Destine academy, p.1
Destine Academy, page 1
part #1 of Destine Academy Series
Destine Academy
Book 1 of the Destine Academy Series
By Sara Snow
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 Sara Snow– All rights Reserved All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Other Books By Sara Snow
Destine Academy Series
Destine Academy (Book 1)
Destine Academy: The Return (Book 2)
Destine Academy: Secrets (Book 3)
Destine Academy: Prophecy (Book 4)
Destine Academy: Changes (Book 5)
Chapter One
Caroline Destine walked along the pavement, arm in arm with her best friend, Felicity Bennett. Smiling at her friend’s enthusiastic ramblings, Caroline lifted her head, sweeping her chocolate brown hair from her face as a cool breeze swept over them. The wind had an icy touch to it, and she knew the evening would be a cold one.
“I think it will snow tonight.” She stated.
Felicity gaped at her, “You’re kidding, right? It’s only the start of Fall, and there’s not a cloud in sight.”
“I can feel it in the air. It will snow.” Caroline replied with a shrug. Felicity shook her head slowly, “I know you tend to be right about these things, but that would be crazy, even for you. Maybe you’ve lost your touch now that you’re sixteen?” she joked.
“Technically, I’m not sixteen for another couple of hours.”
“Speaking of, I have your present if you want to come back to my house.”
“I don’t know; I told Mom I’d come straight home. She’s all excited about the whole Sweet Sixteen thing and cooking up enough food for a small army, I’m sure.” Caroline smiled, secretly looking forward to celebrating with her mother and brother.
“It won’t take long. Please? I’m your best friend. I can’t wait until your party this weekend to give it to you.” Felicity unlinked her arm from Caroline and clasped her hands together in a plea while giving her best puppy-dog face. Caroline laughed, “Okay, okay. But I can’t stay long.”
“Hooray! Let’s go!” Felicity grabbed Caroline’s hand, and they jogged the remaining two blocks to Felicity’s house. They barreled through the front door, dumping their bags on the ground. “Mom! I’m home!” Felicity yelled as they ran up the stairs two at a time.
Walking into the bedroom, Caroline saw a beautifully wrapped present on the desk. Felicity rushed forward and picked it up, unable to contain her excitement as she held it out. Taking the present, Caroline grinned as she carefully lifted the sticky tape and unwrapped the gift. Inside was a navy-blue jewelry box. “What did you do? You can’t afford to buy me jewelry!”
“Shut up. It’s from the whole family if you must know. Just open it.”
Lifting the lid, Caroline let it fall to the floor as she stared at the locket. “Oh, Felicity! It’s so beautiful! I’ve never seen anything like it…” She carefully lifted the necklace out of the box and held it up for them both to admire.
“Open the locket,” Felicity instructed, and Caroline ran her fingernail underneath the tiny clasp, popping the locket open to reveal a small photo of the two of them together. Their first photo together in preschool. They’d been best friends ever since.
Caroline laughed at their cheesy, four-year-old grins, “Do you like it?”
“Are you kidding? I love it! Thank you so much. Can you help me put it on?” She unclasped the necklace and held the ends over her shoulders, turning around so Felicity could fasten it for her. It felt cold against her skin, and she placed her hand over it, reaching out for her best friend with her free arm and hugged her tightly. “You’re the best.”
“I know,” Felicity replied, and they laughed.
“There you are.” The girls looked up to find Felicity’s mother in the doorway. “Happy birthday, sweetheart!” She walked in and hugged Caroline, “Do you like your present?”
“I love it. Thank you so much.”
“Felicity was the one who found it. Different, isn’t it? It’s white gold.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Don’t be silly,” Mrs. Bennett cut her off, “you’re family, and it’s not every day you’re your daughter’s best friend turns sixteen.” She gave Caroline another squeeze before releasing her, “I spoke to your mother this morning. It sounds like you’re in for quite a treat this evening.”
“Yeah, I think she’s more excited than I am. But speaking of that, I really should get going.”
“Call me later. I want to hear all about your birthday celebrations.” Felicity instructed.
“Absolutely.” Caroline hugged her friend one last time. “Thanks again for the present. I really do love it.” She blew them both a kiss and left the room, scooping up her bag at the foot of the stairs and dashing out the front door and pulling it shut behind her.
Holding the straps of her backpack in place, she could feel the necklace moving against her chest as she jogged the rest of the way home. Before she made it to her driveway, she could smell her mother’s cooking wafting from the house. Her stomach growled with ravenous anticipation. Upon opening the front door, Caroline expected to see her little brother sitting in front of the television, watching his afternoon cartoons. The TV was on, but the living room was empty. Thinking nothing of it, Caroline assumed he was either playing in his room or the backyard.
