by Alex Lux
Derek explained the situation and then hung up. "You're all welcome. My mother and sister are prepping rooms for you as we speak, and my dad says welcome to the family."
Family. I was his family, or I would be. Despite the horror of what I'd just discovered, a lot of hope lingered there. I could free the souls I'd trapped, and I could learn to control my powers, and I could even spend the life with the man I loved and his amazing family.
Even in my darkest hour, light still found a way in.
FIFTEEN
This Hallowed House
ROSE
Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic. Not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallowed house.
—William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
JASMINE AND I stared each other down in my doorway as Derek loaded the cars with as much of our belongings as we could pack in such a hurry.
She folded her arms over her chest. "I can't believe you'd take the word of some guy you just met over your family and coven. How could you even think these things of Mother?"
"Jasmine, it's not just Derek's word. Ocean and I have found evidence that she's lying."
Derek slammed the trunks shut and leaned against his car, Ocean beside him. She tapped on an imaginary watch, and I knew we had to leave before Mother found us, but I couldn't abandon Jasmine.
Ocean walked over to me and faced my sister. "Jas, please come. We can sort it all out later, but don't stay here. It's not safe."
She huffed in typical teenager fashion. "Now you think Mother would hurt me? You're the insane one. I'm outta here."
I reached for her as she stormed off, but Ocean pulled me back. "We'll deal with her later, but we can't force her to come. She's a minor, Rose. Even if she came voluntarily we could be charged with kidnapping."
Ocean slid into the driver's seat of her car, and Derek held the passenger door of his car open for me. I looked back at my cottage, the place I'd created many memories with Sandy over the last few years.
It hadn't fully sunk in that I was leaving everything and everyone I'd always known for a life I had no idea how to live. The weight of it all didn't quite register, but I knew it would, and I wondered if I'd feel I'd made a mistake when it hit me.
But looking at Derek standing there so full of love and protectiveness, and looking at Ocean, so confident, I knew I belonged with them, regardless of what else happened.
I just had one more thing to do before I could leave. "I left something in the house. I'll be right back."
I closed the door behind me and rummaged through the junk drawer for pen and paper.
When I'd finished the note, I left it on the kitchen table with the necklace and the book. Blake didn't deserve to be hurt like this, but I couldn't feign love for someone just because it was more convenient. I had to follow the truth of my heart, however challenging the road may have been.
I fingered the locket one last time, wishing I could keep it, but knowing it would be wrong to do so, and left that life for good.
SIXTEEN
Lovers and Madmen
BLAKE
Lovers and madmen have such seething brains
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.
—William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
WITH EVERYTHING IN place, I left to pick up Rose for our date. Reservations had been made, special touches added—tonight had to be perfect for my plans to work.
The sun set, casting dark hues on the land as shadowy fingers wrapped around the trees and pulled them into night.
I'd spent my life living in the shadows, never knowing the strength of the light until I'd met Rose. Now I'd have to embrace the darkest act in order to live in that light forever. Oh, the irony.
Jasmine sat on the bench built around the large center tree, her face showing signs of tears.
"Are you okay?" I was going to be late, but I'd never seen the girl cry.
"No. My stupid sister and her stupid best friend totally abandoned me and everyone."
Goosebumps rose on my flesh, and I shivered at her words. "What do you mean, abandoned?"
She pulled her knees into her chest and stared into the distance. "They left with her stupid boyfriend. She tried to talk me into going, but like, yeah right. I'm not running away like some loser just because she has some crazy ideas about our mom and black magic."
My gut dropped. "Where did she go?"
Everything had finally fallen into place. This couldn't be happening.
"She didn't say. Just someplace safe. Now I'm stuck here alone, like they even care. Like anyone cares."
"Jasmine, I've got to go, but if you think of anything else she said, or anywhere she may have gone, please call me, okay?"
The wind tossed the blue streaks of hair falling into her face as she rolled her eyes. "Sure. Whatever."
I ran the rest of the way to Rose's house, dread turning my feet to lead with every step. The cottage felt empty, but still I knocked, waiting with that naive hope only children cling to.
When no one answered, I opened the door and saw a note next to the gifts I had given her on the table.
My cursed humanity pulled me into a new kind of hell as I read the letter and experienced the pain of a broken heart for the first time in my long existence.
My world shattered with two simple words.
Dear Blake.
SEVENTEEN
Here Come the Lovers
ROSE
Here come the lovers, full of joy and mirth.—
Joy, gentle friends! joy and fresh days of love
Accompany your hearts!
—William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
THE WHOLE DRIVE there I stared at my engagement ring, enjoying the weight of it on my finger as I considered what it would mean to be a wife, to actually be with Derek for the rest of my life.
Warmth rushed into me each time I remembered that this was real, not just a dream I'd wake from. My heart had healed, as if it had never been broken.
