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

by Lola StVil

  One of the reasons they agreed was because they too want her to stay. They have fallen for the Firebug. That kid is a handful, but she’s so damn funny and adventurous, they can’t help but love her.

  Earlier this morning, East was watching TV and Ameana-Rose decided she didn’t like the channel. So she tapped into the remote and switched until she got the Nickelodeon Network. At first East protested, but soon they were both engrossed in a marathon of Dora the Explorer. Diana joked that as soon as Ameana-Rose is born, she’d have a best friend in East, since mentally they were about the same age.

  Silver’s daughter also managed to solve a major issue in the house. An issue that ripped into our current happiness: Which pair of heels should Swoop wear tonight? Swoop held her choices up to Diana’s face.

  “All right, Sparks, the right or the left one?” Swoop asked.

  She turned on all the lights on the left side of the room.

  “You picked the Louboutin studded high-top sneakers. Since tonight is casual, they would go perfect with my new jeans! I knew I liked you. Sparks, as soon as you get out here, first trip to Milan is on me!” Swoop squealed as she raced back up the steps to get her outfit together.

  While Diana stirred a mixture to help her daughter maintain her strength, Key made funny faces that made the Firebug light up. And by that I mean she lit up the whole block. That’s when Bex entered the kitchen and patiently talked the little girl into focusing enough to light only one streetlight. It took nearly an hour, but she did it. Bex really has a way when it comes to teaching.

  No one is more thrilled to have Firebug staying with us than Aaden. He spent hours playing with her last night. And earlier this morning, I dropped by his room and I watched as he summoned up a baby fireball in each hand. He was racing with Ameana-Rose to see which one of them could grow their fireball faster.

  Naturally, Aaden could set the city on fire in a matter of seconds, but it was so sweet to watch him pretend to struggle to grow the fireball. He let her win, and she was so excited she caused her mother to glow from the inside. I wanted to talk to Aaden, but I didn’t want to interrupt the father-daughter moment, so I went back to my room.

  Now, I’m standing here, looking in the mirror. There are lots of things I would change about my life right now. I’d do anything to have my parents back. I’d give my soul to have Sam back and ensure the safety of all my friends. But all in all, I know things could be worse.

  “What are you smiling about?” Aaden asks as he stands in the doorway.

  “I don’t know. I’m just…happy. It is okay to be happy even if everyone I love isn’t…around?” I ask.

  He comes close to me and takes my hand in his. “It’s okay to be happy. You don’t need to feel guilty for that.”

  “I know, but I still do. It’s like my little brother is dead. How can I smile—ever?”

  “Being happy is not dishonoring his memory. He would want his big sister to go on with her life.”

  “I miss him. And as for my parents, I can’t remember ever needing them more than I do now.”

  “I know, babe. You’re not the only one. I think the twins are having a hard time too. That’s why Key has been so hard on Swoop. She knows that with their parents stuck in the light, she has to look out for her little sister more so now than before.”

  “Are they talking to each other again?” I ask.

  “Barely.”

  “Maybe they just need some time. Finding out Swoop was pregnant was a shock to everyone. Speaking of which, I need you to talk to her. We need to know who she was with,” I remind him.

  “I know. I just hate to get in her life like that.”

  “Me too, but what we don’t know can hurt us. After Marisol, I don’t want any surprises. So whoever is in our lives, past or present, we need to vet.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to her today.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Did Randy tell you he’s going to ask Key to the ball Sunday?”

  “Yeah, he told you?”

  “He called this morning and asked for advice on how to ask a girl out.”

  “What did you say?”

  “No idea.”

  “Seriously? How is that even possible? Oh, because they usually end up falling all over you even before you can ask, huh?” I tease. It’s only then that I realize how true that statement is. “Wait, Aaden, you never asked a girl out? Really?”

  “I don’t want to sound like a dick, but no. I mean, we’d hang out at a bar for an hour or whatever and then…”

  “Wow, very romantic.”

