by K. A Knight
Hold the fuck up. Mikael? I thought it might be, but surely that’s impossible. The possibility freaks me out. “Mikael?” My voice sounds strange, but it’s nothing compared to the panic inside me.
“Yeah, Mike’s full name is Mikael,” Ben says like that’s obvious, and of fucking course, it is.
How the monkey fuck am I seeing their missing friend? My life just got a whole lot more complicated, and I have no idea what to do about it. Not wanting to give anything away until I can sort through my thoughts, I fake a yawn.
“Let’s finish this later, you need to rest.” Ezra’s eyes dart to the clock on the wall, making me realise it’s almost four in the morning.
Twenty minutes later, I’m in bed between Ben and Jason, apparently they won’t let me sleep alone. They’re both deep asleep, but my mind is wide awake. I’m trying to fix the puzzle pieces together, but there’s too many missing gaps.
How am I seeing Mikael and where is he?
How does the darkness fit in? Maybe that’s what he was hunting? I replay every conversation we’ve had in hopes of discovering something different or remembering something that didn’t make sense. What if I tell the others and it pushes them away or worse, they blame me for his disappearance?
Theories spin around in my head as the sun rises and the boys wake up. I’m no closer than I was to figuring out how I fit in to all of this. Ben turns towards me and buries his head in my shoulder. Jason throws his arm over my waist, making one thought clear.
I need to save Mikael, or I might lose the only people I care about.
24
- AURORA -
Over breakfast, Alexander and Ezra corner me and tell me they think it’s best that I stop at theirs tonight until we can figure out where it is I go when I’m in my bed. Grudgingly, I agree, but I blame it on the lack of caffeine.
It puts me in a bad mood all day. I need to go back to save Mikael or figure out a way to save him. I’m not going to be able to do that tonight, and the worry and guilt only piss me off more. I stomp around work all afternoon, and everyone avoids me like the plague. I ignored Tom’s advice and went in any way.
As I walk past where Ben and Jason sit, one of them grabs me and yanks my hand. I tumble on to his knee with an annoyed sound.
I glance over at Jason, guessing it would be Ben who pulled me down, and roll my eyes. He leans back making his T-shirt stretch over his body. Down girl.
“Yes?” I say to Ben, trying to ignore the clenching in my lower body.
“What’s up, Sunshine, who’s not sunshine today because she looks like she wants to kill someone.” Ben’s chipper voice almost makes me smile. Almost.
Jason peers over my head with an exasperated look. “It’s not a nickname if you make it longer than her name.” He smiles at me “You okay, Aurora?” His sweet voice melts some of my irritation.
I lean my head back on Ben’s shoulder and stare at the ceiling. He wears a button-down shirt, and when I asked, he told me he noticed the way I stared at Alexander in his.
“Yeah.” I still sound grumpy.
“I may or may not have bought you cookies,” Jason says, and I snap my head up to stare hopefully back to him.
I narrow my eyes in warning. “Don’t tease a girl like that.”
“I’ll tease you, Sunny.” I ignore Ben and concentrate on Jason.
“Okay, I bought you cookies.” I look around for them, and he laughs. “They are at the house.”
“Can’t bring up them delicious circles of joy without having them. Now, my mouth’s watering.” I’m whining, but shit, it’s cookies. My whole no swearing thing is really going down the fucking drain.
“Hmm, I can think of something—” Before he can finish, I smack the back of Ben’s head.
“Dammit, don’t you start doing that too,” he grumbles.
I laugh like he wanted and get up. “I’ve got to get back to work. You two staying?”
They both nod like I knew they would. I head into the kitchen and order them some food.
My shift is busy, and when I’m done, Ben and Jason wait for me as promised. I head over to their table with my bag and coat over my arm.
“You guys ready?” They both gaze up at me with affectionate smiles, and I falter. It really shouldn’t be okay to look that good. Before I jump them or lick their faces, I spin on my heel and head for the door.
