The vision fades away, and I’m left breathless, confused, worried, anxious, horrified… A hundred different emotions. I’ve been go, go, go since my first premonition.
My first premonition.
As I slowly breathe out and try to calm my racing heart, the events leading up the death of Jaidos by my hand comes back to me, playing like a movie in my mind, as clear and real as the vision had been just seconds ago.
The book I’m reading about an angel and a demon falling in love despite their differences is so riveting that only subconsciously do I realize my twin sister is coming my way. Sure enough, her slender hand covers the texts as Sophie sits next to me on my perch of tree roots.
“Are you going to waste this entire glorious day reading?” she asks with a giggle.
“I’m out of doors,” I retort. “Isn’t that good enough?”
“But normally, you’re the one begging me to run off and do this or do that.”
“I never beg!” I protest.
“Oh, yes, you do, Jessa Cobracross. ‘Let’s go skip stones.’ ‘Let’s skip class and see how high up we can fly.’ ‘Let’s—’”
“I can fly up higher than you,” I point out.
“No, you can’t.”
“I already did!”
“That was a fluke,” Sophie says.
She brushes her long dark hair with purple streaks over her shoulder. Usually, I'm the one to have my hair down, and hers is in a bun, braids, or tied up somehow. Today, for whatever reason, hers is down while mine is in twin braids. Of course, my hair is the exact same shade of dark with the purple streaks.
“I was sick that day,” Sophie continues.
“You know fairies don’t get sick,” I say, rolling my eyes.
Her glittery purple and blue wings flutter wildly. “It’s possible.”
“It’s unlikely,” I correct.
“Unlikely means it’s possible,” she says gleefully.
“Only you would be excited about the possibility of a fairy being sick,” I grumble.
“Oh, don’t be like that,” Sophie says. She reaches over, grabs my book, and tosses it away onto the moss.
“Hey!” I protest. “Why did you do that? What has gotten into you?”
Sophie shrugs and drops her elbows onto her knees, her chin resting in her hands. “I don’t know. I’m sorry, Jessa. I just…” She bites her full lower lip. “I have a bad feeling today.”
Instantly, I sit up straighter and take notice. Her gaze drops to the flowers blooming at our feet. It’s springtime, and all of Roseshield Grove is bustling with life of all kind—plant, animal, and fairy alike.
“Did you have a premonition?” I ask.
She purses her lips and wrinkles her tiny nose. “Of course not,” she snaps. “You know I don’t have that ability.”
I wince. It’s one of our only differences. I not only have premonitions, but I can also have visions.
“Still, a bad feeling isn’t anything to worry about. Everyone feels that at times,” I assure her, “even those without the ability to see a possible future.”
“You mean the future. Everything you’ve ever seen has come true.”
I shrug and untie one of the leather thongs holding my braid in place. Quickly, I untangle the strands and then re-braid the hair. “So far, yes, but that doesn’t mean that will always be the case.”
Sophie rolls her eyes. I’m not biased at all when I saw we have beautiful eyes. They’re bright blue, and the whites are tinged purple.
“And having a bad feeling about something doesn’t mean you should completely change your personality,” I say. “Normally, you’re the one reading or studying or tutoring someone like a good little fairy, and I’m the one begging you to pay me some attention for once.”
I hoped Sophie would laugh at that, smile, and suggest something we can do to make her feeling of unease to go away, but she just rubs her arms as if she’s cold.
“It’s a good book, by the way. I think you would like it,” I say to change the subject.
Sophie makes a scoffing sound. “Everyone knows that angels and demons will never fall in love.”
“Not all angels are good, and not all demons are evil,” I inform her.
“Oh, yes. I’m sure that’s right. How many demons go to Magical Hunters Academy?”
I say nothing. The truth is, neither of us knows how many demons attend because neither of us goes to the academy. It's something we've talked about and considered, but for now, at least, we haven't been willing to leave Roseshield Grove. Besides, after what happened to our parents, I’m not sure either one of us wants to become a paranormal hunter, slayer, or executioner.
Sophie continues, "And how many angels are employed to work there on the police force? How many demons are hunted, slain, or executed each year?"
