Pangs of memories hit me hard. This is where it began, the day my father told me what I was.
“Tomorrow the fun begins, Dawn. Are you ready? First, we must choose a name for you. I told you there was a prophecy, but the woman they believe is coming currently has no name.” Mona sat down on the couch and crossed her ankles in a ladylike fashion. “Or at least none was listed in the text that I read. Which is possible; you never know with Hybrids what they want.”
“What were you thinking?” I asked, refusing to sit. It was hard enough being in this room. I could only imagine how I was going to feel when I set foot into the room that was mine as a child.
“Something bold, and of course it must be old. You have to act well beyond your eighteen years. You have to be poised as if you have seen this world through centuries of change.” She looked at me with her hard eyes.
“Prudence,” I said quietly. For some reason, that name kept coming to me at inopportune moments. I never shared it with anyone for fear they would think I was crazy or hearing voices. Well, hearing more voices than usual, I should say.
“I like that name. Prudence Warren.” Mona smiled, pleased with the name that we had chosen together. “Can you remember to answer to that once you get there?”
I nodded.
“Good.” She looked toward the wall and the old clock that still stood there. I used to spend hours watching that clock. The pendulum always amazed me, with its tick-tock noises each time a second passed, and the clang of the bell when the hour would hit.
“When do we begin my epic transformation?” I teased, wanting out of the room. I honestly wanted entirely out of the house. The apartment I had so loved was not far away; I would give anything to go there again and escape all these memories flying around me.
“First thing tomorrow. For now, I want you to try and change something about yourself. Something small.” She was persistent.
I thought for a moment. Something small? Everything on me was relatively small. I wasn’t the tallest Warden. I closed my eyes, and I willed for change. I felt a burning sensation and opened them, not sure if what I was working for had been achieved.
“What color are my eyes?” I asked, bending down to look at her.
“Blue.” She smiled. “A crystal blue. Oh, Dawn, you did wonderfully.” She hugged me tight, and I felt, for once, that I had pleased her.
“So, this may not be as hard as I thought.” I felt triumphant as I stood up tall.
“Just means that we have one less thing to do. You know you will have to hold that change, make it permanent. No worries if you waver, I can have your change masked in magic if you forget to keep it up.” She patted her pocket as if the trinket was secured there.
“What can’t you do with magic?” I asked. I had spent my whole life believing that magic, in part, did not exist. I believed the only person to have magic at their disposal was my father.
“Magic is limitless. When you have it you have it; when you don’t, there is always someone out there willing to help.” She smiled, and it hit her eyes, making them twinkle. “Your father is not the only one that has other beings at their disposal.”
“You said you were like a fairy godmother,” I laughed, and she looked at me, shaking her head.
“I am a wish demon. I gained power from those who felt that they were too weak to make their dreams come true.” She stood up and looked down at me. In her heels, she was nearing five ten.
“You fed on the weak-hearted?” I asked, and she bowed her head.
“In a way, I suppose you can say that. Not all of them were weak. They were missing something; they needed just a little boost.” I could tell she wasn’t entirely comfortable talking about her blood.
“You are earthbound?” I asked, not ready to let go of the subject.
“For the most part, yes. I haven’t seen the walls of Hell in centuries. Now if you ask if I miss it, I would tell you simply, no.” She turned to walk away from me. “I have some matters to attend to concerning tomorrow. Your room is as you left it. I made sure not a thing of yours left this house.” She walked away, leaving me to my fear of being eaten alive by the memories.
I wandered the house and took in the changes that were made and the things that were the same. I entered my father’s study with apprehension, afraid it would trigger the memory of that day that felt so long ago. The couch was gone, replaced instead by a reclining chair and a set of bookshelves. It seemed that I was not the only one who had tried to erase the memories. I ran my fingers along the edge of the large mahogany desk; my father’s files still sat on the top of the desk as he had probably left them.
I left the room a few minutes later and wandered down the hall to the room that had once been mine. I opened the door, and the smell of lavender hit me. I had loved that smell, found it soothing. My walls were still the same pale pink that I had pleaded with my father to have. He had caved when Mona had promised it would not be too pronounced. My single bed sat in the same spot as it always had; the pink bedspread that I had left on it years ago still laid there. Amazingly, not a speck of dust had made its way on to the fabric.
The bookshelf I had enjoyed for so long held the books I had been reading as a child. The simple cover for Little Women still lay face-up on the third shelf, my old bookmark still holding the last page I had read. I suddenly felt fourteen again, like I had never left the luxury of my father’s home to find my mother. It hurt my heart to know that it was all still here.
I opened the drawers to my dresser and marveled at the clothing still inside. Satins and silks, expensive fabrics from France and England brought home after my father’s trips across the sea. Oh, how I had loved these presents as a child; the new articles of clothing that he would pick up from the designer shops around the towns he worked in.
Pictures of a smiling blonde still sat on my dresser’s top along with the images of my long-lost friends. I was smiling in most of them, my blue eyes sparkling. I picked up one of the frames and looked at it longingly, trying to picture the woman I would have become without the changes I had undergone in the past year. So innocent, so pure, no thought that her world was going to come crashing down around her.
