Mesmerized
Julia Crane and Talia Jager
Copyright © 2011 Julia Crane
Smashwords Edition
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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 book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either 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.
Cover Art by Stephanie Mooney
This ebook formatted by CyberWitch Press
To our husbands and families.
Chapter One
How could my parents send me away to a boarding school?
Lily stared up through the car window at the massive brick building. The perfectly manicured lawns and winding stone pathways made her want to scream. She was sick of switching schools. Emerson Academy would be the second one this school year, and it was only November.
“We’re here, Miss Lily.” The driver turned and smiled. Harold was a kindly, older gentleman who wore an awful chauffeur’s cap and a navy blue coat that would look better suited on a Revolutionary War soldier. Lily had endured a thirty minute car ride from the airport in which his eyes constantly flickered to her face in the rearview mirror. He didn’t even try to hide it.
As such, her manners probably weren’t as good as they should have been.
“Stop calling me that!” she snapped.
Panic crossed his face. “I’m sorry, Mi—Lily. I’m sorry, Lily. I forgot. Let me grab your bags for you.” He fumbled with the driver’s side door handle for several long seconds before he managed to open it.
Lily rolled her eyes. Guys always acted like complete fools around her; she could thank her mother for that.
Leaning her head back against the leather seat, Lily sighed. It’s not fair. All she wanted was to make friends and have a normal teenage life. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what she was born into. Why can’t life be simple?
Harold-the-driver opened the car door for her. The bitter, cold air rushed in and she shivered. Ugh, it’s so much colder here. She swung her long legs to the side and stepped out of the car. Her fingers shook as she zipped up her black, puffy jacket, and she couldn’t help but think how she would have been in shorts and a t-shirt back home.
Damn them for making me come here.
“Allow me to bring your bags up to your room?” Harold sounded like he was begging.
“No! I’m perfectly capable of bringing my bags in.” Lily scowled, but then saw the hurt in Harold’s light brown eyes. It wasn’t fair for her to take out her anger on the driver; he was only doing his job. “But, thank you. I don’t want the other students to think I’m a spoiled rich kid.”
Harold nodded, his face still somewhat crestfallen. He reached into the open trunk of the limousine and grabbed her two black leather roller-bags, placing them on the ground before her.
Lily pulled up the handles so she could drag them behind her, and then thanked Harold for his help. She waited until the car pulled away before she turned to meet her new fate.
The school loomed ahead, tall and forbidding. It was much larger than any other school she had attended; it looked more like a college campus than a high school. Lily sighed, braced herself, and walked down the concrete path that led to the front steps.
It wasn’t even her fault that she got kicked out of the last school. Well, she didn’t exactly get kicked out—her parents decided it was best if she left.
One of the boys had become obsessive; it started out as love letters and bouquets of gorgeous red roses, but it quickly escalated to stalking. It was after the night that he broke the glass in her bedroom window and crawled in—a half-crazy look of lust and despair on his face—that Lily’s parents decided to send her away. Even though she realized her parents were only trying to protect her, it still sucked.
Lily mounted the wide steps and tried to steady her breathing. She focused on the sound of both suitcases knocking against the stone; something real in a surreal life. It’s just another school, she told herself. You’ve done it before; you can do it again.
Grasping the large, cold brass door handle, Lily took a deep breath before she pushed the door open.
She walked through the door with her head held high, using her hip to prop it open while she yanked her bags inside. The vacuum of the door opening sent a rush of warm air around her; it felt wonderful compared to the frozen tundra outside.
The inside didn’t look as she had expected. Instead of dim and dreary, the front hall was cheerful—bright yellow walls and fluorescent light fixtures on the high ceilings. A huge wooden staircase climbed the wall in front of Lily, while a hallway stretched to her left and right.
There were students everywhere; they lounged on antique couches in the seating area just inside the door, or stood chatting on the staircase. The noise level was high when she walked in, but the second she crossed the threshold, all talk ceased. She could feel eyes on her as she headed down the long hallway, but tried her best to ignore their gazes.
Lily had to go to the housing office to get the key for her room. Unfortunately, she had no idea where she was going. She could either wander aimlessly and hope to find it before the sun went down, or she could stop and ask someone for directions.
Lovely.
Sighing, Lily walked up to a tall boy with curly blond hair and blue-green eyes as he drank from the water fountain. “Could you tell me where the housing office is?”
The boy stood and looked around in shock. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then turned back to Lily with his jaw slack. “Are you talking to me?”
“Yes. Where is the housing office?” It took a lot of self-control not to let her annoyance show. Even without her…issues, Lily had trouble with anger.
“Um, it’s right down the hall; the last door on the left. Do you want me to take you there?” he asked, a little too eagerly.
“No, thank you.” She turned and walked off as he gaped after her. She would never get used to the way boys reacted to her.
The glass door was pretty obvious—it said Housing in big block letters. “Another uncomfortable encounter I could have avoided,” Lily mumbled. She glanced around, stricken, hoping no one had heard her talk to herself.
Lily pushed the door open and walked inside. She left her bags sitting just inside the door and walked up to the receptionist.
An older lady with grey hair and smiling blue eyes looked up from the papers spread across the top of her desk. “Can I help you?” she asked.
Lily nodded. “My name is Lily Anderson. I’m here for my room keys.”
The woman looked right into Lily’s eyes. “Oh, yes. Lily, you have a lovely voice. It sounds musical. Do you sing?” She began to rummage around on the top of her desk, lifting papers and calendars as if searching.
“Um, thank you.” Lily wasn’t quite sure how to answer such a weird declaration. “I only sing in the shower.”
As the woman continued to search her desk, Lily glanced around the large office. She could tell they had tried to make it feel welcoming. The walls were painted a warm, light mocha and were hung with beautiful watercolors. A couple of fern-like plants rested in the corners, and a relaxing fountain made of rocks added to the ambience.
