The Noru 6: Rise Of The Alago

by Lola StVil

  “This is just the start. You are going to cause the Para world to come to a bloody, cowardly end. All because you refuse to see what’s right in front of you.”

  “I am no longer debating this with you. Find more members of the New Order. One of them has to be willing to talk.”

  “Argh! You are so damn naïve!” she blurts out in frustration.

  Bellamy’s eyes widen in shock when her words hit the air. Judging from the look on her face, she wishes she could take them back. Bex looks back at her with an intense gaze. He walks over to her slowly. Every step he takes is more menacing than the one before it. He doesn’t stop until he is inches away from Bellamy’s face, towering over her. When he speaks, his voice has the authority of a king and the resolve of being capable of cold-blooded murder.

  “You sound as if you wish to challenge me. Is that the case, Para?”

  “No,” she whispers back.

  “No what?”

  “No, Kon.”

  “I have asked for your counsel in the past. That is not what is happening right now. Right now, I am ordering you to ensure no one knows what really happened in the castle. We are not going to war with our own kind. We will find the New Order and put an end to this quietly. Am I understood?”

  “Yes, Kon.”

  “Should you find the need to challenge me again, you will do so at your own peril, because while I do not want to spill the blood of thousands of Paras, I am more than willing to take the life of one subordinate. Am I understood?”

  “Yes, Kon.”

  “Leave.”

  She nods quickly, walks past me, and exits the room. I quickly walk up to him and embrace him.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.

  “Don’t worry. I’m fine,” he says. The rage he feels is still evident as he looks out at the city below, and although he is a few feet away, he’s further than he’s ever been.

  “I’m sorry, Bex.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “I hate to say it, but you know that most angels will just assume it was the New Order, right?”

  “They can assume if they want, but we can never officially confirm it.”

  “Would it really be that bad?”

  “We would go to war, Pry. And that can’t happen. When we fight and die defending humans, it’s okay because that’s what we’re here for. That’s our purpose. But fighting one another, killing one another…no one wins. No one.”

  “I’ve been holding out hope that we might find another way, but maybe I should drink the vial. There’s still a chance I will survive it. And this whole thing is tearing your kingdom apart.”

  “I wouldn’t let you take it, and anyway, the vial doesn’t matter anymore. At least not as of this morning.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask.

  “They used the vial on a demon in the Forest of Remains.”

  “And?”

  “And while it did hurt the demon, it didn’t kill it,” Bex says.

  “Meaning if it couldn’t kill a demon, it won’t do much to Malakaro?”

  “Exactly. We’re back to square one: an impossible evil and no way to kill him.”

  “If it helps, my day kind of blows too,” I reply.

  “What happened?”

  I explain the Diana thing to him. He listens with growing concern. When I’m done talking, he looks like he’s in shock.

  “Bex?”

  “Diana is pregnant? Are you sure?”

  “Well, it cut her open and took out a Sib. So, yes.”

  “We gotta go,” he says as he marches past me.

  “Hey, where are we going?” I ask.

  “Don’t you want to check on Diana? Make sure she’s okay?”

  “She’s okay; she’s with Aaden. The shock is starting to wear off. She’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, alright,” he replies as he starts pacing around the room and his eyes dart back and forth as if he’s tasked with putting a million-piece puzzle back together in seconds.

  “Bex, what is it?”

  “Pry, we need to talk about Diana,” he says.

  “Argh, please let’s not. I mean, she and I are friends, I just…I guess I need a Diana break, you know?”

  “Yeah, I do, but I need to say something,” Bex replies.

  “I think I know what you’re going to say, and yeah, I kind of think it’s Aaden’s baby too. I mean, they loved Sparks so much, is it really that crazy that they tried again?”

  “Well…”

  “I’m sorry, but yes, it is crazy! Aaden and Diana should not have another kid. I mean, if they aren’t back together. Or maybe they are and this is their way of letting the world know. Oh, and I forgot to tell you, Swoop wants off the team. She’s not going off to be in a band or anything. She wants to raise RJ. I’m proud of her for being so mature and growing into a mom, but letting her leave the team…I can’t do that, can I?” I blurt out.

