Bianca De Lumière : High Suspense Urban Fantasy Romance (The Re'em Prophecy Book 1)

by Lisette Prendé

  “Okay,” he said, feigning a smile.

  “Basically,” I went on. “I am not as I seem. Neither is the whole world. There are dark things Caleb. Evil things. And they are coming here. Tonight.”

  He smiled numbly. The kind of smile you would offer a child or a senile grandparent.

  This was not going well. He thought I was a crazy person.

  I exhaled. “Oh god, this is going to sound crazy, but I’m, I’m—”

  A piercing scream spliced through my words. Screams interrupting our conversations—this was starting to become a habit, but I didn’t stick around to finish my sentence.

  “Bianca, wait!” Caleb called, but I sped down the hall, my sneakers squeaking against the linoleum.

  When I reached the boys’ restrooms, I stopped. I felt a hollow spot surrounded by four other auras: A fading magenta, a wild, flickering red, a deep blue full of fear, and a warm golden glow. Fae.

  “Bianca, what are you doing?” Caleb called, coming to stop next to me. “We need to get help!”

  I retrieved the dagger Sunder had given me from my pocket.

  “What the…?” Caleb mumbled. “What are you doing with that?”

  “Caleb, I promise I’ll explain everything. Just stay here, okay?”

  He nodded.

  I entered the bathroom and took in the scene: Jaime stood in the middle of the room, in front of Fae and Kyle, blocking their exit.

  He turned as I entered and released a wet hiss. He no longer looked like his prom picture. His face was pallid and sticky, venom drooling from his mouth.

  “Bee!” Fae called, her aura full of anguish.

  “It’s okay Fae, just stay where you are.”

  “Dude!” Kyle yelled from behind her. “This guy’s on some bad bath salts!”

  Jaime released another hiss in my direction. His aura was almost completely dead; only a small spark flickered in the bowels of his soul, a tiny flutter of magenta. Soon it would be gone. Soon everything Jaime was would vanish, swallowed by the evil nothingness of the Skadhavar.

  His bloodshot, yellow eyes took me in. Another hiss, erupting into a roar. It wouldn’t be long.

  “Jaime,” I said.

  At the sound of my voice he faltered. His eyes flickered, puzzled, like he was trying to grasp hold of a memory. As if he were digging through his mind, trying to place me, himself, everything.

  “Jaime,” I said again. “That’s your name.”

  He straightened up and blinked.

  “Your name is Jaime Ryan and you are in the theatre group. You’re going to Juilliard.”

  He looked down at his hands, holding them out in front of him.

  “Your name is Jaime and you go to Pentacle High. You’re at the prom.”

  He stared down at his clothes, taking in his suit, lifting a foot to admire his dress shoes.

  “You came with Janet. You were bitten.”

  Jaime’s eyes widened and he nodded slowly, raising a hand to his neck. He lowered his shirt collar revealing a seeping, dark, wound. Bringing his hand away, he stared at the black slime across it, rubbing his fingers together in confusion.

  “Do you remember being bitten?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Out…side.”

  “Jaime,” I went on. “The creature that bit you, it wants you to become a monster. A monster just like itself. But I need you to fight it, Jaime. I need to remember who you are. Can you do that?”

  He opened his mouth slowly. “I-I-I Ca-ca-can,” he stuttered. As he said the words his aura flickered, filling with a bloom of magenta, pushing the nothingness away.

  Tears burned behind my eyes. The Pre-Skads could be saved after all. Why hadn’t Sunder told me this?

  Jaime looked at me, his lips pressed together in a smile.

  I smiled back at him, my heart filling with hope. I could end this without bloodshed.

  Jaime’s eyes turned steely.

  “Jaime,” I said. “You’re doing really well. Stay with me okay?”

  The smile fell from his lips as he bent to the floor, hissing and writhing, scratching at his face. His hands moved to his shirt, clawing it from his body. Gray skin stretched across his emaciated frame, red and raw in places, as if being eaten by invisible mites. His aura flickered and gasped, then the tiny spark of magenta went out like a light, encased in the dark heart of the virus that now ruled his body.

