decaying flesh, bat guano, and seawater. Despite the thick darkness, I could make out the bones of the damned scattered on the dusty earth. Carefully I flew over them, but they were everywhere, and occasionally my bare feet brushed against one, sending whisperings of the life of the dead. Noises echoed off t
Silindra separated herself from my mind so that I could sense her once again, though I remembered all she'd just shown me as well that my mother had been in her mind too. We shared the experience, which I found wonderful. It also seemed impossible. Silindra's body had died thousands of years ago, but I could feel her. "See, your conflict isn't new, Jasmine. You and your mom have more in common than you know and it was time you realized that. And you have her power as well as your father's. You must defeat my sister. To do so, you'll have to sacrifice everything. It's the only way to bring balance for those who have died at her hand and for those you love. It won't be easy. In fact, it'll be the most difficult thing you've ever done, but you must or the world will be forced to bow down to my sister and all will be enslaved to her vicious whims.""I understand," I said."Good."Her voice left my mind and I woke. Opening my eyes, I was no longer in Polonias. I was back at home.Gatsby ju
Sometimes the biggest villains we fight are the ones we create within ourselves. Not saying that was always true. Sharra was the big bad for sure but I was suffering from a serious lack of confidence. Maybe it was because of all I'd done. Making a wish to take away my wings as well as other things. There were consequences for my choices. Big ones. Including the darkness swallowing realms and the akuma. Could I defeat Sharra and save everyone? The question was on a continuous loop in my mind. It had been weeks since I met Laeddin and made my first wish. Days since Laeddin left and I fell in love with a half dragon. Troy. It seemed like a lifetime ago since he proposed and I accepted. Part of me didn't believe that moment was real, but a figment of my imagination. Only a few hours ago, I left Pops and Joanna in the fifteenth century. There I got to know Joanna and my grandfather a little more. There I also drained the vampire Arthur before Christopher took him and imprisoned him in
The door clicked shut behind me and I sighed. Hot air filtered along my skin and brought with it the stench of decay. The gems on my forehead burned hotter, giving the room an eerie glow. All around me were thousands of honeycomb shaped coffins, home to supernatural prisoners required to serve out their eternal existence within. I walked across the room, my boots striking the dirt floor with a rhythmic dull thud. Once I reached the other side, I noticed my head hurt less. For the next several minutes, I played a not very fun game of Hot and Cold, except my version was more like Pain and Less Pain. If the final piece of the crown was buried with one of the undead, it could take me months or years to find it. An overwhelming sense of foreboding filled my chest as I thought about Sharra and Arthur and -"Arthur." I searched the cavern for his crypt. "Is it possible?" My voice echoed around the room, but I didn't pay it any attention. Was that another reason Abernathy sent me back in ti
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