Dracian Legacy Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title page

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  DEDICATION:

  PROLOGUE

  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

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  EPILOGUE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Copyright © 2013 by Priya Kanaparti

  Sale of the paperback edition of this book without its cover is unauthorized.

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

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  Please visit my website at http://priyakanaparti.com

  First Edition: February 2013.

  Dracian Legacy : a novel / by Priya Kanaparti – 1st ed. p. cm.

  Summary: Ren and Axel are caught between two powerful magical races: one destined to end the bloodshed, the other out for vengeance. This is the beginning of their story.

  The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the wordmarks mentioned in this fiction.

  Cover design by Regina Wamba at Mae I Design

  Professional editorial services by: Cassie McCowan at The Eyes for Editing

  Interior design by Amy Eye at The Eyes for Editing

  Paperback available through Createspace

  Ways to get in touch:

  http://priyakanaparti.com

  https://www.facebook.com/authorpriyakanaparti

  https://twitter.com/pkanaparti

  Epigraph

  “Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature, because in her inventions nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous.”

  — Leonardo da Vinci

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thank you to my amazing boys, Rajesh, Jay, & Koda who supported me day in and day out allowing me to immerse myself in my fantasies when creativity ventured.

  Big thank you to Cassie McCowan, who put up with far too many of my crazy and pestering emails and ‘ONE final edit’ requests.

  A super thank you to Regina Wamba, who produced unbelievable design and branding for this book.

  A heartfelt thank you to my Critique Partners Jackie Hauver, Juliana Haygert, Jessica Renfro, and Cecilia Robert for their honest feedback and support for the past seven months of this project. Without them, this story would have never made it out of my laptop.

  Humungous thank you to my two beta’s Tonja Decker and Loni Townsend who provided feedback that took this story from ordinary to extraordinary! Thank you girls for braving to become my first victims.

  A huge thank you with a cherry on top to all the bloggers that supported me to get exposure I needed for my debut novel. Your support and constant encouraging words have been a true blessing.

  An enormous thank you to the readers! You bless me far beyond any words can describe.

  Finally, to the person that holds the universe together. Thank you for your consecrations in keeping everything together in my life. I owe you everything.

  DEDICATION:

  To my husband, Rajesh, who stood by my side as I started on this adventure! Who supported and cleaned the house and our super active son!

  To my lovely Jay, who has been nothing but Joy! It was because of you I started this new journey. You inspire me to break the bounds and live life to the fullest.

  To my wonderful Koda, who has been right beside me every night, snuggling his furry-self next to me. Thank you for your company and all the love during those long nights of writing.

  PROLOGUE

  A single color filled my vision.

  Black.

  In the midst of all the sorrow, the joyful chirping of a hummingbird touched my ears, shedding light on my heavy, darkened heart. Even though my hair was neatly styled in a tight bun held by at least twenty hairpins, one stubborn strand flew loose as the wind blew around us without mercy.

  The weather was the exact opposite of my mood. I felt nothing, as if a black hole sucked the life out of me. My eyes were swollen, my body refused to respond, and I was cold.

  Deathly cold.

  I shivered and turned my attention to Father Jacob.

  “…as we commit Jim and Irene Pernell to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection. We enter this world with nothing and we leave wi…”

  His voice droned and I found my thoughts drifting away from the sermon. Three days had passed. Three days since this emptiness entered my soul and refused to leave. An arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me closer. I inhaled the smell of home and the only family I had left in this entire world—my brother. Joshua. I leaned into his comfort, wrapped my arms around his waist, and looked blankly ahead as my parents were lowered into the earth.

  Never to be seen again.

  Lost forever.

  “Temperance…” The warm hand on my shoulder gently nudged me back from my morbid thoughts.

  “Temperance… It’s time.” No one had called me that in a long time. Father Jacob gestured for Joshua and me to pay our respects.

  My body stiffened, rebelling. No. I can’t. Throwing the handful of earth is finalizing; no, it’s admitting they’re really gone. I won’t do it.

  “Ren.”

  I looked into Joshua’s blue-amber eyes, so much like mine, strained with worry. His face was cautious and composed. On any given day, he was a concentrated ball of energy. After all, he was a Marine, a world-class black-belt karate champion—a warrior-built, six-foot three-inch, broad-shouldered killing machine. Today, my brother was anything but strong—he was vulnerable. Today, he would easily be overpowered by a two-year-old.

  “Ren, we can do this. I need you, killer.”

  “Okay,” I said, my voice raspy.

  Another first. I hadn’t spoken in three days. Since my parents were killed three nights ago, I had no appetite, no motivation to speak—only to cry. And cry I did. Today was the first time I left my room since the sheriff knocked on our door to escort us to the morgue. Even the officers had a hard time looking at us. Not many murder cases came along in our quiet town of Rocky Hills, Idaho.

