by Lola StVil
“Oh…foreplay, huh? I’m down with that,” he says. They all start laughing. Kobra comes closer to her, and she starts sucking his life force out from his mouth.
“Hey, let him go, you bitch!” a demon friend of his shouts as he forms a fireball in his palm and goes to launch it at Diana. Before he can release it, Aaden yanks his hand so far back we hear his shoulder pop out of place. The demon falls to the ground. Aaden stomps his foot on the demon’s back and pins him to the floor.
“Everybody, get the hell out,” he orders.
Aaden’s reputation for having a short fuse follows him anywhere he goes. The demons around us know better than to anger him unless they are willing to risk their very lives. It appears none of them are; everyone leaves the bar. And now only the three of us remain.
“It can’t be, okay? Alexi can’t be here for me,” Diana says desperately.
“Yeah, but it is, and you need to go back and face it,” Aaden says.
“No! I can’t, Silver, I just can’t.”
“Diana, I know what you’re capable of, and I know you can do this.”
“Silver, this is different. I could feel Alexi coming with Sparks. But this time I didn’t feel her coming. It was a complete shock. I mean, this can’t be happening.”
“Diana, it is happening. Standing here shaking your head won’t change anything,” he begs her.
“But I used a Tam. I did,” she swears.
“Under some circumstances Tams can be rendered useless. You know that,” Aaden reminds her.
“No, it shouldn’t be. This is all a big mistake,” Diana pleads.
“We did this together before, we can do it again. But first you need to calm down,” he says, placing his hands on either side of her.
“Who’s the father?” I ask.
They both turn to look at me as if they only just now realized I was there. Diana is torn, conflicted, and deeply concerned. Aaden looks back at me with a dark expression.
“Sorry, I just think we should know who the father is. Is it a new demon? Or is it someone you’ve been with before?”
Someone like Aaden…
“I can’t talk about that right now…I…I’m sorry, Pry. I’m so sorry,” she says as she takes off into the back room. I go to follow her, but Aaden gets in my way.
“I think I should be the one to go after her,” he says.
“Because she’s your friend or because…”
“Are you asking me if I hooked up with Diana?”
Yes. That is exactly what I’m asking.
“No, not at all,” I reply out loud.
“Good, because I would start to think you still give a damn what I do outside of this team.”
“I don’t.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’m going back there to check on Diana and get her to come back home.”
“You won’t have to go back to the safe house to see Alexi. She’s here,” I reply as I signal towards the silver bird now on the ledge of the window.
“I’ll go get Diana,” he says.
“I’m here,” Diana says as she comes back into the bar.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says, looking deeply into Aaden’s eyes.
“I’m going to be a mom again,” she says, reaching for Aaden’s hand.
“Yeah, this kid is really lucky to have you,” he replies.
“Will you stay with me?” she asks.
“You endured having Alexi cut you open alone last time. I’ll die before I let you go through that again,” he says, squeezing her hand.
The bird lands on Diana’s chest. The Alexi opens its beak and emanates a white laser beam right into her chest. She sends a bone-chilling cry into the air as the creature slices into her. For the next twenty minutes, Diana can be heard screaming for her life. Her cries are unlike anything I’ve heard before.
The Alexi begins to suck from the open cavity in her chest. It sucks in a light blue speck the size of a pea—the Alexi has found the Sib, and it then begins sucking it out from Diana’s chest. Finally the bird is done. It’s glowing a radiant blue, signaling that the Handover was successful.
The Alexi now has Diana’s Sib, or fetus as the humans would say. It then leaps off of Diana and takes to the air, headed to the small portal that will grant it access to the light. Over time, patterns will start to form on Diana’s skin, symbolizing the growth of the baby.
While Diana is done with the screaming, she’s still in some pain. Aaden holds her closely in his arms. Aaden and Diana look like more than a couple; they look like a family.
After updating the team and helping Diana settle in back at the house, I get Melody’s info from Swoop and decide to pay her a visit. I do this for two reasons: One, I really need to step away from the whole Diana situation, and two, I need East to stop throwing daggers at me every time I enter the room.
Melody lives in an affluent gated neighborhood in Upstate New York, with luxury cars in the driveway and sprawling, pristine lawns. When I spot a row of trees that can serve as cover, I land and head for the front door. I ring the bell and hope she’s okay with me dropping by unannounced. A pretty woman opens the door. She’s in her late fifties, with cinnamon-colored skin and a no-nonsense expression. She has on a black-and-white maid uniform.
“How may I help you?” she asks with perfect diction.
“Ah…hi. I’m looking for Melody. Is she here?” I ask, clearing my throat, in fear she won’t approve of my casual tone.
“Is she expecting you?”
“No, not really,” I reply.
“Well then, she is otherwise engaged. Perhaps next time you should try calling prior to coming; you could save yourself the trouble.”
Wow…
“I really would like to speak with her. Can you tell her I’m here? My name is—”
“I know what your name is, Ms. Cane.”
