New Celestial : A teen paranormal romance series (The Celestial Series Book 1)

by Lisa Champagne

  She’s right. I’m not known for my helping hand. “I don’t follow a rule book, Gwyneth. If I want to help, I’ll help.” I see her wheels turning behind her eyes as she desperately grabs me and begins kissing me. Gwyneth’s go-to is lust, and she uses it to get her way. Normally I’m all too happy to participate, but I’m not in the mood and over the mind games, so I pull back to break her kiss. This irritates Gwyneth even more. I should have ended things before Lili’s arrival, but Gwyneth’s presence helped keep my mind occupied. Darkness can be lonely and all consuming. “Gwyneth, you and I both know this isn’t working.”

  Her normally alabaster skin turns red, making her look like a kettle about to burst, as her voice become shrill and tight. “We’re not working? Since when?”

  I take a deep breath to prepare myself for a monster sized temper tantrum. “I’m not meant for a relationship. I told you that from the beginning. Don’t be surprised now.”

  Gwyneth laughs hatefully as she grabs The Count of Monte Cristo from the top of a stack of books piled by my bed. “You don’t do relationships, but all these books you claim are about adventure are filled with love. You’re dark, we don’t do love. You’re just too stupid to realize it.”

  “Fine, I’m stupid. Are we done now?”

  “Yes, we’re done.” She drops the book to the floor. “Enjoy the new flavor of the week. Just know that none of them will give you what you’re searching for. You just lost the closest thing you’ll have to happiness.”

  “You know me. Always obsessed with new and shiny.”

  She twists her face with hate and slaps me across the jaw. Her hand hits hard, leaving a mark that I’m sure I deserve. “You’ll be back.” She then exits my room, closing the door behind her. I take a deep breath, trying to feel something—anything worth feeling—but nothing comes.

  I hear a buzzing coming from my desk, and hurry to answer my gnosis. I know who’s calling and steady my thoughts before I answer. “I made contact.”

  The Darkness responds with pleasure, “I heard. Try to make contact again as soon as you can.”

  I abruptly respond, “I plan on it.”

  “Keep me informed of her every move. We can’t allow her to gain her full powers. If she does, she will destroy you.” The Darkness always finds a way to mention my death in every conversation we have, which annoys me.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  New Home

  Lili - Dorm room happenings

  After Sebastian departs, I begin putting my belongings away on my side of the room. I quickly realize that my mom added clothes to my suitcase, only keeping a couple of my pajama pieces and shirts I packed. Every new piece of clothing I remove from my suitcase screams, ‘LOOK AT ME,’ making me feel like a piece of cheese in a rat maze.

  My new roommate hasn’t arrived yet, which gives me time to imagine what she’ll be like. Maybe she’ll be exactly like me, though I’m too neurotic to enjoy a carbon copy of myself. We’d end up driving each other nuts and feeding into each other’s anxieties, becoming shut-ins too afraid of our own shadows to leave the room.

  I place the last piece of clothing away in my dresser, trying not to hurt the plants growing on top. My new bedroom doesn't have any similarity to my room at home. The ceiling is high, the walls grand, and there's a huge ancient tree growing in the center. The tree’s bark reminds me of wrinkled skin with waves and lines shifting directions in a non-sensical pattern made over time. There are three large branches that twist into the body of a couch full of fluffy cushions. The glass windows are expansive, letting excessive light into the room—as colors come and go on them freely. If I had to guess, I'd say a forest fairy queen and her modern DJ husband designed the room. I notice there's a piece of shiny glass and a clear credit card sitting on top of my new desk that looks like a tree stump with a large wooden top. There’s a translucent note on top of the tablet that reads:

  Ms. Lili Ariaca:

  This is Gnosis, your main source of knowledge while attending Cognosco. Gnosis contains all materials necessary to succeed at Cognosco and is connected to Verve, the Celestial City, where all our knowledge is stored.

  All Celestials receive a credit card, which has no limit. Though money is not needed in Verve, this allows Celestials to travel freely in the human world without issue. Please use it to pay for anything you need.

