Fire and Beauty

by Willow Rose

  "So, he said there was going to be a second date, huh?" she asked when coming into the kitchen.

  I nodded without looking up from the laptop where I was doing my algebra. It was the third time she had asked.

  "Oh, my baby and a real Pritchard, my baby girl becoming part of the Pritchard family. I can hardly believe it."

  "It's not like he’s asked me to marry him," I said, groaning, hating the way she pronounced the name, almost singing it.

  My mom's eyes glistened. "Yet!"

  I rolled my eyes. "You're acting ridiculous, Mom."

  She snorted and went to the sink, then froze when she looked out the window.

  "What's wrong, Mom?" I asked.

  "He's out there again."

  I got up and walked to her. In the street, I spotted Mr. Aran. He had stopped in front of Jazmine's house and was looking at it; then he walked up into the driveway where a flock of birds had camped in the tree and on the lawn.

  "What is he doing? The Jeffersons aren't home," my mom said.

  "Who is he, Mom?" I asked, wondering why she was so afraid of him.

  She shook her head and looked away. "Oh, it's nothing for you to worry about, sweetie. Go do your work."

  "Is he an investigator?" I asked.

  My mom looked up like she remembered something. "Yes. That's what he is. He's here because of the killings, you know…the wolf. He’s looking for it. He's trying to find the wolf."

  "Then why isn't he searching in the park?" I asked. "That is, after all, where they were both killed?"

  My mom was no longer listening; she was staring out the window again like she was making a big decision. Mr. Aran was taking pictures of the birds in Jazmine's yard, and then of the house.

  "What's that? No, I…two birds with one…"

  She was mumbling, and I didn't understand. Suddenly, her face cleared up and she looked at me, smiling her creepiest smile. The look on her face made me shudder, and I returned to my work, while my mother rushed to her office.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  School felt longer than usual. Jazmine didn't listen much to what the teacher was saying. She felt stirred up inside somehow, like a burning in her body that wouldn't cease. At lunch, she took off her sweater even though everyone else was freezing and complaining that the school was saving too much on heating. Jazmine felt like she was burning up.

  "Are you okay there, Jaz?" Amy asked her while unwrapping her meatloaf that she had prepared herself the night before.

  "I just…I feel…is it hot in here?" Jazmine asked.

  Amy shook her head. "Not even the least bit. It's freezing. Everyone else is wearing jackets. Right, Jayden?"

  Jayden wasn't listening.

  "What's with you today?" Amy asked him. "Your mind is completely lost. Didn't you sleep well or something? Or are you just thinking about Robyn, as usual?"

  Jayden answered with a deep sigh.

  Amy returned to her conversation with Jazmine. "Robyn it is, then. Anyway, maybe you're coming down with something?"

  "I sure hope not," Jazmine said and ate her sandwich. She didn't feel sick at all. On the contrary, she felt very energetic almost like she could explode and run around the building for hours.

  What was going on?

  "I think I…" she got up and left the table. Amy and Jayden stared at her. "I need to go to the ladies’ room."

  "Are you sure I shouldn't take you home?" Amy asked.

  "No. No. I’m fine. I just need to…you know…"

  Amy sat back down, probably thinking Jazmine just had her period or something female.

  Jazmine rushed down the hall and into the restroom, where she pushed a girl aside who was putting on make-up. Jazmine splashed water on her face to cool herself down, while the girl snorted angrily at her.

  "I was here first, you know."

  Jazmine ignored her and kept splashing water on her face and soon she felt better. She looked up at her face in the mirror and, as she did, she realized her eyes had once again changed. Inside of them, she spotted small flames. It was like they were on fire and so were her nails.

  "Cool," she said and held them up in the light.

  The girl from earlier stared at her, then snorted again. "Weirdo."

  Jazmine paid no attention to her and kept staring at her eyes and nails as the girl left. Jazmine chuckled, wondering what the fire meant. Did it literally mean she was on fire? ‘Cause that's how she felt.

