Luminescence (Luminescence Trilogy) Read online

  Lukas grabbed my hand, pulling me sharply to my feet. “Hurry,” he yelled over the deafening winds. Using himself as a shield from the slashing switch of tree limbs he guided us out from underneath – our feet crunching on fallen leaves. As we reached the edge of the covering, the willows limbs transfigured into venomous snakes, the hissing of tongues seethed and the clattered of tails echoed off the valley walls. At this point it was clear my subconscious was wacked.

  An overpowering tug on my leg stopped me in my tracks. Something held onto me squeezing in a death pressure. Glancing down, I found a snake encircled and coiled around my leg. A piercing scream ripped from my lungs, ringing over the valley. Lukas turned and expounded a hushed string of words over the chaotic noise.

  Just as abrupt, a ghostly silence erupted, followed by an eerie ambiance filling the valley. The wavering of my breath thundered in my ears over the muteness. He pulled me protectively to his side keeping his arm around me.

  “Are you hurt?” He hastily looked me over to verify himself.

  Before I had the option to answer, a smoldering ash of solid fog spread – engulfing us. Reaching for his arm my hands were filled with nothingness. Panic started to rise in my chest; my voice was filled with the prickling of hysteria as it pealed out.

  “Lukas,” I yelled. “Lukas… Hello.” My voice came across pitchy. Tentatively I listened for his response; only to hear the quick fear of my short pants.

  A dark husky voice broke out into the wall of thickening air. “Bri,” it called.

  A quivering of fear encumbered me as my head whipped back and forth. Taking a step or two in retreat, I looked for an opening in the compacted haze. My eyes burned as I searched for the image to the voice. If I had not just heard the voice earlier today, I wouldn’t have been able to place it. As recognition seeped through, my pounding heart receded slowly.

  “Gavin,” I whispered half to myself in confusion.

  Turning in circles, the toe of my shoe bumped into a rock embedded in the ground, sending me sprawling. Landing with a groan, I barely caught my face from connecting with the surface. As I lay there stunned, a band of arms wrapped around me, pulling me carefully to my feet. Even without looking I knew it was Gavin. His scent was like a wild forest assaulting my insides.

  I rubbed my hands over my now scraped and throbbing forearms. Fireflies spread through my stomach like wildfire at his proximity. Even in my dreams he caused those pesky fireflies.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked dumbfounded. This was a dream, it didn’t need logic, but his presence puzzled me. Never has there been anyone else in the dream except Lukas and me. His manifestation startled me, along with the creepy scenario. Nightmares weren’t the norm part of the deal. Today was just full of bombshells.

  His eyes alert, scanned beyond me. Not sure how he was able to see past the smog. The attentive tension in his back caused a suspicion of fear to sprinkle along my spine.

  He never had a chance to answer my question, because that was the moment it ended.

  I awoke with a sharp headache and lump lodged in my throat. Swallowing to stifle its pressure I was shocked to find it scratchy. Pushing the bed covers aside I rolled off the bed and switched on the lamp, chasing the dark shadows from the walls. It was then I realized my body was trembling.

  Facing the oval mirror on my dresser, I saw an unfamiliar reflection staring back. My skin was pale, covered with a sheen sweat and my eyes were enlarged. The violet irises filled my glossy eyes. Running an unsteady hand through my hair, I forced myself to take deep even breaths.

  “What the hell was that?” I voiced aloud, startled by the shakiness of my voice.

  Leaving the light on, comforted by its soft glow, I crawled back into bed. Bracing my back against the headboard, I hugged my knees to my chest and forced the tense muscle to relax. My mind swirled around the dream and the sense of reality that was still with me. Never have I had a dream with such clarity and devastating effects. Rarely was I prone to nightmares. Even as a child, however this exceeded anything I’d experienced or wish to again.

  “Something is seriously wrong with me, maybe I’m ill,” I attempted to reason. Lifting a hand to my forehead I expected a temperature, but was sorely disappointed.

