The Celestial Rose Series
ANNALEE ADAMS
Table of Contents
Title Page
The Celestial Rose series
First edition. February 2018.
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
TO BE CONTINUED...
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 26: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 27: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 28: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 29: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 30: EVE
CHAPTER 31: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 32: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 33: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 34: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 35: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 36: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 37: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 38: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 39: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 40: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 41: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 42: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 43: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 44: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 45: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 46: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 47: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 48: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 49: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 50: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 51: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 52: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 53: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 54: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 55: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 56: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 57: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 58: TAYLOR
TO BE CONTINUED...
CHAPTER 59: Taylor
CHAPTER 60: Eve
CHAPTER 61: Adam
CHAPTER 62: Taylor
CHAPTER 63: Lilith
CHAPTER 64: Gabriel
CHAPTER 65: Taylor
CHAPTER 66: Lilith
CHAPTER 67: Elisha Darkwater
CHAPTER 68: Julian
CHAPTER 69: Lucian
CHAPTER 70: Joey
CHAPTER 71: Eve
CHAPTER 72: Adam
CHAPTER 73: Elisha
CHAPTER 74: Taylor
CHAPTER 75: Elisha
CHAPTER 76: Lilith
CHAPTER 77: Elisha
CHAPTER 78: Lucian
CHAPTER 79: Taylor
CHAPTER 80: Lilith
CHAPTER 81: Taylor
CHAPTER 82: Taylor
CHAPTER 83: Eve
CHAPTER 84: Taylor
CHAPTER 85: Taylor
CHAPTER 86: Taylor
CHAPTER 87: Taylor
CHAPTER 88: Taylor
CHAPTER 89: Taylor
CHAPTER 90: Taylor
ETERNAL ENDING | ANNALEE ADAMS
CHAPTER 91: Adam
CHAPTER 92: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 93: ADAM
CHAPTER 94: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 95: LILITH
CHAPTER 96: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 97: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 98: ADAM
CHAPTER 99: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 100: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 101: CAIN
CHAPTER 102: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 103: ELISHA
CHAPTER 104: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 105: ADAM
CHAPTER 106: JULIAN
CHAPTER 107: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 108: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 109: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 110: GABRIEL
CHAPTER 111: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 112: ADAM
CHAPTER 113: LILITH
CHAPTER 114: EVE
CHAPTER 115: JULIAN
CHAPTER 116: JULIAN
CHAPTER 117: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 118: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 119: LILITH
CHAPTER 120: LUCIAN
CHAPTER 121: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 122: LILITH
CHAPTER 123: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 124: ELISHA
CHAPTER 125: CAIN
CHAPTER 126: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 127: LILITH
CHAPTER 128: ADAM
CHAPTER 129: TAYLOR
CHAPTER 130: THE CHILDREN
CHAPTER 131: TAYLOR
AUTHOR’S NOTE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Book One: Eternal Entity
Book Two: Eternal Creation
Book Three: Eternal Devastation
Book Four: Eternal Ending
ETERNAL ENTITY
First edition. February 2018.
Copyright © 2018 Annalee Adams.
The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
Written by Annalee Adams.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any other means, without prior written permission from the author, Annalee Adams. No part of this publication may be circulated in any form of binding or cover than that which it is published in.
ISBN 978-1-980818-06-9
This book has been typeset in Garamond.
www.AnnaleeAdams.com
For Mark, Jak, and Sophia, who inspire me each and every day.
I love you.
CHAPTER 1
The carriage veered around the corner as I sat staring down at the light of a lone candle. The flame flickered, warming my face. I smiled at the anticipation that caressed each person around me.
The sweet scent of strawberry filtered through the air.
“Go on honey, make a wish!” She grinned, pulling me in close.
Cheers erupted through the dank carriage as I blew out the candle; a moment which would always remain at the forefront of my memory as maturity became me and childhood disowned me.
The desolate nature of the subway always scared me, with the shadows and darkness grinning with excitement. It wasn’t often we took this trip, but today I’d made an exception. Today I needed to act like an adult. Only kids were afraid of the dark.
The dim-lit carriage smelt of urine and vomit as the subway railed forward in despair. With the wheels gritting the tracks, we bared around the next corner.
“NEXT STOP: EMBANKMENT,” a robotic voice boomed through the speakers.
“Sweet sixteen, Taylor! I’m so proud of you!” She smiled, offering me the cupcake, a family tradition.
Every birthday at 18:13, Mum would start singing as I blew out the candle on another strawberry cupcake. I remember one year we were mid-flight to America, another year horseback riding through the peaks, and this year we happened to be caught in the chaos of rush hour on the London underground.
We’d spent the day trailing the shops, dragging my kid brother Caleb along. He was fine once we went to Hamleys, but boy could he moan! Mum had closed her gallery for the day and taken the time off for an autumn picnic at St. James Park. It was the perfect backdrop for the cheeky glass of vino she promised me. After all, I was getting older now. It had been fun. I’m sure Dad would love his new shirt, not that he ever got out of his uniform. He ran the fire department down in Broadgate and had done so for years.
