“No, really, what happened?” he asked.
“It’s okay, really. I don’t know what happened, it was just another nightmare. I must have caught myself on something.”
“No, it’s a perfect cut, Taylor,” he said inspecting the wound. “Someone did this to you, who?”
“Me.”
“Pardon?”
“It was me, in the dream, an older evil version of me. She attacked.”
“A dream, really?"
“Yes, that’s what I was trying to say. It wasn’t real.”
“It looks real enough. We need to speak to Lawrence, this isn’t right.”
“Okay, but don’t worry,” I reassured him.
As usual, he glided around his car to open the door for me, kissing me on the forehead as I bent to sit down. It was the little things, the romantic gestures, traditional values; they all made him human to me. There was nothing dark about him. He had never hurt me and never would, and that I believed. After all, with his strength he could snap me like a twig.
“Taylor, have you heard about the Sarah from English?”
“No, why?”
“She’s been taken. It’s the beast again, he’s back.”
“Oh no! What should I do?”
“Nothing. You’ve been hurt enough, let us handle this.”
We parked in Lucian's favourite spot at the academy. He raced around and slid open the door, holding out his hand to help me out. That part of him always made me smile. Hand in hand, we walked together as I noticed the crowds of students smiling in awe.
At the top of the steps, Elisha and Harland were talking to each other. Harland’s gang stood behind him and the rest of the Darkwaters were behind Elisha. They weren’t arguing, they were talking like a pair of old friends. It was unusual to say the least. Lucian noticed me staring and smirked.
“It’s okay, Taylor, we don’t despise him,” he continued laughing.
“But I thought you did?”
“No, we have concluded that we have a common interest.”
“What’s that?”
“You!”
“Pardon? But why would you all be making friends because of me? I mean. don’t get me wrong. it’s great, it’s a good thing. but I really thought you hated each other.”
“We still do, in some ways, but we’ve put our differences aside for now. At least until Seine and the beast have been caught.”
“Do you think Seine's working with the beast?”
“Yes, I’d say so, and Lilith probably isn’t far behind. It’s strange, though, as she usually stands back. After all, we are meant to reign in any renegades and send them back to Enoch. Keeping a balance in the world, you know?”
“Then why is she waking?”
“I don’t know. Unless...”
“Unless what?”
“Unless she isn’t in charge anymore.”
“Why would that happen?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t been to Enoch for centuries, but it seems that with any discord they have going on there is flowing through to this plane of existence.”
“Is Enoch on another plane then?”
“Yes, no mortal can access it,” he said.
“No mortal can access what?” Harland asked bouncing up behind me.
“Enoch.” I said.
“Who would want to go there anyway?”
“I’d like to see it,” I said, casually. Lucian and Harland both looked at me horrified.
“No, you really wouldn’t.” Lucian said. “It’s a realm of monsters, after all.”
“Yeah, mate. If you think Harland’s bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” Nic said, joining the conversation. “Let’s just say I ain’t planning on going back to that hell hole.”
“Oi!” Harland punched Nic in the arm.
“Easy tiger,” Nic growled.
“Oh, also...” Harland said, jabbing me in the ribs.
“Ow, what was that for?” I yelped as he laughed it off.
“It serves you right for not contacting me in days. I’ve not known how you are, you got me worried. There’s another girl missing, you know?”
“Yes, I heard. Her name was Sarah.”
“There are so many Sarah’s in this school, love, I lose count,” he joked.
“You’re as bright as ever, Harland.” I jabbed him back in his ribs.
“Ow, yeah, I deserved that one.” Harland grimaced while Lucian laughed.
“So, TayTay, you on for a little competition tonight?” Nicholas shouted punching the air.
Harland laughed. “Who's TayTay?”
“New nickname, mate, keep up with the times,” Nic said.
“Really?” I asked.
“Yeah, you’s one of us now, you need a cool name.”
