Here Lives a Corpse: A Dark Bully Academy Romance (Here Lies Book 1)

by C. L. Matthews

  I see Ten’s eyes, and they say so much. He and I are the closest. We’re passionate. He knows how to tease my body until it blushes everywhere. He understands the way I need to be touched to get a release. As the recognition in his eyes flicker at me, the other two back away and watch as Ten kisses me with every emotion he carries.

  He grunts when my hand brushes his hardened flesh. The two watch, and I wish they’d all touch me, take turns, all at once, anything as long as they’re all here. My heart misses Lux. Why didn’t he follow? Does he not want me anymore? Is it because I’m too close to Ten?

  When Ten’s fingers slip past my panties, under my dress, I forget about anyone else. As he flicks my bundle of nerves gently, knowing where, when, and how much pressure to add, I’m falling apart and Ten’s the only one I see and feel.

  “Do you trust me?” he whispers after I’ve come down from my release.

  I nod, my heart still pounding, but almost in a gentler beat instead of frantic.

  Ten kisses me harshly, making my lips feel swollen, and then, he’s pulling out a condom.

  “Do you want me to stop, beautiful? I’ll stop if that’s what you want.”

  My heart shatters into a million butterflies, fluttering above me, soaring in happiness. In that moment, I fall for Tennison Dellamore.

  I nod again, and he enters me in one swift thrust.

  They always say it hurts the first time, but it doesn’t. All I feel is good. All I experience is pleasure. All I taste is Ten and our bodies colliding sweetly. He grips me, thrusts harder, and we both cry out in ecstasy.

  We’re barely escaping our high when a high-pitched scream pierces my ears. It’s blood-curdling, the kind you hear in movies and on the news. It’s deadly, like all the terror in the world is encompassed in that single sound. I’m shoving my dress down and racing outside toward the sound. I can’t find the origination, but it doesn’t stop me from searching.

  Ten doesn’t follow. That’s weird.

  As my hazy state clouds me a bit, I recall how I’ve had a little too much to drink. Maybe I’m dreaming? But then I hear the screech again, and sobs, loud and heartbreaking ones. Is this girl hurt? Did someone rape her? Is she okay?

  I chase the cries and stumble upon something I never thought I would see.

  My brother.

  Unmoving.

  Bloodied.

  Lifeless.

  A girl, Dolly Maez, if I remember correctly, leans over his form distraught.

  I rush to him. My heart stops beating, and I think I stop breathing. It’s a dream, a really fucking bad one. Shock overwhelms me. I pinch myself and realize it’s not fake. It’s real. He’s dead.

  A scream, loud and piercing, escapes my throat. It hurts my ears, shakes my entire body, and physically pains me to let it out. The screams don’t stop there. They continue as my hands touch his face, his silver hair now garnet with blood. I cry, and cry, and cry. The screams don’t stop, not even when the cops show up or when they try taking his body. They don’t stop when both moms show up or when they take him in a body bag.

  They just never stop.

  Not for days.

  Weeks.

  Months.

  Until one day, I feel nothing.

  They claimed he jumped off the cabin.

  They said he hit a boulder.

  They swore he was drunk.

  That he was suicidal.

  That he wanted to end it all for quite some time.

  They all fucking lied.

  Twenty

  “What’s with that blasé message?” Mel asks ten minutes later.

  We’re on the tenth floor where it all happens. Most times, it ends at the cabin, the one at Moonstone Lake. It’s a fifteen-minute hike. If they go there, I’m not sure if I can follow. There are too many memories surrounding that place, ones not worth reliving.

  “What message?” Lux pipes in, putting an ownership-type palm on my shoulder.

  “None of your business, DeLeon,” Mel snaps, giving him a death glare.

  Lennox raises an eyebrow, confusion and contemplation barer than his ass in the shower.

  “Can we talk in private?” she whispers, but I’m sure Lux heard. He’s like a goddamn bat.

  “Sure,” I mutter, not even positive the guys will allow it. They’re bossy and think they rule the entire world. It’s not entirely false. They rule Arcadia. And me.

