The Roses Academy- the Entire Collection

by Tara Brown

  He just shakes his head and gets up, taking my daddy’s hint at getting the car. I pull myself from the pool and wave at Angie. “See ya tomorrow.”

  She waves and dives back under.

  The ride home is awkward. I don't remember how to talk to my daddy. I don't remember if we ever did. And as far as love is concerned, I don't know if he ever got the chance. He is a weak man, but he ain’t never had a chance to be strong. Momma made sure of that.

  I lean forward, tapping my fingers on the leather of the seat. “Daddy, there is something I need to talk to you about.”

  He makes the sound that means he’s listening but I know he ain’t. I reach across and touch his cheek. “Daddy.”

  His eyes lift to meet mine. “What is it, darling?”

  “I can’t marry Martin Ryan. He’s a bad man. He done something real bad, forced something real bad on Margery Banks.”

  He narrows his eyes like he’s gonna tell me I have to, but he pauses. “You certain?”

  “Yes, sir. He made her do something no respectable girl should ever do. Something Ms. Mitchell told us never to do.” I’m trying real hard at being direct, but I don't want to be too direct.

  His cheeks flush as a moment of thought crosses his mind. “That won’t do.”

  “No, sir.”

  Ramón’s eyes meet mine from the front seat. He winks at me.

  Daddy shakes his head. “I’ll call Howard Banks tonight and find out the details of the sordid affair. If that Ryan thinks he’s gonna come down here and make a fool out of my daughter, he has another thing coming.” He winces. “Let me handle your momma on this though. She is mighty bent on seeing you a Ryan. Let me get the necessary proof to handle it.”

  He doesn't need to know that Momma won’t be a problem for either of us, not for long.

  When I’m inside the house, a cool breeze is coming in the window. Momma struts into the room, handing me my lemon water. I know she’s been putting things in it. She eyes up my body and rolls her eyes. “Lorelei, honey. No man is going to want a hog for a bride. You need to stay on the lemon water for a few more days.”

  I take the abuse, because I would have.

  She turns on her heel and leaves.

  I walk to the window and dump the lemon water out.

  “She is so much worse than I imagined; sexy as hell but really evil. She makes me look like a choirboy, and not the kind the fathers get after either. A really innocent one.”

  I jump seeing Marcus lying on my bed.

  I exhale deeply and try to slow my pounding heart. “You are an idiot. The choirboys that the fathers get after are innocent, moron.”

  “You say tomato, I say tomato.” He shrugs.

  I hurry to my door and close it, clicking the lock. “What are you doing here? The note said nightfall.”

  He climbs off the bed, sweeping me into his arms and pressing his lips against mine. “You smell innocent again.”

  I’m lost, and his completely.

  I have no willpower, just a memory of once having it. I have no ability to stop him. I haven’t claimed my magic so I am still a regular girl. His fangs graze my neck. His movements are fast and forced. “I missed you.”

  “It’s been a day, not even a whole one.”

  “No, it was an eternity.” He licks my wounds and kisses my cheeks. “Didn't you miss me?”

  “No.” I shake my head.

  “Liar.”

  I smile against his face and sigh.

  He looks around at the room and grimaces. “I don't think this is why I came here.” He swallows hard. “You being this version of you, this irresistible girl, was something I didn't expect. Who knew you were nearly a senior citizen when you finally had your first—”

  “Marcus, girls in the sixties don't just go hooking up with anyone.”

  “I never found that in the sixties.” He shrugs. “Anyway, the reason I came was that I saw Whit today. He never saw me. He was meeting with your mother. They kissed. It was creepy for me.”

  “Rydal.”

  He scowls. “What?”

  “That would have been Rydal. I don't believe Whit would have kissed my momma.”

  “Right, so we assume both lads are here in full force, ready to kill you and make your mother queen of the world?”

  “That sounds like the plan.”

  “Where’s Ramón?”

  “Blackwater Bayou. He’s there with his grandmamma.”

  He climbs off my bed and offers me a hand. “Shower?”

  I take his hand. “You can’t come in the shower with me now. You shouldn't even be here. I’m not some seventy-year-old vampire this time.”