“Ah, here it is.” The clerk held up a large manila envelope and handed it to Lily.
Lily opened it. Inside were keys and a class schedule. “Thanks.”
“You have to sign here for them.” The woman tapped her pen on the clipboard.
Lily took the pen and signed her name. When she was done, she glanced at the keychain. Room 244. “Do you have a map?”
“You don’t need one. Just go up the stairs to your left and turn down the first hall. It’ll be the last room on your right.”
Thanking the lady again, Lily headed to her room. She followed the directions given to her and found herself standing in front of room 244. Her heart pounded. I can’t believe I’m going to have to share a room with a stranger, she thought dejectedly. Making friends didn’t come easy to Lily. She hoped her roommate wouldn’t hate her like most girls did.
She put the key in the lock, took one last deep breath, and opened the door.
The girl that sat on one of the room’s two beds was the complete opposite of Lily. Her hair was a mess of orange-red curls and her chubby face was covered in ginger freckles. The girl looked up from her laptop, startled, and pushed her glasses higher on her slightly up-turned nose.
“Sorry,” Lily muttered, her hand still on the doorknob. “I should’ve knocked. I’m Lily.”
The girl looked Lily up and down with slightly narrowed eyes. Lily was aware of what her new roommate saw—long, brown hair, flawless, creamy skin, and perfect rosy cheeks. Lily’s full lips were just right for her face, as were her oval-shaped, olive green eyes. She was the definition of beautiful, and oozed sex appeal, too.
Lily was everything other girls envied. And she hated it.
“Another beauty queen,” the girl mumbled, her eyes drifting back to the book on her bed.
“What?” Lily’s eyebrows furrowed. She stepped into the room with her bags and shut the door.
“I said, I’m Hannah.”
Lily pursed her lips. She was pretty sure she knew exactly what Hannah said, but she ignored it.
Lily surveyed the small dorm room. It couldn’t have been ten by ten. It looked like a closet compared to her room at home. Other than the two beds, each side had a small dresser and a closet door. There was a single window on the wall between the two sides. Lily gestured to the unoccupied bed. “I take it that’s my side?”
“Yeah, it’s all yours.” Hannah smiled.
Lily rolled her bags across the floor and sat on the twin-sized bed, which was surprisingly comfortable. She ran her hand over the plain white comforter. The walls were also white and bare. She would have to spruce up her side of the room.
Hannah had tried to make her side cheerful. She had a purple comforter with lime green throw pillows and band posters on her wall. She even had a string of lights in the shape of Chinese lanterns above her headboard.
Lily tossed one of her suitcases on top of the comforter and unzipped it. Unconcerned about any type of organization, she started shoving her clothes in the empty dresser.
“Do you need any help setting up?” Hannah asked shyly.
“I didn’t really bring much,” Lily answered honestly. “I probably won’t be here long. I tend to go through schools quickly.”
Hannah sat up, her deep blue eyes bright with curiosity. “You get kicked out of schools? Why? Drugs, grades, attitude, sex, boys?”
“The last one.”
Hannah sighed. “I’m not surprised. You are stunning.”
Subject change needed, Lily thought, fighting the urge to throw the pair of blue jeans she held. “So, how’s this place?”
“Emerson? Average boarding school.”
Lily unzipped her second bag. “Well, this is my first time at a boarding school.”
“Oh. It’s okay, I guess. The teachers are good, but most of the students are stuck up. I’m not what you would call ‘popular’, so if you want to hang out with the cool kids, you should probably not be seen in public with me.”
Lily looked up from her clothes in surprise, trying to catch a hint of humor on the girl’s face, but there was none. Hannah was apparently an outcast—much like Lily. “That’s ridiculous.”
Hannah just shrugged.
“I wonder if we have any classes together?” Lily pulled out her schedule and crossed the space between their beds to take a seat on Hannah’s.
The girl was only surprised for a moment, but she smiled when she took Lily’s proffered schedule and glanced over it. “We do. A couple, actually.”
“Great! You can show me around.” Lily felt a surge of hope at the thought of finally having a real friend. Girls usually despised her, and boys were out of the question.
Lily pulled the rest of the clothes from her second bag. As she stacked her t-shirts, shorts, and dresses, she realized most of them wouldn’t be appropriate for the weather so far north. She’d have to go shopping for some warmer clothes. She glanced at Hannah, who had returned to her book. “Maybe, we can go shopping together sometime?”
The girl looked shocked. “Really? I would love that. Hopefully, you can give me some pointers. I’m lacking in the style department.”
“That would be fun.” Lily smiled warmly.
After the clothes were unpacked, she took out the teal comforter and polka-dotted sheets she had brought from home and made up her bed. In the other bag, she took out her personal things: some make-up, a few books, and a stuffed animal from her childhood. She placed the worn brown bear on her bed. It reminded her of the days when life was easy, when she didn’t have to think about what she was—a time that she wished she could go back to.
“That’s a pretty necklace,” Hannah commented.
Lily hadn’t realized she was being watched. Her hand flew up to the delicate silver necklace around her neck. A large purple amethyst crystal dangled from it. “Thank you.”
Her parents had given her the necklace almost four years before, on her thirteenth birthday—when her world had come crashing down. She remembered the conversation like it was yesterday.
Her parents sat her down in the living room and handed her the box.
“It’s so pretty,” Lily said with a gasp. She touched the stone with a single fingertip; it seemed to hum with energy.
“It is beautiful, but it’s much more than that, Lily.” Lily’s mother placed a hand on her knee. She was a beautiful woman with dark hair that framed a face eerily similar to her daughter’s, though her green eyes were a little darker. “Now that you’re thirteen, you need to know about your family history.”
