Bianca De Lumière : High Suspense Urban Fantasy Romance (The Re'em Prophecy Book 1)

by Lisette Prendé

  He didn’t speak.

  I shook my head. “I have to go, Sunder. I’ll see you at the prom.”

  I walked out of the house, slamming the front door behind me. A small spell bag of herbs fell down onto the porch.

  “Hurry up Bee!” Fae called from the limo.

  I climbed in and sat next to Caleb.

  “Hey,” he said, wrapping a strong arm around me.

  “Hey,” I said back. His warmth seeped into my body.

  “Smile!” my mom called from outside the car. I looked up at the camera. Sunder had made his way onto the porch and looked on as the camera flickered and flashed. I planted a kiss on Caleb’s cheek.

  As the limo began moving slowly down the street, Caleb hugged me tighter and my body started to tingle all over.

  I cast a look out the rear window. Sunder still stood there, watching us drive away, his aura dark blue and brooding.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Fae lived five minutes from school, so we were forced to drive around the town at least ten times to fill our allotted half-hour of limo time. The long black car must have looked out of place driving around our tiny town.

  Kyle was standing up, his head out the sunroof, yelling at the folks on the street. I wondered what his mother would say when it got back to her. In this town, it was only a matter of time.

  “I’m so glad you came,” Caleb said, placing his hand on mine. I hadn’t been this close to a boy before. It was strange how comfortable it felt. “I wasn’t sure if you still would, considering… everything that happened.”

  I assumed he meant Sheena dying. But he could easily have meant the fight and its consequent appearance on YouTube. All of that would probably be enough to keep someone from attending social functions. My palms started to sweat. What if people didn’t want me there? What if they actually thought I had something to do with Sheena’s death? If I didn’t have to go to save the town, I’m not sure I would have.

  I sent Fae a nervous glance. She smiled gently and her glow touched my aura.

  Caleb went on. “But I think it’s really cool that you decided to come. And of course, you look…amazing.”

  “Thanks.” I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “You scrub up pretty well yourself.”

  He smiled back and pulled me in closer to him. I inhaled him. The sweet, tangy smell of musk and man. My skin broke out into goosebumps and I shivered.

  “You cold?” he said.

  I shook my head no. His bangs had fallen over his eyes again. I lifted my hand and brushed them away, the cool smoothness running through my fingers. For a moment I wondered what it would be like to be a girl. Just a girl, who liked a boy. Who wrote about it in her journal and talked to her BFF about it. To be a normal sixteen-year-old girl, whose only drama was deciding whether to have sex with her boyfriend for the first time, after prom.

  Caught in my fantasy, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against Caleb’s. They were soft and warm. He pulled me into him. His grip was firm but welcome.

  “Woah! Get a room you two!” Kyle laughed, finally ducking back into the limo. “You don’t waste time, do you C-Dog!”

  I looked over at Fae, whose face wore a mixture of surprise and excitement. Then she reached into her purse and pulled out a lipstick in a familiar shade. She sighed. “Oh Bee. Now we’ll have to reapply.”

  The spring breeze tickled my shoulder blades as we all walked towards the auditorium, my hand in Caleb’s. The limo driver honked as he drove away.

  “Bye, Frank!” Kyle called. “Look after those grandkids!”

  “Dude, how is it you make friends with everybody you meet?” David asked, linking arms with Fae.

  Kyle shrugged, taking Fae’s other arm. “It’s my superpower.”

  Fae giggled. “You should run for president.”

  “Maybe I will,” Kyle said, his eyebrows raised in thought.

  Music was blaring from the lit-up auditorium and energies emanated from the large building. Such a large gathering of auras in one place, all excited and heightened.

  The hormones of over a hundred teenagers were running riot in an old auditorium in a quiet, small town. Of course the Master and her Skadhavar would sense this. I could barely stand it.

  I’d spent my life avoiding all situations where I would need to be around large groups of people. So many auras. So many colors and emotions spilling out of people, mixing and merging. It was invasive. Even nauseating.

