KIngdom of Embers (Kingdom Journals Book 1)

by Tricia Copeland

  “Yeah, me and my mom move a lot. I think she has gypsy blood.” I added a nervous laugh for effect.

  He cocked an eyebrow but didn’t change his stance. “Gypsy blood? What of your father?”

  “He’s not really in the picture.” I forced blood into the veins of my face for effect and looked to my feet and back to him. “So, do you have any books that might help me?”

  “We should, down at the end.” He titled his head towards the far wall but didn’t move. As I walked towards the fortune teller’s office, the hum in my brain intensified, and even if I’d wanted to, I couldn’t hide the annoyance. I figured it might work in my favor though. I needed to be able to list all my symptoms so he could put them together, think me to be a halfling vampire, and volunteer to help. He seemed like a hard sell type of guy, and I guessed I might need to lay it on thick.

  “Wow, do you hear that buzzing?” I looked up at the ceiling. “Maybe you should get the wiring checked on those lights?”

  “Perhaps.” He glanced up at them and back at me. “So, does your mother know you’re here?”

  “I have my last period free, so I thought I’d do some research.” I tugged on my uniform. “What do you serve in the back? I can’t eat school food, so I missed lunch.”

  “Just a bar back there, not really appropriate for someone your age.”

  “Oh, okay.” I inhaled deeply while scanning the book titles, trying to see if the rogue vampire had been there.

  “Why can’t you eat school food?”

  “I have all these allergies, and sushi is about the only normal food I can stomach. Really sucks being the new girl with freaky weird allergies. Doctors haven’t figured them out yet. I guess I’m an oddball. Mom keeps looking for different specialists, but I’m sick of being a human pin cushion.” His eyes blinked in rapid succession. “I’m so sorry. You don’t want to know about all my problems.” Shaking my head, I turned to face the shelves.

  “You sound like you could use someone to listen. You have other issues?”

  I’d caught his interest, and I just had to find out if he had a soft inside that would take pity on me. Some vampires didn’t. From the smell of things, there were a few in the back that were all animal. But the testosterone levels of the vampire before me weren’t nearly as high. Plus, he seemed old, older than Elizabeth. If anyone would know about a special child born on the summer solstice of 1999, it would be a thousand-year-old vampire with a powerful witch friend.

  “Just annoying stuff.” I spun back to the books. “You said down here.”

  “Let me help, child.” He lifted a crooked finger to the middle of the wall and approached it, taking a book off the shelf.

  “Here is a book on witch legends. Catalogs all the supposed witches from history.” He held the book out to me, placing his hand on my shoulder. Instinct had me pulling back from him. “I’m not gonna hurt you. You think I’d get any business if girls went missing after they came in here? Half the people that come see Chalondra are about your age.”

  “The fortune teller? I think something is wrong with her wiring too.”

  “Maybe so, you feel that humming, like in your brain?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded.

  “I do too sometimes. So, what else you got going on that keeps you so sick all the time? Maybe I have some books that can help that too?”

  “Really? I don’t know. My mom has had me see just about everybody: acupuncturists, massage therapists, naturalists. Everyone.”

  “Can you be more specific about your ailments.”

  “It’s weird. I don’t like to talk about it.” I glanced around the room. “I have a fever all the time, but I’m not sick. Actually, I’ve never been sick unless I eat something not on my diet. I’m tired all day, and I have all these sensitivities: light, sounds, electricity.” I aimed my finger at the lights.

  He walked towards me again, and I backed away. “Okay, I can see you’re not going to trust me much. Maybe my wife could talk to you.”

  I made my voice waver. “About what?”

  “I think we might have some answers for you.” He lifted his chin. “Eden.”

  A small woman vampire appeared in the doorway behind the counter. “This is Eden, my wife.” He motioned to her. “Eden, come here and talk to this child.”

  My phone buzzed, and I took it from my pack. “I have to get back to school.”

  “Just one minute. She is quite old and doesn’t move as fast anymore.”

