by Aja James
Oh gods, I think I vomited a little in my mouth.
How could I have not known this? I’ve been blinded to Medusa’s power over me. I never saw the real power behind her.
“Wh-what do you want most?”
I hate that I stuttered, so I take a breath and swallow back the bile. I can’t let her win.
I won’t!
She kneads my organs painfully, pulling, squeezing, as if she’s extremely frustrated with them. Might want to hack them off with a dull knife, but doesn’t, because she needs them—me—for her depravities.
“No matter how I try, how many humans I inject your seed into, how many test tubes I fill, no offspring germinates from these useless tools,” she mutters with something like ire.
“How am I supposed to create more dragons if your seed doesn’t take root?”
Dragons.
Buzzing echoes of words come back to me through a long, dark tunnel.
Make up your mind, little cousin. There can only be one.
That pesky, disgusting insect landing on Benjamin…
Benjamin.
I close my eyes lest I give myself away with the terror I know she’ll see in them.
She doesn’t know about Benjamin. If she did, she would have gone after him a long time ago.
She can’t ever know about Benjamin!
I take a deep breath and open my eyes again, my mind razor sharp and crystal clear.
“So you brought me back here to do more experiments? Am I to understand you tried to make some human genes ‘take’ in me?”
A malicious, sociopathic smile spreads her crimson lips.
“Bravo, little Creature, you’re finally catching on.”
“Well, don’t just stand there,” I goad. “Get a move on. I’m not surprised my blanks don’t make babies in human females. I’m defective that way. Probably has to do with dying a few times. I’m probably like the walking dead.”
Her mouth turns down, as if she’s soured by the idea that one avenue of experimentation most likely leads to a dead end.
“But you should continue to experiment with me. If I have all those other ingredients in me, it shouldn’t be rocket science to get some wimpy little human genes in me too, right?”
I relax my body and close my eyes.
Have at it, bitch.
And once you make me into a dragon, I’ll be powerful enough to take you out. If I die in the process, well, at least you’ll never know that I have a son. Benjamin will come and hunt you dead to avenge his secret papa.
Maybe.
“You would endure the experiments willingly?” she muses in consideration. “Why?”
To one day destroy you, whoever the fuck you are!
“Because I want to be as powerful as you,” I answer instead. “I’ve never had power in my entire existence. I want to know what it feels like.”
“Don’t think you’ll ever escape my control, Creature,” she threatens. “Even if I succeed in making you into a dragon, you will be my dragon. I know how to turn you to my will.”
And I know that the process is not foolproof.
I may be an abomination. I may be a monster.
But I am my own monster.
Game on, bitch.
Author’s Note:
Dear Reader,
I am often inspired by songs from what I imagine to be each novel’s soundtrack. For this novella, I took it further by weaving in lyrics from the songs that inspire me into the book itself, mostly in the chapter titles.
I hope you love these songs as much as I do. They really helped me tell the story.
And special thanks to Cecile Smits for recommending “Under Your Scars” by Godsmack. It’s perfect for Ishtar and Tal!
XOXO
Aja
“Under Your Scars” – Godsmack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng7QrYgdItQ
“Colors” – OneRepublic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3pTNJ37y0c
“Let’s Hurt Tonight” – OneRepublic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wGN7D03Nho
“The Sound of Silence” – Disturbed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4
Other Books in the Pure/ Dark Ones series:
Book 1, Pure Healing
Book 2, Dark Longing
Book 3, Dark Desires
Book 4, Dark Pleasures
Book 5, Pure Rapture
Book 6, Dark Redemption
Book 6.5, Pure Awakening
Book 7, Pure Ecstasy
Book 8, Dark Obsession
Book 8.5, Pure Providence
Book 9, Pure Magnetism
Book 10, Pure Surrender
Book 10.5, Pure Darkness
Book 11, Dark Possession
Book 12, Pure Destiny
Glossary of Characters
Alend Ramses: The reigning Dark King of the New England vampire hive, formerly one of the Chosen. Gift(s): unknown. Weapon of choice: scimitar.
