by Lizzy Ford
Dark Summer
Book I, Witchling Trilogy
By Lizzy Ford
http://www.GuerrillaWordfare.com/
Edited by Christine LePorte
http://www.ChristineLePorte.com/
Cover art and design by Eden Crane Design
http://www.EdenCraneDesign.com/
Kettlecorn Press/Guerrilla Wordfare
ISBN: 978-1-62378-060-9
MOBI edition
Dark Summer copyright 2012 by Lizzy Ford
Cover design copyright 2012 by Eden Crane
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Chapter One
Summer stepped off the stuffy bus, at once struck by the smog-free air and towering pine trees of the northern Idaho town. The sun shone gentler here than in her native Los Angeles, and the heat of noon was pleasant.
The bus driver pulled her bags from the storage compartment under the bus and left them beside her. She didn’t meet his eyes, not wanting to tell him she had no tip money. The orphanage had paid for her trip via Greyhound and given her a meager ten dollars a day for food.
“My sister lives up here. She tells everyone to avoid the forest after dark,” the bus driver said cheerfully.
Summer sneaked a look at him. He didn’t look upset at her for not tipping, and he said nothing else about his odd warning. He boarded the bus with a smile, and the lumbering vehicle merged back onto the single, two lane road hedged by pine trees running through Priest Lake, Idaho. She looked at the run down school in whose parking lot she stood. It was closed down for the summer, the cement of the parking lot cracked and the field behind overgrown with grass.
A warm breeze swept by her. It smelled of trees and burning wood. Something else was in the air, something that tickled her body from the inside out. The breeze seemed to return and swirl around her, lifting the hem of her shirt and jeans. She pushed her top down self-consciously.
“Ignore that.”
She looked up into the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen. The teen walking towards her from the street was around seventeen with breeze-ruffled brown hair and eyes as clear and teal as footage of the Caribbean she’d seen on TV. His smile was bright and friendly, his skin and facial features indicating he was of Native American heritage. Around six feet tall, he’d begun to fill out, and his arms were muscular in the snug T-shirt he wore.
“You’ll understand in a few days. This isn’t a normal town.”
She couldn’t find her voice. Aware of how hard she was staring at him, she looked away as heat spread across her face.
“I’m Beck, the good half of the Turner twins. You’ll hear about us, I’m sure. You have a name?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Well, what is it?” he asked with another of his infectious smiles.
“Summer,” she whispered.
“Welcome, Summer.” He extended his hand.
She hesitated then shook her head, withdrawing.
“No worries,” he said. “But, just so you know, whatever your gift is, it’s okay here. We all have them.”
Summer looked up at him again, surprised.
“Come on. I was supposed to get my driver’s license last spring, but, well, stuff happens. If I had known I’d be stuck walking to and from here picking up new people all summer long, I would’ve gotten it,” he said with a sigh. He reached forward to take her suitcase and began walking towards the road.
She followed, curious about his statement about a town of gifted people.
“We all live at the boarding school,” Beck continued. He grunted as he lifted her suitcase from the parking lot onto the road. “Do you play any sports?”
“No.”
“Cheerleader?”
“No.”
“Band?”
“No.”
“What do you do?”
“Nothing really.” Except get ridiculed and kicked out of school after school for being different. She hadn’t had time to learn a sport, not when she switched schools every other month. The orphanage had run out of schools to send her to in Los Angeles and Orange County and banished her here. Beck wouldn’t call her magick a gift when he saw what it did and how little she could control it. It acted out everywhere she went, sometimes knocking over full rooms of people as if they were shoved by an invisible hand and sometimes doing much more damage, like the fire two schools ago.
Summer looked straight up at the sky, marveling at the tall trees lining the road. The road itself looked worn and run down like the school, with faded lane lines and potholes filled with grass. The forest seemed to be trying to reclaim the human invasion. It had swallowed what might’ve one time been a sidewalk alongside the road and replaced it with orange, waist high tiger lilies and white daisies. Birds were loud without the constant drone of LA traffic.
She liked the feel of nature. Its subtle magick hummed in the air around her. Her eyes went to the forest again. She caught the movement of grasses and branches as someone with bright auburn hair darted from the gutter into the forest. Summer squinted, trying to see into the woods. She sensed someone there but saw no one.
Beck’s soft laughter drew her attention. He was a good twenty feet ahead of her. She’d stopped in place and gotten lost in her head.
“Come on!” he said and began walking again.
Summer hurried to catch up, embarrassed at what the handsome boy might think of her after just five minutes with her. She always made the worst impressions. Staring at the ground, she focused on ignoring the woody magick and just walking. Like a normal person. Like someone who wasn’t cursed with magick in her blood.
They walked farther than she expected, past a small string of ranch style houses, driveways to hidden homes, and a tiny strip mall with a convenience market, gas station and realtor’s office. They kept walking until the road forked and the forest closed in on either side once again.
