Noru 4: When Angels Break (The Noru Series, Book 4)

by Lola StVil

  “I wasn’t the one who told Silver to leave you alone for a year; he did that on his own. I wasn’t the one who took your parents from you; that was Malakaro. You want to blame me for not taking the Tam, done. You want me to feel guilty and stupid for being so reckless, done. But now that that’s over, let me go and live my life with my child in peace.”

  “You can’t go.”

  “So, I’m a whore if I stay and a bitch if I go. Great.”

  “I’m not calling you any of those things.”

  “Yeah, right. Noru, I know exactly what you think of me and I’m good with it. Just don’t insult me by pretending that we’re friends or that you care where I go or what happens to me, because we both know you don’t; no one here does.”

  “Okay, you’re right. The team is…hesitant to trust you completely. And I can’t stand you. I pictured a life with Aaden, and you came and destroyed that picture.”

  “And so you hate me. Got it. Good thing I’m leaving.”

  “We slept together—a few nights ago. It was the first time for us. First time ever for me,” I reply, catching myself off guard.

  Why am I telling her this? She’ll just use it against me somehow. What was I thinking? Screw it, it’s already out there, and now she’ll use it someday to further her cause.

  “I thought you two would have done that a long time ago.”

  “Well, we didn’t. That is not until the night before we found out about Sparks.”

  “Well, I guess I could understand why you hate me so much.”

  “I don’t want it to be like this. The one thing we have in common is that we care about Aaden. Can’t you stay because of that?”

  “No, I can’t. As I said to him, my first and last thoughts are of Ameana-Rose. I am putting her first.”

  “Well, I don’t know anything about being a mom, but I’m guessing taking her far away from the father that loves her and would give his life for her isn’t the way to go.”

  “You’re right, you don’t know anything about being a mom.”

  “C’mon, Ruin, be honest. You aren’t thinking of Sparks at all. You’re going away because you either want him to follow or because you can’t deal with seeing us together. Either way, it’s selfish and childish.”

  “Me? I’m being selfish? Let me ask you something. Since it tears you up to see Aaden unhappy with Sparks and me going away, why not tell him to come with us?”

  “I can’t do that. Aaden is a necessary part of this team.”

  “Is that the leader talking or his girlfriend?”

  “I want him to be happy. I want him to be able to spend time with his child.”

  “Did you tell him that? Did you even suggest that he come with us?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he belongs here!”

  “With you?”

  “Yes!” I shout without thinking.

  “But I’m the selfish one, right?”

  I knew the talk with Ruin was going to be hard, but I didn’t think it would be outright impossible. Once again I’m presented with the option of letting Aaden go with her. I don’t want to keep Aaden from Sparks. In my heart of hearts, I want him to have his little girl in his life, in our lives, forever.

  So let him go, Pry…

  It’s not that simple. Yes, it’s hard for me to let the angel I love go off with someone else. And yes, his absence would haunt me every waking moment, but there’s also something else to consider: the team needs him. The danger around us increases with every passing day. We need him. I need him.

  Great, and we’re back to me being selfish. What if Ruin is right and all I’m thinking about is me? And if I don’t tell him to go with Ruin, will he grow to resent me? Could our love actually survive that?

  I am pulled out of my thoughts when Swoop shouts, overjoyed that she was able to book the band she wanted for tonight. Thanks to Swoop, the clinic is now ‘party planning central.’ Even the Healers are excited. I don’t want to ruin the mood for them, but after the failed attempt to get Ruin to stay, the last thing I want is to think about a party.

  I sneak out of the clinic and head back home to check on what’s left of my house. When I get there, I’m surprised to see it’s standing and looks as if nothing happened to it. Bex must have had the Paras fix it.

  I could just kiss him for doing that.

  Wait! I didn’t mean it like that. I meant…never mind. I’m just glad my house is back to normal. I enter and make my way up the steps to my room. I lie down on my bed and sigh heavily. I am so glad no one is home. It’s been a long time since this house was silent.

