by Twyla Turner
She walked away, and the thin trailer door slammed closed. A few moments later she came back with two trash bags filled with my stuff. I didn’t want the clothes. I wanted my art set, drawings, and my parents’ wedding rings.
I searched through the bags and my art set, and drawings were there. But the rings were not. I looked up at my old foster mom, and she smiled a sinister smile at me. Apparently, the battle for love and light hadn’t extended to her.
“Where are my parents’ rings?” I asked softly, trying to contain my fury.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Carolyn feigned ignorance.
“I know you have them. So I’ll ask one more time. Where are the rings?” I said slowly, just to make sure she understood.
“I. Don’t. Know. What. You’re. Talking. About.” She emphasized each word as if I was an idiot.
My rage exploded, and before I knew what I was doing, I had her by the collar of her t-shirt. My face only inches from hers. I could see from the reflection in her eyes that my hidden imprints were now glowing with my anger. Carolyn’s eyes widened with fear. One of the neighbors had left some food on the grill next door. I felt the flames, and I pulled them towards me. I stretched out my hand, and a fireball shot out from the grill and then stopped and hovered above my open palm.
“I’ll burn this trailer to the ground if you don’t give me those rings,” I growled as I brought the flaming sphere close to her face so she could feel the heat.
“I-I have them r-right h-here.” Her voice trembled as she dug into her jeans’ pocket and brought them out.
I snatched them out of her hand, grabbed the bag of items I wanted to keep, and then tossed the fireball back into the grill without even looking at it. I looked over at Rafe and nodded towards the entrance of the trailer park.
“Let’s get outta here.”
I didn’t look back, but I could feel Carolyn’s eyes burning a hole in my back. Joy spread through my soul that I didn’t ever have to see her again.
~~~
Night had fallen on our way back to the opening to Empyrean. In the night sky, I could see the glow of firelight. I could feel it too.
I couldn’t help myself. A smile spread across my face.
“This should be interesting,” I said grabbing Rafe’s arm and pulling him towards the firelight.
“Why do you say that? Is there something coming I should know about?” He asked confused and on guard.
“No, not really. Just some old…friends.” I said cryptically, and Rafe raised his eyebrows at my tone.
That was all I was willing to say as we made our way over the rocks. We rounded a huge boulder and just as I knew they would be, there was a group of my old classmates hanging around a bonfire drinking. I saw Hailey sitting off to the side, shooting daggers at one of the girls who was apparently Aiden’s new fling. If his arms wrapped around her was any indication.
As we came into the light, everyone turned to stare at us. I heard a few gasps, and I figured they had all thought I had run away, was kidnapped, or dead somewhere. Hailey spotted me, and then Rafe. Her mouth dropped open in shock. I glanced over at Aiden, and he looked just as stunned. Especially, when he looked me up and down, like the douche, I realized he was.
“Hey, guys.” I waved happily.
“Hey, Imogen!” Aiden waved back. “You look great!” He eyeballed me, and his new girl elbowed him in the side, as I felt Rafe tense up next to me at the same time.
“Thanks.”
“Who’s this?” Hailey asked as she walked towards us. Her eyes ate up Rafe like he was the dessert buffet at the Golden Corral.
“This is my…” I had no idea what to call him on Earth. Kids my age would freak out at the thought of marriage.
“Husband,” Rafe answered for me.
Hailey halted her steps. “Husband?!”
“I’ve had a lot going on since I left.” I shrugged nonchalantly.
“What did you pay him to marry you, ginger?” Hailey sneered with jealousy.
I laughed in her face, unfazed by her blind hatred. “You’ll never change, Hailey. Have a nice life.”
We started to walk away, and I heard her call me a bitch under her breath. This is for you, Mina. I smiled deviously.
Without looking, I made the flames of their bonfire burst several feet in the air. I heard them scream as I turned the flames into the shape of a dragon. The dragon flapped its wings and screeched loudly. Then it flew up and dive bombed Hailey, and I heard her shriek as the dragon disappeared right before it reached her.
I turned back to look at her, and she looked up at me with terror in her eyes. I let my true-self be seen for a fraction of a second and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head at my imprints, glowing eyes, and wings.
I turned back to Rafe, and we headed for the opening back home. I had to admit that Faery school was coming in handy.
We stood for a moment in front of the invisible door back to Empyrean. I looked at the Arizona night sky. It was nothing compared to the Hikari sky at night, but the stars still sparkled. I smiled and took a deep breath, finally feeling some closure to my old life.
I looked at Rafe, and he smiled at me. I pulled out my parents’ rings. I slid my dad’s large band over Rafe’s finger on his left hand. Then he took my mother’s ring and slid the diamond and ruby band over my finger.
“Now, that feels a little more official to me,” I grinned up at him. “Besides, it feels nice to know we’ll have a piece of my parents with us all the time now.
“Whatever makes you happy, Immy,” Rafe said and then kissed my lips.
“Then let’s go home.”
He clasped my hand, and we stepped through the opening. Back to Empyrean. Back to my real life faerytale.
The End
For now…
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Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank my parents, my aunt and uncle, Ms. Price, and Susan for being the first people to believe that I could be a writer. Your encouragement and kind words led me on the path to publishing my first YA Fantasy novel.
I also want to give a shout out to Nadia, Sammy, Patrice, Se’Quasha, Cosalyn, and many more. You all are always there to give me input and constant reassurance. You have been my cheerleaders, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you.
Thank you, Taria, my cover artist, for putting up with my erratic mind. Your talent and patience are astounding. I’d also like to give my recognition to your niece Bryanna for her amazing job modeling for the cover. She truly brought Imogen and her fierceness to life.
And finally, to my avid readers, present and future, you are the reason I keep going. I am so grateful to have you in my life.
I hope I continue to make every single one of you proud.
About the Author
Twyla Turner currently resides in Arizona. She was born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, a Midwest girl at heart, though constantly moving from place to place, and always thinking of where she wants to go next. Having been an avid romance novel reader since junior high and minoring in Creative Writing. She felt that it was finally time to start combining her love of travel and writing, as well as her life experiences and putting them down on “paper”. Which experiences, she’ll never tell…well maybe, if you ask nicely.
Other Book by Twyla Turner
The Struck Series:
Star-Struck
Awe-Struck
Damaged Souls:
Scarred
Open Wounds
Healed
THR3E
Love in the Wild
Curvy Ever After:
Forbidden Curvy Girl Fairy Tales
Chasing Day Series:
Chasing Day
Catching Day
Connect with Author
Website:
www.twylaturner11.wix.com/novelswithcurves
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