You may be surprised to hear, considering the state of our current ride, that my parents owned a black Mercedes, with our own chau
ffeur. But Mum insisted that we take the subway. We needed the culture shock, she said. It was inspirational, the world with no frills.
The doors opened as a few more passengers got on. I’d gained a few of the same traits as she had. I loved watching people, taking in their merits and flaws. Like the tired young mother, cuddling her toddler as she slept holding her well-loved teddy bear, and the older man who relinquished his seat for a pregnant lady. People were kind at heart, even the ‘different types’ with loopy ears and metal noses. Or the character in the corner with the black trench coat, hood up, face covered over. I could see he’d have a few stories to tell.
Hanging onto the metal bar I stood watching, drifting into oblivion, as I took in the darkness of the tunnels outside. Juddering along, we came to a halt. Lights flickered as the robotic voice chimed “WESTMINISTER,” our stop and time to depart. Time to say goodbye to fifteen and hello to a whole new me, Little Miss Sixteen. Head held high, smiling for her fans like Oprah at a bake sale, today was my day.
The train pushed on its brakes as the white-washed walls of Westminster merged together. The platform was teeming with a horde of citizens, people from all walks of life; rushing from work, school or perhaps a social trip, taking in the attractions. A couple of young girls looked familiar from the junior school nearby, dressed in their classic black minis with knee-high socks and pristine white shirts. Even with its pale walls, the platform appeared dark and creepy. The lights were barely functioning, and I swear I saw the shadows dancing in delight. The world was a mass of magic and mystery, so my mother said. Then again, she loved the old black and white horrors. It was no wonder her art stirred fear within me. It was deep, dark and devastatingly beautiful. Her eyes saw a universe of beauty when ours only saw in Technicolor.
“Come on!” a man in a business suit yelled, snapping me from a delirium of thoughts. “Are you pushing the button?” He pushed his way past me to the front of the queue.
“Of course, I’m pushing it,” the tired young mother snapped back.
“Here.” He pushed her hand away.
“See, it doesn’t work!” she huffed.
“WE APOLOGISE FOR THE DELAY. WE ARE EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES,” the tannoy boomed.
“Great, just great!” the businessman moaned, looking at his watch.
In amongst the commotion, the pregnant lady sat rubbing her tummy, the businessman whined to all who would listen, and the older lady had fallen asleep on her handbag in the corner of the train. However, the hooded guy stood tall and poised for action.
“Taylor, are you okay?” Mum asked.
“Yeah, just feel a bit strange.”
“No more wine for the birthday girl!” She laughed, ruffling my hair.
“How long is this going to take?” the businessman boomed.
“Quiet, man, they’re doing their best!” a loopy eared youth yelled.
Phasing out of the rest of the argument, I stood watching the angry commuters outside. It wasn’t like banging on the door would open the damn thing! People lose themselves in chaos, it’s just best to stand and watch, take it all in. I turned to see Mum doing just the same. People are an inspiration, she’d said.
People, perhaps, but then what were those things up there on the steel girders? Perhaps the security crew was trying to work out the problem. There did appear to be wiring up there, as sparks fell to the ground. That couldn't be a good sign. It was hard to make them out, the ceiling was clammed up in darkness. They didn’t look like people; the perspective was all wrong. They must have only been two feet high.
What the hell is it? Is that a tail? It was swinging from the girders. Did the zoo lose a few monkeys?
“Mum! Do you see them?”
“What? Where are you pointing, Taylor?”
“Up there.”
“Yeah, it’s sparking. That’s not good honey, they must be going up to fix it.”
“So, you see them?”
“See what?”
“The creatures.”
“What creatures?”
“Creatures? Where are the creatures?” the tired young mother asked, eavesdropping.
“Up there. I saw about five of them playing with the electrics.”
“I can’t see up there, Taylor.”
“It’s your mind playing tricks on you,” the tired young mum smiled.
“It’s okay, Taylor, there’s nothing there, honey. Don’t worry, we'll be out soon.”
Why couldn’t she see them? They were as plain as day, not that you could see it was day outside. I’d say it was too much wine, but surely one small glass of the red stuff doesn’t make you hallucinate. They were still there, scampering along. I thought of monkeys earlier, but they weren’t monkeys. They bore no resemblance to anything in the animal kingdom, and nothing I’ve seen on the Discovery Channel either. If people could have heard my thoughts they would have laughed, but they did look like Gremlins. Seriously, they did. I know, it was a film, one which I hasten to add, was quite the experience. But also, a classic I hadn’t seen in years. You know the evil looking one that destroys everything? Yeah, him... they looked like him. Him and his kid brothers, the freaky looking things.