Lily looked at them curiously; she couldn’t remember a time she’d ever seen them so serious. “Am I adopted?” she quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
Neither of her parents laughed. Lily’s heart pounded as she tried to come up with a dozen different scenarios, none of them good.
Her mom spoke again. “I know this will be hard to believe. But, there is no easy way to tell you. Lily, you’re a succubus.”
Lily stared blankly at her mother. “A what?”
“A succubus.” Her mom took her hand. “I know this sounds scary, but it’s really not that bad.”
Lily racked her brain. Succubus? “Mom, you’re freaking me out. Is this some kind of a joke? What the hell is a succubus? Isn’t it some kind of demon? I am not a demon!”
“Honey, demons have gotten such a bad rap. Not all demons are bad. Just hear me out.” Her mother took a deep breath, as if she were about to lecture. “Like most things in mythology, what you read or see on TV is only a sliver of the truth. Succubi are not evil. We do not try to kill men in their sleep.”
Lily jerked her hand back from her mom’s. The we her mom had used didn’t escape her. So, Mom’s a succubus, too? She shook her head vigorously—just the thought gave her a headache. “So what exactly does a succubus do?”
Her mom paused, weighing her answer. “Your desires are amplified. Men will be unable to resist you, and you can drain their life force from them through sex if you aren’t careful. Even kissing can be dangerous. It’s best if you don’t have any relationships until you learn to control your powers.”
Lily’s jaw dropped. “I can’t ever have a boyfriend?”
“Just for a while.” Her mom nodded her head towards the box. “The necklace will help you. It will help keep you calm and reduce your anger. It’s also a dream stone, so it will help you sleep.” Her mother paused and looked over at Lily’s father for support. “You do have the ability to visit others in your dreams; however, the stone should dampen it. Don’t worry—you cannot kill anyone in your dreams, I promise. No idea how that rumor got started.”
Lily shook her head. Her mind was racing. “I don’t understand any of this. How does it work? I’m not any more attractive than half the girls in my school. Why would men not be able to resist me?”
“I’m sure you’ve learned of pheromones in school?” When Lily nodded, her mom went on. “It’s sort of like that but a thousand times stronger. Succubi excrete a hormone that instantly attracts males. Our body fluids are poisonous to humans.”
Lily looked at her father, a very handsome man. He had brown hair that had mostly turned grey and bright blue eyes that crinkled when he smiled.
“Are you human?”
“Yes, honey, I’m human.” He laughed.
“Well, why doesn’t mom drain the life out of you?” Lily paused. “If this is all true.”
“Why do you think I take so many business trips? Distance helps. We love each other, so we make it work. There are also some herbal remedies that I take before we…” His face flushed and he looked at Lily’s mom for help.
“Gross! I get it, Dad.”
A voice startled Lily out of her memory. She glanced at her roommate.
Hannah stared at her. “Earth to Lily. Is everything okay?”
“Sorry. I’m fine. I was just thinking about my parents. I still can’t believe they sent me away. They didn’t even fly out here with me.” Lily took off her shoes, so she didn’t have to look at Hannah.
“I know that feeling. My parents don’t visit much either. They claim they’re ‘too busy’, and yet they always find time for my brothers and sisters.”
“That sucks.” Lily didn’t know what else to say. She moved her pillows around, trying to busy herself. She wasn’t used to this much personal interaction and it made her uncomfortable. “What do you do for fun around here?”
“I read a lot and play on my laptop.”
“Oh.” Lily frowned; she wasn’t a big reader.
Hannah tilted her head and tapped her chin with a finger as she thought. “There’s an ice skating rink close by.”
Now that might be interesting, Lily thought. She didn’t know how to ice skate, but she’d like to learn. It was something, anyway.
“Dinner starts in a few minutes,” Hannah said as she shut her laptop. “Do you want me to show you the way?”
Lily hesitated. She really didn’t want to face the other kids yet, but her stomach rumbled. She’d have to eventually; she shouldn’t starve herself trying to avoid it. “Sure.”
Hannah stood up and stepped into her slippers, and then slipped into a long, purple sweater that tied at the waist. Lily appraised her own clothes: a blue jean skirt and off-the-shoulder t-shirt with ankle boots. She probably looked too dressed up; for a brief, insecure moment, she wondered if she should change.
They left the room; the door automatically locked behind them. As Hannah led Lily down to the dining hall, they passed a lot of other students who had their room doors open or sat in the hallway playing cards or gossiping. Each person Lily passed stopped what they were doing and stared.
It bothered Lily when she saw that Hannah noticed.
When they walked into the dining hall, a hush came over the crowd. Everyone seemed to stop talking and gawk at them. One dark-haired boy looked up and saw them as he emerged from the line. He wasn’t watching where he was going and he tripped over his own feet, sending his food flying.
“Wow!” Hannah muttered sarcastically.
Lily rolled her eyes. Looks like this place won’t be any different than the others.
Chapter Two
Lily awoke to the sound of her roommate’s obnoxious alarm clock. It was like the beeping of a garbage truck mixed with the yowling of a feral cat. Not exactly how she wanted to start her day.
With a languid stretch beneath the sheets, Lily groaned, “What time is it?”
Hannah popped up in bed like a jack-in-the-box. Her head full of curls was flying madly everywhere, but her eyes were wide and sparkling. She grinned. “Six.”
Lily moaned. “Why?”
“I like to get up early.” Hannah pushed back the covers and jumped out of bed. She flung open the curtain, and the sunlight pierced Lily’s eyes.
“Ugh!” Lily rolled back over and jerked the comforter over her head. “Classes don’t start until eight-thirty. Wake me up at eight.”
“What about breakfast? You need to eat. Then maybe we can walk around campus. I’m trying to lose weight, and it would be nice to have the company. Please!”
