Halloween day we had to go to school, and I had spent every spare moment of the past week with Peter, Uncle Ryan had not been that thrilled but he knew we had to train Peter and watching Peter kick Ethan's butt at workouts made all us girls so happy. I added in some Yoga, which I had to learn online on the fly, because I figured something calming was good for a horseman, I must admit, Peter kicked my butt at Yoga, maybe next week I can try Ti-Che.
Everyday someone in the family drove out to the gate, since Peter had to get home to get ready for the party tonight I drove Ethan, Ella, Lola, all out to check on it before we headed home. So far no one had reported anything unusual. But on this brisk Halloween day we saw a man, he looked like he had been living in the woods, his cloths tattered and his beard scraggly. He wore a brown almost burlap looking cape with a hood. He was standing directly in front of the gate. I stopped the car and jumped out immediately.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" I yelled to the man my family quick to be at my side. The man paused and pointed behind us all four of us looked in the direction he was pointing. In the far distance I could see smoky figures. I looked over and Ella and Ethan were covering their ears When I turned my head back to face the man , the man was gone, what the, we turned in the other direction and the smoky figure in the distance were also gone.
"Where did he go?" Lola asked all four of ux approached the gate, we could feel the power pulsing from it.
"He went in the gate." I said shocked at my own words.
"That's not possible," Ella said meakly
"Yeah only we can let people in or out." Ethan agreed and finished Ella's thought they were good at that, Ethan grabbed Ella's hand. "They were so loud." He finished I knew he meant the shadows.
"What did they say?" I asked Ella and Ethan only they could hear
"It wasn't words so much as sounds," Ella cringed a bit "Screams and loud sounds trying to distract us."
I ran to the gate and stood only inches away from its door inspecting it, no disturbances that I could see. The only demons or angels strong enofe to cross gates without keepers help are arch angels, and there demon equivalents.
"What are upper levels doing here?" I asked to absolutely no one inpaticular, we did not need this now. If upper levels are becoming involved, there is even more involved with this gate and protecting the horsemen than I thought.
"We need to go." I said heading back to the car
"Well what are we gonna do?" Lola wined
"We are getting ready for the party." I said
"We are still going to go." Ethan said stunned. I nodded my head and then they loaded up in the car and I drove us home.
____________________________________________________________________
Peter's POV
Any minute now guests would be arriving. I stomped though the house checking everything, from food and drinks to breakables and trash cans. It wasn't like I really cared but I was pisses and this was my excuse, Aroura said she would come early and help, we had spent the past 3 day almost inseparable, and now she isn't even going to show up. I made my way out side, I headed straight to the stage that Matt had so meticulously built, and did something I actually enjoyed. I picked up my guitar and tuned it, even though it was already tuned.
I was still standing on the stage tinkering with my guitar when I heard cars coming up the drive way. I put my guitar down and headed for the front of the house, maybe Aroura is finally here. Time for the fun to start, it was 7:00 P.M. and still fairly light outside, since the time hadn't changed yet. Not her. I headed back to the back yard.
Matt was a very good host and walked up and greeted the first round of guests, I could have done it too, if Aroura had just been here. The group was some band nerd kids with smiles ear to ear; I'm not sure how many party these four had been to. Erin, Jennifer, Nate, and Danny, that is what their names are. Erin is cute not beautiful, but cute, she had a round face with freckles. Jennifer was very slender and had mocha colored skin wild curly hair and chocolate colored eyes. Nate and Danny were both fairly chubby guys with nothing too memorable about them, but I think these guys were doing alright cuz they got these chick to hang out with them.
It only took about 5 minutes and then the next guests showed up. Within 10 minutes the party was in full swing and I was getting ready to start playing. For the past 2 years Matt and I had been playing and then we found some guys to be in our band and started really getting into it.
____________________________________________________________________
Aurora's POV
As we neared the house then I could hear the band playing, I didn't realize there would be a band. I found a parking spot that I was sure no one else would want, it was a spot that was in between two trees, but this spot is easy to get to and easy to get out of.