  Eventually I tried to lie back down and closed my eyes, hoping that sleep would take me; to my avail it proved impossible. Sleep was beyond my control, so I rendered the effort and laid there with the lamp shinning, waiting for the first signs of dawn.

  As tired as I was in the morning, I forced my body to pay attention to my mind. Must get up, I chastised myself. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I headed to the shower, cranking the heat with hope to chase the chills. Thank god it was Friday. The weekend was in reach, not that I had a life to boast about. My weekends were alternately spent at the shop.

  The steam from the shower massaged my taunt nerves, as the memories of yesterday started flying in my head. This day couldn’t end fast enough.

  Donning on my favorite outfit, a plum tank and my most flattering crystal-studded jeans, I figured the comfort of looking good might overrule the tensions. Better to face your problems head on. I don’t know who said that, but they defiantly didn’t have my problems.

  Chapter 4

  THE TOP WAS DOWN ON my very used black mustang, its engine roared like a big Herculean cat. To drown the noise and my nerves, I turned the radio a few octaves higher than comfort – One Republic’s Apologize crooning from the speakers. The seats vibrated in time with the bass. Carelessly my hair was tied in a ponytail, letting the wind caress my cheeks. The skies dejected clouds hung overhead in a display of chaos.

  The middle of October had an aura of fall creeping closer. More storms would threaten the oceans as hurricane season started to settle in. Focusing my attention back to the road, the mustang effortlessly hugged a gentle curve. My Roxy messenger bag was thrown in the back seat as I pulled into the parking lot of Holly Ridge High. This was my senior year and something told me it might just be a year I won’t forget.

  The schools structure reminded of an odd shaped S, with its faded red bricks reflecting the wear and tear it weathered. There was a sweeping pink dogwood in front of the main office with wooden benches flanking either side. A large cougar mounted over the front of the building with the schools motto stretched across the top in bold black letters.

  Maneuvering my slightly rusting mustang into a parking space, the lot was packed with second hand-me-down vehicles like mine. Occasionally there was the glimmer of something flashy like the silver Infinite next to me – I deliberately avoided. The last thing I needed was to dent the luxury car with my peeling burgundy paint.

  I grabbed my bag out of the backseat and headed toward the lockers. Arriving at the rundown row of metal compartments, I started shuffling my books for my first class. Pulling out my U.S. History book with subdued enthusiasm, I was acutely aware of the murmuring hum from the students around me. The hall sounded like the swirling buzz of mosquitoes after a humid rainfall. The hope that the event of yesterday was old news and my classmates had found some other gossip to spread perished.

  Resigned to whatever fate was in store, I numbly headed to homeroom.

  My first two classes went as expected. Nothing life threatening, just more of the hushed whispers I vaguely noticed anymore – or maybe I just didn’t care.

  In between the following class, I stopped at my locker to switch books. Flinging my Chem text into my bag, I heard the locker beside mine squeak. In no mood for company I slung my bag over my shoulder ready to make a quick exit. Laying my hand on the door of the locker with every intention of slamming it shut, I averted my gaze to avoid the body against the lockers. In that quick movement a scent of reckless woods washed over me.

  Silently I groaned. What is with this guy?

  Rolling my eyes I angled towards him, not expecting to see his sapphire eyes pinning min
e. Was I supposed to breathe when he looked at me like this? My annoyance was momentarily forgotten.

  He smirked, moving the hoop in his lip slightly. “Hey Bri.” The shorten name sounded so intimate when it came from his mouth, indicating he knew me on a more personal level.

  I knew that if I stayed another minute with him, I was going to make a complete fool of myself, utterly not trusting that I wouldn’t say something idiotic. Then there was his smirk I couldn’t figure out. Was he laughing at me? Was he amused by me or did he just have an annoying smirk that I found charming and maddening all at the same time.

  Shutting the locker, I moved to evade him. He shifted his unlaced boots in front of my path obstructing my escape.

  “What’s your deal?” I asked, sharper than intended and ended up running a nervous hand through my hair. My emotions around him reminded me of a pinball machine, bouncing from one side to another – up, down, left, right.

