I bit back a retort. “I guess,” I said.
My mom looked at me, her eyes sad and filled with frustration. My heart lurched. I knew I was letting her down somehow. She came back and gently touched my wings. “Why don’t you have Zenny help you fluff and clean these?” She ran her fingers through the dark feathers, her touch soothing.
“Okay,” I said, catching her gaze in the mirror. For the past few months we’d been at such odds. It seemed no matter how I tried we didn’t click like we used to. Lately she focused more on what I was required to do as the princess of Sharra and less on what I needed as a teenage girl.
If it weren’t for my uncles bringing me the latest news in the form of entertainment magazines from the human world, I’d be miserable. It just felt like my mom didn’t understand. I had needs, desires, goals… I wanted a life outside the castle. Outside of Sharra. And my damn wings? Ugh. Why did I have to be the only vampire in the entire world to have them? My life was difficult and my mom just didn’t get it.
Meetings were boring. Listening to the magical creatures of Sharra complain about how so-and-so stole a piece of fruit off their land and asking my mom what she was going to do about it was beyond tedious. I wanted to see a movie. I wanted to go to high school. I wanted to go on dates, attend football games, and maybe kiss a boy or two. I wanted the wings on my back to disappear. I wanted normal.
That didn’t seem like too much to ask. But I was almost sixteen and my life was passing me by.
It wasn’t fair.
Both my parents had attended regular high school. They lived an ordinary life for years before coming to Sharra. Why couldn’t I be given the same consideration?
My dad walked in. “Dad,” I hollered, crossing my arms over my chest, even though I was still fully dressed.
“Hey, sweetie. How’s my girl?” He came over and kissed me on the cheek.
I forced myself not to blush. “I’m too old for that,” I said with pretend haughtiness.
He tapped the end of my nose with his finger. “Never.” Then he turned to my mom and things got really awkward. He pulled her to him and kissed her lightly on the mouth. She gave him a secret smile.
“Gross,” I shouted. “Get out! Both of you.”
Chapter 2
They laughed.
My dad winked.
And while I feigned disgust, it was a moment just like theirs that I craved. I wanted to love and be loved by someone the way they so obviously loved each other. That wasn’t going to happen in Sharra. There were no swoon worthy guys. The only time I ever saw a handsome man in Sharra was while I was out in the forest when I was a lot younger. But even he had been too old. I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but I knew who he was… And he was out of the question, big time.
There were male vampires in the land, but the old Vampire Queen, Sharra, had created them, which meant they were all way too old for me. Since Mom wasn’t creating any more vampires, the chances of meeting a boy that was also my age and a vampire was impossible. Of course there were elves, ogres, fairies, and other magical creatures that had boys my age, but… ewwwww!
“Breakfast. Five minutes,” my dad insisted.
“I know. I’d get ready if you two would leave.” I applied some black eyeliner. It was a little too heavy for my mom’s tastes, but then she rarely wore makeup. It was Aunt Cindy who showed me how to apply it the way humans did.
I caught my mom’s grimace in the reflection. “What?” I asked, holding the liner like a pencil in my right hand.
She leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “I love you, darling.”
“I know, mom.” And I did. I knew she and my dad both did. Regardless of our uncomfortable conversations or lack thereof. There was no doubt they loved me very much.
“Hustle,” my dad said.
“Okay. Hey, do you think after the meetings maybe I could go with Uncle Heathcliff to his lab. He said I could help him and then he’d take me to see a movie. He said he could hide my wings easily and that—”
My dad came over and squeezed my shoulders. “Honey, you know that’s a bad idea. If anyone were to find out about your wings, about what you are, all sorts of bad things could happen.”
My shoulders sagged. I’d heard the same lame excuse many times before.
“Whatever.” I shrugged off his hands and turned away.
“Love you, Jasmine,” he whispered and closed the bathroom door.
After I heard them leave my room, I let my head smack against the counter.
Zenny cleared his throat. “Those two. Such a love story.”
He had his hands clasped together at his chest. It looked like he had tears in his eyes.
“So you gonna fluff my wings or what?” I asked, standing and facing him.
“Oooh, snappy.” He clapped his hands twice and a machine like a blow dryer popped from the wall and worked on my wings.
When they were finished, I put my hair in a side ponytail and placed my crown on my head.
“Perfect,” Zenny said. “Use the rose colored lip-gloss, it’ll really make your lips pop.
I applied it, rubbed my lips together, and ran a powder brush over my nose.
“So very beautiful.” Zenny exhaled.
“Thanks.” I walked to my closet, stepped out of my jeans and pulled off the tank top that’d been made specifically for my wings to fit through. Then I shimmied into the teal dress my mom had picked out.
It was long, the hem touching the wood floor. The straps were thin and gathered. They crisscrossed in the front and went down to my waist in a V at the back. They left plenty of room for my wings. The front had a sweetheart neckline and was tight at the waist. As soon as I had it on, I stretched my wings wide to make sure they wouldn’t catch on anything.
“You’re magnificent,” Zenny said, appearing in the full-length mirror.
I couldn’t help but blush. “They are annoying,” I said, referring to my wings.
