Come to me.
I’d heard the words inside my head. It seemed crazy, but I couldn’t deny it. I tried to think of something else though. Anything else. Like the day I saved Snow’s mother. Flying on Abernathy’s back. Using my spell book for the first time. Thinking about Gabe and I together—kissing him, loving him. The way he loved me. Nothing worked for long. But thinking about Gabe did make me hot for him.
I looked at the clock. Ten thirty. Melissa filled the catsup containers at another table. She still had a few left.
Finished, I pulled off my apron, checked myself out at the till and walked over to Melissa. “You working tomorrow?”
She glanced up. Her face was tired, some of her mascara smeared. “You know it.” She wiped off a catsup container and set it on the table. “I’m beat.”
“Me too.” I patted her back.
“See ya.” She waved as she moved to the next table.
Outside, the night air was thick with heat. Summer in Salem could be sweltering. I unbuttoned my vest and took it off. Unlocking my car door, I tossed my apron and vest inside and then slid in. Inside the car was a little cooler. The engine turned over and the lights flicked on. I shut the door and glanced up.
“Holy merde!” Leo stood in front of my car, his perfectly shaped form outlined by the lights. Streetlamps shone overhead and it was easy to see his dimpled smile. I took a deep breath and put the car in park. It’s always the ones that are too good looking for their own good, I thought. “Creepy stalker.”
I released the brake and the car moved forward. Leo didn’t move. I braked.
“Get out of the way.” I shouted at him through the windshield.
His smile got bigger.
“Fine!” I pushed on the gas and my Altima lurched forward. I braked, worried I’d hit the guy, but he vanished. “What the hell? Did I hit him?” I hadn’t felt the car hit anything, but I jumped out of the car and ran toward the front. Leo wasn’t there. I ran to the side and got on my hands and knees to see if he was somehow underneath. Nothing but paved road.
“Cinderella.”
I quickly rose and spun around, a stunning spell on my lips. If he thought he could mess with me, he better think again. He didn’t know who the hell he was dealing with. But there was no one there.
“Revealith,” I whispered. The spell would force him to appear.
And he did. His long legs, housed in faded jeans, sauntered forward. He still had that damn dimpled smile on his face.
“What are you trying to pull? How dare you scare me like that?” I breathed heavily, both relieved and angry to see he was okay.
“Your magic is impressive. Most times I can resist such a simple spell, but with you I couldn’t.” As he spoke he stepped closer. “Or maybe I didn’t want to,” he added, his eyes glittering mischievously in the light.
“I-I…” Magic wasn’t something I threw around. Just about everyone but Snow was uncomfortable with it, including my parents. My aunt didn’t mind, but I didn’t see her much. “Thanks,” I finally got out.
Leo was so close the tips of our shoes touched. My heart raced erratically. I was torn between running, lighting his hair on fire with a spell, and seeing just what the hell he would do next. When I’d been near him in the restaurant I didn’t get a sense of magic, but I could see his aura plainly now. He must’ve cloaked his power somehow.
“Who are you?” I finally asked.
He lifted his hand and an orb of magic flickered at his fingers. My breath sucked in. He dared to show me his magic, and out in public.
“You shouldn’t—”
“Shhhhh,” he breathed, and the orb grew until I could see within.
There was a castle, flags flying from each point. Beautiful landscape surrounded it. And it was circled in water. As the orb grew I stepped back so I wouldn’t touch it. Leo brought it between us. Six moons shown in various colors, gently lighting everything: cottages, cities, and farmland, mountains, valleys, and large bodies of water. When it finally stopped growing it was the size of a beach ball. Around the edges were gray mists, some darker than others. “What’s that?” I asked, pointing.
“The Sickness,” Leo said, his voice quiet, almost reverent.
“What’s wrong?” Without him telling me I knew the world within the orb was Polonias.
“She’s dying.” He looked at me, his beautiful eyes sad. “She needs your help, Cinderella.”
“No.” I stepped back. My legs bumped against the front of my car. Not him too. “Did Quilla send you?”