  “Jaime!” I screamed.

  But it was too late. He looked up at me, feral-eyed and furious. His jaw had elongated, protruding forward. He let out a roar, revealing a mouthful of large yellowed teeth. His eyes fixed on me. He lowered into a crouch.

  I pressed my aura into his.

  Pain lingered just below the surface; the hardships he’d endured silently. A guard up constantly, for fear that others may not accept his sexuality. The self-doubt that comes along with the creative mind, the pressure to succeed, to prove he didn’t need to be practical and “get a real job.” I absorbed it all into my light and fired it back at him. Jaime let out a pained scream and took a step backward.

  “Bianca!” came a voice at my side.

  “Caleb!” I yelled, dropping my light. “I told you to stay outside!”

  But Caleb was frozen, his wide eyes fixed on the creature in the middle of the room.

  “Wh-what is that?” he mumbled.

  Jamie tore off the remaining shreds of fabric that had been his pants and kicked off his shoes. He stretched skyward, a series of snaps rolled through his spine. His hands contorted; thumb fusing toward the palm. Bending forward, he placed his claw-like hands on the floor, his weight on his toes.

  “Wa-wa-was that a person?!” Caleb stammered.

  Jaime’s eyes flicked toward him.

  “Caleb!” I yelled. “Get out of here! Go and find Sunder!”

  I heard the scrape of claws as he left the ground a moment too late.

  Jaime slammed into me with the force of a truck, knocking me to the ground. My head hit the wall with a thud. Dazed, I looked up to find Jaime’s face above mine. His clawed hands wrapped around my arm, forcing it toward his mouth. My hands were empty. Where was my dagger?

  As I fought against Jamie’s strength, I dove into his aura, past the high school taunts, toward the small ball of light in the depths of the darkness. A sea of faces floated by; a man, a woman, and a boy a little younger than Jamie; his family. The family he would never see again. Not unless he turned them too. Would he want that? Would he want to see his family become soulless beasts? I absorbed the images into my light and pushed them back towards him.

  He let out a scream. His grip on my arm faltered.

  I shoved him off me and jumped to my feet. A ball of light flew through the air with a roar, hitting Jamie in the back. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room. Jamie’s eyes bulged and he released guttural shriek. He turned to see who had dealt the blow as another hit him in the face, then the chest, engulfing him in flames. He fell to the floor.

  “Bianca!” Caleb called again.

  I turned. He held my dagger in his hand. Holding it by the handle, he lobbed it gently toward me.

  The creature that had been Jaime writhed on the ground, smoke hissing from his flesh. The fire, while painful, would not kill him. That was up to me.

  Fae stood poised to deliver another blow. I shook my head. Don’t use too much. She nodded and dropped her stance.

  I stood above Jaime, my dagger at his chest. I took a breath. “Go safely into the light, Jaime.” I plunged my small blade into his heart. Black slime erupted from it, like a small volcano. His body began to deflate, crumpling inwards. I knelt beside him, waiting.

  Emerging from the slime was the Jaime I remembered from the theatre posters.

  He lay on the cold bathroom floor, motionless.

  “Bianca,” he said, a sof
t smile on his lips. The smile faded and his eyes grew wide. He grasped my hand and lifted his head to speak. “I let her in!” he hissed. “I’m sorry. She made me. I let her in!”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “What the actual fuck just happened?” Kyle said to the room. He turned to Fae. “Did you seriously just shoot fireballs out of your hands? And what”—he motioned to the center of the room—“was that?” His bright red aura flip-flopped around him.

  Fae placed a hand on his shoulder. Immediately his aura calmed, slowing to rest. “Kyle, it’s all okay now.”

  “Okay. Cool.”

  I only half took in the scene. I focused on Jaime’s last words.

  I let her in.

  Was it possible? Could a Pre-Skad evade the fortifications well enough to help a full-blown Skadhavar, the Master herself no less, enter the auditorium? I had a terrible feeling that the answer was yes.

  “Hello? Bianca?” Caleb had been calling my name.

  I blinked. “Sorry.”

