The Celestial Rose BoxSet Page 4

  "Ah, you look familiar, Taylor. Have we met before?"

  "Is that the line you use on all the girls?" I smirked.

  "Well, you’d be the first." He grimaced.

  "It may need work," I laughed.

  He kissed my hand.

  “I’ll do that then, Taylor,” he said as he turned and walked away.

  Rowena gasped.

  "No-one speaks to Harland, Taylor, no-one."

  "Why?" I asked

  “He gets nasty. Rumoured to have put Joe in the ground last term. He’s not right in the head.”

  "He was alright. A little abrupt, maybe." I smiled and followed Rowena over to a table of cheery teens, all waiting to prey on the new girl.

  The teens introduced themselves. The first was a ginger-haired boy called Chase but known by his nickname Carrot top, very original. Chase, or Carrot as I’d been asked to call him, was talkative, knowledgeable, and quite interested in everything I had to say.

  Next to him sat a girl called Jessie. She appeared friendly, didn't say much, but anything she did say brought the boys to her side. She was what you would call a natural beauty. She didn't need make-up or fancy clothes.

  Then was Pearce. Now Pearce looked dark and devilish, a trickster of sorts, he cracked jokes and was apparently known as the class clown. Pearce did anything for a laugh. He was a daredevil at heart and didn't care much about risk or retribution.

  Finally, the twins introduced themselves as Emma and Jake, both with blond hair, brown eyes, and a caring nature. Apparently, they’d never been to London. I told them I would be going back to visit family there, so perhaps some time they could join me. Grandpa Leland would love the company, he’d lived on his own for years. For the rest of the lunch period everyone sat talking, listening, and laughing. It was nice to laugh again.

  Every so often I caught the cheerleader, the boy from break, and Mr. blue eyes watching our little group. Harland had disappeared, and where he had gone worried me.

  "You do that a lot, don't you?" Rowena smirked, watching me.

  "What?" I asked, yawning.

  "Drift off." She laughed. "It's okay, you'll get used to everyone."

  "If I can remember everyone's names tomorrow, I'll be thankful," I said, laughing.

  We left my new-found friends and headed off to the library.

  “It’s free period. What was it you wanted to find out about?”

  “Oh, the cabinet earlier? There was a strange hammer and scythe in there. What were they for?”

  “I have absolutely no idea, but maybe try the History of Elvington over there,” she said, pointing to the back part of the library.

  I headed over to delve into the historical section, breathing in the smell of old books, a whirlwind of forgotten knowledge.

  Running my finger along the titles, I noted how quiet the corner of the library was. I pulled out a book, The Doomsday Book, and glanced through its contents. Elvington appeared halfway down the list. Flipping to that chapter, I noticed that it gave a comprehensive timeline, but nothing that mentioned Stonebridge Academy, which I thought odd considering it was the largest building in the village. Putting the book down, I photographed the timeline and placed the book gently back on to the shelf, ready for its next curious scholar.

  Around the corner I found many books on the historical accounts of different philosophers and scientists. There were also a few books on the moon landing and space flight and a couple on the dawn before time, describing the big bang and dinosaurs trampling over the Earth. If you wanted history, this library had it. It seemed to have everything. Well, everything except the history of Stonebridge Academy with its mysterious weapon collection.

  Lost in a world of thought, I carried on looking through the titles.

  “If you are looking for truth, you’re reading in the wrong section,” the mysterious blue-eyed boy said, startling me.

  “I, err,” I stuttered.

  There was something about the boy, something different, beyond the realm of mortal explanation. And yet, he felt familiar. I almost longed for his presence. His pale skin and piercing blue eyes could capture any girls heart. His eyes, though, they shone unnaturally, glistening with the sparkle of a polished, blue diamond. He was softly spoken, with an open stance and athletic build. Who was this boy and how did I know him?

  “You were looking at history?” he said, running his fingers over the spines, book after book after book.

  “Err, yes.”

  “What history do you desire to find?”

  “Nothing, really. It doesn’t matter.”

  “Everything matters, Taylor.”

  “Yes, I suppose it does. I wondered what the weapons were for, in the cabinet near reception.”

