Beasts and Magic Read online

  Jayden dropped his bike in the driveway and stared at the red and white bus. It seemed strange, given what her parents were. Were they getting blood delivered now or something?

  Jayden shook his head and walked into the house where his brother was already eating in the kitchen, growling as he almost swallowed the steak without chewing. Their mother was standing by the stove cooking another one for him. Jayden didn't like looking at him. He was so primitive, such a savage. And he still smelled bad too. He could smell him from where he was standing.

  "Jayden, honey? You want a steak?"

  He shook his head. "I'll just grab some cereal."

  Jayden couldn't believe Logan could gulp down such a big steak at this time of day. He did that almost every day. Jayden felt his brother's eyes on him as he walked to the pantry and found the cereal boxes, then grabbed one and went for the milk. He could also hear his brother's low growling. Jayden was less scared of him now that he knew he probably wasn't the killer like he had thought he was. But it didn't change the fact that he had tried to kill Jayden by hitting him with that car. And he never passed on a chance to hurt him if he got one. Jayden feared for the day he turned eighteen. Would Logan fight him? Fight him to the death? Logan wanted the position as the future leader of their pack and would probably kill Jayden to get it.

  Jayden shook the thought. It didn't matter. Jayden was never becoming a wolf anyway.

  "We're going to visit Ruelle and her family tomorrow night," his mother chirped.

  Jayden stopped chewing and stared into the milk where Cheerios were bobbing around.

  "Aren't you happy about that, hon?"

  "Yeah, aren't you happy to see your fiancée?" Logan said, mocking him.

  Jayden swallowed and looked up. "Of course."

  Truth was, he was actually looking forward to seeing her. But he felt guilty at the same time. He enjoyed her company, a lot. But he was afraid Robyn might get jealous. They were doing well, and he had realized when he saw her ripped to pieces by that wolf that she was the one for him. He loved her so deeply it couldn't even be explained. There were simply no words for it.

  But Ruelle made him happy. She made him laugh and they shared so many interests together it was hard not to enjoy her company. That didn't mean he was falling for her, did it?

  He didn't think so.

  They had decided to humor their parents, both him and Robyn, to make the next two years as pleasant as possible. What else could they do? Even if Robyn hadn't seen Duncan in the past two weeks, she wasn't rid of him. She thought she was, but Jayden knew he would be back. Her family would invite him again, and there was nothing she could do about it. But, much to Jayden's joy, Robyn had grown to hate the guy. He was no threat anymore. Jayden wasn't completely convinced that he wouldn't be in the future, but as of now, he wasn't. He had blown it completely by betraying her.

  "Good," Jayden's mother said and turned off the stove. She removed the pan before handing Logan his second steak. "I thought it was about time you invited her out, you know, on a real date."

  Chapter Ten

  "We can't have them here, Doyle! I mean…look at them. What will the neighbors think?"

  I was sitting on the stairs, listening to my parents discussing the arrival of my cousins. Meanwhile, the three in question were running around in the backyard, screaming and fighting each other for fun. They seemed like small children who couldn't sit still, but they were older than me. I didn't know if they were older than Adrian, but I guessed that they had to be. They didn't look older, but from what I had heard about them—and that wasn't much while growing up—they had to be at least four-five years older than my brother. I had never met them before just as I had never met my aunt.

  My biggest question was if they were also vampires. Was my entire family?

  "Is it that bad?" my dad asked.

  "They're wild, Doyle!" my mom said. "Look at them. They're acting like animals. Savages."

  "They're just kids," my dad said.

  My mom snorted. "They're supposed to be grown men by now."

  "Well, they're just goofing around."

  "My sister never knew how to handle them. Even when they were younger, they acted out. I always told her she needed to feed them right. Too much sugar and this is what you get. And lack of discipline. Growing up without a father figure isn't healthy. It simply isn't, Doyle. I never understood why she left him."

  "Wasn't he abusive?"

  "Still," my mom said. "It's better than not having a man."

