Before
Limbo
By
Isabelle Crusoe
Copyright 2017 by Isabelle Crusoe
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means, or the facilitation thereof, including storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between the characters, places or events that take place in this book are strictly coincidental.
To my daughter, my hero
Acknowledgments
I’d like to express my gratitude to the many people who saw me through this book.
I would like to thank my mom, and dad for their unwavering support. My brother and sister, along with their families. Eileen and Alyssa with family, for being amazing, and inspiring, story tellers.
A super-duper thank you to my last-minute editor, Cierra, for being a lifesaver.
A huge thank you to Katrin and Claudia, for helping me write this thing people call a book.
Last and not least: I thank all those who‘ve been with me over the course of the years and whose names I failed to mention."
Contents
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
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 1
Effulgent would be the perfect place to hide the looneys. The only building on an island, away from all things normal. The seclusion catered to all the rich and famous kids, but also the shady, and wickedly twisted. The old suitcase’s wheels rattled through the pebbles, and I paused to breathe in the chilly air, happy to have escaped the thick fog surrounding the outer parts of the island. Being away from my friends was like missing a piece of myself. Don’t get me wrong, Gran was amazing, but I needed some sarcasm, and late nights, to keep my brain sharp.
An unusually cold February evening greeted me when I’d stepped off the ferry, but the careful pink tint of the sky held hope of warmer weather.
I tugged on the copper key hanging from a chain around my neck, the only thing I had left of my parents, and the bane of my existence. To keep it safe, I tucked it back under the cardigan Gran knitted for me for Christmas, and pulled the collar of my jacket tighter around my neck. Chilly air nibbled on my ears, and sweat trickled along my back. A rather confusing combination, if you asked me.
A dry snort slipped through my nose at the sight of the massive school building. “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”
Yepp. Effulgent was the perfect place to hide the weirdos.
A tower reached, without conviction, for the sky. Three stories high, if you didn’t count the tower, and covered in vines worthy of a fairytale. The school seemed to hold enough secrets to fill up a library of horror books, but man, it felt good to be back.
My arm jerked when the wheels on my bag got stuck in the gravel. Stupid bag. Like I didn’t have enough to deal with in my life. I put some weight behind my tug, and the bag free from a particularly evil looking stone. Said stone got one hell of a menacing glare, before I continued up the road. The stiff air left every sound suspended for a moment too long around me, and if it weren’t for Gran’s neatly knitted mittens, I’d be freezing my fingers off.
Students had gathered outside the school, the massive doors still closed, to my surprise. The combination of a faux fur hat, pulled down to her ears, and her skinny frame made Headmistress Lyra look like a wandering q-tip, when she walked between the clicks, and greeted everyone with her constant smile, and rosy cheeks.
A wide smile split her lips when she spotted me, and I tipped my chin to say hello. I liked Headmistress Lyra, she had an air of kindness around her, with a refreshing doze of weird thrown in the mix.
My nose twitched at the fresh pine scent from the forest, something I’d missed while being cramped in the apartment in the city. You never really know how much you love something, until it’s gone. Voices buzzed around me. Large windows screamed empty next to the columns holding up the balcony over the door. The humid air slithered through every crack of my clothes it could find, and sent a shiver up my back. Salma waited by the old oak tree at the edge of the left wing, so I lengthened my steps, the bag bounced over pebbles, and sent vibrations up my arm.
“Salma!” I signaled when she turned and rewarded me with a smile of recognition. I swerved between students, making sure not to run anyone over with the bag and joined her by the rotting tree. “What’s going on?” A quick hug enveloped me in the spicy scent of her mother’s detergent. “Why aren’t the doors opened yet?”
Her emerald colored hijab swayed as the wind changed direction, chasing away a few gray cotton balls from the sky. She hitched her chin to the group of people waiting by the stairs that lead up to the grand double doors. “New arrivals.” Shoulders pulled to her ears, she kicked her heels together, and flexed her fingers, trying to force warmth into her limbs.
“Newbies? Really?” I scanned the crowd, and spotted Headmaster Altair with a group of newcomers, his always slicked back salted hair didn’t move despite the bursts of wind that attacked it from every angle. Hands clasped behind his back, the collar of his wool overcoat popped up high around his neck. He gave a curt nod now and then, but the frown stayed put. Wonder what’s up? I’d never seen him so serious before.
“Well that’s a first.” Effulgent rarely accepted new students, especially not in the middle of a school year. I stretched to my toes to see over the rapidly growing number of students pouring into the courtyard. “They’ve never kept the doors closed before.”
The thudding of helicopter blades drew closer. The black steel bird landed on the massive lawn, its blades slowing before the it-crowd stepped out. My spine curled when Neeko’s well-polished shoes connected with the grass. His loving girlfriend, Abriella, clung to his overpriced leather jacket to keep steady. I told her last year that lawns and stilettos wasn’t a good mix. Apparently, she didn’t listen. It would be a hell of a good name for a Country band, though.
