Curfew was eight o'clock during the school year. Students didn't have to be in bed, but they did have to be on their floor. With vampires and other predatory supernaturals roaming the land of Sharra and the castle, it was a precaution most students adhered to. As I made my way back up to Snow's floor, I thought about what Mizrabel said. She dared me to go after her. Why? Who was I to her? The words shook me, though. No doubt about it. I needed to discuss what happened with Snow. The worker vampire known as Dina opened the door leading to Snow's floor. "Thank you," I said, my thoughts still on Sera and Mizrabel, and I shook my head. Something about Sera wasn't quite right, but I didn't know why I felt that way. I would keep an eye on her. Snow closed one of the doors, standing in the hall. "Hey," I called, waving.She put a finger to her lips. "Hey," she said in a whisper. That's when I remembered Jasmine. Snow and I had a lot to talk about. "I was just on my way to find yo
She huffed and said something, but I couldn't understand with her back to me. I watched her shoulders rise and fall. Then she turned. "I'm Quilla Templeton. Your fairy godmother. Maybe you remember me?" She stuck out a hand wrapped in a fingerless glove.I got on my knees and moved toward the edge of the bed. "Um, Quilla, is it?"She nodded, blowing her bangs off her forehead. "Yes."I took her hand. "I'm much too old to need a fairy godmother, and you seem too young to be one."She rolled her eyes. "It's a title, Cinderella." Her cheeks reddened. "And I'm older than I look. We fairies age at a much slower rate than humans." She stepped back."If you're a fairy, where are your wings?" I didn't mean to sound presumptuous, but fairies were supposed to have them. That much I knew.Her cheeks got even redder. "Well, aren't you just a tactless bundle of appallingly bad manners?" She crossed her arms. I didn't see a need to respond to that. "A mean and awful fairy by the name of Tinker
After breakfast, opening ceremonies for the academy took place in the grand ballroom. Since the academy only officially existed for a few years, there were fifty-five students in varying classes. All of them came from the human realm, and they all possessed at least one of the seven magics. Two students could change into werewolves, and one was a werecat. There were three vampires and a plethora of witches. There were also several varieties of other magical creatures, including a half-troll, and a few half-elves. A rag-tag group, to be sure, but still, it was a start. Coco, Professor Pops, and Snow went out of their way to find great teachers. There was a teacher from each of the seven magics as well as others, like me, for a total of fifteen instructors. Some were only part-time, including Professor Pops, Snow, and Heathcliff, while the rest of us taught permanently. The other adults were already on stage, and I hurried to make my way up. The grand ballroom was decorated to g
But the four new students looked worried, including Sera. As humans, they were taught early when you bled, it was usually associated with pain. I hopped down from the stage and came to stand in the center of the room. "Delilah, please step forward." She was small in stature, probably under five feet. Snow and I had found her a few weeks ago, hiding under a bridge in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Her knees quaked as she came forward. She was a vampire, which automatically meant she belonged in the vampire house, but when it came to studies, it was good to verify. Since the originals were created with all seven magics, their own included, they usually had one magic that was more prominent than the others. "It's going to be fine. I promise." She nodded, but I could tell she didn't believe me. Not that I blamed her. Trust was earned, and we didn't know each other very well. "Hold out your hand, palm facing up." She swallowed, so loud I heard it, but she did as I said. I reached into the
For the next forty-five minutes, we prepared the new students' schedules and adjusted some of the upper-level kids' classes. It would be a great year, I decided, making my way over to my homeroom class. As I went, memories of my dream of the man and my visit with Quilla kept me distracted. My so-called fairy godmother seemed almost too crazy to be real. At the door to my class, I put all of that aside. Taking a deep breath, I plastered a smile on my face, went in, walked past the desks, and to the front of the class. Students talked excitedly, and I soaked in their enthusiasm.We were on the second floor. In our first year using the castle as the academy, I spruced each room according to my mood. In this room, I turned the walls into magical movie screens. On them, moments in supernatural history played out. The one now was Titan's Battle - a war between the elves and the trolls over a mountain used to study, experiment on, and explore supernatural creatures. On the back wall
Heather was going to be late. "Okay," she whispered, meeting my eyes. "Let me talk to the instructors, and when I have an answer, I'll let you know quickly." An ache filled me at the pain and anguish she must be going through. "Can't you use magic to change my body into a girl?" She sounded desperate, placing her hand over mine."There is a magic that can make you look different. They are called glamours. But the spell is only temporary. They can't help you long term." In my own studies, I came across a story or two of supernaturals changing their form. I would look into the possibility, but I didn't want to get her hopes up. "Get to class, and when I have information, I'll let you know," I said, handing her the note. She picked up her backpack and wiped her face as she stood. It was a mess. "Thank you, Miss Croswell." "Sure," I said, standing too. "And one more thing?"Heather looked at me, hopeful. "Your makeup. Want me to fix it?"She sighed. "Yes, please." She swallowed. "May
Sure, he'd been alive a long time and seemed to know everything about the supernatural, but perhaps I should've talked to Abernathy, the dragon, instead.Professor Pops took his reading glasses from his sweater pocket and put them on the end of his nose. He began going over some papers on his desk. The longer I sat, the worse I felt. And I wasn't sure I had a reason. I never once saw Pops be anything but kind and beyond helpful. Sure he was a human turned Hunter, turned kind of human again - No, that was wrong. He was and always would be a vampire. Nothing could change that fact. Plus, I didn't think he wanted to change. I shifted in my seat. Pops looked at me over the top of his glasses. "Cindy? You said you needed to talk to me. Was that true, or are you hiding from someone?"I snorted and cleared my throat. "Have you heard of a land called Polonias?" I blurted.He pulled off his glasses and set them on the desk, then clasped his hands together. "Perhaps. Where is this Polon
I went into my office and closed the door. During class, I asked my students to write a paragraph on what they hoped to learn this year, and now I needed to get through them to gauge not only their ability to write but also whether or not I needed to change my next lesson. The words were a blur. I kept reading the same sentence over and over again and still didn't know what it said. I couldn't help it. Random thoughts popped up. My magic. It came from The Eye of Abernathy, which came from Earth. And Abernathy was a dragon of the Earth. If my sinking suspicions about where I was born were correct -"No," I shook those thoughts away. It just didn't make sense. After staring into space for I didn't know how long, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," I said, glancing at the clock. It was time for my appointment with Sera. Actually, the girl was a little late but better late than never. The door opened, but instead of Sera, there stood a man. His eyes were blue like summe
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