The Order of The Rose: Forsaken Petal (Book 1)

Forsaken Petal 266

Order of The Rose: Forsaken Petal

By

Joshua D. Hoyt

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my amazing wife who has read and edited the book several times putting in many hours of fixing all the many comma mistakes that I make. Ria Mendoza from OrangeJar.com who created the amazing cover (check out her sight she is an amazing artist!), and my children who are very patient with the many hours I spend on the computer and for their encouragement and making me feel so good when they tell me they love my book. Last but not least my amazing editor, my mom.

This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, situations and events portrayed in this novel are from the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, people, living or dead is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical without expressed written permission from Joshua D. Hoyt.

Copyright © 2014 Joshua D. Hoyt

Table of Contents:

Prologue:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Epilogue:

About The Author

Excerpt from Order of The Rose: Black Petal (Book 2)

Prologue:

A knock at the front door woke Tom from dreams of tiny soldiers battling across a wooden floor. Another knock, more forceful than the first, brought him even more out of the land of sleep and into the land of the living. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and pushed his face into his pillow, not yet ready to let go of the dream. No longer a knock, a bang on the door bounced off the white plastered walls of the foyer, up the carpeted stairs and down the hall to Tom’s room, finally to land on Tom’s small ears. Tom sat up. The land of the living, peaked his interest, Could it be Father?

High heeled shoes tapped as they crossed the marble floor of the foyer sounding like little artillery explosions. Tom slid out of bed onto the rug. The thick rug ran from his bed to the edge of his bedroom door like a path through a dark forest. A sharp click echoed from the latch below, and the heavy front door opened. Tom clenched the toy soldier his father had just given him for his fifth birthday as he ran to the landing above the large hall. His small hand grasped the white bar of the baluster and he looked down into the foyer. Below a woman and man talked to the maid, Anna. We must see your mistress at once, the woman said.

His heart sank, It’s not father. Still the newcomers caught his interest. Who are they? The woman’s black hair caught the glow of the chandelier as it fell across her red dress. The man, standing just a little behind the woman looked like a giant. The light reflected off his shaved head. His black beard, carefully trimmed, outlined his muscular jaw. The long sword strapped across his back stood out against the man’s black suit. As Anna disappeared down the hall, the woman turned to whisper to the man. What are they talking about? Tom thought as he peered down at them. Maybe they’re here about father?

A few minutes later, Mother hurried to the woman, holding her hands out. They clasped hands and his mother’s lips brushed the other woman’s cheek. We can talk in here, his mother said, heading to the sitting room. The woman followed with the man close behind. Then Anna followed with a tray of tea.

Hand clasping the toy soldier, Tom crept down the stairs. His eyes darted nervously from side to side. At the bottom of the stairs, seeing no one, he darted across the entryway and stopped just outside the sitting room. Peering in, he saw Anna handing cups to the woman and man and then to his mother. She set the tray on the table and, turning, walked toward the door.

Tom slipped into the nearby coat closet and eased the door closed behind him enveloping the space in darkness. He held his breath until he heard Anna’s steps recede down the hall, then opened the door a crack allowing light to burst in to the closet. He sighed and pressed his ear to the door. Only muffled voices could be heard. After he dared move Tom slipped out of the closet and closed the door behind him. He sank to his knees and crawled to the sitting room. When he reached the double oak doors, he heard the woman shout, You have a responsibility to the order.

Why am I to be more responsible than they? his mother asked.

Must I remind you of your oath as well? demanded the woman. The responsibility is yours and yours alone.

I sacrificed a son once before, and I’ll not do it again, his mother whispered.

What sacrifice? Tom wondered. What’s mama talking about?

I sorrow for your loss, sister, the woman said, but there’s nothing that can be done. Without the law we are no different than the witches. A cup clanged on the tabletop and clothing rustled as someone stood. We’ll return tomorrow and collect the boy, the woman said.

Tom hurried to the stairs. By the time he reached the landing, the woman had reached the front door. The big man stood at attention next to her. His mother opened the door and the couple left without a word. She turned and quickly brushed tears from her eyes. She looked up, and seeing him she put on a smile.

Even to young Tom’s eyes, his mother had aged in the past few days. Her eyes had changed the most. They no longer gleamed when she smiled. His mother hurried up the stairs and with a broad smile she gazed lovingly down at the small boy with the curly, blonde hair. He smiled weakly up at her, hoping he wouldn’t get in to too much trouble.

