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

by Lola StVil

  “How long did this take?” I ask.

  “A year.”

  “You’ve been at this for a year?”

  “I wanted to get it right. Remember the hills off to the right in your parents’ wedding photo on the mantel? They’re right there,” he says, pointing.

  “Oh my Omnis, that’s it! That’s the same backdrop!”

  “Do you like it?” he asks, uncertain.

  I turn and look in his eyes. I can’t find the words to express myself. He takes my silence as disapproval.

  “It’s stupid, right?” he asks.

  I’m still too shocked to reply.

  “Carrot, I know how much your family means to you. And it kills me that I can’t somehow bring your parents back down from the light. But I thought maybe if I rebuilt this mountain, you could come here and feel closer to them.”

  He’s waiting for me to reply, but again, I don’t have the words. He walks away from me and starts pacing anxiously.

  “Crap, I made a mistake, right? Does it make you sad? Great, now I’m just reminding you that your parents aren’t here. Pry, tell me the truth, should I have just gotten you jewelry or maybe—”

  Before he can finish, I grab hold of his face with both hands and kiss him fervently. He places his hands on the small of my back and presses me against him. The world swirls around us and the heavens send down bright stars to shine on us. Standing here on the edge of this mountain, I am certain that I am right where I belong: with Aaden.

  “Does that mean you like it?” he says as we finally pull apart.

  “No, I don’t like this; I love it. Aaden, I can practically hear my parents here. This is the place where everything happened for them. This is…” I’m too choked up to continue. I’m afraid if I do, I’ll cry, and I refuse to do that.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  “Thank you. Thank you.” I bury my head in his chest. He strokes my hair gently.

  “Happy birthday, Pry.”

  We sit on the edge and look out at the world below. All of the stories my dad told me about this mountain come to life in my head. I can hear my mom’s laughter and my dad’s worried tone when he thought it was the end of the road for them. I can even hear the cheers from the Guardian team when my parents finally got married. Being here is like being in a living photo album.

  I share my thoughts with Aaden. He pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me from behind. It’s chilly out here, but the heat that forms when our bodies connect keeps me warm.

  “I still can’t believe you did this for me. You don’t know how much this means to me,” I tell him as we look out into the endless night sky.

  “I would build you a hundred more mountains if it meant I could take away some of your pain. Pryor, you really are remarkable. Everything I’ve ever learned about courage, I’ve learned from you. I know that sometimes I make piss-poor decisions, but I swear to Omnis, I love you.”

  “I love you too. And that’s why I need to tell you something,” I admit as I turn to face him.

  “What is it?”

  “I didn’t want to tell you this because there was so much going on, but I know that if we want to be together, we can’t have secrets.”

  “I agree. Pry, what is it?”

  “It’s about the Center,” I mumble.

  “You mean the nightmares?”

  “Wait, you knew about those?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask.

  “When I came back from the Center, everyone pushed for me to talk about it before I was ready. I didn’t want to do that to you. I know that once you say it out loud, it makes it real. And I knew you weren’t ready for it to be real. But I want you to know that when you are ready to talk about it, I’m ready to listen.”

  “Thank you,” I reply as I smile and lean back and settle into his arms.

  We’re quiet for the rest of the time we’re there. It’s as if neither of us wanted to interrupt the “ghosts” of my parents.

  This mountain was the beginning of my parents, Marcus and Emmy. To the Angel world they are two powerful, legendary beings that saved the world from certain doom. But to me, they are my mom and dad. And up until this moment, they were essentially dead. And tonight, Aaden brought them back to me…

  Chapter Seventeen:

  Family

  As soon as we get back to the house, we hear Swoop swearing to Omnis that if we don’t finish getting ready, she will go all “Redd” on us. Since Redd is her mom’s super-evil alter ego, I know that I better take her warning seriously.

  Aaden goes off to change, and I look around the house for Diana and Key to warn them about Swoop’s threat. I find them in the backyard, sitting on the bench, looking out at the view of New York. I would have interrupted, but their conversation seems very private.

