The Roses Academy- the Entire Collection

by Tara Brown

  They are gone, dragged below, within seconds.

  Lorelei stops and faces me, still looking spooky and witchy. “Lucas and Ben next?”

  I nod and take Blake’s hand to wink us to the only place I can think of to look.

  When we land on the street, Blake’s grip on my hand tightens. He gives me a sideways glance. “What is this?”

  I shake my head, mystified by the sight. Smoke and rubble fill the dreary view. The sunlight is blocked out by the debris. “A bomb has just gone off, I think.”

  He smells the air. “Yup. This is great.” This is close to home for us. It’s very close. The smell of the bomb and death and destruction is everywhere. I bet they can smell it back home.

  The club we are standing in front of is falling down. It’s in a level of disrepair I don't recall. We inch in, like Hansel and Gretel walking into the forest alone, gripping each other’s hands and stepping slowly. I’m not scared, I’m devastated. My anger starts to build as we get farther inside.

  The floor is sticky with old blood. I smell it in the air.

  “Wow, I thought the street looked bad.”

  I stare, stuck on the sights of horror and destruction. Ben and Lucas aren’t here. Anyone that is, isn’t alive. A foot smeared with dried blood and old cuts sticks out from the bar. Blake jumps when he sees it. He lifts a finger to push his glasses up, forgetting he doesn't wear them anymore. It’s his nervous tick.

  I wink us to the one place I desperately don't want to go. I hate coming here but I don't see any other choice.

  We land in the dank forest in Maine and right away we are surrounded. Some of them are wolves and some are human.

  Lucas’ huge uncle stalks over to us. I swear the ground shakes when he lumbers. “You again?”

  “I need to find your nephews.”

  Storm clouds take over his face. “What have you done to them?”

  “I didn't do anything. I swear.” I’m instantly hopeful. “Are they here?”

  He shakes his thick head. “You have no right to be here!” I can tell he’s holding on by a thread. He’s about to shift and come at me. The faces in the crowd aren’t any friendlier. Apart from Janine. She’s eyeballing Blake like he’s her next snack. She’s such a cougar.

  I put a hand out. “Sir, I need them. They are a danger to themselves and everyone around them. I need to fix them. Please.”

  He clenches his jaw, motioning toward the forest to the right. He’s clearly seen it. He knows I am right. I wink-run with Blake in tow.

  “Wow, he’s not very friendly.”

  I sigh. “He hates me.” I just finish saying it when I catch a smell. It’s not what I expected. I turn, winking to the right. Blake pulls me back as I try to continue running. He sees it first, stopping us both dead in our tracks.

  My heart sinks. I lift a hand and clutch the locket. They are naked, both brothers, and lying on the forest floor asleep a couple of feet apart. They would appear peaceful and sweet if it weren’t for the blood coating their faces. It doesn't smell human which leaves me to guess they slaughtered an animal and ate it as humans. I don't even want to dwell on this.

  I reach down and touch them both on the ankle, winking us to the bayou. They scream as they enter the water. I step back onto the muddy banks, cringing at the spectacle.

  Marcus is gutting himself laughing. I give him a sneer but he shrugs. “Their animal ways are finding their way back to them. That must have been a sight.”

  I lift my middle finger into the air as the dark water settles. I can’t look back at the house behind us. I can’t look and see her face. I’ll break down if I do.

  “Ari and Sam,” Lorelei sucks a big gulp of air as if she’s a winded vampire . . . weird.

  I have no idea where to find Ari even though she is my best friend. But Sam is a cinch. I wink us to Roland’s. He opens the door before I knock and greets us with a grin. “Back so soon?”

  “No tea this time, Roland. I’m here to see Sam.”

  He glances at Blake. “You brought reinforcements—odd.”

  “Not really. I’m more like the sheriff to her Jessica Fletcher.” Blake shrugs.

  Roland laughs like he actually gets the joke. He holds a hand out. “Well, sheriff, he’s up the stairs to the right.” He winks at me as if he’s jovial about my being there.

