by Lola StVil
“Pry needed some help,” Key says.
“Why would you help her?” he asks.
“Bex, not now,” Key cautions.
“No, now is the perfect time. Pryor doesn’t need us. She loves the humans. She loves them so much she decided to be with them indefinitely. So why would she call us for help?” Bex asks, clearly ticked off.
“Bex, I know you’re mad at me but—”
“Mad? You make it sound like you stole my favorite toy or cut ahead of me in the lunch line. Pryor, you betrayed us. You abandoned us because you were too scared to be a part of this team. Then you interrupt our date night so we can help you? You’re a selfish little brat, and Key was wrong to help you.”
“Are we having a family reunion and no one told me? That sucks, I would’ve brought the potato salad,” someone says.
We all turn and find Easton flying on a Port a few yards away. Easton is six feet tall, lean, with piercing blue eyes and a dangerous smile. He wears dark skinny jeans with a plaid shirt and suede jacket. He has on a knitted hat that matches his jacket perfectly and hides some of his sun-kissed blonde hair. His hipster chic look may appear casual but the truth is it costs thousands of dollars to put together.
Easton has a way of disarming girls with his humor and laid-back demeanor. I don’t think he’s ever been without a joke or a girl in his life. Easton is a Quo. That means he is half angel and half human. Quos don’t have wings. Instead he has a special Port just for him that does not need to be programmed. He gets on it and it goes where he wants it.
“East!” I shout as I run to him.
I embrace him tightly and inhale his scent; it’s always so intoxicating. He smells like a mix of amber, spice, and warm summer nights. I could lay my head on his chest forever. However, I have to say that’s not the most inviting thing about my friend. Easton’s best feature is his laugh. It is virtually impossible not to get sucked into his laughter. It surrounds you and makes you feel...safe.
Easton’s power is “Mind wipe.” He can take away memories from most beings. This comes in handy, as the Council does not want our existence widely known. East can also release a lasso-like energy field that wraps around its victim and drains their powers. We lovingly refer to it as a “Hug.”
“The human world looks good on you,” Easton teases.
“I missed you,” I reply.
“Same here.”
“Really, guys? We are giving her a warm welcome after what she did?” Bex retorts.
“I was just saying ‘hi,’ relax,” East replies.
“Whatever, I’m outta here. Key, let’s go,” he says.
“Am I really dying?” Randy asks Key.
Key looks at him, then over at me. She’s conflicted. I know she’s still upset with me for what I did, but it’s not in her nature to walk away from someone who needs her help.
“Mrs. Cane saw Randy’s name; he’s going to die,” Key explains to East and Bex.
“Humans die all the time,” Bex reminds us.
“Really? That’s all you can say?” Key asks, in disbelief.
“He’s not a human who needs our help. There are no demons chasing him. He’s going to die because that’s the nature of humanity. Live; die. The human doesn’t need us.”
“I can’t just sit by and let him get killed,” I reply.
“Pry, I hate to say it but it doesn’t sound like he’s going to get killed. It sounds like he’s going to die,” East replies reluctantly.
“And there’s a difference?” Randy asks, stunned.
“Well yeah. If you were going to get killed by evil, we would protect you. But if you get a terminal illness or something, we can’t protect you from that,” Key says regretfully.
“I can’t let him die; I’m his best friend,” I shout at them.
“Well, human, if Pryor is your best friend then you have every right to be worried. I’ve seen what she does to her friends and if I were you, I would run right now,” Bex sneers.
I look into Randy’s eyes and see the worry creeping in. He’s not sure what to make of Bex’s comments.
“Pry, what’s he talking about?” Randy asks.
“Yes, Pryor, explain to him what you did to us,” Bex pushes.
Suddenly all eyes are on me. I clear my throat and put my head down as if it will make the memory go away.
“Pryor, tell me,” Randy begs.