I wave at Tom on my way out. They catch up to me with their long legs. Ben slings his arm around my shoulders and leads me to Alexander’s car.
“Erm, why are you driving Alexander’s car?” I stare at the beautiful, expensive beast. I know, because I Googled it.
Ben sniggers and puts his finger to his lips.
Jason smiles back, an answering twinkle in his eye. Looks like Jason isn’t as sweet as he makes himself out to be, and why does that make me happy? Wrong, I’m so wrong. “Ben borrowed it.”
Alexander is going to kill them, and me too.
“Can I drive it?” I can’t hide the excitement in my voice.
Jason’s smile grows, and Ben laughs. “We have converted her to the dark side.” He fist bumps Jason, then tosses me the keys.
I walk backwards and stare at them. “Babe, I’m the dark side. It’s more like I’ve converted you. You know what they say, right? Come to the dark side, we have cookies.” With a wink, I leave them there, stunned, and slide into the car. I rev the engine, and they jump in. I smirk over at Ben as I screech out of the car park.
I speed down the country roads and laugh, feeling alive and happier than I did this morning. In fact, I’m in a good mood by the time I get to their house. I slide out of the car, and not even a grumpy Alex standing at the front door can bring me down. I walk casually to him, swinging the keys to his baby as I do.
When I reach him, where he halfway blocks the door, I toss him the keys and go to walk past.
“Nice ride,” I say silkily as I walk past.
Walking into the kitchen where Ezra sits, I jump up on the bar stool next to him. I nudge him with my elbow while arguing comes from the front of the house.
“Wanna bet that Alexander won’t care about the car?” I ask.
He turns to me with a smirk and leans towards me. “Deal, he loves that thing. What do I win?”
“What do you want?” I tilt my head, making my hair slide over my shoulder. His eyes heat up and drop to my lips. I slowly lick them.
“You have to stop in my bed tonight.” Lust coats his words.
“And if I win?” My voice drops too.
“What do you want?” He throws my words back at me, and I hear footsteps coming towards us.
I could ask for a million things, answers to questions, secrets, anything but that’s not what I really want. An evil grin makes its way to my parted lips.
“I get to do anything I want to you,” I whisper seductively. Just like I thought, his pupils dilate. The others enter the kitchen, but I don’t break eye contact until he nods.
Alexander comes to stand next to the sink opposite us, and a scared Ben and Jason stand next to me.
Ezra leans in to me and whispers for only me to hear. “Now, I don’t know whether I want to win or lose.”
I smirk in response.
“You borrowed my car?” Alexander raises his eyebrows.
Ben starts in on a long-winded explanation.
“Yup, problem?” I interrupt.
Jason and Ben spin their heads to me with incredulous expressions.
Alexander leans over into my personal space. “If you wanted a ride, Kitten, all you had to do was ask.” With a wink, he saunters away, and the room goes silent.
I turn to Ezra. “I win.”
His eyes blaze like an inferno. “I can’t wait.”
Ezra lies beneath me, moaning. Probably not in the way he was hoping. I really do have an evil streak.
When I dragged him from the room and to the living room, I think he was expecting something sexy. Instead, he sits on the sofa, complaining as I
paint his lips red. It makes me glad I packed my makeup bag for work today.
“Such a pretty princess,” I coo as I add glitter to his lids. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to let me when I told him my plan, but I can’t ever say Ezra isn’t a man of his word.
Ben lounges on the floor, laughing so hard tears run down his face. Jason, red-cheeked, relaxes on the sofa, trying to control himself, and Alexander? Well, Alexander records it.
“I hate you all,” he mumbles around my brush. I concentrate on adding highlighter to his face.
“Hush, your ruining my master piece.” He complies, and two minutes later, I lean back to appreciate my work. A camera goes off, and I can’t help but laugh at Ezra’s horrified reaction.
I squish my face next to his as Alexander takes another picture. Ezra grumbles but goes along with it, even pulling a few faces as Alexander takes more pictures.
“So pretty, Ezra. Why don’t you put a dress on as well?” My eyes light up at the idea, and he points at Ben.