  Still playing the clueless kid, I stood frozen in my spot. When she reached me, she held her hand out. “Nice to meet you. I’m Eden.”

  Her hands were as soft as my silk sheets, and her skin so thin it felt like it might melt away any second. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Alena.”

  “Alena, child of light,” the woman commented.

  “Right, that’s what my name means.” I tucked my hair behind one ear.

  “Your hands are quite warm.”

  “Like I said, weird temperature thing. Well, I have to get back to school.” I took a sidestep to the door. “I’ll buy this book.”

  “Oh, you can just borrow it dear. But I do think we can help you with some of your symptoms. Maybe when you bring the book back we can talk more,” the vampire gentleman said.

  “Thank you…” I hesitated, waiting for his name.

  “I’m Fahim. Come back in the daytime, though. Those people back there get pretty rowdy at night. If we’re not here, don’t open the door, just keep walking.”

  I creased my brow for effect. “How will I know whether you’re here from outside?”

  “You smell this?” Eden help up her wrist.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess.”

  “You’ll know.” She squeezed my hands and winked. “Don’t be scared child, we can help you.”

  “My mom would tell me not to trust you.”

  “What does your gut say?” Eden asked.

  “That I can.”

  “You trust your instincts.”

  “I may be able to come by tomorrow. How early are you open?” I looked between Eden and Fahim.

  “Ten.” Fahim replied.

  “Okay, thank you.” I bowed my head as I backed out the door.

  Putting my hair back in its elastic, I made my way back to school. Fahim, Eden, and Chalondra would have answers for me. I knew they would. In all those stacks of books, or in their thousand-year-old brains, there would be something about a witch born on the summer solstice of 1999.

  At the entrance, Sophie waited on the steps.

  “Hey, I was wondering if you already left, and then I saw Orm’s car.”

  “Sorry. I was in the library and lost track of time.”

  “Did you find the bookstore?”

  “Mother didn’t want me walking alone so I skipped it.” I lied in case she spilled the bookstore story to my family.

  “Did you see the video of your flip before it disappeared. Wasn’t that weird?” She started detailing all the chatter about me saving her.

  “I’m glad I got to you in time.”

  “If you don’t mind, let’s not tell my mom. She hates me being a flyer as it is,” she said as we reached the car.

  “My lips are sealed.” I opened the door for her.

  “Good afternoon, girls. Seems like there’s a lot to talk about back there? Something happen at school?” Orm asked from the front.

  Sophie proceeded to fill him in on my save in the gymnasium.

  “Wow, you girls have had quite a day.”

  “Maybe we should go straight to the shopping center,” I suggested.

  “Yeah, I think so.” Sophie agreed. “We only -have two hours to get back to school. Hey, maybe I can get ready at your place.”

  “That sounds like an excellent solution,” Orm put in.

  The plan didn’t seem very excellent to me as it put Sophie and her chatty self in close proximity to Mother. I really liked Sophie, but when she got excited about something, you couldn’t
shut her up.

  At the mall, he swung into the valet lot. “I believe I may be of some assistance carrying bags,” Orm said as he handed his keys to the parking attendant.

  “I can’t believe you have a butler slash chauffeur,” Sophie whispered to me.

  “He’s more like a babysitter slash bodyguard,” I told her.

  We made our way through several stores. With her olive skin and dark hair, everything seemed to look good on her. My curls seemed to change color with the light, vacillating from a medium brown to red. I still couldn’t figure out what hair color I had after almost eighteen years. My skin stayed forever light, never tanning, and I usually stuck with a winter color palette, choosing black, dark purple, and white shades.

  Trying on several styles, Sophie chose a red halter-top dress, and I found a black sleeveless one in a length Mother would approve. I had a vast array of shoes, but Sophie insisted on finding a pair to match her outfit, even after I offered to let her borrow some.

  “You haven’t been to Hannah’s parties. They can get out of control. I don’t want to risk ruining your shoes.”

  “Shh.” I put a finger to my mouth and glanced back at Orm, who was ten feet behind us. I hoped he wasn’t using a sound-enhancing spell.