He shook his head. “I’ve come on behalf of the land of Polonias to ask you, respectfully, for your help.”
Even though I knew the land was Polonias, hearing him say the word aloud racked my body with shock waves.
“I can’t.” An uncontrollable terror made my body shake. I carefully stepped around the car and opened the driver’s side door. “Please leave me alone.”
Leo’s face fell. The orb vanished. “I’ll never stop trying.” His words were fierce, and I knew without a doubt I’d see him again. At the conviction that radiated from him I almost wavered. Almost. But I shook my head.
Leo stepped to the side, his posture proud, his chin lifted.
Yeah, I’d see him again. At the thought my heart rocked with excitement. “Merde.” I needed to see Gabe.
Gabe
Gabe showed up at my window ten minutes after I was in my pajamas. I wore silk shorts and a matching spaghetti strap tank. I needed him. And I wanted him to take my mind off everything that’d happened the past day and a half. No more thinking about Quilla, or a land called Polonias, or a gorgeous guy with dimples.
Plus, my favorite thing in the world to do was kiss Gabe.
He seemed to understand exactly what I wanted. As soon as I closed the window, he pulled off his shirt and kissed me, his lips parting mine, his tongue exploring my mouth. Deepening the kiss. His hands caressed the skin under my tank. I pressed into him, enjoying the feel of his ripped stomach muscles against me.
“Take off your boots,” I whispered when he let me up for air. A hint of annoyance flickered across his face, but he pulled them off, unbuttoned his jeans. I slid to the middle of my bed.
“Luminous,” I commanded and hundreds of stars glittered around my bedroom, so it looked like the night sky.
Gabe glanced around. “Nice touch.” He climbed on the bed, placing one knee between my thighs. I spread them apart, grabbing at his hips.
“I want you, Gabe.”
“I’m here,” he answered, pressing his body down.
His lips brushed mine softly. I wrapped my legs around his hips and lifted toward him. “Gabe, take off your pants.”
I felt his body stiffen. “Slow down. What’s your hurry?” He asked. His emerald green eyes searched mine. It was easy to see he had something on his mind. He pushed my top up and kissed my stomach, his tongue flicking at the heart stud in my belly button.
A wave of heat swirled through my belly and thighs. I grabbed hold of his shoulders and held my breath as he kissed a hot trail along my waist and up my sternum. When I tried to take off my top, he stopped me.
“Don’t. I’ve got to go.”
I was shocked. “What do you mean? You just got here. I thought we were going to…” My eyes roamed his body. I knew he wanted to.
He uttered a curse and stood. “I have a meeting.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes as he pulled on his shirt and slid on his boots.
“Did I do something?” I sat up, confused. He seemed so into us a second ago, hot for me. Then he was cold as Alaska in January. “Why didn’t you tell me when you got here?” I worked not to sound whiny, but it wasn’t working. That made me angry, because I liked him. More than liked. I loved him.
Kneeling, I walked on my knees across the bed. My tank was askew, flashing cleavage.
Gabe’s eyes trailed my body. Lingered on my chest. Reluctantly, his green eyes found mine. I couldn’t help but smile. He wanted me. Every ounce of his body sp
oke of his need. For me. That was what I wanted. I was his. Always. At least that was the plan.
But something was wrong.
Instead of taking what I offered, he turned. “I’ll see you.”
Tears welled and tricked down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them, but angrily wiped them away. When we first started dating I promised I wouldn’t use magic on him, and I intended to keep the promise. But at that moment I changed my mind. I had to know what was wrong. “Abreva Reveala.”
His body jerked at the words. A pained look crossed his face. “Don’t, Cindy. Whatever magics you’ve placed on me. No good will come of it.”
I wasn’t having it. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
His shoulders slumped and he fell into one of my chairs. “Fine. Since I don’t have a choice.” He glared, and I momentarily thought of removing the spell.
“Please, Gabe. I’m your girlfriend. You should be able to tell me anything.” I knelt in front of him, placed my hands on his knees.
