Still more than twenty feet away, Adam, Christopher, and Joanna climbed off their horses and tethered them to some nearby trees. Adam didn't look happy. I could guess the reason. Once again, I put his love into harm's way. It was a wonder he still had hair. "Don't go near it," Adam said to Joanna, speaking about the dragon. She sweetly pulled herself from his grasp. "Jasmine is near him and she's fine. The dragon seems to know her and like her." She touched Adam's worried face, caressing away the worry. "I'm going over to meet the incredible creature." Adam opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Abernathy, who watched them as I did, chuckled. "How has meeting your grandfather been?""Weird," I admitted, watching the three of them. Christopher stayed back, biding his time with the horses. "Adam looks like my grandfather, but doesn't act like him." "He's changed a lot since this time, that is true, but his heart is the same, still full of love. He's just found a w
"Still bossy, I see." Instantly, I knew who it was. "Laeddin." He appeared in front of me like a breath a fresh air. My horse whinnied and tried to pull away, but I held his reins keeping him steady. My heart raced. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?" I was happy to see him though. Laeddin wore a muslin shirt with the sleeved rolled up, blue jeans and brown shoes. His cuff tattoos were gone and I knew that was because he was free. No longer a genie tethered to a bottle or a cave, but able to roam wherever he wished. "It wasn't too hard.""I'm glad you're here." I hugged him. It felt only a little awkward. "It's so good to see you." "And you," he said, stepping out of my arms. "I'm grateful for what you did." He shoved his hands in his front pockets. "At first I was upset, but it means a lot to know you cared so much for me.""Of course," I said, tugging on the reins of my horse. "I do care about you." That was true. And I always would. "Did you want to meet Joanna?" Co
Christopher sat next to me, our backs facing Abernathy, who had gone back to sleeping. They hadn't been able to kill a deer, or even find one, though Adam mentioned wolf and deer tracks. Adam and Joanna ate food from their packs. Chris and I didn't have any, and that was okay. It wasn't necessary. Abernathy had mentioned celebrating my birthday, but he snored softly as though he didn't remember that we had plans. I'd heard plenty of stories from my mom about him over the years. For the dragon, sleeping wasn't out of character. Celebrating with Adam, Joanna, Abernathy, and Chris would be nice, but I wouldn't mind if we didn't celebrate at all. Nothing could compare to what Troy did for me. Making the unicorn blood cake and proposing marriage. My heart sank for a moment at the thought of him. How I missed him. But then I remembered the vision Laeddin showed me. He let me see my future. And what a future it would be. Everything was going to be okay. I would beat Sharra. I would m
In the morning, Abernathy offered to give us a ride to the chateau. I wanted to say yes. Adam wanted us to say yes as well. He was so done with Chris and me. But Joanna wanted to stay with us. She wanted to see it through to the end. And whatever Joanna wanted, Adam made happen. I wanted Joanna to stay with me as well. So I thanked Abernathy, but told him we would ride. "Very good, vampire. But remember what I said."I knew he meant Arthur and especially Sharra. "I will."The dragon flew away, his large golden wings sparkling in the sunlight, like an apparition in the clouds. I watched him go feeling only a little sadness. Mostly I was ready to complete my mission. Get all of the crown pieces and go after Sharra. Joanna urged Adam to pick up the pace. I went along happily, in an effort to get us to the chateau sooner rather than later. That day and the next went by without any incidence. Chris and I mostly kept to ourselves, even during breaks. I could tell Joanna had more question
We let the wolves track Arthur until we came to a thick forest just outside the city of Vaucouleurs. It was nearly midnight. Millions of stars shone in the night sky. When we reached the forest edge, Crayith and the other wolves stopped. "He's in the village," Crayith said. "I can smell him." Christopher leaned forward. "I can hear him. Jasmine, we need to get in there." He stepped from the trees. "Agreed." I turned to Joanna. "Stay here. We'll be back." I paused. "Please. It isn't safe for you to come with us." She wanted to resist. I could see it on her face. Finally she nodded. "Are you sure? Adam and I can be of great help." Adam looked uncomfortable. "I feel partly responsible for bringing him out with us." "Don't worry about it. We'll handle the situation. Stay with Crayith." I looked at the lead wolf. "You'll make sure no harm comes to them?""You have my word." The wolf bowed. "Thank you." I followed after Christopher. He reached the edge of the village and was trying to
From within my mind, I witnessed Sharra torturing Troy. Troy screamed. His body kept shifting from human to dragon form. "Now tell me you don't love Jasmine. Tell me you wish to see her dead and I'll let you live," Sharra said. "No," he said through clenched teeth.Sharra touched the orb on the tip of her staff to Troy's abdomen. He screamed again, writhing in pain. His arms were in shackles and a large chain hung them up above his head. She went to him and cut a line along his neck with one of her nails. "Stop it," I shouted, reaching out for him, though I didn't know where they were and I probably wasn't even in the same realm. Sharra turned like she heard me. She wore all black, her collar lace, and it came to just under her chin. "Jasmine. It's so good of you to come. Look at Troy. You can't want him to suffer so much. Hurry, dear, or he'll be dead before you can bring the gems to me." "You promised that we could trade," I said, though I was hesitant. "The crown for Troy an
I pushed open the door and went inside. "Wow, these really hurt. It's never done this before."Christopher took my arm. "Maybe because you're nearly finished collecting them all?""I don't know." I fell to my knees. "Whoever is down here with us will be upon us soon. I'm going to go slow them down. Hurry." He went to the door and ran into Adam. "What are you doing here?" Joanna pushed past him and came over to me. "Hey, Jasmine." She looked devastated. "Joanna?" I held onto my head with one hand. "I thought you - ""I was. Afraid of you, if that's what you were going to say. And I thought you a monster." She shook her head. "I'm guessing some of your kind are, but not you. Just as Ansel Grafton is a human monster, Arthur was a bloodsucking monster, but not you." She knelt beside me. "I'm sorry, Jasmine." "No." The pain in my head was so strong I thought I might die. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that." "Never you mind. Just tell me how I can help." Adam and Christopher were s
I was back in Salem. I knew by the way the bed felt beneath me. I also knew I wasn't conscious. Dreaming maybe. Of Laeddin. While my body continued to heal. Laeddin was still in the past and hiding behind a tree in the forest, watching me as I spoke with Joanna. Two dark entities appeared and swirled around Laeddin."Look, he truly cares for the girl." "Yes. Isn't it sweet?""What's going on? Who are you?" Laeddin asked, spinning in a circle, trying to keep his gaze on both of them at once."We are called the Unknowns," one said. They continued to churn and Laeddin spun in a circle, working to keep up."Yes, but we are known. You've heard of us, right?" "I suppose." "Why did you show the girl her future?" one of them asked. The only thing that made sense about the forms was that they each had two eyes and they blinked languidly."Especially when what you showed her isn't true," the other said."At least not entirely," responded the first."You're making me dizzy. Stop." Laeddin
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