  “We haven’t been to a party together at all. Do you drink?”

  “I’m allowed to with my mom. I don’t like beer, though.”

  “Good. You can keep me to a two-drink maximum.”

  “How crazy is this party?” I asked her.

  “Please don’t back out.”

  “I’m not backing out. I told Ganby I could get him in.”

  She grabbed my arm. “Ganby? Why did you do that? No one likes him.”

  “I know, but he took my book and wouldn’t give it back.”

  “He’s such a bully. I’m glad you’re not backing out. Do you know David?”

  “He’s Nick’s friend, right?”

  “Yes, he’s been talking to me. I think he likes me. And he’s so cute.” She bit her lip.

  At the shoe store, she found a pair of cheap pumps, and we headed back to the valet station to get the car.

  Reaching our condo, I heard Mother’s heels clicking on the wood floor us as we entered the foyer.

  “Sophie, so good to see you again.” She smiled at us.

  “Hi, Ms. Scott.”

  “So, you guys did some shopping?”

  “Yes.” Sophie pulled her dress from the bag.

  “What a great color. How about you, Alena?”

  I held mine up for her to see. Taking it, she fitted it on my shoulders. “That looks nice. We’ll be ready to leave in a minute. You girls can get snacks in the kitchen.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I took Sophie’s hand and led her to the kitchen. Finding some fruit, I blended in some cream and ice to make smoothies. We settled at the counter, sipping our drinks and talking boys.

  Rinsing our glasses and loading them in the dishwasher, we met Mother, Elizabeth, and Orm in the foyer. I wished I could’ve enhanced Elizabeth’s fashion choices and added one accessory with color to her black ankle books, black dress pants, and black top. The dark color accented her dark hair and ruby lips making the white skin of her neck, face, and hands glow.

  We loaded into the SUV, and Orm drove our group to the stadium. He, Elizabeth, and Mother sat stoically in the bleachers in front of us, watching us cheer. Why they hadn’t managed to at least try to fit in and pretend to know something about the sports I cheered for baffled me. I figured they placed their energies elsewhere. What did it really matter what other people thought anyway? In nine months, this would be history, I reminded myself.

  Nick found me as the team jogged to the locker room after the game. “Alena.” He stopped and waved from the fence surrounding the field.

  I cut my eyes to Sophie, who smiled and winked at me. “Go,” she mouthed.

  Glancing to Melody and then my family, I walked towards him. “Great game. Those were some nice catches.”

  “Yeah, we really played hard. You guys were great too. Thanks for cheering for us.”

  “Sure.” I smiled at him.

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

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.” His smile spread across his face. “I’ll see you there.”

  I waved to him and joined the cheer squad as we gathered our props. As I walked to the locker room, Melody caught up with me. “So, do you like Nick?”

  “As a friend.”

  “Well, if you do, it’s okay. I decided Andy is cuter anyway.”

  “Okay.” I breathed a sigh of relief as she walked away, thinking my luck might be shifting.

  Mother, Orm, and Elizabeth waited for me outside the locker room. “You were wonderful,” Mother said, kissing my cheeks.

  “Thanks.” My face warmed involuntarily.

  “Why are you embarrassed?”

  “Not embarrassed. It’s just nice to hear a compliment.”

  “I don’t give them out often enough, do I?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Well, be careful at the party. Call if you need us. I’ll see you tomorrow by noon?” she asked.

  “Yes.” I backed away.

  “Give me a kiss, then hug Elizabeth and Orm,” Mother told me.

  I kissed Mother’s cheeks and wrapped my arms around Elizabeth’s and Orm’s shoulders in succession, thanking them for coming.

  “You know how to get me if you need me,” Orm whispered.

  “Thanks.” I winked at him.

  “You ready?” Sophie called from behind me.

  “Good night.” I waved and turned to join her.

  Changing at Sophie’s place, we drove her mother’s car to Hannah’s. She had a big house set on a large property with a pool. Some kids were already swimming and lounging in the hot tub. We brought our suits, but the pool looked like a disaster waiting to happen, and I didn’t want to be there when it did. We found Hannah and Melody inside surrounded by a crowd of football players, including Nick and David. Joining them, we hung out talking, and playing darts and pool.

