Guidance of Rasmiyah: The High Arc, #2

By Jessica Cage

After finding out that she is the new Vampire Queen and that Darkness is approaching to destroy all that she loves, it is up to Alexa to fight and prove that she is ready to step up and protect her people. Jocelyn aims to steal the crown from her and will stop at nothing as she believes it is her birthright to be Queen. 
Alexa is battling her own inner demon which causes her to doubt herself. Through her bond with Rasmiyah and the spirits of the previous queens, Alexa will find her strength, but she must do it quickly. Jocelyn has taken her best friend and Darkness is threatening to attack.Alexa is battling her own inner demon which causes her to doubt herself. Through her bond with Rasmiyah and the spirits of the previous queens, Alexa will find her strength, but she must do it quickly. Jocelyn has taken her best friend and Darkness is threatening to attack.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Cage
• Release date: Sep 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536579093

Book preview

One

Just spit it out! I slammed the table with my hand. Even though my palm stung from the impact I didn’t flinch. My temper was increasingly becoming an issue, but at that point I really couldn’t care less about trying to keep it in check.

The large wooden clock that sat against the wall taunted me with its incessant ticking, and  only added to my frustration as I sat in the chair across the table from Lacal. I had lost track of how long I’d been watching him as he tried to avoid eye contact with me. His avoidance fueled my anger, and pushed me closer to losing it. He still had yet to explain the mystery of  the psycho, Jocelyn to me. Every moment that I spent sitting there waiting for him to spit out what needed to be said, was a waste of valuable time that should have been spent searching for Jazz. She was my best friend and needed me. Waiting for him to pull it together was quickly making me lose my patience. His tactic took my thoughts back to the exhausting way he explained the truth about what we were. Just like back then, I had the feeling that something bad was coming. With so much already on my plate, the addition was far from welcome.

She’s my ex, he said so low that it barely registered. When it hit me, I started to burn, blazing hot inside and out. I knew he could feel the burn through our bond. Letting it grow only seemed fair. I couldn’t believe that he’d just drop a bomb like that on me after making me sit there waiting for so long.

Your ex? Are you kidding me right now? My best friend’s life is in danger because you have some psycho ex-girlfriend?! His continued effort to avoid making eye contact bothered me a whole lot more, and now for an entirely different reason. He had already slapped me in the face with his confession. There was no reason for his continued display of cowardice. I needed him to look at me so that I could see the pain in his eyes to satiate my own. It would help keep my sanity from slipping further to know that he was hurting as well. Perhaps this was one of those red flag warnings that something was wrong with me. I knew I should have done something to correct it, but I didn’t. Look at me, Lacal, and answer me. I don’t have time to sit here and watch you act like a scared little child. My words were scolding, and possibly a bit harsher than the situation called for. So, I didn’t know every little detail about him. Just because we had bonded didn’t mean we couldn’t have secrets. After all, I hadn’t really known him that long before he whisked me away from my solitary life to this new one.

It isn’t that simple, Alexa, He was still avoiding telling me what the real issue was, but he had no choice. There was no way he could continue keeping things to himself, especially now that his secrets were affecting everyone around him. I couldn’t allow Jazz to die because of his personal issues with someone from his past.

Then simplify it for me, Lacal, I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in my seat. I tried rubbing my hands on my arms to help ease the sting that still lingered in my flesh. I didn’t want him to notice, but he had, I could tell by the way his eyes darted from my arms to the floor.

Yes, she is my ex, he sighed, but she didn’t take Jazz because of me. He looked at me now with regret in his eyes. This was just great, all I needed was for him to pile on more complications!

Then why did she take her? I knew his answer would destroy me, which was probably why he was avoiding spilling his guts. He wasn’t any good at delivering bad news. He tried to soften the blow, but his labored delivery only made the impact that much more painful.

"My guess is that she took Jazz because of her importance to you. This isn’t an attempt to get back at me. I doubt she ever cared enough about me for that level of revenge. The only reason Jocelyn was even interested in me was because she had some ridiculous idea that because the High Arc was missing, a replacement would eventually have to be named. Our people couldn’t continue to live without a leader. I think she had the deluded notion that if she stuck with me, it would give her a better chance when the decision was made. Before it was revealed that I was your Serve, she was like Jemal’s puppy. She followed him everywhere. I guess she figured his being the ‘chosen one’ would work in her favor. As soon as she found out that he wasn’t what we all thought he was, she attached herself to a new meal ticket, me.