  "Wow," my dad said. "You really believe that?"

  "Of course! Being divorced is the worst thing that can happen to someone. Especially someone in our…league. Our parents never spoke to her again after she left him. It destroyed their reputation. We simply don't tolerate divorces in our family."

  "But still," my dad said. "At least your parents could have helped her out when she needed it. She didn't need to live in that awful trailer park for all those years. Your parents are loaded, living in that castle of theirs."

  "Well, it's hardly a castle," my mother said.

  "It's big enough to be."

  "It's an estate. Let's leave it at that."

  "That is big enough to be a castle," he said.

  My mom growled, annoyed. "We weren't talking about my parents. We were talking about…them and how to deal with them. I simply refuse to have that awful bus parked outside our house."

  "Why?" my dad asked.

  "Because…because…it's an…eyesore. The neighbors will start to ask questions and so will…Mr. Aran."

  "I thought you made a deal with him," my dad said.

  "I did. I did, but I am worried that he won't…well, I don't trust him. The way he’s always looking at us, standing in his driveway. I don't like it. He makes me nervous, Doyle."

  "Okay, okay. I'll tell the boys to dial it down a little, okay? Have a little man-to-man chat with them. Tell them not to act so crazy when the neighbors can see them."

  My mother grunted. "They're high; you do realize that, right?"

  My dad sighed. "Yup. Totally baked. "

  Chapter Eleven

  Amy avoided talking to Jazmine the rest of the detention and drove home without even saying goodbye. She didn't want to be anywhere near her. She was so mad at her for pressuring her. She didn't want to talk about it or even focus on any of it.

  "It won't go away just because you ignore it."

  Pah. What did she know?

  Amy drove the truck into the driveway of her house and spotted a Big Red Bus in front of Robyn's house. She wrinkled her forehead and wondered if vampires had delivery now.

  You never knew with that family.

  She was about to unlock her door when she heard something that made her stop. It was music, the most enchanting music she had ever heard. She walked away from the front door and into the yard of her house, where she spotted a boy about her age sitting in the backyard of the neighbor's house, playing the guitar and singing.

  Amy couldn't stop listening and approached him from the other side of the fence. She kept staring at him as he sang, keeping his eyes closed. The sound of his voice was so thrilling to her she almost had butterflies in her stomach from listening to it. The hairs stood up on her neck, not in a bad or scary way, but because it sounded so chillingly beautiful.

  Amy knew the song and closed her eyes and burst into song herself. Immediately, the boy stopped playing and opened his eyes. He looked at her and Amy stopped singing too.

  Then he laughed. "What was that?"

  "Excuse me?"

  "I’m sorry," he said, still grinning. "Was that you…singing?"

  Amy blushed. "Yeah, well…"

  "I’m sorry. I didn't 't mean to offend you; it's just…it sounded like…I think I'll stop talking now."

  "Please do," she said.

  He approached her, reaching out his hand toward her.

  "Hi…I’m Kipp."

  She didn't take it. She stared at him, lips tight. "I'm Amy,"
she said with a small snort.

  He pulled his hand away again, disappointed. "I’ve offended you. I’m sorry," he said.

  "So, what are you doing here, Kipp? In my neighbor's backyard, playing guitar, telling people they can't sing?"

  He chuckled, holding the guitar in one hand. "I just moved here. The Browns took me in. I’m a foster-child. This is my sixth home, I think. I never knew my parents."

  "Oh. Well, boo-hoo for you," Amy said as she turned on her heel and walked away fast. She was beginning to feel the burning sensation of fire appearing in her nostrils and had to wave away the smoke that was emerging from her nose.

  Chapter Twelve

  I have grandparents?

  I was sitting on my bed; I was supposed to be studying for a test my mom wanted me to take tomorrow, but I couldn't concentrate. Had I heard right? My dad had talked about my grandparents like they were still alive? Why had I never met them? Where were they? Had my mom kept me from them or had she kept them from me? Or weren't they interested in their grandchildren? All my life I had been told that I didn't have any grandparents. Not on my dad's side or my mom's. Had they been lying to me?