Derek reached for my hand, his finger sliding over the diamond. "Do you like it? If you don't, we can get you a new one. I want it to be perfect, just like you."
"I love it! Don't you dare take it back. And I love you. I can't believe this is happening."
With soft lips, he kissed my ring finger, sealing our fate. "I love you too, Rose. And I promise, we'll figure out the rest of it."
We drove down a long, winding driveway with tall snow-topped trees reaching over the path to meet each other in the center, giving it the feeling of entering a magical world.
"What if they can't help me, and I can never free your brother and we can never be together physically?" I'd voiced my worst fears—that hope would linger just out of reach forever, taunting me with what might be, if only I were different.
"That's not going to happen, love. Have faith."
The mansion sat in the center of a field surrounded by woods. Its white columns and wide porch reminded me of something from Gone with the Wind. I expected Scarlett O'Hara to run out at any moment calling for Rhett, but instead, kids of all ages came and went, laughing and chatting or reading in a corner on the porch swing.
One boy lit a fire in the fire pit using only his hands while the girl with him turned the flames into human shapes and made them dance.
I watched in awe, jaw dropped, as the kids from the news that everyone had thought was a hoax used powers that were quite real as if they were nothing special.
To the side of the house, a weeping willow caught my attention, its branches swaying in the wind. I felt, more than heard, a song come from the tree, light and sweet, like a peach on a summer day.
"Derek, do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" He pulled in front of the house and parked.
"That tree. I think it's singing."
He looked outside to where I pointed. "Wow, yeah, I hear something. It reminds me of the ros
es, which I'll show you when we go home. But this is different. Definitely magical. This whole place is probably filled with magic."
Ocean pulled in behind us and bounded out of the car with typical energy.
Derek squeezed my hand. "Ready?"
I closed my eyes and nodded. "As I'll ever be."
An older man with snow-white hair shuffled out the front door and waved at us.
We got out of the car and walked with Ocean up to him.
Derek stuck out his hand. "I'm Derek O'Conner, David's son. This is my fiancée, Rose, and her best friend, Ocean."
My heart leapt at the word fiancée. It was the first time he'd had a chance to introduce me as such, and I wanted to giggle like a schoolgirl with her first crush. Instead, I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.
The man shook Derek's hand and studied us with wizened eyes. "I'm Father Patrick, a friend of your father's from long ago. Welcome to our little school. It's good to meet you. Come in, and I'll give you a tour and introduce you to everyone, then we can chat."
We walked us through halls and rooms, all packed with kids.
"How long has this school been here?" I asked.
"This school was founded very recently for children with paranormal abilities. We wanted to provide them a safe place where they can learn to control their powers, as well as get a good education and develop critical life skills. These kids have been through a lot. Most of them escaped an organization that rented them out to the rich to exploit their gifts. The kids called it Rent-A-Kid. They had nowhere else to go once freed. Since then, we've opened our doors to any paranormals, like a prep school for exceptional children."
I nodded. "I saw the news coverage about their escape. Kids claiming they had powers and were genetically experimented on? Wasn't it debunked as a hoax?"
"It was," said Father Patrick. "The world just isn't ready to accept this kind of power. One brave writer put their story into a book, but it was billed as fiction."
Two boys ran down the hall, laughing and throwing ice and wind balls at each other. Father Patrick put a hand on each of them. "Boys, you know the rules."
"Sorry. We'll take it outside," the taller one said.
"What will they do when they leave here?" I asked.
Father Patrick clutched his crucifix around his neck in what appeared to be an unconscious gesture. "Whatever they want. I imagine some will form communities with others like them, so they can be themselves without hiding. Others will integrate back into society and live normal lives. A few have chosen to stay and teach here, and a few have been chosen to work for a special international organization that handles anything paranormal."
I tried to imagine these kids living a normal life. "I had no idea there were so many paranormals in the world."
The priest patted my shoulder. "There's much more out there than you can imagine."
We passed a few classes in session, and walked through the common area. "The kids unwind here. They can play games, do homework, watch television, or just hang out. It connects to a second kitchen so the older students can make their own food when they're hungry. We have a separate kitchen for official mealtimes."
Everyone looked happy, but I couldn't imagine living with so many people all the time. I thought living in the coven was crowded. Here, people bumped into me as they passed, brushing up against my skin. It made me nervous.
It was unlikely I would just explode my power on anyone, but I didn't want to take any chances. Derek must have sensed my fear, because he put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him as we walked.
An Italian Greyhound streaked through the hall chasing a white cat, nearly tripping us all and pulling me out of my emotional slump. "What was that?" I said through laughter as Derek helped me straighten up.
The priest smiled. "That was Eddie. He and Angel, the cat, like to take turns playing tag."
I loved the idea of children playing and laughing and animals frolicking through the halls while someone taught Algebra or History in the next room.