  "Classes are about to start," Amy said, poking her head in. "You done?"

  "Sure," Jazmine said and left her reflection, giving her eyes one last glance, then walked into the hallway where her friends were waiting. The second she stepped outside, some guy came running down the hall and bumped into her. He knocked Jazmine on her back, her books scattering all over the floor. Jazmine growled angrily, then looked at the guy. He was wearing a Shady Bats team jacket, and he was grinning from ear to ear.

  "Watch where you're going!" he said, laughing. "Bitch."

  Jazmine didn't know where the rage came from; she was usually so calm and collected, but somehow, she couldn't control it. There was nothing she hated more in the world than being called the b-word. She rose to her feet without even using her arms for help. She simply floated up. The jock stared at her, eyes wide. In his hand, he was holding a juice carton and its contents had spilled on Jazmine, staining her shirt. She stared at the carton for less than a second when its contents started to bubble, and the carton moved between his fingers—like the juice inside was boiling—and then it exploded, splashing the rest of the juice all over on him. The carton fell to the floor and burst into flames.

  "What the…?" he screamed with a high-pitched voice.

  Amy moved fast. She stepped on the fire on the ground and the flames died out underneath her boot. She then grabbed Jazmine by the arm and pulled her away, Jayden following them closely, leaving the jock alone in the hallway, staring at the black burnt spot on the floor below him.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  What the heck was that?"

  Amy glanced at Jazmine. They had walked outside the school building. Jazmine was looking at her hands and especially her nails. She no longer felt like she was on fire and the flames were gone from her nails.

  "Hello? Jazmine? Explanation, please?"

  Jayden came closer. "How did you even do that? You set that juice box on fire! The look on that guy's face was priceless."

  Jazmine shook her head. "I …I don't know. Seriously, guys. I have no idea what's going on with me lately. First, the animals chasing me everywhere, now this?"

  Amy looked pensively, biting her lip. "Witchcraft," she said.

  "What?" Jazmine asked.

  "What are you talking about?" Jayden said.

  Amy threw out her arms. "It's the only name I know for this type of thing. Magic. Witches. Stuff like that."

  Jazmine swallowed. She couldn't believe what Amy was saying. "Are you saying that I am…I am somehow…?"

  Amy nodded, heavily. "A witch, yes."

  Jazmine looked to Jayden for help. She wondered about what she had seen in the attic the night before. Her parents doing some strange ritual with the book. It suddenly made a lot of sense.

  "So, let me get this straight. Robyn's family are vampires, yours are werewolves and mine are…witches?"

  Amy nodded. "It's the only explanation I can come up with. Which leaves me as the only normal kid around here."

  "Wow," Jazmine said and stared at her nails once again. Then she remembered the word she had read in the book and repeated the night before. "Incendia,” she said. "Incendia."

  "What?"

  "Incendia."

  As she said it the third time, her nails once again flamed. Jazmine gasped and showed them to Amy and Jayden. "Look. If I say the word three times, this happens."

  "Woah," Jayden said. "What does it mean?"

  "Your eyes are on fire too," Amy said.

  "I think it means I can set stuff on fire," Jazmine said. "It's
like loading a gun."

  She stared at a small ant hill beneath her, willing the fire to arise, and soon flames emerged from it. Once again, Amy was quick with her boot to kill it.

  "You gotta be careful with this stuff," she said.

  Jazmine nodded. "I know." Still, she couldn't stop smiling.

  "It totally makes sense," Jayden said. "You did that thing to Adrian in the park when he was about to bite Robyn, remember?"

  Amy gasped. "Yes. Jayden's right. You were totally in control of him. You're powerful, girl."

  Jazmine smiled again. She was powerful? She had never felt strong before, not like this. It was slightly intoxicating.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Tell me where Melanie Peterson is."

  I was sitting in my room and hadn't heard my mom approach. I gasped and turned to look. She was staring at me, her eyes ablaze.

