by R L Medina
“I had to wipe his memory before he went to the headmaster.”
I gasped. “What? You did what?”
“A painless procedure. I couldn’t have him blabbing to the council.”
Heat spread across my skin. “Is he okay?”
Grayson. What were you thinking?
“He’ll be fine. Just a headache for a week or so.”
I glared at him.
Ignoring me, he continued, “The ring is obviously broken now, and I’m afraid another one would only risk further exposure.”
My heart skipped. “Does that mean I don’t have to wear it anymore?”
He nodded.
I unclasped it and threw it to the ground. It landed with a satisfying thud.
“But you must promise me you won’t try to run. You’ll stay at the academy while we track your father’s killer and deal with the witches.”
“Yes. I promise.”
Tía smiled. “Javier, we should let her sleep. It’s almost morning.”
He motioned her and Javi out. “Yes. You two go. Get your rest. I have a few questions left for Rose.”
Tía hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek before she left. Javi hugged me next and followed his mom out. I returned it stiffly, still burned by his betrayal, though I knew he’d done it out of love. Love and the misguided notion that he knew what was best for me.
“Are these questions going to take long?” I groaned.
“Your sight is still coming, and there’s no way to stop it now. The attacks can mean only one thing. The coven knows you’re here. We can’t hide this from the GRIMMs much longer and if they find out who you really are… I won’t be able to protect you.”
I sighed. “Okay. So, what are we supposed to do?”
His face hardened. “You will stay here. In this room for now.”
“What? No! You can’t do this.”
“It’s the only way to protect you,” Tío argued.
Rage lit inside me. “You can’t keep me caged like this!”
He flinched. “Just give me time to figure something out.”
“You had seventeen years to figure it out! My mom and dad figured out a way to shield me all those years without imprisoning me.”
He shook his head. “It’s different now. Your sight is growing. And your mama performed spells to shield you. I’m not a witch.”
“Then find a witch who can do it,” I snapped.
He sighed. “Employing a witch… there’s a lot to figure out, Rose. It’s not that simple.”
Anger swirled in my chest. “I’m not going to be locked up here forever.”
“It’s not forever. I promise. I’ll think of something. Just give me time.”
My arms flew up. “How long?”
He didn’t answer.
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
With that he turned and slammed the door. It locked with a loud clang.
My heart skipped. No.
I pounded against the wood, screaming.
No.
Angry voices echoed outside my room. Javi and Tía.
“Let me out. I’ll keep your secrets. Just let me out of here.”
Footsteps moved toward me. I paused to listen.
“Rose. It’s okay. I’ll get you out. I promise,” Javi hissed behind the door.
Hot tears pricked my eyes. “Did you know? Did you know he was going to do this?”
“No. I promise. I didn’t know. But I’m going to find a way to save you, I promise.”
I held up the picture of my mom and glared at it. This was her fault. I threw the picture down.
There had to be a way out. A way to escape everything. Movement caught my eye. The sword. Did it move… on its own?
I jumped to my feet as it floated toward me. What the?
The blade brightened and jerked to the right. Not enchanted, huh? Was it trying to lead me somewhere? My eyes followed its path, landing on a giant black book on my bed that I knew had not been there before. I stood before it, heart pounding in my ears. Did tía leave it for me?
I traced the large, silver lettering: Rosa.
My eyes widened. My mother’s. I opened it, surprised to find a hollowed compartment instead of pages. Inside was a single folded note.
I glanced at the sword. No longer glowing, it lay flat on the bed next to the letter. My breath hitched. With a shaky hand I picked up the paper and unfolded it.
My dear Rosita,
I wish I had more time. I wish I were with you now. I wish so many things.
Tears blurred my eyes. I blinked them away, steeling myself.
If the future is as I have seen it, you have lost both your father and I, and for that I am so sorry. We were supposed to be there for you, but I’m afraid I’ve failed in the worst way. What’s done cannot be undone. What happens next is up to you. There is too much to explain and not enough time as I write this. You deserve so much more than a letter, but it’s all I can do.
To break the blood promise, you must find the wizard. He’s your only hope. I don’t know where this letter will find you and I can only hope it’s at the home of your tío. He will want to help you, but he can’t. Find the wizard. You will have to track him down. Ask the wolves. Los Reyes. Be safe.
Love you,
Mama.
I reread it, a clash of emotions warring inside me. Be safe? Safe was the last thing I could be, and it was her fault. I did deserve more than a quick letter. Anger stirred in my chest. Crumpling the note in my fist, I blinked back the hot tears. There was so much more I needed to know and the unfairness of it all burned like a fire deep within me.
I needed you. I needed both of you.
Pushing away the anger and sorrow, I took a deep breath. Find the wizard. Okay. At least it was something to go on. I still had a chance to save myself. Hope flared in my chest.
Wasting no time, I replaced my fishnets and skirt with some sensible cargo pants and packed a bag with essentials.
I picked up my sword. “I hope you work on enchanted locks.”
It felt solid and cool in my grip and… comfortable as if it had been made for me all along. I didn’t know exactly how I would carry it and conceal it once I was out, but I wasn’t leaving it behind.