  I felt betrayed, angry even and walked into the hallway, then into my brother's room. He looked up from his iPad.

  "Don't you know how to knock?"

  I closed the door behind me. "Did you know we had grandparents?"

  "Sure."

  "What?"

  "Yeah, I knew."

  "For how long have you known?" I asked.

  He shrugged. "I don't know. Right after I turned eighteen."

  When you became a vampire. When you became one of them.

  "So, have you…met them?" I could hardly speak through the rage I was feeling. How did I not know anything about this?

  "Sure."

  "What?"

  "Calm down, geez. I met them the day after I turned eighteen. Mom took me to see them."

  "So, you’ve met them, and I haven't?"

  "Yeah, well, they're not that fond of…children." He gave me a look like I was five years old.

  "I am not a child," I said.

  "What are you freaking out about? You didn't miss much. They weren't that interesting. It was no big deal. Besides, you'll meet them when you turn…eighteen too."

  "But…but what if I…"

  "What if you what?"

  I moaned. "What if I never turn eighteen? Have they thought about that, huh? Then they'll never get to meet me."

  He looked at me like I was an idiot. "And why wouldn't you…turn eighteen?"

  "Maybe I don't want to."

  "It's not like you have a choice," he said. "It's kind of just something that happens. You can't prevent it from happening."

  "But…but what if I don't want to?" I asked.

  He sat up straight. His blazing eyes stared at me between his long black bangs.

  "What do you mean you don't want to? You have to turn eighteen. Mom and dad will kill you if you don't. Literally. They'll hunt you down. You have no choice."

  I stared at him, wondering if he had tried. Had Adrian resisted them? Had he tried to prevent it from happening or had he just done as they told him to? Had they threatened him? Would they do the same to me? Would they try to kill me?

  I shook my head, tears in my eyes. "Guess I'll just never meet them. It'll just have to be their loss, huh? For not meeting me while I was still…not eighteen."

  I turned around and walked out the door, slamming it behind me, then stormed into my room and threw myself on the bed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  She was furious with Amy. Jazmine couldn't understand why the girl couldn't just embrace who she was and start to explore it. Had she no idea how happy Jazmine was that she was no longer the only one with strange abilities? It was one thing that Robyn and Jayden both had supernatural parents, but neither of them was a supernatural creature. At least not yet. For quite some time, Jazmine had felt a little lonely. She was glad that she had Adrian because he was like her, but it felt so good to have a girlfriend who could do stuff too. To be honest, she was crazy about Adrian, but he scared her from time to time. It was also thrilling and exciting because she never knew what he was going to do next, but she didn't feel safe around him. At least not all the time. She knew vampires weren't to be trusted, even though he was her boyfriend. She knew so little about him, and he knew so much about her.

  Jazmine threw her backpack in the hall, then rushed to the kitchen to get a snack. The smell hit her nostrils as she neared the door.

  "Mom?"

  Her mother was standing by the stove. Something was steaming and sizzling and smoking from it. She smiled.

  Is she cooking? And smiling? What the heck is going on here?

  Jazmine hardly believed her own eyes. Her mother had been such a mess since she lost Jazmine's dad and hadn't cooked for several weeks. She had been walking around in a haze, barely talking to Jazmine except to yell at her. And worst of all, she hadn't wanted Jazmine to embrace her powers at all. She had asked her to forget who she was. Her eyes had been red for weeks and her hair a mess. Now, she was standing there, hair neatly put up, eyes sparkling in pure—and a little eerie—excitement, wearing an apron saying:

  WHAT'S UP, WITCHES?

  "What…what are you doing, Mom?"

  "Cooking. What does it look like?"

  "But…you never cook."

  "Really?"

  "I mean you used to, but not lately."