  We walk over to a nondescript sitting area. It’s not away from everyone, but definitely away from the boys. Not sure if I’m more scared of the secrets or the boys. Either way, it’s not safe here.

  “First,” Mel says, grabbing my arm gently, “you look like a goddamn snack.”

  I laugh at that compliment. It’s one you can’t resist to giggle over.

  “Second.” She rubs up and down my arms like she knows this isn’t easy for me. “Why are you with them? All of them. Even Ridge?”

  The accusation is light, but I get it. We had a plan to come here and snoop and hopefully not die, and she’s crushing on the dude. My showing up with five guys who are far from kind isn’t exactly smart.

  “I was right,” I whisper conspiratorially. “Jordan is one of them. He was pretending to be nice to me the entire time.”

  Her eyes widen as she mulls this over. “How do you know?”

  I lean into her. “He came to my floor with the guys and admitted he only pretended to be nice to get me close to him.”

  She pulls away abruptly, and we look around to see if anyone’s listening. Not even ten feet away, Ross stands watching us. His face isn’t too readable. He’s like a fucking vault with his emotions right now, and it’s the most annoying part of the male species.

  “What do we do now?” she asks.

  “We can’t snoop. They’re here with me for a reason. Maybe go cozy up to Ridge. He seems to like you.”

  She blushes a bit and then fixes her face. “You sure?”

  It’s like she needs my permission to go after one of my guys. A pinch of annoyance which is more than likely jealousy tries leaking from me, but it’s not fair. He’s not mine. None of them ever were.

  “Go,” I urge. I’ll try sneaking around. It’ll probably get me hurt, but I’m not willing to stop.

  She sees that, my trepidation. Leaning in, she kisses my cheek just to whisper in my ear, “I’ll try keeping them busy. Act like we’re flirting. Lux is right behind you.”

  I giggle and bring her lips to mine. We brush gently, her face warm in my palms as I use her for clout and distraction. She only hesitates for a breath before she’s into it with me. Girls have never interested me, but her lips are soft and sweet. It’s not gross at all. It warms me up as if a guy did it.

  “That’s enough,” Bridger hisses, pulling us apart.

  She winks at me as I stare at the guy who’s the least unkind to me. His eyes burn with something. Rage? Envy? Hatred? He’s Pandora’s box, and opening him isn’t in the cards for me.

  I make the phone gesture with my hand. “Call me,” I flirt.

  She smiles so fucking huge and allows Bridger to take her away. They aren’t even five feet away when arms are on my shoulders. I feel his breath on the shell of my ear before his voice comes.

  “I’ll admit that was hot, Corpse, but no one, no one touches what’s mine,” Lux hisses.

  “Ours,” Ten corrects with a grunt.

  This could work to my advantage. In so many ways, this could benefit me. Just imagine if the most popular, rich, and powerful kids in school were on my side? Could I find out what happened to Cass? Would it be them?

  My heart pumps. Its beat echoes in my ear as if I’m underwater. With the music blaring in the background, I’m nearly overwhelmed with senses. One of the two boys licks my ear lobe then nips it shortly after. There isn’t a feel of metal, which means it has to be Lux.

  “It’s time for the big surprise,” Lux coaxes, but in reality, the soft yet gravelly sound of his voice has me hot and nervous. Two very opposite reactions fo
r the scariest kid in school. How fitting.

  They practically drag me toward the elevator.

  My chest constricts. “No, absolutely not!” My words come out frantic and pitchy.

  They stare at me with confusion. Either they’re purposefully fucking with me, or they don’t realize how absolutely terrified I am of that stupid silver death trap.

  “Really? Come on. Stop fucking around,” Lux complains.

  Ten watches me curiosity.

  Stop being curious, fuckface, and stop this, I want to scream.

  “Stop, Lux,” Ross says, coming from wherever the hell he just was. It’s the first time I’ve seen him care in any sense since we fucked. He’s not one to really show his emotions to anyone. He hides it, keeps it tucked away like a secret. He may be nice to everyone, overly joyous to hide his sad boy interior, but he never shows when he cares for someone. That’s when he feels weakest.

  Tears prick the corners of my eyes as I silently thank him. It warms me in a way it shouldn’t, kisses the most sensitive parts of my flesh like a wish.

