Bound, An Arelia LaRue Novel #1 YA Paranormal Romance (2 page)

We headed out to the parking lot and
were greeted by a new, hot-pink convertible. “Look what mommy and
daddy got me as a see you later present.” Sabrina grinned as she
opened the car door. I couldn’t help feeling jealous. Who buys
their kids ridiculously expensive see you later presents? The last
present my mother sent me was a package of beef jerky she bought at
a gas station somewhere in Kentucky. It had been my tenth
birthday.

I gave my obligatory compliments. “Wow,
it’s beautiful. I’m so jealous.” My voice was full of blatant envy,
as I opened the door to the passenger’s side.

“
I know right. Hop in.”
Sabrina applied a coat of Lancome Juicy Tube gloss on her thin lips
while looking in the rearview mirror. “I so hate my lips, mom
promised me that I could get fillers after she gets back from
Morocco. I so wish I had your lips.” She looked at me in
envy.

For an instant, I imagined what it
would be like to have Sabrina’s life. She had it all, but she
always wanted more. Maybe the reason we were so close was that I
never competed with her. She saw other girls at school as
competition. She always needed to have the best hair, clothes,
makeup, and boys and so did the other girls. I never allowed myself
to play because I had more important things to worry about such as
where the week’s grocery money was going to come from.

“
I so hope there is an
eligible, young, hot LaPlante that I can get my hands on this
summer.” Sabrina theatrically fantasized as we sped down the
highway.

“
I bet they’re all old and
married,” I replied as I counted all the blue cars that passed
by.

“
Well, old isn’t a problem
and neither is married. I’m sure I can convince any man to leave
his wife for me,” she declared with determination. To her,
collecting boys was a hobby much like fishing was to some
people.

I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn’t be so
sure.”

“
What do you mean?” She
sounded genuinely offended. “Are you saying that I’m not good
enough to marry a LaPlante?”

“
No, it’s just that if he is
married, it’s going to be a costly divorce.”

“
Oh, well after one night
with me, I’m sure that he would be more than willing to pay any
price.” She gave herself another quick glance in the rearview
mirror. Sabrina’s many exploits with boys were well documented in
her diary and of course, rehashed to me in strict
confidence.

“
Speaking of, how was your
date with Jon last night?”

“
He was so awkward and kind
of geeky. He went on and on about Avatar. I kissed him just to get
him to shut-up. At one point, I thought about having sex with him,
so the date would end, but his parents came home, and he got all
nervous. I swear all the rich men in New Orleans are either mama’s
boys or gay. Seriously Arelia, this summer is my last chance at
meeting someone fabulous.”

“
Sabrina, you just turned
sixteen, how is this your last chance?” I was tremendously
horrified at her lack of desire to do anything besides marry some
guy.

“
You don’t know how it is.
That’s how it’s always been in my family, and the social circles we
run in. Besides, I really want my date for the fall debutante ball
to make Elise jealous. She thinks she’s so hot with Tim on her arm.
I made out with him after they got together,” she said proudly.
“That’s why I love you. You never think you’re better than
me.”

I didn’t know what to make out of her
statement, so I just let it slide. “So do you know how many other
people are going to be working with us?” I asked deliberately
changing the subject.

“
I don’t know. It’s obvious
that I got the invitation to work there only because daddy is so
prominently known in New Orleans. Of course, I told them the only
way I would come is if I could bring you”.

“
I can’t thank you enough
Sabrina.” I turned to look at her. “The whole year is going to be
so much easier because of this job.”

“
Arelia,” she interrupted
me. “Look,” she pointed ahead. “It’s gorgeous.”

I looked up and saw two, large,
menacing, iron gates with an elaborate spiral design connecting
them at the top. I had to close my eyes. They were much stronger
here.

“
Shut-up”, I
muttered.

“
Huh?” Sabrina eyed me
suspiciously.

“
Nothing. It’s beautiful.” I
prayed that I would be strong enough to survive the
summer.