She ducked into her bedroom, dumping her bag on the bed and paused in front of her full-length mirror to admire the lock around her neck. A shadow passed over her reflection, and she jumped, turned around, but there was no one there. Peering out the window, she saw thick dark clouds racing across the sky and told herself they were the cause for the shadow. It was hard to believe the sky had been cloud-free only minutes ago.
I’m so right—it’s totally going to snow tonight.
Releasing the locket, Caroline left the room and wandered down the hallway towards the delicious smells of her mother's cooking.
“Mom?” she called as she stepped into the kitchen and found it empty. “Mom?” she called a second time, but there was still no answer. Telling herself they must both be outside, she snuck over to the oven and peered in at the lemon meringue pie baking. Her stomach growled again, and closing the oven door, she stood up and lifted the lid off the saucepan of the pasta sauce. Dipping the wooden spoon into the sauce, she blew on it and tasted. She closed her eyes in appreciation and replaced the spoon. On the bench beside it was a tray of half-made lasagna, and she wondered what her brother had gotten up to, to pull her mother away from the kitchen. Caroline walked around the island bench and past the dining table towards the back door, surprised to find it closed. It wasn’t locked, and she pulled it open, stepping out onto the deck, scanning the yard in confusion. “Mom? Justin?” she called, but the backyard was empty. The temperature had dropped remarkably in the short time since she’d been home, and she stared up at the dark clouds with a frown, as though they somehow could provide an answer as to her family’s whereabouts. Stepping back inside, Caroline pulled the door closed behind her, rubbing her hands up and down her arms to warm them. She hurried from one room to the next, calling out to her brother and mother, but there was no sign of either. Running into the laundry room, she yanked open the door to the garage and found her mother’s car still there. It was as though the pair of them had just vanished.
An anxious, on-edge feeling swept over her, and she could hear the echo of her pounding heart in her ears. Caroline went back to her room and fished her phone from her bag, the feelings intensifying when she found no messages, no missed calls from her mother. She dialed her number, pressing the phone to her ear as it rang and rang. It finally went to voicemail, and Caroline left a rushed message before hanging up and dialing Felicity. Her best friend answered immediately. “That was quick. What did you get?”
“Can you go ask your mom something for me?” Caroline asked.
“Uh, sure. What’s up? Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. I can’t find Mom or Justin.”
“Maybe your mom forgot something she needed for tonight and ran out? I’m sure they’ll be back soon.”
“No, her car’s still here. Something’s happened; I can feel it. It’s like they just vanished in the middle of what they were doing.”
“I’m sure…”
“Please,” Caroline cut in, “Can you just go ask your mom if she knows anything? She said they spoke earlier.”
“Okay, okay. Hold on.” Caroline listened as Felicity moved through the house in pursuit of her mother, before straining to overhear their muffled conversation.
“Mom said when she spoke to yours, the plan was a night in with lots of food, presents, and once Justin went to bed, your favorite movie. Mom hasn’t spoken to her since. Have you tried calling her?”
“Of
“Look, I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation, but do you want me to come over and wait with you?” Felicity offered. Caroline looked towards her bedroom door, the house suddenly feeling enormous in its eerily empty state, “Yeah, that would be great.”
After she ended the call, Caroline tucked her phone into her pocket and walked back into the kitchen to turn off the oven and stovetop. Not knowing what to do with herself, she wandered from room to room, looking for any clue as to where here family went. Nothing was out of place—everything looked as it always did. In the family room, Caroline hunted for the remote control and turned the television off, instantly regretting it as the sudden silence engulfed her. Not wanting to be alone in the house, she decided to wait for Felicity on the porch while also keeping an eye out for her mother and brother. As she reached the end of the driveway, she saw Felicity approaching and returned her wave. Too impatient and anxious to wait where she was, she met her friend half-way. The hugged before walking back to her house.
“Still no sign of them?” Felicity asked, sitting beside Caroline on the porch swing. Caroline shook her head and pulled her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly. She felt sick to her stomach and longed to see her mother and brother stroll up the driveway like nothing had happened. Felicity put her arm around her shoulders, and the two friends sat that way for what felt like hours, though it wasn’t. A ringing phone broke them out of their trance, and Caroline grabbed hers from her pocket, wanting to feel the relief of seeing her mother's name on the screen. It wasn’t her phone ringing.
“Hey, Mom,” Felicity answered, and Caroline sank back against the railing in disappointment. The sun had sunk closer to the horizon, sending vibrant splashes of amethyst, apricot, and coral across the heavy clouds that had slowed to a near standstill above them. Goosebumps ravaged her arms from the increasingly cold air, but Caroline hardly noticed as her fear intensified with each passing minute.