  “Hmm,” he smirked, “Well, they are items of great importance. I’m sure you will feel a use for their knowledge one day. But today, today isn’t that day.”

  He smiled, brushing past me as he left. The coldness of his touch sent shivers down my spine, and as he left, the delicate scent of sandalwood drifted after him.

  I headed back down the spiral staircase to meet Rowena. But with each step I took, the room began to spin, like a merry go round you can’t get off. My head ached, my body shook.

  As I reached the bottom, Harland came into view. Watching me sway, he walked over steadying me.

  "What happened, Taylor? Who were you talking to?" He paused, staring through me. "Ah, yes, now I see. Don’t let him touch you.”

  I remained silent, afraid to talk in case I vomited all over the library floor. I felt faint as Harland gripped my waist, holding me up, helping me out of the library. Standing in the corridor, he took in my drunk expression, cupped his hands around my face and focused on me, searching deep into my eyes.

  I started to convulse and gag.

  “It’ll ease,” he said softly, as he pushed me through the door to the girl’s bathroom, clearly sensing my urgent need to vomit. I left him there without a thank you and only just made it to the toilet.

  The nausea began to ease, sweaty palms dried, and vision settled. What happened? It felt like an anxiety attack. Something had affected me, but what?

  The bell shrilled, hordes of students ran across the halls, school buses collected and left, darkness drifted in as the lights flickered. How long had I been here? I sat on the toilet contemplating life.

  CHAPTER 4

  Leaving the bathroom, my mind was elsewhere as I missed the obvious. The sun had begun to disappear, hiding itself away behind the autumn clouds.

  A meandering fog trickled through the windows above as the temperature dropped dramatically. At the end of the corridor the outer doors flung open. A gush of wind stormed through the building at such a speed, as if to escape the looming horror that lay in wait outside. I shivered, breathing heavy, my hair wavered, sheltering me from the severity of the typhoon of leaves before me. They mesmerised me as they danced. When they reached me, they created a symphony of colours swarming around my legs, up and over my body. Hypnotised by their colourful motion I smiled, drawn forward like a magnet towards its pole. It was beautiful, like rainbows of unicorns and candyfloss. Feeling the warmth of love flow through my body, I stood captured by their dance.

  Then it came, a shrilling scream unlike no other. My mind no longer lived in such a happy place. Instead, it froze as the drill of fear pulsated through my veins. Rushing for cover, struggling for breath, a lump formed in my throat. I gasped for air, shivering uncontrollably. Something was wrong, badly wrong. It was fight or flight all over again and all I could do was run and hide. Clutching my arms around my chest, burying my head, I whimpered like a child, waiting for the banshee's wail to end.

  It must be in my head, my mind taking over, hysteria beating me down again. I'm trapped here. My body tensed up, shaking, and stumbling against its natural rhythm. Then I saw them. Stomach clenched, I stood face to face with the destiny before me. Three distinct figures appeared, shrouded in darkness. One by one they came, drifting unn
aturally towards me. Were these the ghosts of the past? Was it happening again? I closed my eyes tight, held my breath. They’re not there! They’re not there! Fists clenched, I tried to take control.

  As they came, all remaining light fled to the walls in fear. The shadows faltered as three silhouettes stood tall in the doorway. The darkness enveloped them as they glided in, parting the masquerade of autumn leaves, like Moses crossing the red sea. With each footstep the density of the air increased, breathing faltered, eyes watered. I gulped, choking on my own inability to breathe. Shifting incessantly, I knew I needed to leave, to get away.

  They all appeared male, all with an essence of familiarity. But these looked different, more pronounced, unique. The male on the left was tall, skinny and partially hooded. His face moved as though there were creatures burrowing beneath his skin. He growled in hunger with the strength of a predator threatening its prey. I backed into the wall, tears streamed down my face. He wasn’t human. This couldn’t be real, not again! My body was too heavy to move, to run away.