  “You’re doing that incessant talking again. It annoys me.”

  I turn on the shower. “You’re doing that whole ‘pretend you feel nothing so I won’t fall in love with you’ thing. It’s also annoying. I’m not going to fall in love with you, in spite of what you fear. I know better.” It’s a bold-faced lie. I could love him. I think I already do.

  His azure stare narrows. “That obvious, am I?”

  “You are, sir.”

  When we get into the shower he continues, “Is it wrong of me to like you enough that I don't want you to be hurt? I respect you. I respect two women in this entire world and you are one of them. Ours is the longest relationship—that isn’t a relationship—I have ever been a part of.”

  I wince. “Saying shit like that makes me want to love you, Marcus.”

  “You’re a simpleton of the worst kind and I think your accent makes you sound trashy.”

  A smile crosses my lips. “See, now how hard was that? Keep it all business, Mr. Dragomir.” We both need to be protected from the real Marcus, the man behind the monster.

  When we are finished in the shower and ready to go, he jumps out the window and holds his arms out for me.

  “No way.”

  “You really think I’ll drop you? I nearly professed love for you in the shower.”

  I drum my fingers along the windowsill. “No.” I close my eyes and jump without making a sound. When he catches me, I gulp a huge breath. “That wasn't love, it was the blood talking. No more jumping.”

  He rolls his eyes and drags me into the woods along my driveway. When we get to the road, Henry is waiting there. We slink into the car.

  “Do you know where they are?”

  Henry nods once.

  Marcus gets his evil look on his face. “Excellent.”

  We ride in the car, staring at each other. It dawns on me how much I really like him. Everything about him is so charming. Even his mean-guy routine draws on my heartstrings. When we get to the swamp Grandmamma Holt points a finger at Marcus as he’s getting out of the car. He immediately climbs back in, muttering something about foolish old women.

  Henry offers me a hand, which I take. He squeezes my fingers as we walk up to the house. I wonder if he can talk at all.

  Grandmamma gives me a look, shaking her head. “What ya done now, cher? Ya gone and brought it all back again?”

  “I can fix it. Let me claim my power now and I can fix it all.”

  She spits on her hand, muttering the way Marcus did, and holds her hand into the wind. “Dey no happy wit ya, child. Dey no happy you gone and changed da time.” My heart sinks until she gazes back down on me. “But dey say dey gonna help.” She grabs a blade and walks down to the water, still all feisty and old.

  “Can we do it this time without killing you?”

  She turns away from me and hobbles down into the black murky waters, just like before. "You gotta put dem feet in de waters, cher."

  I flip my sandals off and saunter down to the water, again grimacing at the squish of muck in my toes. When I get to the water, I gasp at the cold of it. Water ain’t never cold here.

  Once again, she takes my hand in hers and starts to chant something in Cajun French that I can't understand. She mutters it fast, staring up to the heavens as if she were speaking right to God. It is the strongest of
the déjà vu I have had since the day started at school.

  The water changes, coming alive again, swirling away and frothing as it churns and sparkles with the lives it once took to keep safe. The witches once came here, bleeding into the water to save their magic for one they would deem worthy of it.

  How on earth did they decide this should be gifted to me?

  The mud heats, starting to match the thick, heavy air.

  "Call dem, cher. Tell dem you want to claim what's yours, again."

  I open my arms and clear my mind. I snap my fingers and let the sparks fill the darkness. "I CALL YOU TO ME! I CLAIM THE MAGIC!" My screams become part of a wind that has suddenly rushed the swamp.

  The mud comes alive. It crawls up my legs.

  I scream into the night air and let the crawling sensation cover my body. It enters my mouth and fills me up. The magic comes alive and sparks through my whole body the way it always has my fingers and arms. My entire body is buzzing and on fire. My scream becomes part pain.

  Just when I can't take one more second, it stops as abruptly as it started.

  The night is still and calm.

  I open my eyes, wobbling a little as something overloads my system. It makes me shudder and feel uneasy.

  It is exactly as it was the last time, identical.

  Grandmamma hands me the blade. "Now kill me again and offer dem spirits some of ya blood." She points to the waters.

