It wasn’t necessarily pain that I felt, but it was still odd, like cold water hitting my stomach when it was empty. I tried shaking my arm and even extended my fangs and tried to bite it out of me, but the piece of crown would not be deterred.
“Does it hurt? Are you okay?”
Laeddin seemed especially distraught. He even used some of his magic to make it come out.
“It isn’t painful, it’s just freaky.” By that time it’d reached my shoulder and began moving along my collarbone, up my neck, and past my cheekbone. When it reached my eye, there was a flash of red and white light, but only for the briefest second before it settled in the center of my forehead.
I touched the spot where it stopped and could feel each of the individual stones, but only for a moment before it seemed to melt into me and vanish.
“It’s gone,” Laeddin said, when I couldn’t feel it anymore.
I removed my fingers and dropped them to my sides and then fell to my knees, suddenly so exhausted I couldn’t move.
“Princess? Jasmine?”
“One down. Four more to go,” I said, feeling myself fall forward. My cheek smacked the wet, smelly dirt, but I didn’t have the strength to move. I couldn’t even keep my eyes open.
“I’ve got you.”
I hoped he did, because I needed him.
Thirteen
I don’t know for how long I slept, but when I woke it was light outside. Birds sang happily in the trees beside my house. That wasn’t the loudest noise though. There was a purring and it seemed to be coming from inside my head. I opened my eyes and searched my room for the source.
Rather quickly I realized Gatsby was curled into a ball on my stomach.
I sat up and pushed him off.
The cat came awake with a start, his body raising straight up along with his gray hair. His claws came out and dug into the covers beside me and his yellow eyes glowed with irritation.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked.
He yawned and stretched, fully recovered. “Protecting you, ungrateful vampire.” He jumped off the bed and then hopped up on the window sill. “But I know when I’m not wanted. I’ll go.”
“Wait. Gatsby.” I liked him better as a cat than a dragon.
He turned to study me. “You’ve been through a lot. I’m glad to see you’re okay.” He blinked and then jumped out the window.
I pushed the covers aside and went to the window, hoping so see him, but he was gone. Sighing, I went into the bathroom and saw that the crown piece hadn’t disappeared completely. Smack in the middle of my eyebrows and about an inch up was a diamond. It looked like someone had glued it there. I tried to force it off, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Great. That’s going to difficult to explain.”
After showering, dressing, and braiding my hair, I opened my bedroom door and listened for Laeddin.
“He’s gone.”
I jumped, my heart sticking in my throat. “Christopher,” I said, whirling around.
He was breathtaking and I realized quite similar in physical appearance to Troy.
“What do you want?”
His eyes left my face and lingered on my throat. I’d let him drink from me before, but something told me not to let him again. Not while I had the weapon within.
“Chris?” I said, stepping forward without realizing it. One thought drove all my instincts. Hunger. I needed to feed and I wanted to feed on him.
His eyes locked on mine. “Why are you different?” He inhaled deeply through his nose. “Your blood doesn’t smell the same.”
I nodded, looking away, focusing on his neck. “A spell,” I said standing on my tiptoes.
“What kind of spell?” His voice was hoarse with emotion.
“Laeddin found it.” I opened my mouth, allowing my fangs to extend, but I wasn’t quite tall enough.
“What’s it for?” He lifted me into his arms and carried me to my room, sat on my bed and as he did, he twisted me so that I was in his arms like a child.
I thought he knew. Or maybe he didn’t. I couldn’t think of anything but his blood. “I need to defeat—” I turned myself until I straddled him. He tilted his head, giving me easy access to his neck. I sank my fangs in deep and sucked from him like I hadn’t eaten in years instead of days.
As soon as his blood hit the back of my throat something unexpected happened. I began to see his memories as I drank. At first it was disconcerting, like watching a movie backward and on fast-forward. Except I could hear everything too, including he’d been the one to tell my mom about Ariel’s death.
When I got to his teenaged years and saw him carving the bear, I pulled away.
“Feel better? There’s color in your cheeks again.”
