Autumn Secrets (Numinous Book 1) Page 2

  “I…I just wanted to have a quick look around. It’s been a while since I was here.” My voice was still too shaky, betraying how nervous I was standing here talking to him.

  “Here? Do you mean the library itself, or are you referring to Angel Falls?” He leaned casually against one of the bookshelves with his head angled and watched me intently. I could swear the temperature was rising with every second that ticked by. I felt like I was about to catch on fire. I swallowed and took a deep breath.

  “Both. I kind of moved back.”

  “Moved back? You’ve lived here before?”

  I guess he didn’t know me then. “I was born here and now we’re back, my mum and I.” I shook my head at my poor attempt to offer him an explanation that actually made sense. “It’s a long story,” I added quietly, still blushing.

  “Interesting,” he mumbled and raised an eyebrow. “Tell me, you wouldn’t happen to be the granddaughter of Elizabeth and Arthur Kinsley?”

  I nodded. My grandparents’ business was named ‘Kinsley Antiques’ and it employed a lot of locals. My grandparents had been well known in the Angel Falls community. Okay, so maybe there was a slight possibility he had recognised my name after all.

  “Well, it was very nice meeting you, Aurora. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.” His voice sounded wicked, like he knew something I didn’t. It made my heart skip a beat, or maybe two. He flashed me a disarming smile and nodded towards the book in my hand. “Enjoy your evening – that book definitely looks interesting.” He winked, before leaving me in the same spot he found me, glued to the floor and my mouth agape.

  “Thanks, same to you,” I mumbled back, though I was quite sure he couldn’t hear me. I took a deep breath and looked down at the book in my trembling hands. I had no idea what was happening to me. All I knew was that it was because of him. Who was he?

  I had to fight the urge to run after him and ask for his life story…or his phone number. I was beyond curious about this gorgeous guy who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. I shook my head and tried to bring myself back to reality. I was not going to run after him. What was I thinking?

  I ran my hand across the book cover slowly, to distract myself and to try and help my pounding heart find a normal rhythm again. It took several attempts, before I could finally shake the strange encounter and concentrate on the book. My grandmother had always told me I had to be aware of the world around me and its many secrets. She told me to look for signs. If I didn’t look or believe, I would never find the magic or answers that were meant for someone like me. Someone like me. I smiled. She sure knew how to make me feel special.

  Maybe this book was a sign of something? I read the title again. Fallen Angels and Demons. I giggled to myself. On second thought, maybe not. I put the book back on the shelf and shook my head. I was being silly. My phone rang in my pocket. It was Mum, probably wondering where I was. I answered and told her I was on my way home as I started to make my way out of the library. For a second I thought I heard the book fall to the ground again, but I ignored it as I made my way back down the stairs.

  When I finally made it back to the manor, we spent the rest of the evening unpacking. We decided to sleep in the right wing on the second floor. Mum had already picked her old bedroom and I had picked the room down the end of the hallway with windows facing the lake. I also had my own terrace, which made me feel like a princess, living in her newfound kingdom. The room itself was very spacious, with big windows and high ceilings. It also had an old fireplace in one of the corners. The bedroom furniture had arrived a couple of days ago, so the only thing I had to do was arrange my bed and desk, then unpack a couple of boxes.

  I put some music on and started organising my stuff. It was late, almost midnight, but I wasn’t tired at all. My thoughts kept wandering back to the gorgeous and mysterious Adrian, making butterflies swarm in my stomach, and making it impossible to sleep. I’d been on a few dates in my seventeen years, but often my lack of interest meant I never made it to a second date with anyone. Adrian, on the other hand, was on a totally different level. I’d never met anyone who could make my heart beat so fast or cause me to forget how to speak. I was curious and excited about the way he had made me feel. I definitely wanted more of whatever that was. I had never felt so alive.

  That night I dreamed that my grandmother paid me a visit. She stood there with that book in her hand: Fallen Angels and Demons. She looked at me and shook her head.

  “I told you to be aware of the signs, Aurora.”

  I looked around, confused about where I was and why she was here. Where were we? I turned my gaze back to my grandmother, but she was already gone. The only thing left was the book on the ground.

  Chapter 3

  It took me a few seconds to realise where I was when I woke up the next morning. The sunlight was trying to find its way through the curtains, so I kicked off the bed covers and jumped up to put some clothes on. As soon as I was dressed, I pulled the curtains back to admire the view from my bedroom window. The sun was slowly climbing over the trees as I opened the terrace door to appreciate the colourful landscape outside. The crisp autumn breeze made me shiver and I had to wrap my cardigan tighter around me to keep the bitter wind away. It was so much colder out here than it had looked from inside. The lake was crystal clear, shimmering as it collected light from the morning sun. I walked to the edge of the terrace and peered over the railing, to see if I could catch a glimpse of my grandmother’s garden.

  Even though it was only autumn, everything was pruned to perfection, ready and eagerly waiting for its winter sleep. Mr and Mrs Peters had truly kept their word when they promised to take care of it just as my grandmother had done. My grandmother and I had often spent hours out there; she’d taught me everything she knew about gardening and the different seasons. My grandmother had been like a walking encyclopedia. She knew everything. From an early age, I could tell that autumn was her favourite time of year. She talked about it with so much love and admiration, and I learned very early to recognise and respect changes in nature.