“Mom’s coming over.” Felicity said, “It’s getting cold. Do you want to go inside?”
Caroline shook her head as she stared out at the road, her mind filled with the mantra she repeated over and over, please come home, please come home, please come home.
Minutes later, Mrs. Bennett pulled into the driveway. Looking up at the girls as she got out of the car, she smiled, but it did little to mask the concern in her eyes. “It’s freezing out here, girls. Let’s go inside. Can I have a quick look around, Caroline?” she asked. Caroline just nodded as she let Felicity lead her from the porch swing and through the front door. As Mrs. Bennett searched through the house, Caroline and Felicity sat in the family room. She could feel her friend’s worried stare on her, but she didn’t want to talk. She feared if she tried to speak, she would vomit.
“Have you been out into the garage?” Mrs. Bennett asked as she came back down the hall.
“Yes. Well, no. I opened the door from the laundry room, but when I saw Mom’s car was still there, I closed it again. Why? What is it?” She half-rose from her seat.
Mrs. Bennett gestured for her to sit back down, “Her handbag and phone are on the front passenger seat, and the keys are still in the ignition.”
Caroline just stared at her, feeling like she was going to choke on the acidic bile that rose into her throat.
“What do we do now, Mom?” Felicity asked.
“We call the police.”
Chapter Two
The police arrived at the house and asked her questions she didn’t know how to answer. All the while, Caroline sat on the couch, staring at the blank television screen with Felicity on one side of her and Mrs. Bennett on the other. When the officers finally left, the three of them walked out onto the porch to watch them go. Caroline suspected they didn’t know what to do next any more than she did.
“No way,” Felicity said quietly, looking up. Caroline followed her gaze and saw the first of the snowflakes floating down towards them. She took no pride in her correct prediction—it felt more like an omen, and a chill ran up her spine, causing her to shiver. Mrs. Bennett and Felicity offered to stay with her for the night, all of them wanting to believe that everything would be fine in the morning, and her mother and brother would return like nothing had happened.
There was no sleep for Caroline that night. Instead, she sat on her bed, watching the snowfall outside her window as Felicity slept peacefully beside her. She toyed with her locket, the joy she’d felt celebrating her birthday seemed like a distant dream. Despite the cold, the locket felt warm—almost hot—in her hand to the point where it became uncomfortable to hold, and she let it fall back against her chest, where it reverted to its normal, cool state. Rubbing her eyes, she yawned and allowed the lull of sleep to drag her down onto the pillows. All she wanted was to wake up and find this was all a bad dream.
◆◆◆
The sound of voices woke her up, and Caroline groaned, not wanting to her open her eyes as she stretched out and rolled over. Sitting up with a start, everything from the day before came rushing back to her, and she leaped off the bed, telling herself the voices had to be her mother and brother. Following the voices towards the family room, she skidded across the tiles as she stopped suddenly. Mrs. Bennett had her back to Caroline. She was facing an unfamiliar woman standing there, and the front door still open behind her. The woman stopped talking the moment she saw her, causing Mrs. Bennett to turn. Caroline didn’t move as she stared. There was something familiar about her, yet at the same time, she was confident she’d never seen her before. The woman was very tall and slim, with high cheekbones and wide green eyes. Her black hair fell in a curled bob that sat just below her ears. Her neck was long and graceful, and she held herself in a way that made Caroline think of a ballet dancer. She wore a black dress buttoned to the neck, with long sleeves and a long skirt that brushed the tops of her pointed black boots. A long leather coat was folded neatly over one arm. Mrs. Bennett walked over to Caroline and placed her arm around her shoulder.
“Caroline, honey. This is Marguerite Destine. Your aunt.”
“How do you do?” The woman said with a clipped, lilting accent Caroline couldn’t quite place. She looked from Mrs. Bennett to her aunt and back again. “My aunt lives abroad. In Europe somewhere.”
“That is correct. I live in France, in a charming chateau in the countryside. I apologize that we haven’t seen each other for some time, but my job is quite demanding, and I rarely venture from home.”
“Have you never heard of email? What about a postcard?” Caroline scoffed, and she felt Mrs. Bennett gently squeeze her shoulders. Her aunt simply cleared her throat, smiling tightly as she tilted her head to the side as though inspecting her.
Caroline stood her ground, staring back while trying to find any similarities between them. Of course, she knew of her aunt. She was her father’s twin sister, though she was as good as a stranger. Caroline had a vague recollection of seeing her at her father’s funeral, and even though she was only five at the time, she thought it strange, the woman hadn’t shed a single tear. There’d never been any form of correspondence, any birthday cards or Christmas wishes. Nothing in eleven years. Until now.
