Breaking An Angel

Chapter 7: Happy Birthday Boys

PENELOPE POV

It’s Friday night and it’s the night before the boys 22nd birthday, when we haven’t been working we’ve spent all of our time together attached at the hip. 

Dad has locked himself in his office and when he isn’t in there, he’s locked away in his room. He doesn’t even come out to eat, he just has his food brought to him.

Mom has been planning the boys’ party because according to her, we need to look good in front of all our guests. A part of me just wants to say f**k the party, but I don’t want to be selfish, it will be the last one we spend together.

Adonis has tried explaining to us that what Jo and her siblings are preparing us for tomorrow night. Jophiel is the Archangel of art, beauty, and inspiration, but it’s a little hard to believe when you’re not seeing it for yourself. With Jo being an Archangel, and Lucifer being the Guardian of Hell, it means that their siblings are also some form of Angel. I don’t know how I didn’t put two and two together, with all their names, but that also means that Azrael is the Angel of Death.

My mind hasn’t completely processed that information, my heart is telling me that it isn’t true, but deep down I have a sinking feeling that it is. 

Earlier in the day my brothers and I went shopping for our party outfits, honestly they could wear burlap sacks and they would still look handsome.

As we were leaving the shop, this girl hit on Alexius and off he went on a date, Adi and Achilles were not pleased. 

I’m sitting in the living room watching Netflix, this is the first time I’ve been alone without one of my brothers in the last few days. I know they’re wandering around somewhere, but if I can’t handle being away from them now I realize I won’t be able to handle this empty feeling for the rest of my life.

Alexius comes running in the house like a mad fool and jumps on the couch like a child as soon as he sees me sitting there. 

“So movie night?” He asks with the biggest smile on his face.

“So I take it your date went well.”

“Oh not at all,” he starts. “It was horrible, she wouldn’t stop talking about herself. It made me realize that she was just a pretty face and it just doesn’t do it for me anymore. I want to find my person, you know the one you could never get tired of, even when they’re blabbering about nonsense. The one who loves me and I could love unconditionally. I guess I’m a bit late for that now seeing as I won’t have the chance.”

My heart sank at my brother’s words and I couldn’t help but tear up, there were so many emotions I was feeling all at once, but one specifically was radiating from Alexius, hope. He was still hopeful, even after knowing what he knows, he doesn’t plan on giving up. It’s one of the characteristics I love about him.

He laid his head on my lap and I played with his chocolate curls while we decided on the movie we were going to watch. One by one our other brothers made their way in and sat beside us to watch the movie. One last movie night.

******

The next morning I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen looking for some easy breakfast. I decided instead to just cook a full breakfast meal with pancakes, eggs, bacon, and oatmeal so Alexius doesn’t ruin his perfect body. The guys made their way into the kitchen and began to help with breakfast. We silently cooked breakfast and then we ate in a comfortable silence on the kitchen island. We were just enjoying each other’s presence.

Mom and dad probably knew it was best to stay out of our way since they basically caused this whole mess. Mom was busy taking care of all the party planning and once again dad was locked in his office.

Throughout the day we just hung out around the house, we didn’t really say much, I don’t think I could have even if I tried, my heart was slowly breaking.

We all separated once it was time to start getting ready and knowing Alexi he’d probably be the last one finished. 

I went into my bathroom and decided to have a relaxing bath before s**t hit the fan tonight. I bought a new body scrub that I wanted to use, it smelled delicious with a hint of vanilla that wasn’t too overpowering to the senses. As I lolled my head back into the relaxing atmosphere I closed my eyes and allowed myself to rest.

 Moments later I felt someone in the bathroom, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could feel his presence and I could feel his desires, they were suffocating and only managed to amplify my desires. I felt someone standing in front of my warmth radiating off of them, I recognize that warmth, I’ve felt it before.

Azrael?

I suddenly heard a knock on my door, I managed to open my eyes only to look around and see that there was no one in here with me.

“Penelope?”

“Are you almost done? Achilles wants us downstairs before people start arriving.” I hear Adonis speak from behind the bathroom door.

“Umm y-yeah, I’ll be right out.” I yell back.

“Okay, I’ll see you downstairs then.”

When I hear his footsteps receding and then my bedroom door closing, I manage to pull myself out of the tub feeling dazed and confused. There was no way that was a dream, it felt way to real. 

I finally managed to blow dry my hair and style it into loose waves, I finished off my makeup with a nude lipstick coated with clear lip gloss, I kept my eyeshadow to a neutral burnt orange to emphasize my brown eyes. I walked into my closet to get the dress I bought earlier that day, I decided on a classic black spaghetti strap satin floor length gown with a V-dip in the back that stopped just above my behind. The dress was stunning it had a slit up my left leg coming all the way up to top of my thigh. I I finished putting on my dress and matched it with a black set of heels with rhinestones covering the front strap along with the block heel. 

I finished with a quick look in the mirror and to make sure there wasn’t a hair out of place. I loved the way I looked, I felt confident. I wasn’t skinny but I wasn’t overweight either, my hips and thighs were big from all the bread I ate and my boobs were a decent size, they could be a little perkier, but it be like that sometimes. I blew out a breathe I didn’t know that I was holding in and made my way out the door and downstairs to look for my brothers.

As I’m walking down the stairs I see my mom berating a server about how they should present drinks. Typical of her to be more worried about the presentation of drinks than her own children. She’s always done that, she worries more about what other people will think about her perfect family. When I was younger, I decided I wanted to see a therapist for my depression and anxiety, when I mentioned it in front of my aunt she said that I should never mention it again in front of the family because they’ll think I’ve gone crazy.

Once I reached the living room and noticed they weren’t there I yelled “Marco!?”

“Polo!” I heard all three of them yell from Achilles’ office.

I walk into the office and see Achilles wearing a classic black tux with his hair brushed to the side and back giving him that prim and proper look, Alexius was wearing a navy blue tux with his messy curls pushed to the side and Adonis was wearing a suit with a few buttons undone on his dress shirt. They all looked handsome in their own way and I could feel their anxiety and fear coming off in waves it was crippling.

They were all standing in a circle whispering about something before looking up at me and quieting down. I stepped up to hold Adi and Alexius’ hands and they did the same with Achilles.

“You look beautiful P,” Alexi said to me. 

“Thank You,” I replied with a smile. “You three look very handsome.”

“So why are we here?” I asked.

“We just need to talk about what’ll be happening tonight,” Achilles began. “I think I have a plan but it’ll keep you three safe.”

“What the hell are you talking about Achilles?” Adonis groaned.

“When they made the deal, they were only expecting one son, but they got three. Maybe he’ll only take one of us instead of all three, maybe he’ll take just me.”

“You are not sacrificing yourself you f*****g i***t,” Alexius scoffed. “He takes all three or none of us.”

“Don’t be an i***t Lex, I’m not leaving Penelope alone.”

“Then don’t, I’ll go and you can stay,” Alexius responds.

“Well isn’t it grand seeing others in a sibling squabble that doesn’t involve us.” I hear someone say from behind me.

I look over my shoulder to see 7 figures standing at the door with Lucifer standing in the middle, his grey orbs sparkling with something I can’t quite place my finger on.

“Happy Birthday Boys!” He says with a smile. "It's time to go home."