The Roses Academy- the Entire Collection

by Tara Brown

  “I know where Hanna is.” Aleks sounded defeated. He clearly didn’t want to play this game with Marcus. I didn’t either. Just hearing my name made my stomach ache.

  Marcus stopped and turned back. “You’re lying.”

  “She wants to be with me now. We have a thing—I’m not sure if she told you about it,” Aleks burst out. “Surely, you must have smelled me on her that morning. I was there first. If you know what I mean.”

  My jaw dropped as Aleks chuckled and licked his lips. He was better at playing Marcus’ game than I’d expected.

  “LIAR!” Marcus screamed, running at him. He dove into the air, moving as quickly as a bullet. Aleks whisked himself to the right suddenly, letting Marcus hit the wall with a thud. Bits of rock and castle fell to the floor, spitting dust into the air.

  My insides twisted and I backed away from the window a bit.

  Aleksander laughed which sent Marcus into a fit of rage.

  Something black moved in the background, and before Aleks could leave the castle, he was slammed against a wall.

  Marcus, too, was ripped from the ground and flung against the opposite wall.

  Henry walked into the room, moving his hands like he was pulsating energy at them both.

  Aleks groaned, desperate to breathe. “Henry. Please. Stop.”

  “Henry, we will stop this nonsense if you could put us down, if you please,” Marcus said the magic words.

  As abruptly as they had dangled in the air, they were both on the ground in a heap.

  Aleks wheezed for a moment, trying to get his collapsed chest to puff back up. He watched Marcus do the same.

  “You bring her back to me and we have a deal.”

  “You can have her after the birthday party Roland is planning. That night I’ll convince her to come with you here. Roland won’t expect me to do it.” Aleks nodded, vanishing from the castle before Henry killed them both.

  He picked me up and away we went.

  When we got to the hospital again he held me tightly, sighing into the embrace. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I’ll work it out. Don’t tell anyone I’m part of it. Just make it seem like you’re playing his game. He’ll think he’s won. He’s a child.” My words were empty. I didn’t want to go back but he would save her life. That was way more important.

  Chapter 14

  We can do it the nice way, or Aimee’s way

  Voices filled the hallway. It sounded like the house was full as I walked from my room to the kitchen.

  “You must be the Hulk?”

  I turned sharply, seeing a guy about my age. “What?”

  “The Hulk? The girl who rips her clothes and turns into a monster?” He smiled, making me smile. His face was handsome with dark hair and eyes. “The Hulk—you know, turns green, rips his clothes off as he grows huge, and acts like a giant psycho?”

  “I don’t turn green.”

  “Oh sucky.” He laughed with me. “That does make all the difference in the world.”

  “Do I know you? Who are you?”

  “Sam.”

  “Hanna. Not the Hulk.” I put a hand out.

  For a moment, he looked at my hand. He took it in his own and lifted it up to his lips, kissing it softly. Heat spread from his kiss to the rest of my body. “Don't let anyone in this house touch you, Hanna. You never know what their hands do.” He kissed me once more, making my knees buckle.

  “Stop!” I ripped from his grip, swallowing hard. “What are you?”

  “A little of this and a little of that, a bit of Nephilim.” He said it jokingly, but I didn’t think he was.

  “I don’t know what that is. I know it means half angel and half human, but I don’t know what it means.”

  “That’s probably for the best. Nice seeing you, Hanna.” He turned and strolled back into his messy room.

  “You too.” I stood still for a moment, catching my breath before I walked down the stairs, unable to get him out of my mind. His lips pressing against my hand made me think all kinds of terrible things.

  The noise picked up as I walked around the corner, feeling like an intruder. As usual.

  “Hanna, my dear, you’re awake. How lovely. Come and have some breakfast.” Lydia held a hand out toward a seat.

  Something was different in the kitchen. Was it larger than the last time I had been there? Was that possible?

  “The house always makes room for everyone, Hanna. Come and have a seat.” Lydia chuckled, reading my mind again.

