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
"My grandmother said the locator spell works based on whatever you're looking for. A human is one way. If it's an animal, I have to change up the spell a little. For a plant, I do the spell even more differently.""Cool," I laughed, a wave of panic washing through my stomach."Well, I tried the human spell three different times. Just to be safe, I did the spell for an animal and for a plant as well. None of them worked."I reached the bottom of the stairs and faced her. "Maybe you still did something wrong. You know you struggle with that science-y stuff in biology.""That wasn't it. I did everything right. My grandmother said - " she stopped.I opened the front door, but a fragrant wind blew it from my grip, and the door slammed shut. "What?" I asked, knowing Cindy had used magic. I was going to have to tell her."My grandmother said the only reason the spell didn't work was that you aren't human, but something born of magic." I wasn't surprised. The vampire queen said my DNA was cha
I shook my head but remembered Professor Pops mentioned someone would bring over my mask when it was ready. "It could be my mask."She closed her book, and I went to the door, Cindy following beside me. "Do you want some of my blood?"I laughed, opening the door. "Are you offering?""Nooooooo," she said, but laughed as well. "You aren't some bloodthirsty fiend." She said it as a statement, and I figured it was mostly to convince herself. "I'm just me. Snow White, the girl you've known since forever." "That's a relief." And it was. I heard it in her voice and by the beating of her heart. She peeked over my shoulder. Dorian was outside, near the passenger door of an extensive black limousine. He bounced up and down, and I guessed he was cold. The limo seemed like overkill. Professor Pops' mansion wasn't that far away."Shall we?" I held out my arm to Cindy. "You go. I need to put away my book." I watched her walk carefully over to her bag. Lifting my dress, I went out onto the po
"You'll see." He leaned in so that I got a good whiff of his neck. I had the feeling he did it on purpose. "Love your shoes," he said, and I shivered. Like Eve with the apple, Dorian was tempting me.Just a taste, my mind cooed. But I resisted. Now wasn't the time.As I waited for him to help Cindy out, I stared up at the mansion. Lit with thousands of white, shimmering lights, it seemed to possess its own glow. "It's beautiful," I breathed, feeling like I'd stepped into a fairytale land."You ain't seen nothing yet," Dorian said. "C'mon." He stood between Cindy and me and held out his elbows. I took his arm in one hand and my dress in the other. We climbed the steps. The front door opened without any of us knocking, as though they were waiting for us. We went inside. The brothers and Professor Pops stood off to the right. Several of them were fidgeting with their tuxes, but they all wore their masks. One of the brothers, Sebastian, handed Dorian his. He slid it on, moving next to
When all the guests arrived, Professor Pops welcomed everyone and asked that we all take our seats. The waiters sprang to life, and dinner was served: chicken cordon bleu with steamed baby potatoes and asparagus spears topped with a creamy hollandaise sauce. Everyone commented on how amazing it tasted. Several times, as I popped a tiny bite of potato or asparagus - yeah, I still didn't eat the meat - into my mouth and forced it down, I longed for the food in Sharra: the food explicitly made for vampires, the food that tasted like blood with a hint of whatever fruit or vegetable or meat it was.Dessert would be my cake, later tonight. It sat on a decorated table beside all of my presents. The cake stood tall. Five layers of red velvet covered in red fondant. The black frosting was piped over the top in intricate swirling designs. White flowers, which looked a lot like snowflakes, were placed methodically in groups of three and five. On the top layer stood a girl in a red dress hold
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