  “It’s what I grew up seeing.”

  “What do you mean?” I push.

  “Women lose it when it comes to my father. Demons, Quo, angels, it doesn’t matter. Growing up, there was always some woman who wanted him. Most of the time, he didn’t pay them any attention. But once in a while, he’d drop me off at school and go spend time with one of them. My father doesn’t date.”

  “Did that bother you?”

  “Yeah, because I wanted him to find a woman so he could be happy. But in his mind, he had his one great love—my mom. And now every other woman is just something to pass the time. I mean, he’s not mean to them. All of them are still on speaking terms, from what I know. But he has these rules to keep them at bay.”

  “What kind of rules?” I ask.

  “They weren’t allowed to come to the house and introduce themselves to me. He thought that would be disrespectful to my mom’s memory. He never spent the night at their place because he didn’t want me to be alone. You know, that kind of stuff. I guess I picked that up from him. I never asked a girl out. If she wanted me, she had to say something, or if she didn’t, I was good with it.”

  “You didn’t care about any of them?”

  “It was fun. We had a good time, we shared a night or two, and that was it.”

  “Oh,” I reply as I turn away from him.

  “Hey, that’s not what this is, this thing with me and you. You know that, right?” he asks as he studies my face.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve been with a lot of girls.”

  “So?”

  “So how do I know that the night we spent together was special to you? What if it’s just part of the ‘Silver experience’?”

  “Wow…really?” he replies, unable to hide the hurt in his voice.

  “I know, I’m sorry. It’s just hard sometimes knowing what a long history of one-night stands you have.”

  “Well, Pry, I have. I’m not gonna lie about that. I have slept with more girls than I can recall, I’ve gotten piss drunk and set things on fire, and I’ve attacked Paras because I got sick of their bullshit. That’s me. That’s who I am. Are you good with that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Really? Because it sounds like you’re not.”

  “You’re telling me about the millions of girls you’ve been with and you’re pissed that I’m not happy about it. What if I had been with like a thousand guys?”

  “As long as none of those guys came after me, I don’t care.”

  “Well, maybe I’m not as easygoing about this as you are. How am I supposed to know for sure that I’m the one you want?”

  “Every single being on this planet knows I’m in love with you. Is this because of Sparks?”

  “No, I love that kid.”

  “Then what the hell is the problem?”

  “The night we spent together was the best night of my life. But it was also the only night. But for you, you have a million nights to choose from, with a million other girls. Did our night together make your top five? Or even your top ten list?” I ask as I wander away from him and over to the other side of the room.

  He sighs and shakes his head in disbelief and smiles slightly. “Pry, come here.”

  I don’t listen. Instead, I remain on the opposite side of the room, with my arms folded across my chest. I wanted to be the only one he was with or, at the very l
east, one of a handful of girls. I know it’s stupid, but it’s how I feel.

  “Pryor, come over here,” he says to me once again.

  I know if I go over to him, he’ll make me forget that I’m upset. But I don’t want to forget. I am competing with a million other girls he’s been to bed with. And I’m certain they all have extensive acrobatic experience. I’m normally not this insecure. I don’t know when it happened. It just snuck up. All I know is that right now, I’m pouting like a damn child.

  “Bring your ass over here, now,” he commands.

  The way he summons me causes shivers up and down my body. I walk towards him slowly. The closer I get, the harder it is to control my need for his touch. Yet I don’t rush. I know the slower I walk to him, the angrier he gets. The angrier he gets, the more I want him…

  When I’m close enough, I wait for him to pull me into him, but he doesn’t. Instead he punishes me for walking slowly to him by not touching me. He knows how much I long for him. He also knows I won’t give in and be the first to reach out. We stand so close to each other, there is no air between us.

