by Lola StVil
But judging by the shock on her face, Pryor’s disappearance is news to her. The shock turns into concern and worry. And for the life of me, I can’t see a hint of duplicity in her expression.
“You had no idea, did you?” I ask.
“Certainly not. That child is my responsibility,” she says.
“Don’t act innocent. You are married to the guy who took her,” Key accuses.
“I have not seen my husband in years. Our union was…unwise,” she says.
“Um, yeah, you think?” Randy says.
“Alright, everyone just calm down. We aren’t getting anywhere like this,” Diana says.
We all turn to look at her, in shock.
“What, because I’m a demon I can’t be the voice of reason?” she declares.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but Ruin has a point,” Bex says.
“The demon is calling for peace, the future king of Paras is agreeing with a demon, and Randy is the new hot kid on the block. Yup, it’s the end of days,” East quips.
“Start at the beginning, Mr. Case, so that I might catch up,” The Fact instructs.
We tell her the events of the past few hours and leave out the parts having to do with our personal lives. She listens closely and doesn’t say anything until we are done speaking.
“Now you know everything. It’s your turn to talk,” I order.
“Colton was a very good angel. He was sweet, intelligent, and caring. That’s why I married him. We didn’t have to have a human marriage, but since I’m half human he insisted we get married the human way to honor that part of me. That was the kind of guy he was,” she says, lost in thought.
“What happened to him?” Swoop asks.
“He was always fearful of what could happen if one angel had too much power. Then he learned of the Noru. Six super-powerful angels who could take on Paras and win. It made him very nervous.”
“Why? We never did anything to him,” Key says.
“It’s not what you did, it’s what you had the potential to do,” she replies.
“He began to research the possible outcome if the Norus took over the Angel world,” she tells us.
“Take over? I’m sorry to tell you this, but your husband was a paranoid, suspicious conspiracy nut,” Bex says.
“He had doubts about the Norus’ intentions. He worried about what a team of super powered angels would someday be after,” she says.
“You know what we’re after, Mrs. Greenblatt? Happiness. That’s it. That’s all we want. But every time it comes within reach, it gets pulled away,” Key says.
“Keyohmi—”
“I am not done,” Key snaps at The Face.
Okay…
“We don’t want to conquer the world or be the most powerful. We just want…we want security. We just want to know that the ones who say they love us today will still love us tomorrow.”
“Key—” I argue.
“Still not done,” she rages.
The room grows still. We wait for Key, who is apparently at her breaking point.
“You said that you would take care of us. You promised that you would be there for us. You can’t just turn around and…you are betraying us by aligning yourself with someone else!” she says, looking over at Bex.
It’s so clear to us by her tone and her rage that Key is really not addressing The Face. Her wrath is aimed at her boyfriend. Bex glares back at her. He’s about to reply but then stops himself at the last moment.
“Okay, so when this is all over, I vote we chip in and send Key and Bex to couples’ counseling, who’s in?” East asks.
“I am,” Swoop says.
“I could put in a few bucks,” Diana says.
“Mrs. Greenblatt, go on,” Randy says.
“Colton’s concern grew with the appearance of Malakaro. He began to obsess about finding a way to fix the Noru ‘problem.’ So he came up with The Center.”
“Do you know where The Center is?” Bex asks.
“No, but knowing Colton, it’ll be hard to find. Again, he was a very smart angel.”
“He has it on a Whirlwind,” Randy says.
“I’m sorry, I have no idea where it could be. When he brought up the idea of The Center that’s all it was, an idea. It was to be a place to study and learn about Noru powers,” she tells us.
“And the only way to do that was to torture us?” I reply bitterly.
“That wasn’t the original point of The Center. It was a learning institution. There was no torture or anything cruel,” she says.
“I don’t know what it was supposed to be but I can tell you what it is: It is a place where they cut you open and make you want to die. A place where they find your deepest fears and use them to suck your soul from your body,” I bark.
“No, that’s not what it is.”
“THEN WHY DID I TRY TO KILL MYSELF?”
“Silver,” Swoops gasps as I show The Face the scar where I ripped the base of my wings at my shoulder blades. The Face studies it, genuinely shocked by the nearly twelve-inch scar.
“Lady, there are things I could tell you about your husband that would make your skin crawl,” I warn her.
“He started out just wanting to preserve the Angel world,” she says.
“That may be where he started but that’s not what’s going on now,” East says.
“Why did you leave him?” Swoop asks.
“We drifted apart. It happens. But we never got a divorce and he never asked for his Rah back. I guess neither of us wanted the end of our relationship to be…official.”
“Does anyone?” Bex replies softly.
“Let’s say your husband really did want to study us. How did he go from that to torturing us?” Swoop asks.
“Malakaro,” she says slowly.
“What about him?” Randy asks.
“If The Center is what you say it is, then it must have happened when Malakaro emerged,” The Face informs us.
“What happened? What is the real point of The Center?” Bex asks.