“Can you give her that message?” I reply, finding it harder and harder to maintain a polite tone.
“I don’t think—”
Before she can finish her thought, I see Melody come down the curved staircase. I call out to her, and she quickly runs to the door.
“Mrs. Parks, I got it,” Melody says as she gently guides the housekeeper away from the door.
“Melody, I’m sorry if this is a bad time. I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes. If that’s okay?” I offer.
“Um, yeah. Sure. Come in,” she says, opening the door wider so I can enter.
Once inside, I realize the house is even more impressive than I first thought. The tasteful gray and white decor makes the home feel elegant, soothing, and classic.
“This place is really something. What do your parents do for a living?” I ask.
“It’s just me and my dad. My mom died when I was a kid—cancer.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, I hardly remember her. So, what’s up?” Melody asks.
“Well, I wanted to apologize for being so rude the other day.”
“You mean when you told me to get the hell out of your house because I spoke the truth?”
Is she serious?
“Melody, you called my dad—you know what, it doesn’t matter. I’m not sorry that I defended my dad, because he’s worth defending. But you are Easton’s girl, and I should not have kicked you out just because you were being rude and judgmental.”
“Wow, that’s the worst apology in the history of mankind,” she says.
“Well, take it because that’s all I got,” I say before I can stop myself. Much to my surprise, Melody bursts out laughing.
“You know what, I like you. You’re bitchy, but you own it,” she says with a smile.
“And you’re an overbearing loudmouth with no filter. But you make East happy, and you have great shoes, so…”
“So we’re good?” she asks.
“Yeah. And you and East can date and do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt him,” I warn.
“W
hy would I do that?”
“Maybe you won’t. But just so we’re clear from the start, East likes to joke around, but the truth is, he’s been having a really hard time. His last girl broke his heart, and I will not let anyone do it again.”
“He’s the sweetest guy I know. And there are times when he’s more like a kid than he should be. But he’s got a big heart and a nice ass,” she teases.
“Yeah, well, he’s like a brother to me, so the ‘ass’ comment…creepy. But he does have a big heart and it’s been broken, so please be careful with it. I really don’t want to have to cut you open, but I will,” I warn again with a smile.
“Fair enough. Can I ask your opinion about something?” she says.
“I guess.”
“How do Silver and East get along?”
“They have their moments, but in the end, they have each other’s backs. Why?”
“I know Silver,” she says carefully.
“Yeah, everyone does.”
“No, I mean…I know Silver.”
“Are you saying that you and Aaden…”
“We had sex—a long time ago. Way before I even met East.”
“Okay, were you two in a relationship?”
“No. We met and we hooked up.”
“Yeah, that’s a pretty common story with Mr. Case,” I reply sardonically.
“The thing is—”
“Do you still have feelings for Aaden?” I demand.
“No! But he was my…first.”
“Aaden was the first guy you had sex with?”
“He’s the only guy…”
“Oh.”
“Some friends dared me to go to a bar, and Silver was there…we talked…soon we went upstairs…he took off my—”
“I really don’t need to know the details. I mean really, I can live without them,” I reply desperately.
“Silver didn’t want to. He thought I should wait until I fell in love. He could see that I was just a kid out of my element. But I insisted. And I’m glad it was with him because he was…kind to me.”
“Melody, why are you telling me this?”
“Because it’s years later and I finally found the guy I want to be with in that way again. A guy that I love.”
“You’re in love with East?”
“Yeah, and I think he loves me too. But given the way things played out with his last girl, he now insists on total and complete honesty. So should I tell him about me and Silver?”
Hell no! East will be beyond pissed. He’ll never talk to Aaden again, and the tension in the house will be unbearable.
“Did you ask Aaden what you should do?” I say out loud.
“He said it was up to me. And that if I didn’t want East to know, he’d honor my wishes. He’s a good guy like that.”
Yeah, he’s a peach—when he’s not hooking up with his ex and having babies. Pry, you don’t know the baby is his, and you need to stop judging him. And you will fall in love with that kid in a matter of seconds, just like you did with Sparks. You love anything that’s a part of him…
“Pryor, what do you think I should do? Should I tell him?” she asks.
“Should you tell who?” a handsome middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair asks as he gracefully walks down the staircase. The panic in Melody’s face is undeniable.
“Daddy! You’re home! I thought you were at work,” she says, trying to stay calm.
“I was, but then I thought I would come home early so I could have some time with my only daughter,” he says as he walks towards us. Judging from his facial features, he could be a model. He’s dressed in top designer clothes. Everything about him says distinguished, preppy, and rich.
“That’s so nice, Dad. Um, why don’t you wait in the car; we can go to the golf course as soon as I’m done here,” she says.
“Melody, don’t be rude. Introduce me to your guest—although I already know who she is, it’s still the proper thing to do.”
“Sure. Dad, this is Pryor, the First Noru,” Melody says.
“Hello, Ms. Cane,” he says with a pleasant smile and a warm handshake.
