Sour Souls: The Morningstar Series Book 6

Chapter Four: Emilia's P.O.V.

~ A Year and A Half Later ~

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It's been over a year since Dave beat the crap out of me with that belt. That was the worst beating he ever gave me. Well, up until that point. I'm pretty sure he liked it, because that's his favorite go to now.

My beatings haven't lessened at all. Sometimes Dave walks into our home just to back hand me, and then he leaves. I don't understand it.

Am I really that bad?

Regardless, I take it. As long as he isn't hitting Noah. Although, Noah is becoming more angry with his father.

Tomorrow is his fourth birthday. Even with the almost two years of age, Noah is understanding more. He knows that his dad beats me, he knows that no one will help me, but he doesn't understand why.

I try to tell Noah that it's no big deal. He takes that as an answer for now, but I'm worried about his future. I have no doubts that Dave will beat Noah next if he tries to defend me.

Granny and Talia didn't invite me over after that night either. Though, Granny has Talia bring food for Noah and I. Which I am super greatful for. I even managed to gain a little bit of weight. Not much, but I'm getting there. I fill out my clothes a bit more now.

Though, I do miss Granny. I only ever get to see her when she walks Talia to, and from school. Which she never used to do. I know she only started doing it to keep an eye on me.

I'm still taking care of Noah as well. He's still my little best friend. Noah has gotten so big in the short amount of time too. He's grown almost a foot, and he finally let his blonde curls grow some.

I put a plate of spaghetti in front of Noah at the table, and ruffled his hair.

"Eat all of this, and I will let you have some of Granny's brownies that I got today." I bribed.

Not that I have to. Noah eats like a damn horse. Kid is never full. I always end up giving him some of the food Granny gives me. Just so I don't have to ask Dave for more for him.

Even though every meal is made for the entire pack house, Dave refuses to let Noah, or I join them. Instead, he keeps our floor stocked. Well, used to. Now that Noah eats the way he does, it's hard to keep food in the house.

I know that Dave tells everyone that I keep Noah from the rest of the pack. He tells them that he leaves Noah in my care because of his duties. That he'll try to talk me into bringing Noah around more. Which is clearly all a lie.

I'm not sure why Dave plays these games with me. It doesn't make sense to keep us locked up in here. The rest of the pack knows that Dave abuses me. They don't care. Hell, the majority of them think I deserve it. If Dave let me take Noah around them, it would be like mental, and emoitional torture for me.

So, why does he keep us locked up?

I sat down at the table with Noah. I made sure to leave plenty of food for Dave. Mostly because I didn't eat myself.

The last time that Dave came home to see me eating dinner with Noah, I got a good beating. So, I live off of the food Granny gives me. I keep it all in my room. Usually, I'm so hungry that I scarf it all down before it can go bad from not being refrigorated.

"So, you excited for your party tomorrow? You haven't had a party this big since your first birhday." I said.

Noah frowned as he stabbed his food.

"No. I don't want to go." He told me.

My eyebrows shot up.

"Why would you say that? The whole pack is going to be there. They miss you so much. Just imagine how many presents you're going to get." I said.

Noah looked at me. Gosh, every day he ages he looks more, and more like Mom. I wonder if that's why Dave refuses to look at him for more than a few seconds.

"I want you to be there." Noah said.

I gave him a sad smile.

"I would be there in a heart beat if I could." I said.

Noah scowled.

"It's not fair. It's my birthday." He complained.

"I know honey, but I have so much homework to catch up on anyways." I told him.

Noah grumbled.

"Just finish your dinner. Then we can have brownies, and take a bath, and get all tucked in." I said.

A little while later, that was exactly what we did. After I got Noah in his pajama's I read him a book. Then I kissed his head, and went to leave his room.

"Emi.." Noah said softly.

"Yeah honey bear?" I asked.

"Can I sleep in your bed tonight?" Noah asked.

I smiled at him. "Come on." I offered.

Noah jumped out of his bed, and ran across the hall. I chuckled at him as he hopped into my bed. The door opened, and I looked down the hall to see Dave walk in.

He didn't notice me, so I booked it into my room. I shut the door behind me, and prayed to the Moon Goddess that Dave leaves me alone for the night. Then I walked to my bed.

I tucked Noah in, and it was only a few minutes later that he fell asleep.

I got up, and walked to my only window. It's a full moon tonight. Plenty of light for me to finish my homework. I sat in the large windowsill, and pulled my books from my bag.

By the time I was done, and crawled into bed, it's almost 1 a.m. Gosh, I cannot wait to sleep. I snuggled up to Noah, and drifted off.

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"Get up!" I was ripped out of bed by my hair.

"Ow." I mumbled.

"Noah's party starts soon. Get him ready, and make yourself scarce." Dave told me as he dropped me on the floor.