His mother bent down to him and held him tight. Tom, you have to go to a new home tomorrow. It’ll just be for a short time. She looked into his blue eyes. After your father gets back, we’ll come and get you. He whimpered, as he thought about leaving his mother. She gave him a stern look then said, Remember, you must be strong. You’re an Alerio.

He nodded and wiped at his red eyes. I know Mother. I will be. She pulled him close as she lifted him into her arms and looked into his blue eyes. Tom couldn’t help but smile and grasped her around her neck, hugging her tight. She hugged him back as she carried him down the hallway to his room and laid him gently on the bed. After pulling the covers over his shoulders, she looked at him for a moment longer, leaned over, and kissed him on the forehead. He reached up and grabbed her around the neck again. Holding her tight he said, I love you mamma.

She squeezed him. And I love you, Tom.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tom, it’s time to go to your new home, Mother said as she knelt on the floor in front of him. She smiled. The sunlight from the open door gleamed on the marble floor. He rubbed his eyes, trying to stop the tears that blurred the image of his mother, kneeling in front of him. She leaned in and held him close. I know it will be hard. He couldn’t help but tremble as he thought about leaving his home and his mother. His mother kissed him on the forehead then held his shoulders and looked him in the eye. Remember that your father and I expect you to be strong while we’re apart. He could feel the strength in her as she pulled him closer. You’re very special. Don’t be afraid. We’ll come for you. He bit his lip to stop the quivering as his mother smiled at him. He smiled back and clasped the toy soldier closer to him.

The driver, Theo, came through the door and grabbed the suitcases next to Tom. Theo started for the car and Tom grabbed his mother’s arm letting the toy soldier fall to the ground. His mother picked up the toy and handed it back. You’ll need him to keep you safe while we’re gone. She held him tight and said, You must understand that we love you very much. She clenched her jaw for a second then continued, We have... it’s too dangerous to keep you here. She stood, and taking his hand they walked toward the car.

At the car Mother leaned down to him and whispered into his ear, It’s very important that you wait at your new home until you’re sent for. They continued to the car where she opened the door. He clung to her a moment longer then slowly climbed into the car.

He looked back at her. I... I understand, Mamma. He didn’t know if he really could be strong, but he would try.

She kissed him. Remember we love you so much and we’ll come and get you soon.

Another car sped toward them and fear flashed across her face as she slammed the door. Go! Theo jumped into the car, and the car lurched forward. Tom heard gravel spit from the tires as the car roared away.

He whirled and peered out the back window. Mama! he cried. Then Tom’s mouth dropped open when red flames shot from his mother’s hands toward the incoming car. He knew that his mother belonged to the sisterhood but had never before seen her use her magic before. He could no longer hold back the tears, and they poured down his face. The car swerved. He flew against the door and hit his head.

Tom, buckle up! Theo yelled.

Tom straightened, grabbed the buckle and struggled to strap it around his waist as the car swerved from side to side. As the car sped forward, Tom heard gun shots from behind. Again he searched out the back window but saw no cars. He sat back down and secured his seat belt. He wiped the tears from his eyes and leaned against the side of the car and soon fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tom jerked awake when his seat belt tightened sharply across his lap. The car jumped. He looked in the rearview mirror and saw fear in Theo’s eyes. Stay down, Theo said.

Tom squirmed around and peeked over the back seat and out the rear window. A black car raced towards them. He put his head in his lap and tried to stay low. Loud bangs went off from outside the car and something that sounded like a hundred tiny rocks hit the car. The back window exploded. Tom screamed as tiny pieces of glass bit the back of his neck. He cried out, Mamma, I want my mamma.

You’re ok. Stay down, Theo yelled. Tom tried to get lower. He squeezed his eyes shut and hoped that he’d wake up soon. Another loud bang came from outside the car. Theo shrieked. Tom looked up and saw Theo slumped over the steering wheel. His black hair was matted and red. The car screeched. The seat belt knocked the wind out of him, and the world began to spin. Tom screamed as the side window exploded, and the door handle jabbed into his side. His head slammed into the door and everything went foggy.

Silence. Crunch of gravel.

Please don’t see me. A tingling in his gut.

A face appeared, looked straight at him then disappeared. A strange voice, Everyone’s dead here.

Why didn’t he see me? Then Tom slid into blackness.

