Eternal Entity: A Dark Supernatural Thriller (The Celestial Rose Book 1)

by Annalee Adams

  “If you are looking for truth, you’re reading in the wrong section,” the mysterious blue-eyed boy said, startling me.

  “I, err,” I stuttered.

  There was something about the boy, something different, beyond the realm of mortal explanation. And yet, he felt familiar. I almost longed for his presence. His pale skin and piercing blue eyes could capture any girls heart. His eyes, though, they shone unnaturally, glistening with the sparkle of a polished, blue diamond. He was softly spoken, with an open stance and athletic build. Who was this boy and how did I know him?

  “You were looking at history?” he said, running his fingers over the spines, book after book after book.

  “Err, yes.”

  “What history do you desire to find?”

  “Nothing, really. It doesn’t matter.”

  “Everything matters, Taylor.”

  “Yes, I suppose it does. I wondered what the weapons were for, in the cabinet near reception.”

  “Hmm,” he smirked, “Well, they are items of great importance. I’m sure you will feel a use for their knowledge one day. But today, today isn’t that day.”

  He smiled, brushing past me as he left. The coldness of his touch sent shivers down my spine, and as he left, the delicate scent of sandalwood drifted after him.

  I headed back down the spiral staircase to meet Rowena. But with each step I took, the room began to spin, like a merry go round you can’t get off. My head ached, my body shook.

  As I reached the bottom, Harland came into view. Watching me sway, he walked over steadying me.

  "What happened, Taylor? Who were you talking to?" He paused, staring through me. "Ah, yes, now I see. Don’t let him touch you.”

  I remained silent, afraid to talk in case I vomited all over the library floor. I felt faint as Harland gripped my waist, holding me up, helping me out of the library. Standing in the corridor, he took in my drunk expression, cupped his hands around my face and focused on me, searching deep into my eyes.

  I started to convulse and gag.

  “It’ll ease,” he said softly, as he pushed me through the door to the girl’s bathroom, clearly sensing my urgent need to vomit. I left him there without a thank you and only just made it to the toilet.

  The nausea began to ease, sweaty palms dried, and vision settled. What happened? It felt like an anxiety attack. Something had affected me, but what?

  The bell shrilled, hordes of students ran across the halls, school buses collected and left, darkness drifted in as the lights flickered. How long had I been here? I sat on the toilet contemplating life.

  Chapter 4

  Leaving the bathroom, my mind was elsewhere as I missed the obvious. The sun had begun to disappear, hiding itself away behind the autumn clouds.

  A meandering fog trickled through the windows above as the temperature dropped dramatically. At the end of the corridor the outer doors flung open. A gush of wind stormed through the building at such a speed, as if to escape the looming horror that lay in wait outside. I shivered, breathing heavy, my hair wavered, sheltering me from the severity of the typhoon of leaves before me. They mesmerised me as they danced. When they reached me, they created a symphony of colours swarming around my legs, up and over my body. Hypnotised by their colourful motion I smiled, drawn forward like a magnet towards its pole. It was beautiful, like rainbows of unicorns and candyfloss. Feeling the warmth of love flow through my body, I stood captured by their dance.

  Then it came, a shrilling scream unlike no other. My mind no longer lived in such a happy place. Instead, it froze as the drill of fear pulsated through my veins. Rushing for cover, struggling for breath, a lump formed in my throat. I gasped for air, shivering uncontrollably. Something was wrong, badly wrong. It was fight or flight all over again and all I could do was run and hide. Clutching my arms around my chest, burying my head, I whimpered like a child, waiting for the banshee's wail to end.

  It must be in my head, my mind taking over, hysteria beating me down again. I'm trapped here. My body tensed up, shaking, and stumbling against its natural rhythm. Then I saw them. Stomach clenched, I stood face to face with the destiny before me. Three distinct figures appeared, shrouded in darkness. One by one they came, drifting unnaturally towards me. Were these the ghosts of the past? Was it happening again? I closed my eyes tight, held my breath. They’re not there! They’re not there! Fists clenched, I tried to take control.

