someone else, someone to replace William, and she began stalking the streets for her new lover.
Spying Dominic Vorchowsky at the teen hangout, she waved her finger at him, drawing him forth, her gaze locked onto his, seducing him, willing him, commanding him. He’d replace her lost love for all eternity.
And he couldn’t resist her allure.
I wanted to scream at the vamp, wanted to fight for Dominic, for his soul, for his life back and I kicked my covers aside, but couldn’t fully wake from the dreams.
Then I settled into a deep sleep where darkness ruled.
***
I waited for Marissa to scream out my name again, but when she didn’t, I knew she just needed her sleep. As did I. At least I hoped she’d be more reasonable when the day dawned.
I squirmed in bed, knowing that by sharing Marissa’s blood, I was destined to visit her dreams, her memories, her past. Just like when Lynetta had taken my blood. I still couldn’t believe how much I looked like the Count William Dubois. I could have been William’s reincarnation. Though I wasn’t. Other than glimpses from Lynetta’s memories, I didn’t know anything about the man.
My mind drifted and my thoughts shifted to a witch’s world—Marissa’s.
I wasn’t sure where I was. A theater, filled with students. I glanced at the stage. A flag embossed with beakers sat on the stage to the right. And a gray-haired old woman motioned to a kid. “Your turn, Debbie Damint.”
“Did you ever figure out what your spell project would be?” Kate asked Marissa.
She smiled. “Absolutely.”
“You’ve been fretting about it all semester and never said a word. So give. What did you come up with?”
“You’ll see.”
Everyone in the spells class took their seats in the auditorium, and then one by one the students showed off their spells, starting with the average classes. Kate conjured up an imaginary dragon which was so real, her teacher threatened to move her to the advanced class—again. But she’d never apply herself in class.
Remnants of dragon smoke drifted off the stage and the teacher motioned for Marissa to show off her spell next. With a spring to her step, she walked on stage. Some of the students were sleeping, some talking to each other, very few were paying attention. But she would get their attention—guaranteed.
She raised her hands and began the incantation. After repeating it for the third time, a swirl of blue water whirled around the floor until the water formed into the figure of a woman.
Her aquamarine eyes large and expressive, her full lips turned up in a slight smile, her hair draping down her slim hips, blending in with her watery cerulean blue gown, ribbons of cobalt contrasting with the lighter blues—she was one of the most interesting creatures I’d ever seen.
The woman epitomized beauty. Sure, Kate’s dragon was pretty cool. But this was beyond extraordinary. An A+ project for sure.
Certainly, she had everyone’s attention. A woman was waving her hand at the stage and Marissa’s teacher was nodding. The teacher hurried up the stairs to the stage, but kept her distance from the water figure. “That is not a proper spell, Marissa Lakeland. Do you have a real one prepared for class?”
I felt horrible. Why wasn’t the spell acceptable? I’d never seen anything like it. Not anything the other students had conjured up came close to this.
“I…I can cast a cupid’s arrow spell.”
Her teacher frowned. “You need willing participants ahead of time. Take your seat.”
The creature stood nearby, her watery skin and clothes shimmering in the bright lights, watching the students.
“But my grade…”
“Zero. You cannot…” The gray-haired woman motioned to the entity. “This doesn’t count.”
A zero. I glowered at the teacher. How could she be so unfair? The water creature was the best spell ever.
Marissa waved her hand at her creation and spoke under her breath, then took her seat next to Kate. Tears ran down her
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