The Noru 6: Rise of the Alago: The Noru, #6

By Yves Lola StVil

Death was warned.

Fate was ignored.

Time has run out.

A new evil is here; Angel blood will shed

And a dark secret will shatter the team forever...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lola StVil
• Release date: Apr 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533715166

Yves Lola StVil

Lola StVil was seven when she first came to the US from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She attended Columbia College in Chicago, where her main focus was creative writing. She is the author of the best-selling Guardians series and the Noru series.

Book preview

Prologue

lola

He’s called seven times in the past hour. Each time, I send him to voicemail. I don’t dare pick up because hearing his voice would make this day even harder. Yet I listen for his call, knowing it will come again in the next few minutes. In the meantime, I look over at myself in the full-length mirror.

My hair is pinned up in a mess of curls that fall down my back. I’m supposed to be dressed and ready to go in the next half hour, but so far all I’ve managed to do is put on my white silk slip and heels. Swoop did an amazing job with my hair and makeup. They offered to help me get dressed, but I told them I needed a few moments to myself.

It’s been ten minutes and he hasn’t called.

I swallow hard and look at my phone as if expecting it to explain itself to me. The phone remains silent. This is it. He’s doing what I told him to do; he’s walking away and letting go of the notion of us. This is a good thing.

Then why does it hurt so much?

Another fifteen minutes pass by and still no call. It was hard rejecting his calls, but it turns out, having no contact with him is far worse. I look over at the clock on the wall. Another ten minutes has gone by.

He’s done with me, with us.

I can’t say I blame him after everything that’s happened. I get why he’s staying away. I just didn’t think a silent phone could cause me to feel so utterly hopeless. Please call again. I don’t care if it’s right or wrong, call again. I will pick up, Aaden. I promise.

Nothing.

As I’m walking over to my closet, the phone rings once again. For the record, I know it’s stupid to take the call; even entertaining the thought of speaking to Aaden is bad. But I do it anyway. I take the call but promise myself it will stop there.

Hi, I whisper softly into the phone.

Alley behind the school. Ten minutes, he commands.

I go to protest, but he hangs up. I grab my long black trench coat off the hanger and put it on. I think about taking to the air, but then I remember that the air is being watched. I could have used a Port, but driving will give me more time to figure out what to say to him. So I sneak into the garage and take my uncle Jay’s car. It’s pouring down so hard, the raindrops sound more like hammers as they hit the windshield. Once inside the alley, a tall dark figure approaches. I go over what I’m going to say to him in my head.

Aaden, it’s crazy to meet like this, especially today of all days. I care about you; I always will. But we need to deal with what has happened. There is no way to get around it. So please, stop trying and let me do what I need to do.

Aaden is now only a few feet away. His expression is dark and brooding. I prepare my speech in my mind once again as I turn the car off. He opens the door, and before I can get the words out, he snatches me up from behind the wheel and pulls me to him.

The sensation of his rock-hard body against mine makes it hard to remember my speech. The sound of the rain grows louder as the droplets fall down on us from above. It would have been difficult to have a conversation out here, but that doesn’t matter to Aaden. Talking is the last thing on his mind.

He wraps his large hand around my neck, brings my face to him, and possesses my mouth with his seeking, warm, satin tongue. His touch makes me so weak, my knees are on the verge of giving out. Soon we are engulfed in a fiery blaze of desire and longing. I wrap my legs around his waist as he slams me into the exposed brick wall of the alley, never once breaking contact with my lips.

He opens my coat and glides his hands under the thin fabric of my slip. He growls eagerly as he slides my white panties past my thighs, down to my ankles and onto the wet ground. He inserts himself inside me with such force I open my mouth and gasp in ecstasy. He moves and sways his hips expertly, turning his hardness into a GPS system. Its only destination: the engorged tip of my center. He finds it and taps on it. Again. Again. Again.

Soon we are both exhausted and dizzy from wave after wave of pleasure. We sink onto the ground, no longer able to hold ourselves up. The rain continues to beat down on us. There are scratches on Aaden’s shoulder blades made by my heels. My mouth is bruised and swollen. I can still taste him on my lips. A new current of longing begins to swell inside me.