  “Pry, you’re talking way too fast.”

  “Yeah, I’ve had a lot on my mind. But you know all about that. Let’s just talk about something else. Or better yet, no talking,” I suggest as I wrap my arms around his neck and start to kiss him.

  He pulls away slowly. “Pry, we need to talk about Diana.”

  “Hang on, it’s Spider calling me,” I reply.

  “What does he want?”

  “I sent him to find Barelle, the demon near the school who threatened to expose the guy Diana was on the roof with,” I explain as I place my vibrating cell phone to my ear.

  “Spider, did you find Barelle…what…when…damn it! Okay, thanks,” I reply as I hang up.

  “What is it?” Bex asks.

  “Barelle was killed less than an hour ago.”

  “How?”

  “He was meeting someone under a bridge in downtown Los Angeles. The two were approached by an old lady who proceeded to blow a blue powder called Fly into their faces.”

  “I know that powder. It’s basically a powdered form of acid. It’s hard to find and almost impossible to make.”

  “Unless you’re Diana and make mixtures and powders all the time.”

  “You really think Diana had Barelle and his partner killed.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Is that really a bad thing? I mean, he was a demon,” Bex reminds me.

  “Diana won’t kill a demon just because they’re a demon. She went after him because she couldn’t have her secret getting out. Damn it! Who is the guy on the rooftop, and why the hell is it so important we don’t find out about him?”

  Bex is about to say something when a bloody and barely alive angel smashes through the glass ceiling and drops in the center of the room. We both run to the angel’s aid and kneel by his side. Although there is no symbol on his forehead, we approach the body carefully in case it’s a New Order member.

  The figure on the floor is on the brink of death. His left wing has been nearly ripped in half, and the right wing has a bone protruding from under his skin. It’s hard to make out who it is because of all the blood on his face.

  His right eye has been swollen shut, while the left one is filled with blood. There are deep gashes all over his legs and arms. And his right arm is twisted at an impossible angle, signaling it’s almost certainly broken. All of that is secondary to the melon-sized hole in his stomach. When we finally remove enough blood to make out who he is, both Bex and I are rendered silent.

  Hunter!

  “You have no time.” Hunter moans in pain as he looks up at Bex.

  “No time for what? Who did this to you?” Bex asks desperately.

  “Hurry,” he replies.

  “You’re gonna be okay, Hunter. Hold on, we’ll get you help,” I promise.

  “No…help, Bex. They are coming,” Hunter whispers.

  “We’re ready for them. We have the Omari. They won’t get past my guards,” Bex assures him.

  “You have been betrayed. They are coming,” Hunter pleads.

  “Who betrayed me?” B
ex demands.

  “No time. New Order seeking you out…”

  “The vial doesn’t work. They won’t be able to kill Malakaro with it,” I shout.

  “They know that. They have a new plan. They will force Bex to give up his kingdom. Appoint the head of the New Order the new king of Paras. Then threaten to kill Bex if you do not marry the new Kon. The marriage needs to happen so that—”

  “So that they can combine the powers of the king with the First Noru,” Bex says to himself.

  “Wait, they can do that?” I ask, dumfounded.

  “I never suggested it because it’s dangerous to both beings, but yes, they can,” Bex says as he takes off his shirt and uses it to apply pressure to his brother’s wound.

  “But, Hunter, we thought you were a part of it,” I reply as I aid Bex.

  “I was, in the beginning. But when Mrs. Doris died…” Hunter says, looking remorsefully at Bex.

  “I didn’t know they were going to bomb the garden. I swear, Bex,” Hunter pleads as he winces.

  “We can talk about that later. Right now, we have to get out of here. If you really have been betrayed, Bex, that means they can use a Port and pop right into this room,” I reply.

  “It’s worse than that,” Hunter says as we watch Bex suddenly start to fade from the room.

  “What the hell?” I shout.