Then he stomped out of my room. I looked back to my bed to see Noah still sleeping. I grabbed my watch off the small beside table to see that it's just after 10 a.m. I'm surprised Noah slept this long.

"Noah.." I said softly as I shook his little body.

"Come on birthday boy." I cooed.

Noah's little eyes fluttered open. He looked at me, and smiled. I smiled back.

"How did you sleep?" I asked him.

"Good." He replied.

"Let's go get you some breakfast." I said.

"Is Dad here?" Noah asked.

I chewed on my bottom lip.

"I think so honey." I said.

Noah sighed, which broke my heart. No kid his age should be sighing like that. Especially over their own father. I wish that I could give him a different life.

I got Noah out of bed, and to the kitchen. Noah colored at the table while I made him breakfast. Thankfully, Dave isn't here. He must half left after ripping me out of bed.

A sense of pride swelled inside of me as I watched Noah color.

Is that what I looked like when I was his age?

Noah looks so innocent, so pure. It's a shame he has the father he does. I can't even say our mother would have been better.

Maybe Mom would have been though. Maybe she would have been a better mother to Noah since he is a product of their mateship. I'd like to think she would have been.

I set Noah's breakfast down in front of him, and moved his coloring book out of the way.

"Emi, can you tell me more about Mommy?" Noah asked.

He's been wanting me to talk more about her lately.

"Well, you look a lot like her. Same smile, nose, eyes. You look more like Mom than you do your dad." I told him.

"Did Mom look like you?" Noah asked.

I shook my head. "No. She was much prettier. I think I might look like my dad." I told him.

"Where is your dad?" Noah asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I never got to meet him."

"Does he know that you're alive?" He asked.

I chuckled at his use of words.

"I have no idea. Mom never told me about him." I admitted.

Which is the truth. Mom never told me a damn thing. I don't even know my father's name. The only time I asked her, was the first time that Dave had hit me. We all know how that turned out.

"Tell me more about Mom. What was she like?" Noah asked.

This is the part I hate the most.

"Well, she was always so sweet, and caring. Before she met your dad it was just her and me. We lived in a small house, in a nice town a few hours away. Mom worked in a diner that made the best milkshakes." I said. "At night she would read me books, before tucking me in."

"Like you do with me?" Noah asked.

I nodded. "That's right. Mom would do it too if she were still alive. She would bathe you, and sing to you. Mom would make all your favorite meals. She would love you, and snuggle you." I told him.

Noah stared up at me in awe. I kept the smile on my face through all the lies. Noah doesn't need to know how our mother really was with me.

Fact is, Mom was a drunk before she met Dave. She would leave me home alone almost every night for men, or alcohol, or both. When she was around, I was taking care of her more than she was taking care of me.

When we came here, she acted like I didn't exist. She ignored, and neglected me. Hell, she even told me she wished I was never born.

At the time I didn't understand hardly any of it. I still don't. I know now that my mom was depressed. That having a child without her mate branded her some kind of w***e. I just don't understand why she did keep me if she never really wanted me.

Still, Noah doesn't need to know all of that. For all I know, Mom really could have been the mother I made her out to be for Noah. Mom was really happy through her whole pregnancy. Noah was the child she was always meant to have. Who's to say it wouldn't of turned out the way I tell it to Noah?

"Alright, time for a bath." I said.

"I took a bath last night." Noah complained.

"Yes, but your dad wants you nice, and clean for your party. He even got you a new outfit." I said.

Noah scowled as we walked back to the bathroom. I started his water, and stripped him down. I placed Noah in the tub with his toys, and then walked to his room.

I gathered his outfit for the day, and placed it on his bed. Then I finished washing Noah. He grumbled the whole time I dressed him. I even brushed his curls back with some gel. He complained the whole time.

"You better stop with that sour face, or it will get stuck like that." I teased.

"Why can't you come?" Noah asked for the millionth time.

"No one wants me there Noah." I told him for the millionth time.

"I do, and it's my birthday." He grumbled.

I grabbed his little shoulders.

"Look at me."

Noah did so.

"It's going to be alright. You are going to play with all of your friends from daycare, eat your favorite foods, have the best cake. Today is going to be a great day for you. And you are going to behave for the pack members. You're their future Beta. They want to get to know you. Let them celebrate you." I told him.

"But.." Noah trailed off.

I know that it feels wrong for him to have this party when I'm not there. I'm Noah's sister, but he sees me as more of a mother. We are barely ever apart, and it's been that way his whole little life.

"Noah, you can do this. I know that you always have me, but I will be right here to put you to bed when you come home." I told him.

Just then we heard the front door open. I squeezed Noah's shoulders, and smiled at him. Then I stood back up, and grabbed his hand to walk him to his father.