“Yes, thank you,” I said, feeling shy.
He arched an eyebrow. “What’s the matter?”
I thought about telling him what I saw, but I didn’t want him to feel embarrassed and I didn’t want to stop drinking from him. His blood filled me better than any other ever had. “Nothing.”
He pulled me into a hug and I let him, allowing him to hold me and comfort me. I needed it.
After not very many seconds he pushed me away. “Laeddin’s back. I must go.” He vanished, sending me crashing onto the floor.
Fourteen
Laeddin burst into my room. “Princess?”
I untangled myself and stood. “I’m fine. I—uh, just fell.”
His hands roamed my body as though he were feeling for broken bones, even though that wasn’t possible. “What’s this?” He touched the diamond on my forehead.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure, but am guessing it has to do with the crown.”
“You’re probably right.” He pursed his lips in a grim line. “You sure you’re all right?”
“Yes. I’m good.”
Laeddin stepped back. “You look better. Rested.” He went over to the closet and opened the doors, then faced me. “Which is good because you need to go to your grandmother’s funeral.”
At hearing his words, my heart sank. “Is it today? Usually funerals take days and days to plan.”
“You’ve been asleep for three.”
“What? Are you serious?” I ran to the window, like the sky could tell me the date. In some ways it could, since the darkness was getting closer and closer. “Why did you let me sleep so long? We still have four more pieces to find.” I turned to face him and crossed my arms.
“I know, but you needed to rest. And trust me, I tried to wake you up more than once, but you wouldn’t have it. Your body needed the sleep.”
“Okay.”
He pulled a long, black dress from my closet. “Get dressed and I’ll take you back to Sharra for the funeral.”
“Actually,” I moved toward him. “Is there any way you could take me now. I have a dress there I want to wear, and I need to see Zenny.”
“Sure.” He hung the dress back up before placing his hands on my waist. “Hold on.”
“I wrapped my arms around his neck.”
Instantly we were back in my room in the castle.
I was in Sharra. Home!
A bright happiness swept through and over me. There was sadness, sure. I wasn’t here for a good reason, but the familiarity of being in the place I’d grown up, with so many fond memories, warmed me in ways I hadn’t thought possible.
Laeddin nodded. “Get dressed. The funeral starts in an hour. Your mom and dad are expecting you.”
He vanished from my room. For a brief moment I wondered where he went and if he was upset, but I didn’t have time to brood over Laeddin. I needed to get to work.
Running a hand along my bedspread and wall and anything else I could touch along the way, I went to my closet. Everything was just as I’d left it, everything in its place. I went to the dresses and dug through the black ones until I found the one I wanted. It was long with a tight, lace bodice that buttoned in back and came up to just under my neck. I removed it from the hanger
, held it against my body, and went to the mirror.
Zenny appeared in the bottom right corner of my mirror.
“Zenny,” I said, bending down to his level. His eyes were puffy and his nose was red. Normally he dressed in bright colors, but today he’d chosen a black suit, with a gray vest and bow tie. His usually flamboyant hair was now a soft white. “It’s so good to see you.”
“And you, my princess. If only the circumstances were better.”
“Agreed,” I said and stood.
“Once you’re dressed go into the powder room and I’ll do your hair and makeup.”
“Thanks, Zenny.” When he left I changed out of my jeans and into my dress. It was impossible to button and I didn’t know how the magics I’d been given would respond to a simple request like buttoning a dress so I didn’t try to do them myself.
Instead I held it to my chest, went into the powder room, and sat in my chair. A sigh escaped my lips before I could stop it.
Zenny clapped his hands. “I’ve missed you.” He came close and peered at me over his thick, round glasses. “You’re different. What happened to the violet in your eyes and,” he gasped, covering his mouth with his hands. “Your wings. Oh, sweet pixilette pickle juice, where did they go?”
I forced myself not to cry or sob or throw a tantrum, like I normally would. “They’re gone,” was all I said.
“I can see that,” he tut-tutted with the click of his tongue. “Poor, sweet thing, where did they go?”
