Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) (3 page)

With our plans solidified, Florence
and Eliza
leave for their road trip to Boston
to
go to the
Broom C
loset, our favorite metaphysical store. They decide to take Nik and Eyln with them
,
so
that
the rest of us can work hard here
,
without worrying about the babies. It also gives Eliza a reason to stop
in and see Luke
;
of course
,
he
’
s always happy to see his baby brother. I kn
ow it
’
s been hard for Luke to be
back in Boston at school.

Safe Haven

A few days later the supernatural school is finished. W
e
’
re able t
o house about sixty students
—
and of course
,
our first one is Ben. Today, we
’
re moving him from the main house into the dorm. Because of Ben
’
s situation with the angel hunters, and them being after him
,
we decide to give him a separate room away from others. Although the school is hidden and under magic
k
al protection
,
we
’
ll still place extra protection on Ben
’
s room. We hope this will
help, but really aren
’
t sure
,
b
ecause thi
s time, we are fighting angels
—
and only God knows what kind of powers they have.

Ben has always had a close relationship with his mother, so when he realized the changes he was going through
,
he talked to her about it. From what he told us
,
the initial chang
e from mortal to his angel self,
or
nephilim
,
was
quite painful. He had no idea what was g
oing on
when
the
excruciating pain in his back
over
powered him.
His mother
heard his cries
and
protected him through h
is change.

He lost a few days
; he
thought he
’
d
slept them of
f, and in a sense
,
I guess he had
. His mom explaine
d to him that during the change
a
type of cocoon protected him.
When he broke free of the cocoon
,
his wings appeared. He asked her what was happening
, and she
explained the little she knew about his biological father, and that his wings formed from the cocoon he was wrapped in. She didn
’
t kn
ow much
, but
what she did know
was
that
his father was an angel, a ver
y important angel. She
hasn
’
t
—
o
r maybe
can
’
t
—
s
hare any
more with him.
Most of what h
e is learning is coming from us
,
and the attacks from the angel hunters. Now he must learn not only who and
what
he is, but what he can do with it. His mother arrived earlier to bring some of his things. She
’
s aware that he
’
s going to attend a school for
the supernaturals
;
not only
for
his safety, but hers. Still,
she is not aware that the school is located right here.

“
Did you have a nice visit with your mom this morning?
”
I try to engage Ben in some normal conversation.

“
Yeah.
I still find it h
ard not being honest with her
,
b
ut I guess it has to be done. So let
’
s get my crib set up. Please tell me there
’
s a built in sound system,
”
he changes the subject.

“
Yeah
,
okay
,
and I won
’
t tell you I
’
m lying either,
”
I laugh.
“
Seriously though
,
there is a basic stereo system and television in each room
,
as well as a large common
entertainment room for everyone to share
—
n
o
t to mention an impressive game
room. We
’
ll show you everything when we get down there. Are you ready to see your living quarters yet?
”

“
You bet! L
et
’
s get this show on the road,
”
h
e says
,
running to the elevator.
“
H
ey wait a sec, I though
t
the elevator was right here?
”

Ebony smiles
.
“
It was.
”

“
Well
,
what the heck happened to it? Did it decide to leave?
”
Ben snarls back sarcastically.

“
As you know
, we are magickally protecting the school
, and
part of this protection is hiding
all
the ways to get into it. My sister
,
Eliza
,
and myself
have
placed a spell to hide the elevator down to the school. There is also another one on the outside of the house
,
which is also protected. The two of us,
as well as all of the Pierce
’
s
—
a
nd Nathanial
—
know the incantation to make the entrance
visible,
”
Ebony explains.

“
You can do that?
”
Ben asks with surprise.

“
That
,
and so much more. Y
ou
’
ll learn
,
not only about my abilities, but about the abilitie
s of all the other supernatural
s we
’
ve encountered.
As you know Eliza and I are the Magnificent Ones, we are two of the most power witches in the world. Our strong bloodline along with other factors have increased our magickal ability.
”

“
Yes I have been let in on a few of your secrets and I
’
m sure you
’
ll learn some more of mine.
Okay, so the door
’
s hidden
,
and only certain people can make it appear
. Now my question is
—
how the heck do the rest of us get out?
”

“
Getting out is not a problem. Everyone is free to leave on their own will, unless we have it under lockdown
for some reason. It also has another
spell
,
so
that if someone is
in
danger
—
or danger is approaching the school
—
it
will go on automatic lockdown.
”

“
Great idea. Now wh
y don
’
t you do your hocus-pocus
and open the door, and let
’
s get this show on the road.
”

“
I
’
ll be happy to open the door, but let
’
s get one thing straight first
,
Ben. If you ever call magick hocus-pocus again, I will tear you apa
rt from your chin to your groin
,
a
nd eat you from the inside
out.
”
Ebony stands face-to-face with Ben and flashes her fangs.

“
Whoa
,
Ebony
,
calm
down. There will be no tearing
—
o
r eating
—
necessary. I
’
m
just joking around. I
won
’
t let it happen again.
”
He raises his hands
,
waving th
em slightly in front of him. His
fear is evident
,
from the bead of sweat forming on his brow as he attempts to remedy the situation.

We all burst out in laughter, knowing that Ebony is just teasing him. Nathanial walks over and slaps
his old friend on the shoulder
as Ebony
quietly
recites the incantation to open the entrance
to
the school. A dull blue and green burst of light glow
s before us, and as it fades
the elevator door
s
appe
ar
. Once the door
s open,
we all step on
to
the simple
,
yet classic
,
elevator. With one more incantation, we begin our descent to the school corridor. I can
sense Ben
’
s heartbeat speeding with his excitement.

Upon
reaching the school, the elevator doors open wide, revealing the most beautiful flooring
,
made from white Italian marble with beautiful golden streaks running through it. About a foot from the wall runs a gold and teal border
,
outlined with crisp black. In the center of the main corridor
,
embedded in the floor
,
is a l
arge six foot by six foot Trique
tra
,
constructed with a black Italian ma
rble. We all agree that the Trique
tra is the perfect symbol for our school
,
due to the magickal powers held within it. It
will
assist in keeping the magick of the scho
ol strong. Hang
ing high above from the
twelve-foot
ceilings
, and above the T
riquetra, is a large and elaborate crystal chandelier, putting
out
soft white light.

Leading Ben to the dormitory
,
Nathanial walks
beside me
,
taking my hand in his
,
and I feel a certain peace, knowing that he will be with me forever.
Even after more than two years, I still feel butterflies
a
nd little electric shocks
every time Nathanial touches me. At the same moment
,
we both turn and look lovingly at ea
ch other and
,
with a small smile,
I lean down and kiss the top of Nik
’
s head. With a small baby
—
the orphaned brother that I lo
ve
—
in the carrier upon my chest
,
and my
soul mate
next to me, I get a new sense of family
, the
kind I never thought I would have. As we reach the end of the
corridor,
I
’
m brought back to reality.

“
Ben
,
t
o the right
are
the dorms. Y
our room is the last one at the end of the hall.
To the left is the common room
,
and through the door at the back of the common room is th
e game
room. Now
,
why don
’
t we
go get you settled in your room.
I
’
m confident you
’
ll like it,
”
I explain.