Dave is waiting at the front door in fresh clothes. Gee, wonder where he got those. And did he shower?

"Come on Noah." Dave held his hand out.

Noah reluctantly took it. He looked back at me, and I gave him a thumbs up. Then Dave growled at me.

"I don't want you to be seen at all. You can go to that stupid old womens house for the night. Be back by 9 to put Noah to bed." Dave told me.

"O-okay." I stuttered out.

Holy s**t. He's really letting me leave?

"Have fun Noah." I called as they shut the door.

I wasted no time running to Granny's. When I got there, I knocked on the door. A few minutes later I was blessed with Granny's adorable face.

"Emi." Granny gasped.

"He told me to stay away for Noah's party. He said I could come here. Is that okay?" I asked.

"Is that okay?" Granny grumbled as she ushered me inside. "It's like you don't know me at all child."

"Granny, who's at the door?" Talia called.

"Why don't you get your butt out here, and find out." Granny called back. "I'll go make us some food." She told me.

Talia came barreling down the hall. Her light brown eyes connected with mine. I smiled at her, and she squealed as she jumped into my arms.

"Oh my Goddess! Did you sneak out or something?" She asked.

I shook my head as I hugged her back.

"No, Dave told me to get lost until 9." I said with a laugh.

Talia pulled back to look at me.

"Won't let ya to your own kids party huh?" She teased.

I rolled my eyes.

"Noah isn't my kid. He's my brother, and I'm just his bastard sister." I said.

"Now you stop that right now, ya hear?" Granny shouted from the kitchen.

Talia and I shared a scared look as Granny walked out of the kitchen.

"You are more of a parent to that little boy than his father is. Your mother was just as cruel to you. You're raising that boy better than they ever could of. I bet he was as sour as a warhead when he found out you couldn't go." Granny said.

I chewed on my bottom lip.

"I'm right ain't I?" Granny asked.

"I pracitcally had to force him out the door." I said sadly.

Granny walked over to me, and grabbed my face.

"You give that boy all the love he's ever known. Sister or not, you are his sorce of light." She told me.

Then Granny's face turned sad.

"You've taken on too much for just a child yourself. You are so strong my dear." She said. "And I don't want to hear you talk abut being a bastard anymore either." She said as she let go of my face. "You are a child, it's not your fault your mother spread her legs before she met her mate."

Talia and I snorted at Granny's comment.

"I'm definitely waiting for my mate Granny." Talia said.

"That's because I raised you right. Your daddy waited for your momma too. Should have seen the look on his face when he brought her home to meet me. And a Nigerian woman at that. Whooee! Your momma fit in great here." Granny told Talia.

Talia laughed, then turned to me.

"What about you Em? You gonna wait for your mate?" She asked.

I snorted. "Like I'd have a choice anyways. No one here wants to date me." I said.

Granny slammed a plate down on the table, and glared at me.

"I mean, uh, I'm totally waiting for my mate because that's th right thing to do." I corrected.

"Mhm." Granny said.

Talia giggled, and drug me over to the couch to sit down.

"Just imagine what it'll be like when you meet your mate. He'll sweep you off your feet, and take you away from here. How romantic would that be?" Talia said.

I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, what a dream." I said sarcastically.

"What? You want to stay here forever, and get treated like this?" Talia asked.

"Uh, no. Are you insane?" I asked.

Talia giggled at me.

"I have a plan. One that includes, Noah and I getting the hell out of here. But it does not include meeting some prince charming to sweep me off my feet." I said.

"What if your mate is really strong? Like the Lycan King." Talia said with a happy gasp.

I looked at her incredulously.

"He's like... a bit too old for me don't you think?" I asked.

Talia shook her head. "He's not that old."

"Still, no thanks. Me? The Luna Queen? No way." I said.

"What about one of the Morningstar's?" Talia asked.

"Morningstar's? Like.. the Devil's kids? The ones they taught about in history class?" I asked.

Talia nodded. "Yeah, I hear they are dreamy."

"Aren't they evil, or something?" I asked.

Talia shrugged. "Some say they are, some say they're not. Granny! Have you ever met the Morningstar's?" Talia called out.

Granny came out of the kitchen with a tray full of food. She set it down on the coffee table, and I immediately snatched up a sandwhich. Granny chuckled at me.

"I met one of the Devil's sons when he was a young boy. At the time, no one knew he was Lucifer's youngest, but he was a sweet little thing. Though, I do hear wonderful things about his children." Granny said.

"You don't think the Devil's spawn is evil?" I asked her.

Granny tsked me.

"Child, you should know better than anyone that we all make our own choices. Just because you have power, it does not make you good, or evil. How you use defines who you are." She told me.

I nodded. "I guess you have a point." I mumbled.

"So, does that make you more excited to meet your mate?" Talia asked.

I frowned at her. "No."