Chapter 1

‘Congratulations, honey,’ Mum hugged me so tightly it nearly cut off my circulation, ‘we should celebrate – get everyone over for a meal.’

‘Mum, don’t you think you’re going just a bit overboard?’ I asked, feeling embarrassed and childish.

‘Electra, don’t be silly. It’s not every day that you find out the owner of your work is going to retire and give the shop to you.’ Mum said as she grabbed the phone.

‘I can only have it if I pay him thirty percent of the money the shop makes.’ I pointed out. ‘I have big plans for that shop.’

‘Hi, Arella, I was just wondering if you could come over to-’ pause, ‘oh right, he did, did he?’ Pause, ‘I know, it’s brilliant news,’ pause, ‘alright, see you later,’ pause, ‘yep. Goodbye.’

‘Well...?’

‘Ashling already foresaw it and told everyone; they’ll be coming over later.’ Mum smiled as she started to get out pots and pans.

‘Is Ryvre and Aura coming over?’ I asked, excitedly.

‘Yes, they both are.’ Mum rolled her eyes. ‘I know they’re your best friends but three can be a crowd.

‘Mum, I do have other friends: my colleagues at work. And there’s Ryvre’s friend Georgia but she’s on holiday at the moment.’ I scowled at mum for thinking I had no other friends.

‘Okay, okay,’ Mum raised her hands in surrender, ‘I’m just saying – God, teenagers...’ Mum mumbled on as I went upstairs to get ready for later.

I wondered what Ryvre and Aura would wear. A year and a half ago, my family, the Storm family and I brought down some black-soul angels that had kidnapped Ryvre – although she pretty much saved herself – and they had done some horrific things that I don’t want to get into. Now Ryvre, and her sister, Aura, and I are extremely close friends. Aura’s a year older than me, she’s nineteen and I’ll be eighteen soon. When I turn eighteen I will become an official white-soul angel; at the moment I am a broken angel.

Ryvre and my brother, Ace, are twin-souls – which is rare for full angels let alone broken angels. They are now white-soul angels but they were both broken when they met. Rosita – Ryvre’s older sister – and her twin-soul and husband, Ryan, are expecting a baby angel on the way. I am still looking for my twin-soul, but I hear that when you find them it’s you finally fly after you have been falling forever.

I decided to settle for my purple knee-length dress and my ballet flats. Looking at the mirror I was deciding to not dye my hair again – originally it was sunny blonde but now it’s a dark, almost black, colour with red highlights.

Within an hour everyone was over: Ryvre and Ace, Aura and Hugh, Arella and Sonny, Ashling; Rosita and Ryan (and the unborn baby). Sonny and Arella helped mum and dad prepare dinner as Aura and Taran sat playing on the playstation. Ryan kept getting things for Rosita who was sitting at the island in the kitchen next to Hugh.

‘It’s great news about the shop.’ Ryvre smiled as she sat on Ace’s lap.

‘Any ideas on what you’re going to do to it?’ Ashling asked – who was sitting next to me.

‘Um... sort of – but I don’t know if it’ll work.’ I chewed my bottom lip.

‘Of course they will, Electra.’ Ace rolled his eyes. ‘And even if they don’t, I’m sure you’ll think of some new ones.’

‘Thanks but I’m just happy to finally have a challenge.’

‘So, Ash, what do you reckon,’ Ryvre whispered, ‘is Zita’s baby going to be a boy or a girl?’

‘Not telling; I trust you not to say anything but she’ll find out some way – that’s why I’m keeping my distance.’ Ashling explained although you could see how much he wanted to tell us.

‘Do you think something’s... going on, between Taran and Aura?’ I asked glancing at them. They kept nudging each other and laughing.

‘I don’t think so.’ Ashling shrugged.

‘Hmm... Not sure because it’s Taran. Is he really capable of something like that?’ Ace joked.

‘Well you never know.’ Ryvre said as we all looked over at them. ‘They’re can be exactly the same... and yet so different.’

Aura and Taran glanced up from the TV screen. In unison they asked, ‘what?’

We all laughed at their reaction. I see what you mean, I said telepathically to Ryvre.

Suddenly Rosita yelped and clutched her stomach. Ryan ran over to her and began whispering in her ear. Mum, dad, Arella and Sonny stopped cooking dinner and went about their business to help Rosita. Taran and Aura turned off the playstation and Ashling grabbed everyone’s car keys.

‘No, it’s too soon.’ I hear Rosita say. ‘It’s not coming yet. I can feel-’ she stopped to cry again. ‘Ashling, you can see: tell them it’s not today.’

