Elemental Dawn (Paranormal Public) Read online

  Elemental Dawn

  (Paranormal Public, Book IV)

  by

  Maddy Edwards

  Copyright © 2013 by Maddy Edwards

  Cover Design © Sybille Sterk

  This novel is a work of fiction in which names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is completely coincidental.

  All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without the written consent of the author.

  My blog: http://maddyedwards.blogspot.com/

  My goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5288585.Maddy_Edwards

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  “Christmas break was a bad idea,” was a sentence that no school-aged student had ever uttered ever until the moment, when I, Charlotte Rollins, became the first. It was insanity to think such things; I knew that. Christmas break is a time that students look forward to all fall. No school, sleep in, movies with friends, presents. Not to mention all the good food. If I had still been at my old high school, I would have been ostracized and possibly kicked out for even thinking something so horrible.

  Of course, maybe if all students had gone to Paranormal Public, been attacked multiple times by demons, the undead, and hellhounds, and had friends die, they might feel differently.

  Then again, maybe not.

  But seriously, I should have just stayed on campus over Christmas.

  Instead, I left the protections of Public.

  I had to.

  My little brother needed me.

  Of course, that’s not where the trouble started. Or at least not the big trouble. The big trouble started with a murder.

  “I don’t mean to alarm you,” said Ricky calmly, “but you know those strange happenings I talked about?”

  “Yes?” I said warily.

  A prickle of fear trickled down my spine.

  “I think one of them is here now,” he whispered. Instantly I checked my ring. It indicated that I was safe; we were protected. I had been assured of that since my first semester at Public.

  This fall I had insisted that I be allowed to visit Ricky over the holidays, even if only for a little while. I had finally gotten permission, and the senior paranormals had assured me that they would do everything possible to keep me safe while I was outside the walls of Public. So far, I had come and gone from “home” without incident.

  I had been visiting Ricky for nearly a week and it was almost time for me to leave him and go to Sip’s. On the one hand, I couldn’t wait to see one of my best friends. I was used to seeing her all day every day, and though we had kept in touch by phone it wasn’t the same. On the other hand, seeing Ricky was like breathing: necessary, and hard to do without. I loved every minute I spent with my brother, and every moment I was with him only made me more sure that I had to protect him in the months and years to come.

  “She’s coming closer,” he whispered hoarsely. “She looks scary.”

  Images of Malle, the former president of Public and the leader of the demons, flooded my mind.

  She had come for me while I was with the one person in the world who mattered most. My little brother Ricky.

  My mind raced as I tried to think of a way to protect us. My breath quickened. But for some reason, Ricky didn’t look scared at all. It was the first time I had truly felt that I should tell him what was going on. Maybe he’d be scared, but that was probably healthier than being oblivious given what was going on out in the world.

  “Ricky,” I said frantically. “Get behind me.”

  We were sitting on the cold grass, facing each other cross-legged and eating our homemade lunch. Well, Ricky’s homemade lunch. He was still convinced I couldn’t cook, which apparently included making sandwiches.

  He stared at me, his big gray eyes growing large. “So it is true?” he breathed.

  “Now is not the time to argue,” I insisted. Ricky still looked unconcerned.

  “She’s pretty,” he murmured, staring over my shoulder.

  I glanced up at the sky. The clouds were darkening and lengthening. I felt a cold front coming in, where only a few minutes before I had wanted sunglasses to block the glare of the sun shining warmly on my face.

  “Ricky,” I gritted out. “This is no time to check out girls. Get away from here. I’ll hold her off.”

  “She isn’t coming any closer,” he said thoughtfully. “She’s just staring at us. Strange thing to do. Pretty girls are usually too cool to stare.”

  “Oh, like you’re such an expert,” I muttered. My heart felt like it was jumping in my chest.

  “If guys could major in girls we’d all get As,” said Ricky. “At least for studying, maybe not for execution.”

  “Ricky!” I sputtered, momentarily shocked. I scowled at him, forgetting the danger.

  He rolled his eyes at me. “I’m not saying I’m good at asking a girl out, but the only way I’m ever going to be is if I practice.”

  “Great,” I choked. “My brother is already planning on romancing every girl in the county. Get away while you still can!”

  “I was thinking more like the state,” he said, ignoring me. “Maine’s big, but there aren’t a lot of people.”

  I wondered if it was a demon, or a darkness mage. It couldn’t be Malle if Ricky thought she was pretty; Malle was middle-aged and not likely to appeal to my little brother. But I didn’t dare turn around to find out.

  Could I fight off a senior darkness mage who had gone over to the demons? I didn’t think I could on my own, but I had to save Ricky at any cost.

  “It’s always a good time to check out girls,” Ricky informed me, still holding his sandwich. “I thought you were kidding, but you aren’t, are you?”

