Darling of Prophecy

By Molly Lavenza

One mistake and those I love could die.

Hiding behind my brother and his friends has made it easy to keep my secrets, but since Merith came to Arda only months ago, my life has been wrecked. My father exposed, my brother obsessed . . . and now, because I let myself care about someone who is practically a stranger to me, I've been revealed as what I truly am.

This curse's hold over me is irrevocable, my life more entwined in it than I can manage on my own. Can I overcome my fears and let my family and friends help me, or hide within myself, determined to protect them from deadly truths only I can discern?

***

Clare Thorne has lurked in her older brother Kyle's shadow for years, making sure to avoid attention. What she can't avoid is her birthright, a curse that has become overwhelming in the wake of Merith Leigh's arrival at Arda Academy and the destruction it has sown in her life - with more to come. If the future holds nothing but ruin for those she loves, what can she possibly do to protect them from certain death?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Molly Lavenza
• Release date: Nov 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005230463

Molly Lavenza

Molly Lavenza is a student at Kent State University. She loves her home state of Ohio, her cats, little sister, and her boyfriend, whose dark, curly hair and obsession with Converse sneakers was the inspiration for Declan, the hero in The Changeling Covenant.

Book preview

Chapter One

Today is the first day of winter break.

A day my older brother will die.

There’s no one here at the school now, only the headmaster, my brother, my sister, and my brother’s best friend, Danica, but I still run as carefully and quietly as I can to the restroom down the hall.

The silence makes me worry that one of that group will hear me throwing up, especially since Merith and Danica share a room right beside mine and could probably hear my very physical reaction to my latest nightmare.

I lean back against the metal door of the toilet stall, forcing myself to take deep breaths of the chilly air. Arda Academy is cool at best, freezing at its worst, in the middle of the last month of the year.

A year that has brought me nothing but stress.

Hey, Clare. You okay?

Danica calls out, her voice loud but gentle. She’s always looked out for me like she’s my older sibling and not just my brother's best friend.

I’m so tired. Another nightmare, another horrible display of what lies in store for someone close to me lingering behind my eyelids as I awakened, tangled in my bed sheets as if I was fighting them off in my sleep.

Even after I woke up, the vision was clear, hovering around me like a thick fog.

Yeah. Doesn’t everyone have to use the restroom the first thing in the morning?

I hear the lack of heavy sarcasm in my voice and cringe. She’ll be able to figure out that I’m not at my usual level of spoiled brat today, and say something to Kyle.

She means well, but that never got anyone anywhere, at least from my own observations.

Do you need any help?

I cover my eyes with one hand, as my other hand twists in the belt of my thick robe.

Can I just pee without getting the third degree already?

Without saying anything more, I do just that, slamming my hand on the knob to flush the toilet as loudly as I can.

We’re going to go out for breakfast, but we can wait until you’re ready.

What did she just say?

Going out, leaving the school property, means driving.

It means getting into a car.

A car that appeared in my dream to show me exactly how my brother would lose his life today, and that car just happened to be white, like Danica’s Tesla.

Danica’s one of those poor little rich girls, plenty of cash but without parents who actually care about her, which is lousy. I like her, even though she can hover too much. I can’t imagine why any parent wouldn’t be proud of her, or want to spend time with her.

My parents, though . . . even if they wanted me, I would only disappoint them, and now it doesn’t matter.

They’re both dead, and if I don’t stop Kyle from getting into Danica’s car, he will be, too.

I stumble over the long length of my robe, a lavender terry cloth monstrosity that my dad gave me for Christmas two years ago, although I suspect it was really Kyle, or Danica, who picked it out.

Dr. Benedict Thorne was too obsessed with Arda’s magic to spend time shopping for his little girl. Now Kyle has taken over the family obsession, when I just want to run from it.

As far and fast as I can.

I think we should order delivery. Besides, isn’t Kyle absorbing journal pages? Does he really have time to go out?

When I walk into Danica and Merith’s room, not bothering to knock at the open door as I speak, Merith jumps up, her hands working in her hair to make French braids.

Danica must have taught her how. They’re so close, which is fine with me. I don’t need my new sister trailing me around. I’m the youngest of the three Thornes, and don’t want to be bothered babysitting her or anyone else.

They both look up at me after I speak, and I hope I sounded as nonchalant as possible. They don’t need to know the real reason why I want us to have breakfast delivered, just that I do, and if I have to, I will kick and scream to make that happen.

To keep my brother from getting into a white car. Danica’s or otherwise.

You don’t think it would be nice to get out, away from school?

Danica frowns at me after she asks, but Merith blinks a few times, shifting her gaze from Danica to me and back again, like she can’t decide who to contradict.

You really want to take a chance on seeing one of your crazy aunts, Merith?

That does the trick. Merith sinks down onto the bed beside Danica as soon as the last word is out of my mouth, and Danica shakes her head at me as if I’m a disobedient child.