At last, they reached a dirt road leading off the paved street into the forest. Beck said a few curse words that made her blush as he struggled to roll her suitcase on the dirt road. Summer watched, amused, before her eyes went to the trees. They were so tall, their tops almost met in the middle of the sky above her.
Beck’s loudest curse yet drew her eyes to him again. He shoved the suitcase onto its side, his earlier good humor turned into frustration.
“I’ll bring one of the guys back to help me,” he said. “I’ll take you there first.”
Summer drew near her suitcase, not wanting to leave the few things she did have. Mementos from her mother and father were in there, along with the pictures of the very few friends she’d made over the past sixteen years. Clothing, trinkets, an amulet from the only teacher who didn’t turn on her …
“I’ll help you,” she said and bent to grab the bar at the bottom of the suitcase.
“This isn’t LA. No one will take your stuff,” he said.
“I don’t want to leave it.”
“Are you sure?” He looked her over
. “You’re kinda small.”
She flushed as his eyes lingered on her breasts. She was small – in every way but that one.
“I can do it,” she said.
“Well, it’s my fault anyway for not getting a driver’s license,” he said with a frown. “Fine. I’ll use my ESP to call my brother.”
She waited to see him reach for a cell phone. He closed his eyes, held out his arms and went perfectly still for a few seconds.
“Just kidding. I don’t have ESP,” he said with another grin. “He was supposed to meet me at the school. He should be here soon. Don’t be surprised. Decker’s a little – “
“A little what, Beck?”
Summer turned to see the second Turner twin stepping out of the forest. Decker looked identical to Beck, except his eyes were as black as his clothing. Forest shadows seemed to cling to him, and she stepped back as he approached. Decker didn’t smile like Beck did.
“I knew you’d be prowling the forests. A little help,” Beck said, indicating the suitcase.
“This wouldn’t keep happening if you’d gotten your driver’s license.”
“You don’t have yours either.”
The twins glared at each other before Decker strode forward. He and Beck reached for the suitcase and lifted it.
“Her name is Summer, by the way,” Beck said.
“Has she – “ Decker started to ask.
“No, Decker. Obviously, she just got here. She’s from an orphanage in LA, and I think this is the first time she’s ever been anywhere with trees. She’s sixteen.”
“Let the girl tell her own story, Beck,” Decker snapped.
Uncertain what to do with the tension between them, Summer said nothing.
“Do you talk?” Decker asked, turning his attention to her for the first time. Though he was as handsome as his brother, his abrasive manner reminded her too much of the bullies she’d dealt with her whole life.
“Leave her alone,” Beck replied.
Thank you! she cried silently to the nicer of the twins. Beck was hot and sweet. She’d never met someone quite like him.
They walked in silence down the winding road. The rocks made her twist her ankle more than once. She’d worn sandals, not expecting to hike to get where they were going, and blisters were forming on her heels. She tried not to limp, not wanting to cause even more trouble to them.
A sprawling log building came into view finally and she sighed. It grew larger the closer they got, until they stood on the front porch. Feet aching, Summer sat on the stairs of the porch and pulled off the sandals. The back of her heels were bloodied. She grimaced at the stinging pain.
“Why didn’t you tell her to change shoes before dragging her three miles?” Decker demanded of his brother as they placed her suitcase down.
“I don’t know what she’s wearing.”
The two stood over her. Summer shifted away and stood.
“I’m okay,” she said, holding her sandals in her hand.
“I’ll show you where the bathroom is,” Decker said and swung open the screen door.
“I’m sorry, Summer,” Beck said as she passed. “I’ll get you checked in. The girls stay in the main house, so you don’t have to walk anymore.”
She smiled up at him, caught by his teal gaze. He held the screen door open for her, and she paused in the doorway, letting her eyes adjust. The door opened into a tall foyer flanked by an open living area on one side and a formal dining room with a table that stretched thirty feet on the other side. The house was log on the inside, too, making it feel warm and welcoming.
It was nothing like the orphanage, with its cement floors and walls and yard sale furniture. She took in the comfortable, worn leather furniture in the living area featuring a stone hearth and a huge flat screen television mounted on a wall. There were chairs everywhere, as if a group of people had been gathered around to watch a show.
Decker was standing in front of a door down a hall ahead of her, waiting impatiently. She moved into the house. The floors were wooden, covered in thick rugs that quieted her steps.
“Thank you,” she murmured to the darker twin. The bathroom was huge with a small sofa on one wall, several stalls and a row of polished bronzed sinks on top of dark cabinets.
“Sit down,” Decker said with abruptness. He followed her in and opened one cabinet after the other until he found what he sought.
Summer sat down on the couch. He filled a plastic bowl with warm water and a wash cloth and brought it to her.
