Beasts and Magic (The Vampires of Shadow Hills Book 5)

  Jazmine didn't try and defend Adrian. Part of her wanted to, but she couldn't. Jayden was right. Adrian was trouble, and Jazmine knew it perfectly well. She had known since the beginning. Still, she had gotten involved with him. Because she wanted to. Because she liked him. Guess you could say she liked trouble.

  "So, what happened?" he asked.

  "Nothing. I just got mad at him."

  She didn't want to talk about it. She was upset with Adrian, but that didn't make her want him any less. Actually, it was quite the opposite. She had a thing for the bad guys, the troubled ones. And she knew it was going to cause her much heartache.

  "So, you got the Snap too?" Jayden whispered. "From Robyn?"

  Jazmine nodded, chewing. Jayden pulled out a pastrami and salami sandwich.

  "I can't make it at three o'clock. I have detention," she said.

  "You have to be there, Jazmine. Robyn needs us."

  She looked at him. "What do you want me to do? I’m in trouble enough as it is."

  He nodded. "I know. It's just that…well, you know how hard it is for Robyn to get out of the house with her mother watching her every move. It must be really important. She’s taking a great risk."

  "I know," Jazmine said. "I'll see what I can do."

  Jayden nodded and finished his sandwich. He got up and grabbed his tray between his hands.

  "Great. See you then."

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  I was still shaking when Jayden arrived at the lake at three o'clock on the dot. He was the first to come, and I was happy to see him. My mom was way too busy with all her troubles to worry about me, so when I yelled that I was going for a run, I don't think she even noticed or cared.

  "Are you okay?" Jayden asked, worried. He grabbed my hand. "Has something happened?"

  I nodded my head. "It's awful, Jayden."

  "Is it Duncan?"

  I stared at Jayden, surprised. "Why do you always assume it has something to do with him?"

  He shrugged. "I don't know. Well, maybe because he's a vicious vampire and you're a human, his natural prey."

  "He's not as bad as you’d like him to be," I said, annoyed. "He can actually be quite nice."

  Jayden let go of my hand. "So, now you like him, is that it?"

  "Not like that, Jayden. I see him as a good ally to have in my world where I don't trust anyone."

  "And you suddenly trust him?" he asked, sounding more and more angry.

  I bit my lip, trying to figure out what to say. I wasn’t sure I did trust Duncan, but I had realized it wasn't as black and white as I wanted it to be. He had done what he did for a reason. Had I wished he had found another way to do it, one that didn't involve using me? Yes, of course, but he didn't have much time. Did I wish he wouldn't drink the blood of humans? Yes, of course, but he only did what was natural to him and what he had been taught to do. And he had told me he would give it up for me.

  "So, what's up?"

  It was Amy; she was approaching us. She couldn't have timed it better. I was tired of this conversation with Jayden.

  "Where were you today?" Jayden asked.

  She sighed. "I was sent home. It's a long story."

  "Make it short," he said.

  "Okay. Well, there's a new guy on the street. He's my neighbor, and he got me all worked up because he's extremely annoying and then…well, you know, he said something, and I got mad…on school grounds."

  "Ah," Jayden said.

  "And then you…?" I asked and pointed at my nose.

  She nodded. "And now they all think I’m smoking for some reason and I was suspended for the rest of the day and my parents are all over me, staying home to take care of me, my mom talking about all these things we are going to do together to bond."

  I shrugged. "At least you like to hang out with your mother. Maybe it's not so bad, you know? You have been alone an awful lot."

  "You have," Jazmine said. She threw her bike on the grass behind us.

  "You made it?" Jayden said.

  "Apparently so," Jazmine said.

  I looked at Jayden. "She had detention," he explained. "She said she probably couldn't get out of it."

  "So, how did you get out of it?" Amy asked.

  "I didn't," Jazmine said, a small grin emerging from the side of her mouth.

  We all stared at her for an explanation.