In the same spot that I had kept it for years, I found my diary. The last entry was made two days before my father had his little talk with me. There was no sign I was different other than the memories of my dreams. The dreams that I could never remember but would wake up from screaming. Had these dreams been visions? Thoughts of things to come?
Shawn, you should see this place. It has been kept as if I had never left. My room looks the same as it did on the day I ran away. I hoped he could hear me, as far away as he was at this moment.
I know. I have been there plenty over the last four years. How else do you think I knew where to find you? Aside from Father telling me you were in Missouri. There was a telepathic laugh, and I sighed to myself.
I don’t know if I can do this. I sat down on my old bed, feeling the familiar comfort wash over me.
Of course, you can. You are THE Dawn Weathers, Fire Warden, and daughter of two very powerful purebloods. According to legend, you can do anything. Let’s not forget I met the last Fire Warden; you are far more powerful than she ever thought she would be.
I lay down, placing my head on the pillow. This is where it started: the dreams. I only wished I could remember them. Maybe they held some clue as to what I was about to face.
How old were you when it started? When you knew you were different from all the other kids, I asked, placing my hands behind my head.
I was about ten, I suppose. Things were already getting weird at home. The pastor and his wife were becoming quite confused about me by then. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who noticed the smell of burnt fabric in the middle of the night. There was silence. I wondered if he even remembered that far back in time. I mean, it was over five hundred years.
I was thirteen when the dreams started. Funny thing is I don’t know what they were ab
out. I closed my eyes as if that would help me remember.
You seem tired, take a nap, we can always talk later. His voice in my head was soothing. So that is what I did in a manner of minutes after his last bit of conversation. I fell into a sleep that was so deep I found myself lost in the sea of memories.
****
I was jolted awake. I had no clue what my dream had been about, but it was enough to give me that falling sensation, and when my body jumped, I jumped with it. It was dark now. I had slept most of the day away. Probably for the best; I wasn’t sure when the next time I would get a good night’s sleep would be.
I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. I stood up slowly, feeling every joint in my body pop in protest. I padded out of the room and down the lavish double staircase to the kitchen in the back right-hand corner of the house. My stomach was objecting, wanting sustenance. I opened the fridge and rummaged through cartons of leftovers. Mona had a hellacious collection of old Chinese food containers. Honestly though, I had no idea how long they had even been in the fridge, so I just grabbed the lunch meat and cheese, hunted for the bread, and made myself a sandwich.
I stood at the island while I ate. It was something that I did even as a child. The dining hall was meant just for that, dining. The breakfast nook was for breakfast, and sandwiches were always eaten at the island because they didn’t fit in either area. I still felt like the fourteen-year-old girl who had been here last. The thought never strayed far from my mind that I had left this place. My idea was to eat my sandwich in peace and then wander back upstairs. I was still incredibly tired.
“I’m not the only one up for a midnight snack.” Mona laughed, coming into the room in her white silk nightgown and cashmere slippers.
“Sorry, I woke up hungry,” I said, taking the last bite of my sandwich. “I figured it would be ok to eat something. I was sure that part of this whole transformation didn’t consist of starving me.”
“Of course not,” she said, opening the fridge, and removing one of the boxes of Chinese food. “This is my dirty little secret. Your father and I used to eat it all the time after you left. For some reason, it always made him feel better. I don’t know if you even remember eating at this place all the time. We would go to the ballet, and the first thing you would want afterward was Chinese. It’s just something that we kept doing even after you were gone.” She took a bite of cold noodles, and her face lit up in ecstasy.
“I can honestly say I haven’t touched Chinese food in four years. Mom preferred burgers to exotic foods. We had Indian once, but it didn’t agree with her stomach,” I pointed out as I leaned against the countertop. “Were you two friends?” I suddenly asked.
“Your mother and I?” she asked with a full mouth, and I nodded. “In a way, I suppose. We ran into each other from time to time. Your mother was obviously not an earthbound angel, that was for sure. She protected your brother. She had a soft spot for Shawn even though she knew where he came from and what he was.” She laughed.
“How did they meet?” I questioned. My parents never talked about things like this, and if someone were willing to give me insight into the celestial beings they were before I was born, I would like to hear it.
“Oh.” Mona seemed shocked. “It was before the war. Eons ago. She hated him at first, found him to be egotistical and very creepy. He, on the other hand, thought she was the most beautiful being he had ever laid eyes on. She is, you know, beautiful,” Mona sighed. “I will always walk in her shadow. I transformed to have a similar complexion, hair color, mannerisms. I just never have been able to fill those shoes.” She looked sad. “I love your father, and I know in his own way he loves me, but it is no secret he still loves her too.” She shook her head. “You’d better get back to bed, young lady, we have a long day tomorrow,” she said, pushing the subject to the side. I had seen a vulnerable side of Mona, and I wasn’t sure if it was something that I wanted to see again. It’s no mystery; I don’t know how I was supposed to take demons with strong emotions.