The Chosen: The Dark King’s personal guards and advisors.
Maximus Justus Copernicus: The Commander. Leader of the Chosen. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant white tiger.
Ariel Kyles: Maximus’s Mate. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant black panther.
Rhys Evans: Call sign to be designated. Previously Goya’s right hand. Now a member of the Chosen. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into a giant Golden Eagle.
Ryu Takamura: The Assassin. Executes special, often covert missions for the King. Known Gift(s): ability to turn to shadow. Weapon of choice: Ninja blade or ninjaken.
Devlin Sinclair: The Hunter. Hunts down and eliminates vampire rogues. Ensures security of the New England hive’s borders. Known Gift(s): photographic memory. Weapon of choice: varies, but usually a saber or gun.
Anastasia Zima: The Phoenix. The Dark King’s head of security, ensures safety of the King and assists Maximus with affairs of state. Known Gift(s): telekinesis. Weapon of choice: varies, as a lover and expert in all manner of weapons. Soft spot for daggers.
Enlil Naram-Anu/ Eli Scott: Formerly the Blooded Mate of Anunit Salamu and leader of the shadow warriors in Ancient Akkad. Known Gift(s): the ability to turn into air or wind, as well as shadows.
Ava Monroe Takamura: Ryu’s human wife and mate. Brilliant geneticist who developed and took a serum that makes her uniquely super-human, with the Pure Ones’ ability to heal, the source of their eternal youth and apparent immortality.
Kane (pronounced Kah-Nay) Takamura: Ryu and Ava’s son.
Grace Darling: Devlin’s Blooded Mate. Cyber genius who used to work unwittingly for Medusa’s empire.
Clara Scott: Eli’s human wife.
Annie (Annabelle) Scott: Eli and Clara’s adopted daughter.
Sophia Victoria St. James: Queen of the Pure Ones. Known Gift(s): the ability to see and influence Pure souls; the ability to see the true intentions of all beings.
The Circlet: The Pure Queen’s royal advisors. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Seth Tremaine: The Consul. Handles the Pure Ones’ diplomatic affairs. Talented negotiator. Known Gift(s): the ability to project a spiritual version of his physical self anytime, anywhere.
Ayelet Baltazar: The Guardian. Main responsibility is to guide and educate the Pure Queen, caretaker and mother figure. Known Gift(s): the ability to feel and experience what others feel using a physical artifact of the individual or direct touch; deep empathy.
Eveline Marceau: The Seer: Records and interprets Pure Ones’ potential future in the Zodiac Prophesies. Known Gift(s): spells, some telepathy.
Rain: The Healer: Ensures the health and vitality of Pure Ones, especially members of the Royal Zodiac. Known Gift(s): used to have the ability to absorb pain and poison from severe wounds using the needles of her hair, called zhen. Since she gave up her Gift for her Eternal Mate, Valerius, her zhen acts more as acupuncture needles, and occasionally used as weapons.
Jade Cicada: Former Queen of the New England vampire hive. Mated to Seth Tremaine. Now
dwelling with the Pure Ones at the Shield. Known Gift(s): Ability to draw others’ life force through touch and sexual intercourse; ability to heal or take life through touch.
The Elite: The Pure Queen’s personal guards. Part of the Dozen or Royal Zodiac.
Valerius Marcus Ambrosius: The Protector. Hunts down rogue vampires who hurt humans. De facto Leader of the Elite given that the previous leader was killed. Known Gift(s): fast healing, beyond even the typical Pure Ones’ ability to heal. Weapon of choice: Chained scythe.
Tristan du Lac: The Champion. Historically, he is the first warrior to be dispatched against enemies in one-on-one combat. In modern times, he helps train human Chevaliers. Known Gift(s): none. Weapon of choice: Excalibur or long sword.
Aella Alexander: The Strategist. Plans all manner of defense and attack vs. enemies and threats. Known Gift(s): speed. Weapon of choice: three chakrams, which can link together and stiffen into a longer-range hand-to-hand weapon or be thrown individually.
