Vampire Prey (Vampire Wishes Book 4) Read online

  VAMPIRE PREY

  Vampire Wishes Book Four ~ A Blood and Snow Novel

  RaShelle Workman

  Polished Pen Press Corporation, LLC

  Contents

  Vampire Wishes

  OF SPECIAL NOTE…

  THE BLOOD AND SNOW WORLD ORDER

  SUMMARY

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  AFTERWORD

  Also by RaShelle Workman

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Connect With RaShelle

  Before You Go…

  Vampire Wishes

  An Aladdin Reimagining

  Vampire Lies

  Vampire Secrets

  Vampire Nights

  Vampire Prey

  Vampire Magics

  OF SPECIAL NOTE…

  *** Updated ***

  The books in the BLOOD AND SNOW WORLD told from Jasmine’s point of view have been updated and rearranged to make it more convenient to the reader. The first change is the series name: It is now called the VAMPIRE WISHES series. Also, the order of Jasmine’s books used to be like this: Vampire Lies, Vampire Secrets, Vampire Nights, Vampire Fate, Vampire Prey, and Vampire Magics. But I decided to update so that Vampire Nights and Vampire Fate have been combined. The reason was simple. More for you, the reader!

  Enjoy, and if you have any questions, please contact me at: [email protected] or visit my website at: www.rashelleworkman.org.

  Xoxo,

  RaShelle

  THE BLOOD AND SNOW WORLD ORDER

  These stories do not have to be read in order, but you can. It does make the experience more fun.

  BLOOD AND SNOW (Snow White)

  blood and snow 1

  masquerade's moon 2

  love bleeds 3

  _________

  SHORT STORIES INCLUDED IN BOOK 3

  cindy witch

  the hunter's tale

  Gabriel

  after the kiss

  blood's rose

  THE CINDY CHRONICLES (Cinderella)

  witch magic 1.1

  witch land 1.2

  witch time 1.3

  witch kiss 1.4

  witch love 1.5

  witch end 1.6

  VAMPIRE WISHES (Jasmine)

  vampire lies 1

  vampire secrets 2

  vampire nights 3

  vampire prey 4

  vampire magics 5

  _______

  SHORT STORY INCLUDED IN BOOK 3

  the professor's origin 0.1

  BEASTLY (Belle)

  a beauty so beastly 1

  a beauty so deadly 2 (coming soon)

  a beauty so completely 3 (coming soon)

  ASHA EVER AFTER (Aurora)

  asha's kisses 1

  asha's curse 2 (coming soon)

  asha's ever after 3 (coming soon)

  DEMONLAND (Alice)

  alice in demonland 1

  alice fights demonland 2 (coming soon)

  alice takes demonland 3 (coming soon)

  THE FORGOTTEN MERMAID (Ariel)

  ~ Exclusively part of Once Upon a Happy Ending anthology. ~

  SUMMARY

  My name is Jasmine and I am an Original Vampire. A few weeks ago, Laeddin took me to the gargoyle realm. A lot happened there. We found Cole. Troy and Professor Pops showed up, and I did something… something that needed to be done. Laeddin didn’t approve of my choice, but it was the right decision. I also found the second piece of the fairy crown. And, I fell in love. Like, deeply in love.

  It’s been only a few days since I left the gargoyle realm. I’m once again tasked with locating another piece of the crown and slaying another assassin. This time we are going to France. But it isn’t our current day. The snarky golden dragon, Abernathy has whisked me to the year 1428, to a little town a week’s journey from Chateau de Chinon—the location of the fourth piece of crown.

  Strangely enough, Professor Pops is there, except he isn’t a professor yet. Nor is he a vampire. He’s a regular man who happens to be in love with Joanna d’Arc, the one and only Joan of Arc all the history books talk about. Meeting her is incredible.

  The countryside is beautiful and our journey is filled with adventure, but even without the darkness and the Akuma, there is still the weight of my destiny weighing heavily on me.

  The darkness will overtake the world in a little more than a month. I must collect the last two pieces of the crown so I can destroy the wicked queen, save the world, and hopefully get my wings back. Oh, and try not to die in the process.

  Vampire Prey

  Vampire Wishes Book Four

  License Notes:

  Digital Edition All rights reserved.

  Copyright @2017 RaShelle Workman

  Cover Design: Polished Pen Press Corporation

  Edited by: Jen Hendricks

  Design copyright @2017 RaShelle Workman

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard word of this author.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written consent of the author, RaShelle Workman Bountiful, UT 84011.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the creation of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Published by Polished Pen Press.