“Fine.” Lily threw the blankets off and made a show of being grumpy, but inside, she was smiling. If getting up early was what she had to do to finally have a friend, it was well worth it. She’d just need to get used to it. “Let me jump in the shower. I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”
Hannah turned from her open dresser drawer and stared, her mouth hanging open. “You can get that gorgeous in only fifteen minutes? Genetics were good to you.”
Ha! If she only knew, Lily thought. Genetics are my curse.
Lily showered and threw her hair in a bun. She pulled her tacky school uniform from the closet—a blue and gold plaid skirt with a white blouse that had a rounded collar—and cringed. It’s like grade school all over again, Lily thought as she pulled on her knee-high socks. She slid her feet into plain black flats, let her hair down from the bun, and didn’t bother with make-up.
“Don’t forget the vest.” Hannah reached into the still open closet and grabbed a navy blue sweater vest, throwing it to Lily when she walked out of the bathroom.
“Ah, how could I forget the vest?” Lily said dryly, and they both laughed. It felt good to laugh.
Breakfast went the same way dinner had the night before—too much attention in a short period of time. Lily counted herself lucky that only two guys begged to carry her tray, and no one managed to fall over themselves in her presence. Hannah—bless her—didn’t say a word.
After they ate, Lily and Hannah walked outside for a quick stroll. A gust of wind blew the brisk air right up Lily’s skirt, and she slapped her hands to the fabric, mortified. She nervously smoothed the skirt back down, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed. She shivered. I wish I was back home in the south where it’s warm.
“Is it always this cold?” Lily asked, wrapping her arms over her paltry sweater.
Hannah nodded. She tucked her hands in the pockets on her own navy sweater, the Emerson Academy crest bulbous on her chest. “You’ll get used to it. And when spring rolls around, you’ll think it’s heaven.”
As they rounded the corner of the building, they came upon a group of five girls lounging against the stone wall. They looked like carbon copies of one another—glossy hair in blonde or chestnut, faces plastered with make-up and fake eyelashes, and tiny waists. Two of them had cigarettes dangling from their ruby lips; Lily rolled her eyes. They apparently thought they were cool.
One of the blondes stepped forward with narrowed, blue eyes. She was pretty—in a high maintenance way. She had a heart-shaped face painted with make-up and long, red fingernails.
The girl cocked her head to the side and ran her eyes over Lily, a slight sneer on her face. When she spoke, her voice was high-pitched and whiny. “You should leave.”
“We’d be glad to—if you move out of our way,” Lily responded, careful to keep her face neutral. Beside her, Hannah shifted uncomfortably.
“That’s not what I meant,” the girl spat. She flicked her long hair over a shoulder and crossed her arms. “You should leave the school. We don’t want you here. You don’t belong here.” Her cronies—who were flanked behind her—all nodded in agreement.
Lily settled her face into an indifferent look. She was used to this kind of treatment; it got old, and she was bored with it. Rolling her eyes, Lily said, “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready. Now, if you’ll excuse us…” She pushed past the group of girls and didn’t look back as she led Hannah away.
They had walked all the way to the front door when Lily peeked over at Hannah—her roommate’s mouth was still hanging open.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” Hannah said reverently.
“Why?” Lily shrugged. “They’re nothing.”
“That was Samantha.” Hannah nervously tugged at her shirtsleeve. “She’ll ruin you. She’s the most popular girl here. She runs this school.”
“I’m not worried.”
Hannah fell silent as they continued on their walk. Lily hoped her behavior hadn’t scared her new friend away; that would be just her luck.
Lily wanted to appreciate the campus. Even in the midst of cold weather, the grass was green and the bushes lining the red brick and gray stone buildings were perfectly trimmed and shaped. The concrete pathways meandered through the grounds, passing dormant fountains and round, stone picnic tables. But, really—it was too frigid to focus on anything.
“It’s time to get to class,” Hannah said a few minutes later, interrupting Lily’s thoughts. Hannah gave her a hesitant smile. “We have first period together.”
“Great! It’ll be nice to have you around.”
Hannah led the way to the academic building and reached for the large, brass door handle. A slim, red-haired boy came out of nowhere and jumped in front of them, wrapping his long fingers around the curve of the handle.
“Let me get that for you,” he said with a smile. He pulled open the door, and Lily sighed as hot air rushed out to caress her skin.
“Thanks,” she told him as she crossed the threshold. The academic building looked more like a school should—sterile white walls, green-tinged fluorescent lights, and scuffed floors.
“Can I get you anything? Drink? Snack? Show you to your class?” the boy asked eagerly. His smile was infectious: wide and white under a spattering of freckles on his pale skin.
Sometimes it was hard for Lily to follow her mother’s advice.
“No, thank you,” Lily responded politely. She tucked an arm into Hannah’s as if to prove her point. “I have help.”
He frowned, looking like a lost puppy, and trudged away. It only took ten seconds for the next boy to approach them; Lily and Hannah hadn’t even managed five steps on the linoleum.
“Hi. I’m Wyatt,” he said. Short and with curly, blonde hair, he was a little too pushy as he tried to take Lily’s book bag. “Do you need help finding your class?”
“Wyatt, you’re not in our class.” Hannah looked askance at him as Lily jerked her bag from his grasp. “Besides, I’m taking her.”
Wyatt’s green eyes shifted to Hannah, and he frowned like he hadn’t even realized she was there. “Oh.” He started to walk away, then stopped and turned back around. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do for you?”
Lily shook her head. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to run home screaming or go hide in the bathroom.
Wyatt shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away.
“You weren’t kidding about boys being a problem for you,” Hannah remarked, tugging her backpack higher on her shoulders. She raised an eyebrow and waited for Lily’s response.