  "I know you have her," she said.

  "What?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

  "Don't lie to me, Robyn."

  "I’m not…why…what are you talking about?"

  "You're hiding her, aren't you?"

  I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest. "N-no. Why would you say that?"

  My mother's eyes were scrutinizing me. "You're keeping stuff from me. You have secrets and I don't like it."

  She walked closer, then placed a long nail on the tip of my nose, letting it run down my skin.

  "I am not," I said. "I’m doing my schoolwork."

  "But the question is where…where could you be hiding her?"

  "I don't even know…"

  "Stop lying to me, Robyn."

  I swallowed hard, looking at my mother. I felt like crying. What was I going to do? How did she even know I had anything to do with Melanie? My mind kept racing for answers when it came to me like a flash of light.

  Adrian!

  Adrian was dating Jazmine and she must have told him something. Was he their spy? Was that why he was dating her?

  "Just tell me where she is," my mom said, running her nail down my face. "She's a killer, Robyn. She needs to be punished for what she has done. She belongs behind bars. She's a danger to all of us as long as she is out there, roaming."

  "I…I really don't know," I said.

  My mom stared at me for a very long time, and I felt sweat prickle on my upper lip. Was this it? There was no way out of it, was there? I had to come clean because she already knew. How much had Jazmine told him? How much did she know?

  My mother's face relaxed and she burst into laughter, holding me by the chin. "Nah, I’m just testing you, my dear, and you passed. Good job, my girl. And remember, I will always know if you're lying to me. A mother can tell."

  She let go of my chin and I fell back into the chair with a relieved sigh. My mom left the room, laughing.

  "You should have seen yourself, Robyn. All flustered and Oh, No, I don't know anything, ha-ha. You're so easy."

  She turned in the doorway and looked at me. "But if you do know anything about Melanie Peterson's whereabouts, I trust you'll bring it to me, okay? And mercy on your soul if I find out that you have known all this time and never said anything. Lord have mercy on your poor soul."

  And then she left.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The truck roared as Amy drove it into her driveway. She had a few minutes to make sure Melanie got something to eat before meeting with the others by the lake. Hopefully, they would be able to come up with a solution for Melanie, if not today, then soon. Amy's parents would be gone two more days and wanted her gone by the time they got back.

  "I'm home!" Amy yelled as she entered. She felt a small pinch in her heart. She enjoyed having someone to come home to. She loved the fact that Melanie was in the house and she loved cooking for her. Melanie could easily make her own food, but Amy liked to take care of her and coming home to a house that wasn't empty made her feel less lonely. As a matter of fact, she hadn't felt lonely at all while Melanie had lived with her. It was the first time in her life.

  "Mel?"

  No answer. Amy threw her backpack on the floor and walked into the living room, then looked up the stairs. "Mel? I'm home. Are you hungry?"

  Amy walked into the kitchen and pulled out some bread she had baked the night before and cut a few pieces, then started to make a sandwich. Melanie was usually starving by the time Amy came home from school, and they would eat together. Usually, Amy had more time, but she had promised to meet with the others at the lake, so she hurried up and made two sandwiches, then put them on the breakfast counter.

  "Mel? I don't have all day."

  Amy took a bite, then grabbed a soda from the fridge and opened it. She let out a sigh, thinking about how much she was going to miss having Melanie around. Everything was going to go back to how it used to be, back to how it was before Melanie, and she wasn't sure she was very fond of that idea. It was one thing when it had always been that way, but now that she had experienced this…experienced having someone to come home to, it felt like she couldn't go back. The loneliness nagged in her stomach and overwhelmed her with sadness. It was always with her, it always lingered somewhere inside of her, but lately, with Melanie in the house, she had been able to keep it at bay.

  "Melanie? I’m going to be late!"

