The LaNoira Family (Part One)

Note: There are approx. 20 people mentioned in this story. The following is the history of the nine oldest children in the LaNoira family, particularly Edward Gabriel, Lucinda Violet, and Julian Michael who appear in The City.

"Are you going to think of me as a giddy old bat if I forget a few bits, children? I've told this story so many times to you before."

Demitri scowled, "And in so many different ways." He said it low enough for his siblings, the other eight who were legitimate LaNoira. They stood around the den, dressed in black coats, watching Grandmother Marie tell the story of their family to the adopted LaNoira children. Lucinda Violet had asked for them to place bets on how many fallacies they would find tonight.

"Xavier LaNoira married Lydia Pierre in 1907* on the hill overlooking the Oxford Graveyard. It rained constantly the day the ceremony was to take place and Lydia's mother begged her to accept the church as a substitute. Xavier's father hinted consistently the suit was priceless as it has been in the LaNoira family for centuries and if it got wet, "Well, it isn't going to get wet, right my boy?" Both bride and groom were getting impatient and irked. When the guests were distracted by Lydia's younger siblings putting on a small performance in another room, Xavier grabbed the priest and the three of them ducked out through the back into the rain. 'Lydia,' Xavier asked, holding her gently, rain cascading from his hair, the suit now ruined. 'Is this what you want?' Your mother laughed at that, a laugh that sounded like a harp being lightly strummed. 'Yes, Xavier. You are what I want.' They were married happily underneath the rotted willow, and even the priest claims that lighting flashed across the sky when they kissed. They died together in bed at 90 years of age**. That's seventy happy years of marriage" Grandmother Marie laughed warmly, exciting the children before her. Of the seventeen LaNoira children, only nine were of blood to the LaNoira line. They each bore a crude black cross, the birthmark of the family and carried the crest with them whether on a chain of white gold around their neck or attached to their keys. The oldest and forever their parents pride and joy, Demitri and Isabella, were brought up in the Victorian ways. Due to the absence of the actual mother and father, they acted as loving parents and on rare occasion cruel siblings, only ever in jest, and managed the family affairs. Isabella was a blur of white satin as she left the room once the death of their parents was mentioned. Edward Gabriel, the third son and fifth child, shook his head, red dreadlocks dancing.

But Grandmother Marie continued her tale to the seven LaNoira children seated on the ground before her, ignoring the obvious but subtle discomfort spreading between the older eight.

"They lived a happy life, beautiful people attract beautiful people, remember that children. You attract what you are." Here the youngest Lily Anne giggled. "And you are such lovely-"

"Grannie Marie, tell the story!" Derreck whined.


These are Grandmother Marie's lies:
* They were married in 1965. The year is the only fault in this part of the story.
**They died by suicide, within a day of each other. Xavier hung himself at the place where they met and were married, Lydia swallowed 18 sleeping pills, ("one for each of my sweet dreams", she wrote on a blue post-it) and jumped into the lake near the LaNoira home.