  My hand rested in Joshua’s as I dared a step forward. Then another and then another. I picked up a fistful of brittle dirt and stood over my parents’ burial ground. I scanned my surroundings, gazing at each individual gathered to mourn our mutual loss.

  “I’ll protect her with my life; I promise.” Joshua’s voice cracked, his eyes locked on the coff
ins. Being older by ten years, he always sheltered me from anything and everything he could. I wouldn’t expect him to do anything different, especially now.

  Joshua gave me a reassuring squeeze, reminding me where I was. With a wavering breath, I knelt, tears escaping onto the patch of soft green grass.

  “I don’t know…”

  My throat hurt and I didn’t recognize my own broken voice. My surroundings blurred and every sensation came rushing forward—uncontrolled, incoherent—like I was finally free from the constant emotional burden of the past three days.

  “Momma. Daddy.” There was so much I wanted to say. But nothing seemed to make it past my lips. I missed them too much; it hurt to even think.

  I let tears roll down my cheeks, washing away my sorrow and anguish. I kissed the knuckles of my hand holding the fistful of dirt. Sobs escaped me. Joshua knelt beside me, his hand over my shoulder, comforting me.

  “It’s okay. Let go,” he whispered into my ear with a kiss on my temple. “It will get easier. I promise.”

  I believed him. I slowly let go.

  CHAPTER ONE

  A year and a half later…

  “Bobcats are gonna eat shit when we wipe our asses with them on our turf Friday night,” Dean argued with his butt-buddy Landon. He leaned back in his chair and extended his legs lazily, without a care in the world.

  Dean, Landon, Pey, and I had been friends since first grade. We went to the same school, lived close to each other, and enjoyed doing the same things.

  “Evidence, D. Show me some evidence,” Landon challenged.

  Landon Crew and my best friend Peyton Addison had been dating since we started high school. That same year, Dean dumped me as his best friend for his groupies. Why me, specifically? I had no freaking idea. But if I had one guess, I would say it had something to do with his newfound fame as a ninth grade varsity quarterback, which was totally unheard of in the history of Rocky Hills High.

  “Their quarterback broke his collarbone during a brawl back in July.” Dean ticked off each point, finger-by-finger. “They lost to the Windsor Eagles last year, by over sixteen points. Then there’s me as the quarterback for the Knights.” He smirked at his last comment. “With me, the dreamy, lovable, sexy ladies’ man, on our team, there’s no way we can lose. We’re going undefeated this year, baby.”

  “Shit, there goes our chance at winning.” Pey laughed. “A cocky quarterback that’s hopelessly in love with himself. We’ll be lucky if you don’t stop every two seconds to check yourself out.”

  “Hey, I can’t help I’m that irresistible.” He shot me a flirty smile.

  I looked to Pey, who gave me a for real? look, making me laugh.

  Dean was not in love with himself. He was beyond stalker-obsessed.

  “You’re a man-whore, Dean. Man. Whore,” Pey drawled.

  Oh no, not this conversation again.

  “I’ve got plenty of love and I don’t object to sharing.” Dean shrugged and threw fries at Pey.

  “The only thing you’re sharing is horizontal surface. And cooties.” Pey scoffed.

  Dean coughed. “Hypocrite.”

  Pey had that don’t-compare-me-to-you-man-whore look on her face. This situation was spiraling out of control. I looked to Landon for help and he shrugged, laughing.

  “Besides, just because you can’t call dibs on this yummy white-chocola—”

  “Hey, who got the cheesecake?” I asked. A ‘mmm’ escaped my lips as I closed my eyes, savoring the smooth texture in my mouth.

  “Dean,” Landon said casually.

  I stopped mid-chew, mentally cursing the gods that invented such a succulent dessert. The last thing I wanted was to owe Dean, especially since I knew he would use it as ammunition against me.

  The bell above the door chimed as a group of teenagers entered the café, bringing with them the warm August air, and took a seat in the booth diagonal to us. My favorite song, “Dance with Me” by Nouvelle Vague, started playing when he walked in, talking on the phone, catching my undivided attention.

  Pey murmured something in my ear and giggled. I waved her off and continued to gawk at him shamelessly.

  His brown hair fell partway over his forehead, shadowing those electrifying blue eyes. He was dressed in midnight black and dark, heavy boots. His tall, lean frame slid into the booth next to his friends. There was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

  Then those penetrating eyes gazed into mine and a delicious smile appeared on his full lips. I sucked in a deep breath, feeling the full effect coil deep in the core of my existence.

  Ah hell, this was bad. Double-chocolate-chips-to-my-hips kinda bad.

