Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (11 page)

She is not sure where she is heading until she looks up to find that her feet have taken her right to Sadie’s doorstep. It’s only been a couple days since she was last here, although she struggles to remember why at the moment.

Movement in the upper window of the house next door catches her eye but the curtain flutters back into place before she can make out the person concealed within. Roseline frowns.

“Well hello, Rose. Did you do well on that Chem test you and Sadie studied so hard for? Sadie swears she aced it but I have my doubts.” Mrs. Hughes smiles as she opens the glass-paneled door. Her sapphire blue robe is tucked tightly around her slender figure.

“I believe I did well enough,” Roseline says, thankful for the reminder as she steps over the threshold and dips low to slip off her boots.

The scent of vanilla invades her senses. Sadie’s mom appears to have the same affinity for scents as Sadie’s does for wardrobe changes. “Sadie, Rose is here.”

Thundering footsteps race down the carpeted hall. Roseline smiles as she hears abuse slung about from upstairs. “Back off, she’s my friend.”

“How do you know she came here to see you?” William protests.

Sadie snickers as she rounds the corner. “You are so desperate.”

“Hi.” Roseline grins, amused by their state of dress. William stands in the doorway, wearing only plaid pajama bottoms. His hair is heavily tousled, sticking up in the back like a peacock. Roseline tries not to admire William’s bare chest, but it is smooth and toned, far more appealing than she would have guessed under the ratty t-shirts he loves to wear.

What amazes Roseline the most is Sadie’s transformation. Without her dark eye shadow, rocker shirts, and cutoff jeans, she actually looks lovely. “Wow, Sadie, look at you.”

Sadie rolls her eyes. “I know. I look terrible without makeup.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “You look amazing.”

“See, told you so. No one likes your Goth look.” Mrs. Hughes grins as she pokes her head into the room.

“Mom,” Sadie hisses, shooing her mother away. Mrs. Hughes takes the hint and disappears, but not before she plants a kiss on Sadie’s forehead. “She’s so embarrassing.”

Roseline smiles, wishing she could’ve had that kind of relationship with her mother. “I apologize for the early hour. I couldn’t sleep and decided to take a walk.”

William throws himself onto a leather couch. Reaching for the remote, he switches on the massive flat screen over the fireplace. He flips through several channels before settling on an animated children’s show. Roseline raises an eyebrow but Sadie just waves it off. “He’s still into cartoons. Loser.”

“I heard that,” he calls from the other side of the couch. He has sunk so low Roseline can’t see anything more than his leg slung over the end.

Sadie heads back toward the stairs. “Come on up. I gotta get dressed anyways.”

Roseline follows Sadie up to her room. Glancing toward William’s partially open door she stiffens when she realizes the room is occupied. Nicolae has his back turned toward the door. She spies a mass of scars along his back before he rushes to pull his shirt down over his head.

When he turns toward her, his gaze is harsh. Roseline gets the “mind your own business” message loud and clear before Nicolae shuts the door in her face. She frowns and follows Sadie into her room, closing the door behind her.

“What’s with Nicolae?” she asks, watching her friend belly flop onto her bed. Roseline settles for an oversized neon pink beanbag by the window.

“What do you mean?” Sadie asks, instantly bored with the topic.

“The scars. Haven’t you noticed them before?”

Sadie sits up. “What scars?”

“On his back.” She begins to question what she saw when Sadie’s brow knits together. “You’ve never seen them?”

“Nope, but I’m not exactly trying to see him with his shirt off either.” Roseline can’t help but think that if Sadie had seen him back in Brasov she might have a different opinion of meek little Nicolae. “That guy gives me the creeps.”

Roseline nods in agreement, but she knows her reasons are much different from Sadie’s. “So is he still stalking you?”

“Night and day. The guy won’t leave me alone for a second. He’s always watching me.”

“I think he likes you.”

Sadie grits her teeth at the thought. “Yeah, well I’m off the market. I am officially done with boys. Besides, he’s kinda freaky, ya know? Like how he is always offering to help me out of the car or get my lunch tray? It’s almost like he’s trying to be the perfect guy.”

“Maybe I should talk to him,” Roseline offers, rising from her seat.

Sadie laughs, rolling out of bed. She grabs a rumpled towel off her computer chair, giving it a quick sniff test before shrugging and tossing it over her shoulder. “What could you possibly do to scare him off?”