  Ganby’s stench hit me before I heard his voice.

  “Why is he here?” Hannah hissed.

  “Hannah.” I grabbed her arm. “Don’t make a scene. Be the better person. He wants attention. You harm him more by not giving it to him.”

  Her eyes bore into me. “You’re not half bad.”

  Ganby sauntered into the room, the smell of fear heavy on him and his friends.

  “I brought some booze.” He held a six-pack of beer up as he approached Hannah.

  “Thanks, Ganby, the beer’s in the kitchen, help yourself.” She turned back to Melody and restarted their conversation.

  He blinked and cut his eyes to me. I smiled at him, and he cocked an eyebrow.

  “Okay, this way, guys.”

  Thanking my lucky stars my weakness hadn’t been abused, I relaxed my stance, sitting on the hearth behind the group.

  When a slow dance started, Nick lowered himself to the bricks beside me. “Would you like to dance?”

  “Sure.” In the sea of people who’d grown drunker the later it got, it felt like we were an island of soberness. “You don’t drink?” I asked him.

  “I’m trying to get a scholarship for football. I don’t want to mess it up. What’s your excuse?”

  “I’m really lame.”

  “Works for me.” His arms tightened around me, and I squirmed.

  “Sorry.” He loosened his grip.

  “No, it’s okay.” I gripped the back of his shirt as his arms rested on my hips. It sucked not to be able to get close to anyone. He seemed like a nice guy, and I could picture liking him. Would he be my forever one? Probably not, which meant he wasn’t someone I could share my secret with. A tear escaped my eye, and I blotted it dry.

  “You okay?” Nick asked.

  “Sure.” I forced a smile. “The smoke is making my eyes water.”

  “We could get some air
.”

  Walking out to the front landing, he talked about football and the college he wanted to go to. I admitted how much we moved and how crappy it seemed.

  “Well, you’ve got senior year, and then you’re free, right?”

  “Yeah. I think so.”

  He laughed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “I don’t know. I think my brain is shutting down.” I blamed the comment on the hour. “I’m going to find Sophie.”

  Seeing her dancing with David, we waited till the song ended. Even though she wanted to stay and hang out with David, I coaxed her into calling it a night.

  “There’s nothing for me to eat here. I’m dying.”

  “Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Since when are you a drama queen?”

  “Since I saved your life.”

  Nick and David walked us to the car, and I drove us to her house. She’d only drunk one beer, but I didn’t want to risk an accident. Orm taught me to operate a vehicle, and Mother allowed me to get a license, although I seldom drove except on outings with her.

  At Sophie’s place, we tiptoed to the kitchen to find snacks. After loading our arms, we made our way to her room.

  “David says Nick likes you,” Sophie got out between bites of chips.

  “I don’t think my mom will let me date yet.”

  “Maybe she will. You could ask again. Do you like him?”

  “He seems cool.”

  “And he’s cute,” she supplied.

  “That too.” I smiled and popped a nut in my mouth.

  Getting dressed for bed, she reviewed the details of her time with David.

  “He seems like a good guy,” I told her climbing in my sleeping bag.

  “It’s funny how I never noticed him till this year.” She fluffed her pillow and lay down. “Well, I’m beat. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  Lying on the floor in the sleeping bag made it hard to relax. Like other animals, vampires didn’t like unknowns. The smells and sounds were foreign, and I stayed in a quasi state of restlessness till Sophie woke a little after nine.

  After we dressed, we joined her family in the kitchen for breakfast. Her mom asked question after question about the party, and I realized my mother wasn’t so different from other moms. It always felt like Mother harped on me and demanded to know everything. But Sophie’s parents did the same, asking if she met anyone special. Of course, when they asked about someone special, they meant someone she liked, not someone who was a witch, vampire, half witch, half vampire, witchvamp, or vampwitch hybrid. I was still fuzzy on which of the last two categories fit me.