The Roses Academy- the Entire Collection

by Tara Brown

  “No one deserves to be going home more than you, brother,” Dorian spoke softly.

  Aleks reached his hand up into the air for Dorian to take. He squeezed it.

  I trembled from the sobs racking my body.

  “I love you guys.” He sighed one last time and relaxed against the ground, letting the moonlight take him.

  Chapter 34

  Goodbye Ben

  Hanna

  Sobs filled every throat on the hillside.

  Even the ever tough and dark Dorian cried. He held his friend to his chest, not letting him go.

  Lydia heaved out a breath. “Let’s start.”

  Dorian gave a nod and laid Aleks down on the ground.

  He dug the grave with his bare hands.

  I watched in silence. Guilt ravaged me.

  Sam put an arm around me. “It wasn’t your fault. Marcus tricked us.”

  I nodded, not wanting to take away from Aleks’ moment. I didn’t want pity. I wasn’t ready for them to know the extent to which he had tricked me.

  Dorian sniffled, lifting Aleks’ arms, and Shane lifted his legs. They placed him on a white sheet Lydia had brought.

  Aimee kissed his lips once. Giselle bent over his face, kissing it over and over.

  “I can push someone. I can bring him back,” Ari sobbed, clutching Dorian.

  “No.” Lydia lowered her gaze. “Too dangerous, Ari. Like I told you with Ben, you don’t know which of us will end up in his place.”

  I crawled along the cold ground in my white nightdress, freezing as the bitter wind pushed and pulled. I kissed Aleks once on the cheek, lingering, trying to get a slight waft of the smell I had always gotten from him.

  His smell had left with his spirit. I pressed my face against his warmth. “Goodbye, my friend,” I whispered, ruffling his dark-blond hair.

  Everyone took their turn saying their goodbyes. I snuggled into Sam. I couldn’t bear to watch as Dorian said his. It broke my heart to see such a frightening man so broken. Obviously, someone great had left the world, but seeing Dorian distraught, somehow made Aleks more worthy. Dorian gave his heart and compassion to no one. He wiped away a tear and closed the sheet, wrapping Aleks like a mummy. He lifted the huge body and stepped down into the grave. He kissed the head of the wrapped body and gently placed him on the ground. He picked up a handful of frozen dirt and kissed it. He placed it on the mound and stepped away.

  Everyone took a turn placing a small amount of dirt on top of him.

  I hated seeing the dirt cover Aleks. I wanted him to burst through the sheet. He was unbreakable. Nothing could hurt him.

  But he did not.

  Dorian gave the service in a language I could only guess was Norwegian and then pushed the dirt over his body.

  They gathered stones and piled them on top of him.

  The sun set and I noticed how frozen I was. Sam took his shirt off, pulling it over my head. He stood in nothing but a thin white tee shirt.

  Sam picked me up and suddenly we were back at Lydia’s, in his room. I looked at my surroundings. “I need to go home. I need to see Roland.”

  He flashed and suddenly we were standing in my bedroom. I hobbled, grabbing my robe. I pulled his shirt off and smelled it once. He laughed, taking it. I dragged the robe on and opened my bedroom door.

  Instantly Roland was there, walking down the hall to my room. “Hanna, my dear, you’re home. Aleksander told me you were being held by Mr. Dragomir.”

  I fell into his arms. “Roland, this is Sam.”

  Roland stiffened. “Yes, I’ve met the young man before. I knew his mother a long time ago.”

  Sam blushed. “Hello, sir. Nice to see you again.”

  Roland’s brow arched. “Two sirens. How unbearable.”

  He noticed my ankle and grimaced. “I see the beast has returned.”

  I shook my head. “Only when I needed it, and I was able to control it. This is from Marcus.” My throat thickened. “Marcus and Aleks have both passed.”

  Sam spoke softly, “And a friend of ours, Ben.”

  “The funeral for Ben is tomorrow.”

  Roland sighed. “A lot of lives lost.”

  I was dizzy. “All in one day.”