  I take the blade and hold it, wishing I could change the fates. I don't want to kill her again. The last time was brutal.

  “Do it!”

  This time Ramón comes walking out of the house. “Lorelei, cher. What you doing here?”

  “Go back inside.” I look back over my shoulder at him.

  He sees the blade and shakes his head. “Don't do this.”

  My lower lip trembles but Grandmamma Holt grabs my hands and nods, peering so deeply into my eyes that I swear she sees my soul. I don't chicken out and close my eyes. I lean forward, plunging the magical blade into her as Ramón’s screams fill the thick air. I hear his footsteps coming and his tears landing on the ground. I hear the birds’ wings flapping around us and the air tickling against my skin. I hear and see it all as her magic fills me. She nods. “You a good girl, Lorelei. I always say dat.” She coughs, clutching the knife wound. "You know, child, you just let dem lead you. Dem spirits, dey know da way. Let da old witches inside da magic guide you."

  My insides are burning with the magic, but I hate that I have killed her all over again. Hers is the one death I cannot prevent.

  “WHY, LORELEI? WHY HER!” Ramón screams, skidding along the mud to Grandmamma as she collapses onto the ground.

  I pull the knife and slice along my hand. My blood is red but as it runs from my hand it turns black like the water. The droplets of it falling into the churning liquid below, shatters the air around me.

  Once more, I stand on the shores and call them, using the words from last time, "Ancient witches, sisters and mothers, come to me. Fill me with the love and the light of the one power. I call upon you Mother Earth and Father God. I call upon you Mother Moon and Father Sun. Bless with the powers of the old." I take a step into the water, letting it climb my body. "Mighty mothers of old, witches of the earth and the fire and the water and the air, fill me." The winds pick up and spin around me. The water joins the spinning air and becomes a tornado of water. Dirt flies from the banks of the swamp and becomes debris floating on the water and air. Lastly, a strike of lightning shoots from the sky, landing in the tornado surrounding us. I am locked within the huge electric walls of water, dirt, and air.

  My hair whips across my face and my dress is nearly being ripped off me. The force of the wind is incredible.

  Then, like last time, it freezes. All the debris and the chaos are frozen and suddenly drop back down to the water. Everything becomes still.

  Except the blood inside me.

  My body rages with electric fire and the need to fulfill my destiny.

  Henry smiles at me, bowing almost. I don't understand him.

  My eyes draw to the black blood on Ramón’s hands and the tears stinging his eyes. “She tried to save you. Why you gotta kill her?”

  I stumble to him, dropping to my knees and hugging her to me. The warmth leaves her as her soul pulls from the corpse. “She’s in the house, Ramón. Waiting for you.”

  His head lifts. He smiles when she opens the front door. “Now ya stop dat crying. I’ll give ya something ta cry about.”

  Ramón snorts and wipes his eyes. “She gave you her mortal magic.”

  It dawns on me, something I never saw before. “She is the last of the Blackwater witches. Her and me and my momma and Em.”

  Henry comes to me, offering his hand again. I take it, letting him squeeze my fingers. Grandmamma Holt points a long bony finger at me. “Ya take care of dat situation, cher. You end it all.” She holds the door open for Ramón.

  He wraps his arms around me. “I don't understand, cher. But I will ask her about it later. See ya tomorrow.”

  I walk to the car, full of everything. Being a witch without being a vampire or a halfling is amazing. I am full, just being me. When I get into the car I sneer at Marcus, suddenly not so addicted to his charms.

  He smiles wide. “Welcome back.”

  Henry gets in and drives, taking me home.

  When we get out front of the house, Marcus leans in, taking a big smell. “You are quite the delightful thing this evening.”

  I push my hand against his face. “No!” I climb out and march up the driveway. When I come through the front door, my momma is standing in the entryway with a look on her face that could kill a cat. “Where have you been, you little brat?”

  I lift a hand, slamming her back into a wall. I smile wide. “Momma, I learned some things recently. You meant to have me killed. I’m a witch and you never told me, all this time. You aren’t even my momma and this is my auntie’s body.” She struggles with the spell, wriggling and fighting. “Oh, and I’m stronger than you.”