“What and you couldn’t come up with anything better than TayTay?”
“No, that’s as good as it gets.” He said laughed.
Lucian smirked. “Not tonight. Nic, we need to speak to Lawrence.”
“Okies, you owe me a fight then, TayTay.”
“Great,” I replied as Nic ran off to meet his mates.
“Don’t worry, Lucian, I’ve got her now.” Harland linked arms, pulling me towards our first class of the day. I nodded back at Lucian, blowing him a kiss as Harland and I waltzed off.
Classes were difficult. There was a message over the tannoy about Sarah, the newest of the missing girls. Police were interviewing students and opening lockers; nothing to be found except that Jayden was a drug mule with stashes of marijuana piled high in his locker. I didn’t see that one coming. I think suspension was the least of his worries as the police carted him off down to the precinct for questioning.
“How did you not see it coming? He’s always stoned. You can smell it on him a mile away.”
“I can’t!” I exclaimed.
“Taylor, you can’t always picture the best in people. It’s a loving quality but one that will smack you hard in the face one day,” Harland said.
“And you, Harland, are an ass at times. We balance each other out.”
“Aww, you do love me, really.” He jabbed me playfully.
“No, Harland, just no.” I laughed, pushing him sideways.
“Well, never forget Taylor, you will always have a place with the Arellanos, no matter what.”
“Erm, thank you, Harland, I think.” I joined in his laughter.
Lunchtime arrived with Lucian whizzing me off to a picnic on the rafters overlooking the woods we had once flown over. It was quiet out there, peaceful. All the other students were chatting away in the dinner hall or sprawling out on the grassy areas beside the academy. But Lucian, well, he liked his privacy and when it was just me and him, so did I.
“How was your morning?” Lucian asked, clearly engaged in everything I had to say.
“It was good. Harland watched over me.”
“Ha, I bet he did.” He laughed.
“What makes you say it like that?”
“He has a thing for you and has since you met on your first day.”
“Aww, well, I’m yours Lucian and you are mine, remember?”
“Always.” He smiled.
The picnic was lovely; fresh ham salad with a dashing of garlic mayonnaise dip. Beautiful, and clearly one of Lucian's favourites, as he devoured the remainder of the dip. After clearing away, he stood up silhouetted in the sunlight, lighting up his skin with a lustrous glow.
I could smell the garlic around him as he bent down holding out his hand.
“After a wonderful date, would you give me the honour of a first dance with you, Taylor Lane?”
“Why yes, of course, Lucian Darkwater,” I said, gladly taking his hand. “But where art thou music?” I laughed.
“Ah yes, movement without music is no movement at all.”
He clapped his hands and music blared out from his phone as the sound of The Beatles flooded the field. I laughed, remembering beautiful memories of morning pancakes, smelling the sweet honey, and w
atching my mother dance her way around the kitchen. A tear fell from my eye. It was her favourite song. He remembered.
Lucian stroked my face, easing back the tear as it fell away from me.
“She would be proud of who you’ve become, Taylor,” he said, holding me tight as the next track came on and he started singing.
Twirling around, we danced together in a colourful array of movement and delight. I laughed as he continued to sing to me, gracefully swishing and playing around to the beat. My hair flickered in the breeze as I spun out across the rafters, losing my step, and falling to the ground only to be caught in the arms of my lover once again.
“I’ll always save you, Taylor Lane.”
“I’ll always need saving, Lucian Darkwater.” I replied, laughing as he kissed me delicately.
“So, will you give me the honour of taking you to the ball, Miss Lane?”
“I would love that, thank you.”
“It would be my pleasure, now come here,” he said as he picked me up and over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift and raced off back to an afternoon of classes.
Giggling as he ran with me, I found myself feeling a giddy sense of excitement. The Yuletide Ball. I hadn’t been to a ball in such a long time. It was supposed to be amazing. The decorating committee had Elisha as its leader, so no expense would be spared. She was the queen of all things beautiful and I was certain it would be awe inspiring.