Chapter 1:

We’re going to get you, Tom, the older boy yelled from down the hall. Tom pumped his legs faster, as he rounded the corner. Their laughter and pounding feet gained as he searched for a place to hide. His hand shoved the bathroom door open as he ducked in and ran to the farthest stall closing it tight behind him. The color drained from his face as the bathroom door banged open. Loud footsteps approached the stalls. He hugged his legs to his chest and held his breath.

We know you’re in here, Jacob said.

Yeah and we know you’re hiding in one of the stalls, Peanut taunted in a squeaky voice. The boys crept closer and Tom knew that he would have to do something quick. He searched desperately for a place to hide as his heart thumped louder and louder.

The first stall door slammed open. You might as well come out and get your beating or it’ll be twice as bad for you, Jacob said. Tom’s heart raced and his knees shook so badly he feared they would hear them. Slam! The door next to his made a horrible sound as it banged into the wall.

He jumped as the stall door crashed open in front of him. Jacob grabbed him with his meaty hands and pulled him off the toilet while Peanut snickered. Jacob’s blond hair hung limply around his round face. His pug nose and big ears forced whoever looked at him to think of a pig while his round belly just reinforced the image. Peanut on the other hand looked like a mouse with his scraggly brown hair and pointed features. He was about half the size of Jacob and Peanut squirmed behind his pal, trying to see the action past Jacob’s over stuffed clothes.

Jacob forced Tom to face the toilet and said, I told you that it would be worse for you if you didn’t come out. Sharp pain pierced Tom’s neck and arm as Jacob pushed his head closer to the toilet. Tom gagged from the stench. He kicked out and managed to hit the door so hard that it swung back, and banged Jacob in the shoulder. Jacob only laughed as he slammed Tom’s head down onto the toilet seat. Don’t you get wild now, Jacob insisted.

Laughter erupted from Peanut as the blood ran down Tom’s face. Jacob lifted the toilet seat and Tom strained to hold his head as far back as possible. His arm buckled. He clenched his mouth and eyes just before his head plunged into the dirty water. After a few seconds Jacob allowed him to lift his head and gulp for air. And each time Peanut’s laughter filled his ears. Jacob finally stepped back and allowed Tom to fall to the floor. He lay there coughing and gasping. A little ways off, a door squeaked as Jacob and Peanut left, laughing loudly.

Tom caught his breath, struggled to his feet, and walked to a small sink where he methodically washed his face and hands. The bleeding had stopped but a giant goose egg took shape on his forehead. Tears formed but he gripped the sink and pushed them back. He lowered his head, closed his eyes, and forced the pain to go away. The image that appeared in the cracked mirror trembled with anger. What have you become? How can you call yourself an Alerio?

He sank to his knees wishing Thaddeus hadn’t left him. Thaddeus had been the headmaster when Tom had first arrived at the orphanage, nearly eight years ago. He would have never allowed Tom to suffer so much from the other boys. Jacob and Peanut were the cruelest. They encouraged the other boys to taunt and ridicule him on a daily basis and even beat him since Mr. Aldofo took over. He had been Thaddeus’s assistant until Thaddeus died un-expectantly.

Mr. Aldofo had had it out for Tom ever since Tom had overheard Mr. Aldofo scheming with a woman to sell boys to her. Tom had reported the incident to Thaddeus immediately. Of course Mr. Aldofo had denied the accusations but Thaddeus had told him he had one week to get his things in order and leave. A couple of days after the argument, Thaddeus had become sick and died. After Mr. Aldofo’s promotion to headmaster things had changed quickly. Jacob and Peanut were soon allowed to do pretty much anything they wanted with no consequences. The other boys quickly learned not to stick up for, or even befriend those who the cronies beat on. Anyone who did, would be next in line for a beating or, worse still, be sold to the witches.

Tom escaped from the orphanage many times, finding it easy to climb out the window and down the tree next to the roof, but he always returned. He worried that if he left, his mother, or who ever she had promised to send, would be unable to find him. Besides he figured that at least here he had food and shelter. He’d heard stories of boys that lived on the street, and he didn’t want that. Another advantage to staying was the education Tom received. Mr. Aldofo always complained about the money spent on educating the worthless boys, but he knew they brought a better profit educated than non-educated boys. So, expense not withstanding , instruction continued. Often Tom crawled into a corner and dreamed of better times when his mother hugged him and made all the pain go away or of walks in the forest with his father. At his lowest points, he would hold onto the soft eyes of his mother and the strong smile of his father and know that they had always believed in him.