  "I used a mirror spell if you must know," she said. "That's what it's called. I read about it last night when my mom was out. It's a spell where I can make my reflection become physical and three-dimensional and step out of the mirror. I made it sit in my chair for me while I’m gone. Old Mr. Hickenbaum is asleep anyway. He won't notice my reflection isn't able to speak or do anything. He just wants me to sit there, so I am…sitting there, or my reflection is."

  "And there is no way you can tell it's not you?" I asked.

  She shrugged. "Well, yes. If you get close, you'll see your own reflection, or the sunlight might reflect off my skin, but I hardly think Mr. Hickenbaum is going to get up from his seat, nor will he let any sunlight into that classroom. It might disrupt his napping. I just need to be back before four o'clock. So, what's up? Why was it so important that we meet?"

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  "It's Melanie," I said.

  "What about her?" Amy said, stepping forward, suddenly agitated. "Have you heard from her? Has your mom said anything?"

  "No and yes," I said.

  Amy gasped. "Your mom knows where she is? Has she done anything to her?"

  I bit my lip, feeling awful.

  "She has, hasn't she?"

  "Let Robyn tell the story," Jazmine said. "Geez."

  I nodded, bracing myself. This was so embarrassing, so awful to have to say this to them, knowing it was all my mother's doing.

  "I heard her talking to my dad earlier today. Apparently, my mom has made some deal with Mr. Aran to make sure he leaves us alone."

  "A deal?" Jayden asked. "What kind of a deal?"

  "That's where Melanie comes into the picture."

  "Melanie? How?" Jazmine asked.

  "She gave him Melanie," Amy took over. "That's why we haven't heard from her since the day she ran away. Your mom caught her and handed her over to Mr. Aran, didn't she?"

  I exhaled. "I’m afraid so."

  Amy moaned loudly. "So that means she…that means she’s not in the mountains somewhere running around happily forgetting everything about us?"

  I shook my head. "I’m afraid not."

  "So, where is she? What did he do to her?" Amy asked.

  I shrugged. "That's what I don't know."

  Jazmine shook her head. "It's useless, guys. If Mr. Aran has her, then she’s probably already gone. You know what happened to my dad…I hardly think he would treat her differently."

  "Jazmine has a point," Jayden said.

  Amy moaned and held her forehead. She sat in the grass. "You've got to be kidding me. This can't be true? All this time, I thought she was just…having fun and that she…I was even a little mad at her for forgetting me like this…so, you think she's…?"

  I nodded. "That's what I fear."

  "But we don't know for sure," Amy said after a few seconds of thinking. "Maybe...maybe he still has her at his house?"

  "A wolf?" Jazmine said. "How would he even keep her there at night? Wouldn't we have heard her howl or something?"

  "I kept her without anyone knowing it. He could have a shelter like my parents do."

  Jazmine shook her head. "Stop it, Amy. You're setting yourself up for disappointment. She's gone. She's dead."

  "I think Jazmine is right," Jayden said. "We need to accept that Melanie is probably gone."

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Jayden made it back to the house just in time for them to leave. He had to admit, he had been looking forward to seeing Ruelle again and going to her house this time.

  They drove for only about half an hour till they were there, and Jayden looked out of the window at the house in front
of him. It was quite spectacular. Nothing like any house she had ever seen before. It was a wooden house, three stories high, and each story was painted in a different color. The front yard was overgrown with big trees where swings were hanging, and he even saw a small tree house in a tree. There were a horse and a goat walking in the driveway and tons of hens everywhere. There was even a giant tortoise trotting around in the tall grass, big enough for someone to ride. A parrot came flying toward him as he exited the car and it landed on top of his head, then let out a loud squawk.

  "Max!" Ruelle yelled as she ran out toward them, her white smile shining brightly in her tanned face, her long brown hair flowing in the wind behind her. "Don't bother our guests," she chuckled, and the bird left Jayden's head.

  "I'm sorry about that," she said.

  Could it be that she was even prettier than the last time he had seen her? Was it even possible?

  "That's okay," he said and felt the top of his hair, then corrected it. She gave him a look, then reached up and messed it up again with a grin.

