Free Angels of Moirai (Book One) by Nicole Salmond

hadn’t told Hayley that I was going to the party. She messaged me just after the incident at the jetty and told me she was going to stay an extra night at Poppy’s, as Poppy was having some kind of boy problems and needed her company. I thought it would be best that she stayed away anyway. I didn’t know what was happening, and it didn’t seem that I had any control of any of it either.
    It wasn’t until I was walking out the door to the party that I got a phone call from Jackie saying she couldn’t make it any longer. Her younger brother had gotten sick and her parents had gone out of town for the weekend, so she would have to stay at home and look after him.
    I contemplated not going at that point, but I didn’t think I could go another night without knowing the truth. I didn’t know anything about James, or how to contact him. Best chance of seeing him was at this party, so I had to go.
    My hands clung to my steering wheel as I peered down the street at the party ahead. I’d been here for twenty minutes now, unable to bring myself to move. It wasn’t until I received a text message from Jackie that I’d hesitated no more, and jumped out of the car.
     
    Jackie- Heads up. Just saw on Facebook, Hayley is at the party.
     
    I walked swiftly towards Dale’s parent’s house with my phone and keys in hand. He, like nearly everyone in our school, lived in a wealthy estate. His house was large, boasting three stories high. It had dark grey render on the outside, and stood as a modern piece of architect. I had been here a few times when we dated, so I knew the house and area reasonably well.
    The party was already in full swing when I arrived, even though it was only nine at night.
    I made my way through the entrance of the house, not bothering to knock, as there was no way anyone could hear me with all the music anyway.
    There were people scattered throughout the house and every turn I made, many faces I didn’t even recognise from Eden College.
    “Hey you,” a sleazy voice behind me said as he grabbed onto my waist.
    I pulled my body from his grip and turned to see it was one of Dale’s friends, Noah. Noah was just like the rest of Dale’s crew, rich, and full of himself.
    “Hey, Noah,” I said less enthused about seeing him.
    “Come to see me, have you?” A sly grin crept onto to his face as he stepped forward to try to touch me again.
    “No, definitely not.”
    Out of all the boys, Noah was the one I disliked the most. He was stronger than the others were, and he made it known. He also didn’t take no for an answer. The fact I was in the kitchen alone with him put me on edge.
    “Whatever. What’s the deal with you anyway? You some kind of prude or something?”
    I took another step back from him, trying to shield myself behind the island bench, but with every comment he made, he moved closer and closer to me.
    “No,” I replied softly, the confidence within me fading by the minute.
    “Oh, I get it, you’re a lesbian then, is that it?” He placed his beer on the bench and cocked his neck. “Not that I mind, the more the merrier if you know what I mean?”
    “Yes, I know what you mean, and no, I’m not.”
    “Then what? You’re too good for all of us?”
    “That’s not what I said.”
    My back hit the edge of the kitchen sink as he took two more steps towards me. My hand searched the bench as my eyes stayed on him. He pressed his body up against mine. My stomach dropped at the feeling. Fear racing through me, I gripped onto the only thing I could, an empty beer bottle, but just as I was about to threaten Noah with it, I heard Maddison’s voice behind us.
    “What the fuck is going on?”
    Noah quickly backed off me at the sound of her voice.
    I had never been so happy to see Maddison before in my life, but that wasn’t to last, of course.
    “You,” she shrieked, pointing to Noah, “go and get me a drink like I asked you to. Now!”
    Not even the likes of Noah stood up to Maddison. He was