  I stopped for a moment, taking a breath to calm myself.

  “Bianca?” Caleb said. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I said. “I just…can’t walk in these heels!”

  Caleb leaned into me. “Bianca if you don’t want to do this, if it’s too much, it’s okay. I’d understand. I’d be happy just to go grab a piece of pie from the diner.”

  My heart flew into my throat. He would ditch the prom for me? How had this happened? How had the nicest guy in the world chosen me? I smiled. I wanted to kiss him. Again.

  “Thank you,” I said, tears tickling behind my eyes. “But I’m okay.”

  “Cool.” He took my hand. “Let’s do this!”

  We pushed through the auditorium doors and a flurry of color flew towards me. I held my breath.

  The hall was lit with paper lanterns, garlands lined the ceiling, multiple disco balls reflected tiny squares of light around the room, and then there were the people. As we entered, all eyes in the room flicked towards us. More accurately, me.

  I stiffened as more and more people looked my way. I could feel them, their auras pulsing with emotion.

  Shock. Distaste. Suspicion. Envy.

  Fae placed a hand on my shoulder, filling me with warmth. “Relax,” she whispered.

  Beneath the hateful emotions, others weren’t so bad. Even complimentary.

  Praise. Awe. Joy. Respect and even…Desire!

  The kind emotions were more surprising to me than the cruel; not everyone hated me. I’d always assumed the majority of the student body disliked me. But there were people here who were kind. I steadied my mind and forced out the auras that pulsed with hateful feelings. I turned them down on my own personal radio station—Auric FM—and turned up the good. There was only so much airtime available, and I didn’t have room for the haters.

  “Hey guys!” Mr. Warren stepped over to greet us. “Great to see you here, Bianca. You look great.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Warren.”

  “Why don’t you kids head over and get a photo taken? I know you all have selfie sticks these days, but there is still something to be said for professional photography. It’s not all Instagram and photoshop you know, there is actually skill involved.”

  Caleb grinned. “Totally! I have an old film camera from the seventies. There’s nothing like it.”

  Normally, I’m not one for photos. I’ve always avoided cameras. I’m probably the only sixteen-year-old who does not take selfies on a daily basis.

  The photo line was long but moving swiftly. Mr. Swigg, the photographic arts teacher, moved them in and out as fast as possible. So much for Mr. Warren’s speech about skill and technique—this was autofocus at its finest.

  “Say pineapple!” Mr. Swigg said to a couple posing in a warm embrace.

  “Pineapple,” they repeated in unison.

  “Very nice! Next!”

  “Not exactly a Vogue shoot is it?” Caleb said next to me.

  I laughed. “No.”

  “You know, I’m not sure I trust him to do us justice.” Caleb slipped his phone from his pocket. “Fae? Could you?”

  Fae’s face lit up. “Sure!” She leaped into action. “Right Caleb, you place your arms around Bianca. Yes, that’s it. Bee, you turn your face to look at me, chin forward and down. Yes! Perfect. Now don’t move!”

  Caleb’s hands lingered on
the flesh of my back, their heat sinking into my skin. I could smell him, sweet and musky. I desperately wanted to kiss him again. And again. But I needed to focus. As much as Sunder had annoyed me, he was right that tonight wasn’t only about having fun at prom. Tonight was important. I had to keep my head in the game.

  “Excuse me!” Came a voice from my right. “Are you trying to do me out of a job Miss Seraphine?” Mr. Swigg said.

  “Mr. Swigg,” Fae said, hand on her hip. “We both know you’re not being paid extra to be here, and that’s why you’re not really engaged in what you’re doing.”

  Mr. Swigg stared at her blankly.

  “But Mr. Swigg,” Fae went on. “Think back. What made you want to become a photography teacher?”

  He looked puzzled. But he stopped and thought. “I never wanted to be a photography teacher. I wanted to be a fashion photographer in Paris, but that didn’t quite work out, so here I am.”

  “Well, Mr. Swigg, here’s your chance to make people look amazing. Think back to the joy you were seeking all those years ago when you picked up that camera. Find it. Use it.”