  If he only knew why we’re here, he might not seem so happy. We cross the entrance and head down the hallway to the stairs, not winking. When we’re on the stairs Blake grabs my arm, whispering almost silently. “What’s the plan?”

  I shrug. “Wink and hope for the best.”

  He scowls. “You might need to brush up on your Jessica Fletcher impression.” He brushes past me, knocking at the door first.

  Sam opens it, sporting a dubious stare. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” He glances down the hall at me. “My favorite angel, what’s going on?”

  “I thought you might be here.”

  He lifts a bag. “Just packing to stay at Shane’s. I feel better there.”

  “You feel better?” My eyes widen and I almost shake my head at Blake but Sam stares me down.

  He explains, “I feel more real.” He glances around the room. “I don't fit in here. Too many memories.” His voice trails off, his eyes visiting the spots in the room that make him think of her.

  I can see the pain, hate, and agony on his face. He’s him again. I don't know how, but he is. He holds a hand out. “Travel together?”

  I nod. The three of us wink to Shane’s back deck where the sun is setting over the Pacific Ocean. It’s a beautiful sight. Sam drops his bag to the wooden deck, and I can see he’s about to lose it. Blake nods at the house and winks away. I grab Sam’s hand, squeezing. He squeezes back, breathing like his strength is wavering. His jaw trembles slightly before he gets himself together. He shakes his head. “What a few months.”

  I pull him inside, noticing how tall he is when he’s beside me in the doorway. He never seems massive, mostly because he’s such a softie. But he is. He’s big and strong, but I can see pieces of him dropping off, pieces of confidence and self-esteem. He leans his back against the closed door, shutting his dark eyes. “I don't understand why she would do this.”

  I step into him, leaning my head against his chest, breathing him in. “She doesn't know why she’s doing it. She just sees something she wants and is going after it. They can’t help themselves.”

  He looks down on me, a single tear stains his face. “Lorri, not Hanna. I know why Hanna is doing it. I don't understand why Lorri would do this to us. Does she hate us?”

  I lean my head back in, shaking it against his warm chest. “No. But she loved God more. She needed us to do a job. She didn't know about the spell.”

  “What spell?”

  “Lillith. She’s cast a spell on us, making us crazy. It’s why Hanna and Aleks are acting the way they are.” The words sting. I can’t imagine how he feels.

  “Oh. I thought it was because Aleks was finally available.”

  It makes me scowl. “No. She is in a trance, sort of.”

  “Great. Even better. So when she wakes up out of it she’ll see that me and her are made for each other?”

  I nod.

  “How long has it been this way?”

  The question makes me wince. “Two years.”

  He shoves me back, gripping my arms. “WHAT?” His dark eyes search mine for truth and lies. He hates what he sees, clearly. He recoils. “How is that even possible?”

  “I don't know. I only came out of it recently.” I step back as his hands drop.

  He runs his hands through his dark hair. “Oh shit, seriously? Two years? I don't even—” He drops to his knees, staring at the floor, the shock of it all starting to set in. “Where’s Henry?”

  I swallow, scared of how he’s going to take the news. “He left a while ago. He went back to the garden. It’s just us now. The world is in ruin. The population of Asia is nearly half of what it was. Europe is a
mess. Africa is on fire. America is the last standing civilization.”

  “Last made last broken, I guess.” He swallows hard.

  “I guess. Everything is a mess.”

  His eyes lift to mine. “What the hell?”

  “I don't know.” I wink him to Seattle, to the blood bar I swear we were just at. His jaw drops. He doesn't even try to stand. He kneels and shakes his head. I wink us to the Statue of Liberty. Tears fill his eyes, seeing the great city in smoke and ruin. It’s harder to see in the dark, but the gist is obvious. He gives me a sideways stare. “How has this happened?”

  There are no words to explain the situation. I don't even try. I lean against him as we sit and stare out.

  The sound of sirens fills the air and smoke mixes with smog and blankets the city.

  “Tell me everything you know.”

  I agree, “As soon as we have Ari.”