We walked around the house and into the back yard. As I looked toward the stage I saw four male figures were standing on stage with leather pants and hooded capes. I was searching around for Peter but he was nowhere to be seen. I got closer to the stage, it was reasonable that Peter would be over there, it was his party after all, and I was quite late. The guitar player/ lead singer was wearing an all white costume, his white hooded cape was hanging low on his face. The lead guitar player was wearing a black cape also with the hood up. The bass player had on red . And the drummer had on green. The four horsemen colors, strange choices, I continued to move closer to the stage to see the faces of the band, oh my, the guy in white, it was Peter. He never said a word to me about a band.
I looked at Ella who was swaying to the music, she did not look surprised. I gave the band another look and sure enough Matt was playing the guitar. I don't think they meant to wear horseman colors it must have just happened because Matt wasn't a horseman.
I nudged Lola with my elbow, maybe a little harder than needed to get her attention, I mouthed, "Why don't you look surprised." Lola smiled and shrugged her shoulders. Not a good answer. I wish Peter would have told me, he probably would have if I had been here to help him set up like I promised. I hope he isn't mad at me, I have a good reason even if I can't tell him yet.
____________________________________________________________________
Peter's POV
After a few more songs we set down our interments and started exiting the stage. Everyone at the party swarms the us like they always do. That often happens at our parties, we are treated like rock stars, then at school on Monday like lepers. Guys from school come up and shake our hands and pat us on the backs. Girls from school who would sooner spit on you than smile grabb and try to hugs and even kiss us. Aroura hadn't moved, and I didn't know if I wanted to go over to talk to her. I was angry at her for not showing up earlier, but I had a present for her.
____________________________________________________________________
Aurora's POV
I lost sight of the boys in the wave of people. Then suddenly I felt a hand grip my wrist. My first reaction was to twist free, the person whose hand had grabbed me must have known what my reaction was going to be because my body was jerked into the strong hard line of a male body my eyes widened as I saw a face I was not who I was expecting, Joshua Jr. had me pulled close to him, his hand covering my mouth, he leaned down and wispered,"I'm so glad I found you, it tricked me and it has tricked you as well, you and your family need to leave, now."
Shock almost paralyzed me, but then I remembered who I had lead Joshua Jr to think I was, I tried my best to keep up the aperace. "Why, I don't understand?"
"He has sent us." Joshua Jr. began still holding me close and whispering even more fiercely, really more of a quiet yell than a whisper. "he knows who they are and now we can help haven, the angels and even God himself." He ended his talk with a sermon type inflection, probably copying the way he had heard it said before.
This is not good , I wanted to pull myself away from Joshua Jr, punch him right in the nose and knock him out. I took a deep breath, there are too many people around to do that. "Ok, can you walk me to my car?" I asked once he finally removed his hand from my mouth. That should provide enofe cover, there shouldn't be many people in the front of the house right now.
"Of course, but what about your family?" He asked
Eww why did his voice sound so creepy in that moment, and it didn't make it any less creepy that his grip got tighter. "I'll text them from the car and tell them I'm sick and we have to go."
____________________________________________________________________
Peter's POV
I watched as Joshua Jr led Aroura to the front of my house. Is that why she was late, was she into him? I told him to stay away from her, and Joshua Jones Jr was most certainly not invited to my Halloween party. I followed them to the front of the house, when they reached Aroura's car Joshua Jr leaned in to give her a kiss, I almost ran over and ripped his head off, but I took a deep breath and closed my eyes and counted to 10 just like Aroura had taught me. I only made it to 4 but when I opened my eyes I couldn't see Joshua anymore and Aroura was looking around. I couldn't wait any more, I rushed over to her.
"What are you doing?" I demanded a little more forcefully than I had intended. Aroura looked shocked, then let out a big sigh of relief. Was she happy to see me and if so why had she wondered off with Joshua Jones Jr.?
____________________________________________________________________
Aurora's POV
I motioned to the ground where Joshua Jr had fallen after I finally did punch his lights out. He had not only tried to kiss me but he was getting really handsy as well, dushbag. Peter ran up all crazy like, but really I just needed some help moving Joshua Jr's unconscious body. "I don't know where to put him."