I want him again. Now.

But I don’t give in, not this time. Instead, I gather what’s left of my clothes and start to get up. He reaches out and begs me with his eyes. I look down at him and smile sadly. He hurriedly puts his shirt back on and follows me to the car. He calls out my name, but I don’t reply. I open the car door and get in.

Pry, don’t go, he says.

Aaden, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come.

Why? he demands.

You know why.

I want to hear you say it! he shouts.

Because today is my wedding day; today is the day I marry the Kon.

Don’t you do that! Don’t you dare hide behind the title. Say his name out loud, Aaden challenges.

Fine, I snap.

But it’s not fine. I’m having trouble saying the words out loud. However, I remind myself what’s at stake, and I summon up the balls to say what he doesn’t want to hear.

Aaden, I have to go home because today is the day I marry Hunter.

Book I:

Pryor Reese Cane

A friend in power is a friend lost…

—Henry Adams

Chapter One:

Mr. Middleston

lola

WEEKS EARLIER…

I tear open six packets of sugar and absentmindedly stir them into my coffee. Easton always tells me that six packets is way too much. However, since I’ve been human, I’ve had to find comfort where I can, so I ignore him. In addition to sugar, I’ve become a lover of pizza, fried chicken, and banana pancakes. In fact, three months ago, when Omnis first took our powers away and made us human, all I did was eat.

Then, a month and a half later, all my clothes were snug on me. I went to Diana and asked what was happening. That was when she told me that humans have this evil thing called calories. So I had to curb my desire to eat from sunup to sundown. Although Bex assured me that he’d still love me regardless of weight. Still, I put a stop to all my crazy habits. That is, except for sugar in my coffee. Oh, and I also recently discovered tequila. And while I don’t drink it every day, I sure as hell won’t give that up.

Every day I wake up, I think maybe this is the day we get our powers back. And every day, I am disappointed. The only one who has power in the house is Diana. She’s not a Noru, so she gets to keep flying and all that. She tries to be sensitive and not fly around us. She will use a Port or even drive to places. I told her it was really nice of her but that it was fine for her to fly in and out of the house.

Given how drastic and devastating it is to go from Noru to human, the team is dealing fairly well. East, having been half human most of his life, is handling the transition effortlessly. Swoop is actually taking to being human because it allows her to understand the humans who are raising her son, RJ. She says it makes her feel closer to him. And then there’s Aaden…

I thought this would be super hard on him, but he’s spent long periods of time without using his powers. All the times he was running from the Omari and trying to get away from the angel world had prepared him. That’s not to say he doesn’t have moments where he curses Omnis, they all do. But all things considered, they’re hanging in there. I’m actually very proud of them.

The one who is having the hardest time with being human is me. It’s not just about the powers. This team is my responsibility. I should be able to protect them, and without powers, I have no idea how to keep them from harm.

I inhale deeply, drain my coffee cup, and look over at the daily obstacle across the room from me: the refrigerator. While my wings are not back and I can’t take someone’s life with the energy from my palm, I hang on to the belief that my strength may be growing. It’s possible that Omnis is returning our powers little by little, right?

I bend down and try to lift the refrigerator above my head. I can’t even get it an inch off the ground. I try for over five minutes, and it won’t budge.

Damn it! I yell.

Good morning, the Kon says from the doorway.

A refrigerator! I can’t pick up a lousy refrigerator! I used to be able to move mountains and now…WHAT THE FUCK! I shout again.

Pry, you will get your powers back, Bex says as he kneels down beside me.

When? It’s already been three months. What if WE never get them back? What if this team stays like this? How am I supposed to protect everyone when I can hardly pick up a fifty-pound dumbbell?

Pry, being human is a huge adjustment. Give yourself some time.

I don’t want to adjust. I want my damn powers back!

It will come. I promise, he says, taking my hand in his.

How could Omnis do this to us? How are we supposed to defend ourselves? I ask.

I have guards posted everywhere. You and your team are going to be okay. I will handle things.

