Everbloom

Seventeen-year-old Larkspur Everbloom has a secret. The women in her family stop aging once they reach adulthood. They can never die of old age. Instead, they end up murdered.

Feared for their agelessness, they are pursued by a shadowy organization known as BloodSlayers. Larkspur has known this her whole life. Aunt Magnolia, who took her in when her mother was murdered four years ago, reminds her every single day. They've moved from place to place on a yearly basis, always settling in remote locations to remain undetected by the BloodSlayers' vast network. Now their money has run out, so Aunt Magnolia needs a job to keep them afloat. The closest work she can find is in the city.

Fitting into a new school, WoodBridge High, after being homeschooled to avoid the BloodSlayers is a massive struggle. Keeping time and regimented schedules seems so stressful compared to relaxing in nature with a book to study and cultivating skills such as gardening, creating artwork, and music on her own schedule. Even more stressful is avoiding the the omnipresent social media, whatever that is. Who would understand that a simple tweet with her picture could be seen by the BloodSlayers and bring danger crashing down on her doorstep?

Unfortunately for Larkspur, the BloodSlayers determine the Everblooms' location as soon as Larkspur enrolls. A boy in her class, Tanner James, befriends her despite her attempts to remain an invisible loner. He has a secret, too. He comes from a long line of BloodSlayers, and Larkspur is his first assignment. Toy with their prey, then capture and kill is what he's been taught.

When two of them uncover the truth behind what caused a centuries-old blood feud between the Everblooms and BloodSlayers, the pair must stand together to end the feud before it decimates their two clans.

Author's Note: I am writing this story as part of the NaNoWriMo 2022 challenge. Happy writing to everyone doing this challenge along with me! :)