KIngdom of Embers (Kingdom Journals Book 1)

by Tricia Copeland

  “Why would mother create me if it were against the law?” My ten-year-old self demanded of Orm. “And don’t give me that love stuff from when I was three. I know all about the birds, the bees, vampires, witches, werewolves, elves, sprites, fairies, trolls, ogres, Vampire Edicts 101, Orm”—I rolled my eyes at him and held up three fingers—“the existence of our people should be kept secret, humans are not to be a food source, and vampire and witch unions should not bear children.”

  My mind wandered to a memory of the first day of kindergarten. “Okay, tell me how to tell if a witch is near,” Orm asked as he stopped in front of the school.

  “We’ve done this a hundred times. Witches give a humming vibration, I can hear it in my head, like when you do magic. And don’t worry, I remember cloaking too.” I jumped out of the vehicle before he could say more.

  I heard Orm rise, and I opened my eyes, trying to bring myself back to the present day.

  “Were you dreaming?”

  “No, thinking.” I straightened my back and slid to the front of the seat.

  “Perhaps you should retire for the night. You’ve had quite a day.”

  “I think I will. I still have homework to finish.”

  Glancing at the clock, I noticed it read nine thirty. My twenty-minutes of rest would tide me over so I could complete my schoolwork. Finding Mother seated in the living room, electronic tablet in her lap, I kissed her cheek.

  “That was a short session.”

  Orm would give her a full report, and I’d learned it was better to be up front with her. “I fell asleep.”

  “You must be exhausted.”

  “Good thing I had the free study period to get some work done. I love you. Good night.”

  “Good night, dear.” She stood and kissed my forehead. “Sleep tight.”

  In my room, I lifted a finger towards my tiny stringed bulbs. They lit up, instantly giving the room a warm glow. Slipping out of my dress and into pajamas, I stacked my books on the desk. I finished my physics and read through my European literature, French, and Spanish, and completed the exercises for each course. Brushing my teeth and hair, I slid into the bed and pulled my down comforter over myself.

  I rested uneasy, as I had since we’d moved back to LA. Images of Chase and Ivy had played through my mind each night but then they mingled with the face of the hostess from lunch.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Elizabeth called, snapping open my curtains and allowing the sun to pour into my room.

  “When has anyone described me as cheery in the morning? And since when do you talk like that? The day is no more comfortable for you than it is for me.”

  “Believe me, I would much prefer to sleep all day, probably more so than you. You are only a halfling, remember?”

  “How do you do it?”

  “We get up and do our jobs like everyone else. This is life. I brought you—”

  I zipped to her side, leaning into the rosemary plant and inhaling its scent.

  “Goodness child, the way you dart about. Your mother would reprimand you in a second.”

  “Please say you made rosemary bread?”

  “I did.”

  Running to my desk, I turned on my phone. “Why is it five forty-five?”

  “Your mother wants you at school early—”

  “Let me guess. Now she wants me to spy. I can’t do anything helpful, except feed her the gossip.”

  “Trailing rogue vampires is no job for a child.”

  “I’m not a child.”

  I whisked to the bathroom as she exited my room. Jumping to my closet, I picked out a pair of black slim pants and a white t-shirt that read: Unicorns are Real. It didn’t fit with my whole serious student slash cheerleader persona, but the events of the previous day had me needing an escape.

  WEARING UNICORNS ARE REAL SHIRT TODAY, I texted Kaylie.

  WATCH OUT WORLD. BACK TO MY SHORTS AND CAMI TOP TODAY. GAME TOMORROW SO WILL BE A UNIFORM DAY, she replied.

  WE SHOULD MASH UP PICS WITH OUR CHEER UNIFORMS TOMORROW.

  TOTALLY. CALL ME TONIGHT.

  WILL TRY. YOU KNOW MY SCHEDULE.

  DID YOU HAVE YOUR LANGUAGE TUTOR LAST NIGHT?

  MOM LET ME BAIL. My friends thought Mother made me take Russian and had a private tutor for me. It explained my nightly sessions with Orm.

  SWEET.

  After snatching a pair of black high tops from my shoe rack and a sweater to hide my tee, I made my way to the kitchen. Mother looked up from her coffee and paper. “Good morning. Thank you for getting up early.”

