Nightless [Vol 1]

The End of "Normal"

P.O.V- Emily

I sigh as the morning light starts shining in the window long before I'm ready to face my next day. I'm on edge. wondering what the Fae lady was meaning when she said "Court is calling." what Court? also who's coming? what could the Nightless possibly want from me? I continue to ponder as I detangle from Ava's sleepy embrace. I head to the kitchen to start breakfast with my mind still wondering. What did she mean by "Marked" my hand rests on my birth mark as I flip pancakes. My long black hair thrown up into a messy bun I look at my reflection in the decorative mirror above the sink. My blue eyes staring back at me, soft tan skin tone, deep bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. I look normal. I turn my neck to gaze at my birth mark, its dark pink splash of color, not unlike the one on Ava's neck as well.. In my opinion it looks like a blob, a weird nothingness, some sort of punishment from my birth mom eating pineapple or drinking too much caffeine during pregnancy or something. Other people always try and tell me it looks like a sleeping cat, or this or that. I don't see it though. It wasn't until just last week that I started leaving it uncovered. That's only because I noticed tips were better with my hair up. I was so lost in my own thoughts I didn't notice Aaron had come out of his room. When I turned around he was sitting on the kitchen island watching me.

"What is up with you man!" I say my hand flying to my chest in shock.

"You seem different... is everything ok Em? is some creepy old dude at the club bothering you again" Aaron asks, his arms crossing over his shirtless chest.

"I'm fine! do you want some pancakes? or are you just here to stare at me?" I say thrusting a plate of pancakes at him. "oh and for the love of God, put a shirt on." I say turning back around.

"what? Are these guns distracting you?" he chuckles pulling his arms up like a body builder and flexing like a dork.

"no, just making me crave a real gun. you know. so I can shoot myself." I say rolling my eyes at him.

"oof, my pride Em. My pride." he says sliding off the counter as he picks up his pancakes. He moves close behind me as he reaches around my naro frame to grab the syrup. "You know, if someone's bothering you... I can handle that Em." he says while still close behind me. I feel my cheeks flush as he all but whispers in my ear. turning around I realize how close he actually is. my breath catches in my throat as I look at his chest. looking up from under my lashes I see his green eyes staring down at me.

"I can handle myself Aaron." I say putting my hand on his chest and lightly pushing him back. His hand moves up and pins my hand against his chest refusing to step back.

"I'm serious Em. Just say the word." he let's go of my hand and goes to sit at the island.

"Mommy, can my pancakes have rainbows?" Ava asks as she comes into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from her soft brown eyes. A trait she inherited from her father is my best guess.

"Yes baby. Your pancakes have rainbows." rainbows are really just M&M's, when you mix them in with the pancakes the color coating comes off and leaves little splashes of color in the pancake.

"Do I have to wear a shirt?" she asks as she takes her plastic plate.

"yes baby you have to wear a shirt." I say cutting my eyes over to Aaron.

"Why though!" she pouts stomping her cute little foot at me "Aaron doesn't ever wear a shirt and he never gets in trouble!" she says as she puts her pancakes in her little table and crosses her arms.

"Actually Aaron just got in trouble." I tell her, throwing the stove towel at Aaron. "he's going right now to put a shirt on." I say Glaring in his direction.

"Ok Ok, I'll go put a shirt on for the little princesses!" he says in a fake exasperated tone.

"Keep up that attitude Mr and you'll be eating breakfast in time out!" I call to him playfully as Ava giggles.

I love this, our weird normal little life. Pancakes for breakfast and playful banter. teasing Aaron over his inability to wear shirts. The first few years of Ava's life where hard. It wasn't until I turned up at Aaron's mechanic shop in my 1999 beater of a mini van that me and Ava had been living out of for a month before I met Aaron. Seeing the state we were living in and needing a roommate, he opened his home to us, and slowly we became this weird dysfunctional family of sorts. He never complained when I added extra locks to the doors, he even willingly cleaned out his "man cave" to make room for Ava. Having always been able to see the Nightless I never made friends easily. Aaron is really the only friend I think I've ever had. And definitely the only person I'd trust with my little Ava. Ava's dad isn't in the picture. I don't drink often but for my 21st I went all out, and ended up having a foggy one night stand with a man from a bar. 6 weeks later and the shocking news was in, I was going to be a mother. In and out of foster care my whole life, with no family to speak of, I did my best. Ava has never gone hungry, never gone without AC or heat. Even when we lived out of my car for a month I still made sure she was taken care of. She's my whole world.

My mind is wondering as I watch her eat. I barely even notice Aaron grabbing his keys and getting ready to head to the shop for the day.

"Hey! have a good day!" I tell him with a smile. He smiles back and nods at me on his way out the door.

looking to Ava I ask " would you like to go to the park today baby?" she jumps with literal joy. snickering I start packing our things to go as she finishes her food. A strange uneasy feeling hits my gut for just a moment. I look up to her as she finishes up

"Come on Mommy! hurry!" she speaks as she runs to grab and outfit.

we brush our teeth, get dressed, and off we go.

it doesn't tak long to get to the park, it's only about a 4 minute walk from the house. As we are walking Ava says high to everyone she passes and pets puppy's who are out for walks. We live in a cute little section of downtown. when we arrive at the park Ava rushed to the playground at warp speed. giggling I take a seat on the bench and watch her play as I shuffle through our backpack for my book. in a few hours time it's nap time and lunchtime. I start packing our things as I scan the herd of toddlers for my own. calling for Ava I see her little head poke up from the top of the tower.

"awe but mommy!" she says knowing exactly what I'm calling her for. As I watch her decent the playground tower I notice a handsome "Man" sitting on the bench across the playground from me. he's staring at me intently. unnerved I get up and move quickly to get Ava down, I quickly head the opposite way around the block. once we hit the mid point I go to cut threw an ally to get home quicker.

"Momma, allies aren't safe!" Ava whines my lesson back at me as I lead her down the walk way.

"I know baby, it's a short cut." I say looking over my shoulder to make sure we aren't being followed.

"Short cuts usually aren't safe" a deep male voice echos from Infront or me. my head snaps forward, there he is. how did he get Infront of us ?!

"Gotcha." he says flatly as he reaches forward grabbing my arms. I pull Ava tightly against my chest as the world starts to spin, then goes black.