He gritted his teeth. “I don’t love you anymore. Happy now?” He grinned, but it wasn’t one of joy or happiness.
I fell back like he’d slapped me. “You’re lying. I don’t believe you.”
He stood quickly. “I can’t lie. Your spell won’t let me. Right? Right?” Gabe towered over me, and for the first time I saw a hint of his father in him.
I covered my mouth with the back of my hand. Fresh tears rolled down my face.
“You promised you’d never do that. You lied. I don’t ever want to see you again.” Gabe’s face was red with rage.
Cowering, I turned on my hands and knees and slunk away. “Get out of here,” I shouted. My body shook with sobs and I buried my face in my blankets. How could he? It had to be a lie. But why? I wanted to ask him, but I heard the window open and he was gone.
Snow White
My first thought after I slammed my window shut was that I needed to talk to my best friend, Snow. Taking a deep breath, I went to my bathroom and took in my reflection. My eyes were red and swollen. Haunted. Shocked. Horrified. At the memory, more tears fell.
“Mirror. Mirror. Made of glass. Show me Snow, do as I ask.”
Before I left Sharra, I enchanted all of Snow’s mirrors and promised her I’d do the same to mine so we could always keep in touch, especially since cell service didn’t exist in Sharra. The way it worked was whichever mirror was closest would cause me to appear and vice versa.
My reflection wavered back and forth until I vanished. In its place was a darkened room. I could hear kissing noises.
Damn. Snow and Dorian are doing it, I thought allowing myself a moment to gross out. The polite thing would’ve been to say the words that would stop the magic, but I was desperate.
“Snow.” I cleared my throat. “Snow. Um, sorry, but I need to talk to you.”
I heard Snow giggle. Dorian cursed. My ears started to burn.
“I said I was sorry,” I mumbled.
Someone got out of bed. It was Snow. She quickly slid on a robe, flipped on a light, and scooted a chair in front of the mirror.
“Hey Cin.” She sounded tired, but happy.
“Hi,” I responded, trying not to act embarrassed. She looked beautiful. Being the Vampire Queen suited her. She wore a deep burgundy robe, and her long black hair was in a mussed braid.
“I thought we decided not to speak to each other after eleven o’clock. You know, for certain reasons.” She glanced back at the bed. “I’m married now, you know.”
“Yeah, and I can’t keep my hands off her,” Dorian growled.
“I know but I really need to-talk-to-you.” I force out the words between hiccupped sobs.
“I’ll give you two some time alone,” Dorian said. He disappeared into their bathroom.
“Oh my gosh, Cindy. What’s the matter? What happened?” She touched the mirror and I instinctively leaned in.
“It’s Gabe,” I wailed, grabbing a tissue and blowing my nose. “I used a spell on him, and he says he doesn’t love me and I have a fairy godmother, and I might not even be from this planet.” My shoulders shook as all the stuff that’d been building up overwhelmed me.
“Hold it. One thing at a time,” she cooed softly.
I took a deep breath.
“Tell me about Gabe.”
I told her about the spell and how angry he got. I told her what he said and how he left. “It just can’t be. I don’t believe it.” I pressed my hand against the mirror. “Help me, Snow. Tell me what to do.”
Snow sighed heavily, flicked her bangs from her eyes. “First, I don’t think spells work on the chayot. At least, not unless it’s a really, really powerful one. He probably was lying.”
I sniffled. “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”
“Did it help?”
“A little.” I grabbed a new tissue and dabbed my eyes.
Snow cleared her throat. “I think I might know what’s going on…” She trailed off, looked away.
“Snow, tell me.”
She nodded. “You know chayot are like angels—”
I blew out my breath. “Yeah, I know. So?”
Snow folded her feet under her seat. Readjusted her robe. It was obvious what she had to say was huge. I ground my teeth. Waited. But it nearly killed me. “It seems the Big Guy upstairs has demanded that the chayot no longer date, marry, or have relations with a being that isn’t chayot.” She cleared her throat again. “I’m sorry he didn’t tell you himself, but when he told me he seemed devastated by the news.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I slapped my forehead. That explained everything. The reasons why he acted like he wanted me one second and was an ass the next.
