Hey everyone! Another chapter down, no idea how many to go. To my latest reviewers: charlottee96x, bookwormgrl101, liv408, Crystal Red Roses, Hopeless121, xXRavenBlackXx, The Archangel Network, xxkissesandcuddlesxx, lilywest, . – you're the reason I stay up writing (and the fact that I'm a Hush Hush nerd)! Hope you like it…please review!!!
CHAPTER 5
"Nora…Nora…" Patch's soft voice gently drifted through my sleep-clouded mind. I felt someone shake my arm. "Nora, wake up. We're here…"
I opened my eyes and took in our surroundings. It was no longer night and now an overcast sky hung above us. We were sitting in Dabria's car at the top of a steep hill that was covered in trees. In the clearing in which we were parked I could see a small one-storey house. A faded lemon coloured fibro structure. It looked like no one had lived there in years. The grass grew wild and untamed, the ancient curtains were drawn over all the foggy windows and sitting in the middle of the lawn was a faded couch.
If I hadn't of seen the shack last night, then I would have been running for the hills at the sight of such a decrepit looking house. All the same though, I was a little anxious. Patch got out of the car and I followed his example. We begun walking up to the door, but anxiety got the better of me and I paused. Patch turned around and looked at me questioningly.
"So…this friend, you sure that they haven't like…moved or something?" I asked nervously. I wasn't too sure about being left alone with the person who lived here.
"Nah, he'll be here. Come on," he said taking my hand, "We don't know how long I have til…" He didn't finish but I knew what he was trying to say.
Patch led me to the door and knocked. About a minute later there was a loud crash and I heard someone stumbling around the house. "I'm coming," a heavy Irish accent shouted back at us.
I turned to Patch and whispered, "You brought me to Rixon's? Seriously, Rixon's?!"
"Nora, he's a good guy okay? Maybe not the most 'on the ball' at times, but a good guy."
Almost as if God was on my side, Rixon opened the door and the strong scent of alcohol hit us like a ton of bricks. I raised my eyebrows at Patch, he chose to ignore my reaction and looked back towards Rixon.
"You okay there, Rix?"
"Patch…oh, yeah, yeah. I'm good." Rixon replied, looking anything but. His tired bloodshot eyes spotted me. "Oh, you're here too. Nice to see you Dora."
"It's Nora, actually." This was the best Patch could do?
'He's just needs to sober up, Angel.' Patch was trying to set me at ease and it wasn't really working. Rixon ignored our silent moment of communication.
"So, not to be rude or anything…but what the hell are you doin' here?" Rixon's voice sung out from behind the fly screen door.
"I need you to help me out, it's Dabria."
"Ahh, say no more," Rixon said as he flung the screen door open, gesturing for us to come in.
I passed through the doorframe into a well-worn living room that clearly hadn't been updated since the 1970's. There were two faded pea green couches pushed up against adjacent walls with a tiny wooden box, that housed what I believed to be a TV, sitting in the corner. There were empty beer bottles, clothes and old newspapers strewn all over the room.
"Make yourselves at home," Rixon said. Not likely, I thought. "So what's up with Dabria then? She still kickin', thought she was dead."
"Not so much…" Patch went to continue into a longer explanation but stopped. "Hey, if I tell you the what's going on now, will you remember tomorrow?" I was rather glad Patch had thought to ask.
"Oh yeah, of course I will. I'm not drunk. Just a little hungover." Comforting. Patch and I looked at each other. I knew he was reconsidering bringing me to Rixon's. I could see the guilt in his eyes.
"It's okay. It's not your fault. Tell him. He's all we've got."
Those words seemed to comfort Patch and he begun to explain the situation. Rixon did need to clarify a few things, as he'd never heard of anything like what Dabria had done, but on the whole he took it well. Patch finished and a puzzled look came over Rixon's face.
"I understand what Dabria's done, and that you two really do need help but I'm failing to see why you came to me. I'm a fallen angel mate, not a fairy godmother. I can't break the spell."
Patch shot Rixon a reproving look, "I just need you to look after Nora for me. You're the only one I trust enough to do it." His words made me feel warm, yet at the same time the feminist in me felt the urge to shout 'I don't need to be babysat.' "It's only till I can find Dabria and put an end to her…permanently this time."
Rixon hesitated, "can I see you for a minute Patch?" Rixon asked. "Alone," he added, looking at me. "Nothing personal, love."
Rixon lead Patch through the house to one of the rooms further back. I waited about 30 seconds before breaking down and succumbing to the urge to follow and eavesdrop.
I crept quietly down the hall, thankful that the floorboards didn't creak. The boys' voices grew louder and I pressed my ear up to the door that they were behind.
"Patch, you've gotta be jokin'. I can't baby sit a teenage girl. I'd do a lot for you mate but I'm not sure I can do that." So obviously Rixon wasn't too thrilled with the idea of looking after me.
"It's not babysitting. I just need you to keep her safe for me. I'm endangering her every second I'm near her. I can't leave her alone, if Dabria found her…" his voice wavered on the last three words.
"Yeah, but why does it have to be me?" Rixon replied, ignoring Patch's heartfelt plea. "Don't you have any other friends? I know you're not the most social guy but you have to know some others." He really didn't want me to stay. I tried hard not to take it personally. He would be saying the same thing no matter what, I repeated in my head.
"I love Nora more than anything else in the world. Now that I have her, I don't know if I can lose her. Rixon, you're the only one I trust." There was a minutes silence. "Weren't you considering guardianship? It'll be good practice. She's not difficult, seriously I'll bet you $20 she'll just sit there." Patch was now gripping at straws.
There was another pause and then Rixon spoke, "alright, I'll do it. And I'll take your $20 no matter what she does."
"I can live with that." Patch said sounding relieved. I scrambled back down the hall as I heard them walking to the door. I threw myself into the couch and tried to look natural.
Patch and Rixon came back down the hall laughing. Patch gave me a knowing look, clearly he knew I'd been listening.
"So I guess you're gonna be staying with me for a while Nora." Rixon said. "Sorry about before, didn't mean to be rude."
"It's alright," I said, giving him a small smile. I may not have been to keen to entrust my life to Rixon but Patch was, so I had to stay.
I felt like a five year old being dropped off for a play date as Patch went over everything I would need (the most important being iron pills and clothes) with Rixon. Ten minutes later, Patch and Rixon said their goodbyes. An unspoken promise passing between them as they did.
I walked Patch down the drive, back to the car. Rixon was looking on from the front door. Patch paused before getting in, turning back towards me. Leaning up against the car, he looked me over. I gazed back at him. I forced my memory to take in everything I saw. Every scar, every freckle, every kink in his messy hair.
"I don't want you to go," I said, breaking the silence.
'I don't want to, Angel, I have to.' He put his hand on my lower back and pulled me forward until my body was firmly against his. He pressed his lips to mine and a familiar feeling of danger and desire washed over me. I knew in my heart that that feeling would always be there, no matter how long we were together, no matter how long we were apart.
He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me closer still. The kiss turned desperate, and I felt every ounce of him crying out. Cursing Dabria for what she had done to him, what she had done to us.
He pulled his lips from mine, "I gotta go, Angel."
I closed my eyes and nodded. When I opened them Patch was already in the car. He took one glance back at me as he started the car.
'I love you Nora.' Then he drove off into the horizon.
P.S if you are wondering what happened on the way to Rixon's (no Nora didn't sleep the whole way!), I did write it but it just didn't quite fit. If people want me to, I'll post it when at the end of the fic.