The Dead Boy's Club Read online

  The Dead Boys Club

  Rue Volley

  Contents

  Other books by Rue Volley

  Songs to Set the Mood

  Character Glossary

  Copyright Mentions

  Quotes

  Acknowledgments

  A Note From the Author

  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

  Butterfly Omens and Color Chart

  Please Enjoy A Sample of 13 Ways To Midnight

  Prologue

  About the Author

  Other books by Rue Volley

  13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga, Book #1)

  13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga, Book #2)

  13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga, Book #3)

  13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga, Book #4)

  * * *

  The Devil's Gate Trilogy

  The Devil's Gate (Book #1)

  The Devil's Fire (Book #2)

  The Devil's Kiss (Book #3)

  * * *

  Hellhound Origins: Tale of the Red Dragon

  Hellhound (Episode One: Dead is Dead)

  * * *

  A Witch's Tale

  * * *

  A Vampires Tale:

  Of Blood and Light (Book #1)

  Of Smoke and Mirrors (Book #2)

  Of Oil and Water (Book #3)

  Of Clarity and Reason (Book #4)

  Of Grace and Beauty (Book #5)

  Of Hope and Faith (Book #6)

  This Book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ©Text Copyright 2019 Rue Volley

  Cover by Rue Volley

  Edited by Lily Luchesi

  Formatting by Rebecca Poole

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious and are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  Published by

  CHBB PUBLISHING

  Songs to Set the Mood

  PLAYLIST

  * * *

  Marshmello featuring Bastille- Happier

  Julia Michaels- What a Time featuring Niall Horan

  Ariana Grande- Breathin’

  Ben Abraham and Sara Bareillis- This Is On Me

  Susie Suh and Robot Koch- Here With Me

  The Head and the Heart- Another Story

  Hannah Peel- Chloe

  Olafur Arnalds- Happiness Does Not Wait

  Manchester Orchestra- The Silence

  Sia- Breathe Me

  Larkin Poe- Mad as a Hatter

  Haven- Back in the Water

  Selena Gomez- Back To You

  Character Glossary

  The Ellis Family

  Harper J. Ellis

  Age: 15

  Eyes: Bright Green

  Hair: White blonde. Long. She loves to wear it curly in pigtails.

  Skin: Pale

  Height: 5’3”

  Build: Petite

  Harper is not a fan of mortals. She prefers books. She’s sarcastic and has a slight temper. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends. Her middle name is JAY because it’s her mother’s favorite bird. (JayBird, also known as a Blue Jay). She wears GOTHIC LOLITA dresses and is learning to sew. She loves Juniper Hollow and doesn’t ever want to leave. She loves to read in the cemetery and is Wiccan.

  * * *

  Evan James Ellis

  Age: 42

  Eyes: Brown (nearly black)

  Hair: Shaggy and Black

  Skin: Somewhat tan

  Height: 6’2”

  Build: Broad chest, muscular arms.

  Evan has a thick Irish accent. He’s very humorous and enjoys messing with his wife. He’s somewhat crude but has a huge heart. He’s very protective of his children and wants to spend as much time with them as he possibly can. He’s an architect and has helped restore many of the older buildings in Juniper Hollow. He works from home and is Wiccan.

  * * *

  Lindy May Ellis

  Age: 39

  Eyes: Bright Green

  Hair: Long and blonde

  Skin: Pale

  Height: 5’5”

  Build: Petite

  Lindy is the head of the household and runs a tight ship. She’s the mother of three children, Harper, Innis, and Gunn. She has a great sense of humor and is very compassionate, but doesn’t take any crap. She’s a great cook and seamstress. She’s also a practicing witch and grows the majority of their food in their atrium. She’s all about organic food and practicing her craft. She loves her family and would do anything for them.

  * * *

  Innis Ellis

  Age: 9

  Eyes: Brown

  Hair: Brown

  Skin: Pale

  Height: 4’5”

  Build: Lanky

  Innis is loud and aggressive. A typical nine-year-old boy. He is a twin and was also an unplanned surprise for Lindy and Evan. He was born on Halloween and lives to annoy his sister, Harper—or so she believes.