Lily shrugged; she didn’t know what to say. Boys were always a problem for her; in fact, people in general were an issue. Girls couldn’t stand her and boys loved her. It was just a normal part of being a succubus. Lily was quite surprised—and grateful—that Hannah was still willing to be around her. She was even more grateful when Hannah didn’t pry any further.
Hannah walked through the open door of a classroom, and Lily followed closely behind, hoping to hide behind her roommate. When all the talking stopped, and every face in the room stared at her, Lily wanted to throw herself out the window. Well. I haven’t mastered invisibility, she thought sarcastically.
The teacher sat behind his mammoth, cherry wood desk. He was an older man, with salt-and-pepper hair combed over the top of his head and crow’s feet at his eyes. Sliding his thick glasses higher on his nose, he stood up as he noticed Lily. After staring for a few seconds longer than what was appropriate, he said, “Miss Anderson, I presume. Welcome to English. You can pick any seat you like.”
“Thank you.” Lily blushed at the teacher’s obvious attraction to her and hurried to take a seat in the back of the room, near Hannah. Older guys gave her the creeps, and the teacher was old enough to be her father.
Glancing at the chalkboard, Lily saw that his name was Mr. Thompson. She felt his eyes still on her—still—so she sat down quickly. Eventually, Mr. Thompson snapped out of it and began the lesson.
By lunch, Lily wasn’t sure how she’d made it through the morning. No matter how many years she’d passed beneath the scorn of other girls, it still hurt when they ignored her or showed open distaste for her. As usual, the boys tried to get Lily’s attention by opening doors, stealing her books, and offering to escort her. One went so far as to ask if she’d like to be carried to class.
If he had offered to carry her all the way home to Texas, Lily might have taken it.
Jake had heard all the fuss and wanted no part of it.
A new girl, more beautiful than anybody they had ever seen. Legs for days, bottomless green eyes, a curvaceous body… Blah, blah, blah. Jake intended to stay far away from that kind of trouble. He prided himself on being discreet: on passing his days alone and unbothered.
He succeeded in staying away from the new girl—until after lunch, when she walked out of the academic building and right into him.
His heart skidded to a stop. He couldn’t believe her beauty; she took his breath away—literally.
This is the girl from my dreams. Jake stared at her, aghast. How could he dream about her having never seen her before? It wasn’t just someone that resembled her—it was her. Each wave of hair, the exact color of her eyes, and even the necklace she wore. Everything was the same from his dreams. The only thing that was missing was the white dress she always wore.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” the girl murmured. She avoided his eyes and moved to the side to pass him; but Jake moved at the same time—blocking her way.
He touched her arm and a strange, tingling feeling ran through his body. For a brief moment, images flashed in his mind of pushing her against the wall and running his hands over her body. His own body reacted strongly, and he jerked away from her.
What the hell is wrong with me?
He held his hand out from his side, as if he had touched fire, but couldn’t take his eyes off her.
The girl gave a nervous laugh. She lifted a small hand and touched her necklace; her shoulders visibly relaxed. Her voice was strong when she said, “Excuse me,” and brushed past him.
Jake turned and watched her walk away. Her hair swung seductively back and forth as she walked, as did her hips. His eyes were drawn to the curve of her butt beneath her short skirt. He realized his skin was hot, and broke his gaze.
He had been dreaming about that girl for weeks. Every time he closed his eyes at night, she was there. In his dreams, she always wore a flowing, white dress that just brushed the tops of her feet but revealed a mound of creamy cleavage at the dipping neckline. She looked innocent and sexy at the same time. She never talked to him; she just tried to lure him away.
Jake closed his eyes and pictured the dream; she walked backwards, a sexy smile tugging at her lips. He would advance, arms reaching, and she would turn away to run, her laughter an echo in his mind. It drove him crazy that he was never able to catch up with her. He always woke up feeling…empty.
Get a grip, he told himself. There had to be an explanation. She was just a girl. He had been around long enough to know girls were nothing but trouble, and he had no immediate plans to get his heart crushed again.
Jake crossed the campus and entered the boys’ dorm, walking up the stairs in a stupor. He couldn’t get her face out of his mind. Maybe it’s time for me to move, he thought with a shudder. The idea of starting over bothered him, but he’d been hanging around the same town long enough. It wouldn’t be long before he would have to run, anyway.
In his room, Jake fell onto the bed and tucked his hands under his head. He stared at the dusty ceiling, but was really seeing that girl’s face. The more he thought about it, he knew he couldn’t leave—at least, not yet. He wanted to find out more about the girl—hell, I didn’t even get her name—and find out why she was haunting his dreams
Maybe it had something to do with the curse that had been placed on his father hundreds of years ago.
Chapter Three
Lily let her backpack fall to the ground and leaned up against a tree, trying to compose herself.
What was it about that boy with the shaggy, dark brown hair? Her heart raced. Her skin was flushed and hot to the touch, even in thirty degree weather. She’d had to physically stop herself from reaching out and brushing the hair from his gorgeous blue eyes. Not to mention the other urges—the image of him pressed against her…
No! I have to stay away from him.
Her mother had warned her that she would only bring harm to lovers. No boys until she could control herself.
But, I’ve never reacted like this to a guy before…
Lily pressed her palms to her eyes and bent over. She breathed deep of the frosty air and tried to be invisible. Why does my heart speed up at the thought of him?
“There you are!”
Hannah’s voice startled Lily, and she jumped, her hands falling to her sides as she whirled to find her roommate sidling up to the tree.
“Why are you hiding behind a tree?” Hannah asked. She brushed an unruly, red curl behind one ear and cocked her head, eyeing Lily worriedly. “You okay? Did something happen?”
Lily felt heat blossom in her cheeks, and she avoided her new friend’s eyes. She certainly couldn’t tell Hannah what had happened—how quickly she’d reacted to a guy she’d never met. “No. Just needed a breather. New schools are always overwhelming at first.”