  Created with Vellum

  Prologue

  The Unknowns

  The Unknowns glimmered brightly against the empty expanse of their vast chamber.

  “The vampire child has made some interesting choices, don’t you think?” She slithered around him, studying his inky eyes.

  “Her choices weren’t completely unexpected. It’s obvious she has hope. That can work against us if we still want her to fail.”

  “Perhaps.”

  He groaned, allowing his being to shift into mist before coming together into a physical form once again. “You’re thinking we should mix things up some more? Give the girl another chance?”

  “Destruction hasn’t slowed her down. Maybe taking her hope will,” she said, floating over and magnifying their sphere of blackness until Earth came into view.

  “Do we want to take her hope?”

  She came to stand directly in front of him. “Are you having a change of heart, dearest?” She liked answering a question with a question. It kept her existence interesting.

  “I may be. The darkness will take over soon. The Akuma are doing what they were created to do, and Maleficent can win. The destruction of the vampire child and all other living creatures is immanent u
nless we do something.”

  She noticed the motivated glint in his eyes. It’d been a while since she’d seen such an emotion from him and she liked it. “You want to meddle.” She rubbed her hands together gleefully.

  “Let’s. Shall we?” He produced a mischievous smile.

  “I like it when you enjoy the game,” she said.

  “As do I, my dear. Now, what of the Hunter?”

  “He’s been the most surprising of all, don’t you think?” She smiled. “I thought he would take out his frustrations on Snow White and those she loves as Maleficent is doing. I believed he would end up betraying Jasmine the way he betrayed her mother. Instead, he’s been helping the vampire girl. It’s as though he believes in redemption.”

  “Quite right. And it’s sad really. The vampire girl won’t choose him. She can’t.” He spoke with a whisper of sadness.

  “We could arrange things so she did end up with the Hunter. Give him a happily ever after.” She took his face in her hands. “Like we had once upon a time.”

  “True. When it all began, no one expected us to end up together. Now look at us!” He placed his hand in hers and began leading her around the empty space in a lyrical dance.

  “But what of the dragon boy? He truly loves the Original Vampire,” she said as he dipped her.

  “It would serve Abernathy right to have his son suffer.” He glanced back at Earth in all of its blue and white glory. “You’re right, though. His love for her is so bright you can see it from here. It’s nearly as strong as that human boy Dorian’s was for Snow White. Given time, their love might even surpass Snow’s and Dorian’s.”

  “Yes,” she hissed. “But look what became of Dorian. We still aren’t sure what he is, what his love did to him and we may never know. He’s a mystery.” Frustration furrowed her wispy brow.

  He watched her for several moments, waiting to see if she could find an answer to the unfathomable question they both had been wondering. Finally, he said, “We cannot worry about Dorian now. The answers aren’t known to us, and if we don’t know, then no one does.”

  “True, my darling.” She patted his cheek. “I wonder…

  “About what?” He nudged her softly.

  “Does the vampire even deserve the dragon?”

  “Only time will tell. Only time will tell.”

  One

  33 Days Until Total Darkness

  I didn’t need light to see. Neither did Troy. But the rest of the world did. And it was my duty to keep it from disappearing completely, especially since the looming darkness was my fault.

  It’d only taken a few days to find the third piece of the crown created—and then hidden—by fairies thousands of years ago. According to Laeddin, only I could wield the powers contained within. If I could collect all the pieces in time, then I would possess the magic necessary to destroy Maleficent and save the world.

  I hoped he was right. Part of me even believed it, especially since each time I found a piece, it would embed itself in my forehead. The rest of me wasn’t sure I could stop the Darkness or the Akuma, or even Maleficent. The prospect terrified me.

  But I had to try.

  “Stand back, Troy.” I glanced up at his ruggedly handsome face. He had smudges of dirt on his chin and nose, which somehow made him even more gorgeous, if that were possible.

  “I’m against the wall, Jazz. Sheesh.” He gave me a serious look; one that said he wouldn’t interfere unless he thought it was necessary.

  I nodded and returned my attention to the old wooden box on the floor in front of me. Inside was what I’d been searching for. I could feel it.

  And it was about time.

  Troy and I were in a cave under the main palace in the troll realm. Everything smelled like oil mixed with brine—not a pleasant scent—and the thick darkness pervaded, even worse than in the gargoyle realm. We’d been here a few days as we searched for the crown. The trolls were surprisingly cordial considering the chaos happening around us. Had they known I was to blame for the darkening skies, things might have been different. But I wasn’t going to tell them and neither was Troy.