"That’s just it, Bex, this is my team. I’m supposed to be the one to protect them. I can’t ask you and Diana to keep an eye on us for the rest of your life. What about the Paras?"

Stop worrying, everything is going to work out, he assures me.

How? We have no idea what we need to do in order to get our powers back. Swoop is trying to move past Key’s death, but I look at her and I know that grief is still there. Malakaro has four of the five vials he needs to create the ultimate evil duo. If he gets his hands on the last vial, then all he has to do is get Randy to drink it. And together, the two of them will end life as we know it.

Randy doesn’t just have to drink what Malakaro gives him, he has to do it willingly. And you know Randy would never do that. He stood up to Malakaro before, and if the time comes, he will do it again.

Bex, that was before Malakaro killed Key. Randy has been brooding and sullen ever since then. He has always hated being without powers, and now Malakaro offers him a chance to have all the power he could ever need. I’m not sure Randy can withstand that kind of temptation.

It won’t come to that. Malakaro is still missing a vial. So let’s not get ahead of ourselves. And don’t forget, the Guardians are coming back.

It’s been three months. Are we even sure that’s going to happen? I argue.

It will. I know it sucks to be in this mess, but you aren’t in it alone. You need to lean on your team. And on the guy who loves you. Remember him? he asks.

Vaguely, I joke.

He smiles. He’s been amazing the past three months. In addition to protecting the team, he’s had Healers researching around the clock, trying to find a way to give us back our powers. He’s been helping Swoop as she mourns her sister. He’s more than any girl could hope for.

I’m sorry I’m being so difficult. I just never imagined that Omnis would make us human. I’ve never even heard of that. And yes, there are some really cool things about being human. But there are also some things that baffle me.

Like what? he asks.

Like how easy humans are to break. I ran into my dresser, and this is what happened minutes later, I reply as I roll up my right pant leg to show him my greenish blue welt.

You ran into your dresser? he says, trying not to laugh at me.

Yes! That’s another thing. Humans have no coordination…how is it they don’t fall down more?

I’m guessing that’s not a human issue. I think you’re just clumsy—for now. You’re used to having your wings behind you. Now you don’t have that weight and you’re feeling a little off.

Yeah, maybe. It’s just strange. It’s like I’m living in a different body. It’s doing things I don’t understand.

Like what? he asks.

Well, Diana explained the whole bleeding monthly thing. I got it. But what the hell is the pain that happens along with it? It’s like someone put my lower abdomen inside a blender.

I believe that’s called cramps. From what I’ve read about human girls, they experience this sensation every month.

First of all, it’s not a ‘sensation,’ it’s an act of torture. Second, what do you mean ‘human girls’? The guys don’t get cramps?

No.

So Omnis hates human females. Got it. There’s a pill or something I can take for this pain, right? I reply desperately.

Like Diana said before, you have to be very careful because we don’t know how human drugs are going to affect you. It’s best to be safe and avoid it if you can.

I hold my lower stomach as yet another wave of tense pain passes through it. And then to make things so much more fun, a dull ache begins radiating in my lower back. I lean on the kitchen counter, look up to the ceiling, and silently curse my life.

I think I might be able to help, Bex offers.

How?

He takes my hand and guides me over to the sofa. He signals for me to lie down. I do as he says. He sits beside me and places a small cushion under my head. He tells me to be still and focus on my breathing. Again, I do as I’m told. Bex places his hand on top of my stomach, and slowly a white orb begins to form. I’ve seen him summon orbs before, but this one is the smallest he’s created. Yet amazingly enough, it starts to ease my cramps.

Oh my Omnis, that feels so good. I sigh as I close my eyes and lean my head back.

The heat is relaxing the muscles. I don’t want to increase it because it might be too much for you. So I’m keeping the Powerball as small as I can, he explains.

I sigh again, and he tells me to keep taking deep long breaths. The heat soothes my stomach and lower back.

How do you feel? he asks a few moments later.

This might be better than chocolate.