Lily squirmed under the scrutiny of Hannah’s sapphire eyes and tried to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. If the girl noticed Lily’s red cheeks, maybe she would think it was just from the cold, or a case of nerves. Lily shivered for effect.
“The cold really does get to you.” Hannah chuckled, and Lily relaxed. “Where are you from again?”
“Texas.”
Hannah frowned. “Sucks. That’s a big move.”
“Yeah. My parents thought they’d try sending me to a boarding school this time around. One of my dad’s business colleagues recommended Emerson.” If the last twenty-four hours has been any clue, this school isn’t going to be any better than the other ones. Lily had no clue what her parents were thinking.
Together, they walked back to the academic building while Hannah chatted inconsequentially. Algebra was next. Lily was lucky that math had always come easy to her, and she was immensely relieved to find a female teacher behind the flimsy metal desk.
Lily smiled as she greeted the teacher. “I’m Lily Anderson.”
Mrs. Penney was a dark haired woman in a pressed skirt suit. She returned Lily’s smile with a bright one of her own. “Welcome to Emerson Academy. Here’s the syllabus.” She tugged a single sheet of paper from under a pile of folders and offered it across the desk.
Lily reached to grab the sheet of paper.
Mrs. Penney leaned forward in her seat and sniffed. “What kind of perfume are you wearing? It’s wonderful.”
Lily shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not wearing perfume.”
“Really? Must be your soap. Please be seated.” The teacher pointed to a desk in the back of the room.
“Thanks.” Lily turned and headed for the indicated seat. She noticed that the mean girl from earlier, Samantha, was in this class.
As Lily passed her, Samantha stuck her foot out into the aisle with a smirk on her face. Luckily, Lily saw it and stepped gracefully over it.
Lily leaned down to the girl’s ear. “Nice try,” she said, and then continued to her new desk.
Samantha slumped down in her chair and tapped her foot angrily on the seat in front of her. Lily sat down in her own seat—next to Hannah, thankfully—and hid a smile. She’d been dealing with that kind of stuff for so long that she knew what to expect.
Obviously too pissed to let it go, Samantha jerked around in her seat and snarled, “You’ll never fit in here. Especially if you keep hanging around lardo over there.”
Lily’s anger rose. Glancing at Hannah—who was stricken in her seat—Lily leaned forward and said loudly, “I don’t believe we’ve properly met. From the looks of you, I’m gonna guess you’re the school whore?”
Samantha’s jaw dropped. She closed it once, and then twice, like a fish out of water. Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, and turned back to the front of the room. Lily figured no one had ever dared talk back to the brat, so she didn’t know how to react.
The door flung open. Lily’s heart skipped a few beats as she recognized the boy from the courtyard. He sauntered towards an empty desk, and Lily quickly looked away; she didn’t want to make eye contact with him.
The teacher looked up from her class planner. “Nice of you to join us, Mr. O’Connor. Please try to be on time.”
He muttered an apology to the teacher and hurried to his desk. He sat next to Samantha, which put him diagonal to Lily. His proximity was intoxicating.
“Hi, Jake.” Samantha bit her lip coyly.
Lily wanted to gag. Much to her surprise—and pleasure—Jake ignored Samantha. He glanced over his shoulder at Lily, but quickly turned around.
This is not good.
She couldn’t focus at all during class. Her eyes kept drifting to the boy where he sat hunched over his workbook. His aquiline nose and high cheekbones gave him the most perfect profile; he reminded her of a Greek statue. Lily glanced down at her paper and noticed she had been drawing hearts in her notebook. She ripped the sheet out and crumpled it up, appalled at herself.
Maybe I should call Mom and tell her this wasn’t such a good idea.
Somehow she made it through class without attacking the poor boy, even though she couldn’t get the very idea out of her head. As she packed her things to leave for the next class, she wondered for the hundredth time what made him so different. There were plenty of good-looking boys that had passed through her life over the past few years, and none had ever affected her in such a way.
Maybe it’s just because I’m getting older? she thought, pulling her backpack onto her shoulder. She stared at the boy’s back as she followed the stream of kids from the classroom. Her powers were getting stronger, sure. That still didn’t explain why one boy out of hundreds was making her have crazy sexual thoughts.
P.E. was at the end of the day. Lily dreaded gym class—it was her least favorite. Getting changed in front of all the other girls was a nightmare. The school uniform hid her curves, but there wasn’t anyway to hide anything in the small t-shirt and short shorts they had to wear for class. The white t-shirt stretched snugly across her chest, and the shorts covered very little of her long legs.
Lily tossed her long hair into a ponytail, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She tried to ignore the glares of the other girls. It wasn’t as if she asked to look the way she did. She would change bodies with Hannah in a heartbeat, just to live a normal life.
As she walked out of the locker room and into the chilly gymnasium, one of the guys crowded on the bleachers whistled, while another shouted rude comments.
“Guys, knock it off or you’re getting detention!” the gym teacher yelled. She was a short, squat woman with a shaved head and arms bigger than Lily’s thighs. Lily gave her a grateful smile and was rewarded with a wink.
By the time gym was over—and she’d had all the dodge ball she could stand—Lily was relieved to get back to her room.
Hannah wasn’t there yet. Lily peeled off her wrinkled uniform in the relative silence of the room, listening to the tick of the heater on the wall. She stood for a moment, gazing at her books spread across the bed, and realized she was homesick.
She knelt on the comforter and uncapped a pen, then reached for her wall calendar. Marking a big, black X on the day’s date, Lily wondered, How long will I last at this school?
After a dinner she’d barely touched, Lily decided to take a walk. Hannah had tried several times to talk to her during the meal, but Lily’s mind was so wrapped around the dark-haired guy that she barely heard a word. She hoped the cold could help clear her head.
