Catherine
Today I found out the world isn't black and white—there are thousands of shades of grey, new nuances behind every corner. And it seems even an old vampire like me has feelings.
I thought I was entirely evil, someone who only lived for the purpose of taking over this world. But, strangely enough, as I peer down into the eyes of the woman I used to hate, I find hesitation blossoming in my chest where there once was only pure hostility and rage.
Jenna, her words spoke to my soul and somehow drew out my bottled-up emotions. She claimed I could be saved, and judging from the sparks flying within me when she said that, maybe those words were what I had waited for all along?
Because now my heart, once frozen by tundra and ice, is pumping again, trying to remind me how it felt to be human. I can almost hear it whispering: "Is total destruction and a world without love truly what you wish for, Catherine?"
And it definitely should be! Consump
JennaOpening your eyes to the music of rain smacking against a window must be the best feeling in the world; at least, it's the sound that I love the most.Smiling, I roll around in bedsheets that smell like detergent and heavenly apples. The winds are howling outside, gossiping about storms and open oceans, and I stretch my arm, freezing when I end up touching something hot and solid.Something warm moves over my hand, and I open my eyes to find Ariel staring into my face. His larger hand is placed over mine, holding it over his beating heart. Dark circles surround his eyes—Ariel looks like he has been awake for decades. Yet, a smile carries its way to his lips as he openly studies my face."You're awake..." Ariel sounds surprised, but more than anything, he seems happy; his eyes are already tearing up. I barely get a chance to collect my thoughts and look around before I'm wrapped up in a hug, squeezed like a burrito to his chest. The guy manages
Jenna My legs are weak by the knees, trembling as I make my way over to the bathroom mirror. I'm met with a heart-stopping sight; my eyes are entirely red, bloodshot, and empty, soulless, vampiric, and my hair—what the fuck happened to my hair?! I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly shivering. Blonde hair is falling from my head, the same color as Catherine's platinum locks. I feel sick. It's like I've turned into the old vampire herself, and when my reflection distorts, and I can imagine Catherine laughing at me, I punch the mirror and shatter it into pieces. "No!" Tears are clawing out from the corner of my eyes. "Please tell me this is a nightmare!" Ariel, grim-faced, hesitates in the doorway. His arms are planted under his chest, and his eyes are brewing storms. "This is not a nightmare, even though it might seem like one," I touch the mirror and see the stranger, the one who is supposedly me, do the same. "So I'm the vampire queen now? H
Blaze I'm sitting on the top balcony, looking out over the magical realm with the wind hitting me in the face. I dangle my legs, letting my toes curl and unfold. For the first time in forever, I feel at peace. Catherine is no longer alive, and so, my ancestors may rest. "So it's here you are." A million shivers crawl up my spine hearing Jenna's voice, but I keep my gaze locked on the clouds. She picked Ariel, yet I'm too lost in her to leave this hotel behind. I'm not sure how the stinking dragon managed to move it to the magical realm, but I guess this is the only place ready for us mythical creatures. "Here I am..." Jenna silently takes a seat next to me, her scent hitting my nose and making me stare down at her hand resting next to mine. My heart squeezes inside my chest, letting me know the mate-bond is still there. Even now, all I want is to tackle Jenna to the ground and steal her away from Ariel. "You know, I've been won
Hannah I'm blinded by the ethereal light surrounding the little girl in my arms. Like her father, the blood of the Fae courses through her veins, letting me know that she will fit into this world perfectly. Gazing down into the blue eyes, already so intelligent, I start to whisper soothing, loving words. "Mommy might not be here forever, but you should know that I love you, I love you so much. You're precious, Daisy, so precious." "Will that be her name?" Smiling, I turn around with the baby in my arms. Cassius is standing in the door opening, looking as beautiful as ever with his long hair and elegant-looking clothes. Fair hair falls down his shoulder, almost covering one side of his white blouse. It pains me that we won't be together forever, that my hands are already showing veins that weren't there before. Age doesn't frighten me, neither does my greying skull, but leaving the daughter and the man I love so much behind is downright frighte
Jenna I'm holding my baby girl in my arms, smiling up at Ariel while he tries to soothe our crying boy. Blaze is trying to piece together a lamp we bought from IKEA. Everything seems right with the world. I've finally accepted that I'm a vampire and that it's not a death sentence. I'm happy. I have the two most wonderful men for mates, and they get along with each other. Sex is great, and we have two beautiful children, soon three—what else could I ask for? "You're such a little troublemaker, aren't you?" Ariel kisses Hayden's forehead. The two baby twins are pure-blooded vampires, and the father is Ariel. I smile over at the vampire boy. We named the twins Hayley and Hayden. I guess it's a shout-out to Hannah. My heart misses her, even if she hasn't replied to any of my letters. She wants a war to unfold between our kingdoms while I seek peace. I don't understand where her bloodthirst comes from—we are both mothers, war is the last thing we s
Jenna This is the most important day of my life—if I don't get this job, I won't be able to pay rent, which would be horrible. I don't want to ask my parents to send me more money. Big girls can handle themselves! And I can't wait to turn independent! But, first, I need to convince the CEO of this company that I'm worth the job, and then I won't have to depend on my parents. I walk inside the magnificent building with confidence but instantly lose my ability to breathe—stepping into the enormous hotel is like walking into another world, one where everyone wears top hats and fancy dresses. Did I walk into the wrong hotel? The walls are never-ending, and I swear to god, all the people inside are beautiful and tall as trees, exactly how I imagined snobs. "Wow," I whistle in amazement and spin around like a dancer. "This place is amazing..." I take in the room with great eyes; even the air feels different here, cleaner somehow.
Jenna Last night I dreamt about my parents. I have told no one about them, but there is a reason I don't keep in touch with them. They thought consuming alcohol and screaming at each other day and night was more important than taking care of their daughter. On the outside, we looked like the exemplary family, wealthy with a beautiful house and a splendid garden, picture-perfect family members always smiling at the neighbors. Still, inside our walls, I was always unhappy. When other kids came to school with home-cooked meals or lunch money, I sat empty-handed with my eyes still on the floor, reminiscing about my parents sleeping on the floor, drunk and unconscious. Call me an idiot, but I never cried or dared tell anyone about my parents. I survived with a heavy heart, constantly crying, desperately begging for someone to notice me. The younger me needed a hug, help, or anything to make her feel alive. She was alone and lost to suffering. But t
JennaBaking soda. Eggs. Milk. And some vanilla extract. I throw everything into a bowl and whisk the ingredients around while trying to ignore that sharp sting in my chest.Sad to say, I can't fight my brain.Images of Ariel with his arms wrapped around Catherine's body floods my mind, and my heart immediately feels like it's about to break."Not again..." I whisper and feel anger boil through me as I whisk faster than I probably should. "I shouldn't care about that guy. He is a stupid billionaire who I have developed an embarrassing crush on!"My door opens and closes, but I don't pay the sound of someone taking off their shoes any attention. I'm too busy baking in irritation."Hello?"I look up and see Hannah waltz into my kitchen. At first, she seems cheerful and confident, and then she flickers her eyes to my bowl and sighs in that knowing way."What's wrong, Jenna?"I pout at her. "Nothing...""You always ba