  Gnosis Operation Instructions:

  Gnosis is specifically designed to respond to each student’s individual fingerprint and energy. Gnosis takes the form of someone important to you, in order to directly connect to your energy. Place your bare finger to the Gnosis and it will activate. Once activated, Gnosis responds to verbal or mental demands.

  Gnosis Demands to use on first day:

  Say or think “See schedule”

  Say or think “Study spirit celestial origins”

  I look forward to meeting you in the Grand Hall for your first day of orientation at one pm sharp.

  Sincerely,

  Wayward - 1st of his kind

  I stare at the Gnosis for a couple of minutes before grabbing it. It looks like a 5 by 7 piece of glass with a mermaid type glimmer to it. The edges are rounded, reminding me of a rubbed down ocean rock, sturdy and warn. My hands slightly shake as I press my fingertips to the screen and electric sparks shoot within the Gnosis, lighting the screen.

  Alarmingly I hear a robust female voice within my head say, "Hi Lili—I've been waiting for you. You can call me Sax." Surprised by her voice, I drop my Gnosis on the hard, wooden floor. Sax is familiar to me, but I don’t know how or why and it’s unnerving. Sax’s voice re-enters my mind again. “Are you okay?”

  I look at the Gnosis on the floor, taking a long beat before I pick it up again. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I can’t place how I know you.”

  “Gnosis takes the form of someone familiar to you. Do I not feel familiar?”

  “You do and don’t. I…well, I just expected it would be someone else.”

  Sax softly asks, “Your father, perhaps?”

  “It really doesn’t matter.” I brush away my forming tears before I continue. “I’m sorry for being rude, it’s nice to meet you.”

  “Never apologize for showing your truth.” Sax’s comment reminds me of my Abuela, and I’m taken back to talking to her spirit after she first passed away. I was in the back seat of my parents’ blue Astro van and we were on our way to see my Abuela at her nursing home. I remember feeling a familiar energy enter the back seat, then I looked over and saw my Abuela sitting next to me. I can’t remember her exact words, but she urged me to be myself and stop trying to be what others wanted me to be. I was only five, but I remember telling my mom I had talked to her. It scared her, and she shut the conversation down quickly.

  Sax’s voice pulls me back as I hear her say, “Your school orientation is approaching. I’m going to pull up your schedule.” My itinerary flashes on the screen.

  Orientation Day:

  8am - Advisor led arrivals for new Celestials

  1pm - Cognosco Orientation

  3pm - Meet new Celestial student mentors

  8pm - Curfew

  Class Schedule [Sunday - Thursday]

  8am - History of Celestials (Check class itinerary for required reading before start of class.)

  10am - Fundamentals of Empaths

  12pm - Lunch

  1pm - Channeling Biologicals

  3pm - Energy Manipulation

  5pm - Dinner

  6pm - Free Time

  8pm - Curfew

  (All training classes have an assessment in October.)

  I hear a loud bang outside my room right before my bedroom door flies open. A tall redhead with a mischievous look enters the room with a frazzled Celestial trailing behind her. The redhead carries a large stack of books in her hands, reminding me of the leaning tower of Pisa.

  The playful redhead loudly shouts at the frazzled Celestial, “So, this is the room I’ve heard nothing about? Nice tree, that would have been a gre
at detail to share with me, Amber.” The redhead looks around the room with masked excitement, finally landing on me. Her tone quickly lightens as she says, “You must be my new roommate. I’m Nora.” Nora sticks her hand out to shake mine, forgetting about the books piled high in her hands. They fall in dramatic fashion, causing a loud crashing noise that has to be heard through the entire school. Nora continues to talk, as though nothing happened. “This is Amber, she’s my advisor—whatever that means.” I acknowledge Amber with a nod as Nora starts kicking her books into a pile and shouting instructions at her. “Put my suitcase there, please. Thanks for the help. I’ve got it from here.” Amber’s face looks shell-shocked as Nora herds her towards the door, slamming it behind Amber without saying a word. Nora takes an irritated breath. “She was a drag, no humor whatsoever. She walked around the school with her hand held high signaling what direction we were headed in with her finger. She’s a complete Norma.” I suddenly feel grateful to have had Sebastian as my guide.

