The House of Angels

We are a lost cause

'I've been approaching the surface for a year

I've seen emotions derail and disappear

Go feed the colorful snakes outside, she said to me

Go break your colorful bones in a fight, she begged of me

We are returning to the ominous

We are a lost cause

We are committing to the dominance

Of these black claws

I try to smile when I get bad news

Figure if there is any good left, I'll get that too

The blood is red, but the veins are blue

And my bones are every color on the spectrum between the two

I squeeze through the cells that we've been locked in

Kinda high from the loss of the oxygen

Headrush, flushed, dropping dead weight

My canine scrapes the last crumbs off my bread plate

Just head straight

No maps or no atlas

No matter how the road curves, don't end up backwards

Black birds circle brown dirt for the big worms

My bad dream catcher hangs high as it twist turns

Cities burn a bad smoke, it makes my eyes itch

But front row seats to apocalypse are priceless

Life is hanging here in these black claws

Staring at a white sky full of black stars'

-VOLA "These black claws"

Moon was sitting on a bench in the backyard, smoking a cig and listening to music.

It was about nine in the evening and, after attending the welcome back party held for the kids and helping clean up after, she felt the need to get out to relax and find some peace.

It was a breezy night, so she had put a sweatshirt over her top and shorts. The backyard was very cozy in the evening, lit by the moonlight and so quiet despite the muffled voices coming from inside, where the others were still chatting, and the chirping of the grillets.

Josh had come to ask her to join them after dinner, he'd promised she'd have a good time and that they were going to have a private pool party with a lot of pizza and booze. He said she didn't have to worry about Clayton appearing this way, that they were going to be on private property with high security, so she agreed to go with them.

She'd been closed inside for a whole week and she needed to busy herself somehow.

After a while the kitchen window opened and the infamous Celine came out of it.

"What are you looking at?" She asked harshly, feeling Moon's gaze on her.

"Sorry, I just didn't expect someone to come out right now." Moon smiled apologetically.

Celine was wearing a very revealing black lacy dress and heels and she was definitely going out. She pulled out a joint from her bra and lit it.

"Weirdo." She muttered taking a long drag.

Moon clenched her fists and glared at Celine. She was already pissed enough... she wasn't going to stand a random asshole insulting her.

"Listen to me! I'm not a weirdo and you're being b***h. This place sucks enough without you bothering me with no reason!" She snapped at Celine who was looking at her, a little taken aback.

Moments filled with tension passed quietly.

"Yeah... I mean... it really sucks, doesn't it?" Celine finally said, sighing. She took a seat on the bench, beside Moon, offering her the joint. "Want some?" She offered, with an apologetic, sincere smile.

"Yeah, thank you." Moon said after a little pause, smiling.

"Sorry I was being a b***h. I guess I'm so used trying to look tough that sometimes I go off the rails."

"No problem. It happens." Moon reassured her. "By the way, I'm sorry too. I'm just going through a lot." She added, after taking another drag of joint.

"Don't worry, I totally deserved it. And I think I like your grit. You know, I'm happy there is another girl around here." Celine smirked at her.

"What about Helena?" Moon asked out of curiosity.

"Did you take a look at her? That judgmental, nosy, petulant b***h makes me want to throw up. But you're different, you're cool."

"Oh, thanks, I guess..."

"Well, tonight I'm meeting this guy..." Celine began, with a slight blush. "But if you'd like, we could go somewhere tomorrow?" Celine asked standing up from her seat, heading toward the kitchen.

"Oh, sure... Have fun!" Moon winked at her, earning a giggle in return, then Celine disappeared behind the window.

Moon headed upstairs to get ready, since Josh had told her they would leave at ten o'clock. She had her bag packed and just needed to check if she'd brought everything she needed and change into her swimming suit under her clothes, so she was ready in no time and headed downstairs to wait for Josh who'd gone out to buy some booze with Axl while Daniel and Anatoli had disappeared a little after them and Moon knew they were going to buy drugs.

During the party she'd had the chance to meet Anatoli and Axl.

Axl was very gentle and friendly, they talked a lot and his smile was very sweet... when Moon had noticed his hearing aid didn't mention it, but he was very attentive and didn't miss her gaze on it.

"My father liked to drink and punch. Now you know why I'm half deaf and why I'm here." He laughed it off even though his eyes were sad and glossy. Moon couldn't help but feel close to him, maybe because she knew what it felt like when those who were supposed to love and protect you, ended up hurting you instead.

Then, there was Anatoli, with his charming smile and flirty eye. When Josh had introduced them he'd kissed her hand with a bewitching smile, without breaking eye contact once.

After that she could find him staring during the evening, smiling and winking at her.

He was very beautiful, almost like an elf, and sure of himself, bold, crisp, but they didn't have any chance to talk to each other.

