Wow, Sip breathed, when I had finally finished uncovering the Crown of Nascaro.
Well, half of it anyway.
Thatll set you back, said Lough.
I snorted. Im pretty sure its priceless, I said. I couldnt take my eyes off it.
The half crown was a delicate metal frame, around which were fixed delicate white pearls in the shapes of things that were important to elementals. I could see thistles and clovers mixed in with other flowers. There was even a vapor rock, which water elementals use to focus power.
Oh, Charlotte, Sip breathed.
I swallowed hard, staring at the crown of my family.
So, Mom kept half a crown in the bas.e.m.e.nt. Our family is so weird, said Ricky, shaking his head disapprovingly.
I glanced at my brother and then at my two friends, but I could find nothing to say.
Good thing the kids at school dont know. Although I suppose Im not going back to school, my little brother said wistfully.
My mom had kept the crown all those years, hidden downstairs in some dusty box.
You know, Charlotte, said Sip slowly, the crown might offer an explanation of why elementals killed your mom.
I nodded slowly. It was a rogue band, but they wanted the crown, because whoever possessed the crown would technically be the ruler of the elementals, I said. They wanted it and they knew my mom had it. Maybe they killed her when she wouldnt talk.
Whyd she have it in the first place, though? Lough breathed. I mean, its awesome that it isnt in the wrong hands, but not so much if it got her killed.
She was probably keeping it for my dad, I said softly. He was king, after all.
Ricky held up a hand. What are you talking about? he asked. Mom being killed by whats-its, and your dad, our dad, a king of huh?
Im sorry, I said to my little brother. I owe you an explanation.
Ricky snorted. You owe me like a hundred of them. Or, you know, more than that. Ill tell you when youve explained enough, but basically for the rest of your life, any time I want you to explain something you better do it on the spot.
I nodded. Sure. That cant possibly go badly.
Lets get out of here, said Lough. He pointed to the crown. But you should probably wrap that up first.
I nodded and did as he suggested. It wouldnt be healthy to be seen with the crown of the elementals, or even half of it.
But wheres the other half? Ricky asked.
Charlotte, said Sip slowly, I bet I know where the other half of the crown is. If your mom had it, that is.
Yes, of course. We both knew: the thistle box I had hidden in Astra, which I needed the Key of Light to open.
What does this mean? Sip whispered.
It means I have the elemental crown, I said.
And are the rightful heir, Lough added.
If you think Im bowing, you have another thing coming, said Sip warningly.
Lets get back to Public, I said. I need to tell Dacer and I need to get to the box.
Whats Public? Ricky asked. Seeing the looks on our faces, Ricky threw up his hands. Why do I bother.
Oh, Ricky, said Lough, clapping the younger elemental on the back, Paranormal Public is just the tip of the iceberg.
Before any of us moved I remembered something and smacked my hand against my forehead. I meant to ask Lisabelle about Risper, I said, frustrated that I could have forgotten. He had disappeared at the start of the semester and nothing had been heard of him since.
Oh, said Ricky, his gray eyes lighting up. She gave me this when she thought she had saved me and was leaving the first time. He pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. She looked sad when she did it, but I didnt know why.
My hands were full with half a crown, so I motioned for Sip to take the note. With trembling hands she opened it and read: Risper failed. The Globe White was with the Eriksons. It is now with the Darkness Premier. Theyve also found the Fang First, and thanks to Paranormal President Caid, they know where to look for the Mirror Arcane.
My heart stopped for what felt like the millionth time that night as I threw the note down and headed toward the front door.
Sip, Ricky, and Lough hurried after me.
But I knew we were already too late.
CHARLOTTE, SIP, LOUGH? The frantic voice calling for us was Rakes.
I crashed through the door, the force of my blow throwing it off its last hinge so that it clattered to the ground and slid down the steps. I was forced to stop while it fell, so while I waited, I looked around frantically for my vampire friend.
Rake was standing on the lawn amidst the chaos of the demon attack on my childhood home. His shirt was tattered and there was a bruise blooming on his cheek. Hed been in a fight. He was breathing hard, and his eyes were filled with pain.
Public, he panted. Public was overrun.
I fell to my knees. After all that, theyd gone after Ricky so that I wouldnt be there. They hadnt found out that I snuck away on weekends, but they had lured me away by going after the one thing they knew I couldnt resist. And now all the paranormals would pay the price.
What now? Lough asked softly.
Sip had pulled a first aid kit out of the backpack shed tied to the broom, and now she started to tend to Rakes wounds. He tried to protest, insisting that he wasnt that badly hurt, but she quelled him with a purple-eyed look.
We have to go to Public, I said. Everything is there.
We cant go, Lough argued, not if Malles taken it back over.
I thought she was on the side of the paranormals, or at least thats what shes been pretending, I whispered.
I glanced around. It was cold. There was no snow on the ground, but a sheen of frost gave the world a silver tint, and the horizon was just beginning to welcome dawn. The sky was thick and gray with streaks of rain. Even the clouds looked like they were crying.
I dont know, said Rake. All I know is that I was sitting in Cruor and a black wave came toward me. It was demons. Thousands of them. They had already overrun the grounds.
If we cant go back to Public, said Sip, where do we go?
We could go to my parents place, or yours, said Lough.
They both glanced at me, waiting to see what Id say. Ricky and Rake also waited. I thought for a moment, tugging on my lower lip with a dirty finger.
No, I said slowly, as ice flowed through my veins. They arent the only ones who can attack something that doesnt belong to them. We dont go to Public and we dont go to your parents places.
I looked at each of them in turn. We go to Vampire Locke and we finish this.
The Nocturns had taken my peace and quiet. They had taken Keller and they had tried to take Ricky. I was done being nice. The winds had changed. It was time for them to pay.
The End.
By Maddy Edwards:.
One Black Rose Series.
One Black Rose.
August Autumn Susans Summer.
Paranormal Public Series.
Paranormal Public.
Elemental Rising Elemental Shining.
Elemental Dawn Elemental Fire Elemental Air.
Elemental Earth Elemental Darkness.
Spiral Series Spiral.
end.