  “Why?” Lennox barks, his eyes narrowing on Ross. “Are we going to have a problem, Dare?”

  Ross rolls his eyes at that. “She’s fucking terrified. Don’t force her to go on the elevator. Stop being a lazy fuck, and walk the stairs.”

  Lennox immediately swivels his gaze to mine, analyzing, almost debating whether or not he’s going to force it. My chest heaves with terror, hoping for once in his horrible existence he doesn’t make the worst choice of all and break me.

  Bringing his mouth to my throat, he whispers, “Only I get to scare you, Corpse. Let’s go.”

  It’s the only reprieve I get before he’s shuffling down the stairs and pulling me with him. At least going down stairs is easier than up. These guys aren’t slow by any means. Guess sports will do that for you. Not football or any sport like that, the other unconventional ones—motocross, skating, BMX, baha’ing through the dunes. They’re extremists, both in life and extracurriculars. Lennox and Bridger are definitely gym hounds, though. Once upon a time, they made a joke that I was a goddamn gym bunny. Only for them, though. Only ever for these assholes.

  “Remember this place?” Lux prods, forcing us toward the spider tree near the lake.

  Something inside me breaks as each step brings me closer to Cassidy’s last living moment.

  Don’t cry, Colt. You’re strong enough.

  But I’m not. I’m only seventeen. I’m not strong enough for what’s in store for me. I’m not ready.

  “Yes,” I grit out, seeing the tree come into view, lit by the moon, stars, and the reflection from the water.

  Moonstone Lake got its moniker from the full moon. Whenever it’s at its crest—like now—it illuminates the entire lake and the single tree and rocks nearby. The spider tree, the only tree near the foot of the lake, has been uprooted. A storm tore it from the earth, and the winds and constant change in climate made it a skeleton of the tree it once was. Still, it prospers. It grows leaves every spring and loses them every fall.

  “Remember our first kiss, Corpse?”

  I cringe. I’ve never told anyone about it. Not the guys, my brother, or even Mel. When I peer at the other three, they don’t seem bothered, like it’s not new information for them.

  “How could I forget?” I whisper, reaching up to touch my lips as if it was recent and not a year ago, before that party, before Ten and I spent stolen moments under the stars, before Bridger in the halls and that one time with Ross in the janitor’s closet... They’re all moments I remember. Forgetting them would be useless.

  “I think the guys need a demonstration. Show them how a real man kisses.”

  The jab in his words has me wondering which guy makes him feel threatened. I’m not any of theirs, and they’re far from mine. If they were, they wouldn’t hurt me. If I were theirs, they wouldn’t need other women.

  It would be me.

  I would be enough.

  “If she needs a demonstration, it should be me,” Ross snarks, pushing past Ten and Jordan. His eyes are trailing my form. They’re hungry, wanton, angry. He’s always angry.

  My angry yet very sad boy.

  Some things don’t change.

  Lennox smirks at us both then pulls me to him. His height is astounding compared to me. He’s a tower—no, a skyscraper—and I’m a measly half stack of pancakes. His dark scent wafts through my nose, burning me straight between my thighs. I squeeze them, unable to resist the affect he’s always carted over me.

  “Tell me, how does a vampire kiss?” he insults with a curl of his lip.

  “With teeth,” I respond and bite his thick bottom lip, waiting until blood prickles.

  He doesn’t yell or reprimand, no, because the secret about kissing Lennox DeLeon is that he likes swapping blood over spit. He loves the pain, to punish, to attack and hold no regard to feelings. His calloused hands, big and too strong, grip my throat, as he walks us backward toward the tree, just like the first time. His hard erection grinds into my scantily clad body. Heat zips up and down my spine as he owns the kiss.

  As he owns me.

  He grunts when I nip him again, and I enjoy the feel of his barely abated dick through his slacks. Lennox isn’t one to lose control. It’s how he became president, how he rules the Gov, and how he takes every step possible to win every duel.

  Not this time, not as he loses with me. His tongue lashes mine, a whipping. Hatred seeps through my taste buds. It fills me to the brim, and when he’s rolling his hips into me, I learn Lux isn’t as unmovable as he pretends. No, he’s malleable, bendy, and mine to test.

