OpheliaOne Year Later…I stepped out of class with my bag slung over one shoulder. The halls still smelled of ink, fresh coffee, and a touch of magic. Coop shouted at me from down the hall, his hair flopping messily over his forehead. Exchanging greetings, we made our way outside.The summer air was arm, but not heavy. Breezy enough to lift the edges of my top as I walked down the steps. I inhaled the scent of sunblock; thankful I remembered my own. Anti-burn charms helped, but they were a drain.“All ready for your classes next semester?” I asked him.He bounced on his feet, shouting a quick greeting to some girl who couldn’t stop looking his way. She was cute, with curly red hair that reminded me of amber in the sunlight. Therapy had been doing wonders for Coop, who had turned his life around just the way Nova wanted.“All set up! Dad helped a little, but he wanted me to get a feel for the paperwork side of things.” Coop rolled his eyes and grumbled, “But he wants to follow me arou
Ophelia“When my mother died, I felt nothing.” Jude said with that unsettling emotionless tone he sometimes used.Judging by the way Ryker looked at him, his brows slightly lifted, Jude didn’t talk about this. Not with him. And if he didn’t talk about it with Ryker, that meant he didn’t talk about it with anyone.The wind picked up, teasing strands of hair across my face. I brushed them back but kept my eyes on him.“I felt nothing even after the abuse. The weeks that followed were the hardest, but not in the way you’re thinking. Everyone tells you how you should feel. You should cry, because it’s good for you. You should scream, because that’s what they think grief is. You should be angry, because of the shit they did.” He paused,, then added, “If that’s what you feel, then that’s fine. Feel it, and don’t apologize if it’s messy. And if you need to gouge an eye out, you have my full support.” Biting his lip, he shrugged. “Too soon?”I couldn’t help it. I laughed through the ache in m
OpheliaThe moment the ground sealed, I lunged for the knife.I couldn’t quite feel my body. My limbs felt foreign, part of someone else’s being. All I knew was that I needed to get to Nova, even if that meant ripping a hole in our realm.My fingers scrambled in the sand, wrapping around the blood encrusted hilt.The portal was gone, but the black salt still remained and so did my magic. I could draw more from the island. I’d open the rift again, just for a moment, and drag her back with my bare hands if I had to—Jude intercepted me, plucking the knife from my fingers with ease. He passed it back to Ryker and began inspecting the wound on my hand. Magic stung at the edges of the torn flesh, forcing my enhanced healing to slow. It was the only way to get the blood around the entire circle.It would scar, but I didn’t care.“I know,” Jude murmured, catching me when my knees buckled. “Deep breaths, dove. There are people watching and not all are friendly.”Shit, he was right. Some of th
OpheliaSand exploded in all directions.The demons moved so quickly, all wings and teeth and eyes as they shot hundreds of feet into the sky. They tore at one another, shrieking and snapping, onyx blood spilling like droplets of rain.“Kill as many demons as possible and get that fucking ring off Morningstar’s finger,” Ryker howled over the mind-link.Taloned beasts with ribs that split open like monstrous jaws, and humanoid creatures with spider-like limbs, emerged next. They were all unique in their horror, completely different from the next. Some didn’t possess physical forms, but were wisps of shadow and smoke, clouds of poison that choked the trees and drained them of life.My father appeared at my side.“This is the most crucial part.” His voice was low and urgent, threaded with childlike excitement. “Tap into your mother’s gift. Use it to fuel the command you’re going to give them so that it reaches them all. Tell them to obey my every word. Tell them, my girl.”I hesitated, th
OpheliaJude’s answering laugher swept into my heart and chased away the lingering doubts. I felt light enough to fly, and held tight to my magic in case it was insane enough to make it happen.I grabbed him first, my nails grazing the short strands of his fade. Our lips collided on a growl, and my body molded against his in an entirely indecent way, but I couldn’t have cared less. When I pulled away, it was in time to see Ryker removing the cloaking charm over his own mark. Startled gasps rang out among the crowd as some of the many rumors were proven true.Whispers sparked like wildfire.“She’s marked—”“—both of them! She has both of them!”“Of all the luck!”The whispers melted into the crash of the waves and the lilting instrumentals of the live bands as I turned from Jude and grabbed Ryker, kissing him with just as much hunger.When we broke apart, our eyes still shining, we laced hands and made our way through the stunned crowd.For the first time, I didn’t care who saw me.I w
OpheliaThe following morning I sat cross-legged on the floor near the foot of Nova’s bed, fiddling with the strap of my sandals. I still wasn’t used to wearing anything other than sneakers or the occasional flip-flop. My fashion sense, as Nova unkindly put it, still hadn’t recovered from my trip on the ‘dark side’.It was the day of the biggest event of the year, the End of Summer bash, and coincidentally, the night of the full moon.Nova stood in front of a floor-length mirror, trying on earrings while simultaneously blending eyeshadow across her lid. Her platinum hair had been curled into loose waves, falling softly around her shoulders. I eyed the periwinkle two piece she had on, the top tying just beneath her breasts, pushing them higher.“Kaelith, get out!”Nova jumped and squealed, covering herself.I didn’t bother hiding my grin.A soft knock on the door barely registered until it creaked open. Nova’s father stepped inside, carrying two glasses of strawberry lemonade. I realiz