  As they came, all remaining light fled to the walls in fear. The shadows faltered as three silhouettes stood tall in the doorway. The darkness enveloped them as they glided in, parting the masquerade of autumn leaves, like Moses crossing the red sea. With each footstep the density of the air increased, breathing faltered, eyes watered. I gulped, choking on my own inability to breathe. Shifting incessantly, I knew I needed to leave, to get away.

  They all appeared male, all with an essence of familiarity. But these looked different, more pronounced, unique. The male on the left was tall, skinny and partially hooded. His face moved as though there were creatures burrowing beneath his skin. He growled in hunger with the strength of a predator threatening its prey. I backed into the wall, tears streamed down my face. He wasn’t human. This couldn’t be real, not again! My body was too heavy to move, to run away.

  The next figure had a distinct air of severity. His frozen eyes captured my own, as he left a trail of ice blanketing the floor behind him. He felt violent, his anger tormented his mind as he lashed out. What was he attacking? Was I his next target? My mind sunk as I began to see the slitherings of rotten corpses rising from the ground before me. My back burned with fearful anticipation. I was vulnerable, easy pickings.

  The final male, there was something different about him. Butterflies flickered through my stomach as my gaze found his, his piercing blue eyes lit up as he smiled warmly. My heart faltered as I felt relieved. It had been my mind playing tricks on me again. These were just boys, not ghosts, or demonic creatures, and I knew them. Well, at least I’d met all but one of them earlier that today. Three devastatingly beautiful figures, capturing my own heart, luring me along every step of the way.

  They had almost reached me when it happened. A heaviness swarming around me, my friend called fear had crept its way up my backbone again. Even the eyes of the final guy gave out a fearful glance of terror. What did he see? What couldn’t I see? They were looking right behind me, as my hairs stood up on end. An ice-cold breath beat against the back of my neck. It was that moment when you think something's behind you, know it’s there, but you daren’t look. If you look, then it’s real, the monsters really are there. And that means all the nightmares weren’t nightmares, all those terrors really did exist, and right then, right at that moment, they’re actually right behind you. Can you feel that fear? That’s it, that’s the creature I’m talking about. The one breathing on your neck, you can’t see it, you can feel it, you know it’s there. And right then, it was behind me.

  Shivering inexplicably, I struggled to breathe. Heaviness pounded me down as pure terror filled the boy’s eyes. What was happening? My chest pounded, vision blurred. My reflection in the glass cabinet faltered. What was that around me? I wasn’t alone. My body was being torn down by shadows, darkness with teeth. What are they? I can’t go through this again! Get them off me! They smelt vile, tainted by death, rotting corpses siphoning me dry of energy. I can’t move! Pain seared through me as my nerves ignited. It burns! They clawed at my skin as they gripped, wrapping their bodies around my own. It was real, they were real. I had hoped London was just my own mad hysteria taking over. But no, they were real. I cried as the taste of salty tears cushioned my lips. I panted for air, breathing rapidly, gasping through the tightness. Panic screeched through me. Pain enraged the back of my throat. My eyelids fluttered as I fell, disappearing into the darkness, in a pit of surreal desperation.

  In an instant, the final boy leapt forward at a revolutionary speed, catching me on his out-laid knee. I saw the worry in his deep blue eyes, th
e boy that saved my soul. The other two were dancing through the gloom with silvered blades, creating a show of ice and fire, ripping through the darkness as I lay cold. Every part of me burned inside, as though I had been coated by lava on a hot summer's day. My body jolted and spasmed, begging to breathe. I had no control anymore. My mind slept as my eyes flickered. Peace finally took over. I gave into the pain as the darkness took me and I slowly closed my eyes. Losing myself as I drifted, unconsciously taking in the scent of wooded aftershave with a subtle hint of sandalwood.

  Thud Thud Thud.

  The pressure was immense, like an alien bursting out of me. How was I still alive? Burgh, my mouth tastes like I’ve licked a copper pot. My nose hurts, burns in fact, what is that smell? It’s like scorching sulphur searing my nose hairs.

  Why can’t I see? Why won’t my eyes open? The darkness, it’s taken me, I’m dead again! I must be!

  “Take your time.” The familiarity of a smoky voice softened.

  “My eyes, they won’t open!”

  “They will. Give them time.”

