"Rose where are you?" mother asked, yelling out. "I'm in here mother," Rose answered waving her hand through a door. "Rose hurry you're going to be late for school."mother said going towards the room. "Ok, ok. I'm coming so how do I look." Rose told her mother."You look wonderful now come on Angelica, Cameron, and Alexander are waiting for you outside in the car and your aunt alice will take you, ok?" mother said everything while taking Rose outside. Bye mother, Rose yelled out. Did everyone put on their seat belts, aunt alice asked everyone. Yes aunt alice, Angelica, Rose, Cameron, and Alexander answered at the same time. Wow that was cool why do you think we did that, Angelica asked the others. I don't know that was really weird, Cameron answered. It was may it's because we're nervous, Alexander answered. Yeah it probably just that we're nervous, Rose finished the conversation. Well are you kids excited you're going to high school and it's private too, Aunt Alice said. Yeah very, Alexander answered. Remember kids don't tell your families secret ok, Aunt Alice Said. We will Aunt Alice, Rose agreed. Ok just making sure or you know what will happen to us right, Aunt alice asked her. We will have to move away I know but........... why are we this again for, Rose asked. Ugh do you really have to ask Rose AGAIN, Alexander pointed out. Well I'm the youngest I still forget or ignore stuff ok, Rose said yelling out. Mmm sorry, Alexander said looking sad. It's ok we're all probably really nervous and taking it out on each other, Rose pointed out. You guys, were here, Angelica and Cameron said. Now go on kids have a wonderful day make some friends and don't tell anyone your family's secret ok BYE, Aunt Alice said. Oh man we don't have any classes together guys, Cameron said sadly. Well good luck guys, Rose said. Bye guys see ya later, Alexander.
Antique store owner Liz brings home a Victorian taxidermy hound from auction, unwittingly unleashing dark forces on her wife and son.
*****
Nat Loman has finally married the love of her life, Liz, and is getting used to her role as stepmother to Liz's 5-year-old son, Liam. The Loman family runs a bustling antique business so they attend a sale where a striking, black taxidermied hound is up for auction. Liz picks it up for the business, but it ends up being stored in their home, where Nat notices strange things occurring. She quickly discovers the past residents had died violently. Then she hears from a friend about the myth of "the devil's dog", a hound that perches in the shadows, tearing families apart from the inside. Soon, people around the Lomans are dying, and Liz is changing, darkening. It's up to Nat to save the woman she loves from the darkness closing in, and to save Liam from danger no matter what she has to sacrifice.
[[Winner of the 2018 Wattys "Hidden Gems" category]]
[[word count: 60,000-70,000 words]]