  “Did you tell the Para yet?” Diana asks.

  “No. I should, but I’m not sure how to start that conversation,” Key replies.

  “Yeah, that one is gonna be hard.”

  “It doesn’t even matter, really. I don’t think me and the new guy will last.”

  “Why?” Diana asks.

  “We were together a few days ago and he tried to kiss me. I freaked out.”

  “Oh.”

  “Diana, you’ve lived through being raped, how long did it take before you felt…normal again?” she asks.

  “You don’t ever feel normal after being raped,” Ruin replies.

  “That sounds bleak.”

  “It doesn’t go away, but in time you stop letting it define you. You had a life before you were raped and you can have one again.”

  “I don’t see how.”

  “You’re gonna be fine; you just have to learn to trust guys again. That will take time. How badly did you freak out with this new guy?”

  “I blasted him in the arm. He bled. I cried.”

  “Sounds like your normal first date,” she jokes.

  “I just want to feel like myself again. I want it to never have happened. I want to go back in time and make it all go away.”

  “Not one mixture can take you back in time. I’ve looked,” she assures Key.

  “Then I’m screwed.”

  “Key, being raped is like someone invading your home. The first thing you do is go into defense mode. You board up the windows, triple lock your doors, turn all the lights out, and stay under the bed. And people will tell you that it’s safe now and that you can come out. But that’s not how it works.

  “You can’t come out from under the bed, and you certainly can’t take down all the security you put in place. But I promise you something or someone is going to knock on your door, and even though it’s scary as hell, that person is worth venturing out from under the bed for. It might be this new guy.”

  “The only guy I can even stand touching me is Bex, and since that’s dead and over with, I’m screwed. I will become the angel version of the cat lady and I will never leave the house.”

  “If that happens, I’ll swing by with snacks and dirty magazines.”

  Key laughs at Diana’s unexpected remarks.

  “It’s a deal,” Key replies once the laughter dies down.

  “I promise, you’ll be fine,” Diana tells her.

  “How’s the Firebug?”

  “Curious.”

  “About what?”

  “Everything. I can hear her thoughts or, rather, her feelings on things.”

  “How does she feel about Silver and Pryor being together?”

  “I’m not sure she knows what that really means—yet. But she will soon, and I guess she’ll have to deal.”

  “Yeah, we all do. But hey, love is worth the pain that comes in the end, right?”

  “That’s a question for angels. And I’m no angel,” she reminds her as she gets up and heads inside.

  “Hey, Ruin. Who did you venture out from under your bed for?” Key asks.

  She turns back to look at Key, and the sadnes
s on her face tells both of us who got her to rejoin the world. She doesn’t need to say his name out loud.

  According to Swoop, we are half an hour past “fashionably late” and are entering the “inconsiderate” phase. So now, she refuses to leave us to our own accord. She hurries me into my room to finally get dressed once and for all. When she’s finally done with me, she turns me towards the mirror.

  “Swoop, I look wonderful!”

  “Um…duh, I dressed you; of course you do,” she says with a broad smile.

  I look back at my reflection and can’t believe what I see. Swoop really outdid herself. She put me in a formal emerald green Oscar De La Renta ball gown with sweetheart neckline that goes in at the waist and flares out at the bottom. There are flecks of gold woven into the delicate satin fabric. My waterfall braid, courtesy of Diana, adds to the already elegant look.

  My mask is the same color as my gown and has gold and silver beaded accents. My designer satin heels make the look come together. I feel like an actual princess. I’m not into that stuff, but maybe tonight I can try it out. I mean, I’m kind of pretty.

  I hug Swoop and thank her for making me up so nicely. She smiles and steps back, wanting me to approve of her outfit. She’s wearing a black spaghetti-strap dress, with a silver feathered bodice, that flares out at the knee and shows off her amazing legs. The silver and black feathers of her facemask add to her dark mystique. Swoop’s look is dark, edgy, and spectacular, as always.