“There are usually six beings to a team. But there are only five Noru, as I said before. And Sam is too young to be part of the team. So early on, two beings were added to our group so that it could be the six of us: Bex, who’s next in line to be a Kon, meaning he’s the future King of Paras, and Easton, who is a very skilled Quo—half human and half angel.”
“We spent years training to become a team, and along the way we all became great friends. And even though I am the youngest among us, because my father is a First Guardian and my mom is Death, I was the highest-ranking member; the leader.
“There is a ceremony called the Atu. That’s when the whole Angel world gathers to officially announce a new team has been formed. The Atu was something we worked towards for years. It meant we were finally strong enough both mentally and physically to take on evil like our parents before us.
“The day of the Atu came, I was supposed to stand on the mountain range with my team members. There I would pledge before the Council and the Angel world to lead my team against evil. But I didn’t show up. It’s like Bex said. I abandoned them.”
The memory of that day comes flooding back to me. It was the worst moment of my life. Everyone was counting on me and I let them all down. I let down my team, my parents, and myself. I just couldn’t summon up the courage to go through with the ceremony.
“Why didn’t you show up?” Randy asks.
“Because she was scared; she didn’t want to fight evil,” Bex retorts.
“So now you guys are a team without a leader?” Randy says.
“No. We’re not a team at all. Without Pryor at the helm, the Council would not perform the Atu. So we don’t go on missions. We don’t help humanity at all,” Bex says.
“That’s not true. We fight a few demons here and there when it’s necessary. We do a lot of charity work. And that helps humans,” Key says.
“We were born to fight evil and instead we are relegated to helping old ladies cross the street. Now the angels look at us as if we are a complete waste.”
“Fighting isn’t the only way we can help humans, Bex. There are other ways,” I remind him.
“I don’t give a damn about the other ways. We were born and bred to fight and win. We came to being with a purpose and you took that away. I worked my ass off, we all did, and you threw it all away,” Bex says hotly.
“How many times do you need me to say that I’m sorry for not showing up? What do I have to do to show you that I really am sorry?” I ask.
“I don’t need your sorry. What I needed was for you to do for us what we have always done for you: Show up. And you didn’t do that, so screw you,” he replies.
Before I can reply, an angel literally crashes through the window. She flips in the air expertly and lands on her feet with poise and grace.
“Swoop, how many times do we have to tell you to stop doing that? Why can’t you just use a Port to get here like everyone else?” Key scolds her twin sister.
“And what about me says ‘she’s like everyone else’?” Swoop replies with a sneaky smile.
Keyohmi is not amused. Kiana and Keyohmi are three minutes apart. But in reality the two are more like worlds apart.
Kiana, or “Swoop” as we call her, is the resident wild child. While Key got her mother’s light complexion, Swoop has her father’s darker skin tone. She did, however, get her mother’s almond-shaped grey eyes and small frame.
From afar you would not notice that Keyohmi and Kiana are sisters. But once you see them side by side, you notice the same features. It’s like looking at two identical pictures, but one is light
and one is dark: both striking in their own way.
Swoop has the most amazing hair. It can do anything. One day she’ll braid it in lovely complex patterns that mystify me. The next, she’ll let it all out in a thick Afro of loose curls. Unlike my hair, hers does what she wants it to do.
Although they are very different, what both twins have in common is their love of fashion. However, their styles are very different. Swoop loves to mix and match bold colors, textures, and patterns. She is obsessed with boots, belts, and anything vintage. She always adds an artsy flare to her outfits and makes them her own.
Today she’s wearing grey high-heeled suede boots that reach her ankles. Her blue jeans are ripped throughout and her off the shoulder shirt has a faded imprint of a skull with roses in its mouth. She accents her look with necklaces of different lengths and has on light makeup because with her unique beauty, very little is needed. Her regal facial features elevate her from your average pretty girl to a high-class fashion model.
Swoop’s powers are impossible speed and agility. Once she takes off, she moves so fast she is literally a blur of colors. She can snap the neck of a dozen demons before they even realize she is in the room. She can twist and turn her body at inhuman angles and moves with feline precision.