  He was at my side, an arm draped around me. “Are you hurt?”

  I shook my head.

  “No. I didn’t really think you were. But—” He shook his head. “Bianca, what was that thing?”

  “A Skadhavar,” I said. “Well. It was Jamie. But he was bitten by one of them, then he turned. Janet too. She’s dead now. So is he.” My face was blank as I spoke. As the word dead hit my tongue, tears burned in my eyes.

  “So this is the evil you were talking about?” Caleb said.

  “Yes,” I said blankly. “I have to kill them. Before they take the whole town.”

  He nodded as if he understood, but his face was pale with shock.

  “I told you I was the school freak.”

  His eyes found mine and his face softened into a smile. “And didn’t I tell you? You’re just plain beautiful.”

  “You still think that? After what you saw me do?”

  “Bianca, you saved our lives. You were amazing.” His green aura stroked mine, filling me with warmth.

  I pulled his face to mine and kissed him hard. His lips were warm and salty.

  “I have to go,” I said, pulling away. “There’s worse to come tonight.” I nodded to the floor. “He was nothing compared to the others. Stay with Fae. She’ll keep you safe.”

  He shook his head. “I’m coming with you!”

  I didn’t have time to argue with him. It may be good to have someone on hand to back me up or go for help if I needed it. I really had no idea what to do if I found the Master.

  “Fine.” I shrugged. “But the first sign of trouble, get back.”

  We took off at a run down the corridors. I held my dagger tightly, scanning the area with my aura as we swished down the halls. Caleb was a strong runner. And he was fit. I had no doubt that he could keep up with me, even aid in the attack. But he was only human. He was no match for them. Or for her.

  As we ran down the hall towards the main auditorium entrance, an emptiness filled me, cold and chilling, clawing at my throat. I came to a stop and coughed into my palm.

  “Bianca! What’s wrong?” Caleb called.

  “She’s close.”

  Each inhale filled my chest with ice, my gut with nausea. I tossed my aura into the air and pushed it towards the main hall. So far all seemed somewhat normal; bright auras bustling around the room. Excited, aroused, illuminated. Only a few were wary.

  I pushed further, searching the Master out. She was here somewhere, hiding, waiting. But for what?

  A low cackle murmured through the veil, building to a wailing laugh. “Are you looking for me, Re’em?” More cackling. “Don’t worry, you’ll meet me soon enough. And your dear ones will meet their makers—if they’re lucky. My pets may just decide to rip them apart. They deserve to have some fun. Poor dears have been sufficing on the blood of cattle for long enough.” She chuckled. “Please send my regards to Jaime. So kind of him to lift me over the threshold.”

  “Where are you?” I screamed out loud.

  She cackled again. “Don’t worry, Re’em. You’ll find me soon enough. So will your young man. He runs well. He’ll make a good soldier. Perhaps I’ll let him live.”

  “God damn it!” I screamed.

  “Bianca? You okay?”

  “No, I am not okay! I have no idea where she is. She’s here somewhere. Waiting. But I have no idea what to do or how to stop her!” I fought back angry tears. “This is all on me! Why is this all on me?!”

  We’d reached the main door to the auditorium. The music was still playing in the hall. It wouldn’t be long until they announced the prom king and queen. If only that could be my focus for the night.

  “Hey,” Caleb said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Bianca, you are amazing. I know you can do this,” he said, a soft smile on his face. How was he taking all of this so calmly? His smile faded in an instant, replaced with a painful wince.

  “Caleb?”

  “I don’t feel so good,” he said, releasing a slow sigh. “My head. My stomach.” His face was turning pale. “I need to get out of here.” He lunged toward the auditorium door.

  “No!” I grabbed his arm. “Caleb, you can’t go out there! It’s not safe!”

  Sweat beaded on his forehead. “I need fresh air. There’s something in here…making me sick…pushing me out.” He groaned, bending over.

  “Caleb. If you go out there, they’ll kill you!”

  He fell to the floor holding his stomach.

  At that moment, the doors to the auditorium opened and students spilled from the entrance, running towards the exterior doors. They too looked pale, sweaty. One girl had a messy stain down her dress, her mouth glistening with wet vomit.

