by Lola StVil
“Can I have just three minutes?” I beg.
“Why? You couldn’t make time for me, and now, maybe I can’t make time for you.”
“Randy, please. Give me three minutes.”
“What do you want?”
“I’m sorry for kicking you out of the house. You are a member of the team and we are lucky to have you,” I reply.
“Are you done?”
“No. You went through great lengths to help in the forest, you nearly died trying to help, and you sang to me when I was in the Trauma Center. I never thanked you. That was wrong. Thank you, Randy, for being my friend.”
“Your three minutes are up,” he says as he starts to take off. I go after him.
“I’ll make it up to you. I’ll sing for you like you did for me,” I suggest.
“Oh, so in addition to discarding me, you want to torture me too?”
“Hey, I don’t sound that bad.”
“Pry, when you sing, cats cry. Birds jump to their deaths. Humans all over the world beg Omnis to take their lives,” he says.
“Okay, but I’ve gotten better. Now when I sing, I’m on key,” I remind him.
“When you sing you are on every key,” he teases.
“Well, fine. I suck at singing and singing right here in the open would be a complete embarrassment. But I’d still do it because that’s how much I love you. Please say you forgive me.”
“I don’t know…”
“Randy, I will sing, right here and now,” I threaten.
“You really made me mad,” he says.
“Okay, I have the perfect song for that—” I open my mouth wide and prepare to sing.
“No! Please. I can’t let you torture the other students. I can’t have their deaths on my head.”
“Then you forgive me?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Thank you,” I reply as I hug him and playfully force him to hug me back.
“But, Pry, you need to know two things: one, I will not be pushed aside anymore. I mean it. If I’m on this team then I’m on it. No more ‘send the human away’ stuff. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“And there’s one more thing: Ruin.”
“What about her?”
“You weren’t there, so you don’t know to what lengths that girl went through to make sure we all got out of there alive. She was amazing. Even Swoop said so. You need her; we need her,” Randy insists.
“Well, that may be, but I sent her away. She could be on the other side of the world by now,” I reason.
“Yes, or maybe you can just turn around and check out the new girl coming out of AP English,” Randy says, signaling behind me.
I turn and follow his gaze. I spot a group of students coming out of class. Among them is a beautiful demon with long dark hair, flawless skin, and seductive red lipstick.
“What? When did this happen?” I ask.
“Earlier this morning. Silver asked The Face if she could attend this school. At first The Face said no, but then Sliver reminded her that Ruin can either be an asset or a threat. So, she is letting her stay and keeping an eye on her.”
“He really can’t live without her,” I say to myself.
“No, that’s not what this is. I think he gets her. The two of them have a history.”
“Great. Now his history is walking down the halls of my school.”
“Pry, Silver is fighting so that Ruin has something she never had before—a place she belongs. Do you really want to be the one to stop that from happening?” he warns.
“No. I just…okay. You’re right. Anyway, she should be able to go to school anywhere she wants,” I reason sadly.
“It doesn’t mean he wants her over you.”
“We spent the night together,” I reply.
“What? You and Silver—”
“No! We didn’t. We just talked. But Randy, I love him. I want to be with him.”
“Did you tell him that?”
“No, but I will. Later today.”
“I’m happy for you two.”
“What about you and Key? I heard how you stood up to Bex for her. Does she know?”
“Yeah, East told her. She called me to thank me.”
“That’s great.”
“Yeah, but she loves Bex. And I think the two of them are going to last forever…”
Chapter Twenty-Five:
Owin
Aaden has been on my mind all day. And while it’s important to fix the team, I really would like to know where we stand. But then again, maybe I already know. I mean, first he calls on Ruin whenever he needs help and now he brings her to our school. Maybe it’s one of those relationships that never really end. That would suck so hard. What if I ask him and he says they are in love and that he wants her? What do I do then?
Get over it, like a big girl, Pry.
Yes, that is exactly what I would do. Or at least try to do. If Aaden feels that his place is with her, then that will be that. I will be mature and go on with my life.
I wonder how many times I have to say that before I start to believe it?
“What are you so deep in thought about?” Aaden asks.
“What? Oh, sorry. I was…drifting.”
“Anywhere interesting?”
“Nowhere fun.”
“How’s your first day back?” he wonders.
“Interesting. I ran into Ruin.”
“Yeah, The Face pulled some strings and got her in. Is that a problem?”
“Nope, it’s great. Great!” I lie.
“Have you given any thought about maybe letting her join us?” he asks.
“You know, my whole day doesn’t revolve around Ruin,” I snap.
“Okay…so that’s a ‘no,’ right?”
“Aaden, I…”
“C’mon, Pry. She’s good for the team,” he pushes.
“Yes, I got that, okay? Message received. Hashtag ‘Silver loves Ruin.’”