  At the huge long table there were little kids I’d never seen before. A girl with pigtails and missing teeth lifted her gaze to mine and then tilted her head and vanished.

  “Shit!” I jumped back, wondering if I’d seen her at all or if I was finally losing my mind.

  “Sorry, they’re still getting used to the idea of you. She’s real, just has the ability to vanish if she’s scared.” Lydia passed me a plate filled with waffles, bacon, and sausages.

  I contemplated sitting in the open chair Lydia had pointed at but wasn’t certain if anyone else was there already. I waved a hand through the chair before I sat next to a guy about my age. He didn’t even notice me sitting.

  Lydia laughed again. “Hanna, everyone here is like you, in some respect. They’re special too.”

  “Okay.”

  Her eyes darted to a young chubby boy with glasses. He lifted his face from his iPad and returned the strange look Lydia was giving him. After a second he got up from his chair. I followed him with my eyes, becoming nervous as he walked to me. He smiled and put his hand on my arm.

  The brightest light I could imagine, filled my mind as knowledge rushed me.

  I saw everything from his point of view, making the Roses Academy a positive, as a movie played in my mind. A movie he starred in.

  When the light was gone I opened my eyes, seeing everything differently. “What are you?”

  He put his hand up like he might touch me again but Lydia spoke quickly, “Use your words, Danny.”

  “Nephilim.” He turned and sat back down to finish his breakfast and resume his game.

  “Is everyone Nephilim?”

  Lydia laughed. “These kids are. They’re special. For whatever reason, maybe because of who their parents are, they’ve gained their power early. It happens. Most Nephilim don’t gain power until they’re past the age of puberty. Nature’s safeguard. But sometimes Nephilim mix with other creatures and create something uncharted. And that is who we have here.” She winked at the kids, like that was a fun little fact and not something super creepy.

  “What are you?” I hadn’t really been told what Lydia was. I had my suspicions.

  “Witch.”

  “Like which you, or you’re a witch?”

  Lydia laughed. “Eat your breakfast. I’m a witch.”

  “What’s he?” I pointed at the cute guy next to me who resembled Lucas in a strong way.

  He realized I was talking about him and pulled the earbuds I hadn’t noticed from his ears. When his eyes met mine my stomach fluttered. I exhaled slowly, spotting strange things like the way his lips were uneven with his canines. “Are you a vampire?” I whispered, almost scared after the whole Giselle thing.

  “I’m a Ben.” He smiled wide.

  I smiled back, I couldn’t even fight it. “I’m a Hanna.” My words sounded miles away from me. God, he was gorgeous.

  “Ben is fae.” Lydia leaned in, trying to get my attention but my eyes were locked on his.

  “Fae?” I whispered again, remembering the conversation I’d had about fae. They were the wolves. “So you turn into a wolf and these kids are messy angels?”

  Ben nodded and my head followed his, nodding slightly.

  “Hanna!”

  I jumped, startled and flushed. My heart raced and the smell of the guy next to me was better than the food, but I forced myself to focus on Lydia who had shouted at me. “So is this a training camp for angels?”

  “No, it’s a haven. These little rug
rats are here for safekeeping,” Ben muttered, taking a bite of waffle. Watching him chew was nice. His jaw muscles flexed. His emerald-green eyes sparkled as he spoke, darting his stare at me again. “Everyone here—”

  A commotion filled the hallway, interrupting him.

  Aimee strolled in, covered in blood again. Only this time the other girl, Ari, was with her.

  “Girls!” Lydia sprang into action.

  “You rang?” Aimee gave Lydia a smug grin.

  “Yes, but I expected you to shower before you got here.” Lydia frowned. “I just wanted to talk to you about the fact Danny is addicted to World of Warcraft. Yesterday I went in his room, and he looked as if he hadn’t blinked in a day.” She glanced at the chubby boy and pointed. “And now the iPad. He’s like a coma patient who eats.”