Chapter 2

Welcome to Darkwood
Plantation

“
What the hell!” Sabrina
aggressively shouted as she honked the car horn and looked at her
cell. “They said one pm, it’s almost two. Where is
everyone?”

I got out of the car and peered through
the iron gates, trying to make out any signs of life behind it. All
I could see were large oak trees that seemed to stretch out for
miles. In the background, there was a large, ten-columned portico
connected to the main house. Even from the gate, it looked massive.
The summer wind crept through the oak trees and gave me a slight
chill.

“
Why are you here Arelia?
You know it’s cursed. Sins always must be punished. They must be
trapped and bound,” whispered the wind spirit who thanks to
grand-mere I knew was named Bade.

I know to most people the whole spirit
talking to them thing would have been extremely creepy and all, but
I was pretty much use to it. “You guys are really irritating. You
know that, don’t you? Please leave me alone and tell your friends
too. I just want to work. I don’t have time for this,” I forcefully
hissed under my breath, so Sabrina wouldn’t hear.

“
Work? Work is what the
Devil wants you to do,” he continued, “work until your fingers
bleed and your skin is raw. “Why are you ignoring me Arelia? You
can’t ignore us forever.”

“
Yes I can,” I
replied.

“
You should turn back now,”
he insisted.

“
I don’t want to.” I headed
towards Sabrina and ignored him. I felt him linger a bit longer and
then take off.

“
Oh thank God!” Sabrina
exclaimed as a thin, grey-haired man walked towards us from behind
the gate.

“
You haven’t been waiting
long, have you?” He asked in a lazy soft drawl as he opened the
gate. His dark skin was slightly moist from the summer
humidity.

“
If you call forever not
long, then no,” snapped Sabrina rudely.

His large, brown eyes filled with
amusement at her blatant vulgarity. “My name’s Henri, I’m the staff
manager. Who might you two lovely ladies be?”

“
I’m Arelia LaRue, and this
is Sabrina Richards,” I replied.

“
It’s a pleasure to meet
you,” he stuck out his wrinkled hand. I shook it, but Sabrina
pretended not to see when it was her turn. “You can drive your car
right up to the house and park it at the back.”

We got back into the car. “If he’s the
manager, he could have at least picked a better outfit. He looks
like Colonel Sanders said Sabrina.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Maybe
that’s the effect he’s going for. It is the South after
all.”

The road leading up to Darkwood house
was lined with regal oaks that extended far down enough to scratch
the top of my head. As we pulled up to the front of the house and
got out of the car, Sabrina was in a state of shock. “Can you
believe this? It’s amazing!” The house in front of us was
extraordinarily beautiful and intimidating with its looming white
pillars and lush gardens. “It has three stories. The property has a
swamp and a family cemetery as well,” she rattled on. “Can you
imagine how much it takes to maintain this place? The LaPlantes are
loaded and I’m here to stake my claim.”

“
What do you girls think?”
Asked Henri as he popped out from behind a tree.

“
Are you kidding me? “It’s
gorgeous!” Sabrina cried ecstatically.”

“
Amazing.” I was unable to
comprehend why anyone would want to own such a massive
place.

“
You ladies come right on
in,” invited Henri.

“
Of course, but I need help
with my bags, Henri can you help me?” Asked Sabrina reverting to
baby talk. Whenever she wanted a favor from a man she spoke in baby
talk, even if the man was pushing seventy.

Henri, being the gentleman he appeared
to be, agreed. He didn’t even flinch when she opened the car trunk
to reveal a seven piece Louis Vuitton travel set. It didn’t matter
where Sabrina went; she always traveled with at least seven Louis
pieces. Even that one time we tried to go camping. I hesitantly
grabbed my duffel bag along with one of her suitcases and followed
Henri up the five steps that led to the spacious, marble porch.
Anxiety intensely gripped me for the first time in a long time. I
don’t know what it was about this place. I knew the spirits were
stronger here. What exactly did Bade mean by his little comments? I
never let what the spirits said get in the way of my existence, but
for some reason his words really got under my skin.