I said goodnight to her, wandered back up the stairs toward my room, and fell face first on to the bed, taking in the warmth. I was back asleep in minutes, the world around me revolving into darkness.
Chapter 24
Hello, Miss Prudence
“You have to change,” Mona demanded, eyeballing me.
It was the next morning, and we were standing in the grand living room face-to-face. Mona had pulled me from my sleep at five. I was still tired from the day before. I wish someone would explain to her that it’s hard to conjure up a physical switch when you feel like you have barely slept the night before.
“What are you expecting when you say ‘change’?” I asked, giving her a confused smile, and shrugging my shoulders.
“Good Lord.” Mona rubbed the brim of her nose. “You simply cannot be you,” she repeated. She had said this probably ten times this morning alone.
According to Mona, we appeared as we wished others to see us. This depended on mood, location, and living situations. To change or alter one’s appearance, one must become one with oneself. Certain elements were, of course, always there. I could not modify my facial features, but several coats of make-up would take care of that. My eyes were the simplest to change to blue, but on the flip side of that, my demon eye had to be more dominant. That meant I had to hide my one white eye. It was an arduous task. One that had taken me hours to master, pushing the light in my blood to the back of my consciousness.
I closed my eyes and thought as hard as I could, I thought about what I would look like if my hair hadn’t changed. My body shook for a moment. I felt a slight pulling sensation, and then the sound of Mona clapping forced me to open my eyes.
“You did it!” She grabbed me by my shoulders and guided me to the closest mirror. My hands shot into my hair; my black tresses were now a pale, almost white, blonde. I looked different, far more fragile, and my skin was way too pale. I looked dead.
“This is what you wanted? I look like the walking dead,” I groaned, instantly missing my black hair.
“Don’t fret; I have Paulo coming to fix it. Maybe some honey highlights? You won’t know who you are by the time they are all done with you.” She was standing behind me, playing with my hair.
“They?” I asked with a squeak. This was going to be painful.
“You have to appear royal, darling.” Mona’s smile was wicked but quite intriguing. This was what she had been striving for the last time I was in Dallas.
“I’m getting a drastic makeover, aren’t I?” I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout.
“You have no idea,” Mona laughed.
“What are they going to do to me?” I groaned.
“We have hair, nails, make-up, threader, wax, clothing, shoes, manners, and one blind date to make sure you are well, not you.” She smiled again.
“Blind date?” I asked calmly.
“You will see. I think you will enjoy it.” She winked.
“I have a distinct feeling I won’t,” I grumbled, crossing my arms. Wesley had better feel grateful that I was changing myself to get him out of that pit.
I had decided that morning to continue in my childhood diary the transformation in stages as they occurred. This is what I had to go through to become Prudence Warren and leave behind Dawn Weathers.
Demon Princess Diary Day 1
Paulo was first in the onslaught of high-priced beautifiers meant to make me not me anymore. Six hours of listening to him and Mona bicker gave me a migraine. Finally, after a heated debate, I had hints of honey and spice added to my blonde hair. It didn’t look horrible; it added some depth to the pale locks. He had cut another three inches of my hair off. I wanted to cry. My bangs were trimmed and brushed flat. So now my hair comes right below my chin, no more ponytails! Mona told me to quit pouting; it was just hair.
Next was Marcia, a small Asian girl with a huge smile. She tried to drown out all the drama, needless to say, it failed. Paulo and Mona both have an ide
a of how I should look. Mona says blood red nails; he says French tips. I get active length nails in a French manicure with red tips to make both of them happy. If I have to listen to another argument, I’m turning them to ash!
Lunch consisted of brown rice and vegetables. What the hell is Mona thinking? I’m a size seven; it’s not like I need to lose weight. She’s also cut off my soda supply. I am allowed one can of Diet Coke a day. I hate Diet Coke! But I choke it down.
Dinner? Not much better. Mona says I have to be different inside and out, a total polar opposite from what I am. Apparently, I need more fiber and veggies. Pizza has been officially outlawed in the Weathers Manor! Eliza Doolittle how I envy you.
Demon Princess Diary Day 2
All right, so the woman has lost her ever-loving mind. She woke me up at five this morning to make me sit through an hour of a woman ‘pampering’ my feet. The fact I let the manicurist touch my fingers should have been enough to make her happy; now she is bringing in this other woman who is meant to give me a ‘pedi’. Never had one of these, don’t find it too stress-free like she said it would be. Breakfast consisted of Shredded Wheat and not the kind with the frosting. I think she is either trying to kill me or get me used to eating roughage.
After the woman tortured my precious toes, I had to endure the most excruciating pain in my entire life. A full body wax! They ripped hair from places I never even knew had hair!!! By the end of the ordeal, I was red and puffy, even bleeding in some areas. I couldn’t walk right for a good two hours afterward.
According to Mona, this woman she created as the prophecy, was a noblewoman with strong hybrid backgrounds. She had to be a mixture of Hell and spitfire, since I wasn’t allowed to use anything Heaven-related while using my powers. I had to basically put everything my mother taught me in the back of my mind and lock it away.
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