  "I guess I’m feeling better," she said, then started to whistle as she took the chicken from the pan. It smelled heavenly. Jazmine could hardly believe it. This morning, she hadn't even been out of bed, and she hadn't for the whole day before either. Jazmine had been very worried about her, but apparently, she didn't have to be.

  Her mother fiddled with something, then served a plate of chicken and rice to Jazmine, pushing it across the counter, then winking at her.

  Jazmine stared, eyes wide. "What's going on here, Mom?"

  "Going on? Nothing much. Just decided it was time to get back into the game. I have applied for several jobs and have an interview tomorrow. Things are about to shape up for us, kiddo."

  Jazmine smiled. She tasted the food. It was awesome. No, more than that, it was…delicious.

  "Is that a smile?" her mom asked while Jazmine chewed. She had missed good home-cooked meals.

  "Yes," Jazmine said with a sigh of relief. "I am just so happy to see you…up and about again. Yesterday, you would hardly leave your bed at all. You've been so out of it since…"

  "Since your father died, I know, honey." She pulled out a box of ice cream from the freezer and put a couple of scoops in a bowl for Jazmine. "But that's over now, sweetie. My grieving time is over. I'm ready to move on."

  Chapter Fourteen

  The limo arrived in our driveway right after we had finished dinner. I stared at it through the window in my room, and my heart was soon throbbing in my throat.

  If that’s Duncan, then I am not talking to him. I refuse to.

  Of course, it was him. I watched him get out of the car, then walk to the house while wondering how to get out of seeing him. I thought about running out the back door, but I would get in so much trouble with my mom if I did so, it wasn't worth it.

  A second later, there was a knock. My mom had apparently told the guy to walk straight up to my room, probably adding something completely lame like she will be so excited to see you. I tried to ignore the knocking, but it didn't make it stop.

  "No," I said. "Go away."

  He didn't. Instead, he opened the door and walked in. "I'm sorry to burst into your room like this, but you won't answer any of my calls or texts."

  "Because I don't want to see you," I said and turned away from him. Looking at him might make me change my mind because he was so handsome I found it hard to resist him. I didn't want that to happen. I wanted to stand firm, stand my ground.

  "What part of go away don't you understand? Is it 'go' or 'away'?" I asked wi
th a small snort.

  "Robyn, I…I…" He sighed and sat on my bed.

  I tried to fight it but still turned around to look at him. He lifted his eyes, and they met mine.

  "You have every right to be mad at me."

  "Yes, I have."

  "And I am sorry. I’m sorry for having betrayed you that night with Stacy. But I had to do it. I just can't stand how you keep ignoring me. I meant every word I said that night, Sprinkles. I love you. I have been so miserable without you these past two weeks. I didn't lie about the part where I told you I would give up everything for you."

  "It's a little hard to believe you after what you did."

  "I know. I know. That's why I’ve come to…"

  "I really don't want to hear it."

  "But you have to. I promised Stacy that I would…"

  I lifted my eyebrows. "Stacy?"

  "Yes, Stacy. She's living with me now. With my family. That's what I’ve been trying to tell you all along. I mean, in the beginning, I didn't really know what was going to happen to her, so I couldn't talk about it, but now they have decided to keep her. She changed into one of us, and they decided she was allowed to. Except we have to keep her hidden to keep me out of trouble. If anyone finds out I’ve turned a human, unauthorized, then I can get in deep trouble."

  "What? You're telling me there are rules?"

  He nodded. "You're so young. I don't want you involved in anything. That's why I had to keep it a secret. But I begged my parents to let Stacy live, and they agreed. I am teaching her about being…one of us."

  "You can say the word. I know what you are."

  "Of course. I just can't get used to talking to a human about it. It doesn’t feel natural."

  "I wouldn't call any of all this natural. I think we're beyond that," I said.

  "Touché."

  I sat down next to him. "So, you say you have Stacy?"

  He smiled. "Yes. She's the craziest vampire I know, but she loves it. I’ve actually come because she wants to see you."