  “It’s fine. I hardly get to see Sophie, so it will give us time to chat.”

  “It’s nice you made a friend.”

  I kissed her cheek and slid into the bar seat beside her. “Any more news this morning? Did they find the vampire?”

  “No.” She sighed. “We’ll be working on it all day. I have a council meeting tonight.”

  “Third Thursday of the month. So, I get dinner with Orm and Elizabeth and can catch up on my sleep.”

  “Yes, and you need to make up for yesterday’s short lesson with Orm. He will deliver your lunch to school.”

  “What? No. I’ll take some meat, cheese, and bread with me.”

  “That is your choice. But no straying from campus until this vampire is apprehended.”

  “Got it,” I confirmed as Elizabeth lowered a plate of rosemary bread and berries in front of me. She set a glass of fresh milk beside it.

  “Thank you, Mr. Cow,” I said as I lifted the beverage to my lips.

  “The delivery guy still makes strange comments every day, but he gets what we ask for, so I nod and smile.”

  Finishing my fruit, I stashed a bag of nuts and an apple in my pack. Walking to my room to brush my teeth, I slipped into Orm’s study. I put the most worn book to my nose. Orm’s scent permeated the cover, and I tucked it in my bag. I wanted to keep tabs on the investigation, and the best way to spy on him would be to do a locator spell. After freshening up, I met Orm in the lobby. We made our way down to the garage, and I slid in the back seat and closed my eyes.

  “Taking every opportunity to catch up on sleep are we?” Orm asked as we reached the school.

  “Do you really think this vampire is a threat to me?”

  “If he is very old, then yes.”

  “Why would an old vampire risk getting caught?” I wondered out loud.

  “He, or she, may have nothing else to live for. A thousand years is a very long time.”

  “But younger vampires have stronger impulses, it makes more sense.”

  “We can’t be too careful until we know.” Orm parked beside the curb.

  “And I’d look like good vampire bait because…?”

  “My senses are not that acute, but Elizabeth reminds me you smell of honey and wild grass.”

  “Well, thanks for that, I thought I smelled like me. Ugh, the front hall with Hannah and Melody, here I come.” I slipped my shades over my eyes, reminding myself of the goals for the day. As it was, they were piling up. Spying for Mother took top priority. Also, I wanted to start investigating whether my 1999 summer solstice birthdate held any significance. Hoping following Orm that afternoon might offer some clues, I patted my bag with his book inside, unbuttoned and stripped off my sweater as I exited the car.

  “Nice shirt. See you at five, Alena.”

  “Thanks. You won’t tell Mother, right?” I lowered my glasses, shooting him by best puppy dog look.

  “Your secret is safe with me.” He winked.

  Dodging students on the sidewalk, I found Sophie in the front hall. “You’re early!” She squeezed my hand. I flinched, and she let go. “Sorry.”

  “No worries. What’s up?” I asked.

  “Everyone’s freaked out about the murder.”

  “Tell me about it. I ate there yesterday. That girl showed me to my table.” My shoulders shuddered.

  “No way. Are you okay?”

  “Well, I’m wearing a unicorn shi
rt, that about says it all.”

  “I’m guessing you’re staying on campus for lunch.”

  “Definitely.” I fit my hair behind my ears to pick up the conversation in the hall.

  “On a happier note, there’s a party at Hannah’s tomorrow after the game. If you wanted to sleep over, we could go for a while.”

  “I’d like that.” My mind raced, wondering if Mother would let me. I’d hung out at Sophie’s place. Maybe Orm scouted them out already. She’d let me spend the night at Kaylie’s after meeting her parents. I hoped there didn’t have to be a parent meet-up this time.

  “Okay, so we should go shopping for outfits. Want to go after school tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, that sounds good.” Mother hadn’t allowed me to attend a teen party yet. I prayed she’d change her mind. To be honest, I couldn’t imagine liking the gatherings, especially with the noise level and the smell of people packed into a small space. But, I needed to blend in more than ever.

  The scent of Nick’s cologne wafted to me, and he appeared in front of us seconds later. “Hi, Alena. Hi, Sophie.” He waved to Sophie, his eyes fixed on me. “Did you finish your homework?”