The fallen leaves crunched under her feet as she strolled down the sidewalk, ignoring anyone who passed. It was a clear evening, and the moon was almost full in a sky filled with stars. They twinkled as if to say hi to her. She loved gazing at the stars; it made her feel at peace.
I need some peace.
New York was pretty, she begrudgingly admitted. The part of Texas she was from didn’t have much of a season change. It went from hot and humid to cold and humid quickly. The leaves didn’t change colors. It didn’t snow. It was quite boring, if she was honest with herself. She could probably get used to Emerson—to the cold and life, as opposed to the stifling heat and dust.
But, what if she got kicked out? Not only would she be sent home, she’d also lose her newfound friendship with Hannah.
“Hey, you’re the new girl,” a deep, male voice said from behind her.
Lily spun around and came face to face with an ebony-haired boy. He was attractive: tall, muscular, and with sun-bronzed skin. She didn’t recognize him; he must not have been in any of her classes. The wild look in his hazel eyes sent fear through her. “What do you want?”
He reached out and touched her face with his long fingers. “You’re so beautiful.”
She slapped his hand away and stepped back, trying to put some distance between them. I hate it when they get grabby. “Screw off, you jerk!”
Lily turned to walk away, but he grabbed her by the arm, and spun her back around. His hand wrapped around her bicep like a vise, and Lily cried out in pain.
Without another word, he jerked Lily against his body, and smashed his lips over hers.
She tried to scream, but his tongue shoved its way into her mouth. Lily managed to get her hands between them to push him away, but he held on tightly—his fingers were bruising her shoulders.
Her mother’s words ran through her mind. I can kill him. She had to make him stop or he’d get hurt; as pissed as she was, she couldn’t imagine hurting somebody.
Before she could do anything else to get him off of her, his body went limp and he fell to the ground.
Lily stared blankly at his unmoving form. When she gathered her wits, she knelt down next to him and checked his pulse. The thready pulse reached her fingertips, and his chest rose and fell.
Lily let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness! She hadn’t killed him. Standing up, she ran off before anyone could see her.
Jake was out for a run when he noticed the new girl talking to Ben.
Not that it was out of the ordinary for Ben to talk to girls. The guy was like a walking advertisement for testosterone poisoning.
Jake slowed to a jog and ducked behind a tree to watch the interaction. He was too far away to hear anything and couldn’t tell what was really going on. Jealousy surged through Jake’s body when Ben kissed her. The girl put up a fight, and Jake groaned as he realized he was going to have to step in.
Next thing he knew, Ben dropped to the ground and the girl took off running.
What the hell just happened? Jake looked around; no one in sight. He wasn’t sure if he should check on Ben or go after the girl to make sure she was okay.
On impulse, he went after the girl, following the dark pathway she’d disappeared down. His eyes darted left and right as he searched for her. She couldn’t have gotten too far.
Jake heard what sounded like a whimper as he came upon back of the boys’ dorm. He turned the corner, and found the girl sitting with her knees pulled up and her face in her hands as she leaned against the red brick. He approached her slowly, not wanting to startle her. When he was a few feet away, he cleared his throat.
Something in Jake clicked as she turned surprised green eyes to him. Even when she was crying, the girl was breathtaking. He felt a rush of protective anger, followed by a desperate need to beat the crap out of Ben.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
She dropped her gaze, her eyes hooded as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’m fine.”
“I saw what happened back there with Ben. Was he bothering you?”
“It was nothing.” There was no heat in her tone; she almost sounded broken. She was lying.
Jake took a couple steps closer, watching as she wiped her wet hands on her blue jeans. The pathway lamp shone orange, making her brown hair shimmer. “Nothing, huh? What did you do to make him crumple to the ground like a rag doll?”
Her eyes widened, and she leaned slightly away from him. She shifted to the balls of her feet as if she were going to flee.
Jake added, “It’s okay. He’s a jerk and probably deserved it.”
The girl stared up at him, eyes unblinking. She seemed to be weighing her words. “It was just a self-defense move. My dad wanted to make sure I could protect myself.”
After a brief silence, Jake broke the gaze. “Your father is a wise man. Do you want me to walk you to your room?”
“No. Thank you for asking.” She waved to the crisp night. “I just want to stay out here a little longer.”
Jake shoved his hands in his pockets, going for the innocent, boy-next-door look. “I’d feel better knowing you were safely back in your room. I can sit here with you, if you want?”
Lily wasn’t sure what to make of the guy.
He was being friendly and direct; his sincerity seemed dead-on. What he wasn’t doing, was acting like an idiot—like most boys. For some reason, Lily did feel safer and calmer with him there; she wanted him to stay. Without giving it too much thought, she nodded.
He sat down beside her with his back on the building, and crossed his legs. He smelled masculine—a mix of sandalwood and earth.
“I don’t even know your name,” Lily said, once she’d worked up the nerve to speak.
“Jake O’Connor.” He gave her a lopsided grin, and her heart felt like it was going to explode.
“I’m Lily.”
“Nice to meet you.” He nudged her with his elbow. “You’re the talk of the school. I’ve never seen a new student get so much attention before.”
“I don’t like attention.” Picking up a blade of grass, Lily absently started pulling it apart. It had already been the longest conversation she’d had with a boy in a long time. She usually cut them off quickly—afraid of leading them on. Jake’s nearness made her nervous. She should leave, but she couldn’t convince her body to listen to her mind.
“Where did you move here from? I know this is going to sound like a corny pick up line, and I promise it’s not.” He paused. “Have we met before? I’m sure I would have remembered. I just can’t shake the feeling that I know you.”
“Have you ever been to Texas?” Lily asked. “That’s where I’m from.”
