by Lola StVil
“No, Aaden, what you are is the second most powerful angel that ever lived. You are spiraling out of control because you are looking to the world to tell you who you are. You’re a teenager, so I guess you can do that. Hell, it may be your right to do that.”
“So you came here to tell me I’m great at screwing up and good going?” I asked sardonically.
“No,” he said, suppressing a smile.
“Then what is it?” I asked.
“I came to tell you that while you have a right to do the whole ‘finding yourself’ thing, you don’t have a right to inflict your inner turmoil on the ones that love you. Namely my daughter,” he said, returning to his serious voice.
“What? I haven’t done anything to Pryor,” I replied, taken aback.
“Your reckless actions and out of control behavior colors everything she does. She’s worried about the path you’re headed on,” Marcus informed me.
“Pryor is worried about me?” I said before I could stop myself.
“Yes, Aaden, we all worry about you because we love you and because you’re important to us; all of us. But you are especially important to Pryor.”
“Oh…” was all I could think to say.
Then I started thinking of all the times I dreamed of being with Pryor. Could it be she was thinking about me too? Did she have feelings for me? What were they? Was it just surface bullshit or the real thing?
I wanted to ask Marcus, but I knew he wouldn’t go into details with me. And besides, it’s weird talking to her dad about that stuff.
“I didn’t come here to watch you zone out and daydream about my little girl,” Marcus said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“No, I wasn’t thinking…”
“Aaden, I’m here to tell you that I think you will be an amazing second in command one day. You will be a force to be reckoned with in battle and in the Angel world.”
“You really think that?” I asked.
“Yes, I do. But for right now, while you still insist on being out of control, I need you to do something for me,” the leader said.
“What?”
“Stay the hell away from my child,” Marcus warned.
“I’m not good enough for her?” I snapped.
“No one is good enough for her. I’m her father; it’s my job to make sure she ends up with the angel who comes the closest to deserving her. And some day that may be you. I can accept that. But right now, you’re a raving lunatic with more rage than direction; a weapon with no aim. And while I love you, I will not let you take my daughter down the wrong path.”
“You want me to stay away from her. Got it. Anything else I can do for you?” I asked tightly.
“Yes, I want you to look out for her,” he replied.
“What? But you just said—”
“I know what I said. You need to stay away from her because you haven’t found your way and I will not have her get lost with you. But I need you to also promise me that no matter what happens, in life or in battle, you will look out for her from afar. You will protect her,” Marcus said with growing desperation.
“Pryor is more powerful than I am. Why would she need my help?” I inquired.
“You have been around more than she has. Because you’ve been exposed to the Demon world and Pryor has been sheltered.”
“Whose fault is that?”
“Trust me, Pryor can hold her own in battle. But there are things that can’t be learned in training sessions or in school. She has a very strong sense of right and wrong and while her mother and I love that about her, it’s also her weakness. She’s young. She doesn’t know just how cruel the world can be. But you do. You’ve lost your mother and you face scorn from both the Angel and Demon worlds. You’ve lived more than she has.”
“So?”
“So, I need you to keep a watchful eye on her should her mother and I be unable to look out for her for whatever reason. I know she’s the First Noru. I know how powerful she will grow to be. But no matter how strong and skillful she is, no matter how much power she wields, she’s always going to be my little girl. And I need to know that she is being looked after,” Marcus said with concern.
“Why do you trust me to do this?” I asked.
“Because I’ve seen how your father is when he’s in love and I know you will be the same way.”
“Love? I didn’t say I--”
“Aaden, the first fight you got in was when you were three and the kids teased Pryor about her hair color. The first time you used a Powerball was to incinerate a wayward ball that was headed straight for her. And last week you damn near yanked another guy’s wings off because he attacked Pryor.”
“He had no right to touch her.”
“Aaden, it was a training session,” he reminded me.
“He was too rough on her.”
“Believe me, I know what it feels like to want to keep the ones you love from pain. That’s why I want you to promise me that you will look after her.”
“What makes you think Pryor would want me looking out for her? You know how she is,” I reminded him.
“Yes. She’s stubborn, willful, and unyielding. She won’t like you watching out for her. She hates being protected and does a great job at being independent. She trains harder and longer than any other angel her age. She’s constantly pushing herself to be stronger, faster, and better.”
“Exactly. She’ll push away anyone who tries to look out for her,” I said.
“Not you; she won’t push you away.”
“And why not?”
“Do you know what a Kaiden is?” he asked.
“Yeah, it’s the markings a woman gets when she’s pregnant,” I said.
“Yes, and when the markings light up, it’s because the baby is in the presence of someone it loves and is connected to.”
“I don’t understand,” I confessed.
“Since the moment Pryor was conceived, she has been surrounded by love from everyone: the members of the team, the other Noru, her grandfather, her mother, everyone. Yet the markings on my wife’s arms only lit up for two people: you and me.”
“It could be a coincidence,” I replied, still processing what the leader told me.
