Before I became a vampire, I was just a man with simple needs and one desire. Her name was Joanna Reesa d'Arc. I called her Red because of her deep auburn hair. She always wore it down her back in a long braid.Red was beautiful in every way. Strong. Courageous. Devoted to her country and family. To a stranger she might appear weak and helpless, but she was none of that. She was five feet of fearlessness with deep convictions toward her visions of what God wanted France to become.The first time I saw her she was in her eighth year. In her tiny hands she carried a pail full of water. A serious expression, one I would learn meant she was thinking, hung on her lovely face. She wore a white bonnet along with a hunter green frock the same color as her eyes.Joanna was the daughter of the town constable. The d'Arc family was the closest thing to royalty the town had, and they acted like it too.When I was young, I wanted to know her, to be near her. By the time she was sixteen I knew I
I came to and heard Sharra talking."I know you believe in your visions, but where is your God now, when you need him most. Don't you think if you were meant to lead your country to victory, he would rescue you?""You speak blasphemy against my Lord. It may not be today, but you will suffer for your irreverence." Joanna spoke with quiet certainty, without a shred of horror in her voice.Sharra grabbed Joanna's face. "Highly unlikely, little one."I opened my eyes and saw Joanna was chained to a wall. It appeared we were in a dungeon of some sort. It stank of rotting flesh and wet dirt."Release her. You can contend with me but leave Joanna alone," I tried to shout, my voice groggy and my throat parched.Sharra sauntered over. The material of her dress rustled against her legs. "I wondered when you'd wake. You've been asleep a long time. Days in fact. I didn't take that much blood. Perhaps you're weaker than I first believed."I ground my teeth together, but didn't respond. "My love,"
But Kenmei did not kill us. I would later learn the Hunter didn't support Sharra the way some of the other vampires did.Once the vampire queen was gone, he went to Joanna. "Let me get you out of these." With very little effort he yanked the chains from the wall. Joanna fell to her knees. "There. There, little bird." He lifted her and placed her on a throne made of rock. Then he bit into his wrist. Blood immediately came to the surface. "I know you don't want to drink from Adam, but you're a revenant now, not quite human and not quite vampire. Blood is all that will keep you alive." He put his wrist to her mouth.She resisted, but only for a moment."That's it."I worried she would spit it out again, but she didn't. She drank. Slowly at first, but then her hands came up and she took hold of his wrist. "Good girl, little bird. Take your fill."Joanna's mother began to wail. In between cries she shouted, "Demon.""Be still woman!" I fought against the chains wishing I could be free.Fi
I, Jasmine was suddenly aware I was no longer inside Joanna's head, but back at my home. Without opening my eyes, I knew I was in my room in Salem, laying on the bed and covered in blankets. Laeddin was in his room, sleeping. I heard his even breathing and the rise and fall of his chest. The trip back in time was enlightening. I now understood more about Pops and my heart broke for his loss even though it was hundreds of years ago. How that must've hurt. I also understood Laeddin's love for me a little better. It didn't matter whether I loved him back or not. His love was strong and real and the driving force behind all he'd done and did for me. My heart softened toward him and I wished I could love him back the way he loved me. It would be so easy. But I wasn't sure whether it was because he was a genie and treated me like I was his master or what, but there was something keeping me from letting myself fall for him. With Christopher, it was purely physical. He believed we belonged
"I have an idea where it is." Laeddin hiked a short distance to the edge of the ridge. "Where's that?" I hiked over to him. We stood on the top of a vast mountain. The crisp air whipped thin around us, nearly empty of oxygen. Had I still been human I would've had difficulty breathing at such a high altitude. "Down there, probably within or below the palace," he said, pointing. I followed his finger as I stroked the bear bracelet encircling my wrist. Christopher had given it to me. The little bear charm brought me comfort. My eyes drifted down into an expansive city surrounded on three sides by mountains while the fourth opened to the sea. Homes made of rock and sand lined the streets, standing in rows like soldiers waiting for battle. Two thirds of the way toward the castle was a large wall with a gate. Two gargoyle sentries with matching brown wings stood guard on either side of it. The second rung of houses was similar to the first, though they were much bigger, and many had co
"It has to be to keep up with you, Rave," the largest gargoyle, the one I guessed was the leader, said. Rave grunted and walked over to Laeddin, sniffing him. I couldn't help but wonder if his blood smelled as good to her as it did to me. "It stinks, Edge. I think we should kill them." Guess that answered my question."Or eat it," the male with sunset orange wings added.The one the female called Edge shook his head. "We won't kill them or eat them. We will take them to the emperor and let him decide their fate." He made a point of looking at each of them, starting with the orange-winged male. "Scotch?""Yes, Liege.""Skye?" Hers were the wings that reminded me of a cotton ball. They were brilliant white. "Of course." She bowed, keeping her eyes on the ground. "Rave?" She shook her wings, seemingly irritated. "Whatever you say, boss." She spoke like she had a bad taste in her mouth. As though to prove my point, she spat. I watched it land on the ground and disappear into the gravel
He's obviously a man of many words, I thought sarcastically. We passed another room filled with dozens of carved statutes. All were of gargoyles in various shapes and sizes - except one. She was female and appeared to be human, aside from the large black wings on her back. They were different than gargoyles' wings, more bird-like. That surprised me because the statue was placed high above the others and in a prominent location. I wanted to ask who she was, but knew the gargoyles couldn't understand me, and so held my tongue.We'd moved on anyway, into another stairwell, which led us down further into the depths of the castle. It became obvious very quickly that those with certain colored wings held different positions. If a gargoyle had bright wings in colors like those on the castle spires, they were the aristocrats while those with duller-colored wings were the servants. Further down and I noticed the servants were no longer carrying linens, but some held weapons while others c
Instead of answering, Rayne turned away, her back against Jesse's arm. That wasn't peculiar at all."She wouldn't tell me either," Jesse said, giving me a sorrowful look. "Are you from this realm?" I tried again, leaning over and trying to get a glimpse of her face. "I am," she whispered. "But you don't look like the others.""That's because I'm a mutt - only half gargoyle, like Jesse." She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them. "Is that why you're down here then? Because you're a mutt?" I guessed there was more to the story than that, but thought it was a good jumping off point."Don't talk to me." She turned again so that her back faced me. Jesse shrugged apologetically. "Can you give her some space?" "Sure." I went over to the door, frustrated, and shook it. "Let's us out! Right now.""Hey, it's okay," I heard Jesse whisper to Rayne in between my wasted shouts. "You don't have to talk. Not yet. It's okay.""Maybe we should get some rest." Laeddin came ov