  My eyes strained to open, giving way to the glaring orange light as it burnt through my retina. Yelping, I closed them again.

  An icy hand brushed against my arm, sending shivers down my spine. The chatter of three distinct voices took over, arguments, deafening whispers.

  Breaking through my mind's story, an authoritative voice rose above the others.

  "Quiet, we must make sense of this."

  A moment passed, the silence was deafening and although not a soul spoke, the ravenous sounds of a barking dog outside bellowed within my ears.

  “What the Hell?” a distant voice yelled, footsteps hurriedly getting closer.

  “Harland, keep out of this,” the authoritative voice demanded.

  “Keep out of what? What did you do, Julian?” Harland yelled with only a grunt in response.

  “We haven’t done anything. The shadelings attacked her.”

  “What? Why?”

  “How am I supposed to know?”

  “Go away, Harland, the Darkwaters will handle this,” Julian demanded.

  “Yeah, that’s what concerns me.”

  “Mate, you’re more dangerous than any of us,” a honeyed voice spoke.

  “I’m not your mate, Nicolas!” Footsteps pounded the floor, the ripping of clothes echoed around us as an almighty roar shattered the silence.

  “Nic! Not now!” Julian yelled.

  “Yeah, listen to your leader.”

  “I wouldn’t taunt the beast, Harland. Don’t forget you’re vulnerable right now.”

  “Only for a few more days, Lucian, then she could be mine in an instant. You know that!”

  “No, Harland, she isn’t anyone’s. She should make up her own mind.”

  “Says the stalker... watched her in the shower lately, Lucian?”

  “Harland!” the severe voice boomed.

  “It’s a joke, Julian. We all know he doesn’t have x-ray vision, jeez,” he laughed.

  “Nic, we’ll meet you back home,” Julian said, receiving a deafening roar in response.

  “Yeah, Nic, head home to mummy.”

  “Enough!” Lucian yelled.

  “Yeah, well, perhaps he shouldn’t piss me off then,” he screeched as a herd of footsteps battled around my fallen body.

  “Get off me, Lucian!” Harlan yelled.

  “Don’t forget, I can end you anytime, mate,” Lucian hissed.

  The scent of roses wafted through the air, as the voice of the head cheerleader rose up beside me.

  “Give it up, girls, you’re acting like she’s a prize to be won.” She paused. “She needs to go home and rest. She’s no good to anyone like this.”

  “Oh, hello Elisha,” Harland lulled.

  “I can’t always protect her there.” Lucian said.

  “You’ve protected her so far. It’s just another night.”

  “Fine. I’ll take her home.”

  “No zapping her of energy again, mate!” Harland sounded smug.

  Lucian picked me up as though I was as light as a feather. His cool, muscular arms cradled my fragile nature. Snuggled into his frozen chest, I shivered. He wasn’t normal. I’ve only ever felt that when I touched my grandma's arm, right before they buried her. I still remember her swollen hands and orange make-up. They just don’t look human anymore. What if he isn’t human? He didn’t have the warming touch of one. But then how did he live? What made him real? Was he even real? Perhaps I’m still dead and this is my version of Hell? It could be, I wouldn’t know, would I?

  Okay, I’ve got to calm down, must take control. I’m better than this... deep breath in ... one, two, three, four, five ... deep breath out ... six, seven, eight, nine, ten ... and relax.

  The soft trickling of arctic fingers brushed against my face. With tingling lips, he whispered “you’re safe now”. My stomach swirled as my eyelids parted to see a strong face of porcelain skin staring back at me. I remained hypnotised by his affectionate expression as his deep blue eyes pierced through my own.

  “It’ll take a while for your wounds to heal, Taylor."

  How did he know my name? And who was the boy that danced with the devil to save me? Did he know about London, know what they were? Of course, he knew. I remembered him, knew him. I’m sure I did. He was the angel watching over me.

  The bang of the car door leapt through my eardrum like a brass band. Every part of me took part in the fearful dance of anguish. Adrenaline screamed through my body. Shock took over and I held on tight, gripping my knees, cocooning myself, hiding from reality one more time. Pain burrowed deep behind my eyes. Wincing, I held them shut. Tensed up, biting down, I couldn't hold it together anymore. With the pain came the hysterical laughter, a manic episode of chaos creased out of me. An ecstatic emotion, as the force of hysteria streamed through my veins, like the fingers of a ghastly being titillating across my skin. HE’S DRUGGED ME! I screeched silently as my mind hollowed out.