  He winks with me to the one place I think she might be. The desert is cold at night, not at all hot the way she likes. We crunch along the sandy road to the diner where I have been a few times.

  Even in the dark I see her. She’s sitting at the top of a water tower, overlooking the diner. I wink, sitting down next to her. Sam follows me. She glances up and grins. “I was wondering when you were coming for me.”

  I scowl. “What?”

  Ari continues, “I know we are sick or something. I had the strangest sensation a while ago. Somehow I could see through Lucas’ eyes. He was acting crazy, eating animals in the woods, like he’s a wolf but not. Then I watched you put Lucas in the water.” She’s lucid, like before. Not cocky or overly confident. She’s Ari again, my Ari. I didn't realize how badly I missed her until this moment. She sighs and offers me her hand. “Are we a danger?”

  “Yup.”

  “Do I have to go in the water too?”

  “You do,” I confirm.

  “Okay. When you have this all sorted out, remind me I owe you for this.”

  “Deal.” I grab her hand and Sam’s and wink to the bayou. Lorelei is standing there, looking annoyed. “Y’all took long enough.” She smiles at Ari, seeing the calm expression on her face. “My ancestors will take care of y’all.”

  Sam steps back. “I’m not going in.”

  Lorelei looks like she might argue. I shake my head. “He’s not affected.”

  She doesn't appear convinced, but I don't care. I step back from Ari. I need Sam. He’s still the more knowledgeable and stronger of us all. Ari is clearly scared as Lorelei calls the water and the wind. It sweeps Ari up and pulls her into the black water. It’s creepy, there’s no doubt.

  Marcus gets up from the chair he was napping in. “All done?”

  Lorelei nods.

  “So you didn't need my help?”

  I shrug. “We didn't know.”

  He rolls his eyes and holds a hand out, muttering his annoyances. I wink us all back to Shane’s.

  Blake comes out, giving me a surprised look. “Ari was easy?”

  “Yeah, she was old Ari. She wasn't acting crazy.”

  “Man, I miss all the good shit.” He turns and goes back inside, shouting back at me, “I’m going home for a bit.”

  I wave at the back of his head.

  Lorelei nudges me. “You sure about this all?”

  Sam is grabbing his bag off the deck and hauling it in. “Yeah. He’s fine. That's the fun thing about Sam; he’s fairly pure and sweet. The fae might let him in.”

  She still doesn't seem convinced.

  The kids are in the kitchen with Shane, eating and laughing. I lean against the wall and watch as the house erupts in smiles and giggles when they see Sam. Danny’s face is beet red and the girls are all making fun of him for something. Even Giselle is. Her gaze drifts toward Shane. They smile, on the sly, and continue eating and laughing.

  They really are hooking up and not for the evil.

  It isn’t the first time. I don't know why it surprises me so much.

  Sam slumps into one of the chairs in the sunroom. He frowns. “Is that a woodstove?”

  It makes me smile. “Yeah.”

  “Weird. Who has a sunroom with a woodstove in it?”

  Shane glances back at me from the table. “People from the Northwest Coast.”

  I confirm, “That's right.”

  So many things have happened since Blake and I were here, in the make-out room. It feels like it was a hundred years ago. I feel like I have lived a hundred lives.

  Chapter 5

  Stay with me

  I blink, catching the tail end of a comet. Lorelei floats over to me, bringing to mind something from a horror movie. She sits on the roof next to me and lies back.

  “Blake is convinced one of the Nephilim is actually Lillith’s evil spawn.”

  “What?” My stomach drops.

  “Yeah, I sort of argued that one too, but he has a point. We don't really know a ton about their lineage. We know they’re powerful. Lydia saw them as pertinent in the final battle.” Lorelei turns and faces me, looking so pretty it’s ridiculous. “We have to consider it.”

  “Except Sam. His mom isn’t Lillith. She was a siren—a crazy siren but not an angel.”

  “Okay, so any of the others.”

  I shake my head. “Not Danny. I doubt it anyway. He’s not perfect. He’s flawed and weak in the right ways. As if he’s half human.”

  “But that could be the point. Maybe he isn’t perfect, like on purpose.”

