Star in Ashes (Acotar fanfic)

Bad dreams

I'm having a rather pleasant dream. A steaming pastry is sitting on a plate in front of me, its warm doughy goodness oozing jam. I can smell its heavenly scent and I lick my lips, ready to rip into it. But even as I move towards it, I notice I don't have any hands. I blink, searching for my hands. But they're not there. Neither are my arms or...my legs. I open my mouth to yell but nothing comes out. The pastry is changing colour and stars of jam are coalescing around it.

I begin to panic, desperately searching for my body. I frantically glance upwards and see a gilded mirror which pulses oddly. But there's no one in the reflection. Only light....that seems to scream within itself...

I gasp, opening my eyes and searching for my hands. I can see my left hand gripping bedcovers and I let out a sigh of relief. I'm not a ball of light in a mirror. Thank the gods. But my relief is short lived.

"I thought you actually died." A cold voice says. I narrow my eyes against the glare of daylight and stare at a petite female with silvery eyes. She looks unconcerned and smirks at my confusion. Where the hell am I? Rigel are you there?

As per usual with the useless star there is nothing but silence.

I don't say anything as I get my bearings. What the hell happened? All I can remember is bursting out of that horrible prison and light everywhere. As I look at my hand again, the dream still clinging to me, I notice something awful. A five pointed star is on my wrist. My mark of allegiance. I'm deep in the shit.

"I heard you were a talker. Have you run out of things to say?" The female sneers. Oh great. Another delightful member of the Night Court. I'm beginning to think they've all got personality disorders.

"I can talk as much as you want. How about a long poem about the perils of unprotected sex? It really is a killer, you know. You would not believe the STDs you can catch from a one night stand." I mutter, barely noticing what I'm saying. She stares at me as if I've started dancing a jig. I push my hair back from my face, trying to stop it from puffing up.

"Talk less." She commands and I force a grin onto my face even as I scan the room. I need to get out of here pronto.

"Once I've started I just can't stop." I shrug my shoulders, attempting to get out of bed. Someone had changed my clothes. Silky trousers encase my legs and I'm wearing a short top which leaves my midriff exposed. I don't like the idea of someone pawing at me while I'm unconscious. But I suppose it could be worse.

"Once there was a female from Rask/Who swore her mate had the tightest as-"

"-Shut up." The female snaps and I hide my smile. Apparently it's easy to get under everyone's skin here. The female shoots a disgusted look at me, her long lashes veiling those silver limned irises. Creepy.

Even as I slowly sit up and check my body for wounds, I'm marking all the exits. One window overlooking a cloudy sky and one door which is closed. I pause in surprise when I discover the wounds from that nasty sword are gone. They must have some talented healers here. Or...maybe I healed myself. My father wouldn't be happy about that. Neither would Arcturus. He would warn me not to give the game away. I wonder where they've put the sword Andromeda. That was the priority here.

"I thought you wanted me to talk?" I ask, raising my eyebrows at her. Her scowl deepens.

"I wish I'd never asked. Now, girl, you're going to tell me your name and how you're affiliated with the Star Court." I hold my smile steady and open my lips to reply. She relaxes slightly, readying herself for my confession. But it never comes. Because even as I pretend to reply I'm already moving.

I dart sideways past her and she responds quickly, her hands snatching at my hair. I hear a shout but I'm hurtling towards the door and don't have time to listen. A few strands are yanked from my head and I wince but my fingertips are already grazing the door handle.

I wrench the door open and race into a hallway where a dozen guards are chatting in a bored stupor.

They jump to attention as I run past, a ribbon of light unfurling in my mind leading to the sword. Where the hell is it?! Andromeda is burning a path deeper into wherever the hell I am. I hear shouting behind me and a bolt of magic hits a cabinet beside me but I dodge it and carry on. I pull myself up a flight of stairs and almost collide with a female wearing gardening gloves. Her eyes are wide with surprise.

"Sorry!" I shout and twist past her, the corridor becoming darker. A guard jumps out in front of me and attempts to grab me but I push my glittering magic into his eyes and he yells. Come on, keep going, Morgan, keep going...

Lyra...Arcturus whispers in my head. Not far...

Yes, I know, I want to say.

I can feel the elusive pull even as chaos ensues behind me. Just up here...

I explode into a pleasant room and come face to face with the whole miserable crew. They're eating breakfast and that insufferable High Lord has a piece of toast halfway to his mouth. Niclas is frozen, his hand half stretched towards an apple.

The sword glows faintly in the middle of the table.

I don't even pause. I go straight for it and it glows brighter. My hand brushes the handle and its mine, I've got it and I'm leaving-

A wall of darkness surrounds me. I can't move.

Someone bursts into the room.

"That..insufferable...girl..." The petite female is panting and I still can't move. The sword glimmers and I want to slash and tear at the night.

"Calm down, Elena." Niclas says from within the dark and I want to snort. I'll calm down when I'm fifty miles from here. I manage to wriggle my wrists and my waist, pushing against this force.

Calm down.

The voice is an intruder in my mind and the faint consciousness of Arcturus hisses in response.

Not a chance. I reply to the insidious influence.

"We're not trying to hurt you." Feyre says softly. Her voice is soothing but I don't believe it for a moment.

"Because last night was the epitome of hospitable behaviour." I reply, remembering those agonizing slashes.

"You were stealing from us." She says and the darkness begins to fade, although I'm still held in place.

"Stealing what you had stolen." I quip, trying to move my wrist again. My power surges towards Niclas again. I scowl in frustration. This is not the time to be attracted to someone.

"What?" She asks and the High Lord watches me carefully. His eyes are on my red hair.

Andromeda thrums as if its alive and I can feel it connecting with me. With us, Rigel says into my head.

Nice of you to join but you're as useless as a chocolate teapot, I think furiously. I was literally dying last night and you didn't even say anything.

You were fine, he replies.

"That sword has belonged to this court for over a thousand years." Rhysand says. "Why do you suddenly want it? Who exactly are you?"

I pause my mental argument and watch him. He really is beautiful but there's something cold in his gaze. Or maybe something broken, despite his mate standing beside him. I suppose looking at someone like me, the daughter of his abuser, would bring that back to the surface.

"I'm a member of the Star Court." I say coolly. "My name is Elena. This sword is a relic of my court"

Niclas rolls his eyes at that but I clamp my lips shut and won't say any more.

"Then you can sit down and eat breakfast, Elena." Rhysand says, no smile on his lips. "Without trashing our home."