When Stars Fall (NaNoWriMo22)

Chapter 10

We soared through the sky with great speed. Averett and I embrace each other as the wind whips at us. I feel giddy at the feeling of flying to the skies. It's so much better than falling aimlessly. But then, all of a sudden, we crash into a cage, smashing into each other. I gasp in pain while Averett groans. "What..." I push my hands at the twisted wires and look around. "Oh..no." I almost cry. My hopes are dashed to dust. I slide down and close my eyes. "What is this?"

"It's a trap," I sigh, exhausted. "It's designed by Skyrateers to catch thieves." I feel Averett slump down next to me. "We've accidentally stumbled into a Skynet." My siblings must be slapping themselves silly. "We both must've been thinking of our own homes. It's too far high to go to yours, and too far low to get to mine."

Averett sharply inhales, making me turn to him. He holds a hand close to his chest in pain. I scramble over and inspect the injury. His hand is burned pretty badly. I jab of guilt clenches my heart. As gently as I possibly can, I take it from him and place it on my lap. "It'll heal, but it'll hurt for a while without treatment. Here," I rip a piece of fabric from my underskirts. "We should keep this bandaged until someone arrives." With care, I wrap his wounds. The burns look awful, but I don't need to tell him that. I don't know much about human medicine to be able to predict how his hand will heal.

"Tell me what that was all about, Alcyone." Averett's face is taut with pain that I had indirectly inflicted on him. I feel horrible. My finger ties the cloth snuggly and place his hand back on my lap. "This precedes you, and maybe even me. But every century or so, a Star falls to Beyond. We never understood why it happens, but it does." I rest my head back. My whole body begins to hurt with such intense pain. "There was a time when mortals and Stars got along. In fact, Stars were the ones that saw the potential humans had and expanded their capabilities to the Beyond."

A tear rolls down my cheek. "After a while, their enlightenment was excellent. The mortals passed the new ideas from one corner of the realm to the other. Us Stars watched with pride at our brethren who guided them. But, we did not see the darkness coming. A coven of witches arose from the enlightened and demanded to know how the Star stayed young for so many years. They wanted to know the magic behind that youth. He didn't give them an answer that satisfied them enough, so they killed him. Brutally with the same weapons those illusions had." The Witch sent a clear message with her dark figures. I knew what she was planning on doing to me those woods.

"I have watched many Stars fall and be captured. My sister, Maraynia, was the last one before me." If I close my eyes, I could recount each death vividly. I could describe it in great detail, and it still wouldn't capture the true horror of it all. "She fought," I cry as I finally meet his attentive gaze, "To her last breath, she fought. The Witches didn't get her shine, but they still got her heart." Averett listens quietly, his burned hand squeezing my own in reassurance. "This blasted jewel was what ripped me away and I can't seem to find it in myself to take it off. Now, we are both being hunted by them. I should've told you, but it seemed that I was safer being with you than not. And I absolutely despise you!"

I laugh through my tears. I am going insane! "I refuse to die, Averett." Fresh tears overflow and stain my cheeks. "I don't want to." I raise my hand to wipe them away but a stinging on my wrist catches my attention. I have a burn that wraps around my wrist where the silver chain once was. The magic of the candle burned the chain's binding. I can only stare at it in wonder. "You won't die, Alcyone." Averett grabs my hand and rips a piece of his own shirt. "I swear that I will get you home unharmed." He wraps my burn carefully the way I did for him. "Starting now."

We smile at each other. I lay my head on his shoulder and relax. My fondness for this boy has grown now that I know that he won't cause me any harm. It feels nice to be able to let down my guard for Averett. Our encounter with the Witch earlier made me realize how much I need an ally. I'm glad that we only had to meet one of the Witches. Although it does make me uneasy not knowing where the others are. It cannot be a good sign that they are all separated, can't it? I should think not.