  Amy ate more of her sandwich, wondering if Melanie was still in the basement. Usually, she went up into the house during the day when Amy's parents weren't home, which was most days. She would watch TV or go on Amy's computer in her room. Now and then, Amy would come back and find her in the backyard, walking around in circles, restless, but Amy had told her to stay indoors just to be safe. Robyn's mother had eyes everywhere in the neighborhood.

  She's probably still in the shelter, too worried about being seen to leave it.

  Amy looked at her watch, took another bite of her sandwich, then walked down the stairs, holding the plate with Melanie's food in her small hands.

  "Melanie? I made a sandwich for you?"

  Amy walked to the shelter. The door was open. When Melanie still didn't answer, Amy felt a slight worry grow big in her stomach. She walked into the shelter but found it empty. She sighed, concerned when she spotted a note on the bed.

  "Oh, Melanie, what have you done?"

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  I was still sweating with anxiety as I jogged toward the lake. Jayden arrived a few seconds later. I heard him put his bike down. I knew we had a few minutes alone before the others would arrive. Jazmine usually drove home with Adrian, and they had to do their thing first, and Amy went to check on Melanie and grab something to eat.

  Our eyes locked as he approached me. I could feel my heart rushing in my chest. Was he angry with me? Was he crushed? Would we be all right?

  "Jayden…I…" I said as he came closer.

  He seemed out of sorts. I couldn't blame him. His eyes were searching mine desperately.

  "I only went out with him to please my mother," I continued. "I know I promised that I would never see him again, but my mother arranged it. She called his mother and told him that I wanted to…there wasn't much I could do…you know how my mother…"

  I didn't get to finish the sentence before Jayden grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into a deep kiss. Startled by this move, I gasped and kissed him back. His warm lips felt so good on top of mine and made all my worrying go away. Only for a second or two, but it still felt nice to let go for just a little bit.

  "Wow," I said when his lips left mine. "That was quite unexpected. I thought…you would be angry with me?"

  He sighed. "I was. I was furious, actually. But then…I realized your parents set you up. Just like…"

  He let go of me, then moved away. This was odd behavior. "Jayden? What's going on?"

  "I…I don't know how to tell you this."

  This didn't sound good. This was alarming, to say the least. Fear lingered in my stomach and threatened to explode.

  "Tell me, Jayden, you're scaring me."

  He turn
ed around and kissed me again. I closed my eyes. He held my face between his hands when he spoke.

  "I am engaged."

  The blood literally froze in my veins. I pulled away.

  "You're what?"

  He exhaled. "Betrothed, they say. I’m supposed to marry some girl. It's been planned for me since I was born. I have no say in it. You must believe me, Robyn. This is all my parents' doing. Marrying this girl—that I have no idea who she is—is going to make me the leader of our pack. I don't know what to do."

  "And let me guess, all this is going to happen when you turn eighteen, right? They make a werewolf out of you and then marry you off to this girl?"

  He nodded. A sensation of pure devastation rolled over me. It wasn't just my parents trying to meddle with mine and Jayden's love. It was also his.

  I shook my head. "We'll fight this. I am not giving up. You hear me, Jayden? Once we turn eighteen, we'll run away. We'll stay human and marry each other. We'll go somewhere where they won't find us. They can't make us do this, Jayden. Not once we’re adults. They can't do it."

  "I hope you're right," he said. "I sure hope you're right."

  He put his arms around me and hugged me when I spotted Jazmine approaching in the distance.

  "Where's Amy?" Jazmine asked when she came up to us.

  I looked around to see if she was approaching somewhere in the distance, but I couldn't see her.

  "She's the one who wanted us to meet, so she better show up," Jazmine said, annoyed.

  "What's with your eyes?" I asked, looking at her almost yellow eyes.

  Jayden smiled. "We should tell her."

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Wow. Just wow."

  It was all I could say after Jazmine told me what had happened at school earlier today and then even showed it to me by setting a branch on the ground on fire.

  "It's pretty cool, right?" Jazmine said.

  "Also, extremely dangerous," I said. "Do you know how to control it?"