“Yeah, why didn’t they just come after us and kill us?” Swoop adds.
“They didn’t want to kill angels. He wanted to ensure their survival,” The Face pleads.
“Yes, he wanted to protect the angels from some big bad teenagers. Got it,” East says, shaking his head.
“The Center sent you a Replay with Pryor screaming?” The Face asks me.
“Yeah, about an hour ago,” I reply.
“How did that make you feel?” she asks.
“Seriously?” Randy says.
“All the things The Center did to you, what emotion generally emerged?” The Face pushes.
“You know, the normal emotions that come from being tortured: joy, hope, and yes, love,” I reply bitterly.
“Be serious. What did you feel during the times they were torturing you?” she insists.
“I was…afraid and anxious. But in the end, more than anything I was—”
“Angry,” she says.
“Yeah, does that mean something to you?” I ask.
“They said yes,” she says to herself.
“You want to clue us in?” I reply.
“A long time ago, Colton met with key members of the Para world. He wanted them to sanction the making of a forbidden device. I guess they agreed to it.”
“What device?” Bex demands.
“A Deed,” she replies.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!
The news makes everyone in the room lower their head in despair. Randy looks on, confused.
“Hello, human here. Need more info. What’s a Deed and exactly how much will our lives suck because of it?” he asks.
“A Deed is a very fancy, old looking box with a lot of complicated patterns. It doesn’t do anything major—except you know, wipe things off the face of the Earth,” East says.
“I don’t understand,” Randy admits.
“It’s what you humans would call a bomb. Except a timer does not trigger it; it’s triggered by events,” Bex says.
“For example, someone could make a Deed and program it to go off on a person’s wedding day or program it to go off when the being reaches an unprecedented level of emotion,” Key says.
“Like anger,” I conclude.
“Yes. I think The Center has been trying to push you to reach a level of anger that would activate the Deed.”
“That’s why they sent you the Replay of Pryor screaming; they want you to lose it,” Bex replies.
“What will actually take place should the Deed be activated?” Randy asks.
“The Noru die,” Swoop says.
“Mrs. Greenblatt, how far would he go in order to activate the Deed?” Bex asks.
“The angel I know would never take a life. But I don’t think he’s the same angel anymore,” she admits.
“That’s crazy. Why doesn’t he just take you guys on?” Randy asks.
“He’d lose. And it’s not just about stopping the Noru. It’s about making sure everyone knows how wrong it is for powerful angels to mix with other beings,” Diana says venomously.
“As I said before, I don’t know where The Center is. But I vowed to Pryor’s mother that I would look after her and all of you. If there’s any way I can help, I will,” she offers.
“Are you sure you don’t know where The Center is?” Bex says.
“I don’t think you need to find The Center. A Deed won’t work in a Whirlwind. It’s too much movement. Colton would have had to leave it in one place. I think you should focus on finding the Deed. The Deed must be in constant communication with its maker; it’s signaling to them,” she suggests.
“So we find the Deed, and that will lead us to The Center,” East says.
“Yes, I believe so,” The Face says.
“Any idea where the Deed is?” I ask.
“There’s only one angel who Colton would trust to make him a Deed. Our son Noble.”
“You have a son?” Key asks.
“Yes. He’s…complicated. But he’s brilliant like his father. He might know the location of the Deed.”
“When we find the Deed, can’t we just destroy it and be done?” Randy asks.
“No, only the being that commissioned the Deed can destroy it,” she corrects.
“Got it,” East says as we head for the door.
“Fresh bread,” The Face says to herself out loud.
“What?” Swoop says.
“Oh, sorry. I was just remembering something. He loved the scent of fresh baked bread. We honeymooned in the South of France and he couldn’t get enough,” she replies, sounding more like a smitten girl than the strict disciplinarian we had come to know.
That’s when it became apparent: she’s still in love with Colton.
“Lady, are we clear about what’s going to happen?” I ask her.
“You’re going to rescue Pryor,” she replies.
“Yes; then I’m going to kill your husband.”
Chapter Nine:
Truth & Consequences
By the time we leave The Face’s office, school is over and most of the student body is gone, leaving the hallways and classrooms empty. We make contact with Noble, but he refuses to give any info over the phone. He does however agree to meet us. The team heads for the exit of the school but I stop them. They turn to face me, not sure what’s going on.
“Bex and Key, you two need to figure something out before we go any further,” I inform them.
“We don’t have time for that. We need to go see Noble, right now,” Bex counters.
“He said he’d meet us in an hour. He’s not far from here; we have time. And the fact is you two can’t separate your relationship from this mission. So find a classroom, a hallway, or whatever is close and figure this out,” I reply.
“We have to put Pryor first. We can wait,” Key says.
“I’m no expert, but judging by your outburst, either you’re going to kill Bex or you’re going to implode from pretending like you don’t want to kill him,” Diana says.
“The demon isn’t wrong. You guys need to get your issues out in the open. We never have time on missions. But today we have a few minutes. Use it,” Swoop advises.