  I thrust back, and he hisses.

  “Fuck,” Ross mutters underneath his breath somewhere by us.

  “Porn has nothing on this,” Jordan muses.

  “Okay, guys. Jesus,” Ten chastises, his displeasure only making me push into Lux more.

  Ten deserves pain.

  They all do.

  They warrant ruin.

  Lux pulls back, dragging his teeth over my mouth and lip rings. His eyes swim with feelings.

  Yes, feelings. Lennox DeLeon can pretend until he’s black and blue, but when his lips touch mine, it’s me who’s in control. He licks where I split his lip, and his smirk and darkened flickers of lust have me wet.

  Fuck. I can hold my own or make them weak, but they do the same for me. They make me lose control, and my body enjoys them even if my heart isn’t so easily fooled.

  “Not bad for a bloodsucker,” I tease, feeling the savageness of our make-out session. Even my piercings are a little sore. He’s all about being rough, and you would think with how sweet Ten gets, I would be opposed to it, but sometimes, a girl craves unbidden lust.

  “Not bad at all,” he musters angrily.

  Wonder if he felt himself coming undone like I did.

  “Stop making fucking eyes and let’s go,” Ten barks.

  When I turn to him, all that’s there is green, bright and toxic like my hair. His aura is full of greed and envy, and something about that makes me insanely happy.

  “Where to, boys?”

  While I sound excited, I’m anything but. A storm rages inside me, one with mixed emotions and rain clouds promising to sink me if I’m not careful.

  The thing about losing your reason to live? You become reckless. It’s been half a year of nothingness. Starting a riot seems right up my alley.

  Twenty-One

  “What the fuck was that?” Ten growls quietly at Lux.

  We’re headed to the cabin, and I’m sweating bullets. This place brings horrors to fruition. It drags me back to the night I witnessed my first dead body.

  “This isn’t the plan.”

  “Fuck the plan, Dellamore. You’re just pissed because you’re fucking bent over this girl.” Lennox and Ten argue at the lead of the group while I trail several paces behind with Jordan and Ross nearby.

  “Me? What about you? Tongue-fucking her and nearly coming in your pants. Who’s
the real bent one, Lux?” Ten’s voice carries.

  It takes everything in me to pretend I’m not listening and enjoying their little one-on-one.

  “I think it was hot,” Jordan comments, making me swivel my head to him. He’s not looking at me, but his stance is relaxed.

  “Of course, you do. You’ve always liked watching. Whether dick or pussy, you’re always fucking gawking,” Ten scolds.

  How do they know him? Where did he come from? Why is he here and with them?

  “Don’t know why you’re bitching, Ten. We all know you got to fuck her last year and that you’ve broken several rules since school started,” Ross interrupts to jab at Ten.

  My ears prick at the mention of rules. What rules?

  “You’re one to talk. We know you fucked her the other day, Dare.”

  Ross visibly swallows.

  Silence encompasses the crisp, empty air, but not for long.

  “Bet he was a two-pump chump,” Jordan tosses in.

  It takes every ounce of control not to bark out a laugh. They’re fucking ridiculous with their petty jealousies. Do they share all this information? Who bags Colt? Who kisses Colt? Who one-ups the other? They’re worse than chicks.

  “Shut the fuck up, all of you,” Lux demands, turning his head toward me. “Have you ever met the Emerald Vestige, Colty?”

  I cringe at the shiver that racks my frame. The Emeralds? A memory smacks me in the face.

  “I don’t like scary stories.”

  With my words, Cass smiles. He’s become a bit of a jerk since starting at Arcadia Junior. It’s like he’s becoming someone else. Different. Popular. Not my best friend.

  “Too bad. Gramps told me about this story of these elitists who owned the town.”

  The mention of the town interests me. I’ve always heard ghost stories about this place. We’re told to behave, that our actions are the basis of the town’s reputation and that we’re not allowed to tarnish what has been built over generations and traditions I’m not even aware of.

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  “They’re called Emeralds, apparently. He used to say they had so much power they could destroy any person.”