“They. Are. Amazing,” Zenny argued good-naturedly.
“Fine. Keep saying that. But you aren’t the one that has to deal with them. Sleep with them. Shower with them… They are a nuisance.” Which wasn’t entirely true. I did love flying. There was no better feeling. At least not one I’d experienced yet. But that was the only good thing about my wings.
“It’s worth it. You’re unique and glorious. Never forget that.”
I huffed. “Easy for you to say.”
He waved his hand. “Yes, it is.”
I chewed on the inside of my lip, trying to ignore my annoyance. It was hard though. No one understood what I had to go through. No one got it, which was why I wanted more than anything to be normal—even if that meant being just an ordinary vampire—one without wings.
“What shoes are you wearing with it?” Zenny asked, interrupting my internal grumblings.
I went over to my wall of shoes and picked out a beautiful pair of black and deep teal heels. In the center were gems that matched perfectly with the gems at my waist.
Zenny sighed heavily. “Those are divine.”
I lifted my dress and turned my foot back and forth in the mirror, admiring the way the gems sparkled in the muted light. “They are very pretty,” I agreed, grateful Aunt Cindy had such great taste and wishing once again my mom would’ve allowed me to go into the human world. Here in Sharra elves and fairies created my clothes and shoes. They were beautiful, laced with magic, and the craftsmanship was beyond compare, but it wasn’t the same. In the human realm there were entire stores with racks upon racks of clothing. I could choose whatever I wanted.
“Jasmine?” Zenny asked.
I shook away my thoughts. “Thanks for the help.” I blew him a kiss walked from the closet into my room.
Ciana still sat in her chair knitting. “Why don’t you do something fun today?” I came to stand in front of her.
She didn’t seem to hear.
I sighed, leaned in and kissed her cheek. “See ya.”
Chapter 3<
br />
“We will continue to supply blood for the princess as you’ve ordered, but we want more land,” Geth, the leader of the ogres growled.
We were seated at a large round table in the Great Hall. There was a glittering chandelier hanging above giving off an ambient glow. The room was lined in gilded wood and pictures of previous royalty hung precisely along the walls.
A representative from each of the seven magics was there, including a vampire by the name of Christopher. My mom and dad had a history with him, I knew that. He represented the magic of the Hunter.
I knew he’d betrayed my mom at one point when she was eighteen, but over the years they’d come to an understanding. They weren’t friendly with one another, and I could tell my dad barely tolerated him. When I was ten, Christopher had been brought before the council. Most wanted him dead, but it was my mom who explained that all seven magics must be represented in order for Sharra to survive. That included Christopher.
He gave off a certain arrogance. Occasionally I’d catch him watching me. A few years ago Mom decided to put him in charge of vampires. If one of them stepped out of line, that vampire was punished, but so was Christopher.
He had submitted the blood offerings required of the others, but my mom wouldn’t allow me to drink his blood. I didn’t know what she did with it. Maybe it was still in the coolers beneath the castle.
As though he realized I was thinking about him, Christopher gave a half smile.
I returned it.
Mom noticed and gave me a curious look before she responded to Geth. “If we give you more land, others will expect the same kind of provision. Then we would run out of room.”
Geth slammed his fist on the table. “It’s bad enough we are required to stay in Sharra, that we can no longer leave and roam the other realms. Something must be done. We have no room!”
I jumped at the fury in his voice, my wings twitching nervously. As far as my taste buds were concerned, I would be fine if the ogres stopped supplying me with blood. It tasted disgusting. I drank it though because it increased my strength and agility.
It certainly made sense that they wanted more land. The ogres were large creatures. They built on as well as below the earth, but they could always use more.
Edinia, the elven leader, spoke up. “We could all use more space, Geth. We elves live longer and our procreation process is much easier than your kind. We are also becoming overwhelmed.”
“We don’t have the luxury of going below the earth,” Kerra, the unicorn leader added. “Ogres have twice the land we do already.” She whinnied and stomped her foot to enhance her words.
“What do you suggest?” my dad asked. He rarely spoke up during these meetings.
“That our Queen take some of the pixilette land and gives it to us.” Geth stood, but one look from my mom and the ogre immediately sat back down.
I knew she would never agree to that. But I had an idea. “What if Sharra were made to be bigger?”
“That’s impossible,” Geth muttered.
My mom patted my hand as though trying to placate a stupid child.
I pulled away, irritated.
“I appreciate Jasmine’s interest in this important matter,” my mom began. “But the land of Sharra cannot be increased. To do so would mean altering the very fabric of our realm, and that is not something to take lightly. It would require immense power.” She paused and gave me a pointed look. “More power than even I possess.” There was a glimmer in her eyes as though she wanted me to understand something, but I didn’t.
I clasped my hands together. “Whatever.”
Geth glowered. It was obvious he found me annoying. “Any other brilliant ideas?”
I lifted my chin, forcing the nervous flutter of my wings to stop. I wouldn’t cower to the ogre. Or to anyone. “You’ll be the first to know when I do.”
“Do not belittle my daughter, Geth,” my dad said. “Unless you wish to deal with me directly.”
The ogre huffed, but backed down. “No, your highness. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it,” Geth said.