As she reached the ground floor, she ran into Helena, who was walking casually through the rooms. As she saw her she approached her, her arms folded.

"So, Josh told Sister Mary you were going to spend the night at your friend's place again, since you looked so sad and lonely... but the guys are spending the night out too... so I was wondering..." she said, deliberately leaving the sentence hanging.

"What do you mean, Helena?" Moon frowned in confusion. What was she trying to tell her? Was that a threat? A harmless comment? Why was she acring like this?

"I mean, I think you're going to spend the night with them. And I'm sincerely wondering why. Why would you do something so stupid? Why do you think they invited you, Moon?" Helena frowned.

"I'm not going with them. They're just giving me a ride, that's all. Not that it's your business." Moon was on the defensive.

"You're right, it's not my business. I just worry about you. I told you who Daniel is. But don't think the others are better than him. They're all corrupted and shameless. They could be planning to take advantage of you!" Helena said, fiercely.

"Now stop with your bullshit, you f*****g witch!" A cold and sharp voice echoed behind Moon's back. She jumped and turned around to see Lucas and Charlie staring at Helena, a little hurt, a little astonished.

"I'm just telling the truth, you know. I know very well what you guys are capable of! She should know as well!" Helena said, glaring at them.

"Moon, you don't believe her, do you?" Charlie asked with sad eyes.

"I-I... I don't..." she said in confusion.

"Then you're not as smart as I thought." Helena sneered.

"What do you want, Helena? Why are you doing this?" Lucas took a step toward her, his brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed.

"W-what?" Helena stuttered, blushing as he took a few other steps and stopped right in front of her.

"What, Helly? Are you suddenly shy?" Lucas whispered lowly so that only Helena could hear.

"Step away from me, Lucas..." she said in a shaky voice and shook her head trying to put some distance between them, as Moon looked at the scene with a puzzled frown, while Charlie twitched his lips to hide the smirk that threatened to appear on his face.

"Why? Are you uncomfortable?" He breathed in her ear, his lips brushing slightly against her earlobe, making her shiver and squirm.

"Lucas, stop it..." Moon began. She was definitely uncomfortable in that moment.

What was Lucas doing? He had been always kind with everyone as far as she'd been there.

This was a side of him she didn't know.

"It's ok, Moon... Helena just feels a little neglected... don't you, Helly?" Lucas smirked, his right hand started stroking the girl's arm slowly, his lips kissed lightly her cheek.

"Stop it Lucas, I'm serious!" Helena hissed, red with embarrassment, her fists clenched.

"Stop telling lies and I'll stop exposing the truth." He said with a stern expression.

"You're as bad and corrupted as everyone here, no matter how hard you try to hide it behind the god-fearing, little saint façade, because it would be stupid to do it in front of me. You know... we are a lost cause." He added lowly to avoid that Moon could hear him. He wasn't threatening her, he wasn't that kind of guy. He just felt the need to remind her she was being an hypocrite.

"I don't want her to end up like me..." she whispered with a broken voice. She was fighting to hold back tears and Lucas's eyes softened. He felt suddenly guilty for saying those harsh words, but he was so hurt by her that he impulsively attacked her to soothe the ache that pierced his chest. He tried to reach for her but she stumbled back.

"I'm sorry, Moon. I didn't mean to..." her words caught in her throat so she just turned and ran away.

"What the f**k, Lucas?!" Moon hissed.

"I... I suppose I was an asshole. No, I definitely was. I'm sorry, I just... It hurts to know that she thinks that about us... about me. It was a self-defense impulse. I'm going to talk to her." He said with his lips pursed to hold back his own tears. He then turned around and ran off.

"What the f**k was that, Charlie?!" Moon turned to look at him.

"Ehm... my bother has s**t for brain!" He stated, his eyes wide. He could never have imagined his brother would go so far. But he was always like that whenever Helena was near.

"What was he talking about?" Moon was confused and felt like she needed to take Helena's side, this time.

"Ok, they may have or may have not slept together... a few times..." Charlie said, embarrassed.

"Oh... so he really is a d**k. How could he expose her like that?" She was stunned.

"f**k Moon... I know he's been an idiot... but Lucas is not a bad guy... I think he really likes her and when someone he cares about hurts him, he tries to hurt back, cause he doesn't know how to elaborate the pain."

Charlie's phone rang in that moment.

"Josh? ... yeah... we're coming ... sure." He hung up and turned to look at her. "They're almost here, I'm going to check on Lucas." He said, leaving his bag on the floor before disappearing from her view.

After a while the two boys came back and approached Moon.

"How's she doing?" She asked Charlie, sending a little glare in Lucas's direction.

