Jesse and I stood at the base of a gaping cave. I sent out a silent plea to Troy and Pops. If they were here, those two could talk some sense into him. The entryway looked to be a mile wide and half as tall. The water had already risen to just under my knees. "I don't think this is a good idea," I said. "The tide is coming in fast." "We'll just take a quick look around, and if we can't see anything, we'll come right back out."I took a calming breath. "I don't know about you, but I have incredibly powerful vision, Jesse. I can see to the back of the cave. All that's inside is rock, rock, and more rock. Rayne isn't in there. Nothing living is." "I want to believe you." He gave me a pained look before continuing, "But I have to see for myself. I hope you can understand."Sadly, I did. Turned out Jesse was as stubborn as I was. "Fine, how fast are you?" I asked, trying to contain my worry.He shrugged. "Pretty fast." "Awesome, let's race." It was apparent by the look on his face
Rayne raised her head and peered down the steps. "If you try to swim out of here, you'll be dashed against the rocks. The waves are relentless, not to mention there are huge goblin sharks that haunt the cave during high tide." "I'm sure I'll be fine." I had no desire to stay here even one second longer than necessary.Rayne looked at me like I was crazy. "You're saying your skin is tougher than rock?"It wasn't. The issue with the sea glass proved that. "Well, you might live through a goblin shark attack, but you'll be in pieces," Rayne continued, starting to sound more like her usual self. I forced myself not to shudder at the images she conjured. "Fine. When will it be low tide again?"She went past the table and pushed back a fabric curtain. "Not for hours. So why don't you chill out and wait for the water to recede." I walked past her and yanked the fabric from her hands. "Why don't you stop patronizing me and tell us what the hell is going on?" Ha! Now it was her turn to be ta
I finished another shower, dried off, and donned a sea foam green pair of pants and matching bandeau top. I spent a little more time on my hair since it was for the coronation, pulling it high on top of my head before braiding it, then wrapping it in a bun. In between dressing and doing my hair, I went to the window in search of a dragon. Each time I left disappointed. After returning from the cave Jesse and Rayne had gone to his room, promising to meet me at the coronation. I went past his door and listened. It was quiet so I headed downstairs. Throngs of gargoyles talked excitedly as they walked in the same direction. I guessed they were headed to the coronation, so I followed. At the large opening to the throne room, a warrior stopped me. The space had been decorated with a myriad of golden strands, like streamers hanging from the ceiling between the peculiar round lights. The gargoyle turned slightly and bowed. "Welcome, Jasmine of Sharra." His voice boomed through the corridor.
Graves had kept me longer than expected. By the time I reached the exit, Rayne and Jesse were no longer in sight. So I closed my eyes and listened. At first I didn't hear anything except the fun going on at the party. But I pushed farther and farther, focusing until I heard Rayne's soft laugh. "Got you." I opened my eyes and started forward. A lone gargoyle blocked my path. He wore a creepy smile as he studied me. "Talking to myself," I said, moving in the direction of the stairs. "Don't go, little princess." He wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me fast. I immediately went limp, allowing him to bear all my weight. His grip slipped just enough that I was able to ram the back of my foot into his knees and roll forward out of his arms. The gargoyle cried out, and I was free before he even realized what had happened. Using my vampire speed, I dashed over to the stairs and raced down them before he had a chance to recover. When I'd gone down two flights, I paused and li
"Let's get out of here." Rayne said, turning away from me and toward the entrance. "I can't stay here anymore." She touched the wall and it began to rise. I glanced sideways, hoping to get Jesse's attention, but he wouldn't look at me either. Troy still held me fast. "It's okay," he whispered. I didn't know if it would be. I crossed my arms and waited as the wall retreated into the ceiling. On the other side, Rave and Scotch were waiting for us. My neck prickled. Something about them looked off. "Sharra will see you now," Scotch said. His voice was entirely void of character and his brilliant orange wings had faded to dull umber. Worse, he mentioned Sharra. Rave and Scotch had become Akuma, soulless demon creatures. Rave took hold of Jesse, but Jesse forced himself from the gargoyle's grasp. "Let me go." Scotch tried to grab me, but I scooted out of the way as Troy half shifted and ripped off the gargoyle's arm. He didn't even flinch. "Jesse, take Rayne and get out of here. Now,
I walked and walked for what felt like months. Dark sky hung above without a moon or stars to guide me. The sand beneath me sank with every step, burying my bare feet, scorching my skin regardless of the missing sunlight. I climbed hill after sandy hill, trying to find my way out, but it was endless. I crested each summit, hope filling my breast, only to have it dashed when I reached the top and saw a dozen more hills stretched out in every direction.And with each step came the relentless berating. You'll never defeat her. You won't succeed. Give yourself over to Sharra. Then you can't fail.I fought against the voice inside my head. Time passed, and I began to believe this was my only existence. The sand and dark sky were real. Everything else had been a dream. I finally lay down, not caring that the sand burned. In fact, I relished its stinging, welcomed it. Closed my eyes, desperate to be done. Hope no longer existed. Only the burning sand and the darkness. Only fai
I opened my eyes for real this time. They went immediately to the window. It was even darker than I remembered, and I wondered how long I'd been gone.""Jazz." Troy was abruptly at my side, sitting beside me on the bed. Relief covered his entire face like a blanket."Where are we?" I rubbed at my temples, trying to regain my bearings. "We're still in the gargoyle realm," he said. His eyes shone with unshed tears. "I didn't think you were coming back to me." With infinite care, he brushed some hair off my forehead. "How long have I been asleep?""Eleven days." He scooted closer. "You look better, like you've eaten."I glanced down at my hands. "I did.""Oh?" He was understandably alarmed by the revelation. "How?"I touched the wooden bear on my wrist. "Christopher," I said plainly, knowing I needed to tell the truth. "That's impossible." His voice was hard. "I've been with you the whole time and he hasn't been here.""Well," my voice lifted along with my gaze. "He was able to reach m
I didn't need light to see. Neither did Troy. But the rest of the world did. And it was my job to keep it from disappearing completely, especially since the looming darkness was my fault. After leaving the gargoyle realm, it only took us a few days to find the third piece of the crown created - and then hidden - by elves a long time ago. According to Laeddin, only I could wield the powers contained within. If I collected all the pieces in time, then I would possess the magic necessary to destroy Sharra and save the world. I hoped he was right. Part of me even believed it, especially since each time I found a piece, it embedded itself in my forehead. The rest of me wasn't sure I could stop the Darkness or the Akuma, and specifically not Sharra. The prospect terrified me.But I had to try. "Stand back, Troy." I glanced up at his handsomely rugged face. He had smudges of dirt on his chin and nose, which somehow made him even more gorgeous, if that were possible. "I'm against the