Her buzz cut white hair appeared like a halo around her face when they stepped away from the helicopter, and the gasping last light of day caught them from behind.
“Hey, monster.”
Soda fizz bubbled up my spine at the familiar voice. A lanky figure broke passed the couple, and jogged toward me. Bleached blonde hair bounced on his head, the salmon colored chinos stood out in a sea of black and grey jeans. I swear, Kaito was th
e only one able to dress in pink and orange, and still look like he just stepped out of a fashion show. My heart skipped in my chest, I did a little leap, bouncing on my feet. “Bunny?”
I readied myself for a big hug, and pouted when it didn’t come. What’s up with that?
Instead, Kaito stopped in front of me, a confused frown on his face. “What’s this? What’s going on here?” His finger swept over my body. “Did you roll out of bed and into a dumpster?” He tugged on my crimson jacket, and shuddered. “This should be illegal.” An ear to ear smile took the edge off his words. “But I’m loving the color.” He ruffled my hair. “Did you know?” He turned to Salma, and pointed to my head.
“Keef la-ken, we facetimed through the entire thing.”
“Blue is such an underrated color for hair.” He gave me a once over, and stroked an imaginary beard. “It’s decided. I likes. You look awesome in blue. But I hate you for not including me in the f.t.”
I tugged on a few strands, still not used to the lack of weight after I chopped off almost twelve inches. “If I ever get anything pierced, you’ll be the first one I call. But wait… What are you doing here? I thought you were suspended.”
He snorted. “Oh, sorry.” He wrapped me up in my awaited hug. “You didn’t think I’d let you have all the fun, did you? Where would you be without your Queen Bee, and stylist deluxe?” He raised a hand, and waved over my head to Elize, who struggled with her suitcase over the lawn.
“Mom handled it.” Kaito said.
“Lucky you. Gran would’ve killed me if I ever screwed up like that.”
I watched as Jonathan hurried across the courtyard to help Elize with her bag, a silver line flashed along her pearly whites when she beamed up at him.
“Move.” A girl barked, and pressed between us. Blonde hair cascaded in thick curls along her back. She didn’t even pause to apologize to me when her suitcase rolled over my foot. The pristine winter coat swayed like a bell around her thighs as she trampled on.
“Rude much?” Kaito shouted after her before turning to me with a mutter. “What a witch.”
The girl turned, her green eyes narrowed into thin slits, then softened, and a sugary sweet smile curled her lips. “You’ll regret that.” She spun on her heels, hips swaying as she sashayed away, and joined the group of newcomers.
“Who are they?” I turned to Salma for answers, but she shrugged her narrow shoulders, and tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “I don’t know.”
“Well, color me stumped. You don’t know?” Salma was our go-to girl when it came to knowing everything important going on at school. Not that she was a gossip, but she sat on information that could make or break anyone at Effulgent. “How can you not know?”
Kaito nudged an elbow into my ribs, and nodded to the group. His almond shaped eyes sparkled with excitement. “Who cares? Check out the yummy buffet.”
I followed his gaze to the guys he, apparently, had dirty thoughts about. Mid-twenties, tall and lean. They looked misplaced out here in the middle of nowhere. Lilies blooming in concrete, came to mind. The blonde witch had been scooped up in the arms of one of them. His wide frame almost swallowed her entire body in a hug. Freckled cheeks gave way to a wide smile. They laughed, like old friends meeting for the first time in forever, eager to catch up.
“Seriously? It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re vampires or something. Look at that flawless skin, and perfect hair.”
“What?” I pried my eyes away from the group. “Vampires? Have you been drooling over Lestat again?” I chuckled at the death of his hopeful expression. “There’s no such thing as vampires.” Or maybe there was. I’d seen enough weird things to know not to assume anything, but I’d never tell him that, or Salma for that matter. That was a world I hoped they’d never had to know about.
“Paparazzi!”
We spun and gawked at Tanya. She pushed her sunglasses higher on her nose, raising her chin. Her black silk hair hung like a drape around her long neck, and her slim body was wrapped in the newest coat from whatever brand was most expensive at the moment. Images of me, force feeding her cupcakes, flashed through my head.
“Paparazzi? Seriously?”
“They were probably sent here to spy on me. You know, with my new album coming out next week?”
“Riiiight.”
I’m surprised Kaito didn’t pull a muscle with the eyeroll he executed.
“You’ll see. They’ll be hanging outside my door hoping for candied photos.”
“Altair would never allow something like that.” Salma said.
“Everyone’s for sale.” She glowered down at us by the length of her nose. “It’s just a question of money.”
