My mom's stern expression softened as I watched her reflection. "Most importantly, I'm your mother." She leaned down, our heads side by side and she squeezed my shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with love. I studied the two of us together, once again astonished by our similarities. We both had black hair, though mine had a streak of teal in itThe shape of our faces were the same as well as our high cheekbones. Our lips had the same sort of thickness and we were the same height. There were differences too. Her eyes were an unusual color, reflecting the various hues within the spectrum of the seven magics while mine were always violet. My skin was naturally tanner than hers. And then, of course, there was the huge difference between us. I had wings, obnoxiously large wings that protruded from my back like those of a giant black bird. The worst part was they never went away. Like fairies' wings did. I had them on my back at all times - no matter what. Sometimes I longed to sleep on my
As I watched them, I thought about how things changed since my mom became the vampire queen. Originally, male vampires were all hunters or drones who travelled into the human realm to mark possible future bodies for the vampire queen. Sharra gave them a portion of her magic so they could walk in the sunlight. They could only be killed by removing the heart. With female vampires or workers, they could be killed more easily by either the sun or a stake through the heart. But since my mom came into power, she gave every vampire some of her blood. Now a portion of her magic flowed through each of them. Male and female. There were no more hunters, except Christopher. There haven't been for a long while. With that magic came some additional changes. Like the fact that killing a vampire now required their heart be ripped from their chest. It was gruesome, but fact. As an original, no one knows how to kill me or even if I can be killed. Like the old originals, I came right from the seven mag
"Breakfast. Five minutes," my dad said as he knocked on my door."Huh?" I forgot to set my alarm, but usually didn't need it. Pushing myself out of bed, I stumbled over to the window. I was late. Abrea probably wondered what happened to me. "Jasmine?" My dad knocked again. "I'm up. Thanks!" I needed to hurry but pushed open the window instead. As I stared aimlessly out at the landscape, I thought of the dream. Two entities had been speaking and their words filled my mind like they were within. Or, maybe I'd somehow traveled into their minds.*** "The vampire child is not performing as expected. She doesn't care about her destiny or the fate of her kind. She's a total disappointment." He slithered his body around the vast darkness that was everywhere and nowhere. The inkiness seemed to expand and contract, like breathing, around them. "There is always our first inclination." She glided beside him, producing an orb of light, just big enough so they could see each other. Not that it
School was more of the same. Except Jon seemed to have grown an overabundance of nose hair during the night. I secretly high-fived my best friend. "Good one," I said, remembering Abrea promised to do something to him. After classes were done, I went to my rooms and changed into a teal gown with Zenny's help. Rushing as quickly as a princess was allowed, I made it to the meeting just in time, sliding into the seat next to my mom. She looked over disapprovingly since I was supposed to be early, but whatever. At the moment, I was doing my best not to fall asleep. The troll leader, Geth had a rather monotone voice. "We will continue to supply blood for the princess as you ordered, but we want more land," Geth growled.We were all seated around a large round table in the Great Hall. A glittering chandelier hung above giving off an ambient glow. The room was lined in gilded wood and pictures of previous royalty from the seven magics hung precisely along the walls. I admired the newes
As fast as possible, I ran out of the castle. Immediately, I took off my shoes, making my way into the woods. The wind against my toes tickled, but I didn't mind. Relaxing, I opened my mind, allowing my senses to feel, sense, touch, and hear the surrounding countryside. There was a family of deer at the stream to my left. On my right was a group of pixilettes collecting seeds from orange peonia plants. I listened extra carefully for a moment to see if Abrea happened to be with them, but she wasn't. The pixilettes were talking about creating a new flower color by mixing two seedlings together. It would be called tealender, which was teal and lavender together. They wanted to create it in my honor since I had a streak of teal along the front of my hair and my eyes were lavender. I beamed at their thoughtfulness and the intensity of their conversation. They continued their light discussion. Some believed my eyes were more violet than lavender and therefore the name should be teal
I stepped away, crossing my arms. "I've been coming here for years. Why didn't you reveal yourself before?"He looked away. "I enjoyed listening to you and the pixilette, Abrea, talk. Sometimes I get a little lonely."The idea that Laeddin, a strong and handsome man, felt the way I did immediately softened my heart. "Don't you have any friends?"He looked at me, his eyes sad. "I'm not allowed to leave until such time as my master requests it.""Oh, and who's your master?" My heart began to beat rapidly. "You are, Jasmine." He came over and took both of my hands in his. "I am yours to command.""You are?" For some reason that made my heart speed up and my face get hot. I tried to pull away, but he held me fast. "Yes. And I can grant you three wishes." His eyes flickered to my lips. "Nearly anything you want." "Really?" My mind whirled out of control at the possibilities. Most of my wishes were selfish. "I can ask for anything?""Well, sure. Anything within reason."I wanted to snort.
"Where are we?" I asked when the mist cleared. The room was dark, but I was able to make out empty shelves and pictures hanging on creamy walls. Lamps and furniture were covered in white sheets. Several inches of dust coated the room. "This is the house your mom grew up in." He pulled the sheet off the couch and rolled it into a dusty ball. Thick dust puffed in the air. Laeddin coughed and tossed the sheet on the floor. "Really?" I sneezed as I studied the room. I always wanted to see my mom's house, but she never let me. "And my dad grew up in the next house over, right?" My uncles teased that their house was a sprawling mansion while my mom had lived in a shack. She laughed but it was obvious there were some painful memories. For that reason I hadn't pushed her to come. Occasionally she would share a good memory, but it wasn't often. The room Laeddin and I stood in was definitely small though. Smaller even than my bedroom in the castle. "That's right." His words brought me out of
I gave an exasperated sigh. "I like you too. But if you knew anything about genies, you'd know we can't consider ourselves equal when one does the wishing." He pointed at me. "And the other," he smacked a hand against his chest, "must grant it."I went to the bar stool and slumped over, resting my head in my hands. "Why should you be my servant - " I shrugged. "Or whatever, if I didn't call upon you - or something." It was confusing. "Wasn't I supposed to rub a lamp? Where is your lamp?"Laeddin sat beside me. "The cave you and Abrea often visited. That was the inside of my lamp. Basically from the moment you found it, I've been your servant. I was just worried about showing myself to you too soon. "Why me and not Abrea?""Simple. You brought Abrea into the cave. You found the cave. It's been you for a long time.""Oh," I said, lifting my head and looking at him. "And I shouldn't wish to no longer be a vampire?"He shook his head, a strange emotion flitting across his face. "No, plea