My plan wasn't elaborate. Find Sera. Talk to her. Make her see what a foolish idea it was to bring someone back from the dead. According to Gabe that wasn't a plan at all. Stuffing back several very rude comments revolving around him being the leader of an army of angels, I asked him what he would do. Turned out his plan was basically the same as mine, just more elegant. I thought it over as I put on my Sarah Sanderson costume. Since I was blond, she seemed the easiest Sanderson sister for me to imitate, though she was a bit too bubbly for me. Still, she was twisted enough and dressing as her would be fun. I found the costume online and had my mom purchase it for me in the human realm then I brought it back to Sharra for tonight's party. The bodice was lavender and laced up the back, so it fit tight against my body. The skirt came to mid-calf. At the hips, the material was dark purple and the panel in the center was fuchsia. I wore black lace-up ankle boots with black tig

I peeked around the hedge and saw a plain room. Several students were off to one side, behind bars. Most of them were crying, though a few seemed more interested than afraid. Maybe they thought this was all part of the fun. Standing over a body in the center of an enormous seven-pointed star, Sera was chanting words I mostly didn't understand. Large black candles burned a peculiar blue light at each of the tips. On the ground nearby, wrapped up in make-shift cocoon, lay Heather. Her eyes were shut, and there was a large splotch of red on her chest. I covered my mouth to keep from screaming, praying she wasn't dead. Gabe noticed her too. He looked ready to attack. But where was Mizrabel? I didn't want him to rush in there until we knew what we were up against. Thankfully, he was still letting me take the lead. Sera held a wooden bowl in one hand and knelt down, placing the bowl on the ground beside Heather though she was clearly talking to someone else. "Your life ended a

My mouth fell open in shock. "Are you serious?" "I'm dead serious." His smile vanished and he glared. Somehow, I found that less intimidating. "You've already befouled our realm with your presence. I will not allow you to corrupt the greatest chayot we've seen in centuries." Jesse uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "And if I don't agree?" I asked, unfazed. I didn't care what he said, I wasn't leaving here without Gabe. "You don't want me to cross that proverbial bridge, princess." Malice glinted in his eyes.His threats were only making me angry. "I want to see Gabe," I said. "Right now.""Sure." He waved his hand and an image of Gabe and a beautiful angel with downy brown wings appeared. They were in a kitchen. She was baking and Gabe was seated at an island watching her, a soft smile on his lips. "You see?" Jesse asked. "He belongs with his own kind. He's happy. Content."I knew at once that this had to be Delphina. She wasn't old and wrinkly like I imagined, but beauti

"Are you ready?" I glanced at my mom in the mirror's reflection. "More than ready," I said, getting off the chair and adjusting my wedding dress. White with a straight collar that went off my shoulders, it was glorious in its simplicity. The bodice hugged my curves and an enormous train trailed gracefully behind me. My veil hung long from a small tiara Polly had placed around my head. My mom cleared her throat, pushing me away. "You don't want to wrinkle your dress and I don't want to have you redo my makeup," she said, her eyes misty. "Right." I glanced over her shoulder at Snow. It wasn't that long ago that we'd been preparing her for her wedding. Snow winked. "Alright, well, I'll meet you out there. If we're not careful, your grandma will make a fuss over something and use her magic to get in a fight with one of the vampires. We don't need a blood-sucking war on your wedding day." Mom made a face before closing the door, leaving Snow and me alone. "Can you believe it?" Sno

Monday morning, I woke, climbed out of bed and stretched my wings, showered, dressed, and then flew out my window to explore Sharra with my best friend, Abrea. It was our usual ritual and my favorite time of day, like life stretched itself awake. All was peaceful and filled with possibilities. Abrea and I helped a fairy lift a particularly heavy caterpillar onto the branch it intended to use as a home for its chrysalis. We also assisted an elderly troll in his desperate quest to reach some juicy berries at the top of a rather large tree. Now we were seated on the stone ledge at the top of the turret closest to my room watching the sun finish its rise. "Jasmine. Come inside. We have a lot to do today." My mom stuck her head and shoulders out my window near the top of the castle, searching for me. I stifled a laugh as I watched her head turn from side to side. She wouldn't find me though, because I sat directly above her. I sighed heavily. "Fine." My mom gasped and cracked her he