Sera wasn't in the basement, but I found the spell book I thought she would've taken since it contained the spell for raising someone from the dead. That it was still in its place on the bookshelf concerned me. Mizrabel had contacted and used her once before, which meant it was possible the sorceress might do it again. The bigger question was why Mizrabel had chosen Sera in the first place. Sure, the girl was vulnerable and thus easy to manipulate, but it had to be more than that. It seemed too coincidental that Mizrabel had chosen Sera just before I found her. Plus, Mizrabel was my mother. Had she somehow known I would find Sera? Did something tie Sera and me to each other? If I knew how to reach Abernathy, I would have, but he was still recovering from the ordeal of freeing me as the heart of Polonias. I was on my own. The most worrisome question: Who did Sera intend to bring back from the dead? If Mizrabel was involved, I thought I might know, I needed to find Sera and s
I closed my bedroom door and locked it before going to the mirror and asking it to show me Snow. Thankfully, my best friend was still awake and alone in her study. I shared with her my thoughts and theories and told her I was going to Polonias and not to worry if she didn't see me in the morning since I didn't know how long I would be gone. Guilt pierced my heart momentarily after saying goodbye and changing from the dress I wore for school into a pair of jeans, boots, and an oversized indigo sweater with a V neck. Why hadn't I asked Gabe to go with me? He could have come and seen the place of my birth. My bloodline had kept the land of Polonias alive. Aside from that, the land was in my heart and I wanted Gabe to know that part of myself. Confused and irritated with myself, I took hold of the diamond star attached to the black choker around my neck. If my theories were correct, then Sera was in Polonias. I didn't know how it was possible since travelling to my land wasn't as
In the cafeteria the next morning, there was a happy buzz in the air. The dance was that night. Curfew was being extended to midnight and the students were excited. I got myself some scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, and salsa, and coffee to drink as well as some water. I searched for Gabe and spotted him over by Professor Pops. The two of them were having a serious conversation and I didn't want to interrupt. "Miss Croswell," Heather called, waving. I went over and sat across from her. She was by herself, which would give me the chance I needed to tell her what I found out. "Hello, Heather," I said, sipping my coffee. Mixing the eggs, cottage cheese, and salsa together, I took a bite. Then noticed Heather watching me. "What? It's good. You should try it sometime. High in protein and delicious." The girl made a face before dabbing some peanut butter on her banana and taking another bite.Gabe and Pops were done talking and he waved me over. I held up a finger. "So, Heather,
My plan wasn't elaborate. Find Sera. Talk to her. Make her see what a foolish idea it was to bring someone back from the dead. According to Gabe that wasn't a plan at all. Stuffing back several very rude comments revolving around him being the leader of an army of angels, I asked him what he would do. Turned out his plan was basically the same as mine, just more elegant. I thought it over as I put on my Sarah Sanderson costume. Since I was blond, she seemed the easiest Sanderson sister for me to imitate, though she was a bit too bubbly for me. Still, she was twisted enough and dressing as her would be fun. I found the costume online and had my mom purchase it for me in the human realm then I brought it back to Sharra for tonight's party. The bodice was lavender and laced up the back, so it fit tight against my body. The skirt came to mid-calf. At the hips, the material was dark purple and the panel in the center was fuchsia. I wore black lace-up ankle boots with black tig
"Can't you do a locator spell?" Gabe asked. "I can try." Locator spells could sometimes get wonky in Sharra because of all the enchantments surrounding the land and especially the academy. Gabe continued to scan our surroundings. "At this point it's better than nothing." "True. Let's get to the basement." I needed an item from there. Passing more groups of kids in costumes, none of whom were Heather or Sera, we exited the hall and hurried down several flights of stairs and hallways until we reached my classroom. There, I went to a shelf, searching for a map of Sharra. When I pulled it from its spot, I knocked another paper onto the floor. Frustrated, I picked it up and was about to put it back, but there was a word scrawled along one corner in old-timey writing. I knew the word because I'd seen it before in The Eye of Abernathy. The word was resuante and it meant resurrection. "Do we have time for this?" Gabe asked when I handed him the map. "I think we should make time. I'm
I peeked around the hedge and saw a plain room. Several students were off to one side, behind bars. Most of them were crying, though a few seemed more interested than afraid. Maybe they thought this was all part of the fun. Standing over a body in the center of an enormous seven-pointed star, Sera was chanting words I mostly didn't understand. Large black candles burned a peculiar blue light at each of the tips. On the ground nearby, wrapped up in make-shift cocoon, lay Heather. Her eyes were shut, and there was a large splotch of red on her chest. I covered my mouth to keep from screaming, praying she wasn't dead. Gabe noticed her too. He looked ready to attack. But where was Mizrabel? I didn't want him to rush in there until we knew what we were up against. Thankfully, he was still letting me take the lead. Sera held a wooden bowl in one hand and knelt down, placing the bowl on the ground beside Heather though she was clearly talking to someone else. "Your life ended a
By the time I arrived in the ballroom, all the students had been sent to bed. Snow sat at the head of a long table where the teachers were discussing the situation. "Is she locked up?" Snow asked me, her face concerned. "She is," I said, falling into an empty chair. For the next two hours we discussed what transpired and what needed to happen next. I explained what I knew, which wasn't a lot. I didn't know what happened to Gabe and Mizrabel, but I would find out. Professor Pops agreed to help. Coco would call a special gathering in the ballroom the following morning and have the therapist on hand for those who needed to talk. For many of the students, the academy was all they had and if they couldn't feel safe here, then where could they go? Classes would resume like normal on Monday and Tori agreed to teach my charms and spells classes until I returned. We were short staffed already, but I was of no use to anyone until I knew what happened to Gabe.The meeting over, I agree
My mouth fell open in shock. "Are you serious?" "I'm dead serious." His smile vanished and he glared. Somehow, I found that less intimidating. "You've already befouled our realm with your presence. I will not allow you to corrupt the greatest chayot we've seen in centuries." Jesse uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "And if I don't agree?" I asked, unfazed. I didn't care what he said, I wasn't leaving here without Gabe. "You don't want me to cross that proverbial bridge, princess." Malice glinted in his eyes.His threats were only making me angry. "I want to see Gabe," I said. "Right now.""Sure." He waved his hand and an image of Gabe and a beautiful angel with downy brown wings appeared. They were in a kitchen. She was baking and Gabe was seated at an island watching her, a soft smile on his lips. "You see?" Jesse asked. "He belongs with his own kind. He's happy. Content."I knew at once that this had to be Delphina. She wasn't old and wrinkly like I imagined, but beauti
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