  Mr. Swigg was quiet for a moment, then he smiled. His limp, tepid aura sprang to life. “Next!”

  Fae practically pushed me in front of the backdrop.

  “Bianca? Bianca Taylor? Is that you?” Mr. Swigg said, lifting his glasses from his nose.

  “Sure is, sir.”

  “Well, you look amazing! That dress. Your skin. Don’t move!”

  Caleb moved in next to me.

  “Not yet son!” Mr. Swigg snapped.

  Caleb backed out of frame.

  “Ummm—” I started but Mr. Swigg cut me off.

  “Bianca, just look straight down the barrel. Yes! Vacant, confused. That’s great.” He snapped and snapped away. “Amazing. Now a little smile. Yes!”

  A crowd had formed around the photography area. I felt uncomfortable.

  “Bianca, have you ever considered modeling?”

  I hadn’t. Ever.

  “You’ve got such amazing bone structure.”

  I shot Fae a look, she smiled apologetically.

  Caleb came to my side. “I think it’s my turn to join in now.”

  Mr. Swigg, looked up, disappointed. “Okay, go ahead.”

  Caleb put his arms around me and we smiled together as the camera clicked and flashed.

  “Now look at each other!” he called. “That’s nice!”

  Caleb’s hands were at my back, around my waist. I leaned forward and kissed him. The camera snapped and popped.

  “Beautiful.”

  “Okay, that’s enough!” A cold voice cut through the crowd. Mr. Eldritch’s sickly dark aura wafted towards mine.

  “Six inches apart, you two,” he said as he walked towards us.

  I hadn’t seen Mr. Eldritch since the confrontation in his office when he’d made it pretty clear that he would do anything to put a bullet in my head. My stomach lurched as he came near.

  Mr. Eldritch looked me up and down but did not smile. Finally, his eyes rested on mine.

  “I see you’re suddenly well enough to attend the prom tonight, Miss Taylor. How very convenient for you.”

  “It is,” I managed. Convenient that I came along to protect your school.

  Eldritch stared at me, his eyes boring into mine, like he could see right into my soul…like he knew what I was. Or was I just being paranoid?

  “It’s kind of you to accompany Miss Taylor tonight, Mr. Gillis.” Eldritch said, adjusting his tie. “It can be very disappointing, never getting asked to prom.”

  “It was kind of Bianca to agree to come,” Caleb said coolly. “I’m a lucky guy.”

  A slow smile spread across Eldritch’s face. “Well,” he said as if he didn’t quite believe it. “Please keep it PG from here on in.”

  I exhaled, trying to release the dark feeling Eldritch always left me with.

  “I wonder if that guy actually tries to be an asshole, or if it comes naturally.”

  “You know,” I said with a laugh, “I’ve always wondered that myself.”

  Caleb took my hand and pulled me in close. We stood there amidst the hubbub of flashbulbs and dance music, staring into each other’s eyes. Caleb’s hands were on my skin again; one on my back and another stroking my face. I didn’t want them to leave my body. I wanted more of him. I wanted to kiss him until my lips hurt, press myself against him and feel his warmth against my bare skin.

  He let out a small breath. The tiniest groan. His green aura swirled into mine, caressing it. My whole body tingled with goosebumps. I placed a hand on his face.

  “Bianca,” he panted. “What’s happening?”

  “I don’t know.” I breathed back.

  He pulled me into him and sighed into my hair.

  I inhaled the sweet scent of his neck.

  “You’re driving me crazy,” he managed through gasps.

  An icy blue jolt hit me between the shoulder blades.

  “Bianca!” came a voice in my head, ripping me from my…whatever this was. “Bianca, you need to focus,” Sunder snapped in my head. “Calm your hormones and save the world. Is that too much to ask?”

  I stepped away from Caleb. He looked drunk with lust, his eyes dopey, his mouth hanging in a soft smile.

  “We should…um…” I started, but the words wouldn’t come. My mind was full of flesh.