“I texted you an hour ago,” Key scolds her.
“Chill, Warden, I was busy in the yard bartering for smokes,” she jokes.
She comes towards me with her arms out.
“Hey, sweets!” she says, beaming.
We embrace and she tells me she’s missed me. She then turns her attention to Randy, who is finally back to his normal color.
“Who brought the nerd candy...yum,” she says playfully.
“Um...hi,” Randy says, not knowing how to react to Swoop’s greeting.
I get Swoop and East up to speed on the past few hours.
“Yes, and Randy needs our help, so Key drops everything to be there for Pryor and the human. You know, like she was there for us,” Bex quips.
“C’mon, man, let it go,” East says.
“Wait, now you’re on her side?” Bex counters.
“There are no sides,” I remind him.
“See, that just shows how delusional you are. We were a team and you screwed us. So now you don’t get to have us at your beck and call!” he screams.
“You don’t want to help me, then fine. Just tell me how to find this Oden guy,” I ask.
“Oden?” Easton replies with concern.
“Yeah, I overheard my parents talking about him. They said helping Randy would mean getting in touch with him and they didn’t think it was a good idea. Who is he?” I ask impatiently.
“I’ve heard of him. He’s a high-ranking demon, Pry. You can’t go to him,” East replies.
“East is right. If he’s anything like what he’s rumored to be, he’ll kill you before you get near him,” Key says.
“It doesn’t matter, I have to try. If he knows a way to save Randy...I have no choice,” I reply.
“Pryor, I don’t want you dying for me, okay?” Randy says.
“I can handle one demon, Randy.”
“Your own father and mother are staying away but you are going to charge ahead on your own? Exactly how stupid are you?” Bex asks.
“Well I can’t depend on you to help me, now can I?” I snap.
“We were there for you and you—”
“I KNOW, BEX, I KNOW! I FAILED, OKAY? YOU WANT TO MAKE ME FEEL BAD FOR THAT BUT IT WON’T WORK BECAUSE I ALREADY FEEL LIKE SHIT. YOU GUYS PUT YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN ME, AND I FAILED YOU ALL. AND WORSE I LOST NOT ONLY MY TEAM BUT MY FRIENDS,” I cry out.
Everyone in the room is taken aback by my outburst, especially me. My pulse is racing and my hands are shaking from a mix of guilt and adrenaline. I force myself to calm down and lower my voice.
“I know that I wronged you guys, and I will have to live with that. But I’m trying not to let yet another person I love down. Maybe I don’t deserve your help but if anyone deserves angels on his side, it’s Randy. Help me save him. Please.”
Key places a hand on Bex’s shoulder. He shakes his head and looks away. Swoop and East shrug and give me a small smile that signals they are on board. We all turn back to Bex and Key.
“I think we should help,” Key says firmly.
“We shouldn’t make a decision like this without Silver,” he says.
They call Aaden “Silver” because that’s the color of his wings. He’s the only one in existence that has silver wings. His fireballs are silver too and far more powerful than the other angels’.
Hearing them say Aaden’s nickname makes my face flush with anticipation. I feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin if I don’t lay eyes on him now, right now. Helping Randy has kept my mind off of Aaden but now standing here with the rest of the group, his absence is very noticeable.
After I didn’t show up at the Atu, I ended up asking Aaden out a few days later. I guess I just wanted to convince myself that I was capable of doing something brave. So I asked him out and he said no. I tell myself it’s because he doesn’t want to be seen with a coward. He doesn’t want anyone to see him with the Noru who was too afraid to lead her team.
But there is another reason why Aaden could have said “no.” A reason that hurts so much to think about that I am forced to bury it deep inside me. Occasionally, when the words surface and gather in my head, they cause a rippling wave of sadness that knows no end.
Aaden said no because he doesn’t want me...