I turn away, hiding my smirk. Merith’s crazy aunts are my aunts too, but they didn’t hide me away, practically starving me and keeping me from interacting with anyone outside of their home.

Personally, I’d be happy never to meet any of them, but Merith is afraid of the possibility. I can’t blame her.

You make a good point, Clare. Kyle is really into those journals anyway, so he probably would be happier if we stayed here.

Danica throws her hands up in the air, then covers her eyes with one of them.

I want him out. He’s been sitting at the same table in the library since yesterday morning. I bet he’s there right now, hunched over and maybe, just maybe, sleeping.

I cross my arms over my chest, which isn’t easy in this heavy robe. If she’s trying to make me feel guilty, she’s done it, but I’ll never let her know this.

So what? He’s unstoppable and we all know it. At least if we order food, you’ll be able to get him to eat. It will be an excuse for him to stop reading for a little bit.

When she doesn’t answer, I don’t turn to look at her. It doesn’t matter what she thinks, or what Merith thinks.

The only important thing right now is keeping my brother here in this building.

I don’t even think it’s a good idea for him to go outside at all, not after last week.

When I wander over to the bedroom window, I catch a glimpse of something, or someone, moving by it. A person, it looks like at the quick glance I catch, but that doesn’t make sense when we’re on the third floor.

Well, it makes sense if it’s the ghost here at Arda.

The one who was lurking outside last week.

The one who looks dangerously like my dead father.

I have a new composition to work on, I sigh dramatically. So just get me whatever and I’ll eat it when I get around to it.

I leave the window, not really bothered by the idea of a body moving around outside the glass. Plenty of students here at Arda have seen him, but only my brother and I know what he looks like.

Even if we aren’t sure who he is.

Or was.

When I start to walk towards the door, Danica stands up and pats Merith on the back, like she’s a little girl in need of comfort.

She needs more than comfort, with the magic here thirsty for her blood.

Come on, Clare. It’s just us here for the next couple of weeks, so why don’t we hang out, have some fun?

It’s no trouble for me to deadpan, my face showing exactly how I feel about spending time with my siblings. There’s so much tension between the three of us, so much to unravel emotionally . . . and I’m not up for that.

Not now, or ever.

Keeping them alive is more along the lines of what I can manage, and if they don’t appreciate that, it’s okay, because they don’t know that I’m doing it.

Danica sighs again, and I don’t think I’ve seen her so exasperated before.

Okay, I can’t make you stay here with us. But if you change your mind . . .

I catch a glimpse of Merith leaning back a little as she sits on the bed, just enough to see around Danica and shoot me a look that I can’t quite decipher.

Usually she looks like a bewildered child, so overwhelmed with everything around her, or ridiculously grateful for any kindness or assistance shown to her. But right now, she looks like she knows something.

Something secret, something I might not want her to know.

I narrow my eyes at her. What is going through that goofy head of hers?

I changed my mind. I’ll get some clothes on and be right back.

As I speak, I keep my gaze on Merith’s, but hers doesn’t budge. She’s not intimidated, which is a first.

Danica’s smile is so real and honest that I step back. Why is she so freaking happy that I’ll eat breakfast with them?

If any of them knew what was wrong with me, they wouldn’t be so glad to have me around.

I’m going to check the library for Kyle. He isn’t answering my texts.

Danica is wearing an orange nightgown that barely reaches the top of her thighs, with pale orange pajama pants underneath them. Both have tiny pink roses printed over the material.

She doesn’t look sexy or anything, but I’m sure my brother will have trouble keeping his hands off her.

The two of them have been staring at each other since they met two and a half years ago, and I’ve been watching them, rolling my own eyes at every missed chance they had to tell each other how they felt.

Now I’m glad I had that time without them being lovey dovey every second they're together. Sure, it’s only been a few days since they officially became a couple, but I can only stand so much.

And it isn’t a whole lot.

I hurry once I’m in my room, wanting to be sure to catch any of them if they decide to drive out instead of ordering delivery.

They would tell me, but I just can’t take that chance.

Not when my brother’s life is at stake.

I pull on some sweat pants I wore yesterday, gray and faded, along with a bulky sweater that Danica gave me. Her mother gave it to her, or actually, ordered it online at some fancy expensive boutique, but it’s purple.

Danica only wears orange, except for uniform clothes. I would think that her own mother would know this, but clearly, she doesn’t, and it makes me sad for Danica, who deserves better.

I don’t really remember having a mother beyond a few vague sort of snapshot memories, so I don’t miss mine, even though she died two floors down from where I’m standing now, only a few months ago.

I’m sliding my feet into a pair of worn out clogs when there’s a knock at my door.

What now?

I call out, making sure I sound annoyed because I am. Why can’t everyone just stay where they are and stay safe? How long am I going to be able to keep an eye on them, anyhow?

What I don’t want to think about is my brother at college next year.

Is a phone call or text telling him to avoid someone or someplace going to keep him from harm?