“It could be, but it’s not.”
“So you think Pryor and I are meant to be together?” I asked, trying to keep the hope out of my voice; I failed.
“Look, I’m not here to discuss Pryor’s dating life. She’s thirteen years old. She is not going to date for a long, long, long time,” Marcus said in a not-so-subtle tone.
“You’re here to tell me to watch out for her and keep her safe no matter what?” I confirmed.
“Yes, will you do that?” he pushed.
“Yes.”
“I have your word as a Noru?”
“Yes.”
“And what about the second part?” he asked.
“The part where I keep away from her? Yeah, fine, whatever,” I countered.
“Look, I know I sound harsh and believe me I don’t want to be like my wife’s father, Julian. He put us through hell when Emmy and I tried to be together.”
“I heard he was a real dick.”
Marcus glared at me. I sighed and apologized for my language.
“Looking back I get why he did the things he did. It wasn’t about him hating me; it was about him loving her. He wanted to protect her from the Angel world,” Marcus said.
“Are you saying Julian was right to do all the things that he did back when you and your wife first met?”
“I’m saying I’m a father now and I think Julian showed great restraint by not driving a dagger through my chest when I took his only child to Hell with me. I’m also telling you that I do not have the same restraint. And if you come near my Pryor before you become the man she needs you to be, you and I will have a very serious problem,” he said unequivocally.
He started to exit the garage and I called out after him.
“I was always going to look after her. She’s
important to me. I’m gonna be there for her,” I vowed.
“You might want to start by being there for yourself and taking your ass back to flight training,” he said as he walked away...
***
From that day on I skipped out on a lot of things, but never a training session. It was imperative that I be ready should she ever need me. At the time I thought if I had enough training and honed my powers, it would be enough to keep Pryor safe. I had no idea how wrong I was…
“We called The Face, she’s coming to see to her son’s body,” Swoop says as she sits on the step next to me.
Her voice pulls me out of my flashback with Marcus. The team now gathers around me waiting to hear what my orders are; I wish I knew.
“His mother sounded so strange. Like she was on autopilot,” Diana says.
“Everyone handles grief differently,” East replies.
“I know The Face is hurting and we would like to help, but we have our hands full. And anyway, there is nothing we can do for her,” Bex adds.
“I agree. We have to stay on task. We have to find the Deed,” I reply.
Suddenly we hear a voice coming from the top of the building. A Para angel stands looking down at us. It’s Hollander and a few other Paras whose names I don’t know but have seen around.
Hollander orders the ones who are with him to stay on top of the roof while he gracefully flies down to where we are. He looks good considering a few hours ago I almost ended his life. His wings have repaired well, and judging from the look on his face, he’s enjoying this moment. As I said before, Hollander is in charge of the Paras until Bex decides he wants to be Kon, or king, as the humans would call it.
“Look, I know you want me to come back to the Paras, but we have some important things to do so I can’t leave now,” Bex snaps at the Para before him.
“Your search for Pryor has been unsuccessful I gather,” he says.
“How do you know about that?” Swoop asks.
“Do you really think there are any secrets in the Angel world? I forget how young your team is, Silver,” he quips to me.
“Not too young to rip your damn wings off,” Diana counters.
Hollander summons up a Powerball and aims it at Diana. Without any encouragement from me, the whole team places themselves between Diana and the impeding attack. This surprises us, most of all it shocks the hell out of Diana.
“It’s fine, I actually didn’t come here to fight. I came to help,” the Para angel says.
“Why would you help us?” I ask.
“Because I am a very kind angel,” he replies.
“Try again,” I demand.
“Okay, okay, I can admit I’m not a big fan of the Noru. But can you blame me? It’s simply too much power in one place. However, I did come to provide you with information you might find useful,” Hollander says.
“What is it?” Bex asks suspiciously.
“I know you’re looking for the Deed. And that it will lead you to the location of The Center,” he says.
“And how do you know about The Center?” East pushes.
“We Paras have nothing to do with that place; however, there have been rumors that it’s become somewhat radical in its objectives. That being said, I know where you can find the Deed,” he replies.
“And you’re going to tell us, just like that?” I ask.
“Well…there is a little something I want in return. After all, Silver, you weren’t very nice to me earlier today. In fact you were very rude, you know, when you tried to kill me.”
“If I really wanted to kill you, Hollander, trust me, it would have been a done deal,” I assure him.
“What do you want in exchange for the location of the Deed?” Randy asks.
“The human gets right to the point. I like that.”
“Get to it, Hollander. What do you want in exchange for the location of the Deed?” Bex says.
“I want to be in charge—permanently,” he says.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask.
“I’m tired of being the Kon while some little boy plays school games with the Noru. I have more than proven myself. I think it’s time we make my position official.”
“You want to be the Kon?” Swoop asks.
“Yes, I deserve to lead the Paras. Far more than Bex does. So, if Bex agrees, I will tell you where to find the Deed and save Pryor.”