"Fine, I'm not a complete asshole, you know. I apologized. She's my friend." Lucas said with a sad voice.

"You were a real coglione (dork). I want to slap you so hard right now!" Moon was clearly disappointed.

"So you shall do it." He said curtly.

"What?" She asked with raised eyebrows and wide eyes.

"Slap me. If it's what you need to forgive me, then do it and let's get it over with."

"I won't slap you, Lucas..." she sighed "Just don't do that again, ok?" She grabbed her bag from the floor and headed outside, followed by the two boys, as Josh's car was approaching the driveway.

They got into the backseats of the car, since Axl was sitting on the passenger seat, beside Josh.

"Hey, Josh... Ant and Dan aren't here yet, should we wait for them?" Lucas asked.

"It's ok, Dan called, he said they're gonna meet us there. They went ahead to set everything." Josh said, while driving out of the driveway.

It took them half an hour to reach a small hill surrounded by high trees and fences.

Josh approached carefully a huge gate lit by luxurious spotlights, that opened after he sent a text to Ant.

As the car approached the driveway, a majestic villa appeared before them, leaving all of them astonished.

The garden that surrounded the whole villa was flourishing and well cared and all kind of colourful flowers and plants climbed the outer walls; there were marble statues on each side of the magnificent main door and a fountain in the middle of the square in front of it.

"This place is insane!" Axl murmured.

"No shit..." Josh was incredulous.

"How do we even have the keys of such a place?" Moon asked in disbilief.

"Ehm... let's say it's of a friend of Ant's. She's on holiday and left him the house." Josh answered climbing off the car, soon followed by the others.

The door opened and Anatoli came out of it, wearing just his swimming suit. His hair was already wet and clinged to his skin messily and his full-tattooed body was on display for her to admire it.

"Welcome to heaven, my friends!" He greeted them with a cheeky smile, waving his arm theatrically.

"My lady!" He winked at Moon, taking her hand to kiss her knuckles.

"Down, boy!" Josh reprimanded him, taking a step toward the girl.

"Oh, come on, Josh, he was just kidding!" Moon giggled, entering the villa behind Ant.

The insides were even more spectacular than the outsides. The hall was huge and clean, the floor and the large stairs were marble made and there were large windows on each of the white walls.

Ant led them through another large room with soft white and sandy rugs, two big modern sofas with soft pillows scattered all over them, several wooden bookshelves and even a marble fireplace. The lights were dim and gave an intimate atmosphere to the place, while soft music played in the background.

Then they reached the kitchen, where Daniel was drinking Jack Daniel's while smoking a joint. He was wet and naked too and smiled at them as they approached the counter.

"Put the alcohol in the fridge, we bought this bottle of Jack to drink in the meantime." Ant told Charlie and Axl who were carrying bags full of bottles.

Moon eagerly took a sip of Jack and felt Daniel's eyes on her. She turned and they locked eyes.

"What?" She asked, raising a brow.

"How are you?" He asked in a whisper, making sure no one was paying attention to them.

"Fine." She answered curtly. She didn't want to talk about sad things. The night was just starting and she was already tired.

He looked at her a few seconds hesitantly, like he knew she was far from being fine. But he chose not to push it and try to spend a peaceful evening.

"Anatoli, where can I leave my stuff and get changed?" Moon asked.

"Come, I'll show you one of the guest bedrooms." Anatoli smiled, heading toward one of the staircases.

Moon followed the boy through a large hallway and soon they reached a cozy and sophistically decorated bedroom.

"This is the room, and that door over there is the bathroom. You can leave your stuff here, 'moy dorogoy' (my dear)." He said with a flirty wink, before politely dismissing himself.

Moon smiled and took a mental note to ask him later what that meant, then she throw her bag on the bed and started undressing herself until she was left only in her black, sexy bikini.

She loved that so much. When she still lived with her father she didn't have much money to spend on things like swimming suits, since she spent most of her earnings on food and school, and her friends would usually borrow her theirs to go to the beach.

That bikini had been an exception to the rule.

A whim. She'd spent two weeks worth pay for that bikini but it was hers. She hadn't borrowed it from someone else.

Besides, it wrapped her body perfectly and fit her divinely.

She put on a short silk robe and took her phone and cigs and headed downstairs where Daniel, Josh and Ant, unaware of her presence, where sniffing that white powder they didn't want her to try. She waited for a moment in the middle of the staircase to give them time to get rid of it before she came in. She didn't want to create awkward situations.

When they were done she entered the kitchen.

"Hey guys. Where's the party?" She joked.

"Wow, babe, you look so fine in that robe! I wonder what is there below it..." Ant winked, offering her a glass of Jack. Josh and Daniel scowled.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"Let's make a toast! To a funny night!" Ant said raising his glass with a mischievious grin.