The door opens just as I touch the knob, and Merith is suddenly eye to eye with me.

She looks serious, no trace of the nervous little girl in her gaze.

There’s a reason you don’t want us to leave the school, and you’re going to tell me what it is.

When she closes the door behind her, pushing me out of the way as she steps into my room, I open my mouth, indignant that she is bossing me around like this.

But there are no words, because I can tell that my denial isn’t going to work with her.

Not today.

Chapter Two

W here’s Danica?

I lift my chin, hoping to change the subject as I turn around, as if it doesn’t bother me to be shoved out of the way.

She went to find Kyle. And you’re avoiding the question.

I’m avoiding a lot of things, and I wish Merith would just leave me alone. It’s true that I’m working on a new composition for the piano, although right at this moment, I’d be happy playing Clair de Lune for the rest of the day.

And what are you avoiding, Merith? Why don’t we talk about those aunts of yours?

I pat the bed beside me and offer her a less than welcoming grin. I’m a little curious about the Leigh women, mostly because I want to be sure they can’t hurt Kyle.

Or Merith.

I’m not ready to accept that I’m a Leigh, too, so it’s easier for me to think of them as Merith’s family, as cruel as they’ve been to her.

Merith shrinks back, and I can almost feel the fear emanating from her. It’s mean, but it’s what needs to be done to keep her back on track and off my case.

They aren’t worth talking about, Clare. Except . . .

She frowns, and her focus turns distant, as if she’s no longer seeing me before her.

Except what? I push, pressing my lips together to keep from hassling her more. She takes her time when she’s thinking, choosing her words carefully when it’s something important, and she has information that is worth waiting for.

I suck in breath with a sudden realization that it might be these aunts, the witches of Castle Heights, who can help me with my curse.

They’re your family, too, and I’m worried that they’ll show up here.

I wish our brother was here because Merith is on the verge of tears, her face scrunching up like a little kid’s.

So what if they do?

I shrug, hoping my nonchalance will rub off on her as I continue.

We can handle them. There’s three of them, right, and five of us, not counting the rest ofThe Guardians.

She stares at me, her eyes wide as I continue.

"Easy math, Merith. Aren’t you supposed to be the smart one in our family?"

I feel my eyebrows rise and hold back another smile. If teasing her eases Merith’s fear, that’s what matters. I can’t have her freaking out on me while we’re alone. She’s my sister, after all, and I’ve already had to warn her from danger, something to which she is very susceptible.

To my great misfortune.

I just can’t handle the emotional stuff, and besides, if I did end up comforting her, it would totally wreck my reputation.

One that I’ve cultivated very carefully for my entire life.

She smiles, just a little, her lips a thin line as they tilt up at the corners.

They’re really powerful, and I think they’ve hidden a lot of that power from me, especially since I had so much trouble with my own.

Trouble? That’s an understatement. We have an entire wall of our cafeteria lined with heavy plastic where the windows should be.

Thanks to Merith's trouble.

But none of this has to do with why you want us to stay here at school today, she goes on, and her hair, long and dark like mine, swings a little to the side as she tilts her head, having only completed part of one French braid before I interrupted her. When she arrived here, hiding behind Taran, that hair looked like it had been used as a mop on someone’s kitchen floor.

Now, Danica’s taken to brushing and braiding it for her, pulling it up in a ponytail like Danica’s own, which never moves an inch.

I’ve never understood how that works.

Thinking of Merith’s first day here, her fingers entwined with Taran’s, makes me flinch a little. No one knows how I’ve felt about Taran, although I’ve noticed that my crush on him has dimmed over the past few months, my anger at my new sister lessening as well.

No one needs to know how much I wanted Taran for my own, especially now that it’s clear he will never love anyone but Merith.

The fact doesn’t hurt as much as it used to, but I’m still not crazy about watching the two of them hang all over each other.

There will probably be more snow, and they don’t clear the roads very well around here, especially after school is out for break.

Both our private academy and Castle Heights public schools are closed for winter break now, and it’s true that this small town doesn’t do a great job on the roads without school buses to accommodate early in the morning.

Merith nods thoughtfully, like she does when considering everything else.

You’re right, although I’ve always felt bad for everyone who has to drive. The side roads are a mess in the winter with the ice and snow.

I’m not sure how she can know this, since she’s been cooped up in her family’s house for most of her sixteen years, but I’m not going to argue with her. If I’ve convinced her that crappy plowing is the reason for my determination to keep us all here at Arda today, my work here is done.

Taran is coming over later, so hopefully the roads will be clear by then.

Of course Taran is coming over. I go ahead and roll my eyes, because there’s no reason for me to hide my annoyance. If I was Taran’s girlfriend, I wouldn’t crawl all over him. I’d give him some space and respect our relationship as a private one, and whatever physical attention I gave him would be kept private.

But there’s no chance of that happening now. There never was, since I never told him how I felt.

I sigh loudly, blowing a few stray strands of my hair out of my