Angels of Moirai (Book One)

by Salmond, Nicole

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Maddison hissed through her teeth.

  I almost laughed at her. “I’ll go if I want to go, and there isn’t a damn thing you can say about it.”

  Maddison’s face hardened. “You think you’re all that don’t you? First Dale, then James, and now Noah. You really are a slut.”

  My mouth dropped. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.”

  “First of all,” I said through my teeth, “Dale and I dated a while ago now, and what just happened with Noah was him trying to hit on me, the feeling wasn’t mutual, and lastly, what happens with James and I is none of your god damn business.”

  “It’s my business if I say it is. You’re no better than the low life scum your friends with. What’s her name again, Jackie?”

  “Don’t you dare bring her into this! You have no right to talk about her. She is twice the person you’ll ever be!”

  “Yeah, in size you mean,” she snapped back.

  I clenched my fist. I’d never, ever been in a fight before, I’d never felt so angry that I’d be at that breaking point, but now with Maddison, I was fuming.

  It was a typical response from someone like Maddison. The first thing girls like that attack, is someone’s body image, however, there wasn’t an inch of fat on Jackie so her remark was lost.

  In the years that I’d been at Eden College, not once had I ever seen or heard Maddison be a genuinely nice person. All she cared about was being number one. She didn’t care who she had to step on or whose life she had to ruin to get there. I would like to say her parents looked down at her behaviour, but they were just as bad, only they were older. When they ruined someone’s life, they didn’t just make their high school years unbearable, they destroyed them; their careers, their families, everything.

  I wanted to hope that karma would come back and bite her on the ass later on in life, but I doubted it. People would continue to be like that for the rest of their lives and pass on those values and morals to the next generation. I pitied their children.

  The only hope I could hold onto was that one day Maddison would grow up and change, change her life for the better, using her power and money in a more constructive way, but right now, she was Maddison, a snobby bitch.

  A group of seniors walked into the back door and all stopped abruptly. They could feel the tension between Maddison and I, hell they could see it. I didn’t want to fight anymore, I was over it, and I was over her.

  I turned and walked away, ignoring the whispers and looks from the seniors. Maddison no doubt, will fill their ears with lies about what happened.

  Just as I reached the front door, I received a text message through, stopping me to see whom it was from.

  Hayley- Don’t hate me… but I’m at Dale’s party. Need your help.

  My instant thoughts were of disappointment, I’m not going to lie. I was upset that Hayley had lied to me when she said she was going to Poppy’s. We were so close, and I didn’t want our relationship ever to get to a point that she felt the need to deceive me so she could go to a party. I couldn’t think about that now, she needed my help, so I quickly typed back a reply.

  Lila- What’s wrong?! I’m here now, where are you????

  Hayley- Upstairs in the bathroom at the very end of hall.

  I raced towards the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. I felt like what a mother must feel like when their worst fears were coming true. I tried to keep my thoughts at bay; the endless possibilities burning my heart with what had happened? Was she okay? Did someone…

  I raced towards the bathroom and didn’t even bother knocking. I opened the door to find Poppy vomiting in the toilet bowl while Hayley held her hair back from her face.

  Hayley looked at me in desperation, and I knew now wasn’t the time to be upset at Hayley.

  “How much has she had to drink?” I asked as I kneeled down beside her.

  “Five, maybe six shots of Vodka. She’s never done shots before,” Hayley replied. “She’s going out with Tom now, and they were playing this drinking game…”

  I nodded. She didn’t need to tell me anymore. Tom was in my grade and just like Dale, had girls flocking to be his next girlfriend. They would do just about anything for him to show some interest in them and looks like Poppy wanted to keep the interest on her.

  “Her mum is coming to get us at ten. She would be pissed if she found out Poppy’s been drinking.”

  “So…”

  “So I need you to help me get her sober up by then.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “In an hour?”

  She nodded.

  I sighed. “Okay, you stay here and I’ll go find something to eat and some water.”

  I didn’t want to go back downstairs in case I saw Maddison again, but I had to. So I toughened up and went and got what I needed to get. Thankfully, no one was around, apart from a few people I didn’t know, they were all outside; one crises down, one to go.

  Poppy seemed to come around a lot quicker than we both thought she would. I made her eat some sandwiches and drink water. We redid her hair and make-up and come ten o’clock, she was still drunk, but not vomiting and looking like she might just be able to fake it until she got back home without her parents realising what had happened.

  We made our way out of the party without anyone seeing. Poppy’s orders and I didn’t object. I didn’t want to see anyone either.

  As we were waiting out on the driveway for Poppy’s mum, Hayley pulled me aside to talk.

  “I am so sorry, Lila. I didn’t want to drag you into this, but I had no one else to go to.”

  “Why were you here in the first place?”

  “It wasn’t my idea, trust me. Tom told Poppy to come. I tried to talk her out of it because I know what Dale’s parties are like, but I couldn’t and I didn’t want her to come alone.”

  I nodded my head. It was enough of an explanation, as I needed. I knew she was telling the truth. We were both terrible liars to each other.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “I’m fine. I only had a couple of drinks.”