  “Yeah. How about you?”

  “Yep. Got it right here.” He slapped his backpack.

  “Nick.” Hannah called from over my shoulder. “Come here, I have party invites for you to hand out.”

  “Duty calls.” Nick pointed over my head. “See ya in class.”

  “Okay.” I nodded to him, hoping he wasn’t going to be a problem. If he liked me, I could do what I always did, make up a fake boyfriend from my last city. Maybe we’d be spared the awkwardness and keep things at the friend stage. I liked having guy friends.

  The bell rang, and Sophie wrapped an arm halfway around my back. She dropped her hand to her side. “Okay.” She forced a smile. “I’ll text you.”

  “Okay.” I smiled and waved at her. I liked hugs and would probably be an affectionate person, if allowed. But with a body temperature of one hundred three degrees, I couldn’t afford much human contact. At least my hybrid makeup held me to one hundred three, a full vampire heated to one hundred six.

  Focus, Alena. I brought myself back and, listening out for any theories on the murder, made my way to European Literature. I found Nick in the same desk as the previous day.

  “I saved you a seat.”

  “Thanks.” I took the chair behind him.

  “Hey, are you going to Hannah’s party tomorrow night?”

  “Maybe. I still have to ask my mom.”

  “Cool.”

  As the instructor assigned our first project, my brain’s gears started turning. We were to choose a topic and investigate the theme in different pieces of European literature and history texts. I couldn’t have designed a better excuse to research witches. As soon as he released us to work on our own, I pulled out my laptop and did a web search. Making a list of European books featuring witches, I also found the location of the public library.

  The bell rang, and I jumped from my seat, wishing I could use my witchy powers to speed the hours. Alas, to my knowledge, no being could skip time. Nick trailed behind me, and I reminded myself to move at human pace.

  “That sounds like a doozy of a project. What’s your idea?”

  “It seems kind of fringe for a history class. But I thought I’d focus on witches.”

  “Really? I’d figured you for a historical romance girl, maybe like Guinevere or Anne Boleyn.”

  I spun to face him. “Have you ever talked to me before yesterday?”

  His face turned beet red, making his blue eyes seem an even deeper blue. His light eyelashes fluttered. “I guess not.”

  “Sorry. Was that mean?”

  He looked at his feet and then back at me. His shoulders rose and fell. “I didn’t mean to offend you. Most girls on the cheer squad aren’t into any counter culture stuff.”

  We reached our calculus class. I turned to face him, rolling my eyes for effect. “It’s not like I’m going to start dressing in all black and telling fortunes.”

  “Yeah, Hannah would flip out if one of her—”

  I lifted my shoulders and set one hand on my hip. My eyes bore into his.

  “Whoa, I am clearly digging myself in deeper here.” He ran his fingers through his golden hair.

  “I’m going to take a break.” I pointed to the restroom across the hall.

  “Yeah, me too.”

  In the stall, I took slow deep breaths. At least it was morning and the smell of cleaner still hung in the air. He’d triggered my fight reaction, and I had to get my emotions under control. Hannah clearly owned the cheer squad in everyone’s eyes, and there was a formula for how we were supposed to be. I didn’t belong to Hannah or anyone else, and if there was one thing I hated, it was to be expected to be a certain way. As if being half vampire and half witch didn’t come with enough stress, a cheerleader couldn’t be smart or into counter culture, whatever that meant. Nick didn’t seem any better than Ganby. The bell rang, and I took another deep breath, wanting to hit a wall.

  I took out the calming oils Orm had mixed for me. Dabbing the solution of cedarwood, lemon, and lavender on my wrists, I waved the bottle in front of my nose sucking in the scent. In two seconds, my blood pressure and heart rate dropped to normal. Washing my hands, I shot across the hall and slinked around the back of the room to my desk on the other side.

  Thankfully the teacher hadn’t gotten to my name on the roll or I would’ve had to figure out mind compulsion to spell myself out of a tardy. It wouldn’t do to have Mother or Orm questioning a late attendance report. As it was, I’d need to explain the scent of calming oils on me. Thinking I might take a shower after cheerleading, I focused on the calculus lesson.

