Chapter 1
Being a pop star is not easy. How do I know this? Because I am one, I have these huge plans of being the next Pink or Fefe Dobson. My life has always been in the spotlight because my mother, Bru Fox, is a famous artist. Unfortunately, my mother failed to tell me she was also a Slayer on her off days. And what is a Slayer, you ask? Well, a Slayer is someone who hunts down Greek Gods for a living. You heard me right. Slayers kill the Greek Gods, Goddesses and protect their offspring, known as Demigods and keep their identities hidden from humans.
Now, if that is not crazy enough, try being hunted by a group of humans calling themselves Hunters trying to kill you and take a necklace they claimed was stolen from them. Of course, I would have handed it over to them if they were not trying to kill me and my friends! It turns out the necklace is not a necklace at all; it is called an Alarica jewel. And what is an Alarica jewel, you ask? It is a gargoyles heart. If you have one you control that gargoyle forever.
The gargoyle I have by my side is a prince named Lapis Haven or, as I know him, Abel Lapis, and he is a half-breed. A half-breed like him is rare and when I say rare, I mean one of a kind! In daylight, Abel looks just like any other ordinary human kid, tall, jet black hair, beautiful bluish green eyes, and a super hottie! But do not let his good looks fool you because when nightfall hits, he transforms into a gargoyle. Destiny brought us together again, because as I found out Abel fell in love with another gargoyle from the Meta clan, Tuffara Meta and she was killed by a group of humans. So why did I say us?
Because I am Tuffara’s reincarnation, and I am also going out with Abel, so yeah, I guess you could say we were destined to be together. My mother did not think Abel and the Haven clan were protecting me well enough because she sent in not only one, but three others to keep me safe! I mean, how paranoid can you get? Okay, I admit it is not every day someone puts a hit out on your daughter, but I was still entitled to my freedom, wasn’t I? Apparently not! Because my mother sent a dragon named Drake Maverick and two Demigod siblings, Cadman, and Blair Arkwright, who also happened to be Slayers who worked with my mother. By the way, my name is Shinka Fox, I am 18, and I go to a private school with my friends called Fusion Academy in Los Angeles, California.
I was putting the finishing touches on my debut album which was due to drop soon. I was sitting in the living room of Abel’s house going over the pictures from the photo shoot a few weeks before. I must have taken over two dozen pictures because my manager Kain had sent them over and I told him I would look through them without his help. Kain was not pleased I wanted to make such a big decision for the album cover alone but I could not let him see Abel transform into his gargoyle form, now could I?
“So which picture of these is your favorite one?” Brooke asked as she skimmed through a handful and placed them down on the table frowning at me.
I shrugged. “I don’t know.” I said, tossing my dark black hair behind my shoulder. “I’ve never had to pick a picture for an album cover before?” I said, biting my lower lip nervously. Honestly, my mind was far from my rising popularity and super stardom.
I was more focused on what had happened a few days ago when I found out I had been injected with Demigod blood and I was dying. I had been kidnapped by my so-called best friend Kaitlin and the Hunters; they injected me with it for their sick pleasure or something. Personally, I was disgusted with them, but I had to make the most of my situation and act like everything was fine, even though it was not. I sighed inwardly and Abel gently lifted me up from my seat with his hand and I smiled when I looked into his beautiful eyes. I mean seriously, his eyes could really draw a girl in.
“Do you want to take a break,” he asked, and I nodded, and I followed him up the steps and into his bedroom. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Abel and I were getting close, especially after I learned he was the one who enrolled me in Fusion Academy just so he could protect me from the Hunters; I thought that was sweet of him.
When I first met Abel, he was mean and cold toward everyone... me included. After I got to know him, he let down his defenses with me and I was able to see the real Abel Lapis for who he really was. A kindhearted, generous, caring friend. He would do anything to protect me; above all, Abel loved me.
I mean I have fallen in love before, but this was different... we connected with each other on a whole different level, a personal level, like our souls were somehow connected. He understood me and I understood him and that is all that mattered. It did not matter if he was a half-breed; to me he was Abel Lapis. Abel broke away and gently stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. His touch was warm and reassuring.
“Are you ready to go,” he asked, and we walked out to the balcony where the other gargoyles were awakening.
I watched the stone cracking and falling to the ground as they stretched and stood from the place they were stuck in awe because, though I saw this happen every night, it was still an amazing sight to see. Abel had two twin sisters from well, I have not the slightest idea, but they were both beautiful.
Their names were Aura Nova, and Ambrosia, and. of course. They were both princesses. The Haven clan consisted of Tybrus, Draven, Fate who tried to gauge my eyes out when I found out about their true identities, Ignatius, Lazarus, Maddox, Thaddeus, Varden, and, of course, Abel’s mother, Queen Llewellyn.
“Shinka,” Queen Llewellyn smiled sweetly at me and I knelt in front of her out of respect before I stood. “How are you feeling, my dear?” She asked with deep concern in her eyes. I forced a smile. Personally, I was scared out of my freaking mind! But I did not want to alarm any of the gargoyles, so I played it off like nothing was wrong. I mean, I was dying for Pete’s sake! And there was nothing I could do to stop it.
“I’m fine, your highness.” I said, nodding my head and I looked at Abel who stood by my side.
“I want you to keep a close eye on her.” His mother, Queen Llewellyn said, giving her son a stern look. “We need her to stay protected at all times.”
“Understood...” Abel said with a curt nod of his head.
He then took my hand and guided me toward the balcony. He leapt upon the ledge and held his hand out to me. I took it and he lifted me into his strong muscular arms. I looked into his beautiful eyes and he investigated mine. We did not have to say anything to each other because we already knew what the other was thinking. I wrapped my arms around his neck and Abel leapt into the air, his wings caught the wind and he glided higher into the night sky. I loved being so high up looking at the stars up close was so amazing! “Where do you want to go?” Abel’s gentle voice broke me from my thoughts.
“Huh?” I blinked and looked into his beautiful eyes. “Oh, you can surprise me.” I said, giving Abel as mall smile. For a moment, he just stared at me then he smiled in return and looked straight ahead.
“I got the perfect place for you to see...” He said and I felt his chest rising and falling against my head. It was nice just being the two of us out here. Things have started to get chaotic since Drake, Brooke, and Cadman came into his life. Personally, I thought it was cool the others were here. Abel had been such a loner for so long that he needed friends and these guys brought something different to the table, which was cool in my opinion.
I saw a building looming ahead and I knew exactly where we were. Abel’s favorite place... the library! This is where Abel first took me when we were nearly killed by Hunter Kaitlin Franchot. She was my supposed best friend at the time but was just using my friendship to get to Abel and his Alarica jewel. Abel set me down on the roof and I looked around, making sure Kaitlin was not around this time. She was not. I looked up at Abel and smiled.
Maybe I can talk to Abel and—
Just then Tuffara’s Alarica jewel started to glow a bright pinkish color. Abel and I both looked at it then at each other, not knowing what was going on.
“I thought Tuffara was...”
I could not finish the sentence. I mean, how could I? Last I checked, I was Tuffara’s reincarnation... wasn’t I? There was no way her Alarica jewel could be glowing... was there? Could she possibly still be alive somehow? Alive in me?
“We need to get back to the others.” Abel said as he scooped me back up in his arms. He leapt into the air and headed back in the direction of his house. Something was wrong and I did not know what it was. Something just was not right about this whole situation. I was going to find out what was going on with me. I mean, I had to, right?