  “They used my blood because I’m Bex’s brother. They created a mixture that is pulling him towards them. He’s going to disappear and reappear right in the New Order’s lair!” Hunter says.

  “How do I stop it?” Bex yells as he continues to fade.

  “You can’t. In about ten seconds, you will fade away and be with the New Order. They will torture you until you give your title over,” Hunter says.

  “No! You have to help him, Hunter!” I demand as I look at my watch. “We only have eight seconds,” I beg.

  “I’m sorry, Bex. I tried to get to you in time, but…” Hunter’s voice trails off.

  “Pry, don’t let the angel world know I’ve been taken. If they know, we’ll be forced to go to war. Don’t let that happen,” Bex says.

  “No, you’re not going anywhere,” I shout as I look around for a way to stop him from disappearing.

  “Five seconds,” Hunter says as Bex becomes a series of blurry fading colors.

  “Pry, I love you. Let them kill me if they must. Do not try to save me.”

  “Like hell,” I reply stubbornly as I reach out and find that I’m unable to touch him.

  “Three seconds,” Hunter says.

  “I can’t stop myself from fading, but I can stop them from getting their hands on the Kon,” Bex replies.

  “Two seconds,” Hunter says.

  Bex starts chanting something in a language I don’t understand.

  “What’s he doing?” I ask Hunter.

  “No! I can’t. I don’t know how!” Hunter cries out for Bex to stop chanting. But it’s too late. Bex is gone. Suddenly a soft blue glow starts to fill the room. It’s coming from the center of Hunter’s chest. A symbol appears, and soon, it illuminates the entire room.

  “Hunter, what the hell just happened?”

  “My brother made me king.”

  Chapter Fourteen:

  Selfish

  It’s an hour later, and the team and I are in Maldives, Greece. This paradise is where humans with money come to soak in the insanely beautiful beaches and breathtaking landscapes. It also happens to be the location of a private clinic with expert Healers who have trained their whole lives to heal a Kon should his life be in danger.

  While they tend to Hunter, my team members, along with Bellamy, pace restlessly in the waiting room. We’ve been told that due to the extensive damage, Hunter will need to be knocked out in order for them to treat him. The Healers say it may take up to two hours, but I swear, we’ve been waiting for days.

  “This is crazy! We need to get in there and wake Hunter up. It’s the only way to find out where they took Bex,” I plead with Bellamy.

  “Pryor is right. Let’s go in there and shake the life out of that little shit until he talks,” Diana says with genuine malice.

  “No. The Para world may not know that Hunter is the new Kon, but I do. That means I have to protect him,” Bellamy reminds us.

  “Bex could be getting tortured right now! We have to find him, and Hunter is our only lead,” Swoop says.

  “I understand that, but I can’t let you hurt him.”

  “Fine, Bellamy. I promise we’ll only rip one of his wings off. Now, can we go wake him up?” Diana says.

  “As soon as Hunter wakes up and is well enough to talk, we will find out everything,” Bellamy replies.

  “So until then we just sit here while some demented crazy Paras do Omnis knows what to Bex? What if they kill him?” I ask in disbelief.

  “The New Order has no way of knowing that Bex is no longer Kon. They need him alive to transfer the title over to them. So as long as we keep Hunter’s new position a secret, Bex has a fighting chance,” Bellamy reasons.

  “Until then, you have no idea how far they’re willing to go to get what they want,” East says.

  “At this point we know they are desperate for control,” Bellamy says.

  “Meaning they will do anything short of killing him,” I whisper to myself with growing dread.

  “What about the Omari who betrayed him?” Diana asks.

  “How many of them were there?” Randy asks.

  “There were two of them. I handled them,” Bellamy says in a cold tone that leaves no room for doubt; Bellamy found the traitors and killed them.

  “Damn it! How could I let this happen?” I shout in frustration.

  “Pry, you didn’t know they were coming after him,” East says.

  “No, but I should have. The New Order has grown from a nuisance to a real threat. Why didn’t I take them more seriously?” I ask.

