I found Laeddin on the upper deck, staring out at the churning water. "Sorry about that," I said, coming to stand beside him. It wasn't that I was sorry about kissing Troy. Only sorry Laeddin had to see it. He shrugged, running a hand through his thick hair. "It isn't your fault. I didn't think; I just came." He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Laeddin was wearing the same clothes he left in more than a week ago. He looked haggard, his face scruffy, and his dark hair mussed.I touched his arm. "What's going on?"Urgency returned to his face. "I found something. An artifact. A crown actually. Made of elven magic and the branches of their sacred komoni tree.""Ko-mon-e?""Right. It's a tree that can only be found in their realm and there is only one." He didn't look at me but continued to watch the ocean. "What's so special about this tree?" As the yacht tilted and swayed, I watched him, wondering what it would've been like if we just met without the whole genie and master

Laeddin went out to speak with the uniformed men sitting in the green truck. They didn't say much except there was some "suspicious activity" in the area and advising us to "stay inside unless leaving was absolutely necessary". That was all the information they gave us. I told Laeddin the truth about seeing the kids in the Harmony Grove Cemetery and I explained about Sharra. "What are we going to do?" I asked when he didn't say anything. "You said she spoke and sprinkled red powder over the spots where they'd been?" Laeddin finally asked. "Yes." I thought about what I'd seen and remembered another bit of information. "Also, before they disappeared, she blew yellow smoke in their faces.""That sounds like something Sharra would do. She's always had a thing for the dramatic." He pulled a water bottle from the refrigerator and drank. Laeddin walked up the stairs. I didn't know where he was going but I followed. When we reached his bedroom Laeddin opened the door and went inside. "When

Five days ago I made my second wish. It was that Sharra would use her magical dagger on herself instead of Laeddin. She had to obey and Laeddin and I escaped her lair. That's the thing about the genie's magic, it's more powerful than the most powerful vampire ever and that's why Sharra wanted it. We returned to my home in the human realm and hoped she was dead. It didn't take long to know that hope was in vain. My wish didn't even destroy the Akuma. The days continued getting darker. Akuma kept coming. On top of that was something else. A pestilence had fallen over all realms. To most creatures, they appeared to be nothing more than large grasshoppers, but with my eyes - original vampire eyes - I saw the truth.Not only were the bugs eating their way through all the world's crops, they were eating their way through all creatures as well. When bitten, regardless of gender or species, they became Akuma. Sharra's lackeys. The chayot got involved and tried to smite the pestil

"You didn't let me kill the genie and now you're going to suffer more than you believed possible. Even at this very moment Ariel is dying or dead. See?" Pictures of dozens of Akuma attacking Ariel in a strange city appeared and I watched while they ripped her apart."Noooooo!" I screamed and sat up, opening my eyes. I was in my room. Sweat dampened the sheets. I climbed out of bed and went to the window. How could I find out if what Sharra had shown me was the truth? Without my wings and my magic I couldn't just return to my land. A shadow crawled across the yard and I jumped back, frightened. "Laeddin," I whispered and waited, my mind unable to let go of what I'd seen happening to Ariel. It wasn't Laeddin, but Gatsby. The cat suddenly appeared outside my window. His yellow eyes stared through the glass. "Let me in, vampire," he said, lifting his paw and patting at the window. It was odd the cat could talk, even weirder that he seemed to know so much, but beyond that, he was adorab

We scanned the burning city of Mizu for survivors. If only there was a way to change them back."They've all been turned, but I know how to help them," Ariel shouted, seeming to read my mind. I faced Ariel, pushing several pieces of hair out of my face. "You do?" "Yes," she said, her blue eyes glistened with determination. "We need to get to my office. Head north, Abernathy. Go that way!""No, we must leave, Ariel. Once Sharra has turned a creature into an Akuma, there is no going back. The soul has been burned out of them, leaving only a shell. At this point they are nothing more than Sharra's puppets. They do her bidding without conscience, remorse, or understanding." "That can't be true. I have a spell that can reverse even the most - " Ariel started, but Abernathy cut her off. "I cannot allow you to remain here a moment longer," he growled, sending a stream of fire into the bubble protecting Mizu. The fire wasn't like the normal red and orange flames. It was gold, black, and bl