“No, I haven’t.” Jake shrugged. At least not in the last fifty years or so. “Maybe it was someone that looked like you.”
She doubted that, but said, “Maybe.” After a moment, Lily stood up and brushed the leaves from her jeans. “I think I’m ready to go in now. Thank you for staying with me. Can you do me a favor and make sure Ben is okay? I hope I didn’t hurt him too badly.”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Jake responded as he climbed to his feet. “He’s a big boy, but I’ll check on him if it will make you feel better.”
“It would.”
They walked in silence to her building. Their arms brushed a couple times, and heat suffused Lily’s body at the contact. She had to fight the urge to stop him and wrap her arms around him. She desperately wanted to feel his lips on hers. Where is this coming from?
At the door to her building, Jake turned to face her. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it without a word. Lily stared at his full lips, and licked her own. She wanted him. Her entire body screamed to melt into him, to kiss him, to touch him.
Jake raised his hands and reached for her arms, leaning forward. When his lips parted, the reality of the situation hit Lily like a wrecking ball.
“Thank you for walking me back!” she said—a little too loudly—and quickly ran inside before anything else could happen.
Chapter Four
That night, Jake tossed and turned in bed.
He saw Lily’s face every time he closed his eyes. There was something about her, something not quite normal…he couldn’t put his finger on it. When he finally did fall asleep, he dreamed of her. Dressed in that beautiful white dress again, she came up to him, and put her arm around his neck, tousling his hair. He was so close to her that he could feel her breath on his lips, smell her sweet vanilla scent. She giggled, turned, and ran away.
Jake woke up in a sweat. Sitting up in bed, he ran his hands through his hair. What was happening to him? Why did he keep dreaming of her? He looked over to make sure his roommate, Matt, was still sleeping. He was. Throwing on his sweats, Jake decided to go for another run. Hopefully, the fresh air would clear his head.
Lily’s cell phone rang as she was getting ready for breakfast. The caller ID flashed her mother’s Texas number. “Hey, Mom.”
“How are things going?”
When her mother’s lyrical tones crossed the line, Lily felt a pang of homesickness. It was fleeting. In the next instant, she remembered how mad she was at her parents for sending her to Emerson. She said pointedly, “Just like always.”
Her mother sighed. “How bad?”
Lily thought of Ben. “Nothing I can’t handle…yet.”
“You have to be careful, Lily. We’re running out of options.”
Lily wanted to say, You should have thought about that before you had kids, but she refrained. “I have to get to class, Mom.”
“Okay. Hey, listen, your dad and I want to visit for Thanksgiving.”
“Fine. I gotta go.” Lily hung up the phone before her mom could say anything else. She tossed it on the bed—cells weren’t allowed in class—and picked up her books.
“Everything okay?” Hannah asked as she zipped up her dark green Northface jacket.
“Yeah.” Lily rolled her eyes. “My parents want to come for Thanksgiving.”
Hannah grabbed her shoulder bag, one eyebrow cocked. “Isn’t that good?”
“I guess. Let’s go.”
Lily and Hannah walked out of the dorm behind a steady stream of other girls heading to class. Outside, it was overcast—nasty gray clouds covered the sun, and Lily wondered if it was supposed to rain. Thunder rumbled in the distance, seemingly giving her an answer.
The dining hall was packed. Some of the older kids usually left campus for breakfast, but the impending weather had probably kept them close to home. Lily shoved her way past the gaggle of students chatting and laughing just inside the doorway, and led Hannah to the food line.
Four different boys tried to give her their spot in the line, stumbling over each other in their fight to help her. Lily politely refused and stayed close to Hannah, who—thankfully—ignored it.
A brown-haired boy with glasses was in front of them. He offered her a tray, completely ignoring Hannah. “What do you want to eat?” he asked.
“I can get my own food.” Lily’s nerves were frayed. If it didn’t stop soon, she was going to get physical.
“Of course you can,” he said hurriedly.
Lily took the tan tray from him and rolled her eyes at his happy smile; her attention was like giving a dog a treat. She reached past him to scoop up some scrambled eggs, but the boy jerked the spoon from her hand and started shoveling eggs on her plate.
“Hey!” Lily yelled, as Hannah stared on, flabbergasted. “Cut it out.”
The boy blushed. “Sorry. Just trying to help.”
Annoyed, Lily grabbed the spoon from him and tossed it back in the pan. She finished getting her own breakfast, purposefully keeping her back to the kid, then she and Hannah walked past Samantha and her clique to sit down at a corner booth.
It was obvious Hannah noticed the way boys reacted to her, and it mortified Lily. She was relieved her roommate never said anything, though the girl seemed to be amused by it all.
Hannah gazed out the window. “It’s raining now. I love storms.”
Lily took a bite, watching the rain fall. “There goes our walk. What do you want to do instead?”
“I need to return a book at the library.” Hannah tossed back the last of her milk. “We could go do that.”
Lily nodded. “Sure.”
When they finished eating, they dumped their trays in the dish area and left. They paused in the doorway; it was raining harder. Not pouring, but hard enough they were going to get wet walking to the library. Lily didn’t mind. She liked the rain; it relaxed her.
Suddenly, a handful of boys surrounded them, shoving their umbrellas at Lily. “Thanks guys…really, but we’re good. I’m not sugar. I promise I won’t melt.” She pushed passed them and hurried into the rain, Hannah at her heels.
Jake had watched the scene in the breakfast line, and then the circus at the door. He curled his lip in disgust at the guys still standing at the front door, staring after Lily with wounded looks. What makes a boy turn into an idiot like that? It didn’t surprise him in the slightest that Lily had fled into a downpour.
Even though he found it revolting that they were falling all over Lily, he still couldn’t help but want to be the one who opened the door and shared his umbrella with her. But at least he wasn’t acting like a dipstick about it.