Damn, the world went dark. Where were they? I couldn't see a damn thing.
“Mum?”
“I’m here. Stay where you are.”
A child’s scream shrilled through the air.
“Shush, Kenny, it’s just a power cut.”
“That’s the lights gone then!” the business man’s voice trailed through the carriage.
“Mum!” Caleb whined.
“It’s okay, Caleb. Stay where you are. The lights will be back on it a minute.” Mum attempted to soothe him.
Okay, don’t panic. Don’t think about the Gremlins or the freakish wires they’re playing with. It was like something out of The Twilight Zone, with the creatures on the wings of the plane. You know they’re there, you can see them breaking the safety net around you, but not one person believes you. No matter what you say, they will just think you’re hysterical, you’re afraid of the dark. Or it’ll be the wine. "Too much vino," she’ll say. "No more wine for you, birthday girl." It was one damn glass! It wasn’t the wine, it wasn’t the dark, well, not completely. It was something more, something deeper. A dreadful sickness brewing in the pit of your stomach, and ghostly shivers running up your spine. You shudder, clam up, eyes wide, breathing heavy. If I can see the creatures, can they see me too?
Static hissed over the tannoy, emergency lights spark on, and a sigh of relief filtered through the carriage. The guy in the black trench coat gripped two silvered blades. With his face shrouded in darkness, he kicked open the back door with such a force it barely remained on its hinges. Abruptly closing it, he broke the handle, preventing us from escaping the clutches of our darkened cage.
“Oh my god! Martha did you see that?”
“Shit, man! What was he carrying?”
“The door won’t budge,” the businessman yelled as he hammered on the broken back door.
“What’s happening, Mum?” I asked.
“I... I don’t know honey. We're safer in here now that he’s gone.” She shuddered.
Yeah but out there, there were those weird looking creatures. Where were they? Where did that guy go and what’s with all the screaming outside?
“Kids, stay back away from the windows,” Mum yelled.
“What’s he doing?”
“It’s not just him, there’s a group of people attacking something!”
“Attacking what?”
“I don’t know. I can’t see it, it’s too dark out there.”
Heading over to the window, I looked out. The black trench coat guy was fighting a humongous monster. No, I’m not joking. Even my mind couldn't cope with it. The ground was seriously rumbled, opened, and a beast with the likes of the Devil's nightmares was attacking the platform's commuters. But no one could see it. No one was bothered by it. They were more concerned with the bla
ck trench coat guy and his band of merry men. They saw him as a villain, thinking he was causing the raucous. If only they could see the hellish creature before them, they would see he was trying to end its miserable life, save our lives, and perhaps even scarper with his own.
Blood drained from my face. I must be hallucinating, this can’t be happening. I cocooned myself, leaving clammy prints on the window. Gripping my knees, my body tensed. No one could see it. I daren’t look, daren’t open my eyes. My heart thumped. Breath faltered. Hairs stood on end. The cold shrill of their screams warped through me. This can’t be real, can’t be happening. Mum, where’s Mum? I must get up. Must find my family. What’s happening?
“Taylor! Taylor!! STOP!” Mum yelled, shaking me.
Swallowing back the tears, I opened my eyes.
“It’s okay honey, you’re panicking. Calm your breathing, count to ten, remember?”
My breathing eased as I stared into her eyes counting.
“It’s okay, it’ll be okay,” she said, hugging me and Caleb. “Those youths are just playing a Halloween prank. Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon, and we can enjoy the rest of your special day.” She smiled as the whole carriage illuminated.
A blinding light filled the space between us; crimson reds, burnt orange, and crispy yellow flooded the carriage. The train shone with an intense heat as the walls of the station blistered. A powerful bolt of fire shrieked across the walls, hues of red, yellow, and orange intertwined as it scorched the air in such an angry, yet triumphant, way. The face of fire screamed, leaping across each person on the platform. It showed no mercy. The station turned into a scene from an old zombie film, half scorched corpses scratching around trying to get into the carriage, to escape the blazing inferno.
Paralysis is something that happens amidst all the panic. Frantic mothers screaming for their children, fearful children screeching in anxiety, and me. I stood there frozen in the moment, petrified to the spot. My heart beating out of my chest as salty tears streamed down my face. Fingernails cut into my palms and I couldn’t hear my own breath as it leaped out of me.
If I had needed the toilet, I would have wet myself. Caleb did. He was frozen to the spot, gut-wrenching howls fled through the station. We both stood unmoving as their screams blared out in anguish. Our frantic mother stood shaking us both, pulling us down to the floor for cover.
The carriage blistered in the heat. Outside the screams began to die out. Low to the ground, hazed by smoke, gasping for breath, the inevitable happened. Our safe cocoon died around us. The station's ceiling had begun to collapse. Gripping my chest, I wheezed for air, body tense and braced for impact.
The Celestial Rose BoxSet Page 1
