Star Beings: Dawn

A Different Story

The next morning we finally made it, and the next step was actually finding the place. But that didn't take long, surprisingly. Maxine knew right where to go, as if she had been here a thousand times. Maybe she had. And as we finally get close to the location, I realize that not only had she been here a thousand times, but I had been here too. I was here about three years ago, and I killed Zahara.
Or, at least I thought I did.
Maxine hesitates at the door, her small gaggle of friends (plus me) behind her.
She knocks, her face poisoned with worry. The door opens, and inside stands an older woman, her dark hair streaked with gray.
"Fatima! God, you've barely aged at all."
"Hello Maxine. How are you today?"
"Are you the one who sent these?" She asks, pulling the letters from her pocket. The older woman takes the folded papers from her hand, gazing down at the creases and worn edges.
"Yes," she says quietly, her appearance shifting, "Yes I was."
Before us no longer stands an older woman, but instead a lean young lady with dark hair, a long and hooked nose, and beautiful dark brown eyes.
Zahara Hassan was alive, and she was standing right in front of us. Maxine looked angry, and upset, and ecstatic all at the same time. There are tears in her eyes. I can only imagine what's going through her head right now.
"All this time," She says in a broken voice, "all this time and you were right in front of me. Why didn't you tell me? WHY?!"
"Come inside. Your friends and Anaideia are welcome as well."

"I hid originally because I didn't want to attract attention, to myself or you. I knew if you found out I was alive you'd come running, so instead I took on a new identity. Fatima, my aunt. She lives hundreds of miles away, so I knew no one would question it, and that also meant I could help you. After the war I just kept living the lie. But a few months ago I just... I missed you. I've missed you since the day I died and I've loved you since the day I met you. That's why I sent the letters. I needed to see you again, Maxine. But I understand if you're angry, and I understand if you never want to see me again. This will be goodbye, but at least we will have one this time."
Maxine sits at the table, staring at her lover. I can almost hear her mind working, trying to decipher how to react.
She stands and walks over to Zahara, her braids swishing in the breeze.
"I missed you too. I missed you more than I've ever missed anything in my life, my Zahara."
The two kiss, and I can't help but smile. Their love is just so genuine, so soft.
I see Maxine smile, an actual true smile. It's the first time I've seen her smile in person.
"We have much to discuss, dear. But as for right now, let's get back home shall we?"
"Wait. I... I have a question."
All eyes are on me with my hand raised in the corner. Maybe I should've kept my mouth shut... But I need to know.
"How? How did you manage to hide so well and for so long?"
Zahara just stares at me with a cold indifference. I can tell she's annoyed at my question, and probably also my existence.
"You did actually hit me, you know. Just not where you think you did. I got shot in the leg, and that made it all the easier to trick you. After that I stayed here and lived as Fatima. The Zahara Hassan that was killed and buried vanished the moment the coffin closed. Everything was an illusion, a lie. Well, everything except my love for Maxine, of course."
Maxine smiles at her partner, the two's hands still intertwined.
"It's time to go. The others are probably worried... I know Caleb is, he won't stop fuckin texting me." Damien grumbles.
I know what will happen next. We'll go back home, I'll have a few peaceful days with my partners, and then it'll be back to normal. Back to war and bloodshed. Back to pain and strange figures in the shadows.
But, that's life I suppose.

Something is wrong.
I can feel it.
I'm awake. It's three am. We got back four days ago.everything has been strangely calm.
But now something is off. Someone is in trouble, or dead. Or maybe I'm just losing my mind, who knows.
I pull the sheets back over my head and curl into Hade, their good arm slung over me. Leigh is on my other side of me, her head resting in the crook of my neck. I close my eyes, trying to relax. But I can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. Eventually my eyes do close, and I fall into a fitful sleep.

"Cassius, may I have a word?"
Corinna stands alone in one of the many drawing rooms of the palace, although this one has a rather large window, a fireplace, and three soft couches situated around a coffee table. Cassius enters the room, his hair in its typically messy state. His hoodie is more wrinkled than usual, and he seems nervous... terrified, even.
"I know Anai's betrayal must have been quite a shock, little crow. I just wanted to see how you were holding up," The girl says, her tone conveying a far kinder emotion than her face. Her back is turned towards her brother, so he cannot see the look of disgust and anger that Corinna gazes out at the rainy valley with. She knows her brother has double crossed her, and that would just not do. He had to learn that he could not betray his family, even if it's the last thing he does.
"I am doing my best to adjust, Cori. Her actions were surprising but... well, it seems that it's in her nature to be a traitorous snake. I will say that it does hurt, though. We welcomed her with open arms and she-"
"Enough, little crow. I gave you one last chance to tell the truth, to prove you could be useful. Instead, you lie."
Cassius stops. He just... stops. Stops breathing, stops blinking, he stops everything and stares at his sister.
"C-Cori-"
"SILENCE!!!! YOU WILL LEARN NOT TO DISOBEY ME!!! EVERYONE WILL!!!"
The boy narrowly dodges a spike sent directly at his head, practically tripping over one of the couches in his panic. His chest heaves as his sister turns to face him, her red eyes glowing in the dim light. She's furious, and that means Cassius will die if he doesn't be a coward. The boy pulls himself to his feet and makes a mad dash towards the window, wings sprouting from his back as a spike shatters the glass. But, before he can ever reach freedom, his wings are sliced off. The boy screams in pain, falling to his knees. He hears frantic footsteps followed by the shouts of guards and Cain's helpless cries, the cries of an older brother who has realized far too late he had failed his youngest sibling, that he had broken the promise he had made to their mother before she passed.
"Cori, please-"
"Shut up."
"CORINNA, DON'T-"
"SHUT. UP." The girl screams, dragging her brother by the hood towards the window. He kicks and screams, desperately trying to free himself from her grip. But, no matter what he tries, she doesn't let go.
She pulls him onto his feet, dangling him over the edge.
"Please, Corinna. Don't do this," the boy sobs.
"This is the last time you fail me, Cassius. Goodbye."
She loosens her grip, and the boy falls, screaming as he vanishes into the mist.
Moments later, Cain bursts into the room.
"Cori... Cori why would you-"
"It had to be done, brother. Get over it." she snarls, leaving the room. The oldest falls to his knees, his whole body shaking with sobs. He was gone.
Cassius Bruneau was dead.

I wake up to Hade and Leigh both holding me with worried looks on their faces. I'm shaking, and I can't stop crying. Cassius is gone. Corinna killed him.
"Anai, we're here. Just breathe."
"Cassius-"
"We know. We heard you screaming," Leigh whispers
"She killed him. She fucking killed him."
I just feel the arms around me tighten as I continue sobbing. He was just a kid.
He was just a fucking kid.

Heheh angst