When Stars Fall (NaNoWriMo22)

Chapter 32

Death? Death. Death!

I shut the window with a slam. My heart thumps loudly as I piece it together. First Brother was a healer, that much is obvious. He healed the land with his blood. The Burning Tree is the biggest proof there is. But, being able to see death before it takes a living creature? I have never seen nor heard of such a thing before. No Star has ever been in touch with the Great, Great Beyond. At least, not that I know of.

First Brother must be mistaken. He has to be. I snap the book shut and leave our room. The walls are suffocating me. My swift carry me quickly downstairs without a glance from anybody else. Most of the men here reek of alcohol and I'm sure they are reaping the consequences of their choices now. I step through the doors. The thunderous day greets me with turbulent gales of stormwind. Those clouds are heavy with rainwater. It should dissipate soon. And First Brother will be proven wrong.

The streets are absolutely silent. Empty. What is wrong with this town? Why is there such a heavy and foreboding atmosphere here? My siblings would be mocking me endlessly. They would say, 'You do not like the busy streets, and now you say you despise the quiet. Pick a side!'

There are many storefronts here. Most are open, but others are dark. I quickly cross the street to-what appears to be-a small café. There aren't many others here. Just three young ladies. "Hello," I greet them. The three girls turn around simultaneously. To my surprise, they are all identical! Identical brown hair, identical eyes, identical faces. I have never witnessed such an outlandish thing. Have I ever watched identical sisters before? I'm not sure I have. "Welcome!" All three rush to my side. "Would you like cake? Cookies?"

"No! She looks like a chocolate girl. We have many delicacies with chocolate. Would you like to try some?"

"Excuse my sisters," she pulls me away from their fight. "Ellen and Emery always try to guess what a person likes before they order." She sits me on one of her tables. "I understand," I laugh as their bickering continues behind me, "I have sisters too. We do the same." The two other sisters, Ellen and Emery, bring me two plates. One of cake and the other of a chocolate muffin. "Oh, I don't have anything to pay for your services." Ellen, I assume, waves her hands about. "Do not worry! We won't charge you for these samples." I have started to get weary of these strange humans. Could they be in disguise? Are they the witches I fear of? I accept the plate of the unnamed sister and I purposefully graze her hand.

A soft and clear image of the countryside immediately flashes. She alone and sad. She turns around so I can see her face. It is mutilated! Scars run from her temple to her cheek as if it was frantically scratched at. I gasp as I'm yanked away from the vision. I clasp onto the plate and bring it down on the table. "Are you alright?" Her face isn't scarred now. What could this vision mean? Although hers was much clearer than Averett's, it still doesn't make sense. "What is your name?" Surprise flickers in her eyes. "You did not say. I know of Ellen and Emery. What is yours?"

"Esme." She sits down next to me as she answers. "My parents had a lovely sense of humor." I pinch a piece of the chocolate muffin. "I don't know what you mean." I drop the piece in my mouth and nearly moan. This is amazing! "Our parents named us depending on its meaning. Esme, Ellen, and Emery. Esme means esteemed. Ellen is fortitude. And Emery is power. My mother always said that it is important to understand the meaning of a name. It is true power." I had finished my muffin as she spoke. It is an interesting concept. "Do you know the meaning of your own?"

I shake my head as I venture to Emery's plate. "No? What is it? Maybe I know it!" Ellen and Emery join us with more plates in their hands. "Esme is good with names. I'm sure she'll know yours." I doubt Esme's ability, but I decide to give her the benefit of the doubt. "They call me Alcyone. That is the name I was given."

"Oh, interesting!" Esme claps her hand excitedly. I bite into the cake. I'm not really listening. I don't expect her to know my name. "Alcyone...like the Star!" A piece of cake gets lodged in my throat. Curses, curses! I roughly smack my chest. "The name hasn't been heard in a really long time, but not so long that I won't be able to figure this out. Now, let's see." Esme places her chin in her hands as she thinks long and hard. "Alcyone is a name that calls to the wind. The meaning of your name is that of 'Kingfisher'." Kingfisher? The word raises goosebumps up along my arm. My hand immediately plays with the necklace.

"What does that mean? Kingfisher?"

"Well, the Kingfisher is a type of bird," Esme explains, moving her hands here and there, "It is said that it was the first bird to fly in Realm Beyond. It is a symbol of peace. A promise for prosperity. If you think about it, I am indeed fortunate to have you walk into our small café." Was it not just this morning that I was reading about omens and death? Now, I am being taught of the fortunes my name brings. I shall go crazy with all the twist and turns a mortal day brings.

I should pay them back for their kindness and hospitality. They have been too good to me, even feeding such fine pastries. I know I am risking a lot by doing this, but these girls will not cause me any harm. I think they are too pure of heart to wish misfortune on a small mouse, let alone kill me for my heart. "Ellen," I reach out, "may I see your hands?" Ellen is taken aback by my question. She hesitantly places her hands in mine and the vision takes form.

I see destruction. Fires consuming everything in its path. I see people running in fear only to be swallowed by it. Then, Ellen stumbles out of their café amidst all the confusion and terror. The wall of fire is nearly there! But it is too late. She enveloped by it before she could even run. Ellen is dead.
           "Emery?" I keep my eyes closed as I search for her. "Your hands please?" Ellen's hands retreats and I feel Emery's take their place.

Her vision is earlier. Emery is walking down a road with a basket filled with something. I think it might be more her pastries. She comes across someone. A hooded figure in the middle of the road. Emery takes one cautious step before the fire exploded from the figure. Emery is dead before the destruction even began. They both die. Thus, the reason why Esme had her own face so mordaciously scarred.

This is the future. I am seeing remnant images of what's to come. "You have shown me kindness and taught me something that I would've never come to know if I was not told by you." I let go of Emery's hands. "So, I will do what my name suggests, and grant you good fortune. Death clings to the doors of this town. Destruction will wipe it clean off the face of the realm. As soon as you possibly can, run away from here. If not for yourselves, then for the lives of each other." They share fearful glances. Was I too insensitive in delivering this news? Should I have been less direct? Or was my message unbelievable? Should I have kept it to myself?

"I shall go. I have been here too long, I think."

Averett will soon be searching for me. I memorize their faces one last time before I leave them. Watch over them, my siblings. I hope they listen to warning. I hope they listen and live a long life. They didn't even say goodbye. I don't fault them for it. If a stranger had come to see and told me I would soon face death, I would be lost to my shock as well.

I retrace my steps back to the pub with a lot to ponder. There's been too many revelations today. "There you are!" Averett hastily grabs my arm and speeds us away. "You really need to stop wandering. Next time, I won't be the one finding you." He leads us to a horse who's already packed with our things. "What's happened?" Averett's eyes frantically scan our surroundings as if searching for someone. I have a bad feeling. "There's word of a strangers in town who have been here for a while. A woman with purple hair and a man accompanied by guards. Do these descriptions sound familiar to you?" A prince and the witch sister who attacked us.

Averett doesn't wait for me. He grabs my waist and lifts me up the saddle. "We need to ride to Market Palace today. The storm won't let out for a couple more days and we do not have time in our favor." He seats himself behind me, his arms protecting me from either side. He flicks the reigns without another word and off we go. Our departure is so quick that I barely noticed when we left the town nor when got back to the dirt roads.

I could only think of one thing. First Brother was right. The dark clouds were forewarnings of death. I could see death. The whole town will go up in flames because of the witch. She'll destroy everything once she realizes that I was here, and she has missed her chance once again. She won't forgive. She'll kill.