  “The drivers are on the way. We should go,” Diana says as she enters my bedroom.

  She’s always been a stunning girl, but tonight, she looks like an outright superstar. She’s wearing a long, sleek black gown with sheer mesh panels that run the full length of the dress on both sides. Her mask is made of black lace fabric. Her lipstick is the color of rubies, and her raven hair flows past her shoulders in a cascade of graceful, soft, carefree curls. With the addition of the glow she has, courtesy of my favorite Firebug, Diana is breathtaking.

  “We’re ready! Where’s Key?” Swoop asks.

  “I’m right here, and I’m ready too,” she says, standing behind Diana.

  “C’mon, sis. I know we have issues, but fashion is fashion. Let’s see what you got,” Swoop encourages.

  Diana steps aside and Key comes forward. Key’s wearing an A-line scarlet red gown with a black lace corset waist. Her hair is in a sophisticated twist that falls to the side. Her mask is encrusted with red and black gemstones. She accents her chic look with black drop diamond earrings and five-inch Valentino heels. She looks just as amazing as the other girls.

  As we head down the steps, I smile at her, hoping that we can get past the tension between us. She doesn’t glare at me, but she doesn’t exactly smile back, so I’m not really sure where I am with her. From the top of the landing, we see the guys waiting for us to come down. Swoop really did outdo herself.

  Randy has on a tasteful grey suit with a black button-down vest. His silver mask has black accents etched on it that match his tie. His focus is on Key. I know he’s hoping she notes his more “up” look.

  East is wearing a dark double-breasted suit with a black fedora and a gold and black mask. His smile beams out at us; this is the happiest I’ve seen him in days. Standing next to East is the king of Paras.

  Bex looks impressive wearing a gold-embroidered button vest with a white coat jacket that makes him look like royalty. And his gold mask brings out his warm, intense eyes. I’m glad he decided to come with us. I don’t want him gone from our lives just because he’s not on the team anymore.

  As I said before, Swoop did an excellent job getting all of this together. But when I lay eyes on Aaden, I know that I owe her big. She made an already gorgeous angel look exquisite. My jaw drops in shock when I see him standing at the base of the stairs waiting for me.

  Swoop actually got him into a suit. Not just any suit—a charcoal grey three-piece Armani suit with an emerald green tie to match my dress. His silver and green mask brings out the gold in his eyes. This is officially the best birthday I will ever have. Aaden takes my hand and helps me down the steps. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, including Bex’s. I try not to think about the conversation that awaits the Kon and me.

  “The drivers are here,” East says.

  I look out the window, and there are two white Phantom Bentleys lined up in front of the house. I whisper a quick thank you to Swoop for not only the fancy ride, but for getting Aaden to agree to wear a suit. I seriously owe her big. Before we head out, there is a knock on the door. Randy goes to open it and finds a Para standing before him.

  The Para at the door is about six feet tall; he has sparkling blue-green eyes. His hair is dark blonde and stops just above his shoulders. He has that “sexy, just woke up” thing that normally only rock stars can get away with.

  He wears black slacks, a fitted black tee shirt, and a black leather jacket. There’s a certainty about the way he stands. His persistence is commanding and undeniable. But his greatest weapon is and always has been that damn smile. It’s crooked, charming, and impossible to forget.

  “Hunter!” I shout as I go over and embrace him.

  “Hey, gorgeous!” he replies as he hugs me back.

  “Who is this?” Randy asks.

  “Oh, sorry. This is Hunter. He’s the Morte. That means he’s the second in line to be Kon after Bex,” I explain.

  “Wait, so Hunter is…”

  “That’s right, human. I’m Bex’s little brother. Right, bro?” he says.

  “Why are you here? You don’t like North America,” Bex says in an official tone.

  “Nice to see you too,” Hunter replies.