“Oh, seriously?” Beck demanded, standing in the doorway. “Starting a little early, aren’t you?”
“You want me to let her bleed to death?” Decker shot back.
“This won’t change anything.”
“Then why are you complaining?”
The Turner twins glared at each other, bristling. Summer stared at them, not understanding what the issue was. They looked ready to fight.
“I can do it,” she said and took the bowl. “Thank you both.”
“You heard her,” Beck said and stepped aside, motioning to the door.
“After you, brother.”
They left. Summer waited for the door to close then shook her head. Whatever sibling rivalry was between the two, they had it bad. She dipped a foot in the warm water and tried to work the blood off without touching her raw heel with the washcloth.
“I told the Turners to get their licenses,” a woman said with a sigh.
Summer looked up as a pretty woman in a flowing dress entered. She was barefoot, and her ankle bracelets jingled with each step. She wore a dazzling turquoise necklace that matched her eyes.
“I’m Amber, one of those who will be overseeing your education. You must be Summer.”
Summer nodded.
“I hope the Turner twins didn’t scare you off already.” Amber laughed.
Summer shook her head. She liked Amber. The blond woman had a large smile and sparkling eyes. Amber brought her a towel and sat cross-legged on the floor a few feet away.
“Our school is for children with special gifts that keep them from integrating into normal schools. A lot of behavioral issues are simply a lack of understanding by mainstream teachers about how unique some of you are.”
“What do you mean?” Summer asked. “I don’t have behavioral issues.”
“We’ll talk about it more later,” Amber promised. “For now, just know this is a safe environment. We operate classes year round. The summer schedule is very relaxed, more like a college environment than the typical high school schedule. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
Summer looked down at her feet. She dried them without speaking. She’d never lasted more than two months in any one school. It was not a matter of her enjoying it; it was a matter of her and everyone around her surviving it.
So far, she really, really liked this place. It was beautiful and peaceful. Beck was the best-looking guy she’d ever seen, and Amber was far friendlier than any teacher Summer had ever had. With a heavy heart, she realized she couldn’t get attached. In a month or two, people would realize what she was. They’d turn against her, as usual, and this wonderful place with the magickal breeze would be gone from her life.
“I’ll show you to your room,” Amber said.
Summer trailed her through the house and up a set of stairs that led to a second floor lined with doors. She heard the sounds of giggling from behind some of the doors and at least one television as she passed. Amber led her to the end of the hall and opened a door. Summer expected to see the sparse, prison-like sagging metal bunks of the orphanage and was surprised to see two twin beds separated by a nightstand. There was carpet in the bedroom, dressers on either wall, and closets. One dresser was littered with makeup and perfume. The windows above the beds were open, the blue-edged, white curtains matching the fluffy comforters on the bed.
She’d never seen a bed that looked so comfortable!
“Your roommate’s name is Trinity,” Amber said. “She’s on vacation w
ith her family right now. She’ll be back before school starts in about a month.”
Summer’s suitcase was already beside her dresser. She set her purse on the bed and pressed her hand into the comforter.
“Dinner is at six downstairs. We have a few basic rules,” Amber continued. “Dinner is mandatory during weekdays. After dark fall, no one leaves the house without an adult escort. Breakfast hours are from seven to nine and lunch from eleven to one. We keep chefs on staff, so you can order whatever you want. No smoking, no drugs, no candles, no pets, no food in the rooms. The television downstairs goes off every night at ten, but you can stay up as late as you want in your room. There’s also a shuttle that leaves hourly to the store, resort, and a few other small stops around town.”
Summer listened. She walked to the window beside her bed and pushed aside the curtains, gazing into the backyard hedged by two long rows of dorms. In the center were several fire pits, barbecues and picnic tables. As she watched, she saw the Turner twins appear. Beck went to the table with kids wearing jeans and shorts while Decker went to the table where everyone wore black. Two barbecues were going, and the kids at both tables were eating and laughing.
Where the property ended, the forest was thick and the trees swaying. She saw it again, the movement of someone darting into the forest.
“You can go down, if you’d like.”
Summer jumped at the nearness of Amber’s voice.
“No, thank you,” she said.
“Go down and meet people,” Amber insisted. “The Turner twins will introduce you around.”
Summer’s gaze went to the forest again. Someone was following her, had been since the bus left her. She nodded.
Satisfied, Amber smiled, saying, “Change shoes and go. Don’t be shy!”
She left. Summer opened her suitcase and pulled out another pair of sandals, these sliding between her toes so as not to hurt her heels. She left the room and trotted down the stairs, exiting the front door.
Her new world amazed her. She found herself waiting to feel the magick she’d sensed at the school and gazing at the trees. The dirt road continued past the long dorms towards the forest. She walked to the end of the dorms then looked into the forest where she’d seen the dark figure disappear.