The rest of the day passed with ease as I sat beside Lucian, listening to the sound of the rain patter against the window. The wind whistled through the corridors as the sound of sorrow erupted by the stairs, beside a memorial created by the students of Stonebridge Academy. The idea was blessed by the faculty as an offering of solace for the loved ones of the missing girls.
After paying my respects, I left to meet Lucian at his car, ready for our journey home.
Lucian and I chatted in the car, before he dropped me off to change for training. I’d noticed he was quite eager to get back, and when I walked into my bedroom I saw why.
A beautiful ivory gown was hanging over the door of my wardrobe. It was a stunning long, silk dress with a selection of exquisite iridescent crystals embroidered across the cleavage, tapered with a silver edging, giving detail to the figure as it hugged the body beautifully.
I was so excited, it was just perfect. I couldn’t have chosen better myself.
“Wow!” Dad exclaimed as he walked in behind me. “That is beautiful... and it covers you up! Good choice.” I laughed.
“I didn’t buy it, Dad, Lucian did. He wanted to choose a dress for me and I absolutely love it!”
“The boy has good taste.” Dad smiled as he grabbed his coat, ready to go.
“Where are you off to?” I enquired.
“Just out at the station for a few drinks tonight. Don’t wait up and make sure Lucian has you home by eleven.”
“Where’s Caleb?”
“Ah, he’s over at his mates for the night. They're playing video games and getting drunk, probably,” he laughed.
“Dad!” I exclaimed, laughing under my breath.
“No, he’s fine. He's being supervised.” He laughed again.
Dad kissed my forehead as he left, and waved to Lucian, who was walking up the driveway.
I ran up to him, jumping into his arms.
“Lucian! Thank you so much, it’s perfect!”
“So glad you like it.” He smiled.
“I can’t wait for the ball, to be all dressed up... I'll feel like a princess in the arms of my own prince charming.” I daydreamed as Lucian laughed at my childlike fantasies.
“So, ma'am, are you ready to go?”
I gulped, having completely forgotten.
“Oops, I will be five minutes,” I said as I ran upstairs, arriving minutes later in jeans, a cute vest top, and jumper under my arm.
“Perfect!” he exclaimed, as he ushered me out the door and over to the car.
As we arrived, Lawrence opened the door, dressed smartly in a suit with his cane at hand.
“Taylor! I’m glad you’re here.” He wrapped his arm around me, ushering me inside. “So how have you been, my girl?”
“Good, thanks Lawrence. Nothing new to report, yet.”
“We will have the doctor summoned later to check out that arm. Lucian told me you have experienced dreams of the dead?”
“Yes, well, I usually have night terrors, but nothing that has physically hurt me, until now.”
“That will be the realms crossing over. Our dreams are somewhat real. It is a stage we pass into every night, but our physical bodies do not pass over with us. So normally, nothing can harm our physiology, but they can be somewhat terrifying.” He shuddered. "It appears that with you being able to cross over into the shadow realm, your unconscious mind has figured out how to cross over into other realms, and its doing this while you sleep.”
“What, so in another realm I’m a zombie?” I asked.
Lucian smirked as Lawrence explained.
“No, not at all, Taylor. That part is literally just a dream, a method of astral projection of sorts, a way your mind is working through your problems. The reason you were injured is because, while you were dreaming, your body was subjected to another realm where something else attacked you.”
“That’s terrifying!” I exclaimed. “How am I supposed to ever sleep again?”
“We must teach you how to ground yourself, how to remain on this plane of existence, and how to choose when and where to travel to.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
“But first, let’s have a drink and relax the mind.”
The next hour was spent with Lawrence learning how to picture energy surrounding myself, a ball of white light, a cocoon of sorts, something to protect me and keep me grounded. Lucian entered the training room and Lawrence nodded.