  "I like it better that way."

  He stared at her with a sigh, then messed up his hair even further. She laughed, turned around, and ran inside.

  "Come."

  He rushed after her, and she showed him around the house. He couldn't believe anyone lived like this. Animals were everywhere, and it was so wonderfully messy, he had never seen anything like it. She showed him her room that looked a lot like the rest of the house, except for the books everywhere. He realized that she hadn't even once asked him to excuse her mess. She wasn't embarrassed about it. Not even a little bit.

  "Come, let's go in the backyard," she said.

  He followed her into the yard, and they started to play badminton, when his father came out, looking confused.

  "What's wrong, Dad?" he asked and approached him.

  "I don't know," he said and scratched the top of his head. "I just can't seem to…I don't understand, son. I don't remember seeing these people for years and especially not Ruelle. I don't remember seeing her this big. Last time I saw her, she was just an infant. Yet they all act like we’ve seen each other recently. And that you two had met. When did you meet Ruelle?"

  "They came to our house for a cook-out last month. You don't remember?” he asked.

  His dad exhaled. A deep sadness came over his eyes that made Jayden's heart pound.

  "Of course, I do, son. I’m just…I just forgot for a moment there, but now I remember. Ruelle, good to see you again," he shouted at her. "Gorgeous as always…right, son?"

  "Right, Dad."

  "All right, I'll see if Pierre needs any help with the meat on the grill. That's always a good way to bond, over a grill, right?"

  "Right."

  Jayden sighed, worried as his dad walked away, suddenly looking half the size he usually was. This wasn't just ordinary forgetfulness. It was one thing not to remember reading a book or where you put it, or the other day when he kept saying that he couldn't believe it was April already that he thought it was December just a few days ago. Those things were excusable; they were explainable for a man his age who led a busy life, but not remembering seeing the girl who was supposed to be his future daughter-in-law?

  Something was off.

  Chapter Thirty

  Amy couldn't sit still during dinner with her parents. She went through so many emotions at once, she couldn't contain it. She was squirming in her seat while pushing her peas around on her plate. Her mother kept looking at her, observing, and every time their eyes met, Amy smiled reassuringly to make her mother feel better and not suspect something was off with her. Amy could feel the burning sensation all the way in her throat and had to drink loads of water to keep the smoke from emerging from her nose and mouth.

  "How about we play a game of cards after dinner, huh?" her mother asked.

  "That sounds like an excellent idea," her dad said, exaggerating his enthusiasm a little too much.

  Amy smiled, strained. "Sure. Why not, right?"

  She didn't really feel like playing cards or hanging out with her parents right now, to be honest. She was so concerned about what had happened to Melanie, she couldn't focus properly. She refused to believe that Melanie was dead. She simply refused to. It couldn't be true. She couldn't just forget about her like the rest of her friends. Melanie had been her best friend, her companion through a very lonely time in her life. She refused to believe she was dead. She had to at least know for sure.

  "Amy?"

  "Yes?"

  "I asked you if you wanted some brownies for dessert while we play cards?" her mother said. "I baked."

  Amy nodded, using her fake smile again. "Sure."

  What if he is keeping her as a prisoner? What if she is being kept over there and she’s hurt? What if he hurt her?

  The thought made Amy's blood boil, and a small burst of smoke blew out of her nostrils. Her mother had walked to the kitchen and stood with her back turned, cutting the brownies while her dad had his head inside a cabinet looking for the cards. Amy waved her hand in front of her to get rid of the smoke when her mother turned around. She stared at Amy for a second, then smiled.

  "You want a little whipped cream on top of it?"

  Amy smiled, this time sincerely. "I'd love that."

  "Let's go all the way out," her mother said.

  Amy could tell by the look in her mother's eyes that she was feeling guilty. Of course, she blamed herself for neglecting her daughter. It made Amy feel sad, though, since none of this had anything to do with her and the fact that she had been alone a lot. But she could hardly tell her that.