  “Hey, Pernell, I’ve been meaning to tell you. You should ask for a reimbursement,” Dean said.

  I arched my brow, bringing my attention back to our table.

  “Looks like that cosmetic procedure didn’t work on you after all.” He had that stupid smirk on his face.

  I had the sudden urge to touch his cheek using groundbreaking force. Argh! He was like splinters under my nails.

  “I can make a few changes to your body without any procedure… Wanna see?” I challenged him.

  “Burn.” Landon placed his hand over his O-shaped mouth while the other pointed at Dean’s face.

  “Oh!” Dean’s eyes lit up in surprise, his smirk dissolving into an infuriating sardonic smile. “I can think of other things you can do… involving your body and mine.” He winked at me.

  My jaw dropped, taking a one-way trip to hell. Landon’s and Pey’s eyes turned into perfect round globes, shocked. Dean never, I mean, never ever flirted with me.

  “Don’t make me gag. I’d prefer to jump off a hundred-story building straight onto a knife. However, I could arrange a meeting between my fist and your mouth.”

  We shot out of our seats at precisely the same moment, ready for a showdown.

  “You know, Pernell…” He came really close to my face and looked directly into my eyes.

  A strange sensation stirred inside me; something itched to reach him.

  Attraction. Hate. Annoyance. Attraction.

  Damn him.

  “You look super cute when you get all worked up. If it weren’t for that razor-sharp tongue of yours, I’d suck that cuteness right out of you.” His gaze dropped to my trembling lips as he inched closer, licking his own.

  I was too shocked for words. He gave me his most arrogant smile and pulled back. He sat back down slowly, like he was trying to make a point, and took a bite of my half-eaten cheesecake. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.

  I wanted to smack him. Heck, I wanted to punch him in the face and say, Ha, in your dreams, buddy. I considered it for a moment.

  Instead, I paid for my portion of the meal, including the cheesecake, and walked out, giving one last glance to the brown-haired, blue-eyed stranger who was laughing with his friends.

  “Ren, come on,” Pey called after me. “Shit, you’re such an ass, Dean,” I heard her say.

  My phone buzzed.

  Pey: Let me drive you home.

  Me: I’m okay. Headed to see my parents.

  Pey: K. Call if you need anything. G’nite, lovely.

  I never once felt like I was talking to my dead parents. It felt real, like they were here listening, watching, and comforting me. I knelt at their tombstone and noticed a fresh bouquet of gardenias. Since they were my mom’s favorite and not many knew that fact, I reasoned my brother must have stopped by.

  “Hi, Momma. Hi, Daddy.”

  A cold breeze seemed to pass through me. I wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling them to my chest.

  “I miss you guys. A lot. Sorry I don’t visit often.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “Everyone’s telling me I need to let go of this… talking to you instead of people. People who are alive.”

  I looked around the empty cemetery, noting the sky full of stars and the bright, full moon, not a cloud in sight. I sat there talking to
them for about a half-hour, telling them about my life—school, friends, Joshua, and my hobbies: running and designing on Photoshop.

  I got up, patting my hands on my butt, brushing off any earthly residue from my white shorts.

  “It’s getting late. I’ll come back soon.” I put my hand on their tombstone. “I really miss you guys and I hope someday—”

  “Ren.”

  I jumped, surprised at the eerie voice.

  “W-who’s there?”

  Two foggy figures stood before me. No. How could it be? My parents. Their mystic shapes solidified. I let out a stifled sob and my hand clamped over my mouth.

  “Ren, it’s okay. We…” My mom looked at my dad for support. My voice was still lost.

  “We just wanted you to know how proud we are… You’ve been so brave.”

  I looked at Mom, then Dad, and then back to Mom. I reached my hand out to touch them. They both moved forward, wrapping their arms around me and engulfing me in their warmth. Familiarity rushed through my mind. My body went limp and my legs buckled underneath me. I fell to the ground in their embrace.

  “How…?”

  “Listen, darling girl. I wish we had more time, but we’re taking a risk as it is. Keep this on you always. It will protect you, keep you safe,” she said, lifting the amulet around my neck, which was previously hidden beneath my shirt.

  “Safe? Safe from what, Mom?” A shiver rose up my spine as another cold breeze rushed around my body.

  My mom glanced over her shoulder to the empty, dark cemetery. She turned to my dad, tugging at his arm, her voice dropping into a whisper as her eyes widened, terrified.

  “Jim, they found us. We have to leave.” She turned to me, cupping her hand over my cheek tenderly, and smiled with her lips pressed together. “Ren, know that we love you. You’ve made us very proud. Be safe. You and your brother can protect each other. We love you, darling. Good-bye, Ren.”

  They faded from my arms. My stomach clenched painfully. I’d lost them all over again.