Roseline grins. “You never know.”

She slips out into the hallway as soon as Sadie disappears into her bathroom. She turns and bumps straight into Nicolae.

“Do you mind?” he mutters as he bounces back against the wall. He tries to move away but Roseline’s hand lashes out, clamping tightly around his forearm. Nicolae flinches at her warm touch but says nothing. Roseline can feel his anger radiating off him.

“I thought I made myself clear the other night,” she growls in her native tongue as she pulls him close.

“Ah, there you are, Nicolae. I was beginning to wonder if you were up as well.”

Roseline instantly releases his arm as Sadie’s father exits his room at the end of the hall. “Morning, Rose. It seems I have you to thank for my family’s early rising.” Mr. Hughes yawns, plodding past them in his stripped PJs and slippers. He descends a couple of steps before turning back.

“I’d forgotten that you two were from the same country. Small world, eh?”

Roseline smiles as he disappears down the stairs. She turns her attention back to Nicolae. He meets her icy glare head on. No backing down. Roseline’s lip curls into a snarl. Her mind explodes with imaginary red warning flags. Nicolae is far more than he appears, certainly not a typical school boy.

“Leave Sadie alone.”

“Or what?” Nicolae challenges. “You’ll kill me?”

“Don’t tempt me.” Roseline’s face clouds with anger. “You know I can. In fact, I think I would rather enjoy it.”

“I don’t doubt that, but I doubt you would do it here, with witnesses.” Nicolae’s smirk tightens as he takes a step toward her. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“No?” Her lips peel back over her teeth as she counters his challenge, positioning herself an inch from Nicolae’s nose. His eyes widen but he holds his ground. Roseline pauses, taking in his strong stance and the muscles rippling under his shirt. “Who are you?”

“I’m the guy that’s protecting Sadie,” he says, grinding the words out through clenched teeth.

Roseline blinks, surprised. “You think I want to hurt my friend?” Nicolae’s jaw clenches as he nods. She blows out a breath, easing back onto the pads of her feet. So that’s what his whole stalker mode is about.

“You may think you know me, but you are wrong,” Roseline says, leaning back against the wall to put space between them. “I give you my word, I would never lay a finger on Sadie.”

“Your word means nothing me,” Nicolae growls. “I will be watching you.”

He turns and steps back into his room, slamming the door in Roseline’s face. She stares at the closed door. Fear tickles her spine. Just how much does Nicolae know about her? Deciding there is nothing she can do about it, Roseline slips back down the stairs. Noticing William is still slouched in front of the TV, Roseline decides to join him.

“Budge up.” He straightens, allowing her some room. “What are you watching?”

“Phineas and Ferb. This show is awesome.”

Roseline watches for a few minutes, amused by the platypus that is a pet by day and secret agent by night. “Creative.”

“No kidding,” William nods, eyes glued to the screen. “It’s brilliant.”

“Do you watch children’s shows often?” She fights to conceal her amusement.

William switches off the TV and retracts his legs from the armrest. “Hey, I know what you’re thinking. What’s a genius like me doing watching a show like that? Well, let me tell you, missy, brainiacs need a break too, you know.”

Roseline giggles as William thrusts his thumb into his chest. “I see. Wow, I didn’t realize I was in the presence of greatness.”

William nods solemnly. “And don’t you forget it.”

“Is he trying to hit on you again?” Sadie calls as she bounces down the stairs. Her usual spiked collar has been replaced by a dog choke chain. It clangs loudly as she lands on the ground floor. She wears jeans two sizes too big, drooped at the waist, and a Pink Floyd t-shirt.

“Oh, not again,” William groans. “Aren’t you done with this phase yet?”

“Nope. I’m still exercising my civil rights.”

Roseline grins. “Protesting the school dress code on the weekend, too?”

“You bet.” Sadie nods, slinging herself into the armchair. “Someone has to make a statement.”

“Well, I’d say you’re covering that for the entire school,” Mrs. Hughes says as she carries in a plate of freshly baked biscuits into the living room. “Hungry, Rose?”

“Yes, ma’am. I forgot to eat this morning.”

“No kidding. It’s like five AM.” Sadie groans, shielding her eyes from the bright sunshine streaming in through the bay window nearby.

“Oh, stop being such a sour puss,” William cries, tossing a pillow at his sister. “It’s at least seven AM.”