  She lashes out with a bolt of fire but I catch it. I place the burning hate she shot at me in front of my lips, inhaling it. I let it settle in nice and deep and then blow it back at her. She screams, bringing Em and Daddy to the front entryway.

  Daddy stumbles over his words, “Lorelei, wh-wh-what in tarnation? Wh-wh-what are you doing?”

  I shake my head, not letting my eyes drift from her evil for one second. “She’s evil, Daddy. Watch this.” I point my free hand at her, screaming with all my might. "ETERNITY YOU SHALL SPEND AS THE SPIRIT THAT YOU BROKE. RETURN THE SOUL TO THE BODY THAT YOU STOLE!"

  She instantly starts to squirm but it becomes screaming as she writhes and then goes limp. Her head hangs. Then a wind of great anger fills the room, blowing Em and Daddy a bit. The body fights and as the wind drops, Momma’s head lifts. I can tell immediately it is Maria.

  She lifts a hand to her lips, and her face. She starts to cry.

  “LORELEI! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” My daddy is shouting and Em is screaming but I am laughing. I smile and wave. “Hi, Aunty.”

  She sobs, holding herself. “I never thought—I never imagined I could ever be freed.” She drops to her knees, shaking.

  “Daddy, calm down.” He heaves and trembles. He hurries to Momma and lifts her up off the floor. She shies away from his touch and shakes her head when she’s standing. He looks back at me, rage filling his eyes. “What have you done? What kind of evil are you?”

  “That ain’t Momma. That's Momma’s sister, Maria. Momma is an evil witch who steals the bodies of her family members so she can be young and beautiful forever. She had a plan. She was gonna do it to me or Em.” My eyes rise to the railing above where Em holds her hands over her lips and sobs silently. “It’s why she was always trying to make me skinnier.”

  Em sees it, I think. She acts like she does anyway.

  But Daddy is shaking and sobbing and trying to touch Maria.

>   I turn back and whisper to the door. “Come and fix this.”

  I don't need to speak loudly. I know he’s there, waiting in case I need help.

  Marcus immediately comes in the door and walks right past me. He runs his hand down Daddy’s cheek. “You love your wife, you cherish her. You cherish your daughters, and you have a happy life and a wonderful marriage. You don't recall any of the last five minutes.”

  He grabs Maria and says the same thing. Em is gone from the staircase. I run through the house to find her but I can’t. Marcus doesn't follow me upstairs. He walks to the back and I see him crossing the back lawn. Henry comes to him, holding Em in his arms. She is limp.

  Marcus kisses her cheek, waking her up. She screams but he speaks softly. Suddenly she nods, no longer sniffling. He points at me in the window and waves. She waves too. She ambles away from them, coming to me clumsily.

  Downstairs, my daddy and Maria are making out like I have never seen him do before. He picks her up and carries her to the bedroom upstairs.

  I wrinkle my nose as Em comes in the house. “I was just sleepwalking. The gardener found me. I feel sick.” She stumbles up the stairs, toward her room.

  I follow her up, making certain she is asleep. I stand in her room and hold my hands out.

  “Mother of love, mother of grace, bring all the powers of the sisters to this place. Surround my house with love and light. Let no one enter who wishes darkness or fright. Fill this house with the love we need and keep Momma’s ghost out to give us reprieve. So be it and it is.”

  I surround the house with a giant green light for healing the things that have gone wrong. Then I surround it with a huge pink bubble to promote love and peace. Lastly, I surround it with the golden light of grace, to protect it. There is now a barrier on my house, a proper one. It crushes Momma’s evil and takes away the darkness.

  Exhausted, I turn and walk to my room. Maria is in the hallway, standing there looking so much like my momma my hair stands on end. “I know who I am.”

  “I figured the Blackwater wouldn't let his compulsion work so hot on you.”

  “Thank you, Lorelei.” She opens her arms and pulls me in. “My beautiful daughter. I always knew you was the special one. Thank you for freeing me and giving me a chance to be with him. I have loved him from afar for a very long time.”