  Nora’s body begins to tense as Sax’s voice enters my head. “Maybe you should say hi.” Oh no. I haven’t said a single word. I quickly try to change my ‘on the brink of a meltdown’ face into a joyful expression, proving to Nora that I’m not an unsocial mute like Amber.

  “I’m Lili. It’s nice to meet you… Was her name Amber or Norma?” All the tension in Nora’s body releases. She sits on the couch with her legs spread wide, piling her books into a more uniformed stack on the floor.

  Nora’s playful, Atlantic-blue eyes remind me of the sea, wild and unpredictable. “Well, her name is Amber, but anyone without a sense of humor or a mind of their own I call Norma or Norm.”

  I’m taken back by her explanation. “Norma or Norm. Did you come up with that?”

  “Yea, I grew up in a town where everyone acted the same and said the same things. Anything out of the box was considered bad, and I’m so out of the box I’m a circle.” Nora grabs one of her many books from the floor, rubbing it in her hands like a prized possession. “I love books, always have. I can read all day, getting lost in others’ discoveries.” She places the book on her lap. “I’ve been studying everything I could about what we are and what we are going to be doing. There’s not much out there, but what I found was the stuff of fairy tales.”

  “Really? Like vampires?”

  Nora looks down at me as she responds. “From what I can gather, lots of fairytales are based on true stories and many of those involve Celestials. Where do you think Fairies were derived from?” Nora raises her eyebrows to exaggerate her point. “Do you read much?”

  “I’m more of a fiction reader. I love a good adventure story.”

  “The best adventures have a little romance in them. You see anyone here you’re into?

  “I don’t know. I’ve never really had the best luck in the love department. What about you?”

  “There’s some possibilities. I just got out of a long-distance relationship with a girl from Los Angeles, so I’m hoping to find an in-person kind of thing.” Nora nervously looks at me, inspecting my response for prejudice. I smile as widely as possible, exposing too may teeth, and I’m afraid looking like a donkey.

  Nora chuckles. “Okay, I get it. You can tone the grin back.”

  I try to re-shape my mouth into a more natural shape. “Better?”

  “It will have to do.” This time, I smile honestly. “What was your last relationship like? Anything juicy?”

  I feel embarrassed by my lack of dating experience, but I answer her as honestly as possible.

  “I’ve never really had a connection with anyone, but maybe it was due to me being a Celestial in a human’s world…or maybe not.” It’s hard to date when you can read thoughts. No fun being in a sixteen-year-old guy’s mind. It’s a freak show in there.

  “Can’t be because of your looks, you’re gorgeous.” I feel her tense as she continues in a more rushed tone. “Don’t worry, I don’t mean that in a sexual way, more in an observational, scientific way.”

  I wonder if Nora’s had issues with these kind of thoughts before. I wish I could say I’ve had lots of experience with gay friends, but I’ve never had a friend before, so I say, “Well, I’m happy to be your roommate and a part of your scientific observations.”

  “Thanks. My situation at home and school wasn’t desirable. I lived in a small town, with closed minds. I figured if I could outthink them, then their dislike wouldn’t hurt as much.”

  Nora’s home life has similarities to mine. “I didn’t have a lot of friends either. At least you got some action though—with your long distant girlfriend and all.”

  Nora laughs as her words come pouring out. “Well, I don’t know if it’s considered action. We just talked a lot. Sometimes I would zone out or read a book while she yammered on.”

  “How did you read and talk to her?”

  “I just filled in the dead spaces with, ‘Yes, baby.’ I could sometimes read ten pages without having to say a thing.” I laugh out loud, happy for the distraction from my current worries. Nora choppily giggles too, adding, “Maybe I can find a girl who talks less.” Our laughter continues, creating my first ever feeling of belonging.

