My head felt foggy. Had I passed out? Something I learned in the past few months was that it didn't matter how strong my physical body was, emotional exhaustion could still get the better of me. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt so heavy. Voices floated to me."Where did you find her?"I knew that voice. It was my aunt Cindy. Gratitude filled me and I knew I made it to Polonias. "A guard discovered her on the floor outside your bedroom door. It's a good thing you heard the commotion and came when you did. Otherwise, with things as they are with this horrible darkness, the guards might have cast her into prison. Or worse.""They wouldn't have been able to kill her." Cindy clucked her tongue with motherly irritation. "Bring her into my bedroom, please, and then you may go. I know you have a lot you need to do. Thank you for helping me. I spent most of the night enchanting more of the serum and my magic needs a break." I felt my body floating through the air before it drifted
I, Silindra had been ruler of the vampires for over a thousand years. I ruled because of systematic planning, a shrewd knowledge of the citizens I governed, and the cunning to deal with other magical creatures in the world.Like dragons.Dragons and vampires coexisted peacefully, for the most part. While some of the human vampires craved dragon blood, the originals, like me, had no stomach for the foul-smelling creatures. The oldest and most impressively magical dragon of them all was called Abernathy. He was kind of a prickly character but, once you got around his rough edges, he had the heart of a gentleman. I needed to speak to him. His cave reeked of mortality. A mixture of decaying flesh, bat guano, and seawater. Despite the thick darkness, I could make out the bones of the damned scattered on the dusty earth. Carefully I flew over them, but they were everywhere, and occasionally my bare feet brushed against one, sending whisperings of the life of the dead. Noises echoed off t
Silindra separated herself from my mind so that I could sense her once again, though I remembered all she'd just shown me as well that my mother had been in her mind too. We shared the experience, which I found wonderful. It also seemed impossible. Silindra's body had died thousands of years ago, but I could feel her. "See, your conflict isn't new, Jasmine. You and your mom have more in common than you know and it was time you realized that. And you have her power as well as your father's. You must defeat my sister. To do so, you'll have to sacrifice everything. It's the only way to bring balance for those who have died at her hand and for those you love. It won't be easy. In fact, it'll be the most difficult thing you've ever done, but you must or the world will be forced to bow down to my sister and all will be enslaved to her vicious whims.""I understand," I said."Good."Her voice left my mind and I woke. Opening my eyes, I was no longer in Polonias. I was back at home.Gatsby ju
Sometimes the biggest villains we fight are the ones we create within ourselves. Not saying that was always true. Sharra was the big bad for sure but I was suffering from a serious lack of confidence. Maybe it was because of all I'd done. Making a wish to take away my wings as well as other things. There were consequences for my choices. Big ones. Including the darkness swallowing realms and the akuma. Could I defeat Sharra and save everyone? The question was on a continuous loop in my mind. It had been weeks since I met Laeddin and made my first wish. Days since Laeddin left and I fell in love with a half dragon. Troy. It seemed like a lifetime ago since he proposed and I accepted. Part of me didn't believe that moment was real, but a figment of my imagination. Only a few hours ago, I left Pops and Joanna in the fifteenth century. There I got to know Joanna and my grandfather a little more. There I also drained the vampire Arthur before Christopher took him and imprisoned him in
The door clicked shut behind me and I sighed. Hot air filtered along my skin and brought with it the stench of decay. The gems on my forehead burned hotter, giving the room an eerie glow. All around me were thousands of honeycomb shaped coffins, home to supernatural prisoners required to serve out their eternal existence within. I walked across the room, my boots striking the dirt floor with a rhythmic dull thud. Once I reached the other side, I noticed my head hurt less. For the next several minutes, I played a not very fun game of Hot and Cold, except my version was more like Pain and Less Pain. If the final piece of the crown was buried with one of the undead, it could take me months or years to find it. An overwhelming sense of foreboding filled my chest as I thought about Sharra and Arthur and -"Arthur." I searched the cavern for his crypt. "Is it possible?" My voice echoed around the room, but I didn't pay it any attention. Was that another reason Abernathy sent me back in ti
"Leave her alone!" Laeddin's voice pierced through my soul. My heart pricked with pain. My genie was the Unknowns' prisoner. I almost spoke his name, but I covered my mouth - or tried to. The Unknowns didn't know I could hear them. I was at an advantage because I knew their plan. They wanted me dead so they could start over. I wouldn't let that happen. Somehow I would get back to my body. I would save Laeddin and everyone else. As Joanna said, it was my destiny and had been since the day I was created. "The genie wants to fight back," the male said, interrupting my thoughts. "How amusing." "I know what to do about him - about all of them," the female said. Laeddin, I cried out in my mind, desperate. "Can the girl hear us?" the male asked, surprise in his voice. "That isn't possible," the female responded. But it was. I wanted to rub that in their faces. But all at once, there was a whoosh and I was immediately back in my body. Hands rested on my shoulders and my head lay on some
As a vampire, I didn't need to breathe, but the pressure caused my ears to pop. It was uncomfortable. The red pendant I used to travel from place to place was still around my neck. It bobbed up and tapped me on the mouth. I tucked it into my shirt collar where it stayed for a moment before smacking me in the mouth again. Some of my hair came loose from my braid and swirled around my head like black tentacles. I tried to push them away but to no avail. Using my feet, I kicked forward, heading inside the mouth of the cave. A school of fish, their skeletons and sharp teeth glowing beneath their iridescent skin, zoomed toward at me so quickly, I thought they would smack into my face. Before the inevitable happened, they darted around and disappeared into the eerie water. Usually when a group of fish swam away, it was because something bigger was after them. With that thought in mind, I peered carefully around. Blue light gave the inside of the cave a peculiar glow. The ground was covere
I closed my eyes, trying to sense the bond, but detecting nothing. "No," I admitted. Christopher had believed we were meant to be together. Now Laeddin might be tied to me forever. Where did that leave Troy and me? Suddenly, being free of Laeddin was the only thing that mattered and I blurted out the words, "I wish you free. You are no longer required to serve me, genie of the lamp." I was proud of the way I worded my wish. But as soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my selfishness. I didn't want him to be my servant, but I needed him to help me defeat Sharra.His eyes grew big. He knew my mistake too. "Why?" he asked. Nothing could be done as the black tribal tattoos around his wrists shimmered a moment before returning to normal. Laeddin's shoulders slouched and he stared at his wrists. "Your wish didn't work." He was astonished but also relieved. "Strange. I don't know what happened. Maybe I'm out of practice. Try another wish, but this time wish for something of value."I