1.Hidden Roses
Rose Williams was just your average 18-year-old supernatural genius. Well, she would be 18 in a week. She graduated high school at 14 and college at 17. She would have finished sooner, but her parents didn’t want her to be found out. It was already hard enough to explain how smart she was, not to mention the looks. They didn’t want to draw more attention to her.
Not that it was hard to miss her. She was a caramel-complexioned goddess with bright white hair and crystal-blue eyes. She even had her eyes compared to that of glaciers. With beautiful taupe-colored lips and a toned hourglass body. Although keeping it toned was easy for Rose.
She loved running and was incredibly agile and nimble. She even did track back in high school. She loved being active, and growing up in San Diego, California, there she could be active, from the beaches to the mountains, it had it all for her. It was the only place she remembered calling home.
As she approached 18, it often dawned on her that she was leaving and it made her heart ache a little. Knowing how much she was gonna miss it. She loved them, but she never lied to herself. Eighteen meant leaving… meant searching for the family and future she knew wasn’t here.
Rose knew she was adopted. Kinda hard to hide white hair and blue eyes in a house where her parents had dark black hair and chocolate-brown eyes. She was also lighter than her mother and darker than her father. Most assumed she was just interracial due to her parents. Little did they know, she wasn’t even the same species. Her mother was a teacher, and her father was the CEO of a medium-sized company. She never did ask what her father did. She just knew he always showed up for his little girl. That was enough for her.
Bryan Williams, her adopted father, was a husky man. Even though at 6’0”, they stood at the same height, yet he still felt like the larger figure in her life—a wall of muscle and warmth she’d grown up leaning on. He had a hard time protecting his daughter, but he did it with pride.
Raising Rose and getting to be her dad was all he ever wanted. Bryan and his wife, Susan, raised Rose after she was brought to them when she was only a week old. They loved her the moment they laid eyes on her. See, Bryan and Susan couldn’t have kids of their own.
One day a witch appeared before them and told them that they were the prophesied protectors of the supernatural princess. They were told it would put her at risk if they knew more. So there were no follow-up questions. Still, in a complete state of shock, they knew they had to take her. They were to raise her to 18, then send her to Bluemoon Pack to attend Bluemoon University. There she would learn who she is and why she was hidden.
— … —
A week before Rose leaves
— … —
She plopped down on her bed as her mother folded her clothes and neatly packed them in her suitcase.
“Moooooooom…” Rose dramatically called out in her whiny fashion.
She may be a genius, but she was still immature and only 17 years old (which means she thought she knew everything, and as a genius she kinda did. However, what she needed to learn couldn’t be found in a book).
“Now now, I’m right next to you, Rose, no need to be dramatic.” Susan playfully swats her daughter with the shorts she’s folding.
Rose sat there next to the laundry pile now growing. Glancing around her sparse-looking room. Half packed for next week, reality hitting her.
“I know, Mom, but I’m gonna miss you so, so much!” She pouted as she sat up on her bed and hugged her mother’s legs.
“I’m gonna miss you too. Rose, you knew the day was gonna come. Why are you so flustered?” her mom asked with concern.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ve just always had the answers, and now I’m going to not only a new place but a new world, where creatures that only ever existed in stories are now going to be my roommates and classmates. Not to mention if I meet my actual mate.” She plopped back on her bed with a sigh.
“My stunningly beautiful daughter, aren’t you also one of those magical creatures that shouldn’t exist.” Her mom shot her a look.
“Yes, Mommy dear, I know. I’ve just only ever lived with or as a human. I know I’m not, and now that I’m older, I can hide my hair as a ‘trend.’ I am just overwhelmed with questions and emotions. Not to mention the hurt of being away from you guys.” She gets up this time and hugs her mom.
In the middle of the moment, her phone rings.
“Hey, kitty-kat. How’s my favorite feline? Have you shown anyone your claws today?” Rose giggled at her BFF.
“Not yet, but since my bestie is abandoning me for some secret spy school…,” Kat answered back, “only time will tell.”
At the time they met, the girls were both in kindergarten. Kat and Rose became best friends ever since Kat pushed Rose in the mud. Rose returned the favor by pouring a bucket of mud over her head. Both of them burst out into a fit of giggles at the same time. Rose was much taller than Kat. Kat was Hispanic and stood about 5’6” with bouncing brown curls with red on the tips, hazel eyes, and a hot temper to match. She was still in high school and was accepted to NYU thanks to Rose’s help studying.
Through the years of friendship, they had built an unbreakable trust. Although Rose knew she wasn’t supposed to share who she was with anyone, she entrusted Kat with her life and told her the truth.
“Secret spy school!?? Really???” Rose laughed. “It’s a finishing school for the supernatural world.”
“I know, but spy school sounds more fun, right?” Kat was always a sassy siren. She had attitude and hands to match. She looked sweet and innocent until you caught her right hook. Plus, I think she was more into my new school than I was. Too bad she’s human.
“Look, I know you’re gonna be like the most popular chick there and shit, but like don’t forget about me… OK!” Kat’s voice softening on the last word, subtly conflicted.
“As if you’d ever let me forget about you!” Rose smiled at the sweetness her friend was showing but not wanting to get mushy. “I mean, I’ve been trying to get you to leave me alone, but it’s like I’m stuck with you.”
“Stuck like mud, baby! Stuck like mud! Ok, well, just remember you have to text me every day. Every time something happens. And call me once a week. If not more…” Kat tried to control her emotions.
‘Stuck like mud’ was the phrase the girls bonded over after their mud incident. They said it bonded them together. An inside joke just between them.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah! You’ve told me a million times, bossy!” Rose joked with her.
“That’s Miss Bossy to you! Ugh, why do you have to leave me, bitch?!” This was Kat’s sensitive side.
“Because I’m gonna go live out all your supernatural fantasies and let you live in FOMO…” Rose practically fell laughing so hard.
“Why are you so cruel to me? Why, Rose, WHY?!” Such a dramatic Kat.
“Because if I wasn’t, you wouldn’t be my best friend!” Rose can hear her cheesin’ from the other end.
“Ok, you didn’t need to get so sentimental on me. Geez!” Kat laughs back.
The girls finished up their call just as her mom finished the packing.
“Let’s go eat, sweetie. I made your favorite.” Her mom put her arm around her as they walked downstairs.
The rest of the week flew by, and before Rose knew it, another week had gone by, and she now faced her biggest challenge: learning who and what she really is.