  I look over at the picture frame on my dresser. It’s the one with my mom and dad. Sam and I are in the middle. I remember having this picture taken. Sam had rescued his first human. The human was just a toddler, and she was on the swing next to Sam. The latch that was supposed to keep the human from falling had broken off. Sam flew into action like it was second nature and saved her before she hit the ground.

  My mom had to get someone to wipe the memory of the humans who saw what happened, but still, we were all so proud of him. He spent that entire evening in his favorite place, on top of my dad’s shoulder. I turn away from the picture because it makes me sad after a while. I close my eyes and take in the silence once more.

  A few minutes later, I open my eyes and sit up. There’s a blurry figure standing in the doorway. I blink repeatedly until the figure comes into view. The being standing before me is a woman with long ink-black hair, a warm smile, and purple eyes.

  “Mom?” I gasp as I leap off the bed.

  “Hello, Carrot.”

  I place my hands over my mouth to keep from screaming. Tears flood my eyes and my body shakes as I look into her perfect face.

  “Don’t just stand there, Carrot, come give me a hug,” she replies.

  I run and embrace her as tight as I can. She hugs me back and strokes my hair. I inhale her sweet familiar scent. It’s only then I realize just how much I missed her. She tries to pull away, but I keep her close to me, saying that I’m not ready to let go yet. She laughs softly and lets me hold on for a few more moments.

  “It’s okay, Carrot. You can let go; I’m here now. I’m here to stay,” she assures me.

  “Mom, I missed you so much.”

  “I know. I missed you too, honey. Your dad and I have been working so hard to get back to you.”

  “You know about Sam; he’s gone, Mommy.”

  “I know. You did the best you could, Carrot. We are all so proud of you.”

  “You are?”

  “Very much.”

  “I think about Sam every day. Every day.”

  “Me too, Carrot.”

  “Where’s Dad? Is he here too? When did they fix the light? Is everyone back? Uncle Jay? Aunt Miku?”

  “Slow down, Carrot. I told you we have time,” she assures me.

  “Okay, but where’s Dad? I need to see him. Is he okay?”

  “Yes, your father is fine. But the light isn’t fixed.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No, honey.”

  “Then how are you here?”

  “I made a deal with them and they allowed me to return.”

  “You made a deal with who?” I ask, puzzled.

  “With them.”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t be silly, honey, you know who—the Center.”

  She signals towards the long hallway just outside my room. There are a dozen angels in white uniforms heading towards me. I feel a surge of panic, and terror engulfs me.

  “No!” I shout as I try to run away.

  My mom holds me in place and hands me over to them.

  “I’m sorry, Pry. It’s the only deal they would make. I get to come back and they get you in return.”

  They grab hold of me and drag me down the steps. I try to fight them off using my powers, but for some reason nothing happens when I hold out my palm. I try to attack them again, but my powe
rs are gone.

  “Mom, please, tell me what’s happening.”

  “You let my son die. I left you in charge and you allowed him to be killed. And now, it’s only right that you pay for what you did,” my mom replies.

  “You said you understood,” I beg as they pull me into the living room.

  “I needed you to believe that so you would hug me. And when you did, I was able to neutralize your powers. Remember, Carrot, I am Death. I gave you your powers, and a few moments ago, I took them back.”

  “No, Mom, please, please don’t do this!” I beg.

  “You were unfocused and you let them take my little boy. You promised to watch him and you let me down. The Center won’t kill you. They will just teach you a lesson. Now be a good Noru and get inside,” she says.

  “Inside where?” I ask.

  “Your new home.”

  I turn and see what she’s talking about. In the center of the room, hovering in the air, is a glass box. The exact same one I was held captive in before.

  “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” I screech hysterically.