I grab my book and shake it at her. “Not all demons—”
“You’re right. At least one or two are locked up in the Magical Prison.” My twin yanks my book away again and flicks her wrist. My book lands on a blanket of moss a second time. “Anyone who reads that trash is—”
“Hey!” I protest, shocked and hurt she would say something like that. “If you think you can write something better, then go for it, but you shouldn’t put me down for reading something you don’t like.”
“For reading something stupid,” she corrects.
I wince and jerk to my feet. “If all you’re going to do is insult me—”
“It’s Cody,” she blurts out.
“What about Cody?”
“I took your advice,” she says in a rush. “I asked him out. Well, I asked him to dance, and we did. It was so lovely! The stars were shining down on us—”
“You were in Sleeping Birch Grove?”
“Yes! It’s always so lovely there this time of year, with the red and white blossoms on the trees, the tiny petals falling to the ground. It was a perfectly romantic spot. We danced and sang, and I thought we had a perfectly wonderful time, so I… I did what I thought you would do. I went to kiss him.”
“And?” I ask, riveted.
“And he pulled back, apologized, saying that he hadn’t meant for me to think of him as more than a friend, and then dropped a bombshell.”
“What?”
“He’s dating Eloise Graysong.”
"No," I gasp. "No wonder you're feeling bad. Oh, Sophie, why didn't you tell me right away instead of acting so very strange?"
“I don’t know.” Sophie slumped her shoulders. Even her wings seemed to be less vibrant than normal. “Jessa, we’ll always have each other, right?”
“You know it.” I hook my arm through hers.
Ever since our parents died while on a mission to slay a demon, Sophie and I have been closer than ever. We’re the only family each other has. And, yes, when I first started the book, I almost couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of a demon being the anti-hero turned hero, especially because of the circumstances of our parents’ death. But I’ve always been a little more objective than Sophie. My twin loves her books and learning, but she tends to turn her nose up at anyone who isn’t willing to study hard. She loves to tutor because it means helping those who want to learn and do better. I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t fallen for one of the fairies she helps to tutor.
“Cody can have Eloise,” I add. “If he would rather be with her than you, then he is a fool.”
“Unlike Aiden Sunwinds,” she teases.
“Did I hear my name?” a familiar voice says.
I close my eyes and wince. Unlike what my twin might think of me, I am not about to be so bold as to kiss my crush.
“Maybe,” Sophie says, a twinkle in her eyes now. “I just remember I have to go do… something.” She waves to us and flies away.
Thanks, Sophie. I gulp, almost having a bad feeling myself about what is sure to be an awkward conversation.
Aiden gives me a small smile before noticing the book on the ground. “Is this yours?”
“No,” I say, which isn’t a lie. Fairies can’t lie after all. I’m borrowing it from a friend, but chances are, he’ll think it belongs to my sister.
Regardless of whether or not I can lie, I am not about to let him realize I’m reading an angel-demon romance.
“What is it about?” He turns it over to read the back. “An angel and a demon. That’s about as unlikely as a mermaid and a sea dragon.”
“You never know,” I say lightly. “Merfolk don’t just have to be with other merfolk, and angels don’t just have to be with angels.”
“And fairies don’t have to be with fairies.”
I flinch. Aiden is a fairy I want with a very specific fairy—me.
He's still looking at the book, so I take a moment to appreciate his beauty. All fairies are beautiful, but he’s especially so. His wavy black hair is a bit unruly and almost reaches his chin. His chiseled jaw gives definition to his face, and his dark wings are more feathery than mine. More than anything, his eyes are stunning. They’re amber, the white tinged with yellow.
“I would’ve thought Sophie would be the one to read this.”
“Maybe I’m borrowing it from her.”
Still not a lie. Fairies are masters of the tongue, able to twist and weave words to get out of messes. It’s the best we can do considering our propensity to never lie. We value honesty higher than honor, and if a human or anyone else ever dares to lie to us, well, let's just say that we do not care for that at all.