  I sighed in relief that everything was okay. “You scared me tonight. I’d thought something had happened to you.”

  Hayley smiled and gave me a hug. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” I said hugging her back. “Are you going to still stay at Poppy’s tonight?”

  “I thought that would be better. Make sure she’s okay.”

  Poppy’s mum pulled into the driveway in her red Audi.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Hayley said as her and Poppy walked towards the car and jumped inside.

  It wasn’t until I watched them get in the car and drive away did I remember why I’d come.

  “James,” I said quietly.

  “There you are,” a familiar voice said.

  I turned back towards the house to find Dale walking, or should I say, stumbling, towards me.

  “I’ve been arr looking everywhere for you missy moo,” he slurred. “The boyssss told me you were here, buda thought you’d left me!”

  Great. Just when my night couldn’t get any worse.

  “Dale,” I smiled grimly in reply, “I was just leaving.”

  “Noooo. You can’t leave now,” he said holding onto my arm. “The party just started!”

  I took a step back. “Well, I am.”

  “Commonnn! Stay with me! We can have some fun!” He stepped closer to me and I could smell the strong scent of alcohol on his breath.

  He leaned into my ear. “Like old times,” he said, placing his hand on my back and pulling me into him.

  I quickly shoved him back off me. “Get off me, Dale. Go back to your party.”

  “Listen to her, Dale. Go back to the party,” the sound of James’s voice filled our ears.

  I turned to find him standing a few feet behind me.

  “James! Bro! What are you doing?” Dale said enthusiastically. “You come to partayyyy?”

 
“Not tonight, Dale. Go back inside to your party,” James replied coolly.

  “What! No way. Come on!”

  “I’ll see you at school,” James replied without question in his voice.

  Dale must have sensed the seriousness in James’s voice, as he gave up and walked back inside, but not before he slurred, “Suit yourself.”

  I stood facing James- alone- my heart pounded against my chest.

  “Lila,” he said.

  “James,” I replied a little taken aback by his presence.

  We stared at each other, neither one of us saying anything. I didn’t know where to start, or what to say to him.

  “I-”

  James interrupted, “Don’t. Whatever you think. You’re wrong.” He turned and started to walk away.

  I looked at him dumbfounded. “That’s it?” I shouted after him. “That’s all you’re going to say? Everything that’s happened, and that’s the explanation I get?”

  He didn’t answer me and continued to walk away.

  “James!” I yelled as I quickly raced after him. I grabbed him on the arm to stop him and he instantly stopped and turned towards me.

  “You don’t understand what you’re asking me to do, Lila. I can’t…” he closed his eyes and shook his head. “I can’t risk it, Lila. They…”

  “They?” I interrupted. “So it was real? The forest? You said they weren’t happy! Who are they? How is this even happening?”

  “Stop, Lila. I mean it. Leave it alone,” he said sternly.

  My eyes pleaded with him, my heart paining. “I just want to know the truth,” I said quietly.

  “James,” an unfamiliar voice said sharply.

  We both turned to find a man standing there with his arms crossed looking at James and me. He was tall and very well built. His features were dark and cold. His eyes were like daggers and I knew I was not welcome in his presence.

  “It’s time to go,” the man snapped at James.

  I took a step back, trying to distance myself in fear, my breath catching in my throat. James looked torn between the man and me, but eventually, he nodded his head towards the man.

  “Goodbye, Lila,” he said as he walked off down the road and into the shadows.

  I stood alone in the darkness. I didn’t follow them, I didn’t dare try. I was left with an unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach that I would never see James again; even after everything that had happened, and the thought I wouldn’t see him again was something I feared the most.

  5… HUMILIATION

  I spent my Sunday morning out on the Jetty going over and over in my head what had happened. My ‘dreams’ had been real. Who was he? What was he? How did he come to know who I was? Was he to blame with what happened in the pool as well? Was there even a way to explain everything that had happened and who he was? And who was that man, did have some kind of control over him? Is that why he couldn’t tell me the truth?

  I ran through so many different scenarios in my head, but none of them gave me the answers I desired, and it wasn’t until Hayley came home from Poppy’s at lunch time, did I finally take my mind off James… kind of.

  “Don’t you think? Lila!” Hayley said loudly snapping me out of my trance.

  “Sorry, what?” I said taking my attention away from the movie we were watching and looked at her. I’d been thinking about James again. Even watching one of my favourite movies, Fired Up, my thoughts had still been consumed of James.

  Hayley looked at me, frowning. “Are you okay?”

  I hung my head and closed my eyes. I’d never kept anything from Hayley. I never wanted there to be any secrets between us. I trusted her with my life, but I couldn’t tell her what had happened with James. Every part of me ached to confide in her, but I couldn’t risk her safety. I didn’t know who they were and if they were dangerous. The thought that telling Hayley about James and then something happening to her because I told her… I couldn’t… I couldn’t take that gamble.

  I avoided eye contact as I curled up under the blanket that we were both under on the couch.

