When Stars Fall (NaNoWriMo22)

Chapter 16

The Witch sisters meet for conference, except for one. They waited all they could before her blatant lack of appearance became an insult. "We have not heard from her for two days, Illumia," Eleste wrings her wrists with nerves. It is a rare occasion to see her in such distress. To see any of these sisters in such state, really. "I fear that there is a foreboding threat in the air. We had never strayed so far from each other before. This game might've not been the best to do."

Illumia knows Eleste is right, but she would rather die ugly than admit that to her. "Nirvana has always been like this, Eleste. She gets angry and leaves. Let her expel all that outrage, that hate, and we shall see her again soon." Eleste stands from her seat and paces from one direction to the other. "This isn't like one of those times, Illumia!" She yells with frustration. "I sense a dark omen. Our sister has done something, I know it! It will not end well." Illumia notes the intensity of her words. "Have you seen something, sister?" Eleste visibly gulps. "Answer!"
   
Eleste flinches. "I haven't yet. It's just a feeling."

Illumia doubts it very much that Eleste hasn't tried to see where she and Nirvana has been up to. This "feeling" stems from something deeper than a mere worry from a sister. "Do a reading, Eleste. Now!" Eleste huffs, frustrated with the situation they are in. "I warn you, Illumia! This will only bring more confusion." She sits on her seat and pulls an invisible item from her side. Illumia doesn't have to ask to know that it's the Sheer.

Eleste mumble inaudible words into this special item and watches silently. Illumia's thoughts jumble together as she thinks about Nirvana. She's always known that Nirvana has had a terrible temper. A temper that can drive her insane. The last time her sister had gotten this way, she had destroyed and killed an entire town. We spent the next three decades hiding in the mountain to let the humans have time to forget the whole ordeal. It was the most irritating thing she'd ever done thus far.
   
"She's blocked us." Eleste looks up at Illumia. "She won't let me see."
   
Illumia's jaw ticks. So, Nirvana has gone off on her own. "You know what this means, don't you sister?" Eleste turns grim. This have turned for the worst against these sisters. "We cannot know if Nirvana has taken that road. She is our sister! Nirvana would never betray us." Illumia leans back in her seat, rubbing her ring in thought. Would she betray her sisters? The answer is quite clear, but they don't know that yet. Something tells her that once she does have it all out together, it'll be too late to salvage their sisterhood.

"Let us give her until next sundown for her to answer our calls. I'm sure she just needs more time to settle."

"What happens if she doesn't?" Illumia stares down her sister. "Do you remember what our family did to one another? What happens if Nirvana falls under the same pattern of betrayal? What shall we do then?" Eleste, for the first time in centuries, has unshed tears rim her eyes. They contemplate the massacres of centuries prior.

They were only young girls then. "If she does betray us," Eleste swallows harshly, "then we'll do what we must. Only if! Otherwise, we will do nothing but find our Star." She wrings her wrist with the nerves. "We will give her the time to settle. Just until the Star is back on land." Illumia takes her sister's words to heart. When it came down to it, would she able to do the deed? She's done worse things than this before. They all have. Eleste, albeit afraid to lose her remaining coven, does have the ability to do what she must. That's what scares her. That's why she has those tears in her eyes.

Because she would kill her sisters if they ever betrayed her. She would do what demands of her without question.