  “Roland, I will be staying, if it’s all right with you?”

  Roland eyed Sam. “You will let me know if you need anything? From the guest bedroom?”

  Sam smiled weakly. “Fair enough.”

  I frowned, watching Roland turn and stroll away. I dreaded the story I would have to tell him.

  Epilogue

  The cool wind blew, swaying the trees and knocking pine needles down upon the grave. The fresh dirt pile was laced with exotic flowers. Ari had flashed with Aimee around the world to find them.

  The small pile appeared even smaller next to the huge trees surrounding it. The funeral was heart-wrenching. A man named Brandon Green, who was fae like Lucas and Ben, gave the service.

  He was handsome, as they all were, and soft-spoken. His eyes darted to the grave as he spoke. Tears softly flowed down the cheeks of every person sitting, all but Lucas. His stoic face made me concerned for him. He wasn’t allowing himself to think of anything beyond revenge. I was certain of that.

  Sam held my hand. Heat emanated from his palm into mine. I was grateful for him but also for the fact he had been fine with my asking for some time. I wasn’t ready to be in a relationship. I needed to figure out everything else. My heart knew him as my match; that wouldn’t change. I fingered the brightly glowing bracelet on my wrist. I was grateful Lydia had been able to give me another one. I didn’t give off the same energy as I did before, but supernaturals could still sense me. The bracelet safeguarded against the siren’s call.

  I imagined Roland was glad when I got a new bracelet as well, although somehow he was able to feel something even when I wore it.

  Lydia wiped away tears.

  The funeral ended as it had begun, in tears and kind words.

  I didn’t know what to say. Everything was my fault.

  We went home where we cried more. Some of us. Others sat in silence, plotting or remembering or both.

  It was like that for days.

  I spent the week watching Aimee go through land acquisitions made for the Roses Academy. No land had been bought in Alaska. Lorri was sure Daniel had bought the land on his own.

  I felt helpless and distant from everyone. I didn’t fit in on a good day, and Aleks had been the main reason I was ever accepted. He had accepted me first.

  Giselle paced the room. “Alise said Alaska. Why Alaska? Why would anyone want to go to Alaska?”

  “No daylight in the winter. Maybe it’s a vampire colony,” I thought aloud.

  Lorri pointed to me. “I know the place. There was a bitch named Marcella who tried to hook up with Daniel. She owned some vampire resort. It’s a remote lodge, really gorgeous but middle of nowhere. They will know we’re coming from miles away.” She smiled at me. “Nice, kid.” I was more traumatized by the language. Lydia wasn't big on swearing.

  Aimee pulled out a map and questioned Lorri, “Where?”

  Lorri studied it for a second and pointed. “There, on that inlet. No one lives anywhere near them.”

  Aimee turned to me. “Want to take a road trip?”

  “I do.”

  The End

  Volume Four

  Prologue

  New York, 1994

  Her eyes adjusted to the dark as she waited for the footsteps to grow louder, drawing closer. Pain ripped through her with every push, but she was desperate not to make a sound. Sweat dripped from her brow and landed on the soft cot, sounding like a hammer driving a nail. But it wasn't even close to the loudest sound in the room: her rapidly beating heart drumming in her chest.

  She gasped as a contraction took over. It forced her to push harder against the waves of pain.

  Lost in it all, she failed to notice the door opening or the finely manicured hand that propped it open. She didn’t notice the
startling green eyes that watched her. Had she noticed them, she would have seen their fear.

  She let a small noise escape her lips as exhaustion blended with her labor.

  “Lillith.”

  Fully engaged in pushing as her body was thrown into spasms, she ignored the voice until the contraction passed.

  “Lil, can you hear me?” The green-eyed woman entered the room, closing and locking the door.

  Relief filled Lillith, seeing her old friend. It was better than pain medication. “Yes.” She gasped for air.

  She focused again when her belly tightened with the next contraction, making a scream slip from her lips.

  Warm fingers gripped her ankles. “It’s okay, Lil. Deep breaths,” the green-eyed lady comforted her.