  My grandmother was a wonderful storyteller. I could sit and listen to her for hours. She often told me there were important stories I needed to hear, but not until I was old enough to appreciate and understand their meaning. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to hear those stories and too many of them were left untold.

  “I miss you… I miss you both,” I whispered, as the cold wind swept over me. My eyes welled up as the icy air bit my wet cheeks. I turned and walked back inside again. It still hurt to think about them, even though it’s been almost six years.

  Mum was already up, waltzing around the kitchen, when I came downstairs. The kitchen was bathed in the morning sun and I had the most beautiful view of the lake and forest from the main window. It looked like a perfect day for exploring.

  “Good morning. Did you have a good sleep?” Mum asked cheerily as she put a plate of waffles in front of me.

  “Morning! Thanks. Yes, I did. What about you? You seem to be in a really good mood this morning.”

  “Yes, I slept really well too.” She smiled. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking, this is such a big house for just the two of us… Do you mind if we lock the door to the left wing on the second floor? We don’t really need another six rooms, right?”

  “Sure, I don’t mind.” This house was like a small castle, and I was far too old to play hide-and-seek. I didn’t need to find new places to hide anymore.

  “It will make things easier for us, with cleaning and everything.”

  “Sounds good to me, Mum.”

  Shortly after our breakfast, Mr and Mrs Peters came to say hello. “Look at you, Aurora,” Mrs Peters said as she gave me a hug. “All grown up. I can’t believe you are about to turn eighteen.”

  Mr Peters nodded and also embraced me. “You’ve certainly grown up, Aurora. It’s so good to see you both.”

  “Thank you, it feels good to be back.” Mum smiled. She made them some coffee and we s
at down at the big wooden table in the kitchen and talked for almost an hour.

  As they were leaving, Mrs Peters looked at Mum and I with wary eyes. “Well, you’re here now. That means we can look after each other.”

  Mum hugged them both. “Yes, I’m really glad I have you both here.”

  “And we’re glad that you two are back with us.” Mr Peters smiled warmly and put a hand on Mrs Peters’ shoulder. “Shall we continue with our day?” Mrs Peters nodded. “Well, we’ll see you two later.”

  I smiled and nodded back as I waved goodbye, agreeing with their endearing words. There seemed to be such a strong, unspoken bond between Mum and Mr and Mrs Peters, and it was obvious they had missed each other a lot over the years.

  I spent the rest of my day rediscovering my grandparents’ property. The birch trees were still standing tall on both sides of the road that led to the front of the manor. They looked magnificent this time of year, covered with their yellow, orange and red leaves. To the right of the manor was another little road that led down to the riding school and its surrounding meadows. My grandparents had built the riding school to generate extra income, but also because they loved the idea of keeping the community close. The back of the property was my favourite place, like I knew it would be. My grandmother’s beautiful garden down by the lake was very secluded and truly felt like my own little piece of paradise. I could see why my grandparents had loved this place so much.

  The only house you could see from the manor was Mr and Mrs Peters’ on the other side of the lake. It was so quiet. I couldn’t believe this all belonged to me and Mum now. It was still a bit uncomfortable and overwhelming to think about in that way. This would always be my grandparents’ place.

  After helping Mum make a dessert for the evening, I spent the rest of the afternoon on the jetty with a book. There was nothing but silence surrounding me except for the chirps of a few birds, which would disappear to warmer climates very soon. I closed my eyes and listened to what might have been their final song, appreciating the calming sound of nature around me. Mum came down briefly to bring me a cup of tea but left me to enjoy the peace and quiet by myself for the afternoon.

  I thought about yesterday and my meeting with the captivating Adrian Hunter at the library. I wondered who he was, how old he was and if I would ever meet him again. I was quite sure I would run into him at some point; this wasn’t exactly Paris. There couldn’t be too many schools around here. The thought of running into him again warmed my insides, and straight away the butterflies returned.

  Six o’clock on the dot that evening a car pulled up outside our house. I was so nervous about seeing Lexi after all these years. I still felt so embarrassed that Mum had essentially set me up on a playdate. What if she turned out to be one of those rude girls who I had absolutely nothing in common with? What a disaster that would be.

  “It will be fine – Lexi is a lovely girl,” Mum reassured me with a smile as she opened the door to welcome our guests. The first thing I saw was a blonde girl with green eyes and a huge smile plastered on her face. Lexi.

  Mum was right, of course. The Dawson family were great. I surmised that Lexi must be one of the popular girls at school. She was beautiful and had such a happy and bubbly personality. You couldn’t help but smile in her company and, even better, we hit it off straight away. After dinner we left the adults downstairs and headed to my room to catch up.

  “It’s so weird; I found all these pictures from here – taken, like, a very long time ago. I didn’t know who the girl was next to me, but apparently it was you. It looked like we were good friends when we were little,” Lexi said as we walked up the stairs to my room.