“You’re dead.” He goes to stand, and I jump on his lap confining him to the sofa.
“Hi.” I smile sweetly at him.
He grabs my waist to lift me off, but I cling to him like a monkey. He stands anyway, but I stay wrapped around him. He looks down at me and raises his perfectly drawn on eyebrows. As Lane would say, they are on point. I’m not sure what that means but, hey.
“Half-pint,” he warns.
I wrap my arms around his neck hanging on.
He shakes his head. “Fine, but you’re still dead,” he warns Ben, who peeks out from behind Alexander. Ezra grips my thighs and walks out of the room. When he starts up the stairs, I realise just how strong he is to carry me all this way. Damn, it has possibilities.
He leads me to the bathroom and puts me down on the counter next to the sink. Trying not to remember the last time we were in a bathroom together, I watch as he searches around the room for something.
“Whatcha doing?” I ask sweetly.
“Looking for a washcloth,” he mutters as he bangs through cupboards. He must find one because he heads back over and gawks at himself in the mirror behind me. He snorts, and his lips twitch.
“You really are pretty.” I laugh.
He glances down at me. “I’ll give you pretty.” He grabs my thighs and pulls until they rest on either side of his waist. He leans down and starts kissing all my face, wiping the lipstick everywhere. I wiggle and laugh to get him to stop. His lips caress mine, and I stop moving. He does it again slowly like asking permission. I chase him and kiss him back.
Something in him snaps, and he smashes his lips to mine. I grab his shirt and hold on as his tongue sweeps into my mouth and tangles with mine. I clench my thighs around him as my pussy starts to ache. Without conscious thought, I rub myself on him like a cat.
I yank on his shirt, needing his skin under my hands. Breathing hard, he breaks away, and before I can protest, he yanks his shirt over his head and goes back to kissing me. I explore his wide chest as he explores my mouth. A bang on the door breaks us apart. He puts his forehead to mine as we try to catch our breath.
He kisses my lips one more time, drops my thighs, then steps away. Grabbing the washcloth, he wets it and washes the makeup off his face. I watch in fascination as I try to calm down. Once he’s back to his handsome self, he turns to me and rewets the cloth.
“Look in the mirror, baby,” he whispers.
I twist and see red lipstick smeared all over my lips and face. I giggle and turn back to him as he takes a picture. I frown, but he just steps towards me and starts wiping it away. I sit there as my giant gently washes away the lipstick, and the walls around my heart start to crack even farther apart at the softness he shows me. For someone who has never been shown much compassion, these guys are lavishing it on me. His swipes the wet cloth so gently as if he fears I will break. The concentration on his face is hot as hell, and when he steps back to check if he got it all, I take a deep breath.
“All done.” He gives me a quick chaste kiss, then tosses the dirty washcloth into the washing basket. He grips my waist and lifts me from the sink. He deposits me back on my feet but takes hold of one of my hands. He gently pulls me from the room and down the stairs to the others.
I finish eating before all the others and lean back in my chair, taking in their laughter and conversations. They go out of their way to include me, whether it’s Ezra squeezing my hand or Alexander winking at me.
Jason regales me with stories as Ben plays with my hair. I sit in the middle of this whirlwind and decide I want this. I want family, but not any family—I want them. The decision settles in my heart, and I know it’s the right one when warmth spreads through me. Now, how do I keep them?
“οΟι μάγισσες είναι ήδη δικές σου, ο απόγονος μου.” The words whisper across my mind with a gentle kiss, and I feel their rightness even if I don’t know what they mean.
25
- AURORA -
I end up taking what I call my room—though, if I had to guess, I would bet it’s Mikael’s. All the guys say goodnight with Ezra and Ben kissing my cheek. Alexander gives me one of his shirts to sleep in, and holy sweet momma, it smells like him. I’m so going to steal it. I nod straight off when my head hits the pillow.
“Where is she?” There’s a loud bang like something falling to the floor. I hold in my whimper by covering my mouth with my hands.
