Bone Stars: Once Upon Academy Short

By Elle Klass

       Grenna isn't happy about attending the prestigious Once Upon Academy. She was hoping for something less magical and more Ivy League. Then she meets Mandevar, a magic physics major who's hot under his apparent nerdiness, and things start looking up.
       What can go wrong on a first date in an enchanted forest? A lot! Everything is perfect until the forest has other ideas, and Grenna and Mandevar must combine their wits and intelligence to survive. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books by Elle, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781951017293

Elle Klass

Elle Klass is an award winning author. She currently lives in Florida with her family. To date she has written and published over sixteen books, in varying genre's including mystery, suspense, psychological thrillers, fantasy, sci-fi and contemporary fiction. When she's not writing she's spending time with family or friends, traveling, relaxing at home watching ghost and horror movies or listening to an audio book. To sign up for Elle's mailing list and get updates on new releases, events and giveaways: http://elleklass.weebly.com Subscribe on Patreon for access to exclusive material!  https://www.patreon.com/Elleklass

Book preview

Other YA/NA Series by Elle Klass

The Bloodseekers

Zombie Girl

Baby Girl

Hidden journals

Realm Walker

Look for future Once Upon Academy Shorts!

Prologue

Grenna

Ipulled my Kia into the drive behind the junk-piled area of the garage. Each day I checked the mail. Today was no different, except the mailbox was empty.

The smell of homemade chili made my mouth water as I entered the house. Homemade chili meant homemade cornbread, always a family favorite. It also meant there was a special occasion of sorts, not a holiday but an accomplishment that we’d celebrate as a family.

I was the oldest at seventeen. My two younger brothers – twins – were thirteen. In the fall I’d start college. Since day one of my senior year I’d been sending out college applications. It was now an unusually frosty day in the middle of March and I hadn’t received one letter of acceptance or denial. I was beginning to think college wasn’t the next move for me. Maybe, I’d settle for community college and continue working at Renegade Pizza.

With a heavy sigh I headed up the stairs, dropped my backpack on my bed then headed back downstairs to the kitchen. Someone in my family had something to celebrate and that was good even if it wasn’t me.

Grenna, darling. How was school? Mom asked as she stirred the chili. Her dark hair tied in a messy bun.

I shrugged. It was school. I had less than three months left. Each day like clockwork when I pulled up into the driveway my eye went to the mailbox and each day my heart sank when there was no mail for me. Even a rejection letter would be better than nothing. Did you check the mail?

I did, Mom answered, turning around. Her eyes twinkling in excitement under the fluorescent kitchen light. Blue beamed from her person which usually meant a turning point or happiness. But whose?

A little detail about me; I see auras. At first, I thought it was my vision going wacky, but soon realized I see people’s moods in their auras. I’ve been cataloging various shades of color and how they relate to moods but still have a long way to go.

Well?

Her warm smile wrapped her face. I wanted to wait until dinner, but you got a package.

A package? That had to be good news. From where? What did you do with it? I asked, not hiding the excitement in my voice or giving her a chance to respond before firing off another question.

Her eyes shifted toward the dining room. A large white envelope lay on the table. Finally! I wouldn’t be a community college reject working at a fast food pizza joint. I’d be a college student at a university. Blood rushed through my veins with excitement as I ran those twenty steps to the table, Mom following behind. I knew her so well I felt the large smile on her round, chubby face even though my back was to her.

I gasped when I read the name of the school, Once Upon Academy. I’d never heard of it, certainly hadn’t applied to it. What is this? Is it a joke?

No, sweetie. It’s a wonderful college. Your father and I both attended. In fact, we met there. Being accepted is a privilege. Her blue eyes beamed in pride as she stared into my disappointed ones.

You’re kidding me. What privileged college calls themselves Once Upon Academy? This is a joke! My voice dripping in sarcasm. I dropped the envelope onto the table and rushed upstairs. I didn’t even glance at my mother as I knew her face would be a menagerie of displeasure in my actions. I dropped onto my bed and allowed my tears to soak into the rainbow comforter. I was sure my aura was black, painfully black.

Unfortunately for me, no other college responded to my applications. After receiving the letter from Once Upon Academy, I applied to several more lesser colleges even though I carried a 4.5 GPA with weighted credit and aced both the SAT and ACT. I didn’t get it. Why? How? I’d worked so hard to keep up my grades so I could get into a good college and was left with one corny option.

My mother and father didn’t understand my condescension toward the college. They tried for three months to explain it presented a wonderful opportunity and how the school would help me grow. Their auras remained blue and positive about the school while I did everything to avoid the letter. Mom never said, and I never asked, but I was sure she’s the one who sent in my application to the silly school.

Hesitantly, the day of graduation, I dragged the envelope out of the secret place in the back of my closet underneath the shoes that had piled over it in the past three months. I sucked in a deep breath. I couldn’t believe it was my only option. Every part of me wanted to scream and throw a toddler fit.

Keeping my composure, tears welling in the corners of my eyes, I opened the letter and was horrified by the lavender sparkly paper it was written on and... I sniffed the air, a sweet odor drifted from the opened envelope. When I lifted the letter to my nose, my eyebrows dropped in disdain and I nearly choked from the sugary-vanilla scented paper. What kind of self-respecting college does that? I felt the bile rising in my throat as my eyes pored over the letter.

Grenna,

Congratulations! On behalf of the Once Upon Academy community, we are pleased to announce your admission for Fall! ... For over 1000 years, individuals have entered Once Upon Academy, and have left prepared for success in