  Our large window darkens abruptly, as a ten-minute timer appears and begins counting down. A calming monotone voice enters the room announcing, “Ten minutes until orientation. All students must head downstairs.”

  I quickly grab a black dress from my clothes, praying it’s not too provocative. Nora grabs a pair of worn out jeans from her bag, turning to me and noticing my full ensemble for the first time. Her face fills with worry as she asks, “Do you think this thing’s going to be formal? I really only brought jeans and shirts.”

  “My mom packed my bag. She thinks I should be dressed for the runway all day, every day”

  Nora replies in a joking tone, “Well, you look amazing. You should prance through the room like you’re going to a ball. Well, not a ball really. Maybe a stripper joint?”

  Nora’s joke makes me simultaneously giggle and blush. “Let’s head down. I hear Wayward is on the pole at one.” I put Sax in my desk and quickly head out the door with Nora on my side. I can’t help but grin as I realize this may be the beginning of my first friendship.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Learning Celestial

  Lili - 1pm Meeting

  The meeting is packed with every Celestial in the school, and their close proximity to each other causes a weird buzzing in my head. Normally large groups are a non-starter for me, causing too many competing emotions within my head, but the school’s barrier seems to be muting other’s emotions, and I’m grateful for the relief.

  I walk quickly, trying to find a spot where I can remain unseen. I luckily locate two empty seats in the back of the Grand Hall and quickly sit down, signaling Nora to join me. Unfortunately, Nora doesn’t echo my mentality and remains standing as she looks around the room. She focuses on three empty chairs in the front of the hall. “I found rockstar seating front and center and next to a gorgeous blonde.” I stare at the seats, then back to her with hesitation as she continues to plead her case. “With that outfit we have to at least walk the room.” I blush at the thought. “Lili, you only live once. Who cares what anyone thinks of you. Let’s go!” Nora begins to move without mercy, shoving her way to the empty seats like a line-backer in a championship game.

  Not wanting to be left alone, I reluctantly follow. I feel eyes on me, making me look down at the ground, wishing I had Nora’s confidence. I hear muffled thoughts throughout the room as we pass. “What is she wearing?”… “Who do they think they are?”… “Slut.” Celestials’ thoughts aren’t any different from human thoughts, filling me with disappointment. We finally reach our new seats: Nora sits down with flair and me with a clunk and a plop, further defining our differences.

  Nora immediately starts up a conversation with the pretty Celestial to her left as I awkwardly stare at my hands like the lines on my palm hold the secrets of the universe. At least I can rejoi
ce at the empty seat to my right giving me room to breathe.

  My joy must have sent a signal out, because suddenly the seat’s vacancy changes to occupied. A tall guy with a square jawline and dutiful look now sits so close to me I have to shrink my body to avoid any awkward touching. He looks over and I grin while trying to hide how uncomfortable I am by his close proximity.

  My new seat neighbor extends his hand. “I’m James. I’m a first year.”

  I quickly reply, “Lili, me too.” I gesture to Nora like Vanna White. “This is my friend, Nora.”

  Nora reluctantly stops talking to the pretty blonde, greeting James. “Nice to meet you. You seem like a handsome guy. You single?”

  James politely responds, leaning in closer. “I don’t have a girlfriend.” James looks at me and then stares at his feet, clearly nervous.

  Nora teasingly smiles as she continues to embarrass me. “Interesting, I’m just taking count. I now know you’re single and Lili is single. Now, let me ask this girl.” Nora turns and continues her interrupted conversation with the blonde.

  I force words out of my mouth to prove to him I’m not embarrassed by Nora’s antics, though the red tint on my face surely gives me away. “Sorry about that. She’s my new roommate, and we’re still getting to know each other.”

  “I’m happy to know you’re single.” James’ reply embarrasses me and makes me wish for our exchange to end. I look away from him to take in the features of the room. The large hall is covered in tan stones with amber flecks and there’s four large trees spread throughout the room that grow into the ceiling, forming crisscrossing arches from the tree branches. The room’s rock walls have similarities to the stoned room in my premonition, causing the coldness from my dream to enter my body.