Salma hitched at my cocked eyebrow, and rushed to hook her arm in mine. “Yalla. We should get inside.” She tugged me toward the now open doors. And like always with her, I followed like a dog on a leash, muttering curses, and contemplating how to get away with murder.
Passing the newbies, I seized the opportunity to assess the group. Curiosity, one of my many flaws, tickled at the back of my mind. Nothing beats a good mystery. My forehead crinkled, along with my nose, when I spotted Beid with the group. They knew my tormenter? His dark eyes glared under heavy brows when he spotted me.
“What’s douchebag doing with the newbies?” I hissed to Kaito, and let my eyes wander on.
“Ah, dayum. You think he got himself a squad to help with the bullying?”
“What? Like a douche squad?”
He snorted, and ruffled my hair. I wiggled free from Salma’s motherly grip, and slipped the mittens off my hands. I looked up, and the ground opened under me, or at least that’s how it felt when I met the curious gaze of mismatched eyes. It was like watching the sun set over birch trees.
Heart catapulted to my head only to free fall into my intestines and bounce back into place in my chest. My eyes trailed along caramel lined chocolate waves that fell softly around chiseled cheek bones. A soft curve on full, delicious looking lips over the edge of a knitted scarf.
“Earth to Mira? Hello?” A hand beckoned in front of me, and broke my out of my mesmerized stare.
“What?” I ripped my eyes away, and focused on the climb to the massive double doors of the school.
“You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?” Salma berated me.
“Not really, no.” I mumbled, and looked over my shoulder, but the guy was already lost in the crowd.
Kaito struggled ahead, making a path for me and Salma between the students snailing through the hall to get to their rooms. With a firm grip on my bag, I followed my friends up the stairs. Jonathan, Altair’s nephew, signaled hello on his way down, already back from dropping off Elize’s things. His short hair coiled into tight little serpentines on his head, bouncing in whichever direction they damned well pleased. Chubby cheeks shone red against his otherwise pale face, tongue holding in the corner of his mouth, as if the task of getting down the stairs took every ounce of focus he had in him. He paused on the step above me, hands patted the many pockets of his cargo pants in search of something.
“Forget something?” I let the bag rest on the step next to me, thankful for the respite.
“No.” He huffed, and pulled out an inhaler. “Do you,” he sucked on the nozzle with every psht sound the inhaler made, “know where my uncle went?” He stepped to the side to let a few students pass us on their way down. “I was supposed to help settle the new students into their rooms, while he showed the teachers around.”
Teachers, huh? So much for Tanya’s paparazzi theory. “He was outside a second ago. Calm down, Than.”
His cheeks flushed. Jonathan always forgot to think when he got nervous, which happened a lot, it was an adorable trait that made most of the people in school fond of him.
“I can’t mess this up. Altair’s still mad about the Kaito incident.” He threw an accusatory glance over his shoulder, but Kaito had already disappeared into the hall.
“Hey, Mira.” Paola
waved as she passed, the zipper on her worn out backpack screamed for mercy as she hoisted it higher on her shoulder. “You ready for another year?”
“You bet.” I tipped my chin to her, and continued to Jonathan. “He can’t blame you for what happened. Can he?” I thought back to the fire Kaito had started, the fire that left the entire third floor smelling like a barbeque gone horribly wrong. “There was no way you could’ve known.”
“But still. It happened on my watch.” His shoulders dropped with a ragged exhale.
As one of the youngest students in Effulgent, he tried so hard to be everything, to everyone, it was almost sad.
I patted him on the shoulder with my free hand. “Go. Be helpful.”
He beamed, and straightened his back. “Thanks, Mira!” He threw a wave over his shoulder before rounding the railing, and disappearing down the hall. I shook my head at his easily swayed mood, gritted my teeth and continued with my stubborn suitcase up the stairs.
“Need help with that?” Like melted chocolate poured over ice cream his voice flooded my body with warmth. The guy with the mismatched eyes stood next to me, the white t-shirt stretched over his chest as he inhaled. Lucky me, he’d ditched the coat. I swear I heard ovaries exploding all over the place. Or maybe it was just mine. Who the hell is this guy?
“I’m Cas. Need help?” He hitched a brow in question, his hand reached for the bag, slowly, eyes burrowed into me waiting for permission.
Snap out of it! “Yeah, sure. Thanks.”
“And your name is?”
“Mira.” I lead the way up the stairs, and hung a left, “How you liking Effulgent so far?” Brain working overtime and still didn’t manage to think of a better thing to talk about than school? I’m an idiot. Heat tumbled around in my body, heart doing its best to break free from my ribs. I blamed the lush smell of bergamot and lemon that surrounded him, and me, when he moved. It was like swimming in a steaming cup of Earl Grey.
“I’ve seen worse.”
“But you’ve seen better too, right?”
“Not recently.” The crooked soft smile never wavered from his lips.
Before Limbo (After Life Book 1) Page 1