  As soon as the bell rung, Nick spun to face me. “I’m not sure where I was going with all that. My mouth gets ahead of my brains sometimes.”

  “I’m sorry I reacted weird. I’m new here, and I don’t get the whole Hannah thing. Let’s start over. What are you doing your paper on?”

  “King Arthur and his legends.”

  I cocked one eyebrow.

  “I know. I know.” He brushed past me. “But it’s European history. There’s not much else.”

  “We can share Mary Stewart’s The Crystal Cave. It’s got Merlin and Arthur.”

  “If you say so.” He stood back to let me through the doorway first. “I’ll see you in science.”

  “Okay.” I waved.

  After European literature and physics, I found myself walking to the courtyard with Nick. “The football players and cheerleaders usually eat over here.” He indicated a group of tables under a huge shade tree. Reaching them, Nick slung his pack under one of the benches and sat with the group of guys. Eyeing my choices, I chose a seat by Melody. It probably wasn’t good I’d been walking with Nick, and I wanted to smooth things over.

  “Hey, Melody,” I whispered in her ear. “Nick says he’s going to the party tomorrow.”

  “Since when are you guys buddies?”

  “We ended up with three classes together. He’s almost the only person who’s talked to me.”

  Her eyes cut to my shirt and then back up to my face. “What are you wearing?”

  “I don’t know. I’m exhausted. The whole murder at that sushi place has me freaked out. Did Sophie tell you I had lunch there yesterday?”

  “Why would Sophie tell me anything about you? I couldn’t sleep all night either though. That restaurant is just a few blocks from here. What if that had been one of us? My parents told me not to walk anywhere alone until they get this serial killer captured. Did you know they think it’s the same person as those other two murders earlier in the summer? That perp is majorly messed up.”

  Hannah leaned in front of Melody, eyeing me. “You better be ready to practice this afternoon. We have the pep rally and game tomorrow. I do not want to look bad in front of seventeen hundred kids.”

  “You won’t. I won’t let the team
down.” I may drop you on your head, but everyone would thank me for that, I thought. Pulling my calming oils from my pocket, I dabbed some on my wrist and brought it to my nose.

  “Good.” Hannah pulled Melody’s arm, and they walked towards Nick’s table.

  Thinking a nap would do me better than food, I set off in the direction of the library. Realizing the empty stairwell was a perfect place for a locator spell, I pulled Orm’s book from my bag. Clasping it in my hands, I cleared my mind. Within a few seconds, an image of him and Elizabeth at the food market formed. Stowing the book, I messaged Mother the little information I had, which consisted of the story Melody had recited to me. Finding a table at the back of the room, I rested my head on my folded arms. It wasn’t ten minutes later that I heard the bell signaling the end to lunch, and I made my way to French as I munched on some nuts.

  The Ganby kid stayed quiet, and with not one patient bone left in my body, I was grateful. When my sixth period class ended, I strolled down the hall looking for an empty room. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it from my pack.

  WE STUDYING TODAY? Nick texted.

  SORRY. HAVE AN ERRAND BEFORE CHEER PRACTICE.

  NO PROBLEM. CATCH YOU TOMORROW.

  As the students cleared the hall for seventh period, I found a janitor’s closet and slipped inside. Tucked in the center of the building, it was the perfect room to cloak my magic. I pulled Orm’s book from my bag and sat on the floor one leg crossed over the other. Hoping he was doing something more interesting than food shopping, I closed my eyes. My nose twitched with the irritation of the cleaning solutions, but I blocked out the sensation. Clutching the book with both hands, I focused on Orm. It took a few seconds to visualize his location. He walked the aisle of a garden shop with Elizabeth. Obviously, he wasn’t up to anything exciting. Perhaps they decided Elizabeth shouldn’t venture out alone.

  Considering the risks of walking to the library, I decided to take my chances. I headed outside and down the street, making sure to be extra wary. In a few blocks, I found the main entrance and sucked in a large breath. Sensing no supernatural beings, I approached the computers and typed in a search for witch literature. I located the books, registered for an account, and checked out. When I made it back to school, my teammates were changing in the locker room.