  Fury and pain washed over Lillith as the fingers rubbed her ankles, trying to soothe the agony of the head being freed from her body.

  “The head’s out, Lil. Stop pushing for a minute.”

  She breathed against the stinging sensation and waited for the words allowing her to push again.

  “Okay, one more big push and he’s out.”

  Lillith clenched every muscle, letting another scream slip from her tight lips, and pushed the baby out. Instant relief filled her as the screams of the child echoed throughout the sterile room. Exhaustion and the sudden calm of it being over left her lips as deep breaths combined with moaning.

  When she had completely accepted the birth was over, she closed her eyes, waiting for it to be the same as with the others.

  The silence of the green-eyed woman told her more than any words ever could.

  Tears streamed her flushed cheeks. “Just do it quickly, Sister.”

  “Lil, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “It doesn't matter.” She shook her head. “Get rid of her quickly, Anna. I cannot bear for it to be drawn out.”

  “I’m so sorry, Lil. I’ll do it after the placenta is over with. Give me another push to get it out.”

  Lillith heaved slightly as her stomach tightened again.

  She’d never felt such a strong contraction for a placenta before. She knew straightaway something was wrong. Her stomach tightened as if it were ripping. The midwife gasped, “It’s another head, Lil.”

  “Oh thanks be to God.” She smiled through the pain. He would get his son. She would be free. At long last she would be free.

  Chapter 1

  Losing my reality

  Wolfville, 2012

  Ophelia

  I tried to ignore the whispers, but they were loud enough to have obviously been meant for me to hear.

  “Did you see Ophelia’s eyes last night? That was freaky. They went completely black.”

  “I think she’s on drugs.”

  “She moved the Ouija pointer with her hands. I saw her.”

  “My brother’s eyes were like that when he did X. It’s drugs.”

  “I don’t know how she's related to Abbey.”

  “I know, right?”

  Was I hearing them correctly?

  I couldn’t believe they would say such mean things, such lies. I never moved the dumb marker. The board was jinxed.

  I shot a glare at the stupid plastics my sister called friends before glancing around the room. No one was listening to them. It was weird. Everyone was just staring at their papers as if the girls weren’t talking loud enough for us all to hear.

  “You never gave my quiz back,” I spoke softly to Mr. Anderson, my teacher, when I realized I didn't have a paper and everyone else did.

  “I didn't?” Mr. Anderson glanced up from the stack of new quiz papers he was about to hand out. “Sorry, kid. Let me see if I can find it.” He hurried to his desk and flipped through his briefcase. “Ah, here it is. Jeez, I never even marked it. Let me do it quickly now.”

  “That’s okay.” I didn't mention the fact he often forgot to give me my paper or missed me when asking questions. He wasn't alone in that. I was a master of blending to the point people didn't see me at least half the time.

  Mr. Anderson whistled and passed my paper back to me with an A+ at the top. “Nice work, kid.”

  “Thanks.” I glanced back at the popular girls still whispering. I never should have gone to the stupid party.

  I didn’t belong with them.

  I didn’t even like them.

  They talked about whoever couldn’t make it to whatever party they were at. Backstabbing beotches was what Naomi called them and she was right.

  I should have stayed home with Mackenzie and Naomi to watch the Scream movies back to back like I’d planned to before Abbey forced me out of the house.

  Mr. Anderson handed out the new quiz. As I took my paper I caught Jake smiling at me.

  My heart jumped at him taking notice of me, which also never happened.

  As quickly as it was there, it was gone.

  His smile had seemed flirty and then it faded and he appeared confused. It took him a second to turn away, focusing again on the quiz paper sitting in front of him.

  “No talking. You have fifteen minutes to complete this. When you’re done keep it turned over on your desk.”

  Weirded out, I aimed my eyes down at the questions but the page fuzzed out and a strange feeling swept over me. I wondered if I was getting the flu or if I had eaten something off. Another wave hit, making me shudder. I wiped a trembling hand across my face. My forehead was already covered in sweat.