  His smile only widened. “You’re the only person I know.” He had an arrogant confidence about him. In his stance, the way he was sure of himself. Of course I would find that endearing as well. “I figured you could help…to find my next class,” he replied at my confused look and gestured to the bag on my shoulder.

  I snorted. “You’re actually going to class today?” My disbelief was real. I wasn’t sure what to expect from him or if we’d even meet again. My school was the only high school in town and fairly large, there were plenty of kids I didn’t even know. Also I didn’t have the best social skills.

  He moved a little bit closer to me, shutting out more of the activity hustling the halls. “It seemed like the best way to see you again, unless you plan on skipping out again…” His voice had dropped but lost none of its huskiness.

  Had he just said he had wanted to see me again? My brain couldn’t process the idea. Skirting over what my mind couldn’t believe I asked the obvious question, clearing my throat. “What class do you have next?”

  “Ummm…” He pulled out a crumbled-up slip of white paper from the back pocket of his jeans. It was impossible not to notice how good he looked in them. He was dressed pretty much the same as yesterday, dark clothing that looked impeccable on him. “What period is it?” he asked.

  “Third,” I replied, perplexed by his lack of interest. If he didn’t know what period it was, what was he even doing here?

  He unraveled his class schedule looking for third period. I couldn’t help but notice how a stray lock fell over his eyes when he bent to read the slip. My fingers itched to brush it back from his face. “Looks like I have chemistry. Room C102.” He read off the schedule, ignoring the midnight strand of hair.

  “Great,” I replied a tad sarcastic. Wasn’t that just my luck? It also happened to be my next class.

  He raised his studded eyebrow at me.

  “It’s my next class.” I echoed my own thoughts. Turning to head towards the C hall, he followed in step beside me, not missing a beat.

  “Chemistry… this should be interesting.”

  Glancing sideways I narrowed my eyes. He held my gaze with the promise of secret he was unwilling to divulge. There was no doubt he understood my irritation. The longer I stared at the blue of his iris, the faster my heart speed and the fireflies zoomed in my stomach.

  “You have such unusual eyes,” he finally stated. The husky dark texture of his voice lulled over me and seriousness shone in his eyes. A contrast to the teasing quality I’d gotten use to from him.

  Stunned at what sounded like another compliment, especially since I had been admiring his eyes. I could have said the same about his, if my tongue wasn’t tied in knots. We had yet to break contact.

  As fate would have it, he ended up saving be from yet another disaster. My focus was entirely on him and in rationalizing the incident, it boiled down to really being his fault. Fortunately for me, he was more aware of our surroundings – but utterly embarrassing for the one who was supposed to be leading us to class.

  I all but walked into one of the pillars edging the entrance to C hall. He casually placed a hand at the small of my back and gracefully on his part glided me around the pillar. The contact of his hand on my back broke the staring spell and incited an all new set of excitement. Tingling sensations like tiny shooting stars burst throughout me. The intensity of it brought me back inside my head, as I realized a second before I almost whacked the column. My feet miss-stepped and I stumbled on the frayed carpet.

  I knew I wasn’t extremely graceful but around him I was down right klutzy. Afraid to meet his eyes again I kept my head straight. “Thanks,” I muttered under my breath, trying to hide me mortification.

  “Is this going to be a habit? Me saving you?” There was a chuckle to his words.

  I just rolled my eyes. Besides, relief huddled over me now that he was back in teasing form. His serious flattery wasn’t something I could handle.

  We walked into Mr. Burke’s class side-by-side. The majority of the class was already seated and all eyes were on us. Gavin left my side and walked up to where Mr. Burke sat at the front of the class. He handed Mr. Burke a pink slip as I made my over to my table. He looked to me and smirked. A murmur of chatter zigzagged down the rows of desks. It wasn’t enough that I caused a spectacle yesterday, now I had some new mysterious gorgeous guy flirting with me. Sinking further into my chair, I scowled at him.