  “Ricky,” I said, exasperated. “Move!” My little brother did not budge. Now both our lives were in danger.

  Chapter Two

  “I mean, she’s dressed all in black, with long black hair, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to kill us.”

  My heartbeat slowed a little. That description did, in fact, sound like a darkness mage, but maybe not a darkness mage who wanted to kill me. The only person she ever wanted to kill, besides demons, was her short blond roommate.

  Scarcely daring to hope, I slowly turned my head around. Ricky still hadn’t moved, so fascinated was he by my changing facial expressions.

  A grin spread across my face. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ricky frown in confusion. I had gone from terrified to delighted in a matter of seconds.

  Lisabelle Verlans, standing a few feet away from us, also broke out smiling. Quickly she made her way over the snowy ground to where we sat.

  “There you are,” she said, like I had somehow been hiding f
rom her. “I recognized that one’s gray eyes, but I wasn’t sure it was you.” She pointed to Ricky, who raised his eyebrows. “I try to stay far away from small children whenever possible.”

  “I have a name,” he informed her loftily, not entirely sure what to make of this strangely dressed girl who appeared to be friends with his sister. “And I am not small.”

  “Sure you do,” said Lisabelle, not even bothering to look at him. “And yes you are.”

  Before Ricky could say anything else I made introductions, glad when Lisabelle stretched her hand out to shake Ricky’s. Unfortunately, that exposed the new tattoo on her arm.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said.

  “So you think,” said Lisabelle tartly.

  “Why wouldn’t it be nice to meet one of my sister’s college friends?” he wondered.

  “Give it five minutes,” said Lisabelle dryly.

  With the base of her tattoo revealed, Ricky couldn’t take his eyes away from my friend’s pale arm.

  “Wow, is that a real tattoo?” he breathed, looking at Lisabelle with wonder.

  Her eyes shone with a deep light I couldn’t read. “Yes,” she smirked. “I have witnesses to prove it.”

  I flinched a little at Lisabelle’s evil grin. The tattoo was still a sore subject with my other best friend, Sip Quest. She had had a fit when Lisabelle tattooed herself, and ever since then she had taken every opportunity to make snide comments about it.

  “I want a tattoo,” said Ricky eagerly.

  “Oh? Of what?” asked Lisabelle with a sly glance at me.

  I gave her a dirty look in return.

  “Not sure,” said my little brother. “I’m thinking a dragon.”

  “You’re way too young for tattoos,” I informed him.

  “I’ll be eighteen before you know it,” he said, puffing out his chest and giving me a mulish look. “I’m not a baby anymore.”

  I wanted to laugh. I had never seen this side of him before. If I hadn’t known better I would have said he was trying to impress Lisabelle. I glanced at her sideways, pondering this new side of my little brother.

  Then I raised my eyebrows at my friend. “I didn’t know you were coming,” I said, the question hanging between us. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Ricky meeting my friends, though left to my own devices I’m not sure I would have picked Lisabelle to be the first one he met. No, it was something else. Lisabelle would never cut her vacation - granted, her idea of a vacation was firewalking on the Dead Sea, but whatever - to come here and see me unless something was terribly wrong.

  “Sip’s okay, isn’t she?” I breathed, terror suddenly clutching at my heart. Lisabelle looked calm. I did think that if something had happened to one of our friends she would show some emotion, but it was Lisabelle after all.

  Sip and I had once discussed that a good way to get killed quickly was to accuse Lisabelle of being emotional. She did not appreciate such insinuations.

  “Until tomorrow,” said Lisabelle quietly.

  The fear returned to close around my heart.

  “What happens tomorrow?” Ricky chirped in, unable to contain himself.

  A smile sliced Lisabelle’s face. “Charlotte and I go visit her.”

  “You’re going too?” I asked excitedly. It had always been the plan that I would visit Sip at the end of winter break. I liked her parents, and her house was warm and inviting, but the idea of Lisabelle's visiting had been axed because of her aforementioned tendency to think of things like firewalking as fun.

  “Yes,” Lisabelle sighed. “Is there somewhere we can talk? Privately? So that pipsqueak can’t hear?”

  “Who you calling small?” Ricky asked, glaring.

  Lisabelle looked down her nose at Rick until he stopped glaring and gulped. I hid a smile. Ricky had definitely never met anyone like Lisabelle before, but I had a feeling that after he got over his initial shock the two of them would have a lot of fun together, not that Lisabelle would ever admit she liked him.

  “Ricky,” I said. “I’m going to walk you home, then Lisabelle and I are going to get some dinner. After that we’ll be back.”

  “But we were going to have dinner together,” he complained. “Why can’t I come?”

  “Because we are talking about makeup and boys,” said Lisabelle dryly. “Stuff you have no interest in.”

