The Celestial Rose BoxSet

by Annalee Adams

  Outside a car engine growled.

  “Taylor, your rides here!” Dad shouted.

  “What ride?”

  “Blimey, girl, you really did hit your head.”

  Edging closer to the window, I saw a devilishly handsome face, striking blue eyes, and a grin that could command anything of me. Lucian. It all came back; the horror, the pain, the blades. Lucian. What was he? What were any of them? But, wow, did he like to arrive in style. He stood perched beside an aqua blue Chevrolet Camaro. 1969, by the look of it. I’d always had an interest in classic cars, especially muscle cars. Like my mum's red 67' Mustang back in the day. She loved the classics. I remember it took her over a year to arrange for the import, but it was her baby. Well, until my Dad had to sell it. He said it's what she would have wanted, but I still believe he regrets the decision. Not the house, he loves the house and his new job here, but he misses the Mustang. It reminded him of her, the way her hair would whip around wildly when she let it loose on the roads outside of London central. If only she had taken the Mustang that day, then maybe she would still be here.

  “Bye Dad, Caleb!” I shouted as I ran out of the house.

  “Taylor, your pancakes!” Dad yelled. I ran over, took the bag, and kissed him on the cheek.

  I felt good, even with the obvious issue of the previous day's monstrosities, I still felt good. You see, I knew it was real. All of it. All those therapy sessions, the shrinks, and the institution. It was all real, and more fool of them for not believing me. Dad thought it’d be good to move away, start fresh here in Elvington. He wouldn’t keep me locked away. After the hospital, they arrested me and hid me away in a mental institute. Dad said he’d already lost my mother, there was no way he would let them take me as well. I spent six months in that hell hole, and almost began to believe them, too. Daily, they tried conditioning me to believe my memories were stories of my own vivid imagination. I almost fell for it. But Dad came to the rescue. He’d managed to get it overruled and my name cleared. Apparently, the little girl had said I’d blown the subway up, then with my mental break, I was an easy arrest. Why they believed a pre-schooler was anyone’s guess. Granted, the explosion sure looked like it’d come from me, but they couldn’t find any catalyst, except me, and who’s going to believe a then sixteen-year-old girl could blow up a subway station with her mind? Exactly. No one. The case was thrown out, and now that I’m here to get away from it all, the irony is, the supernatural finds me.

  “Good morning, Taylor Lane. And how is your head this morning?”

  “Cut the crap, Lucian, I remember everything.”

  “Okay, well, that is unexpected.” He paused. “Shall we go for a ride?”

  “Are you sure you want to be around me after what you saw happen in the subway? I know you were there.”

  “Ah, yes, you are a puzzle I’d love to crack.” He smiled. “But there’s no need to worry, I’m not fearful of your laser beams.” He laughed, holding open the car door.

  “Yes, but I might be of your driving!”

  He continued to laugh as I pulled on my seatbelt.

  “So, when you said ride, you did mean to Stonebridge, didn’t you?”

  “Well, if that’s where you want to go? But I thought we could head to my home. Somewhere private to talk”

  “Erm...”

  “Why do you seem nervous?”

  “Because we just met.”

  “You know that isn’t true, Taylor.”

  “Well, there’s the answer to my first question. You are the boy from the subway.”

  “Yes, indeed I am.”

  The rest of the journey, I sat silently. Who was this boy? And why did he seem so interested in me? There’s a time in your life, a turning point, and this, this was it. I was entrusting my safety to a stranger that had been watching me over the last year and a half. It screamed of a stalker to me, but that was the mortal head on my shoulders talking. I knew the supernatural head would say he’s something different, something more. For some reason, the boy cared for me.

  We veered to the right, heading away from civilisation and over a dirt path that took us through the forest. About a mile in, the sunlight dimmed as the trees loomed over, shadowing the area from peering eyes as we delved deeper into the darkness. It was hard to tell day or night there, as the environment lay twisted in shadow. It certainly screamed horror movie, but still, I felt an awe of mystery and intrigue, yearning for answers as curiosity cautioned my mind from reality.

  Across a rocky bridge, we drove onto a paved driveway, a long one at that, lit by Victorian style lamps either side. It was surprising to find something so magical hidden away. Cruising along at a slow speed, I took in the glory of the mansion as we arrived. The beauty of it was breath-taking with its white columns, balconies, and Gothic nature. A step back in history, a turn in time.

  “1800’s,” he said.

  “What?”

  “You were wondering when it was built.”

  “Oh, well, yes.”

  “It’s been in our family since the 1800’s, although I didn’t move in till much after that.” He laughed as we pulled up. The car’s engine halted as my passenger door opened with ease. How did he do that? His speed was unnatural.

  “Come on, lets head inside,” he said, offering his hand.

  Inside the mansion everything was perfectly still, you’d hear a pin drop in the unearthly place. The hall surrounding me rose up past the chandelier into the second and third floors. The sky framed the hallway with a glass roof high above, adding nature to such a remarkable build.

  “It’s beautiful,” I exclaimed.

  “Yes, it’s certainly something. Come, I’ll show you the best part.”

  “There’s better?”