But even more than that, we physically cannot lie. Our mouths will open, but nothing will come out. We cannot. Rumors abound as to the source of the magic enchanting us so that only the truth ever passes our lips, but none can say for certain why that is the case.
Aiden smirks and opens to the front page. I hadn’t written in the book, but somehow, my name was sprawled there. The lettering is printed. Sophie. She hardly ever writes in cursive, and I think that’s because mine is rather elegant if a bit rushed.
“Jessa Cobracross, I do believe I’ve caught you in an attempt to deceive.”
“I do believe you might have, but in my defense… I don’t really have a defense.”
"So, you confess?"
I throw up my hands. “Yes, okay? I’m reading a romance about forbidden love, and it’s actually quite good. The closer the two become, the more chaotic the world is. Where I’m at, it seems like World War III is about to start, and it’s all their fault. I honestly don’t see how there can be a happy ending.”
“Do you want them to be together?” he asks.
“I honestly think the characters are good for each other. He tames her wild side, prevents her from being so impulsive, and helps her to consider better choices without forcing her to make them.”
“Of course an angel will help a demon, but how does the demon better the angel?”
“Angels can be so inflexible, so rigid. She helps him to take chances, to be daring, and to explore the world. For so long, the angel has always done as ordered. He’s a guard, after all, and following orders is in the job description. She makes him realize that not all orders should be followed and that being a rebel isn’t always a bad thing.”
“I think it’s interesting that the demon is the female character.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I just would’ve thought it would be a female angel and a male demon.”
“You don’t think a succubus could seduce an angel?” I giggle.
“Well, of course, but not all female demons are succubus.”
“True enough.”
He flips the book open to the first page. His eyes go back and forth. Aiden’s actually reading it?
“He’s not just a guard. He’s also a paranormal hunter. Was he supposed to bring her in? Is that how they met?”
I giggle some more. “You’ll have to read to find out.”
He peeks up at me over the top of the book. “Come on. You can just nod if I’m on the right track.”
“Nope. I’m not telling.”
Aiden mutters something under his breath.
“What was that?” I ask innocently. “I didn’t quite get that.”
“I didn’t think most romances have a male point of view.”
“There are some that have dual POV.” I shrug and then rush to add, “Or so I’ve been told.”
“But to start with it seems… Are you sure this is a romance?”
“It has to be,” I defend. “Unless…”
“Unless what?” He sits on the tree root in the precise spot where I had been before my twin interrupted me.
“Unless there’s no happily ever after. All romances have to end with a happily ever after, but if the only way to prevent the war is for them to be apart…”
“They can love from afar,” he suggests.
I shake my head. “That’s not how their love works.”
“Why not?”
I coyly bat my eyelashes. “You know what you’ll have to do.”
He groans and flips ahead. "How about you fill me in and then we can take turns reading aloud? I have to admit this has my interest."
“Somehow.”
“Yes. Somehow.” He pats the tree root beside him.
I start forward and then freeze. My vision fades away, replaced by pure light. No darkness for me, no pitch black. I’m not fainting.
I’m having a premonition.
All I see is fighting. Magical fires, people turning to stone, werewolf claws, vampire bites…
The paranormal creatures aren’t all evil. Somehow, I know this, but how can they not be considering they’re at war with the humans?
Humans don't know about fairies, witches, werewolves, and vampires. They most certainly don't know about the Magical Hunters Academy that trains all sorts of paranormal beings to be able to one day become paranormal hunters, slayers, and executioners. Those positions are so very important. Otherwise, humans might learn about us.
And then, without a doubt, a war would start.
But how? How does this vision come to be?
It’s only through tutoring with one of the elder fairies that I’ve been able to learn how to control my visions or premonitions, and I focus hard on learning the event or person that causes this war to happen.
Slowly, I see a shape, that of a dragon. The massive creature slowly shifts into a man with scaly skin, a man I recognize from the school. A master, but not just any master.
Jaidos, the dragon shifter and headmaster of Magical Hunters Academy. The one person who should least want us to be exposed.
Why? Why would he want this? And will it be possible to stop him? Or is Sophie right, and all of my premonitions are doomed to come to fruition?