Ghostly (Darkly Devoted Book 1) (23 page)

Epilogue

Winter and spring came and went, and then so did summer. All of the seasons were the same and blended together, each of them only consisting of varying degrees of warmth. The only cold place in the entire state of Florida seemed to be me.

Meredith, Celeste, and Ryder moved into a house together. I went with them. Whatever the spell did freed me of the house’s hold and destroyed all the spirits inside of it. My heart ached at the memory, so I pushed it away. The one spirit in that house that mattered was gone.

I stared out the small attic window of the home. My friends thought it would be funny for me to have that particular room, seeing as I was still a ghost and all. Outside everything was cheery. No leaves fell during the fall there. I missed the seasons…missed the colors that autumn brought with her when the trees changed colors.

The door creaked behind me, so I adjusted myself on the bed to see who it was. Celeste stood there with her new hombre blonde and purple hair. She was dressed in ripped skinny jeans and a ripped Concrete Blonde t-shirt that showed off her killer abs. She still wore those old worn out Converse of hers, but apparently she had an entire closet full of them in any color one could think of.

“You going out tonight?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I think I’m going to stay in. Not really in the mood for partying.”

“But you’re all dressed up!” She motioned to my long black dress, one that I’d bought at the mall during a forced shopping trip with Meredith. It fell in thick waves down my legs and made me feel like a gothic princess.

I looked the other way and shook my head.

“You can’t stay up here forever moping.”

“I can do whatever I want. I’ve got all the time in the world.”

She came over to sit on the bed beside me. “But it’s goth night! That’s your thing, right?”

“Not anymore.”

She laughed. “So says your dress. Listen, I know we haven’t always gotten along, but I hate seeing you up here all depressed when there’s still life in you.”

“There’s not—”             

“Shut up.” She put her hand in the air to stop me. “There’s life in you, and you know it. I mean, you could be out there acting like that chick on T.V. You know, that one with Jennifer Love Hewitt?”

I frowned. “Ghost Whisperer?”

“Yes, that’s it!” She laughed. “Sorry, I’m not into those weirdo shows and movies like you are.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Well, you should go do that. Help other ghosts.”

“But…I’m a ghost.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Jennifer Love Hewitt wasn’t dead.”

She cocked her head to the side and waved her hand. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. It’s just one night. You need to come out with us and party. There are going to be lots of fun events soon, with Halloween coming up and all.”

“I don’t even want to think about Halloween.”

“Right, sorry.” Celeste looked away from me and patted my leg before standing up. She shoved her hands in her pockets. “Well, if you decide to come, it’s cool.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

She pursed her lips and nodded, then left. I heard Ryder downstairs asking about me; Celeste left the door open, and I heard every word. I wished he’d move on. I wasn’t interested anymore. It would never work out.

When I heard the door shut, signaling that everyone was gone, I crawled back over to the window. Placing my arms on the pane, I lowered my cheek to lay on it. My eyes roamed around the yard. All thoughts of college and growing up were out of my head. All thoughts of hunting my family down were gone. I missed them more than anything, but I reminded myself that they’d freak out if they saw me back from the dead.

As I reached down to peel off my long, black gloves, something outside caught my eye. Underneath the tree, just beside my window, stood a sight I never thought I would see again.

I jumped up from the bed, ran down the stairs, and threw open the front door. My heart thudded as I raced around the side of the house to my destination. I stopped in my tracks. Just a foot away from me stood Cade, clad in all his black glory.

Unable to form any words, I did the one thing that I wanted more than anything. I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his. His arms encircled me and held me. Every wonderful emotion that I thought was gone came flooding back and almost put me in tears.

I pulled back and looked into his eyes, unable to hide the smile from my face. “How are you back?”

His smile faltered. “I’ve been ….around.”

“You…you’ve been around? What does that mean?”

“I don’t know what that spell did, but all of the spirits were released. I wasn’t sure if…if I should come back. I love you, but you’re better off without me.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not. I’ve been miserable. I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“Forever sounds like an awfully long time.”

“It is, Cade, but I don’t think it will be now that you’re here with me.”

He kissed me again, full of passion and desire, and I couldn’t even care anymore what had happened. There were no words to describe the happiness I felt in that moment. We were both as safe as we could be. All that mattered was that the other half of me was there in my arms again. Each of us had taken our own darkness and blended them together with my light until it shone. Warmth filled me up as I lost myself in the arms of my ghost boy.

My Briar Rose

(Cade’s playlist for Briar)

Blood and Roses
by The Smithereens

Strangelove
by Depeche Mode

Shadowplay
by Joy Diversion

Just Like Heaven
by The Cure

No Feelings
by The Sex Pistols

D for Desire
by All About Eve

Baby, I Love You
by The Ramones

Die For You
by Black Veil Brides

Scarlet
by In This Moment

House on a Hill
by The Pretty Reckless

Hospital
by Lydia

Scars
by Forever Still

Cannot cry
Knowing my tears won’t drown the pain inside me
Searching
Seizing
Breathing
Bleeding
Screaming
Cover up the scars
Let the starless night
Keep them out of sight
Let the light of day
Make them fade away
Tried to hide
Safe inside
Mutely begging you to find me
Leave
Deceive me
Hurt me
Judge me
So I
Cover up the scars
Let the starless night
Keep them out of sight
Let the light of day
Make them fade away
I’ve tried so hard to become what you wanted me to
But instead I’ve ended up being everything you wish I’m not
Everything you wish I’m not
Everything you wish I’m…
Let the starless night
Keep them out of sight
Let the light of day
Make them fade away
Make them fade away
I’ll make them fade away

http://foreverstill.bandcamp.com/

About the Author

Brooke is a self-proclaimed geek and daydreamer. She enjoys music, books, family and friends, and spending time with her husband and cat. She has obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in mental health counseling from Tennessee Technological University. She is the co-author of the Ethereal Underground trilogy.

Follow her on twitter: emera_lazzaly

Follow on Facebook: BeneathTheSilverMoon

www.brookekennedy.org

www.etherealunderground.com

Acknowledgements

Thank you my awesome set of friends and family that have supported me throughout this endeavor. You’ve shared my posts on facebook and twitter, and listened to my musings and excitement about this book. Thank you, thank you! There are too many of you to name, but you know who you are.

Briana Gaitan, Briana Dean, Connie Barnett— you guys have read this book and helped me to make it as awesome as it is. 

I have the best parents that a girl could ever ask for. You guys have always been there for me and supported me in my endeavors. There’s no way I could have turned out to be the woman I am without your guidance. I love you guys!

Thanks to Forever Still for letting me use their awesome song “Scars”. It’s so perfect!

My little brother, even though you aren’t so little anymore. You’re too cool, dude, and I appreciate your help and support through all this!

And to my husband, Chad, thank you SO very much for putting up with me writing and editing and marketing and writing some more. Some weeks that’s all I do, but it feels good to know you’re by my side and supporting me in it. Your knowledge (and thirst to obtain more) of randomness has contributed to things in my novel that I wouldn’t have thought of myself. I also wouldn’t have had such an awesome cover without you! Thank you, and I love you to pieces. You’re the yang to my yin.

Cade:

A Darkly Devoted Novella

You wanted to know the truth so here it is.

All of it.

The good and the bad.

I hope you’re ready.

…Coming Spring 2015

Check Out Other Books by Brooke!

Ethereal Underground

Mark of Deceit

Falling

The Mermaid’s Pearl