I wrap my arms around his. He hadn't moved his injured hand from my lap yet, and I don't mind. I stay awake when he rests his head on mine. I stay awake when his breathing evens. And I stay wake when the clouds grow heavy with rain. I do fall asleep when my skin dimly glows white. I barely register the fact when my eyes close on their own accord.

* * * * *

The Skynet jolts forward unexpectedly making me wake in alarm. My eyes immediately land on Averett's still sleeping form. The clouds are now a dark grey. A storm is brewing. The Skynet jolts awkwardly once more, tossing us both against the wires that are digging onto our backs. "What's going on?" Averett and I are on hands and knees searching all sides for this random occurrence. "I-I'm not sure. Maybe it's the storm?"

We hear a sharp click from somewhere above us and then we slung up at a terrifying speed. Averett and I float in the air for just a second before we come to a sudden spot. I land on my injured wrist and cry out. "You alright?" I nod, biting my lip while I move my arm from under me. There's another sharp click and various sounds of heavy footsteps. We are both soaked through, but the rain has miraculously stopped. That's when I notice that we are no longer outside. Curses. I gather my courage as I make myself glance up.

We are inside a vessel. The Skynet has been pulled up to the underbelly of an asterboat. My wet hair slips from shoulder, weighing heavily on my scalp. A pair of leather boots stop in front of the trap. Curses, curses, curses. "Well, well," the stranger chuckles, "looks like we caught two wet strays." The cold sinks deep into my bones making me shiver. My eyes travel up his legs until I am able to see his face clearly. He's the typical skirateer. He has a stubby beard with overgrown brown hair. Eventhough he unshaven and unkept, his clothes are finely pressed and styled.

"Are you going to hurt us?" Skirateers over the years had slowly become more civilized, however there are still crews out there that are brutal with outsiders. "Oh, darling, no!" He squats down to meet us at eye level. "If it were any else who checked the Skynet, they would," I flinch at knowingly look he throws me, "but I have no desire to hurt either of you." Averett throws an arm over my shoulders, rubbing them gently.

"I'd be very grateful if you'd help me and my wife," Averett nods his head at him. "We are cold, injured, and in need of a place to rest."

The skirateer glances between me and Averett in thought while we both huddle together shivering. I try to stop my body from wracking against Averett's chest so violently. It's no use. Every single muscle has a mind of their own. "Wife, huh?" Averett nods once. I will have to have a conversation with him about his affliction of calling me 'wife'. It's getting out of hand and completely unnecessary. "Tomorrow, we make port," the skirateer unclasps the Skynet and steps away. Averett scrambles to open the top, bringing me along with him. "Once we do, I will introduce you to the crew. I'll come get you get when the crew's too drunk to notice." He grabs a blanket from an old bookshelf and hands it over. "Take this for now. It'll keep you warm."

"Th-thank y-you, sire." I could barely get the words out.

He doesn't say anything as he leaves us alone. "He seems alright." I give him a shaky laugh. "H-he might b-be." I rub the scratchy blanket against my skin. We sit on the floor with our back leaning on the Skynet. "Averett?" He continues to snuggle deep into the blanket. "Why must you call me your wife? It's not necessary." My dress suddenly becomes heavy to me. "It's gotten us this far, Alcyone. No one will suspect you are anything but someone's wife." I squint at him.

His logic makes no sense. "Why not just call me your sister? Or a cousin? A friend?" Anything is better than 'wife'. "If I had called you anything but my wife, the men would be constantly all over you." Averett's eyes go dark at a fleeting thought that passes through his mind. "Plus, like you said, there are many who know you have fallen. If I continue to introduce you as my wife, it states that you are an ordinary woman who has been here long enough to marry." Oh. I guess his reasoning has some sense.

I hate him calling me his wife, but if it keeps out of the limelight then I'll agree to it. "I wonder what Everly will say about this whole journey." I lean my head on his shoulder again. "I'm sure she'll find it most interesting, don't you?" I feel like drifting. My whole body must be badly bruised now. I'd have to check later. My stomach twists with hunger adding more to my discomfort.

"Yes," Averett says, all too pensive, "maybe she will."