  During the day, he and I spent our time searching the caves. At night, we tried to sleep. It’d been difficult, my dreams filled with images of my mom and dad being tortured. For that reason, I spent little time with my eyes closed. The troll who helped me get ready for bed was very kind. It turned out most trolls were tender-hearted. And they were definitely all about having fun despite the precarious situation we were all in. They threw us a party when we first arrived. Their court musician wrote and performed songs about the love Troy and I had for each other, while the troubadour talked of our destiny.

  The trolls had built striking edifices out of the dark rock common in their land. Their buildings were strangely beautiful and I couldn’t help but be drawn to them. During our time here I’d gained respect for most of this realm’s inhabitants, though not all. I still despised the troll leader. It was obvious he didn’t care for me in the least. I guessed it probably had something to do with the fact that he’d been commanded by my mother to give me blood since the day I came into existence.

  The troll king seemed very interested in Troy though. I think he was the only reason we’d been allowed to stay.

  “And don’t help. I can handle this,” I said as an afterthought.

  “I remember, Jasmine.”

  I could almost hear him smile. His fingers reached out and touched my hair. My determination wavered as a trembling of love and need ripped through me. The force of my emotions for Troy nearly knocked me off my feet. In that moment, I thought of kissing him, of… My eyes flicked to his neck and the vein pumping strongly beneath his skin.

  He noticed and chuckled. “I’m all yours once you’ve completed your task. You know I am. Always and forever.” He nodded his head, indicating the box.

  I swallowed. Then I stuck the sharp edge of one of my fangs into my bottom lip, drawing blood. It tasted of Christopher, but only slightly. In the past, my favorite blood had been unicorn. But everything changed once I’d given away my wings. Sometime later, Christopher had shown up and told me to drink his blood. Out of desperation I’d finally done it. And oh my! His blood did things to me that none of the others could. It not only tasted better than any blood I’d drunk, it also returned my vampire powers. I was grateful, because without them I’d still be a normal human. I couldn’t save or protect anyone that way. Christopher basically brought me back to life after Maleficent took my power and my wings.

  I missed my wings. Terribly. I longed to feel the weight of them on my back. Each absent ebony feather felt like a piece of my soul had vanished. I hoped to get them back. At this point it seemed highly unlikely. But I wouldn’t stop trying.

  “Jazz?” Troy gave me a quizzical look.

  Blood. I craved Troy’s, but I needed Christopher’s. It’d been ten days since I’d had any and I could sense the difference within myself. Troll blood had helped to strengthen me, but it wasn’t the same as the Hunter’s. “Right.” I refocused my attention.

  The box was made of strange, deep green wood. The latch had been created of a special metal gilded with gold filigree. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what would come next. I pushed out thoughts of my mom and dad. Of Laeddin, and even Troy. I thought only of the fragment of crown contained within. I had to retrieve it.

  “You okay? Maybe we should come back another time.” Troy’s frown deepened.

  “No, I’m fine.” I appreciated his concern. He really was one of the sweetest guys I’d ever met. But we were running out of time. It had to be now.

  “Awesome. Then open that box and kick the assassin’s ass so we can get out of here. The smell is foul.” He waved a hand in front of his nose. “Not to mention I’m a dragon and being underground freaks me out.”

  “I know. Sorry.” I gave him a sympathetic look.

  “No need to be sorry. I’m here for you one hundred percent.” He spoke with sincerity, but I saw
the unease in his expression.

  “Here I go.” Determined, I lifted the latch, opened the box, and stepped back. Delicate curls of darkness filled the room and crackled like lightning, before morphing into the assassin. He stood over six feet tall and clutched a pair of wicked looking swords. At once, just as before, twin blades appeared in my hands. Light coursed through them, the color of a summer sky.

  I stepped forward, raising my weapons to meet his blades. With a snarl, he slammed his sword against mine. The sound reverberated through the cave. Soil and debris came down around us like dirty rain. Unlike the others, this battle lasted little more than a minute. It was like his heart wasn’t in it. He barely fought. Before I dispatched him, I had the assassin on his back, my knee pressing in on his chest. Both my blades crossed at his neck.

  The assassin spoke. “We believe in your cause, Original Vampire. The wicked queen must be stopped.”

  For a moment, I was too shocked to speak. This hadn’t ever happened before. My mind ran through likely reasons. The first? He wanted to throw me off-guard. Even as I thought about it, I pressed my blades deeper into his throat. I could not allow him to get the upper hand. Retrieving the crown was too important. Then I thought of the other reason: The assassin meant what he said.