Cloud Drako: The Valiant. Trains Pure Ones and humans in combat. Known Gift(s): ability to exert strong compulsion on anyone who stares into his eyes. Weapon of choice: long spear.
Inanna: The ex-Angel of Death or Angel of the New England vampire hive under Jade Cicada, used to be a member of the Chosen. After discovering her Pure Soul as the daughter of a Pure and Dark One and having her Awakening, she is known as the Light Bringer. Human alias: Nana Chastain. Now a member of the Elite. Known Gift(s): the ability to see through any material and zoom in and out like a telescope or microscope. Weapon of choice: chained whip.
Gabriel D’Angelo: Inanna’s Blooded Mate. Used to be known as Alad Da-an-nim, born a Pure One, died and reincarnated as a human. Turned into a vampire by Inanna but retains his Pure Soul. Gift(s): none, but is a skilled martial artist as a human and was one of the fiercest Pure warriors in ancient Akkad.
Benjamin Larkin D’Angelo: Inanna and Gabriel’s adopted son. Known Gift(s): the ability to see people’s true selves. (Not common knowledge, though a few suspect the truth).
Tal-Telal: The General who led the Pure Ones to victory in the Great War. Inanna’s father. Known Gift(s): used to have the ability to see possible futures, unknown now.
Ishtar Anshar: Once a Dark Princess when Dark Ones ruled the earth. Tal’s Destined Mate, Eternal and Blooded. Inanna’s mother. Human alias: Estelle Martin or “Mama Bear,” owns all-things and pastry shop called Dark Dreams. Known Gift(s): the ability to transform into a giant snow leopard.
Medusa: Anunit Salamu (the Dark Star). The arch nemesis of the Pure and Dark Ones, as well as humans. Known Gift(s): used to have telepathy and telekinesis. Now, the ability to transform into the Hydra. (Shared form with Wan’er).
The Creature: an enemy of both the Pure and Dark Ones. Seems to be working with Medusa. Known Gift(s): the ability to transform into different humanoid shapes, some form of telepathy.
Dalair Al Amirah: Used to be the Paladin of the Pure Ones. Recruited humans and Pure Ones to their cause. Now a soldier in Medusa’s mind-controlled army. Known Gift(s): hyper-developed senses. Weapon of choice: Twin Dragon Blades or two half-moon crescent blades that can be combined into a disc.
Wan’er: Used to be the Pure Healer, Rain’s, handmaiden. Head researcher for Medusa. Known Gift(s): a fox spirit who has one life for each of its nine tails. Ability to extend life indefinitely by shifting into another “skin,” but limited to nine skins. Ability to transform into the Hydra. (Shared form with Medusa).
Ere: Sophia’s ex-teaching assistant and brief love interest.
Goya: the Tiger King. Maximus’s sire. Mostly animal. Known Gift(s): ability to transform into humanoid form. Natural form is a giant Siberian tiger.
Madison Jane Peterson (Maddie): Goya’s Eternal Mate. Human single mother of son, Logan, and marketing executive.
Animal spirits: Goya’s kinsmen. Pure, Dark Ones, and humans who can transform into animals, as well as animals who can take humanoid forms.
Character Relationships and Timeline
Table of Contents
Glossary
Prologue
Chapter One: Colors
Chapter Two: It’s Time That I Told You
Chapter Three: Do You See Me In Black And White?
Chapter Four: Under My Scars
Chapter Five: In Restless Dreams I Walked Alone
Chapter Six: Don’t Think Those Stars Won’t Align
Chapter Seven: I’ve Come to Talk With You Again
Chapter Eight: Hear My Words That I Might Teach You
Chapter Nine: If This Love Is Pain, Let’s Hurt Tonight
Chapter Ten: I See Colors, They’re Changing
Chapter Eleven: I Could Live Inside You Time After Time
Chapter Twelve: This Could Get Rough
Chapter Thirteen: Darkness
Chapter Fourteen: Fools, You Do Not Know
Chapter Fifteen: Within The Sound Of Silence
Epilogue
Author’s Note:
Other Books in the Pure/ Dark Ones series:
Glossary of Characters
Character Relationships and Timeline