“Taylor, it is time you had something to protect you within your dreams, too.” He said as he traced a symbol in the air. “This is a sigil. It is one of great importance and protection. It is one that will ground you and give you the control you desire before you learn it fully, yourself, as this can take years.”
“Okay, what do I need to do?” I asked.
“It will be drawn on to you by a friend of our family and one that humans would label a witch. But she has a lot more about her than the simple witchcraft stories on television now-a-days.”
“Okay,” I said, listening.
“Eliza May has worked alongside our family for centuries. She is older than most and well regarded,” he said. “You look uncertain. Nothing she does will cause you any harm.”
I hesitated.
“But what is it she will be doing?”
“She will, I guess you would call it, tattoo you with this sigil. It can never be removed and will not prevent you from using any of your abilities.” Lawrence explained.
I looked to Lucian, who nodded.
“But, where will it be? If my dad sees it...”
“No, do not worry about that, it can go anywhere. Where would you like it?”
“Can it go...” the doors flew open and a beautiful lady glided in.
“Ah, my dear Eliza!” Lawrence exclaimed as he kissed her on both cheeks.
“Lawrence, it has been far too long,” she spoke in a French accent.
“Yes, where do the years go?”
“So, this is the young child you spoke of?”
Child? I guess in comparison to her, I was a child. Although, for saying she was apparently centuries old, she only looked to be in her thirties.
“Hello,” I said, smiling.
Eliza May stood staring at me, almost through me, within me.
“Yes, well, it appears that you will be needing more than the one sigil can give you.”
“What do you mean?” My nerves were starting to show through.
“You, my dear, are a new breed, unique in every way. Do you know the extent of your abilities yet, Taylor?”
“Not quite yet.”
I answered.
“You will soon.”
“How do you know?” I questioned, as Eliza glided away to prepare.
Lawrence explained that Eliza was extremely powerful and if she said I needed extra assistance, I should take it. Eliza could glimpse the future, she had the foresight many desired and foretold of meeting me that day. Apparently, she contacted Lawrence, as she knew she was needed here in Elvington before the day turned to night. And there she was.
We walked over to where Eliza sat preparing herbs and candles, waving her arms about, and appearing to battle invisible demons.
“Taylor, you must change in to this robe and lie here.”
“Erm... okay.”
“Out, out, Darkwaters!” she said, ushering them out as I unclothed and donned the white robe.
The room we were in had a selection of tapestries on the wall showing a great battle taking place, one of wisdom and plenty, the battle for mankind. The floor was covered in a vibrant red rug to match the colourful display of the tapestries. Eliza sat on the rug with candles floating at each corner of the room and a swirling hush of pink roses flooding throughout the air.
“Ah, your aromatic desire is delightful. Can you pull this back yourself yet?”
“No, I don’t know how to.”
“Well, you must learn to meditate like Lawrence has shown you. Picture that white light protecting you. Visualise the roses surrounding you, then visualise you pulling them back inside of you. In time, you will learn how to instantly turn all your abilities on and off. In the meantime, I will give you a sigil for control. If you need to control your abilities quickly you just touch the sigil and believe you can control them and then you will be able to. After linking you with the sigil, we must create a ward.”
“What is a ward?”
“A ward is something physical, a supernatural barrier that will keep you on this plane of existence. If you need to jump to another realm, then touch your sigil to gain control.”
“Okay, thank you,” I said as she nodded.
I lay there as she went to each corner, waving her arms around and uttering the words "Ateh, Malkuth, Ve-Geburah, Ve-Gedulah, Le-olam."
A white light radiated within the room, creating what she called her sacred space; a space where no other being could enter except those that were already within it.
She laid her hands on my forehead, working with each chakra as she cleansed the negativity from within me, purifying my energy once again. I felt truly energetic, revitalised, and at ease with Eliza.
Eternal Entity: A Dark Supernatural Thriller (The Celestial Rose Book 1) Page 14