  The next figure had a distinct air of severity. His frozen eyes captured my own, as he left a trail of ice blanketing the floor behind him. He felt violent, his anger tormented his mind as he lashed out. What was he attacking? Was I his next target? My mind sunk as I began to see the slitherings of rotten corpses rising from the ground before me. My back burned with fearful anticipation. I was vulnerable, easy pickings.

  The final male, there was something different about him. Butterflies flickered through my stomach as my gaze found his, his piercing blue eyes lit up as he smiled warmly. My heart faltered as I felt relieved. It had been my mind playing tricks on me again. These were just boys, not ghosts, or demonic creatures, and I knew them. Well, at least I’d met all but one of them earlier that today. Three devastatingly beautiful figures, capturing my own heart, luring me along every step of the way.

  They had almost reached me when it happened. A heaviness swarming around me, my friend called fear had crept its way up my backbone again. Even the eyes of the final guy gave out a fearful glance of terror. What did he see? What couldn’t I see? They were looking right behind me, as my hairs stood up on end. An ice-cold breath beat against the back of my neck. It was that moment when you think something's behind you, know it’s there, but you daren’t look. If you look, then it’s real, the monsters really are there. And that means all the nightmares weren’t nightmares, all those terrors really did exist, and right then, right at that moment, they’re actually right behind you. Can you feel that fear? That’s it, that’s the creature I’m talking about. The one breathing on your neck, you can’t see it, you can feel it, you know it’s there. And right then, it was behind me.

  Shivering inexplicably, I struggled to breathe. Heaviness pounded me down as pure terror filled the boy’s eyes. What was happening? My chest pounded, vision blurred. My reflection in the glass cabinet faltered. What was that around me? I wasn’t alone. My body was being torn down by shadows, darkness with teeth. What are they? I can’t go through this again! Get them off me! They smelt vile, tainted by death, rotting corpses siphoning me dry of energy. I can’t move! Pain seared through me as my nerves ignited. It burns! They clawed at my skin as they gripped, wrapping their bodies around my own. It was real, they were real. I had hoped London was just my own mad hysteria taking over. But no, they were real. I cried as the taste of salty tears cushioned my lips. I panted for air, breathing rapidly, gasping through the tightness. Panic screeched through me. Pain enraged the back of my throat. My eyelids fluttered as I fell, disappearing into the darkness, in a pit of surreal desperation.

  In an instant, the final boy leapt forward at a revolutionary speed, catching me on his out-laid knee. I saw the worry in his deep blue eyes, the boy that saved my soul. The other two were dancing through the gloom with silvered blades, creating a show of ice and fire, ripping through the darkness as I lay cold. Every part of me burned inside, as though I had been coated by lava on a hot summer's day. My body jolted and spasmed, begging to breathe. I had no control anymore. My mind slept as my eyes flickered. Peace finally took over. I gave into the pain as the darkness took me and I slowly closed my eyes. Losing myself as I drifted, unconsciously taking in the scent of wooded aftershave with a subtle hint of sandalwood.

  Thud Thud Thud.

  The pressure was immense, like an alien bursting out of me. How was I still alive? Burgh, my mouth tastes like I’ve licked a copper pot. My nose hurts, burns in fact, what is that smell? It’s like scorching sulphur searing my nose hairs.

  Why can’t I see? Why won’t my eyes open? The darkness, it’s taken me, I’m dead again! I must be!

  “Take your time.” The familiarity of a smoky voice softened.

  “My eyes, they won’t open!”

  “They will. Give them time.”

  My eyes strained to open, giving way to the glaring orange light as it burnt through my retina. Yelping, I closed them again.

  An icy hand brushed against my arm, sending shivers down my spine. The chatter of three distinct voices took over, arguments, deafening whispers.

  Breaking through my mind's story, an authoritative voice rose above the others.

  "Quiet, we must make sense of this."

  A moment passed, the silence was deafening and although not a soul spoke, the ravenous sounds of a barking dog outside bellowed within my ears.

  “What the Hell?” a distant voice yelled, footsteps hurriedly getting closer.

  “Harland, keep out of this,” the authoritative voice demanded.

  “Keep out of what? What did you do, Julian?” Harland yelled with only a grunt in response.