“The girl that’s been running through my mind all night and all morning wasn’t Diana,” he says as he gives me this intense smoldering gaze.
“You asked her to come to this school, right?”
“Yes, but it’s not for me. It’s for her safety. There are demons and Kasters out there angry that she helped us. And there’s also Malakaro, who may not yet be done hurting her. But that has nothing to do with you and me.”
“It’s just…I don’t know where we stand,” I admit.
“Yeah, this talk is overdue. After the coffee and Coy thing East is forcing us to have, how about we take a walk and figure some things out between us…”
Us…
“Sounds good,” I reply.
“Gotta go. Since The Face did me a favor by getting Diana in here, I promised I’d try and actually attend one of the classes I’m supposed to be taking, ” he says as he walks away.
He said “us.”
***
I don’t think I’m the same girl I was the night I first learned about Malakaro. I think finding out your half brother is pure evil and that you’re supposed to kill your best friend in order to save the world…well, that changes a girl. Then there was my wonderful stay at “Casa De Torture” courtesy of the lunatic Para, Bishop. After going through all that, you are forced to zoom in on the things that matter.
And right now, what matters is that the team has the best members it can gather. Ruin is a skilled Healer and she would be invaluable to the team, like Randy said. I am going to do what’s best for my team and ask her to join us.
Now, having said that, I am going to hate every single second of this. In fact I’m pretty sure I would pick The Center over the kind of pain that will come from the next few minutes of being in a room with Aaden’s ex. Do it quick so it can be painless, Pry.
Yeah, right. Like that ever works.
I walk into the now empty classroom where Ruin sits reading a book. As soon as she sees me, she quickly hides it so I don’t see the cover.
“I didn’t me
an to interrupt,” I tell her.
“And yet here you are.”
Please let her have evil intent so that I will have a reason to beat the crap out of her.
“I came to tell you that I appreciate your help these past few weeks. We could not have made it without you. Thank you.”
“Fine, anything else?”
Yeah, you’re way too close to the angel I love and you need to back off.
“I would like to have you on the team—unofficially.”
“So does that mean I don’t get a uniform?” she says sardonically.
“Screw this. If you don’t want to join us then fine, but at least I can tell Aaden that I asked,” I reply as I turn on my heel and start to walk away.
“Wait! Silver spoke on my behalf?” she asks.
“He said a few things,” I mumble.
“Okay, I will be on your team. You guys suck at making mixtures and well, at staying alive,” she quips.
“Whatever,” I reply flippantly.
“There is one condition.”
Condition? Is she for real?
“What is it?”
“I want to stay in the house, like everyone else.”
“We could just rent you a house close by. Or we could buy you one.”
Hell, I’d buy you a mega mansion if it keeps you away from my damn house.
“No, I want to be in the house with everyone else. Please,” she says.
“Yeah, okay,” I reply as I walk away.
Omnis kill me now.
***
“I’ve been waiting for you,” I tell him as he walks up to his locker.
“There’s no need. You said what you had to say to me already. Don’t you remember? It went something like ‘Bex, you’re an idiot. You can’t rule over anyone. You’re lucky I allow you to be part of my team; you’re a loser,’” Bex says bitterly.
“I know I was awful to you. You know I didn’t mean any of it. I’m sorry.”
“How many times have you said that today?”
“About fifty.”
“Well, you don’t have to say it to me because the fact is you may have been right.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Do you know what the crazy thing was about deciding to give up being Kon for you was? It was an easy decision. Honestly, the easiest one I’ve ever had to make.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I admit.
“Don’t say anything. The fact is I am always…there are angels in my life who love me. Angels who don’t relegate me to the sideline every time a half demon decides to grace us with his presence. And instead of welcoming that kind of love into my life, I go and…”
“Bex, I’m not throwing you aside.”
“Yeah, you are. And I’m grateful because it’s time I took stock of life and stopped reaching out for—what’s not good for me.”
“Bex…”
“It hurt, alright? I have always wanted to lead. I was raised to guide an entire race of angels; angels that matter. Powerful, enlightened beings, and I threw that away to help save you. And when you get back you spend all your time with him or scolding us.”
“Bex, I know I was wrong.”
“And what’s even worse is that knowing what I know now, if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would still give up being Kon. I would give it up for you…”
“Bex, what is it you want me to say?”
“Nothing. Don’t say anything.”
He gets a text and looks down at the cell phone in his hand. He reads the message on the screen and looks up, concerned.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I have to go.”
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s Para business. And yesterday you told all the Paras, my Paras, to kiss off.”
“I only aimed it at the ones who were behind The Center. You know I didn’t mean all of you.”
“I can’t do this now. I have to go,” Bex says as he takes off.
“I think I know where he’s going,” The Face says from the doorway of the main office.
“Where?”
“He’s going to choose a new steward to watch over the Paras.”
“Bex removed Hollander as steward? Good,” I reply.