  “It’s nothing,” I replied. “Just stressed about exams.”

  I could see out of the corner of my eye that Hayley was staring at me. “Okay, are you sure you’re not on edge about what happened with Noah and Maddison? You can talk to me about it, you know that, right?”

  I hadn’t even thought about what had happened with Noah and Maddison, but it didn’t surprise me one bit that Hayley knew about it.

  “How’d you find out about it?”

  “How do you think? Facebook.”

  I sighed. “It’s not true, you know. Maddison no doubt is spreading a lie about me.”

  “Well, apparently she walked in on you all over Noah trying to make out with him. When she caught you in the act, she said you were humiliated and in tears begging for her forgiveness.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, you’ve got to give it to her. She really likes to spin things around to make a good story.”

  “So it’s not true then?”

  “God, no.”

  “I thought so. Didn’t sound like something you would do.”

  “Nope. Maddison did walk in on Noah and me.”

  Hayley’s mouth dropped.

  “But not like that,” I quickly reassured. “He was being a creep and I was about to hit him with a bottle if he didn’t back off soon. That’s when Maddison walked in. We had some words, she is a real bitch, and no, I definitely didn’t cry.”

  “Can’t argue with you there. Poppy’s grateful for what you did. You got her out of a messy situation, and I don’t mean helping her get sober,” she laughed to herself. “Everyone’s forgotten about how drunk Poppy was and instead, are talking about you.”

  I put my head in my hands and laughed. “Well, I’m glad I could help.”

  “Anyway, who cares about them? They’ll get over it. Just as long as you’re okay?”

  I turned my head towards her, trying my best to smile as I nodded and curled up into her arms. “I’ll be fine,” I said, not just to reassure her, but also myself. I didn’t care about what Maddison said about me. All that was on my mind was James. A doubt played on my mind and I just couldn’t shake it. I had never been so fearful that for the first time in Hayley’s life, I might not be able to protect her.

  ***

  I was nervous as all hell on Monday morning. I didn't know if I’d see James at school or if I’d ever see him again. I tried my best to stay calm as I walked into school.

  I met up with Jackie before our first class and filled her in on everything that happened at Dale’s party. Everything except the part about James.

  We both walked through the school, casually finding our way to our class, all the while, my eyes searched for James, but he was nowhere to be seen.

  As Jackie and I made our way into our science classroom, we passed a group of boys, including Noah, sitting on the desks spitting paper balls across the room.

  I avoided eye contact with him but I couldn’t avoid hearing what he was saying.

  “So I told her to shut her mouth and do what I pay her to do. She should be grateful I even let her clean my room. Stupid bitch wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for me.”

  The other boys laughed at this, but you couldn’t hide the look of disgust on our faces.

  “Is it just me? Or has Noah become more of an arsehole, if that even was possible,” Jackie commented as we took our usual seats at the back of the room.

  “No, he definitely has.”

  I managed to avoid Noah all morning, and was trying to avoid any conflict with Maddison, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen, as she walked through the classroom doors and straight over to where we were sitting.

  She was with Kassidy and another girl called Breanna. Breanna had been cut from Maddison’s circle only weeks ago. She was left devastated, but by the looks of it, Maddison had let her back in and Breanna was looking as bitchy as ever.

  Maddis
on slammed her hand on our desk and pushed our pencil cases onto the ground, replacing it with her exercises books instead.

  “Real mature,” Jackie said, unafraid of Maddison and her antics.

  “These are our seats,” Maddison declared, only looking at me.

  “We beg to differ. We’ve been in these seats all year,” Jackie snapped.

  Maddison turned to Jackie and spitefully said, “Who said you could talk to me?”

  “Seriously, Maddison?” I said standing to meet her face to face. I was so sick of her shit. “Get over yourself. You’re not queen bee. You’re only where you are now because of your parents. Hell, you wouldn’t even be graduating if it wasn’t for all your parents paying bribes to overlook the fact you’re failing every class.”

  There was laughter in the class, as we had suddenly become the focus of their attention.

  “You bitc-”

  “Maddison,” Mr Peters warned at the front of the class. “I suggest you choose your words carefully. You may have the other teachers wrapped around your finger, but not me. You’re on your last strike.”

  Maddison’s teeth clenched at Mr Peters’ words. She was absolutely seething.

  “I suggest you find other seats. Those are Jackie and Lila’s.”

  Maddison gave in, picking up her books and storming off to another desk.

  I mouthed thank you to Mr Peters and he smiled back, and then began class.

  Jackie leaned forward and whispered, “I seriously can’t wait for school to be over.”

  “Me too. Me too.”

  Thankfully, Maddison didn’t try to start anything again and my mind focused back on James. He wasn’t in any of my classes all morning, and it wasn’t until lunch time when I overheard a couple of senior girls talking in the tuck-shop line, did I find out that James wasn’t at school, and nobody knew where he was.

  I tried to control my brain from the ridiculous scenarios that I kept conjuring up. Was it my fault? Was it that mysterious man? All the while, I couldn’t help but feel worried about him.