  “We haven’t done anything. The shadelings attacked her.”

  “What? Why?”

  “How am I supposed to know?”

  “Go away, Harland, the Darkwaters will handle this,” Julian demanded.

  “Yeah, that’s what concerns me.”

  “Mate, you’re more dangerous than any of us,” a honeyed voice spoke.

  “I’m not your mate, Nicolas!” Footsteps pounded the floor, the ripping of clothes echoed around us as an almighty roar shattered the silence.

  “Nic! Not now!” Julian yelled.

  “Yeah, listen to your leader.”

  “I wouldn’t taunt the beast, Harland. Don’t forget you’re vulnerable right now.”

  “Only for a few more days, Lucian, then she could be mine in an instant. You know that!”

  “No, Harland, she isn’t anyone’s. She should make up her own mind.”

  “Says the stalker... watched her in the shower lately, Lucian?”

  “Harland!” the severe voice boomed.

  “It’s a joke, Julian. We all know he doesn’t have x-ray vision, jeez,” he laughed.

  “Nic, we’ll meet you back home,” Julian said, receiving a deafening roar in response.

  “Yeah, Nic, head home to mummy.”

  “Enough!” Lucian yelled.

  “Yeah, well, perhaps he shouldn’t piss me off then,” he screeched as a herd of footsteps battled around my fallen body.

  “Get off me, Lucian!” Harlan yelled.

  “Don’t forget, I can end you anytime, mate,” Lucian hissed.

  The scent of roses wafted through the air, as the voice of the head cheerleader rose up beside me.

  “Give it up, girls, you’re acting like she’s a prize to be won.” She paused. “She needs to go home and rest. She’s no good to anyone like this.”

  “Oh, hello Elisha,” Harland lulled.

  “I can’t always protect her there.” Lucian said.

  “You’ve protected her so far. It’s just another night.”

  “Fine. I’ll take her home.”

  “No zapping her of energy again, mate!” Harland sounded smug.

  Lucian picked me up as though I was as light as a feather. His cool, muscular arms cradled my fragile nature. Snuggled into his frozen chest, I shivered. He wasn’t normal. I’ve only ever felt that when I
touched my grandma's arm, right before they buried her. I still remember her swollen hands and orange make-up. They just don’t look human anymore. What if he isn’t human? He didn’t have the warming touch of one. But then how did he live? What made him real? Was he even real? Perhaps I’m still dead and this is my version of Hell? It could be, I wouldn’t know, would I?

  Okay, I’ve got to calm down, must take control. I’m better than this... deep breath in ... one, two, three, four, five ... deep breath out ... six, seven, eight, nine, ten ... and relax.

  The soft trickling of arctic fingers brushed against my face. With tingling lips, he whispered “you’re safe now”. My stomach swirled as my eyelids parted to see a strong face of porcelain skin staring back at me. I remained hypnotised by his affectionate expression as his deep blue eyes pierced through my own.

  “It’ll take a while for your wounds to heal, Taylor."

  How did he know my name? And who was the boy that danced with the devil to save me? Did he know about London, know what they were? Of course, he knew. I remembered him, knew him. I’m sure I did. He was the angel watching over me.

  The bang of the car door leapt through my eardrum like a brass band. Every part of me took part in the fearful dance of anguish. Adrenaline screamed through my body. Shock took over and I held on tight, gripping my knees, cocooning myself, hiding from reality one more time. Pain burrowed deep behind my eyes. Wincing, I held them shut. Tensed up, biting down, I couldn't hold it together anymore. With the pain came the hysterical laughter, a manic episode of chaos creased out of me. An ecstatic emotion, as the force of hysteria streamed through my veins, like the fingers of a ghastly being titillating across my skin. HE’S DRUGGED ME! I screeched silently as my mind hollowed out.

  “Be calm, it will ease,” he soothed, fastening my seatbelt and then speeding off as we headed to my new Elvington home.

  CHAPTER 5

  The next morning I woke up bright and early, safe and sound in my bed. How did I get there? I remembered the academy, science, a few more classes, which let’s be honest, I couldn't remember much about. But what happened next? How did I get home?