  “Don’t beat yourself up. You can’t be held accountable for what other beings do,” Randy says as he places a hand on my shoulder.

  “Yeah, I know, Randy, but the New Order—”

  “I’m not talking about them. I mean you can’t blame yourself for what your dad allowed to happen,” Randy explains.

  We all turn to him, uncertain as to the point he’s trying to make. He looks at us as if his statement doesn’t warrant any explanation at all.

  “What are you talking about?” Swoop asks.

  “Well, I mean…you know,” Randy says.

  “No, Randy. We don’t know,” Aaden says.

  “Look, the New Order is crazy and completely wrong. But they’re just trying to fight for the ones they lost. The ones killed by Malakaro,” Randy informs us.

  “And how is that my father’s fault?” I ask.

  “Who created Malakaro?” he counters.

  “Really, Randy? You think now is a good time to argue about this?” I snap.

  “There’s no argument to be made, Pry. I love you, and I just want you to open your eyes. The enemy may not be the New Order. I mean, they’re wrong in terms of their tactics, but they’re not wrong in wanting some justice for their loved ones.”

  “Randy, are you now siding with the New Order?” Swoop asks.

  “What? No! I’m saying it’s sad that Marcus didn’t have the guts to stand by his son. Had he done that, we would not be here. Marcus was selfish and, I’m sorry to say it, kind of a coward.”

  “Are we talking about my father or your mother?” I counter.

  “This has nothing to do with her,” Randy lies.

  “You’re right, Randy, it doesn’t. This is about getting Bex back. And you know what, if you can’t be useful, maybe you should just go back to the safe house,” I order.

  “Pry, I’m not trying to make a bad situation worse,” Randy says.

  “Really? Because from where I stand, that is exactly what you’re doing,” I reply.

  “Sorry. I just wish things were different. I wish Marcus could have done
to Malakaro what he did with you and Sam.”

  “And what is that, Randy?” I dare ask.

  “Love. I wish he loved Malakaro, even if he was a bad kid. Even if he didn’t live up to Marcus’s expectations. Then maybe this whole thing could have been avoided.”

  “Randy, I think you’re oversimplifying things,” East cautions.

  “East is too nice to say this, but I’m not. We don’t have time for your mother issues right now. We need to get Bex back,” Diana snaps.

  “Diana, you don’t get it,” Randy says.

  “NO, RANDY, YOU DON’T GET IT. WE NEED TO FIND BEX NOW!”

  Everyone turns to face Diana, stunned by her outburst. She folds her arms over her chest and speaks in a low voice.

  “Sorry. The markings are starting to show up on my body, and I guess it’s making me a little emotional,” she says.

  “Yeah, maybe just a little,” East quips.

  “But that doesn’t change the fact that we need to find Bex,” she pleads.

  “We can’t do that until Hunter wakes up,” Swoop reminds her.

  “Then you are in luck, Noru. The new Kon has awakened,” the Healer says as she steps out of Hunter’s room and holds the door open for us to go in.

  “He’s still healing, so no more than three at a time,” the Healer informs us.

  Diana rushes ahead. I follow, as does Aaden. The three of us enter the room, where the new Kon lies with small various colored mixtures surging through the air and into his body. The Healers have done an excellent job. Hunter’s wings are now all but fixed. Both eyes are open, and his wounds are healing very well. In fact, in some places, there’s barely a scar.

  “Where did they take Bex?” I demand.

  “I don’t know,” he swears.

  “Hunter, lie to me and I’ll finish what the New Order started,” I warn him.

  “I knew the hideout when I was a part of it. But after I left, they relocated, and now I have no idea where they are.”

  “Maybe you just need someone to crack your skull open and pull the memory out of you,” Diana suggests in a sinister voice.

  “Kaster, back off. I told you I don’t know where Bex was taken.”

  “How did this all start?” Aaden asks.

  “It started when my naïve brother thought the family members of the angels Malakaro murdered wouldn’t want to retaliate. I was approached by a Para who asked that I join in the fight. I did. But as I said before, they went too far.”