  His broad shoulders and powerful arms seem to loom above me. I can see the outline of his defined abs through his shirt. His wide hands are inches from my waist. He scans my body so intensely he ignites a spark between my legs that threatens to engulf me if I don’t reach out and grab him.

  I don’t care about losing the standoff. I don’t care about whatever it was that was making me upset with him. All I want is to feel his hands on my skin. The very thought of having his lips explore my body renders me dizzy with anticipation.

  Fuck it!

  I reach out for him just as he reaches out for me. He greedily pries my mouth open and skillfully darts his velvet tongue in and out until I am too weak to stand. He lifts me up and sits me on top of my dresser. We hear objects hitting the floor all around us, but we don’t stop; we can’t.

  He tears my blouse open, and in return, I yank his shirt off and wrap my legs around his rock-hard thighs. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him into me.

  He journeys down the nape of my neck with a series of tongue flicks and kisses so powerful I can no longer recall who I am, let alone where I am. He growls as his lips make contact with my nipples behind the sheer fabric of my bra.

  If he stops touching me, I’m going to die. If he doesn’t release my breasts from the fabric restraints right now, I’m going to die.

  As if hearing my thoughts, he quickly places his arms behind me and unhooks my bra. The cold air hits my breasts, but they are swiftly warmed by the inner lining of Aaden’s lips. I close my eyes, lean my head back, and sigh with pleasure. Then he—stops. Seriously. He just stops.

  What?!

  I open my eyes and ask him what’s wrong. He signals to the lights above us. I was so lost in the moment I didn’t realize the lights were flashing.

  “I’m sorry. There’s a laser-light show in Central Park I promised I would take her to if she went to sleep on time. The flashing lights are her ‘subtle’ way of saying ‘Dad, let’s go,’” he explains.

  “I guess you gotta go, then,” I reply, trying to downplay my disappointment as I put my clothes back on.

  “You can come with us. She’d love that,” he offers.

  “No, it’s okay. We’re gonna hang out tonight and you’re taking me to the ball, so we have plenty of time to spend together. Firebug should get some time with her dad.”

  He kisses me deeply and the lights flicker again. We both smile and look at each other, knowing there’s nothing we can do. He picks his shirt up off the floor and puts it back on. Before he leaves he kisses me again. This time, his touch is tender and gentle. He looks into my eyes and says exactly what I need to hear.

  “I’ve had a lot of sex, but I’ve only made love once; that was with you.”

  “Aaden, I love you.”

  “I love you back,” he says as the lights flicker again. I laugh at him.

  “Okay, now I have to go and teach my child the finer points of subtlety.”

  A few hours later when Aaden returns, he keeps his promise and talks to Swoop. The two of them go out to the back of the house and sit on the bench under the vast city skyline. Their voices flow past me as I listen in. I love watching Aaden and Swoop together. He’s always had a way of getting to her when no one else can. Whenever there is a nasty fight between Swoop and Key and no one is able to get them to talk, we call Aaden.

  “Bird, I’m not dressing up for the ball. You know that’s not me,” Aaden tells her.

  “And you know you will give in to me because I am, well…me,” she says with a smile.

  “Okay, okay, Bird, but no fancy, pansy crap like a tie,” he warns her.

  “Don’t worry, I know exactly what I will put you in. How do you feel about a top hat and gloves?” Swoop says.

  “What?”

  Swoop bursts out laughing at him. Aaden shakes his head and joins in. Soon the two friends grow quiet.

  “Pry sent you to ask about my ex, didn’t she?” Swoop says.

  “I want to tell you that your personal life is just that, yours. And you don’t have to tell anyone who you have and haven’t slept with,” Aaden says carefully.

  “But you can’t say that,” Swoop replies.

  “No, I can’t.”

  “Silver, it’s not fair. It’s personal. I shouldn’t have to open my life up for the world to see.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have to, Bird, but you know who we are and what comes with that.”

  “I’m not even seeing him anymore; he’s part of my past.”