  Swoop, East, and Aaden greet Hunter. Bex gives his brother a less than warm handshake.

  “C’mon, I want a hug, like the humans do,” Hunter jokes.

  Bex hugs him, but it’s obvious that the two have some unresolved issues. Hunter turns to Randy and smiles.

  “You hang out with them? Okay, but I gotta tell ya, humans don’t last very long in these things,” he warns.

  “Randy is safe with us,” I reply.

  “Of course he is. Super Noru to the rescue.”

  “Why are you here?” Bex asks.

  “You didn’t tell them, did you?” Hunter says to one of us.

  “Tell me what?” Bex says.

  “I’m here to pick up my date,” Hunter replies as he takes Key’s hand in his.

  Well, this should be interesting…

  “Key, kitchen— now,” Bex says.

  Key follows Bex into the kitchen. Any attempt they make at privacy fails because they’re both talking loudly.

  “So this is how it’s going to be? I hurt you and so you throw my little brother in my face?”

  “What? No! That’s not what this is!” Key vows.

  “The hell it isn’t. You’re pissed that I told Pry that I love her and now you want to get back at me. Well, it won’t work. Do you know why? Because I already feel like shit about the way things ended with us. So all this ‘extra’ stuff that you’re doing is pointless because I can’t be any more sorry than I already am, okay?” he snaps.

  Hearing this, Hunter marches into the kitchen and interrupts.

  “Don’t give her any problems. We hung out and we clicked. This has nothing to do with you,” Hunter says.

  “This is between me and Key,” Bex replies.

  “Not anymore. We’re leaving,” Hunter says.

  “You don’t want to date my brother, Key, trust me.”

  “Why do you even care? You want someone else, remember?” Key asks.

  “I want you to find a guy who can make you happy, but that guy is not Hunter.”

  “Why not?”

  “Hunter will just blow into town and take whatever the hell he wants, and when he gets tired of you, he’ll discard you.”

  “How is that different from what you did?” she demands as she storms out of the kitchen.

  “Come on, let’s go,” Key
says, taking Hunter’s hand.

  The two of them walk out and head for the awaiting car. We all follow, fearing the conversation with the Kon and his brother is far from over.

  Again, there are two cars at our disposal, yet we all squeeze into one. I go into the car with Bex to make sure he and Hunter don’t get into it; Aaden comes with me. I signal to Swoop and the others to take the other car, but they pretend like they don’t see me. Why? Because they want front-row seats to the pissing contest about to happen. So, we all pile into one Bentley and head for the ball at the Lincoln Center.

  Bex is glaring at Hunter. Key sighs and shakes her head as she watches her ex. Hunter leans back and smiles at his older brother, not the least bit bothered by Bex’s hostility.

  “How exactly did you two end up on a date?” East asks.

  “We were in the same part of the world and, well, one thing led to another…” Hunter says with a wicked smile.

  “Key, why didn’t you mention this when you got back?” I reply, trying to keep my tone light.

  “I would have, but things got so crazy, I didn’t have time,” Key says sincerely.

  “So how long has this been going on?” Bex says tightly.

  “Only a few weeks. I mean, we’re taking it slow,” Key replies.

  Bex starts laughing and shakes his head bitterly.

  “Hey, there’s a motorcade following us,” Randy says as he looks out the back window.

  “Yeah, they have to do that since both Bex and Hunter are going to the same place tonight. It’s a security measure,” Swoop replies.

  “I wish they wouldn’t do this. I don’t need to be escorted,” Bex says hotly.

  “Well, maybe you do. Remember what happened the last time you were without an escort?” Hunter says pointedly.

  Crap, this is going to get ugly very soon…

  “Hunter, did you bring anything back for me?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

  Sometimes when Hunter travels, he comes back with dirty playing cards. It’s been a silly gag between us for years. The stranger the cards, the more points we score. I was in the lead, but then he went to Germany and, well, the Germans are a very creative group of humans.

  “Sorry, Pry, not this time.”