  “There’s always better!” he exclaimed, as he pulled me along and up the curved staircase.

  The intimate details were stunning, even the handrail was curved, carved in wood, and textured like the body of a snake.

  At the top of the stairs, on the third floor, the mansion opened up. A space as large as the building itself, with the magnificent glass ceiling.

  “At night, you can watch all the stars,” he said, directing me over to the domed centre, “and if you look over in that direction, you’ll see the academy and all of Elvington out on display.”

  “Wow!” I couldn’t think of anything better to say.

  “Indeed,” he smiled, “we call this the Watchtower.”

  “I can see why. It’s beautiful.”

  “This is my favourite place. It's peaceful and, as you say, beautiful,” he said, looking over at me.

  “Come sit with me,” he stated, patting the seat beside him, and I did.

  Sitting back in one of the comfiest sofas I had ever sat in, I felt relaxed.

  I’d never leave the place if it were mine. I was surprised he even came to school. Boy, what you could learn in that house would be amazing. I bet he used the telescope to watch the stars, hmm...and the people. Should I be concerned? He hadn't done anything to hurt me. He had saved me, in fact, from those shadowed creatures. Either way, I wanted to hear him out.

  “So, what were they?” I asked.

  “Which what are you talking about?”

  “Well, start from the beginning.”

  “I think it’d take centuries to cover that.”

  “Okay, from the subway, from when my Mum died.”

  “I am sorry about your mum, Taylor,” he murmured “and the hundreds that perished that day.”

  “It wasn’t your fault, was it?” I asked.

  “No, I’m afraid you were all caught in the middle of a battle being fought for centuries. We try to save human lives, but that day, we weren’t prepared for its army of shadelings.”

  “Shadelings?”

  “Yes, the creatures that attacked you yesterday.”

  “Oh, those.” I shuddered.

  “What was the beast?”

  “The beast, it’s a creature created centuries before
your time. An old weapon in an arsenal of tragedy. It escaped the city and we’ve been tracking it ever since.”

  “What city?” I asked.

  “Why, Enoch, of course,” he said, puzzled.

  “Erm?”

  “Don’t you know of it?”

  “No, should I?”

  “I must be mistaken, but I thought you were ‘different’ like us.”

  “I’m just human.”

  “Never say 'just humans.' They are a magnificent creation all on their own. And no, you’re not human.”

  “But I was.”

  “What do you mean?” he said.

  “It all changed at the subway. I couldn’t see them before.”

  “What do you mean? What changed?”

  “I turned sixteen, blew out the candle, and all hell broke loose.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know. What are you, then, Taylor?”

  “I really have no clue, Lucian.”

  “I think you need to speak to Lawrence. He’s our leader, our father in some respects. He will know what’s happening to you.”

  “Okay. Where is he?”

  “He is away on business right now. But I shall bring you back here to talk with him. Perhaps over dinner one evening? Then you can see the stars yourself.”

  “Thank you.” I blushed “That would be lovely.”

  He smiled.

  Did he just invite me on a date to see the stars? No, it’s to meet his leader. Is it?

  “Would you like something to drink, eat?” he asked.

  “No, I’m good thanks... but, could you tell me about the shadelings?” I asked. “Why do they attack me?”

  “That I don’t know. Perhaps it’s because they know you can see them, you’re a threat to them now. Especially after you took down the whole subway with your light, you shone like an angel!” he exclaimed.

  “Maybe.” I paused. “But what are they?”

  When Lucian spoke of the shadelings, he spoke in a sympathetic tone. He said they could not help what they were. They craved the energy of life, it’s what sustained them, enabling them to grow. With enough energy, it had been known for them to heal and change back into what they once were.

  The ones who had attacked me were vile, rotting corpses; their bodies were misted around the edge as if they were darkness themselves. They could manipulate their surroundings, absorbing the light and heat around them turning light to dark, warm to cold. They smelt of death, and perhaps they were death, in one manner or another.

  Their hunger reminded me of that of a rabid dog, and Lucian said I wasn't far wrong. He said they were telepathic and could communicate with each other through a connection only the shadelings shared. They not only craved energy, but they desired life itself. And for them, to take someone's last breath was the purest form of ecstasy. It gave them the ability to feel again and walk alongside humanity. However, the energy they consumed only lasted a short while, but it was the connection they craved, and that was what they killed for.

  Over the years the creatures had changed. They were originally among the most beautiful, but their physical appearance started to mirror their own personalities, grotesque to the core. With their faded beauty, they could no longer lure humanity in, so they fulfilled their hunger and desire by turning to the dead or dying, humanity’s easy pickings. Then they became the hideous creatures I had seen. They had taken on the shape of a darker form of humanity, one that terrified children in their sleep. The monster under the bed, so to speak. They feared no one and nothing. They were hunters in the night, nocturnal creatures with no emotion. They ripped through humanity one by one and nothing could stop them but themselves. They were powerful, very powerful, and as a child of Lilith's, they eventually embraced their true nature. Because of that, they lived with an abundance of riches, taking anything, they desired, including mortals as slaves and pets. They saw humans as below them, a toy to play with. But over the years they grew tired of humanity and took to killing their slaves, feasting on their dead corpses with a craving so deep it destroyed them. They ended lives, fed on corpses, and drank the soul from within. Turning into cannibals, they digested their bodies into their own, even those whose flesh had already begun to wither and rot.

