Gabe didn't seem to mind the blood. His tongue dove into my mouth and circled mine. My hands wandered along his back, down to the waist of his jeans and along his butt. His breathing came faster as we moved, desperate to be even closer to each other.Our lips parted, and we looked at each other. "I want you," he said. "I want you too." So badly I ached.He helped me sit up, lifting my shirt over my head before tossing it onto the floor. Then he scooted me back under him, skin touching skin. "Snow," he whispered, his voice gruff, kissing my neck, along my collarbones and shoulders. "You're so beautiful." In response, I wrapped my legs around his hips.Did I really want to keep going? My body sure did, but not too many minutes ago, he'd called us enemies. He'd said it was his duty to kill me. But he'd also told me he loved me. Funny how life worked. You fought. You made up. I decided to go with it and went to bite his shoulder. Someone cleared his throat, and the lights fli
Gabe's eyes found mine again. "No," he said, shaking his head. "I guess your dad tried to call you several times, and, when some random person answered, he freaked out and called Pops. We didn't want to worry him, so Professor Pops told your dad you lost your phone and that you were upset about him leaving again so soon and that you needed some time." He touched my cheek with a thumb. "If you hadn't returned by tomorrow, we were going to have to tell your dad the truth.""Good," I said, exhaling that stored up stress. I would call him tomorrow morning. "What about Gatsby? Do you know where my cat is?""Yeah, the poor thing came meowing at our backdoor a couple of days after you left. We've kept him with us. He's been well cared for, but he sure misses you." He took my hand. "I can't wait to see him."We lumbered down the stairs and headed into the kitchen. Professor Pops and the brothers were there. The guys smiled sheepishly, though Professor Pops looked serious."Hi," I said, cli
Instead, he said one of his relatives needed help and that I'd agreed to take care of his niece and nephew. Cindy bought it and only asked a few questions. Like how much was I paid, whether I had fun taking care of the kids, and most importantly, had I met any cute guys. Mostly, she would show me her magic, even practicing on me sometimes. One day I went to school with a pink streak in my hair, the next I had a red one. She also polished my nails using magic, which was cool. I especially liked it when they were sparkling red. Thankfully, she was over Gabe. And she only asked about Christopher once. She'd believed he and I ran off together and that I was pregnant. The woman had wild fantasies, but they weren't even close to the real drama in my life. When I spent time alone with Gabe, we did a lot of kissing, and he let me drink his blood. We decided to hold off on going further physically. At least until after my sixteenth birthday. That seemed appropriate. I still hadn't bee
Gabe's eyes darkened, and he studied me. "Never mind," I added quickly.He carefully lifted me so that I was straddling him, and I realized what he was doing. When he didn't want to talk about our differences or the fact that we were supposed to be enemies, he would kiss me. Then we would get lost in the amazing feelings created by making out. My body hummed in anticipation. I watched his eyes, curious about what I saw in them. They were filled with hunger, desire, and something else. Guilt? Did he regret the way he felt about me? Had his biological father said something to him about the fact that I wasn't dead yet? If only I could explain to his father that I was still me. Still Snow White, a girl from Salem, Massachusetts. All that changed was I needed blood to survive and - Okay, so a lot about me was altered, but it was physical. My soul was the same. Gabe continued to watch me. "What?" I asked, feeling self-conscious. Gabe had to know I was still the girl he'd flirted
I was dead. My body rested on a cloud of red inside a clear glass cylinder that was my casket. I'd been laid to rest in a gossamer white dress. Dainty white slippers covered my feet. My dark hair was curled, and a yellow ribbon wound through several strands like a headband. In my hands, I clutched a single red rose, the color of my stained lips. Dark lashes stood out against the stark white of my skin. The casket rested on a white stand in a lush field full of thousands of white daisies. They swayed in the slight wind.The smartly-dressed brothers and Professor Pops were at the foot of my casket, and the vampire queen stood near my head. She wore a blood-red dress that scooped low, enhancing her cleavage. Above, the sun shone brightly. Birds twittered in nearby pine trees. The hum of insects provided a despondent melody, and a babbling brook meandered nearby.It was like looking at a painting of a moment in time. No one spoke. No one moved.What are they waiting for? I wondered.
"These are cool, right?" he asked, searching my face."Very cool," I responded sincerely, putting the black one on my wrist. Salvatore made a noise, obviously perturbed I hadn't put on a pair of socks, so I hurriedly did."Sixteen watches, all in different colors." He helped me open the rest. My bed held a rainbow of watches, and I wondered what I'd do with them all."I think there might be a theme to the gifts," I said, glancing at each of the guys.They all agreed with "yes," and "of course."My smile was so big it hurt my cheeks."Told you it was a great idea," Daniel said.For the next half hour, I opened presents, the delicious-looking food forgotten. It didn't matter. I wouldn't have enjoyed it anyway, and I think they all knew it.Each brother gave me sixteen of something. Dorian gave me shirts. They were new and made for women, but still had old eighties memorabilia on the front with musicians like Def Leppard and TV show characters like the Smurfs. A yellow shirt had a smile
Professor Pops held out his hands. I took them, and he gently twirled me. "You look exquisite, Snow. Like a fiery dream."I blushed, enjoying the compliment.Seven heads peeked into my bedroom. They'd come back up the stairs, but I hadn't heard them. "Holy wow," Heathcliff said.The others nodded their approval.I found Gabe. "Gorgeous.""Get," Professor Pops scolded, shooing them from the room. They reluctantly left, and I heard them tramp down the stairs like a herd of sweet elephants. I walked over to the full-length mirror, and my heart raced faster. The girl in the mirror looked older, more mature. Like a woman."The mask will arrive later this afternoon. I'll have one of the boys bring it over," Professor Pops said, choking up.I turned to him. "What's wrong?" I asked.He shook his head, clearing his throat. "I am honored to know you, Snow White." He bowed, and my heart lurched.Why did he do that? The words from the vampire queen filtered through my mind. She said he wanted h
I snorted. "Whatever." But as I studied my reflection, I thought she might be right.Cindy shook her head and continued to pet Gatsby, who sat on her lap, purring noisily. She still wore her jeans but had a strapless nude bra on top. The party was in a half-hour, but twenty minutes ago, we agreed to meet at Professor Pops'.Cindy's hair was in three loose French braids that came together in the back near the nape of her neck. She curled the ends and pinned them into a bun and put little baby blue flowers in between the curls. Her makeup was a little darker than usual. "Dramatic," was what she called it.My eye makeup was similar. On her lips, she wore a light pink gloss. On my lips was a dark red that matched my dress. Cindy spent an hour using different sizes of irons to put curls all over my head, then she teased and backcombed until my dark hair was like a curly cloud. She left my bangs straight and used some kind of goop to make them stay to one side. I looked like me, only
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