  “World of Warcraft is a good distraction.” Aimee sniffed. “It’s important to figure out early what takes your mind off the situation we’re in here.” She glanced down at her bloody clothes.

  “Are you hurt?” one of the quiet kids asked.

  “No. It’s not our blood.” Aimee leaned against the counter.

  “We found another blood club.” Ari folded her arms.

  “Gross,” a small voice said softly from the empty chair where the girl had vanished.

  “Aimee, you go all agro on them?” Ben asked, smiling.

  “Way worse than agro,” Ari offered. “I may never be the same again. I have never been that grossed out in my life.”

  “Yes, you have.” Aimee laughed. “It was just rewards.”

  “Ari, you should have called me. I would’ve come for sure.” Ben was clearly miffed that he’d missed a good battle.

  I was still lost. Little Danny’s visions had cleared up what the Roses were to him, but it didn’t clear up exactly how it was cool to slaughter people. Or things. Or whatever vampires were. Like were there no laws? Did things like Aimee get to kill randomly, acting no better than the things she killed?

  Nothing about the Roses made sense in a real world setting.

  “Babe, you shouldn’t have gone without me.” Lucas strolled into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Ari and kissed her cheek.

  Ari pushed him back. “You would have been distracted. There was a lot of blood.”

  Everyone laughed.

  But not me, I got scared.

  Children were laughing about killing a bunch of other people, like it was a video game. But it wasn’t a game—these were real live people. No one in the room cared at all about loss of life. None of them respected anything.

  “Hanna, it isn’t like that at all.” Lydia frowned.

  But I wasn’t so sure.

  After breakfast I went back to my room and sat on the bed. I needed to call Roland. It had been a while since I’d seen him and I was starting to feel bad.

  I dialed the number and waited.

  “Hello, dear. How are you?” he answered softly.

  “Sorry, I haven’t called, Roland,” I apologized. “I didn’t know what to say. I still don’t. I just wanted you to know I was okay.”

  “Well, I knew you were fine so don’t worry about that. Are you coming home soon?”

  “I don’t know.” I paused. “I was thinking about coming home tonight, if it’s okay with you.”

  “This is your house, Hanna. Come and go as you please. You’re an adult now. I will ask that you reconsider the birthday gala though. It would be a great way to get to know all your new friends.”

  “Friends?” I almost laughed.

  “This is your reality now, Hanna. The Roses Academy can help you find a way to learn to control what you are. They’re the best hope you have of keeping the monster contained, especially if you change. They will stop you from hurting others and yourself.”

  “You mean by killing me.” I did laugh then.

  “No. They kill the ones with the intent to harm. You don’t have that. They want to help you. And this birthday is tradition. You are the last line of both of your families. You can’t break the traditions they have honored for hundreds of years.”

  “Fine, whatever. We can talk about it tonight when I come home.” I rubbed my eyes.

  “I will have dinner ready for you then.” He sounded pleased.

  Aleksander walked into the room, offering a charming smile. He smirked at me. “Hey.”

  “I better go, Roland. I’ll see you tonight.” I blushed and hung up the phone. “Hey.”

  “Can I talk to you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re still all right with going back to Marcus?”

  “Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll figure out a way out of there once Giselle’s healed.” I reached into my shirt and pulled out the piece of paper I always kept with me. “I need Aimee to go over this. It’s the formula to stop me from changing.”

  He took the paper. “Okay, I’ll get her to do it. I told Marcus I would convince you to go with him after your birthday. Did you hear that part?” He sat across from me on the bed.

  Something about the shift in weight and him being irresistible and me being some kind of horny teenaged hormonal mess changed everything the moment he got within reaching distance.

  I ignored what he had said and instead leaned in, brushing my lips against his. I closed my eyes, inhaling him. He grabbed me, lifting me into his lap, wrapping himself around me.

  We moved in sync, ripping at each other’s clothes, irrationally.