No one messed with my dad. His power was less well-defined than my mom’s, but no less potent. He and my mom both possessed the seven magics within them. Their power was strong, stronger than most, but according to my parents, not as formidable as mine.
Still, there was something special about my dad.
I remember when I was three I’d been given fairy blood that had been poisoned. It made me really sick. For a while my mom and dad thought I would die. But as my dad rocked me, I’d bit into his hand and drank from him. Usually he and my mom discouraged that. They didn’t want me biting anyone. It was better if I drank my blood from a glass. They believed it would help the magical creatures fear me less. But this time my dad didn’t make me stop. His blood had forced the poison from my body and I’d been healed.
“Let’s table this discussion for now.” My mom looked directly at Geth. “Your concern has been heard.”
Geth acted as though he wanted interrupt and say more, but my mom raised her hand and he clamped his mouth shut. “Since we don’t have an answer at the moment, let’s move on. Is that acceptable?”
My mom asked the question, but the tone of her voice said the subject was closed.
Geth nodded. “I’ll wait. For now.”
“Excellent. Thank you. What’s next?” my mom asked.
I stifled a yawn. We’d already been in the meeting two hours longer than expected. Afterward, I still had to sit with a private tutor for two hours, attend two more meetings, and speak with the pixies about a new grass seedling they were trying to create.
“Might as well settle in, this is going to take a while,” Edinia said, crossing her legs.
I had no idea what more still needed to be discussed, but I didn’t want to be in the room a second longer. My patience had disintegrated. “This is ridiculous,” I said without thinking.
My mom glared. “Jasmine. Mind your manners.”
Dad squeezed my mom’s hand. “Let her go. There’s a lot she still needs to do today.”
“Yes, but she needs to learn to be—”
My dad gave my mom a look and I knew they were having a conversation without using words.
“Fine,” my mom said, obvious disappointment in her voice.
“Thank you,” I said and stood.
As I walked away, I heard the ogre mumble, “Why does she even come?”
I wanted to fall apart. Shout at him. Grab him around his meaty neck and drink directly from his foul neck. He was big and oafish, but I was at least twice as strong. Instead I rolled my shoulders back and left.
Chapter 4
I took off my shoes and ran into the woods. I would’ve flown except I didn’t want any prying eyes to see where I was headed.
My bare feet padded softly against the lush grass. I opened my mind, allowing my senses to feel, sense, touch, and hear the surrounding countryside.
There was a family of deer at the stream to my left. On my right was a group of pixilettes collecting seeds from orange peonia plants. I listened extra carefully for a moment to see if Sabrina happened to be with them, but she wasn’t. The pixilettes were talking about creating a new flower color by mixing two seedlings together. It would be called tealender, which was teal and lavender together. They wanted to create it in my honor since I had a streak of teal along the front of my head and my eyes were lavender.
I smiled at their thoughtfulness and the intensity of their conversation.
They continued their light discussion. Some believed my eyes were more violet than lavender and therefore the name should be tealiot.
I thought that sounded too much like toilet so I hoped they didn’t go with that name. However they could use violeal. That wasn’t bad.
“Silly,” I snorted. At the moment there was one place I wanted to be, one place I wanted to go. That was the secret cave Sabrina and I found four years ago. It was a total accident. We’d been flying in a rains
torm. As the water beat down, Sabrina flew under me so I could keep the rain from hitting her wings, but suddenly the rain started coming in sideways, making it even more difficult for her. We’d needed shelter, and the opening to the cave had appeared on the side of the mountain like it knew we were in need.
We flew inside and stayed there until the rains subsided. It felt alive. It was filled with the gems of seven magics. The walls sparkled with rubies, emeralds, topaz, and sapphires. They lit up when I was near and whispered compliments telling me how beautiful my eyes were, how lovely the wings at my back had become, and so on.
But when I realized Sabrina couldn’t hear the whisperings I did my best to ignore them.
As I came upon the entrance point, I closed my eyes, focusing on my surroundings to make sure no one was around. When I was sure I was alone, I touched a charred looking rock. It shuddered and then the cave entrance appeared.
I stepped inside. Immediately the whispering started. I smiled, happy that at least someone… or something thought I was amazing. In the cave I wasn’t a disappointment. Here I wasn’t expected to do something or be something other than who I was. It was refreshing.
“This place rocks. Like literally.” It wasn’t my voice but that of a guy. Deep. Sensual. Earthy.
I swung around surprised I’d been snuck up on. That’d never happened before. The guy stood near the entrance to the cave. He was gorgeous. A dark-haired, total-movie-star hottie. Like one of the actors or singers I’d seen in the entertainment magazines from the human world. He was tall, tan and muscled. He wore a short sleeve white button down with the sleeves rolled up. Each of his wrists were decorated with intricate black tattoos, like cuffs, but his were tribal with what looked like an eye in the center.
My first instinct was to kill him. But he was too pretty to hurt. “Who are you?”
He clasped his hands behind his back and took a step forward. “I’m Laeddin.” Another two steps closer.
I swallowed. “How did you sneak up on me, Laeddin?”
Vampire Lies (Blood and Snow Season Book 1) Page 2