"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
When I got inside, Laeddin was back in the living room with Peter. He had a look on his face that said we would discuss what he just witnessed later. The TV was still on and Peter was focused on it. I glanced around, then remembered my mom had left. The serious conversation I planned couldn't happen tonight after all. I thought about her in Sharra, curious about whether she changed back and forth between herself and Zoe. If not, she would totally freak out Ciana, the vampire who helped raise me. I loved Ciana. She'd taken care of me since I was little when my parents were working. We played together during my mom's long meetings. In that moment, I remembered the vision right after Jaffar took my wings. She was flying and went into the mountain where all evil supernaturals were imprisoned. There she woke someone. A vampire she called Velencia. And Ciana had entered the tomb. My nanny betrayed me. Betrayed my mom and dad. Everyone. Our whole world. She was on Sharra's side. My mom n
After I shared what Gatsby told me as well as what I witnessed just after Jaffar took my wings, we both decided it wasn't much of a leap to think the Mistress and Sharra were the same. With that knowledge in tow, we debated what to do with the information. We had several heated discussions about what her plan was with the Akuma and the dwindling light, if she was causing it. We also knew we needed to tell Pops and we definitely needed to tell my mom and dad. Before we talked to them, Laeddin wanted to see what information he could find in his realm's library. It was located in one of four circular towers that made up each corner of his family's castle. When we arrived, I sneezed. The castle library's air was dusty and smelled of old paper and worn leather. The books were on shelves that began at floor level and went all the way to the top in every direction, three-hundred-and-sixty degrees of books. We each grabbed a tome and started reading, pouring over the thick volumes that he
We didn't capture any of the Akuma. Troy, Peter, and I decapitated them all. There were five in the cemetery. The unicorn led Peter and Troy deeper into the cemetery to ambush them. But we cut off all of their heads. As soon as the head severed from the body, the Akuma fell apart, shriveled up and dissipated. Emotionally, it was difficult to kill, but I got over it quickly when it was us or them. Christopher's blood pumped through my veins and the more I fought the stronger I became. If I thought it was appropriate I would've cheered. My vampire abilities were back in force and I used them to their full potential, grateful I could actually help. Troy and Peter noticed too. After the last Akuma was beheaded, Troy came over. "Jack, you kicked ass." He held up his hand for a high five. I didn't leave him hanging. "There's my girl," Peter said, pulling me into his chest for a hug."Thanks," I said, enjoying the compliments. When I pulled back, Peter squinted, staring at my mouth. "You
Sunday morning, I got up and immediately craved Christopher's blood. Laeddin still wasn't home and Gatsby was gone. I hoped he was okay. Last night he promised to tell me about Sharra, but he wasn't around. The dream or vision or whatever still lingered in the back of my mind. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Was I seeing what was truly happening or was it all a lie? I had a feeling it was similar to what happened between Christopher and me. It was real. If that were true, and I believed it was, the whole thing scared me.After I dressed in jeans, my combat boots, and a plain black tee shirt, I went to the window. Sunlight peeked through the clouds. A light wind blew. Leaves that should've turned brown and died weeks ago rustled in the breeze. I tapped the glass, trying to decide if I should listen to Gatsby and leave the window open or do as Troy suggested and close it. Finally I decided to leave it open. For now. If the cat hadn't returned by tonight, I'd close it. Especially if L
After Gatsby left, I texted Troy: We need to talk. Are my mom and dad back?No. Has Laeddin returned? Troy replied. No. And I'm starting to worry. I can't go back to his realm without him, either. Peter and Zoe just showed up. They need to speak with you too. We're coming over. K. Dress for Akuma hunting. We're going again tonight.Got it. I ran upstairs. Since I was already wearing jeans and a tee shirt, I left those on, but changed into my favorite black boots. Then I grabbed a black hoodie. The back had a teal skull sporting a pink bow. I thought it quite appropriate for what we would be doing. I swiped some gloss over my lips and fixed my ponytail, then went back downstairs to wait. Not too many minutes later, someone knocked on the door. I opened it, expecting my mom, dad, and Troy, but it wasn't them. It was a woman with long red hair, striking blue eyes - exactly like my mom's - and the creamiest skin I'd ever seen. It was almost transparent. She wasn't very tall, and she
The first step in our plan was to capture an Akuma. Alive. Everything else hinged on that. We would set up traps and hunt without killing. I didn't think it was possible, but we all agreed to try. It was two in the morning. We were back at the Harmony Grove Cemetery since there were so many Akuma on our previous hunt. Ariel took the northwest corner. Peter had the northeast. Zoe kept eyes on the southeast. Troy had the southwest. And Laeddin and I had the center. "What's going on with you and Troy?" Laeddin asked. We were standing near a fancy monument complete with concrete stairs leading up to it. To the right was a gothic style church built in nineteen hundred and five. At least that was what I was told. The church had a tall, pointed spire that rose from the center, along with four smaller spires, one at each corner. The carvings were intricate. Some might call it gaudy, but I thought it was amazing. "What do you mean?" I turned away from Laeddin, not sure how to talk to him ab
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