Laeddin pulled me into a hug. "We need to talk."The scent of his blood lit my throat on fire. Not to mention the way his skin smelled and felt. And the way he looked in his jeans and button up shirt. He was beautiful in every way. I pushed him back. "I tried to talk to you several times this morning, but you wouldn't listen." I crossed my arms. "I know. But there is something about me, about my family you need to know." He sighed. "It has to do with the demura."I twisted some hair between my fingers. "Go on." I already knew thanks to Gatsby, but I'd give him a moment."You better sit down. It's kind of a long story." He led me over to the couch. When we were sitting, he began, "Many years ago - ""You mean two thousand years ago, don't you?" I crossed my arms and leaned back against the cushions. Laeddin's brows furrowed. "How do you know?""Well, old man, if you would've let me talk this morning, I would've told you that I know everything.""Everything?" He smirked. "Well, smar
The night air was cold, and the sky was so clear hundreds of thousands of stars were visible. "Isn't it beautiful?" I asked, making conversation. "Beyond comprehension." "Ri - " I glanced at him and realized he wasn't looking at the stars but at me. "Oh." My face burned with embarrassment. I was grateful for the darkness. His hands were clasped behind his back. He nudged my shoulder. I nudged him back. "So where are we going?" Laeddin asked.He was the most relaxed I'd seen him. The dark did that to people. It washed away worries and blanketed fears. "If anyone knows how to find the chayot leader, it's my grandfather, Professor Pops." I pointed at the large house coming into view. "You're going to reveal yourself to him? I thought you wanted to keep it a secret. Besides, are you sure he still lives here?" He pointed at the fancy sports cars and trucks with lift kits parked in the driveway. "He already knows. He is my English teacher at school. And he positively still lives here
We walked toward the house, but I got the sense Laeddin didn't intend to take us all the way back. "What's the plan?" I asked. The selfish part of me wanted to put off the confrontation with Jaffar for as long as possible. I didn't want to lose him just like I lost Abby. If Jaffar even agrees, my mind whispered. And part of me didn't want him to. I kept going back to my wishes. I had two left. Couldn't I just wish the genies were no longer demura? What would happen if I did? Would all of them disappear? Did that include Laeddin? I wasn't ready to have him be gone. Before Laeddin could answer, a golden carpet landed at our feet, shimmering in the moonlight. Laeddin stepped on and held out a hand for me. "Are you serious?" I asked, holding my ground. Riding on something was not the same as flying with wings. Laeddin smiled sadly. "A magic carpet is one of my favorite ways to travel."I glanced around at the houses in our neighborhood. They weren't close together. Trees, shrubs, flowe
Laeddin found my hand under the water. He took it in his. "Two thousand years, Jaffar. You look well." I felt his shoulders shrug. "You look the same."His thin lips curled into a smile. "So do you, youngest son." As he spoke hundreds of skull monkeys appeared behind him. They sounded like a cheering crowd. Jaffar raised his bony hand and the monkeys quieted. "Who is the girl you have with you?" Laeddin's hand tightened around mine. I knew he was telling me not to say a word, so I kept quiet. "This is Jackie. She's my newest mistress." "Ahhhhh, well step out from behind the genie, child. Let me have a look at you." He waved his hand and Laeddin was forcefully pushed away.I really didn't want to look at him, so I pretended to be shy. "There's no need to fear me or the skull monkeys. We mean you no harm." He glided along the ground as though he were floating. I didn't respond but peered at him from under my lashes.Jaffar squinted shrewdly. "Interesting." To Laeddin, he asked, "Why
Laeddin jumped forward, grabbing his arm. "She isn't from our realm, Jaffar. You can't make a deal with her. It's against the rules of magic."Jaffar screeched, pushing him away as though he were made of paper. "I just did." He struck the ground once with his staff. A circular light shot from the ground and radiated across the land. Laeddin fell to his knees. I watched, waiting for the tattoos around his wrists to vanish. "Watch," Jaffar commanded. The scenery in front of me swirled like wet watercolors. And before my eyes was a new landscape. I watched a demura about to enter a body, but it suddenly stopped, glanced in my direction and then vanished. "That's one."From behind I heard Laeddin gasp. One of his brothers had just been killed before his eyes. I wanted to go to him, hug him and tell him I was sorry. I wanted to take away his pain, but I couldn't. Not while Jaffar was there. Not while I needed to make sure all the demura were gone. A similar scene to the first happened t
"Ms. Ryder? Are you listening?" Mr. Henry, my grandfather looked over the top of his reading glasses. That was me. I, Jasmine, the only princess of Sharra was pretending my last name was Ryder and was sitting in history class, daydreaming. Something I found myself doing a lot lately. "Uh, sorry. What was the question?" As I spoke, I scrunched down in my chair. Several students snickered. Drake called me a freak under his breath. My blood boiled, but I pushed it down. A quick glance at the clock above the door confirmed history class would be over two minutes. Two horrendously long minutes. "Was the Civil War necessary to abolish slavery?" Mr. Henry came around his desk, removing his reading glasses and tucking them into the pocket of his tan sweater. I would never tell him this, but the students at school called him Mr. Rogers. The description fit. He always wore a sweater over a button down shirt and he always wore slacks with the same pair of loafers. Personally, I though
"Really?" Peter said, putting his hands on his hips. He came closer, studying my back. "It looks about the same." He sounded accusing, not that it was any of his freaking business.But I felt like I should explain. "I had a run in with Drake and an elfish woman. The wound reopened." I showed them the blood on my shirt. Tears pricked my eyes and before I knew it, I hopped off the stool, ran up the stairs and tossed myself across my bed. Yeah, not my finest moment. I lay there with my arms tucked under my body, still clutching my bloody shirt, and forced myself not to cry. Sometimes, when I was super emotional, if I cried, my tears would be red, like blood. But since Jaffar stole my wings, I'd become so close to human it was scary. Perhaps I was actually human. I knew I was no longer me - a vampire created from the seven magics and the blood of my parents - that was for sure. I was a shadow. A shell. A husk. The worst part about the feelings was that I was now exactly what I believed I
Darkness enveloped me and I calmed a little. As a vampire, I loved the dark. When I reached the end of the drive, I debated whether to go left or right. Right meant I would head toward Pops' house. There wasn't any place else to go after that. Left meant I could walk around the neighborhood. That was what I needed. But I couldn't make my legs move that way. My heart kept urging me to go right. I wanted to see Professor Pops. Maybe even Troy. They were good friends. "Hey."My heart jumped. The voice came from above. I looked up and saw Troy sitting on one of the larger tree branches quite high up, his legs dangling over the edge. "Hey yourself," I returned, clasping one hand over my heart. "How did you - " Before I could finish, he jumped. I was momentarily frightened for him, until he landed with a thud on both feet, crouching slightly. There was a huge smirk on his face."I'll bet you ten bucks and a ride on my back that you need some time alone with me." He straightened. I had to
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