The Grace In Darkness

Also by Melissa Andrea

The Flutter Series

Flutter – Rereleasing December 2013

Shatter – Coming Soon

The Darkness Trinity Series

The Edge of Darkness

The Grace in Darkness

Allure, an Infinity novel – Coming Soon

Melissa Andrea

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author
’
’
s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

The Grace in Darkness Copyright © 2013 MELISSA ANDREA

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Published by:

Melissa Andrea

Copyright © 2013 by Melissa Andrea

Dare to be DIFFERENT

Dare to be UNIQUE

Dare to be YOU

I believe everything happens for a reason.

Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they
’
’
re right.

And sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

—Marilyn Monroe

T
hree
months, six days, fifteen hours, and forty-three minutes. That
’
s how long it
’
d been since I last saw Araya.

One month, four days, ten hours, and twenty-nine minutes was how long it took for me to find out where she was.

One month, nine days, eight hours, and fifty-nine minutes was the amount of time it had taken me to actually work up the nerve to come see Araya.

As I walked through the grounds of Madison Academy, my heart pounded against my chest and I was sure everyone could hear the sound echo off the fancy stone walls of the upscale prep school for the blind vision impaired.

The main hall smelled of high society upbringing, greed, and dirty money. It left a bad taste in my mouth and made me wonder how Araya was surviving in a place like this. She was nothing like the people who inhabited this school. I knew that for a fact.

I bypassed the administrator
’
s office because I was sure they would have my pictures and clear instructions to escort me off the premises. Working with J.D. for the past three months was teaching me how to stay one step ahead of him. It also left me wandering the halls aimlessly.

I figured I could stop someone who looked less official and ask them if they knew of Araya and where she might be.

Just then a girl rounded the corner. She didn
’
t make eye contact as she got closer to me, and for some reason I lost my nerve to get her attention as she closed in on me.

She surprised me when she suddenly looked at me as if just noticing I was there.

“
You lost?
”
she asked, smiling flirtatiously.

“
Uh
…”
I hesitated, rubbing the back of my neck.

“
It
’
s not a trick question.
”
She teased.

“
I
’
m looking for someone,
”
I blurted before I lost my nerve.

I don
’
t know why I was so nervous. This is what I wanted, what I
’
d been waiting for, but that still didn
’
t stop my stomach from knotting.

“
This someone have a name?
”

“
Araya?
”

“
Are you asking me?
”
She smiled, clearly enjoying giving me a hard time. I laughed, instantly feeling stupid.

“
Her name is Araya Noelle.
”

She nodded once, slowly, eyeing me cautiously before she turned on her heel, going in the direction she
’
d just come. Her chestnut hair swirled around her as she took off. I frowned and looked around. Was I supposed to follow her?

“
Yes,
”
she called out behind her.

“
I
’
m sorry, what?
”
I called, sticking my head out to hear her better.

She looked at me over her shoulder.
“
Yes, you follow me.
”

I caught up with her, walking fast because she was obviously not going to wait for me. I could see her looking in my direction and I cocked my head slightly to peek at her from the corner of my eye to make sure I wasn
’
t just thinking she was looking at me. When it was confirmed, I looked at her too

“
What?
”

She raised her eyebrows at me.
“
Before I go through all the effort of sashaying my hips, batting my lashes, and drawing you in with my witty personality, are you and Araya more than just friends?
”

I frowned and then laughed loudly.
“
Yeah, we
’
re definitely more.
”

“
I thought so. You look completely smitten,
”
she said with a pout.

We turned down another hall and then she stopped so suddenly I had to backtrack a few steps to even out with her.

“
Why
’
d we stop?
”

She pointed to our left and my gaze immediately fell on Araya
’
s reflection in the ceiling-to-floor mirrored walls. My breath caught. My memory hadn
’
t been doing her beauty justice.

“
Exactly what I thought
…”
the brunette said.
“
Smitten.
”
I vaguely heard her, and when I went to tell her thanks, she was gone.

Araya was sitting on the floor, her legs wide as she stretched to touch her toes. Her head was low, but her attention was on the girl next to her. Her long red hair was pulled back in a tightly secured knot. She stood up, stretching from side to side. Her black leotard clung to her shapely curves.

She lifted up on to the tips of her toes, once and then twice. She was dancing again and she looked happy. I watched her for a few more minutes and the more I watched her, the more I knew I was going to turn around and walk away from her.

My hand pressed to the window and I leaned my weight into my arm. I watched her as she spun perfectly on the point of her feet and then stopped, smiling proudly. It didn
’
t quite reach her eyes, but she was glowing.

She looked up, and for a brief moment we just stared at each other. I
’
d give my next breath for her to know I was there. Part of me had secretly, selfishly hoped she was going to be unhappy here and relieved that I
’
d finally found her. Part of me really wanted to be the Prince Charming she
’
d labeled me once before. That time seemed so long ago.

I pressed my hand harder into the glass, wanting her to sense me. To know I was there for her. There was a slight frown that haunted her brows, but she looked away and I was left there standing with a void too big to fit in my chest.

She was happy and I wouldn
’
t destroy that by making her choose. Mostly because I was scared to death it wouldn
’
t be me that she chose in the end.

The instructor clapped her hands and everyone turned to greet her with their attention, including Araya.

Watching her turn away from me made me want to put my fist through the glass, and I knew I needed to get out of here. Fast. Backing away, I let my hand slide away from the window. I walked away from the one person who could end this all, and I walked away before I saw her turn to look over her shoulder in my direction. Like I said, timing is a funny thing.

I erupted through the heavy doors at the entrance of the building and an angry sound ripped through the misty air as I growled toward the sky. I breathed in the fresh air, pushing out all the pain and heartache I was feeling. My chest felt constricted and my heart was beating so fast with no room to expand.

Something inside me snapped and I could feel darkness as thick as tar flowing through my veins. Suddenly, the sun
’
s light was swallowed and I looked up toward the sky to see the grey clouds covering the last bits of baby blue.

I would wait. I would give her what she asked for, what she needed, but when sh
e was ready, all bets were off.