  Both bare chested and shuddering, we paused.

  He leaned back, maybe trying to get distance from me. “What the hell was that?”

  “I don’t know.” The reality of moving without thinking hit me as I backed off of him, grabbing my shirt and bra. “I need to go home. I need to get away from all this.” I looked around, trembling and half naked, unsure of what exactly I was doing. “Can you take me?” I pulled on my shirt.

  He didn’t speak. He nodded and instantly we were standing in the foyer of my house.

  I backed away, distancing myself from him the same way I had with Marcus. “How much longer before I have to go back there?”

  “A week, max. She won’t make it longer.” His bright eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry you have to do this.”

  “It’s okay. It was my idea. I don’t mind. If Aimee finds the cure for my condition then I will owe her, not that I want to. But this will preempt any debts. The moment the party Roland is forcing on me is over, I’ll go back with Marcus.”

  “Thanks, Hanna.” The way he said it sounded funny, like he was confused about something. I didn’t have a chance to analyze it.

  Roland strolled in the front door with a lady by his side. “You’re early.”

  The lady smiled wide. “This must be the girl.”

  “What girl?” I glared at him and the strange lady.

  “This is Angela. She makes dresses. I have selected a few for the party. I want you to pick one and she will alter it so it fits like a glove.” Roland grinned wide, knowing I wasn’t going to be into any of this.

  “Great.” I let the lady lead me to the back room where she fitted me in ball gowns that appeared to be from a period piece movie.

  All I could think about was Rebecca.

  I wished she could be with me for this. She would’ve been the rock I leaned on and the life the party needed. I didn’t have it in me to pretend I gave a shit about my birthday or my family or Roland’s weird request.

  Chapter 15

  The Monster’s Ball

  The dresses all fit remarkably, but Angela said the pale-green one made my hair come alive. So that was the one she had taken to alter for me.

  Now that it was the day of the stupidest birthday party ever, she was back and I was donning the new gown.

  Angela stepped back, inspecting me. “Spin, dear.”

  I twirled slowly, eyeing my reflection floating past the mirror. I didn’t look like me in this. But it didn’t matter. Old me was vanishing and, unfortunately, the new me was mentally preparing to go back to Mar
cus’ house.

  Angela beamed as she placed the finishing touch to my makeup—a small beaded black mask. It covered the top of my face only.

  Roland walked into the room, clasping his hands like my English fairy godmother. “You look like a princess. My word, that is the best choice.”

  The dress had a deep sweetheart neckline with silver beading along the bust and hemline. The shimmery pale-green fabric was draped to fit perfectly. My chest made attempts at escaping through the top, making me wish I had a cover of some sort. Like a hoodie . . .

  “Your parents would’ve loved to have been here at this moment. They would have done anything to be here, Hanna. This was your mother’s wish. It’s tradition in her family.”

  I nodded, trying not to act like a jerk.

  “Your guests are waiting.”

  “Guests? They’re here already?” I turned to Roland. “Who have you invited?” I honestly couldn’t think of any friends who would want to come. I had vanished from my world and they had moved on without me. Me and Rebecca.

  “Trust me.” He offered me an arm. “This is the night you were meant to have.”

  I didn’t entirely trust him, that was the problem.

  But I did let him lead me down the stairs and through the long hall to the great room. As I entered the large opening, clapping started up. I beheld a massive room full of people. Everyone was dressed in gowns and suits. Each of their faces wore a mask and sang “Happy Birthday,” making me blush beneath mine.

  But I didn’t recognize a single person in the crowd of masks. It was like a Stanley Kubrick film, a transformed room filled with people I didn’t know.

  I had never wanted birthday parties as a kid. I ignored the event every year, forcing my aunt to treat it as a normal day. My mother had made a big deal out of it when she was alive. I never felt up to it after that.

  This was about the worst case scenario for me.

  Knowing it was the party my mother wanted me to have was hard to take. But being in a room filled with strangers was worse.