We followed Father Patrick into a break room with comfortable couches and chairs and a table. "This is for the adults, when we need a little peace and quiet. We have a few former students who work here in various capacities as well, one of whom will be helping me with you, Rose. He should be here shortly."
We took seats around a coffee table while Father Patrick brought tea for everyone. As he sat down, a couple with a small child walked in.
The man, a tall blond with a lean build and striking blue eyes, carried a baby who didn't look more than a few months old. Beside him a beautiful girl with brown hair and matching blue eyes smiled at us. "Hi, I'm Sam. This is my husband Drake, and our daughter Ana."
They looked too young to be married with a child already. But then I thought about how young Derek and I looked and stopped judging. Love knew no age limits.
I stood and shook hands, after slipping my leather gloves back on. Once everyone was introduced, Drake and Sam sat on the loveseat with Ana between them, her dimpled grin and gurgling sounds stealing attention from every adult in the room. I wanted to hold her, to smell that baby skin and feel those little fingers grip mine. Yet another thing I hoped to do once I had control of my powers.
Father Patrick took the lead. "Rose, Derek's father told me about your unusual gift and what happened with Dean."
I hid my face as those memories rushed through me, filling me with shame.
Sam reached out her hand to me. "It's okay. No one blames you for anything."
I looked up in surprise.
"Sam can read minds," the priest explained. "Drake has his own unique abilities of empathy and Seeing. Ana, well, she's still a mystery to us, but we know she's going to outshine even us all."
"Wow, that's a lot to take in." I eyed them both. "It probably makes people uncomfortable when they find out you can read their thoughts and emotions so well."
They both shrugged.
"I know what it's like to have that effect on people. You have nothing to fear from me. I'm an open book," I assured them.
Ocean sipped her tea and smiled. "Oh, me too. Just don't be too shocked if you hang out in my thoughts long. I don't self-edit."
That brought a chuckle from everyone and some blushing from Sam.
Derek squeezed my hand. "Whatever can help Rose, I'm fine with. Just… I'm not proud of everything I've done in the past, but I'm working at being a man I can be proud of."
"No one's here to judge you," Sam said. "Honest. You don't even want to know the kinds of things I've heard in people's minds. You three are nothing in comparison." She winked at Ocean. "Even you. Though you are extremely imaginative. I might need to get some tips from you later."
My heart swelled at the people sitting in this room. The power, the love, the friendship… I'd never felt anything like it. For the first time in my life I felt like I could get a handle on my dark gift and stop living in fear of myself. "So, where do we begin?"
EIGHTEEN
It is Not Night
ROSE
It is not night when I do see your face,
Therefore I think I am not in the night;
—William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
THE SUN CLUNG to the sky as it fought to stay awake, casting purple and gold beams of light into the clouds. Derek and I took advantage of the evening by exploring the gardens hand in hand.
We'd spent the day meeting so many people whose names I'd never remember and settling into our rooms. I'd been surprised when the priest gave Derek and me a private guest room, separate from the house. Guess the ring on my finger had its advantages.
The silence between us hung lightly, like a bird perched on a branch. Neither of us felt the need to break it for idle small talk. Instead, we enjoyed each other's presence and processed the intense day.
This was the day of changes for me, if I had to give it a name. Looking back on who I'd been when I woke up that morning, and who I was now, standing with my fiancé at a scho
ol for paranormals, it was hard to believe less than twenty-four hours had passed.
The longer we'd been gone, the more my actions with Blake last night bugged me. Not that he wasn't attractive, but how did I lose control so completely and so fast? None of that pull remained, and I wondered if magic had been involved.
It didn't matter anymore. I was with Derek and would never consider anyone else ever again.
I tugged my glove off and looked at my ring for the millionth time, smiling.
We sat on a bench with the weeping willow hanging over us. Its song had quieted as evening approached, sounding more like a whisper. Nature had never spoken to me like this before, and I felt a certain presence in the tree I couldn't describe.
Derek caressed my cheek and traced my cheekbones with his finger. "It's incredible to me that we're here right now, together. I never thought I'd love anyone this much."
I reached my hand to his face, the diamond on my finger sparkling in the setting sunlight. "I feel the same way. It's a miracle."
The kiss started softly, like butterfly wings dancing in the dark. Heat built in waves, like a tsunami in my core as our mouths explored each other. He pulled me closer to him, bodies pressed together, my fingers gripping his head, pushing through his thick hair to deepen our kiss.
His hand slid up my shirt, flesh on flesh that burned with desire as he stroked the small of my back.
Our heartbeats thrummed between us, pounding out a rhythm that built in intensity until my whole body flashed with an ache of need that had never been satiated.
With his free hand, he explored my breasts over my blouse, teasing my hard nipples with his thumb.
I wanted to push his hand down my jeans, to feel his fingers slide into my body, stroking the part of me that ached so badly, but the sexual tension uncoiled the darkness in me, and I felt my power leaking out.