While he worked on my hair and makeup, I told him everything, about my wishes, and my wings, and Laeddin, and Troy… Everything except Christopher. I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone about him. Laeddin knew of course, but not because I’d told. He’d found out on accident.
When I finished my story, he’d finished with my makeup and hair. He clapped his hands. “Your story has inspired me, my dahlink. And my, but don’t you look beautiful.”
I peered at myself in the mirror. “Zenny,” I breathed, turning back and forth.
“You like it?”
I barely recognized myself. I seemed older. Maybe it was my eye color or the shape of my face. Zenny had lined my eyes with black eyeliner, used a shimmery white eye shadow that sparkled like the diamond in the center of my forehead for the lid. Above it, in the crease he’d used a smoky brownish gray color followed by more of the shimmering white shadow. My lashes were thick and a dark black with tiny red rubies at the tip. He’d given my cheeks a little color and then darkened my lips so they were blood red. My hair had been loosely curled and then swept up in a loose bun, leaving out my long, teal bangs.
“You’ve outdone yourself. Thank you.” I got out of my chair and turned. “Can you help with the buttons?”
“Of course.” They buttoned all at once and he went a step further and tied the bow at my waist.
I checked my reflection in the full-length mirror. “Amazing. Zenny, thank you so much.”
“Anything for you, princess.”
Fifteen
The funeral was being held in the largest ballroom. The windows were covered with thick white draperies while the normally black and white checkered floor had been changed to a white marble and the roof had been removed so the bright blue sky could be seen.
My grandmother’s body rested on a blanket of blood red water lilies, which starkly contrasted against her white dress. Her skin was pale, her eyes were shut, and her long black lashes made shadowy half-moons on her face. Her lips had been stained red and curved up slightly, so she appeared to be smiling. They’d placed her hands on her stomach, one on top of the other. And her feet were bare. Under the flowers she lay on a pyre.
Aside from our immediate family, those select few who’d been invited to my grandmother’s funeral included the leaders of the seven magics as well as my mom and dad’s close friends. Professor Pops and my dad’s brothers were there, excluding Gabe, as were the members of their families who knew about the different realms. Kenmei had come as well as a young man I’d never met before. They were both dressed in black and white suits. Troy had come too. He stood beside Professor Pops. When he saw me he nodded an acknowledgement. Having him at the funeral warmed my heart. He looked especially handsome in his crisp button up white shirt, gray tie, and black suit. I also noticed he seemed especially sad and wondered if he was still worried about Cole.
My best friend, the pixilette Sabrina fluttered in a lavender and black gown near my dad’s ear. Her eyes brimmed with sadness and she kept sniffling. When she saw me she flew over and snuggled against my cheek. “Oh, Jasmine. I’m here if you need me.” She fluttered onto my outstretched finger.
“Thanks, Sabrina. I do need you.”
“Well I’m here.” She flew to my shoulder and landed there.
Aunt Cindy stood on my mom’s right. She’d come with her advisor from Polonias, a giant talking leopard by the name of Violet. She wore a short black dress without sleeves. The leopard’s wiry glasses kept slipping down her nose until they sat so close to the edge I wondered how they hadn’t fallen off. Cindy wore a black dress with iridescent blue gauze around the waist, cuffs, and hem. It came to the middle of her calves and she had on black high heels with a bow at the ankle, ever the most stylish person in the room. My parents had taken the potion to change back into their rightful bodies. Dad had on a white suit with a water lily pinned to his lapel and my mom wore a red dress, the color her mom’s hair.
“Come. Stand between us,” my dad said, when he saw me. I slid into place and peered sideways at my mom. Was she mad? Could she stand me any longer? Or was I just a person to forget?
She gave me a brief smile and I returned it. I wanted to tell her I was sorry and I would when the time was right.
It seemed everyone who mattered had come.
There were two noticeable absences: Laeddin and Christopher.
I figured since Christopher was on the council he’d have been there for sure, but maybe my mom hadn’t invited him.
