Nox Inferno

Chapter 21: Noxanne

My limbs ached and my stomach grumbled. With everything, I forgot to eat dinner. I was ready to collapse into my bed, but it was only 6 o’clock and the day didn’t end for another three hours.

“Did you not eat?” Kai asked when my stomach roared once more. I shook my head; I couldn’t bring myself to look at him, “Mama Fra, Twyla didn’t eat dinner. Can we be excused?”

Mama Fra looked up from the book she was reading, “Since we are still waiting on Peter, go on ahead.”

“Yay!” Clementine cheered.

“Did we even have dinner?” Alvina asked Zephyr.

“Are you not hungry?” I interjected quizzically.

“When you have been alive as long as we have, you don’t get hungry from missing one meal.” Zephyr winked.

“It could also be because we are full blooded demons. Demons don’t really get hungry; we just eat for the taste of food.” Alvina explained.

“I still have so much to learn.” I whispered and headed towards the door.

“Where are you going, like that?” Mama Fra called out.

“To-“ I began but she cut me off.

“You forgot your veil.” She tossed it towards me, but I couldn’t catch it, so it fell to the ground.

I picked it up, “Oh right.” I whispered and fixed the veil neatly into my hair. Or at least, as neatly as it can be.

We walked down the five floors and through the Tunshaw doors. We walked in comfortable silence. My body ached with each step, but it didn’t feel right to complain. Something tells me that they have been through worse, especially Alvina and Zephyr.

“How was classes?” Kai asked breaking the silence.

“It was fine except for this annoying kid in Geometry.” I teased.

He huffed, “Who are you calling a kid. I am ten years older than you.”

“Oh, my mistake. I had this annoying grandpa in my geometry class.” I retorted and he huffed once more.

“If he is a grandpa then what am I?” Zephyr teased.

I pretended to think about it for a moment, “My great aunt Bernice.”

Alvina burst out laughing at Zephyr’s shocked face, Clementine giggled, and I looked over to Kai who looked away, but I could tell he was laughing.

“I guess your great aunt must be hot.” Zephyr said as he combed through his luscious black hair and grinned.

“If you find fake teeth, and age spots hot then you are right.” I teased as we reached the door towards the cafeteria.

I let out a small sigh and walked in. I was determined to make it to get food on my own.

“Hey Twyla!” Someone called from the left side of the cafeteria.

The cafeteria quieted as I turned to Melody waving me over. I smiled and walked over; the rest of the student body watched. I began to fiddle with my fingers as I approached.

Alistair sat at the table as well as Harry and Sebastian. I smiled at the familiar faces as I was pulled into a hug by Melody.

“You want to eat with us?” She offered.

“I’m sorry, I can’t.” Her face fell, “I have to get back to class. I just stopped to get a quick bite.”

She smiled again, “Okay, I thought that you wouldn’t want to hang out with us for a second.”

I shook my hands, “No, defiantly not that. You guys are really nice.”

She raised one eyebrow, “You have met the guys, right?” She jerked a finger in their direction. I laughed before my stomach growled with hunger, “I’ll walk with you.”

“You don’t have to.” I told her but it was too late. She started across the room towards the food.

Kai greeted us as we approached Miss. Myrtle, “Seems like you made a friend.”

I scoffed, “Is that so hard to believe?”

He yanked on my arm and pulled me closer, “Everything about you is hard to believe.” My stomach flipped.

“Oh snap!” Nyra chimed.

“Wow oh wow.” Melody piped up as she wiggled her eyebrows at me. I didn’t think people could actually do that.

“Is she your mate?” Melody cooed and the cafeteria once again got quiet.

Kai was saved from a response when Myrtle asked, “I have pizza, if you want some sweetie?”

“Yes please.” I cheered, “I am so glad you exist!”

Myrtle chuckled while she handed me a giant box of pizza. The hot aroma filled my nostril and my stomach rumbled once more.

“That is way too much.” I said but she wouldn’t let me hand it back to her.

“You are a lot hungrier than you seem and I am betting everyone is hungry too.” She said with a smile.

“Here let me take it.” Kai took the box off my hands.

“Aww you guys are the cutest.” Melody piped, “I ship it.”

I blushed behind the veil and Kai walked over to the others still waiting by the entrance.

“He likes you!!” She cooed.

“Shut up. No, he doesn’t” I laughed and swatted at her.

“Just you wait and see.” She winked, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I laughed and waved as we parted way.

“I love Myrtle.” Alvina cheered as we walked back to level five in Tunshaw.

When we entered the room, Mama Fra was exactly where we left her. Peter was standing over her, reading over her shoulder.

“Welcome back, did you get something to eat Twyla?” Mama Fra asked not looking up.

“Not yet but we brought pizza.” I said pulling the veil away and tucking it in my pocket. Mama Fra’s head snapped up and she shut the book.

“How did you know?” Peter asked as we all sat down on the floor next to them.

“Myrtle.” Was all Alvina said.

“Ah that makes sense.” Peter opened the box.

The smell only magnified, “Oh no, we forgot plates?” I realized.

“No problem, we will just eat over the box.” Zephyr grabbed a slice.

I took a slice and stuffed it in my mouth. The warm cheese melted against my mouth and I closed my eyes. I could die happy right now.

When my stomach was sufficiently stuffed, I wiped my mouth with my sleeve, “So how did this Knight stuff begin.”

“I think you are trying to get out of work.” Mama Fra laughed but she nestled into Peter.

“It all started with after the fall of Lucifer, Lord Satan’s father. Lucifer had two children Satan and Noxanne, his oldest.” Peter began,” Noxanne believed it was her father’s fault she was born a demon. She hated being demon and worshipped the Angels. Legend has it, she was courted by everything that had eyes which included an Angel. The Angel loved how Noxanne worshipped him and he led her on. He made her fall for him, but Lucifer warned her. He thought something was not right with that Angel. Noxanne snuck out one night to meet the Angel despite the pleas of her father. She never came home, and everyone presumed she ran away with the Angel. A year later, she was found dead in the swaps. After some magical research, they found out she died that night, and the Angel buried her where he thought no one would find her. The Angel tried to stop the grow of power Lucifer held as he united all demon kind. To do this he had to kill someone, Lucifer loved the most. Lucifer so distraught he launched war with the Angels which still last to this day. To protect the rest of demon kind from the Angels, Lucifer created the Nox Knights to protect and watch over them.”

The room was silent except for a quiet sob. I watched all the eyes turn to me and I realized the noise was coming from me. I wiped my damp cheeks and Kai wrapped an arm around me for support.

“I don’t think we are going to get any work done today.” Mama Fra whispered as she motioned with her head to a sleeping Alivina curled into Zephyr. Zephyr readjusted her head and smoothen down her hair.

“Can you tell us another story, dad?” Clementine asked rubbing her eyes.

“How about I tell you how I met your mother?” Peter began with another story.

My eyelids began to feel heavy. The words began to feel more quieter with each passing second. The warmth radiating off of Kai was not helping me stay awake. I let out a quiet yawn and shut my eyes. I am only resting my eyes; I am still awake. Soon the world went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I was sitting at a fancy restaurant table sitting across from me was no one other than Satan himself.

“Seems like you found the place you belong.” Satan mused while eating a piece of steak.

“I have to thank you; I wouldn’t have been here without you.” I took a sip of a dark red liquid in a crystal glass.

Satan laughed, “I don’t think anyone actually thanked me before. I’m glad I chose you.” I beamed at him, “I will let you sleep now”

I smiled once more before the floor opened up and swallowed me. I was floating in darkness and I succumbed to the darkness once more.