With a loud swish, it bolted for the locked balcony doors, pulling me with it. My eyes bulged as it glowed. The door burst into pieces, making me scramble back.
Well, that’s handy.
Footsteps pounded outside my bedroom. My heart slammed into my chest. I stepped over the shattered door and out onto the balcony. Cold air hit me. I threw my sword down over the ledge and watched as it landed, tip down into the grass below. My bedroom door flew open. I flung my leg over the railing and swallowed my fear as I hoisted myself over.
Sweat beaded my forehead. My knuckles whitened as I clung to the bottom of the rail.
“Rose!” Javi’s voice came from above.
I braced my boots along the wall and scanned the stucco for a hand hold. No such luck. I’d have to drop and pray I didn’t break any bones.
“Rose, what are you doing? You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“Then help me. I’m sure you know a chant,” I snapped.
My grip was loosening. Fear shot through me.
“How did you get out?”
“Magic sword.” My teeth clenched.
I was slipping and he wanted to play twenty questions?
“Don’t do this, Rose. You can’t do this.”
“I have to. I found a letter from my mom. She told me to… find someone who can help. With the blood promise.”
“What? That’s impossible. Rose, come back up before you fall.”
“Let me go, Javi. Please. I have to do this. Hurry, Javi. I’m slipping!”
My stomach jumped to my throat. I flailed in the air, trying to grab the wall. A jolt went through me as an invisible force struck me. It slowed my descent, landing me gently on the ground beside the sword.
<
br /> I looked up and met Javi’s eyes.
“Wait for me. I’m coming with you.”
I shook my head. “No, Javi. You can’t. The GRIMMs. You’d be in even more trouble.”
“I don’t care. You’re not going alone.”
His words made me smile. “I’ll be okay. Please, Javi. You can’t walk away from everything you’ve ever wanted and worked for. I won’t let you.”
Distress flashed across his face. “No, Rose.”
Picking up my sword, I gave him a reassuring nod though I didn’t know what it meant. Would I see him again? If I did, would we be enemies?
We stared at each other for a minute. I refused to say goodbye. I’d had enough of goodbyes in my life. Voices carried from inside the room, snapping me to attention.
“Go.” Javi’s words were soft and pained.
I turned away before he could see me tear up. Holding my mother’s sword, I ran. I ran and I didn’t look back. Slipping out of the front gates, I made it out just as they began to close. Someone slowed them for me. Javi.
Free. I was free.
The sky had lightened, morning on its way. I paused to breathe in the salty sweet air and began running. I didn’t know where I was going, but the sword pulsed, an invisible tug leading me, I hoped, to where I needed to be.
Find the wizard. He’s your only hope.
“Okay, Mom. I’ll do just that.”
With renewed strength, I pressed on. I would find a way to fix the mess my parents made. No one but me would decide my fate.
The End
Acknowledgments
Once again, I have to thank my editor at Cate Edits for her help, Kristin Masbaum from Moonlight Proofreading, and Open World Cover Design for my cover. Also my family for their never ending support. A special thanks to my husband who did a supreme job of keeping our crazy busy toddler entertained while I got the words in.
Lastly, I want to thank all the readers who took this journey with Rose and me. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review and if you didn’t enjoy it, I’d still love to know your thoughts. Thank you!
Vampires and Werewolves
Book Two
Copyright © 2020 by R. L. Medina, Moon Dragon Publishing
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For my parents who chose me to be a part of their family, loved me, raised me, and continue to support me at the ripe age of thirty. Without watching you go after your dreams and work endlessly to achieve them, I would never have been brave or strong enough to chase my own dreams.
1
This doesn’t look right. I gave my magical sword a shake as if that would help. Maybe the thing was broken. I groaned, swiping the beads of sweat from my brow. My feet were numb and my whole body worn past exhaustion from the long walk. Worse, I didn’t have time to pack food during my escape and my stomach continued to protest—loudly.
Pushing away the visions of my tía’s amazing cooking and the gourmet buffet back at the academy, I looked up at the giant iron gates and white stucco wall that surrounded what I could only imagine was a giant ass Malibu mansion.
I glanced at the silver blade in my hand. “What are we doing here?”.
It wasn’t glowing anymore or pulling me along. Did that mean we’d arrived? Somehow the giant silver crowns on the front gates didn’t scream wizard, but they did say royalty.
Los Reyes. The Kings. They were the clue to finding the wizard my mom claimed was my only chance out of the blood promise.
A promise made in blood cannot be undone.
I shivered at the memory of the message the witches left me. What the Luna Negra coven wanted with me, I didn’t exactly know, but I didn’t want to find out. My tío warned they would find me if I left. So far, so good. Tío was psycho. He tried to lock me up, claiming he was the only one who could protect me from the witches obsessed with tracking me down.
My eyes snagged on the thin, pale line around my wrist. The compulsion bracelet was gone now, but the memory of it still burned. I’d been their puppet, forced to play the charade of dutiful GRIMM. Though I hated being compelled to attend their school and listen to their dogma of monster hunting duties, it wasn’t all terrible. Despite my circumstances, I’d made friends—Shiloh, Brady, and Grayson.