The weight that’d been crushing my heart lifted. A little.
“He asked me not to. Said he wanted to do it himself. But I figure since he was a total jerk to you he can suck it.”
“Glad you told me. Not that it helps my situation, but at least I know why.”
“Yeah, it’s stupid, and who knows how long it’ll last. I think,” she coughed, “it might be slightly my fault.” She lifted her thumb and first finger together.
“How?” I asked. Absently, I said the word to have my brush run its soft bristles through my hair. It was soothing.
“Well, I freed all magical creatures. Remember?”
I nodded. That I did remember. Right after the old Vampire Queen was no longer in power and Snow was.
Snow went on. “A lot of them have left Sharra and are roaming Earth the way they did thousands of years ago. It’s caused a few problems.”
I raised my eyebrows in question. “A few?”
“Ugh, okay a lot. And that’s probably why the chayot and the Big Guy are freaking out. Their first priority on Earth is humans, and some of the creatures may be inadvertently putting human lives in danger.”
“So what you’re saying is you didn’t think the decision through, did you?” I commanded the brush to stop and then put my hair in a ponytail.
“Yeah, I may have to go back on my promise and make the magical creatures return to Sharra.” She took a deep breath. “Ruling is hard.” She grimaced.
“Yeah, I bet.” Her words remind me of Quilla and Leo, and their request that I go to Polonias. “Have you heard of a land called Polonias?” I blurted.
Her features darkened. “Why?” She pulled her hair from its braid.
“I’ve talked to a couple of people from there. One claims to be my fairy godmother. The other…” I let the sentence drop as Leo’s electric blue eyes and perfect dimples entered my mind.
“A prince named Leo?” Snow finished.
“He’s a prince?” I was shocked, but it wasn’t surprising. The way he carried himself. His confidence.
Snow’s fangs grew and suddenly Dorian was behind her, stroking her shoulders. “He’s a pretentious pain in the nether regions. Whatever he has to say is either a lie or a ploy so he can get something he wants.”
“He showed me the land
of Polonias. Said it was dying and that I’m supposed to somehow save it. What should I do?” I shrugged; slightly jealous of the way Dorian was stroking Snow’s back.
“Tell him to go to hell and leave you alone.”
“Sheesh, tell me how you really feel.”
Snow stood and Dorian’s arms surrounded her. “You can do what you want, of course. You always do, but I’m not a fan of Leolas.”
“Leo-las? Is that his full name?”
“Yes,” she spat the word disgustedly.
“But what about the world? Professor Pops said it isn’t like part of Earth.” I wouldn’t admit that was the most shocking part. That it was different than Sharra because it wasn’t part of Earth.
Snow stepped from Dorian’s arms. Grabbed both sides of the mirror and looked directly at me. “I’m a vampire, the Vampire Queen. I have fangs, for crying out loud. We’re friends with a dragon, and Dorian has become,” she looked back at him, and a sad smile formed on her lips, “something. We aren’t sure what yet. There’s a little vampire girl running about, growing faster than should be physically possible and I’ve released magical creatures upon the humans of the Earth. The fact that Polonias isn’t part of Earth is probably a good thing and should be the least of your worries.” She stepped back. “In our world of weird, knowing another world is inhabited by creatures similar to us is nothing.”
Laughter bubbled from my chest and exploded out with more force than the tears had. I held my sides as tears of joy leaked down my face. “You are so right. It’s nothing. Just another new and different twist to our crazy lives.”
Snow laughed with me. “I know. Just when we think it can’t get weirder, it does.”
Dorian joined in. “This is all great and fun, but can Snow and I get back to bed? I have unfinished business with the Vampire Queen.” His words were sultry, filled with innuendo, and I couldn’t help the slight blush that rose to my cheeks.
Snow and I stopped at once.
The Cindy Chronicles: The Complete Set Page 3