  By the time lunch rolled around I was in the need of some serious girl time – Austin included. There hadn’t been any time to spill my guts. I knew that both of them were concerned about me and were brimming to interrogate. Like what the hell was I thinking or was I crazy? Last night I turned my phone off, bent on shutting myself from the world.

  Winding through the cafeteria, the smells of milk cartons, fries and all things greasy swarm the room. I spotted Tori at our table with Austin.

  “Hey,” I greeted throwing my bag over the back and took a seat.

  I had no more than sat down when the chair in front of me pulled out and was filled by none other than the dark and mysterious – Gavin.

  My heart thumped at the sight of him. “What are you doing?” Having him suddenly appear every time I turned was grating on my frazzled emotions. There was no downtime to calm the effect he enticed.

  At his arrival Austin and Tori both froze mid-bite to my dismay and gawked. There hadn’t been time to fill in the events of the current soap opera I was living. My planned to spill my guts at lunch was now nixed.

  “Keeping you company,” he responded, meeting my glare with a mischievous grin. He held my eyes longer than comfortable but I couldn’t look away. Finally he turned to Austin and Tori. “Hey, I’m Gavin,” he introduced, dazzling them with a smile. Austin still had his mouth agape, looking star-struck. Tori thankfully had the decency to smile in return, instead of looking like a goon.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. Why did he make me forget myself? “Austin, Tori this is Gavin. We meet ummm –” I stumbled to find a reasonably explanation without sounding like a dork. “Yesterday in the parking lot,” I managed. The admission caused a faint blush to crawl on my cheeks as I remembered our meeting – so much for not sounding like a dork.

  Tori’s inquisitive gaze burned at my side. I shifted fretfully in my seat. No doubt there would be a lot to answer for when the two got me alone. Gavin was not the kind of guy you forgot to tell your best friends about. If I wasn’t careful around him, something told me there was good possibility I would get hurt.

  Gavin’s husky voice broke me out of my thoughts. “It was sort of a hit and run.” His twinkling eyes meet mine, as an uneasy cough escaped my mouth. As bad as the joke was, it felt wicked sharing in something only the two of us understood. I found it impossible to be irritated with him. But it didn’t last long.

  The moment was ruined by none other than Rianne. She strolled by, trailing a finger on the table and angled at Gavin. “Hey hotie.” She all but pu
rred her words. “Sure you don’t want to join me?” she invited, batting her fake lashes. If I had to guess, I thought just about everything about her was fake. Her obvious flirtations made me want to gag. Lucky for her I hadn’t eaten yet.

  “I’m good here.” He never even spared her more than a polite glance, which she couldn’t possible understand. Boys did not ignore her. Not that I blamed them, she did look like Barbie’s slutty twin. Her fire engine red skirt barely covered her ass and the black top was low enough to be outlawed at Hooter’s.

  “You’ll change your mind.” Her utter confidence made me nauseated. I’m sure she wasn’t able to imagine what he saw in me and my friends. She was popular and probably thought she was doing him a social favor – a once in lifetime opportunity. She teased her honey blonde hair between her fingers. Rianne had been bully kids at our school far too long.

  Looking directly into my eyes he replied, “I doubt it.”

  A genuine smile broke out over my face and was mirrored in his. Next to me I could hear the low snickering of my friends. In an attempt to put me down, her sweet flirty tone turned down right sour and nasty. “You better watch yourself,” she threatened me. Apparently being rejected didn’t bring out her bright side.

  I really didn’t want her to destroy the mood we had going again, but I couldn’t just let it go. “Suck it,” I cheerfully snapped. Classy I know. The damage was done, best to just go for it. Never do anything half ass – my new outlook on life.

  She flipped her hair over her shoulder and sauntered to her clique of followers. A glimpse of her black thong peeked over the top of her skirt as she swayed her hips with more oomph than necessary.

  Gavin laughed low in his throat. “That was fun.”

  I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. His idea of fun and mine didn’t even come close.

  “Is your life always this entertaining?” There was a hint of expectancy in his voice.