I admit that it was stupid of me to be with her, but it barely lasted any time at all. I regret it every day, because it is a really big part of the reason why Jemal and I are no longer friends. Actually, it’s quite possibly the only reason. He wasn’t chosen to be the Serve as we had all assumed he would be, but neither of us had any control over that. He would always say that there was nothing real between him and Jocelyn, but I think he cared about her a lot more than he ever admitted." His slouched position showed all the shame that he felt as a result of his actions, and he should have been ashamed. What he had done to his best friend was the lowest of lows.

Wow, I don’t even know what to say to that, I rolled my eyes at him, and ignored the strong sensation trickling down my arm. It was the beast inside trying to convince me to reach across the table and knock him square across the face.

Why are you looking at me like that? He really didn’t understand what the problem was and that just made it worse. I know that sounds like a complete girl thing to think, one of the biggest clichés out there, but with our bond I felt I had the right to expect him to be more in tune with my feelings.

"You made Jemal look like a total ass, when actually you were the one being a horrible friend to him. You were his best friend, and you stole his girlfriend. Don’t even sit there and try to say that it wasn’t like that, because we both know it doesn’t matter how all the little details played out. Maybe I don’t have the right to feel this way, and maybe it is naïve of me to think that I do, but I feel so betrayed by you right now. By you Lacal and that is something I never thought I would have to worry about." I stood up to leave the room.

What do you have to feel betrayed about? He looked at me with pleading eyes. One of the things he hated most was for me to walk away from him angry, especially if he was the cause of my anger. I know Jemal has a reason, what I did to him was wrong and I have no excuse for that, but you? Can you even tell me how I’ve hurt you?

You were with her, after you found out that you were my Serve. After all that crap you said about how our spirits were connected; your heart belonging to me and mine belonging to you. How could you just hand yours over to someone else? I thought we were meant to be with each other, and only each other. Tears began to collect in my eyes, but I forced them back. Even though I didn’t allow the drops to spill over, my disappointment remained on display, waves of it that shot out of me like daggers into his chest.

They were then, and they are now. He got up and walked around the table to my side, but left space between us. I didn’t even want him that close to me, but I didn’t move away. I am yours, you know that.

So how could you just replace me? Was it that simple for you? It hurt so much to get the words past my lips. I nearly lost my hold of the tears that threatened to fall. I knew if I didn’t ask the question I would never stop wondering about the answer, and that alone had the potential to destroy me.

I didn’t try to replace you Alexa. he stood from the table to follow me, not allowing me to escape him or the conversation. You have to know that I would never try to do something like that. I had no feelings for her. She was just a not-so-welcomed distraction from an extremely painful reality that I was trying desperately to avoid. I felt like a complete failure because I wasn’t able to feel you. I thought there was something wrong with me. You can’t possibly understand how horrible it felt and how embarrassed I was to be known as the ‘broken Serve’. You know that is what people were calling me. ‘The Broken One’ I pretended not to notice, not to hear the whispers, but I did, and it made me completely miserable. his head shook as he bared his shame. She took some of that away or at least made it easier to ignore my growing feelings of failure. As soon as I figured out what she really wanted, I told her she was out of her mind and I ended it. He tried to close the space between us, but this time I took a step back.

I hated the hurt that my moving away from him caused which skewed the features of his face. That same hurt shot through our bond. Our emotional bridge worked both ways and I was trying to block out his feelings. I couldn’t stand it. Even with that, it was just too soon for him to touch me again. Him hurting because of his past actions was fine with me. I just never wanted to be the cause of his pain. His inner turmoil that clouded and darkened his eyes fell completely on my shoulders, but he couldn’t touch me, it was wrong. Yes, my thoughts were irrational, but I felt that she was all over him and I didn’t want her on me. He dropped his head and stepped further away from me.

How did you figure it out? I can’t imagine that she would have just come right out and admitted it to you. I needed to know more. I told myself it was to help me find Jazz, not for my own sanity.

"No, she didn’t, but it was all she ever talked about. It started with her just saying that she wanted to comfort me. She was always telling me that my connection issues with you were no big deal. She told me that everything would be fine, and at the time that was all I wanted to hear. It didn’t matter who was saying it. I wanted to feel like I still had a chance to make everything right.