  “So, I’ve heard.” I smiled.

  “But here’s the weird thing, I can’t remember any of it. No offence to you or anything, but it’s so strange, don’t you think?” Lexi stopped and looked at me at the top of the stairs.

  “Yeah, I actually have the same problem…” I admitted. “No offence.”

  Lexi laughed and held up her hands. “None taken. But it is quite weird, right?” It did baffle me, the more I thought about it. Why didn’t we remember each other, especially since I could remember other people and places from that point in my life so clearly?

  “Do you find it scary? I mean, this house is enormous,” Lexi asked, interrupting my train of thought.

  I shrugged. “No, not really. I actually feel really safe here. I feel like I’m home.” I opened the bedroom door and the first thing that hit me was the icy cold air. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at the curtains, which were flickering from the wind outside.

  “Oh my God, Aurora. It’s freezing in here,” Lexi said behind me. My terrace door was wide open. I ran across the room to close it. Strange, I was sure I’d closed it earlier.

  “Sorry, Lexi. I thought I’d shut it.”

  “Well, you obviously forgot. It’s like a freezer in here.” She laughed.

  “Yeah, I must have.”

  Lexi must have noticed my bewildered face because she quickly added, “Did you by any chance open the door earlier today?”

  “Yeah, but that was in the morning…”

  “You probably didn’t shut it properly then. You need to use a little bit of force with these old houses.”

  She was right. I let my eyes sweep across the room, and everything looked just like I had left it. Nothing was missing. I shook my head. I was being silly. As if a burglar would come all the way out here. Besides, this manor was like Fort Knox. It was totally safe here.

  “This is an impressive room. I think it’s probably double the size of my bedroom,” Lexi said and made herself at home in the old rocking chair in the corner, while studying my room with great interest.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled.

  “Are you nervous about Monday? I can meet you outside school if you want someone to walk you in on your first day?”

  “You don’t mind? That would be really great, actually. I’m quite nervous to be honest. It’s such a small town; they’re all going to notice that I’m new.”

  “Don’t worry, Aurora. They will welcome a babe like you with open arms.” She laughed infectiously, making me poke out my tongue at her. “I’m serious – especially the guys,” she added with a wink. “Do you know what classes you’re in?”

  “Yep, hold on.” I went to my desk and grabbed the information Mum had scribbled down for me. I handed the note to Lexi.

  “Yay, we have the first class together in the morning.”

  “We do? That’s great!” I said and felt a little bit lighter. “So tell me about the school.” What I really wanted to ask was if she knew someone named Adrian Hunter. Images of him kept getting stuck in my mind ever since our meeting at the library. I was quite sure she would know who he was. He wouldn’t be someone who walked around unnoticed, especially not in a small town like this. She might even know him or worse…he might be her boyfriend. I cringed at the thought.

  “I don’t think it’s that different to other schools. It’s not very big; I think there are about two hundred students. We all get along quite well. It’s a friendly atmosphere most of the time. You honestly don’t have to worry.”

  “And who do you hang out with?” I asked, trying to be subtle.

  “Well, there’s a little group of us that hang out together. There’s Jasmine, Mia and myself, and I guess I have to count Will as well. Mia and Will are a couple. They’ve been going out for almost two years now but he’s away until the end of this year on exchange somewhere.”

  “What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?” I had to know. This was a small town and if she had any connection to Adrian, I really wanted to know. I didn’t want any surprises that could jeopardise a friendship with Lexi. I really liked her.

  “No, no way.” She laughed. “However, I will tell you this: for a small town, we do have many good-looking guys here, if you’re interested.”

  “And you’re not?” I teased. So, Adrian wasn’t her boyfriend. May
be I could mention my meeting him after all?

  “No, I have too much stuff to concentrate on to drool over boys.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “You know, like studying hard so I can get into the best university in the country. There are more important things on my agenda right now.” She laughed. “I just want to be prepared, you know?”

  “I hear you.” And I did. I too studied really hard and was devoted to school. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do further down the track, but I wanted to have opportunities when I finally made the decision. I knew I didn’t want to be stuck in the family business, at least not yet.

  In the end I decided against asking Lexi about Adrian. I didn’t know Lexi that well just yet and I didn’t really feel comfortable enough to ask her. He probably had a girlfriend anyway and even if he didn’t, he was way out of my league. No, it was better to keep our meeting to myself for now.

  Later that evening when the Dawsons had left, I helped Mum clean up in the kitchen. “So, what do you think?” Mum asked. I could see the excitement in her eyes.

  “Lexi is great. Thank you for organising this.” I was relieved to know that I would have someone I knew on my first day at school.

  “My pleasure. I wanted to see Sarah and David as soon as I got here anyway.” Mum grinned. Lexi and I had only found out this evening that our mums had been best friends since kindergarten. It all made more sense to me now, why she had been so adamant about hosting this dinner party.

  I thought about Lexi and our conversation about not remembering each other. Add that to the fact that her parents were so close to Mum, and it was all a bit strange. How could I not remember any one of them, particularly Lexi? I looked at Mum. “It’s weird that I don’t remember Lexi, don’t you think?”