Peter burst out into laughter all of the tension gone from his face and body. "What?" I asked now I was laughing too. At this moment I felt complete like if I could choose a moment to be in forever this would be the one I would choose. Which is strange with an unconscious boy at my feet.
Out of nowhere gun shots rang out, scream were heard, and we could see people starting to flood from the back yard to the front in a panic. I looked at Peter I needed him to stay at my car and wait for me, but before I could get the words out he was running against the crowd of people. I quickly followed him and watched as he slowed down to help some kid up who had been knocked down. He really wasn't a monster, was he.
As I made it to the back of the house my gaze stared scanning the crowed, I was unsure of who I was looking for, my family, Peter , or that despicable monster Gavin Goodie-Bowman. Just to my right I saw Ella and Ethan dragging Matt out of the crowd. I spotted Peter already in the thick of the crowd, I pushed my way closer to him. When I was finally close enough to grab him, a hand landed on my shoulders before I could reach all the way to Peter.
"My my how you have grown dear." I heard whispered into her ear. Its Gavin it has to be, I need to distract him to let Peter have time to get away.
"Why are you here?" I spun around completely prepared to see Gavin's face, his voice was just what I remembered from my childhood. When my eyes finally caught sight of him I was shocked he had not changed at all, well maybe he looked a little younger if that makes sense. What had he done?
" Oh you know what I want, I serve heaven as I always have, and you my sweet have been tasked to protect the horsemen." He grabbed my bicep and yanked me close. "Why don't you just come with me so we can talk."
"I don't know what you are talking about but you know I'm not going anywhere with you." I tried to yank free, but I felt a poke in my arm and then my muscles growing week, and my mind got fuzzy. "What have you done?"
"I figured you would not come with me so I give you a little something, now" he said hooking a lock of hair around my ear. "Let's go."
____________________________________________________________________
Peter's POV
She had been right in front of me, I had reached my hand out to grab on to her, then she turned her head and was gone. I couldn't even tell who was shooting. I needed to find my brother, and where had Aroura gone? I looked around scanning the crowds, when I saw Ken my bass player shot and bleeding on the ground I ran over and took my white cape off pressing it on his abdomen where he had been shot. So much blood I thought as my white cape was quickly turning red. I didn't know what else to do. Suddenly Ken sat up I could feel a pulse coming from him. Ken's eyes were red and he had red smoke wafting around him. What was going on.
Lola ran up "Help him, before anyone sees."
I just stood staring at Ken. "I don't know what to do."
"What do you think we have been teaching you now do something and get him inside before he is seen." Lola yelled
I just walked up and grabbed Ken in a bear hug from behind I lifted him off the ground slightly and started walking toward the house. He was still bloody and it made him slip out of my grasp. He hit the ground with a thud. The red cloud that had been forming around him was gone now and he just lay on the ground. "Lola help me carry him inside." Lola grabbed his feet while I got the upper part of his body. We got him inside the house and put him on the couch. I looked down at myself and realized white had been a poor choice for a costume color.
"I have to go find Matt, and Aroura." I told Lola
"You have to stay inside we are protected in here, the others will come." Lola said kneeling down next to Ken. I hesitated but knew I couldn't do much more running around in the kaos, except maybe get shot.
Just as Lola had said the others began to make their way to the house, I waited anxiously for Aroura, but she never showed even her cousins and sister began to worry.
"I have been trying to call her, no answer." Ella said
"Where could she be?" I demanded pounding my fist on the kitchen table, and then I had a thought I stomped over to the front door.
"No" everyone yelled in unison. I really don't know if there has ever been this many people inside of my house at one time. There was my family Matt, my mom, but no Becca, she was out of town for work, thank goodness, and Aroura's family minus Aroura, even her Uncle Ryan somehow showed up with my mom. Then there was also Ken my friend and bass player in my band, and our drummer Jayson.
"I have an idea of where she could be." I stated and just walked outside, everyone held their breath even me, it had been over an hour since the shooting and screaming had stopped. Most of the cars were gone as I made my way to Aroura's car, he was gone but I could feel it Joshua Jones Jr. knew something that could help him find Aroura.
____________________________________________________________________