"Ar - Grandmother, let me help you inside." Now was as good a time as any to start calling her what she was. I helped her to her feet. My mom shared many stories with me about the sad woman in my arms. She'd made Ariel out to be tough. A fighter. After what Sharra had done to her city, she seemed tiny, not strong at all. "Mizu," Ariel said between sobs. "All of my people." "I know. I'm sorry." I helped her up the back stairs. She leaned heavily into me and I practically carried her inside and up to my room. "Lie down." She did as I said, crawling across my bed and resting her head against the pillow. I took a blanket from the bottom of the bed and covered her.Ariel was filthy. Black ash lined her face and clothes. She smelled like smoke. She appeared so insignificant. But she was more than that. She was my grandmother. My mom's mom. I would do anything for her."I'm just going to rest for a minute." She closed her eyes. Her shoulders relaxed and I knew exhaustion overtook her. "Ta

When I arrived back at the house, I waved goodbye to Troy and then went inside. My mom was gone, as was my grandmother's body. The room that was my mom's once upon a time was clean and the bed had been made with fresh linens. A strong scent of disinfectants lingered, burning the inside of my nose and making my stomach turn. Mixed emotions swirled through my heart. I was grateful my mom took Ariel with her, thankful I didn't have to talk to my mom right now since I didn't know what to say and devastated that I hadn't been able to say goodbye to my grandmother. But mostly I was angry. Frustrated beyond belief that Sharra had killed my grandmother. Not hurt her but ended her life.It was time to make Sharra pay.I rapidly showered before dressing in jeans, my black combat boots, and a black hoodie. Brushed my hair, braided it, and wrapped it in a bun. Then I took a deep breath and went down the hall to Laeddin's room. Knocked softly. I didn't know for sure whether he was still in the

Laeddin burst into my room. "Princess?" I adjusted myself and stood. "I'm fine. I - uh, just fell."His hands roamed my body as though he were feeling for broken bones, even though that wasn't possible. "What's this?" He touched the diamond on my forehead. I shrugged. "I'm not sure but I'm guessing it has to do with the crown." "You're probably right." He pursed his lips in a grim line. "You sure you're all right?""Yes. I'm good."Laeddin stepped back. "You look better. Rested." He went over to the closet and opened the doors, then faced me. "Which is good because you need to go to your grandmother's funeral."At hearing his words, my heart sank. "Is it today? Usually funerals take days and days to plan." "You've been asleep for three." He took a dress from my closet and showed me. I shook my head. "Three days?" I ran to the window, like the sky could tell me the date. In some ways it could, since the darkness was getting closer and closer. "Why did you let me sleep so long? We s

"Ahhhhh, it's good to be here once again." Sharra appeared in the ballroom out of thin air, my glorious wings beating lightly at her back. My dad didn't hesitate, but went after her, grabbing her by the throat. He was so quick, he shocked all of us. "I had a feeling you'd show up." His fingers dug into her neck as he forced her to her knees. "You'll pay for the pain you've caused and when I finish with you, you'll be completely gone from this Earth." Sharra blinked several times and then touched my dad with the tip of the staff she carried. His body became stiff, like he was frozen. Sharra pulled from his grasp. "Stupid boy!" "Dad!" I ran to him. Sharra sent a black current at me. It struck and I fell to the ground. "That was too easy," she cackled, her wicked eyes scanning each of us. "How dare you lay your hands - " Sharra said. Before she could finish, my mom had Sharra's neck in her mouth, her fangs biting down. Sharra's eyes became wide with momentary fear, but she recover

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,"