“I said, where is she?” The bang comes again, and I tremble.
“I will never tell you.” My mum’s voice comes out weak but full of determination.
“Oh, I think you will.” The harsh voice lashes me like a whip, and I have to bite my lip to hold in a whimper.
More bangs and pained moans come from my room as the seconds feel like hours. Every scream of pain from my mother echoes around in my head. Every hit of flesh makes me jerk like I’m the one who has been struck. Her scream gets louder with each bang, and I cover my ears, trying to muffle the noise. Rocking my body back and forth, I try to hold in my gasps. When I don’t hear a scream, I lower my hands from my ears.
“Tell me where the fuck she is or else!” The pleasure in the man’s voice at hurting her nearly stops my heart. I can almost hear him encouraging her not to answer so he can carry on.
“Never.” My mum’s whisper makes my tears fall like a waterfall down my cheeks.
Something in me begs for me to cover my ears again, to not listen, but I can’t. She’s in pain because of me; they’re hurting her to get to me. I might not be able to help her, but the least I can do is sit through this with her. Memorise her screams and his laughs so that I can never forget what my mistake cost. A sickening gurgle cuts off her next shrill scream. I freeze. My whole body goes cold, and my limbs lock up as I’m caught in this nightmare. I close my eyes, but I can’t even feel my power.
“Shit, you killed her, you moron,” a second voice says, sending a chill down my spine at the lack of emotions in it. One of the men sighs, then their footsteps retreat.
“We have already searched the house, what if she’s not here?” the first voice asks, the voice getting softer as they walk away. I crack open my door when I can barely hear them.
My mum lies in a broken heap on the floor, and a sob bursts out of me as I run to her side, falling to my knees in the blood around her prone form.
Her chest doesn’t rise and fall, and she’s pale. Her once blond hair is stained red, and her lovely, white pyjamas are soaked in her blood. I can’t see what they did to her because there’s too much blood, and I hesitate to touch her. My hands flutter uselessly above her. The pain in my chest is indescribable as I struggle to breathe. My eyes blur from my tears. I stare at her, hoping it’s a nightmare, hoping her chest will move. That she will wake.
“Mum?” I whisper brokenly.
When she doesn’t respond, I grab her hand, clutching it to my chest. Her skin is cold to the touch as I desperately try to give her some of my warmth. My ears rin
g, and I realise the high-pitched whine is coming from me.
“No, no, no, no. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.”
The room is silent apart from my sobs. She’s gone. I can’t drag my eyes away from her even when they burn, just in case she moves when I look away. The men could come back at any time and she would want me to hide, but none of that matters anymore. A darkness in me whispers to let them find me.
I don’t know how long I sit there, staring at her, but when a ball of light rises from her chest, I scramble backwards, slipping on the drying blood. I stare at it as it hovers over her dead body. Something pulls me to it and before I realise what I’m doing, I kneel in the blood next to it.
I raise my arm towards it. My fingertips graze it, and the smell of lavender, the smell of my mum, hits me. Her laughter echoes around the room as does her cry of pain. I yank my arm back realising what the floating orb must be.
“No!”
Her soul hovers over the only person who ever loved me. Footsteps creak on the stairs, but I don’t move. I’m too horrified to.
“No!” The roar shakes the house, and I turn slowly in shock to face my father. His wings are spread out behind him, and I stare at them in a daze, wondering if I will get wings like him.
I sit bolt upright in bed, catching the scream before it escapes. My chest heaves, and my shirt and bedding are soaked from my sweat.
Knowing I won’t sleep again tonight, I slip from the bed and pad to the door. Pushing my ear up against it, I wait to check if I woke anyone. When nothing but silence greets me, I head to the bathroom and splash water on my face. I don’t bother glancing in the mirror; I don’t need to see the horror still fresh in my mind reflected in my eyes.
I head downstairs as quietly as possible and slump on the sofa, staring at nothing.
“Aurora?” The tired sounding voice startles me enough that I turn to look.