His blue-gray eyes filled my thoughts. Was he okay after my Tío wiped his memory? Did he even remember me at all?
What would he think when I didn’t show up for class? He’d promised to help me escape my tío’s hold, but he didn’t know who I really was. That my mom was a traitor to the GRIMM, leaving them to join the Luna Negra coven.
Would he still want to help me if he knew the truth? I shook away the thoughts. It didn’t matter.
The only one who could help me now was this mysterious wizard. I just had to find him first.
I stared up at the silver crowns on the gate.
Los Reyes.
I scoffed. The Kings. Pretentious much? They also happened to be wolves—werewolves.
Witnessing my father’s killer transform into a jaguar shifter, not to mention the other shifter attacks, made me a little hesitant to come face to face with another beast. Even with the super sword my mom left for me, I wouldn’t stand a chance against a whole pack of them.
What I needed was a sidekick or an army. My cousin Javi’s face flashed in my mind, making my heart twist. Would Tío blame him for my escape?
A loud horn sounded behind me, making me jump. I backed up against the gate as a fancy blue sports car came barreling toward me.
The window rolled down, revealing an unsmiling, brown, masculine face with a black crew cut, chin stubble, and dark sunglasses. A strong odor of liquor wafted from his car, making my nose wrinkle.
“This is private property. Get the hell out of here,” came his gruff voice.
My eyebrow arched. Wasn’t he just charming?
He blared the horn again, the sound deafening and obnoxious. I gripped my sword and stood my ground, though my heart skipped. He wouldn’t run me over, would he?
“Let her in, Lucian,” a deep voice drawled from some hidden speaker.
The driver’s lip curled at me. “She has a sword, Raf.”
“Yes, I can see that. Let her in.”
Growling, the man waved me forward as the gates opened. I frowned as he zoomed around me, leaving me to walk up the winding driveway.
Ass.
My pulse quickened as I collected my thoughts. I really hope you were right about this, Mom. From what I remembered from my brief time at GRIMM Academy, werewolves almost always came in packs and packs could easily be over twenty wolves. My stomach knotted. I instinctively patted my jeans pocket for my phone, but it wasn’t there. I’d left it behind when I ran so no one could track me.
No one knew where I was, or what I was about to do. That was a frightening thought. My mind played out scenarios I’d seen on all the crime docs I’d watched before. Shuddering, I pushed away the mental images and steeled myself.
I have a sword. I know some chants. I’ll be fine.
The jerk stood outside his car, big arms folded across his massive chest. His unbuttoned white dress shirt showed off way more of his brown skin and dark hair than I wanted to see. Judging by his sour expression, odor de liquor, and his wrinkled clothes, he’d had a worse night than I had. Or maybe it had been really good—too good.
He stared at me, lips flattened, and though I couldn’t see his eyes behind the giant shades, I envisioned them narrowed at me in suspicion.
I swallowed my fear and tried to match his confident demeanor. “So, you gonna let me in or are we just gonna keep standing here staring at each other?”
He grunted. “You gonna give me your name or you gonna just keep gawking at me?”
H
eat rushed across my face. “I’m not the one gawking. You are.”
“No. You’re like what sixteen?”
My cheeks flushed. “Seventeen.”
“What do you want, kid? Who sent you?”
I bristled at his patronizing tone. “Who are you? Are you the alpha?”
He frowned. “Is this some kind of prank? You from the GRIMM school?”
I sucked in a breath. How did he know?
“When I said to let her in, I meant into the house, Lucian,” the deep voice from the speaker interrupted.
“Sorry, Alpha.”
My eyes widened as another man joined us, appearing out of nowhere. He wore expensive looking slacks and a dress shirt, his muscular frame barely contained in the tight fit. Dark curls framed a clean-shaven face. His smile was too perfect, and though his brown eyes looked warm and friendly, my GRIMM instincts kicked in, warning me not to drop my guard. I couldn’t see the werewolf side of him, but I could tell there was something… off. Something different. Is that how the sight worked?
“I’m Rafael. Rafael Peña and you are?” His gaze flicked to my sword, which I continued to hold up as a barrier between us.
I didn’t miss the amused smirk as it flashed across his face.
“Rose.”
The wolves glanced at each other, making the hairs on my neck bristle. Did they recognize the name? Did they know who my mom was?
“Come inside.” Rafael spoke first.
His unwavering smile made my palms sweat. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons with the notorious big, bad wolf from all the fairytales I’d read before. If the other stories were true, were those as well?
Lucian, the slightly bigger of the two, motioned me past him. Ignoring my heart as it tried to fly out of my chest, I walked by him.
The entrance was nothing like what I’d picture a wolf living in. Their house was modern, sleek… tasteful even. It was something I expected to see on the cover of some realtor magazine. Malibu’s most prized mansions. The room was filled with crisp, clean lines and metal and glass décor. Dashes of royal blue mixed with the cream white and light gray color scheme.