Being rejected by Aaden felt like daggers going through me. I remember that day so clearly. We were alone near our favorite spot in Central Park. There had been a slight chill in the air. New York City in the fall was my favorite season. I daydreamed about Aaden and I snuggled together under a tree, laughing, talking, and kissing...
I remember the exact moment I started wanting him as more than just my friend. Before then we were just hanging out and chasing low-level demons together. It drove our parents crazy, but we didn’t care. We had the time of our lives.
Then one day we had misjudged a landing and ended up sliding face first off a mountain. We were bloody and howling with laughter. When we finally stopped laughing, I was on the ground and he was on top of me.
I looked up at one of my best friends and suddenly I wanted something I had never wanted before—his lips on mine. The thought scared me because I had never kissed anyone before. I still haven’t.
Yet there we were, laying at the base of the mountain, and all I could think about was his lips. And to make matters worse, my face and hands began to tingle once I realized just how close he was to me. Then my cheeks grew crimson and my fingers started trembling. I wanted to lift my head up and make his lips touch mine, but I didn’t know how.
How do you kiss? Who goes left and who goes right? Is that something you decide beforehand? What if I do it wrong? What if he doesn’t kiss me back? What if he runs screaming and makes a giant cutout hole in the shape of his body on the mountain side running away from me?
Ever since that day I’ve thought about and obsessed over what it would be like if Aaden and I touched. I mean not like friends but like...well, you know...
That day at the park I finally summoned up the courage to ask him out, and he said “no” just like that. Oh, and he also said some lame ass thing about being sorry. I was such a fool. I never thought he would say no. I mean I hoped he would say yes, but I never thought I would get a flat out “no.” I took to the air and had my parents transfer me to human school. That was the last time I saw Aaden.
In the past year, from what I have been told, Aaden has changed. He’s grown...darker. For one thing he left school and never looked back. I’m surprised that Uncle Rage let his son do that, but he did. Nowadays he doesn’t even hang out with the group, from what I hear. He’s become more of a loner.
He’s so to himself that he’s grown a sort of mystique around him. He spends more time around humans than he does angels. He�
��s been known to say awful things about the Council and the Angel world as a whole.
In addition, the more elusive Aaden is, the more girls want to be with him. In fact, getting to spend a night with “Silver” is the Holy Grail for most girls in the Angel world. I guess I can understand it. Aaden is tall, dark, and the very definition of brooding.
He looks very much like his father, Rage. He has dark hair, intense dark eyes, and a body that makes it hard for any girl to stay away. In addition to ferocious silver fireballs, Aaden can “Call.” That means mostly anything he sees with his mind’s eye, he can summon to him.
He’s often seen wearing a black leather jacket, black tee shirt, and boots. He rides motorcycles off of cliffs, and I’ve been told he now has a number of tattoos. He has always been hot tempered but now I’m told he’s outright insolent.
I miss him...
“ So, um...where is Aaden?” I ask.
“We don’t know. Uncle Rage says he’s ‘doing some thinking,’ whatever that means, but he assures us Silver isn’t in danger,” Key says.
“From what I hear, Silver is the danger. I heard he was in a brawl over a couple of girls with some Quo,” Swoop says, delighting in the latest gossip.
“I heard he’s having a great time since his dad let him off the leash,” Bex adds.
“So, um...he has...a girl? That’s nice,” I reply, trying to sound casual.
“No, sweets, not ‘a girl’—girls. Lots of girls,” Swoop says.
“Yeah well, whatever. So, are you guys going to help me find Oden? Or are you guys going to stand there and let me get killed by this Oden bastard?” I ask, only half joking.
“Little girl, Oden is the least of your problems,” someone says from the doorway.
We turn and find my mother standing at the entrance of the warehouse. It’s one thing to piss off my mom; it’s another to piss off Death. I can see out the window; the dark swirls of ominous clouds brewing...
Dear Omnis, my mom is going to kill me...
CHAPTER FOUR: OFF COURSE
“Do you have any idea what you put us through tonight?” my mom shouts.