  "Maybe a little vanilla ice cream too," her mother said. "How does that sound?"

  "Heavenly," Amy said.

  Her dad found the cards and threw the package on the counter and sat down. Amy's mom served the brownies with ice cream and whipped cream, but as Amy tried to dig in, she realized she had no appetite. The thought of Melanie in the hands of that…creep made her furious and sad at the same time.

  "What's wrong, Amy?" her mother asked.

  Amy tried to pretend like it was nothing when she suddenly felt the tickle in her shoulder blades. Her eyes grew wide as the tickle turned into pain. The bumps were back and growing, fast.

  "What's going on with you?" her mother asked. "You're not being yourself. Why are you acting so strangely? Are you sweating?"

  The sound of their voices became distorted as the pain grew and Amy frantically tried to figure out what to do. She shook her head while her parents' faces were staring into hers.

  "What's the matter with her, Jim?"

  "I don't know," her father said. "Amy? Are you there?"

  Amy put both hands to her face and screamed. Then she jumped down from the chair and sprang for the door, while the huge tail emerged and threatened to burst her jeans.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Melanie felt so weak. She had lost track of time and had no idea exactly how long she had been a prisoner inside this sticky web. Mr. Aran had grown tired of her, she believed. He hadn't tried to interrogate her for days, but that also meant she hadn't seen sunlight or breathed fresh air for just as long. She was terrified of the darkness. She hadn't gotten anything to drink or eat either, and now she was about to break down. She couldn't do this any longer. She couldn't bear any more.

  She screamed behind the web as she had done so many times before, but she believed the web somehow kept all sounds inside. She tried to move her hands…even just a finger, but the web was so tight, she couldn't. Was this just it? Was she just supposed to end it all here?

  That was when she sensed movement in front of her, and the web was cut open with a knife. Melanie squinted her eyes, so she wouldn’t be blinded by the light, then took in a deep gasp of fresh air. Mr. Aran's round face appeared. His lipless mouth was smiling.

  "You tired of this game yet?"

  Melanie moaned, breathing in with relief. The worst was not knowing how long she would go before she felt the wonder
ful sensation of fresh air again or even when she’d receive a sip of water.

  "You ready to talk?" he asked.

  Melanie stared into his eyes.

  "Okay, well, have it your way," he said when she didn't answer. He opened his mouth and spat out a new thick web when Melanie screamed.

  "NOOO!"

  He wiped the web to the side and peeked inside the darkness. "You changed your mind?"

  "Yes," she said. "Yes. I have changed my mind. I'll tell you everything you need to know. Just…please let me out of this place, of this terrible darkness. I can't stand another minute of it."

  Mr. Aran's smile turned into a huge grin.

  "About time."

  He cut the web up, and Melanie fell to the floor with a thud. She found that she could barely move a muscle in her body because she had been inactive for so long and, as she tried to rise to her feet, she fell—headfirst—onto the tiles again.

  "Please?" she said and looked at Mr. Aran for help.

  He didn't give it to her. Instead, he looked at her, laughing. "You'll get your strength back eventually. Now, tell me what I need to know. Who turned you into the wolf?"

  "Please, just...help me…get up?" Melanie pleaded.

  But Mr. Aran didn't move. He stood a few steps away. "Tell me who it was. Now!"

  Melanie could hardly breathe, she was so dehydrated and tired. "I…I…It was…"

  "Yeeees?" he asked and leaned forward.

  Melanie lifted her head, using her last bit of strength, then looked at him, but she wasn't looking at him. Instead, she was looking right behind him at the window, where a dragon was looking back in at her.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Amy spotted Melanie right away. She was lying on the floor inside the house. Mr. Aran was yelling at her, tripping around on his long skinny legs, hissing at her. Melanie looked terrible. So pale and weak, it almost hurt Amy to see her like that. The anger grew inside of her, and she let out a sound she had never heard before, a roar of sorts that echoed off the walls, just before she leaped through the window, glass shattering everywhere from the impact of her sizable body.