  It doesn't sound right. “No. It might be one of the others though.”

  “We need those kids in the garden.”

  “But how?” I ask. The garden isn’t a simple “stroll in and out” sort of place.

  Lorelei shrugs. “I can try taking them.”

  “You don't think Lillith would have had a child who has magical powers, like a witch?”

  She wrinkles her lips, making a perfect duck face. “No. Not necessarily. Magic isn’t an exact science. There is no predicting what traits a child of hers would have.”

  “Hmmmm. Well, I think we should try for the garden, get the kids safe, and find her to end this shit.”

  She sighs, sounding exactly the way I feel. “If only it were so simple. I could go for something simple.”

  I nod.

  Lorelei reaches for my hand, squeezing it tightly. “At least you guys are back on track. You had me worried.”

  “Me too.”

  I look up into the sky, thinking about him. He’s all I really think about. Especially when my mind clears. His obsidian eyes, dark messy hair, and perfect face haunt me.

  “You thinking about Dorian?”

  I blurt, “Always.”

  When she speaks I hear the smile in her voice, “I can make it so you dream walk to him tonight, if you want. It will be like he’s speaking to you in the real world.”

  I turn. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Just a little trick. It works to speak to the dead. I can use your love connection, I think. It’s worth a try anyway.”

  “I so want that. I need to talk to him. Will he be real?”

  “Yeah.” Her eyes glow in the dark. “Of course. It’s an open channel between here and there.” She lifts her slim finger to the sky. “He’ll hear you calling him.”

  I don't know what to say. I want it so badly. She takes my hand and blows into it. My palm glows bright green. The color disperses, becoming green sparkles that illuminate the veins up my arm. The color finds its way to my chest, lighting up where my heart is. She draws on my skin, sending the green veins everywhere. “Now when you go to bed tonight and go to sleep you’ll dream walk to him. It only works a few times a year, with the moons. Tonight is one of those nights.”

  “Why didn't you tell me about this before?”

  “You weren’t ready.” Her eyes tell me she has although I never listened.

  “You offered it to me and I said no, not caring about talking to him?” That hurts me.

  “Something like that.” She nods. “That was
before. You were lost.”

  “I can’t believe I could have seen him and I didn't care.”

  “Don't focus on the past.” She smiles sweetly. “Just take advantage of tonight. Enjoy it.”

  “Thanks, Lorelei.”

  She shakes her head. “I’d say I can’t imagine what it’s like, but I can.”

  If anyone knows what I’m going through it’s her. She’s relived the same fifty years several times, always losing Marcus and his love in some way. This is the first time they’re able to be together. She does know what it’s like to love and lose.

  I wink off the rooftop, stretching out in my bed with a sigh. I close my eyes and drift off, ready for the experience of my love with me again.

  The silence of the room takes me quickly. I don't realize I’m sleeping until I’m standing in a dark shadow in the same room Lorri showed me once, inside her mind. It is the dark corner she went to in her memory. Only I am here for real.

  Am I real or is this a dream?

  There are massive pillars made of pale stone and the ceiling isn’t there, only clouds of darkness. I don't know any other way of explaining it. The corner where I hide feels like the safest place I have ever been. The smell is familiar, enticing and yet relaxing. The air is the right temperature and soft. Nothing is extreme—not the light, smells, sounds, or the breeze. It’s peaceful. Serene. I would call it serene.

  Even in the dark shadow, I am completely safe and that puts me at ease. I drag my right hand up my left arm, pinching my bicep and wincing when it hurts. “Holy shit.”

  I am actually here, somehow.

  My sleeping body can’t feel the room at Shane’s at all. Or the bed.

  I honestly feel like I am there—here, in Heaven.

  Peeking around the corner, I try to get a glimpse of anyone else here. There’s a small amount of fear that the scary voice of God will try to talk to me. I don't know what the hell to say to him. What do you say to God when you have spent your entire life pretty sure evolution was how everything went?

  I take a brave step from the shadows, my head pivoting back and forth, hoping to see someone I recognize.