‘I’m not saying anything – I might change it by telling you. And it’s someone’s life; I don’t want to risk it.’ Ashling told her firmly.

‘You’re going to the hospital either way,’ Ryan agreed, ‘even if it is false labour.’

‘Ashling, can you stay here with Electra, Ace, Ryvre, Taran and Aura.’ Mum told him and turned to Hugh, ‘we need you to stay as well. We’ll let you know what’s happening once we get there.’

Ryan and Sonny helped Rosita up, guided her to the door and walked her out to the car. Mum took hold of Arella’s hand to calm her excitement. The rest of us just sat for a moment, thinking of what to do next.

Taran turned the TV back on and started playing with Aura again. Ryvre and Ace sat talking and watching the game. Hugh found dad’s pack of cards and started playing a game with Ashling. I sat on my laptop in the kitchen with the house phone by my side. I started to make a list of ideas for the shop: build a stage area – maybe with refreshments; have an area for people to try out the instruments, get a feel for them; Friday nights could be open mic nights and-

‘Are you okay, Electra?’ Ashling asked as Hugh was shuffling the cards.

‘Yeah... I’m just thinking.’ I sighed, looking over my list.

‘“You” and “thinking” in the same sentence?’ Hugh teased and then went serious, ‘if you want, we could meet you for lunch tomorrow – see how you’re getting on?’

‘Sure. Whatever.’ I rested my head on my arms and closed my eyes. After what seemed like five minutes – but really it was an hour and a half – the phone made me jump as it rung. ‘Hello?’

‘Hi, Electra, it’s Richard.’ A deep, rusty voice answered.

‘Oh, hi Richard, what’s up?’ I said more innocently.

‘I just wanted to let you know that contract has been signed and the shop is officially yours.’ Richard said happily.

‘Thank you – oh, wow – thank you so much.’ I couldn’t suppress a smile.

‘Once, of course, you’ve set up with your new ideas, I’d like to come and see how you’re getting on.’ Richard said deeply.

‘Yes, absolutely; I would expect nothing less.’ I agreed with him.

‘Alright then; I wish you the best of luck and I’ll see you around.’ Richard gushed.

‘Thank you again.’ I hung up and placed my head in my hands to take it all in for a moment.

‘Who was that?’ Hugh asked.

‘Oh, that was my boss – well, ex-boss – Richard.’ I replied tiredly. ‘He was just letting me know that the contract’s been signed.’

‘Cool... so the shop’s yours now?’

‘Yep: it’s all mine.’ I mumbled.

‘What’s up?’ Ashling asked. ‘Do you not want to have the shop? Are you worried about Rosita?’

‘No- I mean, yes. I am worried about Rosita and yes I want to have the shop. It’s just...’ I couldn’t stop my eyes from flickering towards Ryvre and Ace; Taran and Aura – even though they aren’t twin-souls, they still had each other, right?

‘Oh,’ Ashling raised his eyebrows, ‘I get it. You feel lonely, don’t you? You want to find your twin.’

‘Sort of; I wish I could find him.’ I admitted.

‘He’ll show up out of the blue.’

‘And if he doesn’t?’ I queried.

‘You’ll be okay. Just do what Hugh and I are doing: looking at the bright side.’ Ashling explained. ‘You’ll be free for whoever you want and you don’t need to worry about anyone so much.’

‘But how can you live like that knowing that there’s something better waiting for you – waiting to be found?’ The words came out of my mouth but I wasn’t making them.

‘Look, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Why rush it?’ Hugh pointed out.

Twenty minutes later the phone screamed to life again. This time Ashling answered. ‘Hello? Uh-huh.... okay... right... I knew that already... Sure; see you later.’ When he hung up everyone was staring at him expectantly. ‘What?’

‘Who was that?’ I asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

‘Oh, right, yeah. That was mum. Rosita’s fine, it was just false labour – as I foresaw. She’s staying in overnight but she’ll be coming home tomorrow.’ Ashling explained to all of us.

‘Great, so we’re on the edge of our seats even longer, waiting for her to pop.’ Aura muttered but I heard it thanks to my power.

‘Hey,’ Ace turned towards Aura, ‘feel sorrier for the guys: when the baby’s born we get no attention because it is all focused on the baby.’

‘No it’s not!’ Ryvre protested which caused Ace to tickle her and they both fell on the floor in fits of laughter.

Aura and Taran went back to their game, so did Ashling and Hugh. They all had someone they could love, or have fun with, or confide in. But me, I had my laptop and my work. I decided to focus on that instead of trying to find my twin-soul – and in the hopes that I might just bump into them one random day. Basically, I had no one - no one, no one at all.