“Hollander, you are out of your fucking mind. Bex can’t give up his birthright,” I shout.
“I have done an outstanding job as Kon. I have lead the Paras in these troubled times and I should be the one to guide us, not Bex,” Hollander shouts.
“You can’t even be Kon, you have to be born into it,” Diana replies.
“Well what you don’t know, demon, is that if a Kon feels he is unable to lead for any reason, he can give his title to anyone he chooses so long as a majority of Paras on the Board of Paras agrees. There are ten of them; I polled them and most agree that I should lead. Now all I need is for Bex to step aside,” Hollander informs us.
“So long as Bex’s mother is still in power, you would have to get permission from her,” East says.
“No, as of today, Bex’s mother has been stuck in the light and has not stepped foot on Earth for ten weeks. That automatically means she is inactive as a Kon--the power now reverts to Bex.”
“Hollander, you can’t do this! Bex cannot lose leadership of the Paras. He has been groomed to take over since before he was born. He trained to lead; it’s his right to rule and you know it,” Swoop says.
“This is bullshit! You’re putting us in an impossible situation. You know Bex can’t give up everything he’s ever had just to get one piece of information from you,” I snap.
“And how did you come by that information anyway?” Randy asks.
“You are human and I am sworn to protect you. But you would be wrong to assume that means you can speak to me any way you like,” Hollander warns.
“You can’t do this. Bex isn’t going to give up his entire kingdom and you know that!” I yell, close to throttling him.
Soon all of us are engaged in a very heated battle of words that is close to becoming an actual battle. In all the noise and hysteria, Bex makes an announcement but we are too loud to hear what he said.
“ENOUGH!” Bex shouts.
This time we all stop talking and face him. Bex addresses Hollander with certainty and resolve.
“Yes, I will give up the Para kingdom.”
Chapter Fourteen:
Once A King
We take Bex aside and try to talk some sense into him, but right away I get the feeling he is resolved to give away the very thing he loves the most. We remind him that so far Hollander has proven to be untrustworthy at best.
“Do you think I want to do this?” Bex asks.
“There has to be another way for us to get the location of the Deed,” Randy offers.
“Maybe there is, but the fact is we don’t have time to find it. We need to go get Pry and it needs to be now,” Bex replies.
“Have you even thought about what it would mean for the Paras if they are officially led by Hollander?” East asks.
“He’s an ass, but at the end of the day he wants what’s best for the Paras,” Bex replies.
“What’s best for them is to be ruled by their rightful king and not this power hungry jerk off!” Swoop snaps.
“Look, I want to find Pryor too, but something feels wrong about giving away your birthright to this guy. Everything about him says ‘madman’ or ‘madPara’ in this case,” Randy argues.
“You guys are acting like I have a choice, but I don’t,” Bex snaps.
“I don’t think Pryor would want this for you. She wouldn’t agree with what you’re doing,” Randy pleads.
“Well, she’s not here. She’s off somewhere facing the worst nightmare imaginable. So while this isn’t my preferred route, it’s the only one that leads to saving her,” Bex counters.
&nb
sp; “I don’t know if you are doing the right thing or not, Para, but whatever you decide, it needs to be right now, as in this second. Standing here debating is stupid and counterproductive.” Diana says.
“She’s right. Bex, I won’t order you to give your birthright away. The decision is up to you. But you should know that being led by Hollander could have some serious consequences later,” I tell him.
“I will deal with that later. Right now is all I can think about. And right now, we need to find Pryor. Nothing else is more important than that; not my title or my life. Pryor comes first.”
It’s not what he says but the tone with which he says it that renders the rest of us silent. There is nothing we can say to stop Bex from giving Hollander control of the Paras. So we all reluctantly agree and head back to Hollander. Once we tell him the news, he smiles broadly and tells Bex he’s making the best decision for his people.
“Can we just get on with this?” Bex says.
Hollander signals for the other Paras to join him on the ground. They encircle Bex, holding out their hands, and a small orb takes form in the center. Bex holds out his hands and the orb slices into his palm. It then travels up to Bex’s wings and makes its way down his body.
“What’s it doing?” Randy whispers to Swoop.
“The orb cut into Bex’s palm to ensure that there are no mixtures in his blood, forcing him to relinquish his birthright. It then goes into his wings to make sure he’s really the Kon and has a right to give away the Para kingdom,” she replies.
The orb makes a glowing trail as it rotates around him. Every time it completes a full circle, Bex gets weaker and the symbol on the back of his neck starts to fade.
“The symbol of the number ‘8’ sideways is like the infinity sign, right?” Randy asks East.
“Yes, it’s the symbol for a Kon. In the center of the ‘8’ there are three markings. One for each member of the Council: Time, Death, and Fate,” East tells him.
Randy studies the markings on Bex’s neck closer and sees the symbols. He watches, mystified, as the markings continue to fade from Bex. By the time the once king of the Paras falls to the ground from having the orb drain his powers, the markings are gone.