  * * *

  Gunn Ellis

  Age: 9

  Eyes: Green

  Hair: Brown

  Skin: Pale

  Height: 4’5”

  Build: Lanky

  Gunn is the mirror image of his twin, Innis—minus the color of his eyes. He was also born on Halloween

  * * *

  The Porter Family

  * * *

  Killian Porter

  Age: 16

  Eyes: Bright Blue

  Hair: Shaggy Chocolate Brown

  Skin: Pale (with rosy cheeks)

  Height: 6’1”

  Build: Medium

  Killian is elusive, humorous, and annoying. He doesn’t offer much information about himself and tends to frustrate Harper because of it. He isn’t a native of Juniper Hollow. He moved there with his Dad and little sister after his mother passed away. He also loves books and spending time in the cemetery.

  * * *

  Supporting Roles

  * * *

  GG Gardenstate (GG)

  Age: 15

  Eyes: Hazel

  Skin: Pale with freckles across her nose

  Height: 5’3”

  Hair: Nearly black with purple tips

  Build: Petite

  GG is Harper’s BFF. They’ve grown up together and have always been extremely close. GG likes to dress sort of goth but with glitter. She’s very compassionate, and Harper thinks she’ll eventually be a nurse and/or a mom because of how nurturing she is.

  * * *

  Court Barrington

  Age: 15

  Eyes: Amber

  Skin: Pale with freckles on her high cheekbones

  Height: 5’5”

  Hair: Long and Red like fire

  Build: Athletic

>   Court is the most aggressive of Harper’s friends and doesn’t back down from anything. She’s an excellent tumbler and a cheerleader. She’s loud but humorous and fiercely loyal to her friends. She’s also very curious and wants to know what is going on with everyone and everything.

  * * *

  Oliver Millhousen (Liv)

  Age: 15

  Eyes: Pale Blue

  Skin: Peach

  Height: 6’0”

  Hair: Dirty Blonde

  Build: All leg like a swimmer

  Oliver is sarcastic and loves gossip. He’s gay but hasn’t told his family. He’s always dressed very nicely and loves to wear ties. He eats like a horse but never gains a pound. His family is one of the oldest in Juniper Hollow. He has rosy cheeks that make him look like one of the kids in old vintage advertising ads.

  Copyright Mentions

  Antonio Banderas

  Interview with the Vampire

  Chris Angel

  Vans tennis shoes

  Gothic Lolita

  Twilight

  Wizard of Oz

  E.T.

  Beetlejuice

  Quotes

  “I myself am strange and unusual.” -Beetlejuice

  * * *

  “I’ve never tried to keep a specific person alive before, and it’s much more troublesome than I would have believed, but that’s probably just because it’s you. Ordinary people seem to make it through the day without so many catastrophes.” -Twilight

  * * *

  “The world was a tomb to me; a graveyard of broken statues and each statue resembled her face.” -Interview with the Vampire

  * * *

  “Mortals. I envy you. You think you can change things. Stop the universe. Undo what was long before you came along. You are such beautiful creatures.” -Beautiful Creatures

  For those on the other side.

  Acknowledgments

  The author would like to thank her family, friends, and fans for joining her on this crazy journey. A special thank you to #TEAM RUE and the amazing BETA READERS who helped polish this story.

  * * *

  A personal thank you.

  To my publicist, Gladys Gonzales Atwell, for listening.

  To Sarah Brandon for being all that you are to me and more.

  To Jillybean for always being up for my eccentric adventures.

  To Bex for always making the inside of my books look amazing.

  To my sisters, Kim and Laurie, for being so incredibly inspiring.

  Lastly, I would like to thank my husband and greatest inspiration, Von Erik.

  Thank you for being you and allowing me to be me.

  Never trust the living.

  Juno

  A Note From the Author

  I want to thank you for joining me.

  * * *

  It is imperative that you read the prologue to this book. It contains VITAL information to the storyline. I write prologues in every book I release. You have to read every single one of them. Thank you.

  Xoxo, Rue

  Prologue

  These carefully painted black fingernails white-knuckled the edge of the cover, wide-eyed, cautiously whispering, “It was always you,” through cherry-red lips. The sweet taste lingered on my tongue. I feel like I’ve been here so many times before, yet I know I haven’t. My heart beats harder in my chest. My pupils dilate. This love is my love. My love always. I’m caught at the ending, forever tumbling. I nearly forget to breathe. It should be second nature, but for me, it isn’t. Not when I’m reading.

  Butterflies fluttered, filling my gut, then radiating outward. My expression went from blank to hard-focused. “You better not say something snarky and ruin this. I swear, if you do, I’ll crawl right inside this book!” I closed my eyes. The anticipation was terrible. I could barely stand it, so I opened one eye, then the other, and welcomed a huge sigh of relief.