“Hi,” I reply awkwardly as I study his face. I could have sworn I have seen him somewhere before.
“Before I came down, you and your young friend were debating whether or not you should tell someone something. Please, don’t let me interrupt.”
“It was nothing,” Melody lies.
“She’s right. It was just girl talk,” I reply.
“Yes, and what were you girls discussing?” he pushes.
“Nothing special. Just the ins and outs of dating angels. You know,” I reply with a sweet smile.
“You’re dating an angel?” her father asks.
“Well…um…Daddy, it’s not like that,” she pleads.
Crap. I don’t think I was supposed to say that.
“Mel, are you in a relationship with an angel or not?” he asks.
His voice is calm, yet there is an undercurrent of rage that causes chills down my spine.
“No, Daddy, I’m not,” she says as he walks towards the front door. That’s when I remember where I’ve seen him before: in the news. He made the papers back when my mom was human. His family was tasked with making sure humans were properly represented when it came to making decisions that affected humanity. I hope I’m wrong because that guy hated angels. What was his name again?
Montrose.
Oh please, don’t let that be Melody’s dad’s name. If so, Mel and East’s love affair is over before it even starts.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t get your name,” I call out as he exits the house.
“It’s Alex. Alex Montrose.”
Chapter Thirteen:
Hymns and Headstones
Melody waits until her father is in the car before she hustles me over to her exquisitely decorated living room. She makes me sit on one of the plush chairs furthest from the staircase; I’m guessing because she doesn’t want to be overheard. She speaks in a worried whisper.
“I know this looks bad,” she says.
“Which part? The part about you denying the existence of a guy you say you love? Lying to your dad? Or the part about you forming your harsh views about my family based solely on a guy who was rejected by my mom?” I ask.
“You know that they dated?” she asks.
“I remember hearing his name, but it wasn’t until just now that I put it together,” I reply.
“The way my dad tells it, back when your mom was human, she was always off and on with Marcus. And during a particularly bad breakup, she turned to my dad. He really thought he would end up with your mom. He tried hard to fight for her, but…”
“But she loved my dad more,” I reply.
“Yes. And my father was heartbroken. Then he met my mom and he was whole again. That is until she died.”
“From what I’ve heard, your dad never wanted anything to do with the angel world.”
“That’s true. Our family used to represent human interest in the angel world, but my dad resigned. Now we live here, far from the drama of angel life. Or so he thinks.”
“Then why are you with East?” I ask.
“I wasn’t looking to fall for an angel, it just happened.”
“Your first sexual experience was with a half angel and now your first love is an angel?”
“I know what this sounds like,” she says quickly.
“Yeah, it sounds like you’re trying to get back at your dad by using angels to piss him off. Is that what you’re doing?”
“It was—at first.”
“Look, I don’t care if daddy was mean to you and wouldn’t buy you the horse you wanted or wouldn’t get you the designer prom dress you picked out. East is not a toy. If you don’t love him, I mean really love him, then let him go. Because I swear to Omnis, you hurt a member of my team, you better pick out a hymn and a headstone.”
On my way back to the house, I make two calls. One to East, to tell him how sorry I am for
being so rude to Melody. He tells me that I have nothing to worry about with Mel and that she is super honest and it can be a little hard to take sometimes. Now would have been a good time to tell him his “super honest” girlfriend has been holding out on him, but I can’t do it. Damned if this isn’t the happiest I’ve heard him in a long time.
The next call I make is to Spider. The first thing Spider asks is how Swoop is doing. That poor guy is so obsessed with her, it’s almost a curse. I assure him she’s fine and send him on an errand (one I vow to pay him for). As I hang up with Spider, I get a call from Bex telling me his castle has been set on fire. He assures me he’s okay and that everyone got out, but I want to see that he’s all right for myself.
I fly to Tokyo, where Bex is now staying, and land near the skyscraper he owns. The Omari are guarding the area. They let me pass, but I can tell they’re not thrilled about it. Once inside the penthouse, I hear Bex arguing with the commander of the Omari, Bellamy.
“Everyone is being told that the fire was an accident. We all know the truth; the New Order set the castle on fire. Why are you asking us to cover it up?” Bellamy demands.
“If it gets out that the New Order did this, it would start a war, and I will not have Paras fighting against Paras,” Bex says firmly.
“It’s already happening. I know you don’t want bloodshed, Kon, but we have to take control of the situation before it gets even more out of hand,” Bellamy insists.
“We are hunting down the members of the New Order. You have nearly a dozen of them in custody right now.”
“Yes, and none of them will talk. They won’t tell us where their lair is located, who other members are, or what they plan to do next. If you want to get some answers, then we need to start thinking about other means of persuasion.”
“I am not going to allow Paras to be tortured,” Bex shouts.
“You may care what happens to them, but the New Order doesn’t give a damn what happens to the Paras that die in the explosions they set. I know you don’t want to start a war, but the reality is, we are already in one. And we are losing.”
“I know how critical the situation has gotten, but I won’t sign off on going to war with my own kind.”
