TWISTED FATES BOOK 1: THE FIRST TWIST by Jacklyn Rogers (read after TXT) 📕

adorned his face. "You're still alive." It was a declaration rather than a question, one that seemed to bring about a serenity throughout Jareth's chiseled features. I knew he loved me. I even understood why he chose to decide to change me. But the man was still going to have to make it up to me. I was not going to be the pushover in this relationship.

"I am. "A slight smile escaped my lips. "And I am eternally grateful towards you for saving my life. But, mister man, you promised me answers. So, before you try and sway me with that sexy ass smile of yours, spill Jareth. Who is trying to kill me? How long has everybody known about my supposed assassin, and why was I targeted?"

Jareth quickly sat up and held onto my hand as his features took on a dark aspect. I actually managed to sit in silence as Jareth recanted the sordid details of my plight. I couldn't believe that Dasha, of all people, had   tried to kill me. To top it off, she was also a witch - a corrupt one at that. I was shocked deep down to my core, but a part of me almost expected that it was her. I mean, the way she behaved towards me at the end of our so-called friendship explains a LOT. She wanted me dead.

Guess I didn't know her as much as I thought I did after all.  

Once Jareth answered the nagging question of who the big baddie in my life was, he informed me that if I had any questions about who he, well, we now were, then he would be glad to enlighten me. I smiled and thanked him before stretching and catching a brief whiff of the pungent aroma of blood and grime that permeated my skin. I scrunched my nose, grimacing at my lack of hygiene, and realized that I was in dire need of a shower. This was literally a code red, people. The fact that he wasn’t running for the hills over my foul stench screamed volumes.

I gave a shy smile and let Jareth know my intentions, and he kindly acquiesced my request for a pause in our discussion. Swiftly grabbing one of his button-down shirts and a towel, he gently took my hand and led me to the elegant en-suite bathroom adjoining his bedroom. Once He showed me how to use the shower’s fixtures, he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead then left me to my own devices. I stripped out of what I had been wearing and put the soiled clothing in the tan hamper placed near the corner of the room by the doorway, then turned to see my naked reflection in the vanity mirror. A gasp escaped my lips at my appearance. There was dried caked on flecks of blood affixed to my torso, and my hair looked like a family of birds had decided to nest in it. There were no signs of any injuries other than the two tiny puncture wounds on my neck above my clavicle despite everything. Slowly I traced my fingers on the two small hollows. It was weird. Despite being a bit pink around the edges, there was no soreness; there was almost a pleasurable sensation when I touched them.

Breaking myself out of my trance, I hopped in the massive shower. I proceeded to wash away the dirty remnants of the horrible events that occurred, silently weeping for the loss of Sammie Hunter, the human girl that died on her 25th birthday.

 Once I finished my shower and towel-dried my hair, I slipped on Jareth’s shirt and made my way back into the bedroom where my sexy vampire was waiting for me with two more blood pouches. I crawled onto his bed and sat next to him, consuming my Capri-Bloods, while Jareth addressed the fanged elephant in the room.

I learned a great deal about vampires from Jareth. Apparently, many, many myths were created to mask their existence amongst humans throughout history. We were so easy to believe in the falsities that we literally had no clue that they lived among us the whole time—people such as Bram Stoker. Anne Rice, Stephenie Meyer, LJ Smith, Charlaine Harris, and even Marilyn Manson were vampires hiding in plain sight. They created unbelievable, yet completely false, representations of their kind. All these smoke screens, just to make it seem like the likelihood of vampires and witches' existence were not real. Of course, the closest of all truths out there was Anne Rice's book, Vampire Lestat. But who would have genuinely thought she was blatantly spilling the proverbial beans to the entire world?  Even still, it was so unfounded to humankind that there was truth behind her words. Instead, her book was merely regarded as a romanticized story made into a movie, which ended up having a kick-ass soundtrack. Go figure. Also, in case you're wondering, all those people seem to age because they either use great makeup or they are using human counterparts to represent them.

Fact.

 Surprisingly, vampires don't, in fact, have an issue with the sun. I mean, granted, they aren't the poster child for suntan lotion, but it won’t kill us. Garlic, crosses, and holy water also does absolutely nothing to them. Oh, and mirrors, obviously a big misconception. I mean, clearly, how else would they be able to look as attractive as they do without one?

Just saying.

Vampires also don't need to eat regular food but can if they want to for its novelty. Vampires can compel others that are weak in nature, and finally, they do not need to be invited into someone's house. Trust me; I was wholly shocked by all the information I just found out.

Vampires and Witches are real; what's next, werewolves?

As if.

Am I right?

After my brain overload, only one mystery remained ... why? Jareth swore he didn't have any knowledge as to