On one of these dark days, Tom walked to the black fence that surrounded the orphanage thinking of the time his father and he walked through the forest next to his home. His father had stopped and pointed to a rotting tree. See that tree.

Tom gazed at the tree and nodded.

What do you see? his father asked.

A dead tree.

His dad smiled and tipped Tom’s head up until he saw a nest near the top. To you it might be just a dead tree but to the robin it’s a home. He then turned Tom toward him and said, You can look for the good or the evil in this world and whichever you look for, you’ll find. Such memories Tom closed up in his heart and never forgot. Still on such miserable days as today it was hard to believe the lesson his father had taught so many years ago.

Why haven’t you come for me? he whispered as he stared at the angry face in the bathroom mirror. There’s no good. I’ve looked and looked for it but there’s no good here. Tom strode out of the bathroom down the stairs and out the front door. No one tried to stop him. He followed the front walk as far as the gate then turned right to follow the iron fence. At last he stopped and hidden by overgrown lilacs he wrapped his hands around the cold iron bars that kept him in this world of pain. He glared through the bars. Maybe it’s time for me to escape this place. I’m tired of waiting. After eight years maybe something’s happened to them, maybe I need to find them.

The sound of a door rapping shut brought Tom out of his thoughts and he looked up to see an old man come out of a building that stood across the street. Tom warily stepped back from the fence as the man slowly walked across the street. Tom? the man asked. Tom's jaw went slack and he cautiously nodded his head. This is for you, said the old man, as he pushed an envelope through the fence and smiled reassuringly. Tom hesitated looking at the envelope in the wrinkled hand of the man. It’s okay, the man said.

Tom stepped forward, slowly reached out and took the envelope. The man turned and hurried back across the street, disappearing into the building once again. Tom stood alone with the envelope limply in his hand. The letter wavered like a leaf in a gentle breeze as he held it gingerly between his thumb and forefinger. Could it be from them? He turned it over slowly and saw his name printed neatly across the seal. He stared at his name for a moment longer before sliding his finger under the seal and opened the letter. The letter contained a single sheet of paper.

Tom,

In one week you need to leave the orphanage. Follow the adjacent street until you come to the first alleyway. Follow it to the end. At the end you will meet two men at midnight. They will present themselves to you and you will then need to decide which of the two you will follow. This choice is yours and yours alone. Once you have made the choice it can not be undone without consequences.

Tom flipped the paper over then back, finding no signature he put the note back into the envelope and walked back to the orphanage in a fog. When he arrived late to supper no one noticed. He finished his potato soup and then went to bed were he read the note several more times before putting it up. The bed seemed especially hard that night as Tom twisted and turned before finally drifting off to sleep just before dawn and dreamed of dark alleys and old men.

The early sunlight shined through the window onto Tom’s face waking him from dreams. His eyes opened with a flurry and he jumped out of bed landing on the cold, concrete floor. The room lacked the usual bustle and hustle of the morning and Tom realized that most of the other boys had already dressed and were heading to breakfast. He ran to the bathroom. After throwing water into his face and hair trying to get his curly hair to have some order, he pulled his shirt on. He tucked it in as he ran down the hall toward the cafeteria.

Dressed and finished with breakfast he started on his chores. He got the mop bucket and filled it with warm water dumping the exact amount of soap in. Mopping was job Tom enjoyed. It took him far away from the other boys. The water sloshed in the bucket as he hurried to the entryway of the orphanage. One hand held the bucket while the other held a mop slung over his shoulder. Once he reached the entryway he sat the bucket down and sloshed the mop into it. The mop looked like a rag doll as it whipped across the floor turning the once dull tile shiny.

On that particular morning, as he mopped and watched the shine return to the tile, the door of the orphanage opened, admitting a strange couple. A woman wearing a long black robe entered first. Followed closely behind by a large man with a jagged scar running from one side of his face to the other. Tom watched as the two walked swiftly toward the headmaster’s office and not bothering to knock, entered.

Tom heard the scrape of a chair then, What are you... the headmaster started which quickly turned to gurgling sounds as he gasped for air.

Don’t talk to me in that tone, dog, the woman’s voice said.

I... I’m sorry, the