Henri opened the front door to reveal a
broad hallway with a shiny, white marble floor. At the end of the
long hall, there was a spiral staircase with delicate
railings.

“
I’ve tried to convince
daddy to get a spiral staircase in our home so many times, but he
prefers the elevator. This is epic.” Sabrina immediately ran to the
end of the hall to the staircase and started to drool over the fact
that its railings were gilded in real gold. The last room at the
end of the hall was opened up to what I assumed was a ballroom. On
one side of the massive room sat an antique, grand piano with a
harp by its side. The high ceilings were home to not two but three
crystal chandeliers.

“
Ms. Mae, the summer help is
here!” Henri shouted down an adjacent hallway.

“
Bring them right on in
here, I’m pulling the yam biscuits out of the oven,” replied a loud
velvety voice.

“
Ms. Mae is getting some
snacks prepared for the guests, they should be arriving in a few
hours,” explained Henri as he directed us into a spacious but
surprisingly modern kitchen. Bending over the stove was a large
woman who must have been around grand-mere Bea’s age. She wore a
green dress printed with tiny flowers. Her grey hair was tied up in
an elegant bun, and despite her age, her golden skin was
unwrinkled.

As she looked up to greet us, her dark
green eyes looked astonished. “Hello girls,” she said calmly, “tell
Ms. Mae your names.”

“
This here is Sabrina, and
this is Arelia,” offered Henri, before I had a chance to say
anything. “I’ll give you girls a chance to talk. I have some
preparations to do before the guests arrive. Ms. Mae will get you
all set up.”

“
It’s a pleasure to meet you
both,” Ms. Mae graciously extended her hand. When I reached out to
shake it, I got the sensation that I knew her. From exactly where,
I wasn’t sure, but she had an odd sense of familiarity about her.
Her kind eyes looked into mine, and I was sure that she could read
my mind. “We’ve been waiting to meet you for a long time Arelia,”
she said, “and of course, you too Sabrina,” she added.

“
Is there anything to drink
around here?” Sabrina briskly interrupted. “It was a long drive,
and I’m so thirsty.”

“
Of course, I made a fresh
batch of sweet tea.” Ms. Mae headed over to the corner of the
kitchen where a small, wooden table sat. She cordially handed each
of us a glass filled with tea.

“
This is so good,” said
Sabrina after taking a sip.

“
It tastes just like
grand-mere Beas’s tea,” I agreed after savoring it.

“
Kind of.” Sabrina filled up
her glass again. After inhaling her third glass of tea, she was
desperate to go to the bathroom. “Is there a bathroom around
here?”

“
Go down that hall, take a
left then a right,” advised Ms. Mae.

After Sabrina left the kitchen, Ms. Mae
focused her attention on me. “So your stubborn grand-mere finally
let you come, did she?”

“
How do you know grand-mere
Bea and how do you know she didn’t want me to come to Darkwood?” I
coolly asked unsure of what she was implying.

“
She didn’t even tell you
about me, did she?” Ms. Mae predicted.

“
Who are you?” I squirmed in
utter discomfort.

“
Take a closer look; I’m
sure you’ll figure it out.” She leaned in towards me. I could smell
her sweet tea infused breath.

“
Okay, enough with the big
mystery. Please just tell me who you are.” I was a bit freaked out,
and at the same time morbidly curious. It’s like when you see a
dead animal at the side of the road, half of you wants to throw up
your lunch, but the other half wants to whip out your
camera.

“
I’m her sister,” she
dramatically revealed. At that moment, it all became clear, those
eyes, they were exactly like grand-mere Bea’s just a different
shade.

“
You’re my aunt?” That was
something I hadn’t expected.

“
Great aunt,” she corrected.
“Who do you think sent Sabrina that invitation? I knew she’d bring
you along. That’s the only way your grand-mere would let you see
me.”