He laughs softly. I open my eyes and find him looking down at me. His expression is one of genuine love and affection. I look into his gorgeous eyes, and instantly I am reassured. I reach out and trace the outline of his perfect jaw with my index finger.

Are you still in pain? he whispers.

What pain? I ask as I gently pull his face towards me.

When our lips touch, the warmth I felt in my stomach spreads to the rest of my body. His touch is like spring after a long winter. I welcome it—I welcome him. Our lips part and our tongues circle, coil, and collide in delicious patterns that make it hard to remember to breathe. Suddenly, in the midst of our all-consuming kiss, the front door bursts open.

Pry, I need to talk to you about— Aaden stops cold as he realizes what he’s walked in on.

Bex and I break from our kiss, and I quickly sit up. My heart is racing. I can feel my now red blood gather in my cheeks. I’m doing what the humans call blushing. I’m not the only one going through something physically. Aaden’s jaw is clenched, there’s a mix of hurt and anger in his eyes, and his posture is rigid. He looks like he’s one step away from ripping Bex’s head off. Yet when he speaks, he is able to maintain a light, overly polite demeanor.

Oh, I didn’t know you two were…busy, Aaden says, unable to make eye contact.

It’s okay. Bex and I were just—we were—I had this pain and…I’m sorry, I stammer.

It’s fine, but I really do need to talk to you, Aaden replies, looking everywhere around the room at everything but us.

Yeah, sure, I reply as I get up from the sofa.

Bex stands up alongside me, and although he tries to hide it, I spot a quick flash of annoyance on his face.

Aaden, can you wait for me in the backyard? I’ll be right out, I promise him.

Sure, Aaden says as he gives Bex a quick nod and heads towards the back of the house.

What’s wrong? I ask the Kon.

Nothing, I should get going, he says.

Hey, let’s not do that, okay?

Do what?

Bex, I know you’re mad because Aaden interrupted, but—

No, I’m not. He’s a part of your team, and the two of you will need to talk. I get that.

Then what is it?

It’s the look on your face when he entered.

How did I look? I dare ask.

Guilty.

Why would I look like that?

Funny, that’s what I was about to ask you…

Bex, I don’t know what you think you saw, but I’m not with Aaden anymore. He knows that. Everyone does. I’m standing in front of the guy I want to be with. So can we let this go, please?

Yeah, I guess you’re right. Go find out what he wants.

Thank you, I reply, and I stand on the tip of my toes and kiss him fervently. He wraps his arms around my waist and holds me tight.

lola_2

I walk out into the backyard and find Aaden looking out at the New York City skyline, in deep thought. His eyes look troubled, and his stance is on high alert.

What’s going on? I ask.

My dad wasn’t supposed to show me this, but he thinks it’s best that we know everything, Aaden says as he hands me a Replay, a clear glass orb the size of a tennis ball that reenacts past events.

What’s on the Replay? I wonder.

The board has everyone looking for Malakaro. They’ve come close to finding him, but so far, nothing yet. But they did track down a Quo who had come into contact with him somewhere in Vermont. He put everything he saw into this Replay.

Did we get anything useful? Do we know where Malakaro is? I beg.

We don’t know where he’s going, but we know where he’s been. And Pry, it’s not good.

How ‘not good’? I push.

Take a look…

I lean in closer and look deep inside the glass ball. Slowly it begins to form an image.

Malakaro stands across the street from a diner. He’s glaring at the old man behind the counter. Without a word, he makes all the patrons in the diner silently put down their utensils and walk out.

The old man’s hands are shaking as Malakaro nears. By the time Malakaro has his hands on the door of the diner, a yellow-colored stream seeps from between the old man’s legs. But although he has urinated on himself, he manages to keep his voice calm.

Can I help you? the old man asks.

Are you Mr. Middleton? Malakaro replies.

You know I am.

Yes, I suppose I do.

You knew I would come. Yet you did not run. Why is that? the Noru wonders.

If it’s a man’s destiny to die, then so be it.

Brave words. Yet your body betrays you. You have been lucky enough to hide from me for a very long time. It looks as if your luck is all but gone.