  “Go somewhere?” Caleb finished for me with a breathy grin. “Sorry…kidding.”

  “We don’t want to get in trouble again,” I said, trying to feign responsibility. Because if I didn’t have to protect the town from evil, I’d have been “going somewhere” with him for sure.

  “You’re right,” he said, clearing his throat. “I’m just gonna head to the bathroom.”

  “I’ll grab a drink. Meet you back here in five?”

  Caleb smiled and walked off towards the restrooms.

  The punch bowl looked cloudy, spiked with who knows what, so I opted for a cup of water from the cooler.

  “Not a fan of punch?” came Sunder’s voice from behind the table. I looked up. I almost didn’t recognize him. He was wearing a suit; charcoal with a white shirt. No tie. He’d shaved and his hair had been slicked back off his face. He looked like Bond. James Bond. He made Caleb look like a boy in comparison.

  “Punch is fine,” I responded. “But that’s not just punch. One whiff of that and I won’t be able to look after myself, let alone the whole school.”

  Sunder scowled. “It seems to me, Bianca, that you are only looking after Caleb at the moment.” Envy floated through his aura. “And by the way, no one has spiked that punch on my watch.”

  I wanted to ask how he kept a lookout when all he seemed to be doing was spying on me and Caleb, but I thought better of it.

  “Well, can you blame me for getting distracted?” I asked, jibing at the envy in his aura. “He is pretty handsome. And wasn’t it sweet of him to bring me a gift? He’s so thoughtful. Definitely, a keeper, don’t you think?”

  “Whether I agree or not is of little importance tonight.” He was stern. “Can you please focus?”

  I gave a nod.

  “Have you felt anything?”

  I’d felt plenty. My feelers were overwhelmed. There were so many colors in here it was like a Christmas light sale. “There’s plenty going on. But no Skadhavar from what I can tell. But like I told you, they’ve blocked me.”

  “Good. At least they are not yet near. I suspect the blocking power they are using against you will only work until they are within a certain distance.” He poured himself a glass of punch. “As soon as you sense anything, you need to let me know.”

  “I will.”

  “The others, Genniver and Claudios, their people are in the forest waiting for any sign. They will inform us of any
thing they see or sense. If it comes to it, they will help us in battle.” He took a sip of the punch and winced. He put his glass down, shaking his head. “Do not drink the punch.”

  I smiled, offering him my water. As he took it our hands touched. We stared at each other. An image flickered into my mind. My lips against his. His hands in my hair. There it was again. That same chemistry. Even being here with Caleb couldn’t stop it.

  “Hi Bee,” my mom said at my side. “Having fun? Where’s Caleb?” She wore a sparkly black dress I’d never seen and had even applied makeup. Her lips were painted coral pink. She looked nice but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her. She had Hyssop for that now.

  “Bathroom,” I replied. I wasn’t in the mood for her company. There was too much I wanted to say to her, but couldn’t. A knot of tension had formed in my gut.

  “Cendrine and I are both chaperones,” she said. “I figured it’s best we all stay together tonight.”

  I wasn’t so sure. I’d have preferred that my mom stayed home. She was one more person to worry about.

  “Be careful, Mom, okay?”

  “You too, honey,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of pressure on you tonight, Bee. But if you’re in danger, remember, it’s okay to run.” She placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re my everything, Bee. I can’t lose you.”

  My chest filled with warmth. So she did care. I smiled and offered a nod.

  “How is Fae doing? I’m so worried about her. It’s taken years for her to control her powers and now she has to unleash them again.” She shook her head.

  I narrowed my eyes. The knot of tension had returned with a vengeance. Fae? She was worried about Fae? I swallowed, then opened my mouth to speak.

  “Hey Bianca!” A nasal twang from my left cut me off. Janet, the senior drama geek, bounded towards me with her fuchsia pink aura in tow.

  “Hi,” I said, blankly.

  “You look amazing.”

  “Thanks. I like your ears,” I said, looking up at the sparkly, sequined cat ears perched on her head.