  “So was Diana. What’s in the past doesn’t always stay there.”

  “No matter how fast I am, I can’t seem to outrun who or what we are. I’m the little sister to the ‘perfect’ Keyohmi. I’m my father’s ‘baby girl.’ And daughter of my mom’s alter ego, Redd. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find your own identity?”

  “I’m Rage’s son, so yeah, I do.”

  “That’s why I want to keep this one little part of me to myself.”

  “I get it, Bird, I do.”

  “Then help me. Talk to Pry for me. Convince her to let this drop. She’ll listen to you.”

  “It’s not that simple. The last time we didn’t vet someone well enough, she tried to kill the whole team,” he reminds her.

  “Yes, but East was dating Marisol. I’m no longer seeing this guy, so why bring it up?”

  “You know crap like this always comes back. Pry’s under a lot of pressure, and she needs you to be open with her. We all do.”

  “Yes, and I will be from now on, but don’t make me talk about what’s already happened. It’s in the past. Let’s let it stay there.”

  “Bird, what happened with this guy that has you so shaken?” he says, concerned.

  “I loved him. It took everything I had to move on, and I can’t talk about it because that leads to thinking about it and…I can’t. I can’t. Please don’t make me,” she says as she bursts into tears and desperately latches on to him. Aaden is taken off guard, but he hugs her tightly.

  “Bird, it’s okay. It’s okay.”

  Damn it!

  He holds her until she gathers herself. She stands up, thanks him, and takes off in the air to tend to last minute party planning. I doubt that’s why she took off. I think she just didn’t like being that open with anyone, not even Aaden. Once she’s gone, I walk out to the yard.

  “I thought she’d be upset, but I didn’t think she’d break down,” I admit.

  “Whoever this guy is, she doesn’t want us to know about him.”

  “Which means…”

  “We need to find him.”

  I am very aware that whatever secret Swoop is keeping needs to be revealed, sooner rather than later. But it seems cruel to bring it up again, at least for the rest of the weekend. She has worked so hard to make my birthday fun; the least I can do is let her enjoy it. So when we all land in Los Angeles, I try to stay focused
on the party and less on work.

  Swoop was not kidding when she told me that tonight would be game night. She rented out the whole Beverly Center Mall and managed to fill it to capacity. There’s a bowling alley, a roller rink, a karaoke bar, and about a dozen shops.

  The main attraction, however, centers on Dave and Buster’s. I had never been to one before. It’s basically a giant arcade for grown-ups. They have games ranging from the latest bloody “point and shoot” missions to classic Pac-Man.

  When Swoop told me that she was doing a “human” theme, I thought it might not work. I was so wrong. The angels are actually screaming louder than the humans. Apparently fighting evil in real life is nothing compared to fighting giant cartoon evil on screen. The crowd frequently erupts into cheers as they take on the fake task of saving the world from videogame villains.

  The waitresses circulate throughout the room with endless trays of food for the humans and Coy for the angels. Swoop preselected the music and she knows this crowd very well. Each song is better than the last, and by the time we are ten minutes into Swoop’s music mix, the already hyper crowd goes into overdrive. I compliment her on a good job and she tells me the ball will be even better.

  I decide that given the great turnout, the least I can do is try to have some fun. Knowing that the Paras are keeping the demons at bay helps me do just that. I’m not the only one enjoying myself. The team is mingling, laughing, and dancing along with the crowd.

  After I lose horribly at a game of Mario Cart, I search through the crowd, looking for Aaden. I overhear Bex telling Key what a great job she did when she killed the Kasters the last time we were in battle. The two are not on great terms, but it’s a start. Randy spots Bex talking to Key too; that’s why he summons me over to him. I take him outside into the courtyard to reassure him.

  “Bex and Key are getting back together. I know it,” Randy says.

  “No, they’re just talking. And that’s good because they have to work together.”

  “That may be good for you, but for me, it means Key and I are doomed.”