Then she started talking about there being another option, other ways to ‘fill the High Arc seat’. She even asked me to suggest it to my father, because he was on the council. What she never seemed to understand was that the council does not control it. That amount of power would never be ‘given’ to anyone. It is too dangerous. If you never would have shown up, genetics would have chosen the next in line.

The few times I did try to engage in a real conversation with her, it took her about four seconds to shift the topic back to my status and how ‘cool’ it would be if we could rule together. I’m almost completely sure that if she was able to get the power she was after, she would have gotten rid of me as soon as possible, with no hesitation."

So, you’re saying that she took my friend to piss me off. Why would she do that?

I don’t know, he looked away. I wish I did. Maybe that would fix this for you, or at least take some of the anger out of your eyes.

Witnessing how upset Lacal was over this situation was nearly unbearable. It took everything I had to stop myself from comforting him. That was all I ever wanted to do, our bond made it nearly impossible for me to accept him suffering in any way. I had to convince myself that at the moment his sadness was irrelevant to the situation. It had to be. My anger towards him, though already starting to subside, was still in some way justified.

I began to try and figure out what could the motivation be behind Jocelyn’s actions? What could she possibly get from causing this pain? I wondered if she wanted something more from me. As if on cue I got the answer I was looking for.

She wants you to give up your birthright. She wants to be Queen. We both turned to see Lamar standing in the doorway.

Two

Lamar was Lacal’s father and the head of the High Arc Council. I looked at him as he stood in the doorway, and as always, I got a strange sensation. It was like looking into the future. Lacal was the spitting image of Lamar, only Lamar was older. He had aged beautifully, as most vampires did. They had the same long wavy hair; the only difference was that Lamar’s was now streaked with grey. His eyes were a different color as well. The hue was breathtaking, an odd yet amazing combination of grey and green. They were almost as captivating as Lacal’s. Although I must admit that I am no impartial judge. He was tall, and in spite of his age, he still seemed to exude strength. He had broad shoulders, and underneath the blue sweater he wore, his toned muscles were evident. He took pride in keeping himself fit; it was one of the things I admired him for.

Vampires had a tendency to take their extended lives for granted. What was the point of putting in extra effort for upkeep, when you were guaranteed eternity? You would think it would be the other way around. Lamar didn’t take on this perspective. He treated his body as a walking temple. In some ways he reminded me of the actor, Richard Gere. I had always told Jazz that if the Gods ever granted me the luck to meet that man, the issue of age would be no concern to me. Somehow, I would make him mine! If only long enough to ravish him with kisses and steal a lock of that gorgeous, silver mane. Thankfully I didn’t feel that way about Lamar. That would have been horribly awkward.

What? The sound of my voice blended with Lacal’s as we asked the question in unison. I hated how moved I was by the sound. It sounded too right, like it belonged.

Is that even possible? I asked and looked from Lamar to Lacal and back when I saw that Lacal was just as confused by the announcement as I was.

It hasn’t ever happened, though it came very close, once. A High Arc does possess the right to relinquish her title to whomever she chooses. He shook his head as though the thought disgusted him. This isn’t a sentence or an imprisonment. You have the freedom to do as you wish. If you choose not to take your place as High Arc, it is up to you to choose someone to replace you. That is the responsibility of the High Arc, and no one else.

She can do that? Lacal asked, as he looked to me. I could feel his worry. Might I actually consider it? After the revelation of Jocelyn, it was understandable that this news would upset him. What would happen to our bond if I decided to walk away from this life? What would that mean for him?

I thought once the bond was sealed, it was a done deal. I avoided Lacal’s eyes. I wasn’t considering it, but there was a part of me that liked that he worried I would. It was that girlish part of me that just loved to feel wanted.

Like I said, you always have a choice Alexa. Lamar looked at me, also avoiding eye contact with his son. He knew him well, even without an enhanced bond; he could see what was going on inside his head.

So, I can hand my title over to just anyone who wants it? I asked out of curiosity, not consideration. That’s what I told myself, I only wanted the knowledge, not the option.

No, not just anyone, it specifically has to be a female from the same bloodline; someone born of a High Arc or the daughter of a High Arc. He let the statement hang in the air. After about a minute and a quick bout with denial, the weight of his words crushed my lungs.

Wait! You’re saying that his psycho ex is blood related to me?! I cocked my head to the side, and was completely repulsed by the idea of someone related to me having been with Lacal. Yes, that was the first thing I considered. No, I’m not proud of it, there were so many more important things