Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 271 - Chapitre 280

"This is ridiculous," I said throwing myself into a chair. I was completely stressed out. So many emotions skittered through me, I didn't know which direction to turn. "We don't have time to be hanging out and attending celebrations. It's already been four days. We need to find that piece of the crown and get out of here." The world would become completely dark in a little over a month and we still needed four more pieces of the crown. On top of that, I needed to find out what happened once we had all of the pieces together. My worst fear was that I'd get the crown and it wouldn't do any good. I'd go against Sharra and she'd finally succeed in taking over my body. If I failed, the world would go dark and everyone I loved would be destroyed. The thought terrified me. I took a deep breath. The first piece of the crown had entered my body after I destroyed the assassin. Now, the only reminder that the crown existed came in the form of a single small diamond in the center of my

Jesse and I stood at the base of a gaping cave. I sent out a silent plea to Troy and Pops. If they were here, those two could talk some sense into him. The entryway looked to be a mile wide and half as tall. The water had already risen to just under my knees. "I don't think this is a good idea," I said. "The tide is coming in fast." "We'll just take a quick look around, and if we can't see anything, we'll come right back out."I took a calming breath. "I don't know about you, but I have incredibly powerful vision, Jesse. I can see to the back of the cave. All that's inside is rock, rock, and more rock. Rayne isn't in there. Nothing living is." "I want to believe you." He gave me a pained look before continuing, "But I have to see for myself. I hope you can understand."Sadly, I did. Turned out Jesse was as stubborn as I was. "Fine, how fast are you?" I asked, trying to contain my worry.He shrugged. "Pretty fast." "Awesome, let's race." It was apparent by the look on his face

I finished another shower, dried off, and donned a sea foam green pair of pants and matching bandeau top. I spent a little more time on my hair since it was for the coronation, pulling it high on top of my head before braiding it, then wrapping it in a bun. In between dressing and doing my hair, I went to the window in search of a dragon. Each time I left disappointed. After returning from the cave Jesse and Rayne had gone to his room, promising to meet me at the coronation. I went past his door and listened. It was quiet so I headed downstairs. Throngs of gargoyles talked excitedly as they walked in the same direction. I guessed they were headed to the coronation, so I followed. At the large opening to the throne room, a warrior stopped me. The space had been decorated with a myriad of golden strands, like streamers hanging from the ceiling between the peculiar round lights. The gargoyle turned slightly and bowed. "Welcome, Jasmine of Sharra." His voice boomed through the corridor.

"Let's get out of here." Rayne said, turning away from me and toward the entrance. "I can't stay here anymore." She touched the wall and it began to rise. I glanced sideways, hoping to get Jesse's attention, but he wouldn't look at me either. Troy still held me fast. "It's okay," he whispered. I didn't know if it would be. I crossed my arms and waited as the wall retreated into the ceiling. On the other side, Rave and Scotch were waiting for us. My neck prickled. Something about them looked off. "Sharra will see you now," Scotch said. His voice was entirely void of character and his brilliant orange wings had faded to dull umber. Worse, he mentioned Sharra. Rave and Scotch had become Akuma, soulless demon creatures. Rave took hold of Jesse, but Jesse forced himself from the gargoyle's grasp. "Let me go." Scotch tried to grab me, but I scooted out of the way as Troy half shifted and ripped off the gargoyle's arm. He didn't even flinch. "Jesse, take Rayne and get out of here. Now,

I opened my eyes for real this time. They went immediately to the window. It was even darker than I remembered, and I wondered how long I'd been gone.""Jazz." Troy was abruptly at my side, sitting beside me on the bed. Relief covered his entire face like a blanket."Where are we?" I rubbed at my temples, trying to regain my bearings. "We're still in the gargoyle realm," he said. His eyes shone with unshed tears. "I didn't think you were coming back to me." With infinite care, he brushed some hair off my forehead. "How long have I been asleep?""Eleven days." He scooted closer. "You look better, like you've eaten."I glanced down at my hands. "I did.""Oh?" He was understandably alarmed by the revelation. "How?"I touched the wooden bear on my wrist. "Christopher," I said plainly, knowing I needed to tell the truth. "That's impossible." His voice was hard. "I've been with you the whole time and he hasn't been here.""Well," my voice lifted along with my gaze. "He was able to reach m