“It’s a tragedy, that’s what it is,” Sadie says mournfully. “I never get out of bed before ten AM on a Saturday.”

Roseline’s brow furrows, thinking over her words. “Then why are you awake so early?” Obviously, Sadie and William were awake when she arrived. A mischievous grin spreads across Sadie’s face. She glances over at William with a conspiratorial gleam in her eye. Roseline stares at the siblings with increasing suspicion. “Alright, what’s going on?”

Ten

“How could you say yes without even asking me?” Roseline cries, leaping to her feet. When Gabriel stopped by Sadie’s house the night before to invite them to a party at his house she actually agreed. Roseline leaps through feelings of betrayal and straight into panic. This is the complete opposite of avoiding him!

“I thought you’d be happy.” Sadie’s grin phases into a frown. “You sure seemed to enjoy talking to him last weekend.”

“Yes, talking is fine…” Roseline agrees hesitantly.

Sadie scans her growing blush. “But he wants more, doesn’t he?”

William jerks upright, suddenly very interested in their conversation. Roseline tries to appear as if her shrug is innocent. “He asked if I had plans. That’s all.”

“So what stopped you?” Sadie asks, leaning forward.

“Besides you, you mean?” William snorts. His face takes the brunt of Sadie’s couch pillow missile.

Dozens of reasons flood Roseline’s mind. Like the fact that she’s an immortal with a husband who has a vicious jealous streak and will happily rip Gabriel’s limbs from his body? Or because Gabriel is a mortal and totally unsuited for her life? Or that simply by being around him, she gets all warm and mushy and her predatory senses are shot to pieces? Or maybe it’s that she can’t even figure out why she is so drawn to him. This fact alone is enough to make her want to run and hide.

Roseline stares pointedly at Sadie, choosing the only excuse that won’t make her sound like a lunatic. “He has a girlfriend and that is where I draw the line.”

William grins triumphantly but Roseline ignores him. His enthusiasm over her decision makes her groan inwardly. Although she has given him no reason to hope for a relationship, apparently those dreams are still burning strong.

“It’s just a party, Rose,” Sadie says, throwing up her hands. “I’m not asking you to marry the guy.”

Unable to remain seated any longer, Roseline rises to pace the room. She hates how unsettled Gabriel makes her feel. Just thinking about him is bad enough, but after a week’s worth of dreaming about him, she is afraid she will jump him the instant she sees him.

“What if you went with a date?” Sadie suggests, breaking into Roseline’s thoughts. “That way you wouldn’t be tempted to break your moral code.”

“A date?” Roseline laughs. “Where could I find a date on such short notice?”

William trips over his own feet trying to stand. His arm shoots straight into the air. “Me. I’m free.”

Definitely need to discourage this
, she sighs inwardly. “Thank you, William, but I will be fine.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, his face drooping with disappointment.

“Definitely.”

William is cute, no doubt about that, but he needs to take a hint. He has brother vibes wriggling all over him!

Roseline turns on Sadie, still trying to find a loophole to get herself out of the party. “I thought you hated the in-crowd. What is with the change of heart?”

“Oh, don’t give me that look,” Sadie pleads. “I know what you’re thinking and, yes, you’re right. Partying with snobs isn’t exactly my scene anymore…but it’s the first time since freshman year that I’ve been invited. I gotta go, Rose.”

“I don’t know.” Roseline chews on her lip. Sadie buries her head in a pillow, wailing dramatically.

William rolls his eyes. “I don’t see what the big deal is, Sadie. She doesn’t want to go, so she shouldn’t. We can chill out here, or something. We can rent a couple movies, pop some corn, and snuggle.” He raises his eyebrows suggestively.

Roseline laughs at Sadie’s horrified expression. “Are you insane? There will be girls there. Girls!”

William cuts a glance over at Roseline. He shrugs. “I’m good here.”

“Un-freaking-believable,” Sadie cries out, thrusting herself back into the couch cushions. “All I’m asking for is one night of teenage bliss. You two hate me.”

“Oh, don’t be like that,” William says.

“No, she’s right.” Roseline lets out an exaggerated sigh. She cannot fault Sadie for wanting one night to fit in, but that doesn’t mean she thinks it’s a good idea. “Don’t forget that you have spent four years rebelling against these people. I hate to think you would give all of that up just for one stupid party.”