When Stars Collide

Chapter 21- Blurry - Ioannis

Everything’s dark. Everything went by a blur… but the only things I can be sure of is that: I’m alive. Estella got kidnapped by Ian’s gang and Skylar trapped me in a bottle. As Skylar runs through the streets, lurking like shadows, I’m itching to get out. She can hear me through the bottle, but so far she’s refused to take me out. I don’t even know how I ended up here. 

One moment, I was fighting with her and the next moment I was in a bottle. The details were blurry, but as we walked in the shadows, I realized that the claustrophobia was killing me. I tap on the bottle and Skylar looks down at the chain in her cape.

“We’re close to getting there,” she whispers and I glare at her.

“Sky. I need to get out, please.” I urge her and she rolls her eyes, shushing me.

“Ioannis. Not now,” she grits quietly and when we reach the tavern, the bouncer scans her and when she grins at him, he quickly lets her in. She summons her scythe and walks around with it.

I shiver while she walks in and I can see the shabby tavern on the outside was a lot more classier. Skylar directs herself to the matron of the bar.

“Luz, the keys?” The woman in question turns around and grins when she sees Skylar and runs to give her a hug. The bottle jumbles at the impact and I’m bouncing inside the bottle and I glare at Luz, who notices me and she points to the bottle.

“Another hapless victim?”

“Yes, one I plan to devour slowly. The room, Luz. You said you had it ready.”

“It’s always ready for you. You know the mistress of death always has a spot here.”

“Thank you,” she smiles and I look at the flush in her cheeks. I had no idea how old Skylar was, but she could pass for my age in an instant. She sits down on the bar and looks at her surroundings. Some give her passing looks, others shiver when they see her and some wave at her as if she were an old friend.

“You know, the word is spreading that Ian’s bandits are getting stronger.” Luz declares and Skylar swivels so quick, I’m crashing onto another side of the bottle at the impact. I lean on the bottle, growing dizzy at all the motion. Skylar was too jittery for her own good. Even more than me.

“Where is he hiding? The bastard has something that’s mine and I want it back. Also, any news from Eris?”

“The sky cried earlier today. Some say it was the cry of a goddess… but you know how bad the weather has been lately. The heavens seem to be angry with us. Eris is having a meeting with the son of the devil today,”

“Here?”

“No. I wish. I want to ruffle the feathers just as much as you do. But, you know who was here earlier?”

“Who? Don’t tell me it was Jamie. He comes too often to get himself drunk.”

“A fallen angel came here asking about Evangeline. You remember her, right?” Skylar nearly falls off her chair when she hears the name.

“When? Where? Luz tell me you heard more than just that,”

“Ask Scampers. He’s coming later tonight. He was serving that shift that night. But you know he loves the dancing spectacle. So, you better be ready, Sky.” she winks and Skylar looks like she’s trying to swallow a pill. Luz hands her the key and a drink and she quickly leaves, walking up the stairs while the clients laugh and guzzle down their drinks.

When we enter the room, Skylar sighs and closes the door quickly. She looks at me and I swear I could see fear in her face. She takes off the chain off the bottle I’m in and she mutters an incantation for the bottle to break and I fall out of it, reverting back to my normal size. I crash onto the floor and Skylar looks out the window, lost in thought.