  “You’re lying,” said Ricky. “You aren’t wearing any makeup and you obviously have never had a boyfriend.”

  Before Lisabelle could reply he stalked off. I started to follow, but then I realized that Lisabelle was still standing there, stock still.

  “Lisabelle?” I asked.

  “Mouthy little thing, isn’t he?” she asked thoughtfully, frowning. “Hum.”

  I stared at my friend. She looked lost in thought, and she wasn't really paying attention, either to me or to her surroundings.

  “He knows I’ve never dated,” she mused, starting to follow me when I made an impatient noise deep in my throat. “Little children are fascinating.”

  “I’m not that little,” Ricky yelled from up ahead. “Sheesh. How many times do I have to repeat myself to be heard?”

  “Little enough,” Lisabelle yelled back.

  “This is going to be a long evening,” I muttered as I fell into step next to the darkness mage.

  Once Ricky was safely at home, still grumbling about not being let into our secret conversation, Lisabelle and I headed back to the cafe I had worked at before I left for Paranormal Public. The clouds were becoming thicker and darker, holding the promise of snow in their pillowy depths. Darkness had now fallen, and the only lights were the street lamps dotting our way, but somehow I was not scared. As far as things that went bump in the night went, Lisabelle was about as bad as they come, and she was on my side.

  “So, spill,” I said, the instant we were out of earshot from my house. “What’s going on?”

  Lisabelle shook her head. “All our friends are fine - except for Lanca.”

  “She’s hurt?” I cried. “Lisabelle, how could you wait to tell me? You should have pulled me away immediately.”

  “No,” said Lisabelle quickly, rubbing her forehead and looking off into the distance. It hit me with a prickle of worry that this was one of the few times my friend had ever looked tired. Usually she was a rock, but now there were dark circles under her eyes. “Her father was murdered. The Vampire King is dead.”

  Chapter Three

  I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart squeezing for my friend. I was so upset that I couldn’t think of anything more intelligent to say than, “What?”

  As we walked Lisabelle told me what had happened. The king’s party of vampires had been ambushed by demons. In all the turmoil of the last few years, it had been the first attack on an important senior paranormal, and it would inevitably be the start of a war with the demons.

  “King Daemon is dead?” I said again and again, as if somehow, if I just kept saying it, eventually Lisabelle would tell me that no, he wasn’t, she had just made the whole thing up for some as yet unexplained reason, and to stop being an idiot.

  “The darkness is forming,” she said ominously, kicking a pebble out of her way. “They are no longer an unorganized group. President Malle has brought them together as one and they are starting to fight like it. They are power hungry, and they’re not going to stop until all the paranormals who oppose them are eliminated.”

  “How could they kill King Daemon?” I said, my stomach in knots. “I thought he was protected.”

  I hated to admit it, but I was really worried about my own family’s protection. I felt safe enough on my own; I was becoming practiced at fighting off the darkness when it attacked me. But Ricky. . . .

  “Don’t worry about your little mongrel of a brother,” Lisabelle advised. “King Daemon was careless, or overconfident, I’m not sure which, and Lanca is in no condition to talk about it.”

  “Lanca,” I breathed. “We have to go to her. Why aren’t you there now?”r />
  “Because preparing for a coronation is stressful enough without your friends coming in and demanding attention of their own,” said Lisabelle.

  I stared at my friend. She had said so many shocking things in the past few minutes that I had stopped reacting, but this was another shocking thing I hadn’t thought of.

  “Coronation?” I had a terrible feeling I already knew what that meant.

  “Princess Lanca,” said Lisabelle, saying it anyway, “is her father’s heir. She will now inherit the Blood Throne.”

  “Which means she’ll now be a target for demons?” I breathed, feeling so sorry for my friend.

  Lisabelle growled in frustration. “She’s already been a target for demons. This will just intensify the situation, and if she doesn’t go haring off on her own with vampires she can’t trust, it won’t be an issue.”

  “What do you mean vampires she can’t trust?” I asked.

  “Her father was traveling with a small party of trusted advisors. He thought it would be safer to go with a small group, so as to be less noticeable. Demons look for large signatures of power in much the same way that they look for elemental magic, and he thought that if the group generated only a small signature, he had less chance of getting caught. One of the advisors was not as well known to him as he should have been, the brother of a friend. He led the demons to King Daemon. There were hundreds of them. His party never had a chance. The worst part is that he was coming from visiting Dirr.

  I shook my head in disbelief. “Isn’t there someone to advise Lanca? Isn’t she too young to take on the responsibility of the throne?”

  Lisabelle waved her hand at me impatiently, as if I had asked the stupidest question in the world. “First of all, that’s not how it works. The heir is the heir. Second of all, Lanca is twenty-two. She is a college graduate, brilliant and beloved by the vampires. There really is no second choice. She is ready.”