  I try to run, but they grab on to me, pinning me down. They brutally beat me until I am too weak to fight anymore. They take my limp body into the air, the glass box opens up, and they hurl me inside it. My mom watches the whole thing. Her face is pained and saddened but accepting.

  “I love you, Carrot, and it’s because of love that I am letting this happen. It will teach you to be focused. It will teach you to be a better leader. I’m sorry I have to do this. But if I had done this before, maybe your little brother would still be alive.”

  “Wait, let them do what? What’s happening?” I shout from inside the floating box.

  I don’t have to wait long to find out the answer to my question. My mom gives the signal to an angel in a lab coat, who’s holding what looks like a black marble clipboard with digital markings on it.

  “Go ahead, turn it on,” my mom says.

  Suddenly the box starts overheating; within seconds large blisters form all over my body and burst open. I pound on the glass and hold out my palm, trying as hard as I can to summon up my powers. It’s no use; my mother is broiling me alive.

  “Pryor! Pryor! Pryor!” someone yells as they shake me furiously.

  “NO! LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!” I cry.

  “PRYOR, YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP! WAKE UP!” someone yells.

  My eyes pop open. I’m in shock to find myself back at the clinic, with my palms out, ready to attack.

  “You were in some kind of nightmare. It’s over. You’re here with us. You’re here with me,” Bex says as he takes my face in his hands.

  I look into Bex’s eyes and use them as a point of focus. Slowly my mind begins to settle.

  “I thought I was…they came for me…” I tell Bex.

  “I know. It’s okay, Pry. It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. You used your powers in your sleep, Pryor, and you hit something; actually, you hit three things,” the Healer next to us replies.

  We look over and there’s a scorch mark on the spot where I hit the coffee table and a second mark where I targeted the ceiling. The third mark is in the center of Randy’s chest…

  Chapter Twelve:

  Here And Now

  When I turned five, my mother gave me an antique music box. When I opened it, I saw two figures on a platform. There was a beautiful human ballerina, frozen mid leap with her legs graceful on either side of her. An angel sat at her feet watching, completely engrossed in the human’s movement. The figures rotated as the melody from the box filled my room. I remember my mom sitting me on her lap, looking into my eyes as she explained what the music box meant.

  “Pryor, I want you to know that it doesn’t matter that humans don’t have wings. They are just as beautiful and deserving of praise,” she said.

  “But, Mom, humans do bad things,” I reminded her.

  “Carrot, it’s easy to think humans are hopeless. They wage wars that are needless and bloody. They inflict pain on one another and they have an insatiable appetite for material things. But Omnis hasn’t given up hope for them and neither will we.”

  “Why does Omnis still believe in them?” I asked.

  “Because he knows humanity can be redeemed. You just have to know where to look for the signs.”

  “Like when they have big earthquakes and stuff and they help each other?”

  “Yes, but there are other signs, Carrot, smaller ones that are just as important.”

  “Like what?”

  “When a human family can only afford to adopt one child, but they pull together to adopt two so that siblings aren’t split up. The human teacher that takes extra time to go over the material because they don’t want their students to get left behind. Or the human who checks on their elderly neighbor and asks if they need anything.”

  “Okay. But are all humans worth saving?”

  “Yes. That is why you have to remember even though you are Noru, you are first and foremost an angel. And what is the number one rule about being an angel?”

  “Never harm a human…”

  “PRYOR! PRYOR! LET HIM GO!” Key yells, bringing me back to the present.

  “We can’t tend to him with you latching on. Let go!” the Healer barks as she tries to loosen my grip on Randy’s body.

  I know she’s right, but I can’t let Randy go. Not even long enough for them to treat him. His blood escapes his body from the cavernous wound I inflicted on him. It’s the brightest shade of red I’ve ever seen. Randy’s blood gets in between my fingers, under my nails, and soaks my clothes.

  Randy’s blood…

  They are finally able to pry my hands away from Randy. I feel like I’m on top of the music box. The world is spinning around me. I watch, powerless, as a team of Healers tries desperately to save my best friend. They take his limp body inside a room, and the team tries to get me up from the bloody floor. I dip my index finger into the pool of Randy’s blood.