Doesn’t matter. I’m happy all the same, the old man replies.

And why is that?

Many humans die never having really lived. I loved and was loved in return. That is all a man could ask for.

Simple humans. You all bore me.

Do what you need to do and get it over with.

You are in a hurry, Mr. Middleton?

Don’t see any need to drag this out is all.

Indeed. Tell me, how does it feel to see death come for you? Are you sorry you agreed to help the angels?

It was the right thing to do. And I don’t feel sorry for myself. The one I feel sorry for is you. He denied you.

Who, Mr. Middleton?

Your father. I’m sure he tried to love you. Just like my son, Gilbert. Good kid, just into some bad drugs. Bailed him out over and over again. Finally had to step back and let destiny take him.

And where is this fine upstanding young man now?

In the ground, overdose.

Would have liked to have met him.

You will, Malakaro. The Noru will find you. And you too will be in the ground soon enough.

Perhaps, but not today. Today, I walk in your blood.

With a swift wave of his hand, he makes the old man slice himself in two with the nearby cake knife. The blood spews all over the eatery. The man cries out in anguish and falls to the floor. His blood gathers under Malakaro’s shoes. He reaches over the man’s corpse and yanks something out from his chest. He then smiles to himself and calmly walks out the door…

Who was that old man? Why did Malakaro seek him out? I ask as the Replay ends.

His name is Robert Middleton. His family has a long history of helping angels. His father passed down to him an object that he swore he would guard with his life. He was so intent on doing so, he had a Healer cast a Dye on him, Aaden says.

You mean he hid something inside his body?

Yes.

That thing that Malakaro ripped out of his chest?

Yes.

I know the answer before I even ask the question. My knees go weak, my stomach churns, and a cold chill runs down my body.

Please, please, please, let me be wrong…

Aaden, what did Malakaro take from Mr. Middleton?

The last vial.

Chapter Two:

You Know Who

lola

It’s an hour later, and we’re all sitting in the Face’s office, staring at Randy. We told him about the fifth vial five minutes ago, and he’s been silent ever since. He looks out the window and stares off into space. It feels wrong to push Randy to talk if he’s not ready, but we need to know that he’s okay.

Randy, I whisper softly. He looks back at me but doesn’t speak. He looks lost. I take his hand in mine and smile.

Hey, you know we won’t let anything happen to you, East tells him.

He’s right. We’ll find a way to fix this, Aaden says.

Look, don’t freak. I’d never let anything happen to you. You’re my fave nerd candy, Swoop says, leaving her chair to go sit next to him.

Bex is out right now, adding more security for us and making sure Malakaro doesn’t get anywhere near you, Diana says.

Randy, we know it’s a lot to take in, but everything will work out, I vow.

I gotta get out of here, Randy says as he walks towards the door.

We all go to follow him, but he turns and begs us to let him go alone. We would have argued, but it seems cruel to deny him anything at this point. So we watch helplessly as he opens the door and heads down the hall into the crowd of students.

He scared. He doesn’t think we can protect him, Swoop says.

Can we? East asks.

With our last breath, I remind them.

The trouble is, if Malakaro turns Randy into the Alago, the all-consuming evil, it won’t just be us who take our last breaths, it will be the humans. As in every single one of them, Diana says.

So what are you saying? I should kill my best friend? I snap.

That does sound very ‘Ruin’ of you, young lady, and frankly, I’m disappointed. East pretends to scold Diana.

I like Randy. More than I thought I could, honestly. But we need to remember that we are not talking about the fate of the beings in this room. We’re talking about the billions of lives that will be lost if we don’t stop Malakaro, Diana insists.

She’s right. If our lives end here and now, then it’s something we have to accept. But the end of humanity is a whole different issue, Swoop says.

So, what? Should I just fly out into the hallway and crack Randy’s head open and avoid all this trouble? Is that what all of you are saying? I ask angrily.

We know you can’t do that, Silver reasons.

Yeah, for one thing, you have no wings. And no offense, but right now, I think Randy can take you, East quips.

Then what is it? What are we supposed to do? Because taking Randy out is off the table, I remind them.