“Hollander wasn’t removed. He was killed.”
***
I sit across from The Face in her office and she explains that Hollander was found dead in his home. A Soul Chaser had been placed at his feet.
“I didn’t do it,” I protest.
“I know that,” she replies calmly.
“Do they know who did it?” I ask.
“Hollander had enemies. He earned them. For example, there was a young man, a Quo who was under attack. Hollander saw the attack happening but did nothing to help because he was hoping to use the boy’s death as a way to gain more power. He used that boy’s life as a bargaining tool so he could become Kon.”
“Noble…Hollander witnessed the attack?”
“Yes. He let my sweet boy…my baby…” Her eyes fill with tears but she blinks them back.
“How do you know?”
“There was a witness. She was a Pawn and they are reluctant to talk, but once she did, she admitted to seeing the whole thing. Hollander could have helped my son but he didn’t,” The Face says with deep regret.
“Do they know who killed him?” I ask.
“Someone who could not stand for that kind of cruelty. Someone who knows it was the right thing to do…” she says as she looks off into the distance.
Crap.
“Mrs. Greenblatt, did you…?”
“Did I what?” she asks, back to her official tone.
For the first time since I’ve known her, I can see past her rules and rigidity. She’s not just a disciplinarian, she’s someone’s Mom. And she just lost her child. And even though she will mostly likely never say it out loud, she thinks of us as hers.
I think she killed Hollander. In fact, I’m pretty sure of it. And the truth is, after everything that’s happened in the past few days, I’m okay with it; one less evil to take down.
Wow, Pry, dark much?
“Ms. Cane, what were you saying?” she asks.
“Never mind,” I reply.
“Good. Now, about your emotional outburst yesterday…”
“I meant it; we are only taking advice from you,” I reply.
“The Board has no choice but to let you go on as you see fit so long as at least one adult is overseeing your activities.”
“Good,” I reply as I start to leave.
“My first official piece of advice was given to Silver, and I sincerely hope he takes it.”
"What did you say to him?"
"I know the two of you are…getting close. And he did just help rescue you. And often dramatic rescues lead to…relations.”
“You mean…sex?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I mean. And well, I had a talk with him about that subject. I reminded him that you are only fifteen and too young to have sex with anyone right now," The Face replies.
“How could you say that to him? Do you know what you’ve done? Now when he looks at me, he’s gonna see a damn kid.”
“That’s exactly what he should see,” she replies.
“When I said we would listen to your advice, I didn’t mean about my love life,” I bark.
“I think I can say with certainty that your mother would agree with me when I say you are too young to have a ‘love life.’”
"Oh, but I'm not too young to have my family get ripped away from me?" I ask.
"I know you have been through a lot. And I know I'm not your mother, but the fact still remains: you are only fifteen, and you are not ready."
"Well, I wasn't ready to watch my flesh melt off my bones while my wings were being broiled from the inside! Sometimes things happen, ready for it or not," I remind her.
"I am not giving you permission to sleep with that boy!" she snaps.
"You know
what, maybe you're right. Maybe it’s wrong for a normal fifteen year old to have sex. But there is nothing normal about us. So yes, we have sex sooner than we should. But there's another thing we do sooner than we should--die," I reply as I storm out of her office.
“Hey, I’m gonna bail on the coffee and Coy thing Randy told me about. I have something to do,” Ruin informs me as she approaches me in the hallway.
“You wanted to be part of this team? Well, meeting each other’s girlfriends and boyfriends is part of it,” I reply as I head to my locker. She follows me.
“I have something I need to do. So you’ll just have to go on without me,” Ruin says.
“I know you’re new to the team, but this is important to East. He’s crazy in love with this girl.”
“I don’t think it’s love.”
“Would you know love if you saw it?” I quip.
“Would you?” she counters.
“Okay, what’s the problem? You don’t like Marisol?” I ask.
“I don’t really know her. East just pointed her out to me in the hall earlier today. But for the record, I dislike most girls.”
“Of course you do,” I reply, shaking my head.
“I’m just being honest.”
“Well, East says she’s amazing. They are mad about each other,” I shout back in Marisol’s defense.
“Maybe, but I don’t trust her,” Ruin replies.
“Yeah, yeah, I know—she’s a girl.”
“Well, that and the Owin she wears,” Ruin says.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a mixture that you use to stop someone from wiping your mind.”
“I’ve never heard of it,” I reply.
“Yeah, most Healers don’t use it because it’s a pain in the ass to make and the smell clings to you. Who wants to walk around smelling like almonds all day?”
Almonds…
“Oh shit! We gotta go!”
Chapter Twenty-Six:
The Chosen
Ruin and I hide behind the shrubs out back and sneak a peek into the house. Standing there, in all her demented glory, is the Apprentice: Marisol. She’s in the center of my kitchen surrounded by some kind of force field.