  “Be calm, it will ease,” he soothed, fastening my seatbelt and then speeding off as we headed to my new Elvington home.

  Chapter 5

  The next morning I woke up bright and early, safe and sound in my bed. How did I get there? I remembered the academy, science, a few more classes, which let’s be honest, I couldn't remember much about. But what happened next? How did I get home?

  Outside a car engine growled.

  “Taylor, your rides here!” Dad shouted.

  “What ride?”

  “Blimey, girl, you really did hit your head.”

  Edging closer to the window, I saw a devilishly handsome face, striking blue eyes, and a grin that could command anything of me. Lucian. It all came back; the horror, the pain, the blades. Lucian. What was he? What were any of them? But, wow, did he like to arrive in style. He stood perched beside an aqua blue Chevrolet Camaro. 1969, by the look of it. I’d always had an interest in classic cars, especially muscle cars. Like my mum's red 67' Mustang back in the day. She loved the classics. I remember it took her over a year to arrange for the import, but it was her baby. Well, until my Dad had to sell it. He said it's what she would have wanted, but I still believe he regrets the decision. Not the house, he loves the house and his new job here, but he misses the Mustang. It reminded him of her, the way her hair would whip around wildly when she let it loose on the roads outside of London central. If only she had taken the Mustang that day, then maybe she would still be here.

  “Bye Dad, Caleb!” I shouted as I ran out of the house.

  “Taylor, your pancakes!” Dad yelled. I ran over, took the bag, and kissed him on the cheek.

  I felt good, even with the obvious issue of the previous day's monstrosities, I still felt good. You see, I knew it was real. All of it. All those therapy sessions, the shrinks, and the institution. It was all real, and more fool of them for not believing me. Dad thought it’d be good to move away, start fresh here in Elvington. He wouldn’t keep me locked away. After the hospital, they
arrested me and hid me away in a mental institute. Dad said he’d already lost my mother, there was no way he would let them take me as well. I spent six months in that hell hole, and almost began to believe them, too. Daily, they tried conditioning me to believe my memories were stories of my own vivid imagination. I almost fell for it. But Dad came to the rescue. He’d managed to get it overruled and my name cleared. Apparently, the little girl had said I’d blown the subway up, then with my mental break, I was an easy arrest. Why they believed a pre-schooler was anyone’s guess. Granted, the explosion sure looked like it’d come from me, but they couldn’t find any catalyst, except me, and who’s going to believe a then sixteen-year-old girl could blow up a subway station with her mind? Exactly. No one. The case was thrown out, and now that I’m here to get away from it all, the irony is, the supernatural finds me.

  “Good morning, Taylor Lane. And how is your head this morning?”

  “Cut the crap, Lucian, I remember everything.”

  “Okay, well, that is unexpected.” He paused. “Shall we go for a ride?”

  “Are you sure you want to be around me after what you saw happen in the subway? I know you were there.”

  “Ah, yes, you are a puzzle I’d love to crack.” He smiled. “But there’s no need to worry, I’m not fearful of your laser beams.” He laughed, holding open the car door.

  “Yes, but I might be of your driving!”

  He continued to laugh as I pulled on my seatbelt.

  “So, when you said ride, you did mean to Stonebridge, didn’t you?”

  “Well, if that’s where you want to go? But I thought we could head to my home. Somewhere private to talk”

  “Erm...”

  “Why do you seem nervous?”

  “Because we just met.”

  “You know that isn’t true, Taylor.”

  “Well, there’s the answer to my first question. You are the boy from the subway.”

  “Yes, indeed I am.”

  The rest of the journey, I sat silently. Who was this boy? And why did he seem so interested in me? There’s a time in your life, a turning point, and this, this was it. I was entrusting my safety to a stranger that had been watching me over the last year and a half. It screamed of a stalker to me, but that was the mortal head on my shoulders talking. I knew the supernatural head would say he’s something different, something more. For some reason, the boy cared for me.