Perhaps this will help, the Face says as she enters the office with a small wooden box the size of her hand. It’s carved with complex patterns and has three black stones embedded in it.

What is that? Diana asks.

That’s the Pandora box, I reply.

I’ve heard about it, but I’m not sure what it does, she says.

I’ll break it down for you. Whatever situation is already hard as hell, the box opens and makes it that much harder, East reasons.

He’s not too far off, Swoop replies.

The Pandora box reveals secrets, but on a timetable predetermined by the being that created it. This Pandora box was created by Fate. Pandora boxes usually hold bad news, but not always, the Face explains.

Don’t listen to her. Whatever is inside that thing will make you regret looking in it. I say blow this whole thing off and go to Vegas, East says.

Now is not the time for humor. I was told by Fate to hand you this box at exactly 1:24 p.m. on this day, the Face says as she hands me the box.

We wait for it to open with bated breath.

Whatever it is, we’ll take care of it, Aaden says, reading the concern on my face as we wait.

East also senses my reluctance; he gently rubs my back and whispers loudly, Don’t worry, Pry, for all we know, the Pandora box could reveal that you are the proud new owner of a cappuccino maker.

Or maybe a really cool salad spinner, Swoop teases.

That would come in handy to combat your new affinity for chocolate, Diana adds with a smile. Before I can reply, the box slowly begins to open.

Please let it be a salad spinner…

Inside the box is a miniature black whirlwind. It swirls around and leaps out of the box. We watch as it forms words in the air:

Should the Butterfly find the Rose, only darkness will remain.

Well, that clears that up, East says sarcastically as the box closes again.

What the hell does that mean? Aaden asks.

Mr. Case, language! the Face says.

Aaden is about to reply but thinks better of it and says nothing. I repeat the phrase over and over again in my head, but it doesn’t help.

Well, we know the ‘Rose’ is Randy, Diana says before she can catch herself.

Diana! Aaden scolds.

Sorry, she replies.

I have suspected for some time that Randall is the Blue Rose. Fate has a way of putting beings together, the Face says.

So if somehow the butterfly finds Randy, we’re screwed. But what butterfly? Swoop asks.

I don’t think it’s an actual butterfly. Just like the Rose isn’t a rose. ‘The Rose’ stands for Randy, so maybe the Butterfly could stand for a person, East suggests.

Could it be Malakaro? I wonder.

No. Think about it. We already know that Malakaro and Randy joining forces will cause chaos. Why would Fate need to tell us that again? Diana asks.

I believe she’s right. It may be that Fate is telling you how the chaos will begin. When this ‘Butterfly’ being enters Randy’s life, it will change him, the Face chimes in.

They all start to talk at once. Everyone has a different theory; each one gets more ridiculous than the next. I shake my head impatiently and head for the door.

Pry, where are you going? Swoop asks.

I’m going to find my best friend and make sure he’s okay.

He’s under guard; he’ll be okay for now. We need to stay here and—

And what, Swoop? What are we doing here? We have waited on a stupid box to open up for years, and when it does, instead of telling us something useful, it says some vague crap about butterflies. We are told it’s our place to save the world, but Omnis took away our powers, and this clue we got from the box is worthless!

Pry, I know you’re upset—

I’M NOT UPSET, AADEN. I’M PISSED OFF! THIS IS BULLSHIT! THIS ENTIRE THING IS BULLSHIT! I shout as I storm off.

Aaden runs after me and calls out my name. He catches up to me and makes me turn to face him.

What do you want?! I snap.

Hey, we’re on the same team here, he reminds me.

What team? Aaden, we don’t even have powers. And I can’t…I have no idea…butterfly?! What the fuck!

"Okay, first, you need

Reviews for The Noru 6

[Sabreen Farley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Aw man, crazyyyyyy. I loved and hated it lol (for killing my favorite character) but great series I couldn't stop reading <3

[DeserayHernandez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

She is one of the best authors I have ever read. I read at least 3 books a week and she is great. Any one looking for a book you can read over and over again needs to read this authors books.