  I cry out to Omnis and beg him not to take Randy’s life. My voice cracks and trembles so much, I doubt Omnis or anyone else can make out what I’m saying. The team kneels beside me and promises that Randy will be okay. I’m shaking violently while Randy’s liquid life force continues to run down the hallway. Someone scoops me up and starts to take me away. I fight him off. I can’t leave Randy’s blood on the floor. I can’t let someone step in my friend’s blood.

  “No, put me down!” I rage as I pound on his chest repeatedly.

  He continues to take me away. I fight even harder. He warns me that I’m going to hurt myself. I don’t care; I fight him over and over again. He takes me to the back alley of the clinic and puts me down. He binds my hands together with his large palm.

  “Bex, let me go!”

  “You are the First Noru; you cannot fall apart like this!”

  “I killed him.”

  “No, no. You were dreaming and you made a mistake. That’s all it was, a mistake.”

  “He’s gonna die.”

  “He is not going to die. They will heal him.”

  “No, they won’t, Bex. He’s only human; he won’t survive this. And I won’t survive losing him.”

  “Pry, everything is going to be okay. It will. You cannot fall apart,” he scolds.

  “I lost Sam. I can’t lose Randy. I can’t, Bex. I’m not strong enough to lose them both…”

  He pulls me into him and I sob uncontrollably while in his embrace. Aaden bursts through the door and startles us. Bex and I make eye contact and silently agree to pull apart.

  “Pry, what happened? Are you okay? Whose blood is that?” Aaden asks, on edge.

  “I attacked Randy, but it was an accident and now…”

  He takes my face in his hand and tries to remain calm. “Hey, talk to me,” he pleads.

  “I thought there was a demon in the window. I fired and it hit Randy,” I lie.

  Bex looks back at me with stern disapproval, but doesn’t correct me. Aaden holds me protectively. Be
x and I exchange yet another intense glance.

  The level of awkwardness in the alley is reduced when Bex goes back inside and leaves Aaden and me alone. I try to get myself together and remember that Randy is in the hands of very capable Healers. Yet that does very little to comfort me. So, instead of dealing with the horror of possibly losing Randy, I decide to take the path that will certainly end in an argument with Aaden.

  “Where were you?” I ask.

  “I had to take care of something.”

  “Don’t be vague, okay? I’m not in the mood,” I warn him.

  “We can talk about this later. Let’s get you cleaned up and then go check on Randy,” he replies.

  “No! I want to know where you were. Ruin was in the clinic, so you can’t use her as an excuse. I want to know where you were and what you were doing,” I demand.

  “Pry, calm down.”

  “Don’t tell me to calm down. I want to know where you were. Tell me!”

  “I told you, I can’t.”

  “After everything we’ve been through, you’re keeping secrets from me? Really?”

  “I’m not keeping anything from you. I just can’t say right now.”

  “What is it? What were you doing while my best friend was lying on the floor bleeding to death?”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Were you getting someone else pregnant?”

  “Pry…” he warns me.

  “Is there another ‘baby mama’ demon I need to know about?” I bark.

  “Pryor, do not do this,” he says firmly.

  “You left the clinic without telling me you were leaving. And back at the house when the Omari fired at me, you didn’t even try to help. You let Bex fire at me.”

  “Bex didn’t give that order.”

  “Yeah, I know. But that’s not the point. You had no way of knowing Bex wouldn’t shoot. Yet you didn’t try to stop him.”

  “Pry, if I thought for one second he would actually do that, I would have taken him down. You know that.”

  “You did nothing!”

  “Because I knew Bex wouldn’t give the order.”

  “How did you know?”

  “Bex and I have only one thing in common—you. I knew he could never hurt you. Now do you want to tell me the truth about what happened to Randy?”