  The energy they took sustained them in a way that wasn't meant to be. They were monstrosities and with every bite they took, they became increasingly delusional. The madness took over and they began to attack each other, killing anyone and anything in sight. As they feasted on dead blood, their souls slipped further away. They then only remained in shadow, living in a realm beyond our own, only coming out into our world with a need to destroy and decimate.

  "That's horrifying!"

  "Yes, there are many kinds of beings in our world."

  "But what are you, Lucian?"

  "I am a darkened force built to bring balance. I was once as lost as the shadelings are. But when Lilith found me, she changed me, and now I fight by her side, creating a peace bridging both worlds.”

  “Who is Lilith?”

  “She’s beyond words, and I am sure if needed, she will come to you to show you the way.”

  “What about Elisha and the others? Are they the same as you?”

  “No, but their stories are for them to tell.” He thought for a moment. “I can tell you, though, that we all fight together as a clan. We were all lost once, but now, with our purpose, we shine in the darkness.”

  “Okay, it’s a lot to take in.”

  “Yes, I expect so. Taylor, the day is waning. I must ensure your safety. Would you consider staying here with us?”

  “No, I’m sorry. It's stunning, but no. I have my dad and brother to think about.”

  “Okay,” he said simply.

  “Why do I concern you so much?”

  “I... I don’t know, Taylor. There’s something about you,” he said, taking my hand. “I feel a connection, one that I haven’t felt for centuries.”

  “Centuries?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is that why you’ve been watching me?”

  “Yes. Lawrence said you were special. You needed to be kept safe.”

  “How would he know that, though?”

  “He’s what humans would call a seer.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “I never minded watching you. I just wish I could have reached out sooner.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “You weren’t ready, you needed to be free from London. I dropped hints about Elvington with your father.”

  “You met him?”

  “No, we never met.”

  “Then how did you drop hints?”

  “I just helped. I believe it was the academy ringing that sparked his enthusiasm. They rang to offer their condolences. After all, your mother was quite the star around here. Everyone knew of the famous artist that grew up right here in Elvington.”

  “Then I guess we have you to thank for moving here.”

  “I wouldn’t thank me yet. Let’s see what the future holds first, shall we?” He smiled. “You have a decision to make, Taylor Lane.”

  “What’s that, Lucian Darkwater?” I smiled.

  “If you want to live or die.”

  “Erm, okay. Live obviously.”

  “Then we need to train you.”

  “Train me for what?”

  “To defend yourself. You’re very powerful, from what I saw. You just need to learn how to access that power, control and wield it.”

  “Okay, but how?”

  “For now, let’s get you home. Tomorrow you’ll meet Lawrence and we can start from there.” He said as I nodded.

  Was I ready for this? A world behind my own? Was it wrong of me to wish for slumber parties and boy talk? Surely, that’s what I should be doing with my life. Jeez, I was only 17. It wasn’t right. It was hard enough losing mum, but to have to change, to adapt to a whole new world. I couldn't see that happening anytime soon. I couldn't even bring myself to look under the bed, let along fight monsters in a blin
dfolded world.

  He was right though, whoever he really was. If I didn't toughen up, the world would take me down with it. I was one of the lucky ones, I guessed, at least I knew the truth. Man, if people had seen what I saw in the subway they’d never sleep again. The world would ignite in chaos, suicides, mass murders. It wasn't their fault, they were just normal. Hooked up on their simple lives, blissfully unaware of the danger we live in. What I’d give to be that ignorant once again.

  CHAPTER 6

  The alarm bell chimed as I reached out attempting to locate it. It couldn’t be morning already. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept long enough that the drill of my alarm woke me up. But that morning I felt rested, relaxed even, and woke up with a sweet smile on my face. It looked a beautiful day out and one I was sure would be enchanting.

  Outside, the sound of an old car horn escaped swiftly into the air. There he was, the dark handsome Lucian standing with his shades on beside his 69' Camaro. The car alone made me tingle inside, never mind the blue-eyed boy that drove it.

  The smell of burnt pancakes drifted through the household again. I rushed downstairs to grab a couple of the less singed ones, thanked my father, and ran out to meet Lucian.

  “Good morning, Taylor. How are you on this bright and beautiful morning?” he asked as he opened the car door for me.

  He was as chirpy and mysterious as ever; his modulated tone soothed the soul of even the most tiresome creature.

  “I did sleep much better. Thanks, Lucian. I think talking about everything helped.”

  “That’s music to my ears. Now we must stay together today, just to ensure that the shadelings that want to devour your soul are gone.”

  “Delightful,” I remarked. He even made the deadly shadelings sound half pleasant. “When can we start training?” I asked as we drove away.

  “There’s no rush. There is much you need to learn. I’ll take you to meet Lawrence tonight. Is that okay with you?” he asked.

  “Of course, that would be great.”

  “It’s settled then. I shall bring you home after classes and come by to collect you later.”

  “Thank you, Lucian,” I smiled.