My heart bled a little at the thought.
I didn’t understand why Laeddin hadn’t come. It saddened me to realize that it might’ve been because I didn’t treat him like the family I believed him to be.
But I couldn’t dwell on it more because my dad began to speak.
“Thank you all for coming. We’re here to mourn a tragedy but I’m beyond grateful to see each of you. As we say good-bye to a mother, a sister, and a friend, I hope you’ll take a moment to share a fond memory or two.” As he spoke he made eye contact with each person in the room.
I hadn’t realized my grandmother knew everyone here.
A troll stepped forward first. “Ariel was an honorable woman, at least according to my mother, the great Esther. My mother spoke fondly of a time when she and Ariel had been sent on a scouting mission together many, many years ago. It was early morning and the mist lined the valley below so they couldn’t see anything farther a foot in front of them. They’d spotted a group of rogue trolls during the night and wanted to make sure they weren’t causing trouble. So they were on edge.
“My mother said she closed her eyes for a moment and all of a sudden something thumped her on the nose. She screamed, which caused Ariel to scream and they both jumped to their feet. Turned out it was just a pixilette that’d gone to sleep in the air and had fallen from the sky and landed on my mother’s nose. Instead of yelling at my mother for falling asleep, she patted her on the back and they both had a good laugh.” He pressed a giant fist to his chest and tossed the water lily he held in his other hand onto the pyre.
It went like that for the next hour as each of the seven leaders spoke. Then Cindy shared the experience she’d had in rescuing Ariel from Mizu. Professor Pops and Kenmei each told stories about her that I’d heard before.
By the time it was my dad’s turn, we were all laughing and crying. He stepped forward. “Before I married Snow, I spoke to Ariel. It was the most terrifying moment of my life, even worse than when I saved Snow from the blade and the Unknowns
.”
I shuddered as I remembered the story.
“But I’ll never forget what she told me.” He swallowed down the emotion in his voice before going on. “She said, ‘Dorian the secret to a great marriage is…’ and then she stopped. I waited, thinking maybe she’d forgotten.” Everyone in the room laughed. My dad went on, “I finally asked, ‘What is the secret?’ She gave me a sneaky look and then clucked her tongue. I thought maybe I’d missed something. But she punched me lightly on the arm and said, ‘There is no secret, silly. It boils down to love. Make sure you give her all of yourself, all the time, every moment and every second. If Snow does the same for you, your marriage may be bumpy, there will most definitely be ups and downs, but love will never leave your lives and your marriage will only grow stronger.’” My dad stopped, unpinned the lily from his lapel and tossed it onto the pyre before stepping back in the circle. My mom reached across me, grabbed his hand and clung to it. I glanced at him and saw the tears on his face. I’d never seen my dad cry and my eyes misted at the sight.
Their sorrow is your fault, my mind whispered.
My mom took her turn. She spoke of the first time they met after she’d believed Ariel had been dead, and then of the day I was born.
“Jasmine was immediately smitten with my mom. It was by watching her I learned what it meant to not only tell a person you love them, but to show them. She carried Jasmine around everywhere those first two weeks and then when she had to leave…” A hard sob tore from my mom’s throat and I lost it.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I cried, not caring that my red tears would ruin my makeup. “If there’s anything I can do, just name it.” I fell onto her back and wrapped my arms around her waist, clinging to her. “Please forgive me.”
My mom carefully spun in my arms and then lifted my chin. Her face was hard and I steeled myself for the harsh words she would say.
“Jasmine, sweet girl, this isn’t your fault.” She wiped away my tears and kissed each of my cheeks. Her kindness only mad me cry harder, because it was my fault. If I hadn’t been so selfish, if I hadn’t wished away my wings like they were nothing, my grandmother would still be alive. “It’s Maleficent’s fault. If you want to direct your sadness or anger at anyone, point it at her.” She kissed my forehead right on the spot where the diamond was. “You, my daughter, are not to blame.”
Vampire Nights (Vampire Wishes Book 3) Page 5