Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set Read Online Free PDF Page A

falls rapidly, her pulse thumping in her ears as she fights back tears. Her parents are gone. Her beloved brother and friends too. Her new husband has murdered everyone she has ever cared for…except Adela. Roseline vows to do whatever it takes to save her sister.
    The wailing cries of the dying faded away a few minutes ago, only to be replaced by an odd slurping noise. Vladimir’s giddy laughter ricochets off the church walls as he celebrates with his brother.
    Roseline cradles her sister, lifting desperate prayers for protection heavenward. Fear seeps into the marrow of her bones, rooting her in place. Where is Vladimir? Why has he not finished them off yet?
    Wide baby-blue eyes stare up at Roseline. Adela’s delicate fingers claw at her arms, pleading with Roseline to flee. To make the bad men disappear. Oh, how she wishes this was all just a terrible dream.
    “Roseline,” Vladimir croons. His boots squelch in the lifeblood of her friends and family. From this vantage point, she can see her father’s family ring exposed in the aisle. Its eagle crest drips with drying blood.
    Vladimir tsks as he slowly mounts the steps toward the altar. “This is no way to treat your husband, Roseline. Your mother would be shamed by such abhorrent manners.”
    Adela trembles in Roseline’s arms as the sound of Vladimir’s sword, trailing along the stone floor, draws near. Her pale pink lips quiver as she presses into Roseline’s chest.
    Heat from the flames licks Roseline’s face while cool moonlight filters through the church windows above. She closes her eyes against the fear that threatens to handicap her mind. They cannot wait much longer. Soon the tapestries will engulf in flames, and then the pews, and then the…bodies.
    An eerie silence hangs over the room. Roseline shivers, fighting to stave off the terror encroaching on her mind. She must be brave for Adela.
    “Come out, my love. It is time,” Vladimir calls, his words disgustingly intimate.
    Roseline shifts, tugging the soiled hem of her dress back from view. Her skin crawls. She peeks out around the edge of the altar. Someone is watching her. She can feel eyes upon her.
    Only a few feet away, Vladimir stands, twirling his bloodied sword. His chin and jaw are painted crimson, staining his pale flesh. A severe nose makes his face appear gaunt, and his crazed eyes far more fearsome than she remembered, but his eyes are not on her.
    Roseline arches her back to look to the rear of the church. Vladimir’s older brother posted himself near the exit when the massacre began, slaughtering any who dared to attempt escape. Her brother fell to Lucien’s sword, as did so many of her friends who begged for mercy. They were shown none. Now, Lucien is missing.
    She looks up. There, perched in the crossbeams of the rafters, is Lucien. A wide, gruesome grin stretches across his face. A crazed glint darkens his eyes. His lips peel back to reveal bloodstained teeth. His long hair spills over his shoulders, matted with blood. Fingernail claw marks along his arms and face make Roseline shudder. Who lived long enough to rake flesh from his cheeks?
    Adela’s hands flail as Roseline cups off her scream, squeezing her sister into submission.
    “Come out, Roseline. It is time to begin our wedding night celebrations.” Vladimir twirls; drops of blood, clinging to his three-quarter-length coat, splatter the altar. Roseline gags. She would rather die than let this monster touch her.
    Adela whimpers behind her hand. Roseline shakes her head, begging her sister to remain silent. Her pulse thunders in her ears as she searches for a weapon. A golden cross lies ahead, trapped under the sacrament plates.
    Her mind screams for her to snatch up the cross and protect her sister, but Lucien is overhead. A rash movement will no doubt bring Adela’s end.
    “Stay here,” she whispers, pressing her sister tightly up against the altar. Roseline stands and faces her new husband.
    “Ah, there you are,”