  Sort of.

  That’s it. The story had ended, taking with it my heart.

  Breathe, Harper. Just breathe.

  This is the journey you wanted to take.

  The story you love.

  The characters who became family.

  I flipped the page back and forth to make sure that I had read every precious word. My shoulders slumped. A strange emptiness began to spread through my stomach, snuffing out the swirling butterflies, suffocating them without warning. One lit by me, beckoning me to follow. I nearly reached out for it, but I refrained. I didn’t want to damage it. It seemed so delicate. I couldn’t bear bringing it harm, but I wanted to hold it in my hand. To feel it move—to feel life.

  Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m really living at all—just going through the motions, every day moving into the next like one endless loop. But today is different. I can feel it in every fiber of my being.

  My bright green eyes locked on it as the sunlight penetrated the wings, brightening the colors: blue, purple, with hints of green—nearly blinding me. Tears moistened my eyes, blurring my vision. My skin tingled, and the hairs rose on the back of my neck. It felt like a rebirth. Today would be different from the rest. The old replaced by new. I was forever changed; so much so, that I wondered if my reflection would look oddly unfamiliar.

  I drew the book in, cradling it against my chest. I didn’t want it to be over. It couldn’t be over, but it was. I was plagued by temptation, so I feverishly re-read the last page again. It fixed nothing. The emptiness remained. It’s a feeling that only a vetted member of a dedicated book tribe can understand. I love these characters. I love this world. But mostly, I love him.

  I’m smitten by a boy—a dead one.

  Dead boy, as in immortal book boyfriend of the supernatural kind.

  I had met him in book two of this series when I was eleven, fallen for him when I was twelve, became obsessed when I was thirteen, then ultimately decided he was the one when I was fourteen. Now, here I am at fifteen, and that was the last words, last line—last book?

  I insist that the author gives us more.

  My heartbeat sped up. I bit my lip, tasting cherry lip gloss. I’m on the verge of a complete meltdown. I swallowed hard, trying to bury my emotions, but the tide is rising.

  Ah, yep. I’m going to cry. I sniffled. The first cold tear ran down my cheek. I hate showing emotions, but I guess I’m about as alone as I can be, so why not get it all out while I can? At least here amongst the dead, I won’t be judged. Or maybe I am, but I don’t know it, and that’s fine. I whimpered, then more tears followed.

  Wrecked is what I am. Utterly wrecked.

  I closed my eyes and could see him with that messy hair and brooding eyes nestled in thick dark lashes. He has perfect lips, pouty, crimson red, of course. He’s perfectly imperfect. Intolerable, charming, sarcastic—irresistible.

  But most of all, he’s immortal—sigh.

  Admittingly, these are words borrowed from the author, but I feel every single one of them. She made sure of that. Her obsession with him became mine. I wanted more—always more.

  Thoughts paused with the rustling of leaves. A small multi-colored patch swirled in the wind. I studied it with a wary eye. The season had changed, bringing chilled bursts of wind and darkening clouds. A million leaves had fallen, and yet the trees still held onto more than you would think possible. It was always this way, for as long as I could remember.

  Always October. My favorite month. I ignore the rest.

  I drifted for a second as the words echoed in my mind, then cautiously regained my composure, while clearing my throat to the side of my hand. It hurt to swallow, and I felt tired. It’s so annoying. I never feel that great, so reading is a perfect distraction. I have allergies, exacerbated by my surroundings. We live like hermits, or as close to as possible. Our town was built in a thick, dense forest. We have trees on every street, every corner—everywhere.

  Old wise trees with thick trunks and gnarly branches. A perfect backdrop for anything Victorian in nature.

  I don’t hate them, but they so
rt of hate me—or my sinuses, that is. Come to think of it, everyone sneezes or coughs here. It’s so common that it’s ignored.

  The dancing leaves stopped, and it allowed me to think about my book again, so I settled back into deep thought as my thumb caressed the cover. It has a matte finish. Smooth to the touch. Soothing. I find books to be more reliable than people and much more enjoyable. They don’t ask for anything, really—just attention, and I’m happy to oblige.

  I turned the book over and stared at the picture of the author. She looks so—normal, for lack of a better word, with her short black bangs and thick-rimmed glasses that appear to be clinging to her button nose. I guess I expected her to look more witchy or something.