“I’m torn. On one hand I think you two should talk. On the other hand I’d like to start a pool going to see how long before Key really loses it and sprays Bex’s blood all over the lockers,” East quips.
“Well, I’m not torn. You two are getting in the way, so figure it out,” Randy adds.
“I don’t want to do this in front of everyone,” Key objects.
“Really? Because five seconds ago you were more than willing to put our business out there,” Bex reminds her.
“I’m sorry if I can’t be as contained as you about our relationship falling apart. I never learned how to be coldhearted like you.”
“Are you really blaming me for you ending up in Silver’s bed?” Bex says, shocked.
“Nothing happened between us,” she urges.
“Yeah, I’m sure he just held you; that’s exactly what Silver’s known for. His gentle touch,” Bex retorts.
“I’m going to let that go because controlling my temper is the only way to keep everyone alive, but Bex, don’t push me,” I warn him.
“We are breaking apart and it has nothing to do with Silver,” she shouts.
“We’re breaking apart because you keep pulling at us. You have done nothing but find ways to come between us. The big problem with ‘Bex and Key’ is Key!” her boyfriend accuses.
“YOU TWO GET IN THE DAMN CLASSROOM NOW!” I demand unequivocally.
The two of them reluctantly enter the classroom across the hall from us and close the door behind them. The walls of the school are thin, we should be able to hear them, but there is no sound coming from the classroom. I’m guessing Bex and Key are just staring at each other.
How does Pry deal with this every day?
“Not everyone can be as well matched as me and Marisol,” East says as we stand in the hallway awaiting the couple.
“You’re dating Marisol?” Swoop asks.
East tells them how much he cares about her and admits that he has yet to wipe her memory. The team warns him that she could be in danger because she knows about our world. He just keeps promising that he will look after her.
I want to point out that protecting the ones we love isn’t always something we can do, but I figure that’s a battle for another day. Anyway, after we get Pryor back, she’s going to make East wipe her mind whether or not he wants to.
Just when I think I’m going to have to go inside the classroom and force them to talk, we hear Key’s voice floating into the hallway.
“I didn’t sleep with Silver. I need you to believe me,” she says.
“Okay,” he replies simply.
“But you’re still pissed off, right?” she asks.
“What is the answer you’re hoping for?”
“I don’t know,” she admits.
“What has gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?” he wonders.
“I feel like I’m trying to stop an avalanche from coming down on our heads and burying us. And you’re not helping, Bex. All you’re doing is denying that we’re in trouble but we are. We are in serious trouble.”
“So the way to help is to do as many drugs as you can and end up in another guy’s bed?”
“I said I was sorry for that.”
“And just like that everything is okay?” he challenges.
“I know that I messed up. And again, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to end up with Silver that night.”
“I really can’t do this right now,” he says.
“Silver said—”
“I don’t give a damn what he said. I will talk to my girlfriend when I’m damn good and ready,” he shouts.
“Don’t walk away f
rom me. Honestly, just grow a pair of wings and tell me that you are still mad at me.”
“Okay, you want to do this, then fine, let’s do it. You know why I’m so angry at you?”
“Yes, you think I slept with—”
“No, that’s not the reason I’m pissed off. That’s not the reason I can barely look at you.”
“Then what is it?” she asks.
“YOU ALMOST DIED!!!”
“What?” she says, completely taken aback.
“You lay on the floor dying. Your body went limp, and life was just draining out of you. I thought you were gone. I thought I would have to spend the rest of my life without you and it fucking hurt, Keyohmi. It hurt.”
“Bear, I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not. I think it’s exactly what you wanted. You wanted to hurt me. You wanted to scare the shit out of me so that I could remember how much I love you. The only problem is I didn’t need help remembering. That is until now. Right now, at this moment, I am having a hard time remembering why I love you.”
“You want to break up?” she asks in a small voice filled with pain.
“I didn’t say that.”
“No, but it’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“Oh for Omnis’ sake, Key, what do you want from me?”
“THE TRUTH!!!”
“About what?”
“Stop it, Bex! Please just stop acting like it’s all in my head. I can’t take it anymore. I know I’m acting crazy. I know I am a complete mess, but please don’t do this to me. Don’t pretend it’s all in my head.”
“Key, I—”
“Say it!”
“I’m not gonna—”
“DAMN YOU, BEX, SAY IT!”
“Key, this is—”
“SAY IT!!!”
“YES, I HAVE FEELINGS FOR PRYOR!”
Out in the hallway we listen as Key bursts into tears. Then she does something odd—she thanks Bex for being honest with her. He doesn’t reply. Then suddenly we hear him calling out for her to stop. The team and I run into the classroom and find the window wide open.
“Where’s my sister?” Swoop asks.
“She took off,” Bex replies.
“Damn it! Swoop, go get her before she gets herself in any more trouble,” I order.
Swoop takes off into the air.