  The whispers started again.

  “She’s sweating like a coke-head freak. We should report her.”

  “Shhhh. Eyes on the test, people,” Mr. Anderson grumbled.

  “Look at her now. She’s doing drugs, I’m telling you.”

  They were driving me nuts.

  I wanted to glare back at them again but someone else spoke, “Oh shit, Ophelia has side boob. Thank you, Jesus, for the side boob.”

  I readjusted my tank top and scowled at the boy next to me who was leering at my body.

  When he noticed me staring at him, he winced. “Oh my God, she looks like she’s gonna puke. God, if she does I hope she turns away from me. Sweet God, don’t barf near me. Please turn the other way.”

  His voice rang out in my head but his lips didn’t move when he spoke.

  “She’s high AF and gonna puke. Typical emo.”

  Was I high?

  How were the people next to the mean girls not hearing them? Everyone had their eyes on their tests, except the mean girls and the boy next to me.

  The mean girls got louder.

  “She’s such an emo dork.”

  “I heard Abbey had to stop her from cutting herself the other day. She was all trying to commit suicide with those other losers.”

  “I heard she likes Jake. As if.”

  “Abbey must be so ashamed. I don't even know how they’re related.”

  It was a lie. I never cut myself.

  Through the dizziness I stood up, screaming at the girls in the corner, “STOP!”

  Sound burst into the classroom like a shot being fired from a gun. Papers and debris filled the space as huge gusts of wind blew in the open windows.

  My desk remained neat and untouched.

  Everything else in the classroom was spread everywhere. Mr. Anderson’s glasses sat askew on his face. His hair was blown back. The kid in front of me had no shirt on, except around his wrists.

  Everyone stared at me, terrified. Cruel words began to fill my head in hushed tones, “Freak, druggie, possessed psycho.”

  I put my burning fingers up to my face and slapped at my head. “Shut up. Shut up. Just shut up,” I chanted.

  When they silenced, I noticed the jagged glass of the windows. No glass remained except around the edges as if they had been smashed.

  But the broken windows weren’t all I saw.

  In the shadows something moved.

  The frightened faces of the other kids were nothing compared to the black trails of smoke whispering seductively as they crept along the floor. They slit
hered snakelike, trying to reach out for me.

  It was too much.

  I turned and bolted from the classroom. The only sound in the hallway was my feet as they pounded away from it all. I hadn’t felt right since playing with the Ouija board. The thing was jinxed and it was jinxing me.

  I ran until I reached home. With my back against the front door and the locks all turned, I slumped onto the floor and started to cry. I could never go back to the school again. I was what they said. I was a freak.

  Exhausted and confused, I went to my hiding place to sit and read and pretend nothing had happened.

  I napped and then woke, still mortified and confused. A question of sanity lingered in my brain. I had an aunt in a mental institute; it was possible I was like her. I was crazy too.

  Hating where I was at, I grabbed a book to distract myself with.

  “O, you here?” My sister’s voice interrupted my reading.

  Abbey crept into my hiding place. Her eyes were filled with worry when she sat on her knees and reached her hands out to mine.

  I ignored her, fixing my eyes on the book. “I hate you.”

  Abbey smiled. “I heard it was just like the sleepover, except you blew Phillip McNeill’s shirt right off his body.” My sister smirked, but I couldn’t find humor in the horror.

  “That Ouija board haunted me, dude. I haven't been the same since that stupid sleepover. I hate your friends.”

  Abbey put her hands up. “Hey, the way I heard it, you’ve got mad skills. Mr. Anderson is off for the rest of this year and probably next. He got taken away in an ambulance. He wet himself. The whole class is in love with you.”

  “No, they think I’m a sweaty crackhead, and I’m starting to agree with them. I don’t even know what happened. The voices got worse and then the windows broke and the other kids screamed or maybe I screamed first. I think someone slipped me something. Probably those horrible friends of yours, Ripley and Lacey.”