  “No!” I screamed but I couldn’t stop them.

  A large guy wearing a tux smashed the doors open. Everyone pushed and shoved to get free.

  “Wait!” I yelled, but it was no use. Sick like this, it wouldn’t take much for the Skadhavar to turn everyone in minutes. I had to do something.

  A tall girl bent forward near me and threw up at my feet, splashing my trainers.

  “Sorry.” She looked up at me and wiped her mouth.

  “Amy?” It was the tall blogger who’d wanted to interview me. “What’s happening?”

  “Don’t know. Felt sick all of a sudden. Need to get outside.” She groaned. “Bad punch,” she said, before she heaved again.

  I took a step back.

  It was not the punch. She was doing this. Sending them out into the night where an ambush of Skadhavar were waiting. Excellent plan. Except it didn’t work on me. I hadn’t felt the nausea, hadn’t had the urge to bolt. Then it dawned on me. Perhaps that was part of her plan: To get me alone.

  I needed to find Sunder. And the others. I needed to make sure my mother was safe. Guilt tugged at my heart when I thought of her. My father is dead! The Skadhavar killed him! Those could not be the last words I said to her.

  I scanned the floor for Caleb, but the space where he’d sat only moments before was now filled with students, bent over retching.

  “Bianca!” came Sunder’s voice in my head. “I have the others outside to defend the humans. Stay inside. Do not let her escape. Finish this. I’ll be here to help you.”

  For once Sunder’s voice in my head was a comfort. But what about my mom?

  As if he’d heard me, he replied instantly. “Your mother is with Cendrine and Hyssop. They’ll keep her safe.”

  I released a pent-up breath. Thank god.

  Pushing through the crowd in front of me, I fought my way into the auditorium. The music had been cut and the house lights glared overhead. The room was empty, bar a few students wallowing on the floor and Mr. Swigg, who sat hunched in a chair, snoring lightly. Perhaps the Master’s powers didn’t affect the sleeping. Or maybe he was just too drunk to notice
them.

  A flicker of aura shone from the back of the room near the D.J booth. I pushed my aura out to see what was there. The tang of roadkill hit me like a slap. Mr. Eldritch. Perhaps he was so used to dead creatures nothing could nauseate him. His dank aura flailed fearfully. Next to him was a faintly familiar quiver of pale blue. An aura I’d encountered before. But where? But the blue was fading, giving way to nothingness.

  I ran toward the D.J booth.

  Mr. Eldritch cowered against the wall, the D.J lights reflecting off his bald head, a toupee clutched tightly in his hand. So it had been a toupee all along! He mewed like an animal pleading for its life. A gazelle being tormented by a lion.

  Where’s your shotgun now?

  The Skadhavar stood across from him, still recognizable as once human, its flesh still intact. So it had been a student. But who?

  The creature turned in my direction and roared, releasing a spray of black venom. I pushed my aura toward it and dove into its mind. Who were you? I asked. How were you turned?

  I saw an image: Jaime in the bathroom, pushing into the stall. Large teeth coming toward me. The pain ripping through my neck, filling me with darkness.

  The bathrooms. There had been a fourth aura in there: Other than Fae’s gold, Kyle’s red and Jaime’s fading magenta, there had been a blue. How had I been so stupid not to check the stalls?

  “Help me!” came a high-pitched wail.

  My mind snapped back.

  “Don’t just stand there! Help me!”

  Seriously? Even face to face with a strange wild beast, Mr. Eldritch was an entitled jerk.

  “For god’s sake, Miss Taylor! Do something!”

  The Skadhavar stepped towards Mr. Eldritch. Perhaps whoever this creature had been didn’t like him much either?

  I stopped for a moment. I could let it eat him. Of all the people I cared for, Eldritch was at the very bottom of the list. But of all the people I least wanted to see turned into a killing machine, he was at the top.

  I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with air. I focused my energy toward the top of my head and upwards. With a deep breath, I pulled my mind inwards, into the depths of my aura. A white light flashed through me and my body started to tingle.