When Stars Fall (NaNoWriMo22)

Chapter 36

Prince Foustaz fumes on the outskirts of the newly destroyed city. The smoke had yet cleared from Nirvana's rampage. The poor prince is flabbergasted by the sight of incredible raging power. Not in fear, no! But in admiration and, maybe even, envy. The fire reflected in his eyes was that of mass chaos.

Nearly all of his men were caught in the crosshairs of the flames. He felt no grief at their untimely death, just annoyance. The men were loyal to their prince unlike the witch that he now seems trapped with. He knows not where her loyalties lie, even if her curse does prevent them from betray one another. What a pity it is indeed to be alone with no one to stand beside you, I should think.

A twig snaps deep within the shadows in the outskirts of Stonehaven, the newly demolished city. "Tell me, did they fall for your lies? Will they join us at the Wall?" Nirvana emerges from the dark, but the shadows refuse to leave her. "No." She hisses the word with poison laced with each letter. Nirvana's violet eyes are alight in anger. As it turns out, she had not expected for her sisters to turn their backs so brazenly on her. Her manipulation had not worked in her favor.

"So," he slyly grins, "you had overestimated their love for you? So unfortunate for you."

Nirvana purple's eyes turned to slits at his jab. To her surprise, it hurt. She thought herself stronger than this. Why would this hurt so much? The look in their eyes showed such lack of emotion. They did not care. Was it true what Illumia said? If the situation was reversed, would she had been on her chair with the same look? Uttering the same reproach? She found herself doubting it very much. Nirvana lips slowly turn up into a smile. "You would know what that feels like, wouldn't you? Well, with the lack of care from your brothers and the utmost hate from your father."

Prince Foustaz's smile almost dropped. It was as the mortal's say, they were even. The princes never had a connection. Or they had, and the string was cut harshly with blunted scissors. In Nirvana's case, it cut sharply. They were both alone, but one had chosen that path while the other had no choice in taking it.

"We will go to the Wall," Nirvana states. "The Star and the mortal boy have no idea what that damned wall will do to them. Do you know what that means? We'll be at an advantage."

This is news. What could she possibly know that Stars do not? It is insulting to know that Stars have yet learned enough about this world. More so when she believes that she's at an advantage. They know less than they think. But it does raise a question. What has escaped our sight that to others it hasn't? What, among all things, are we missing?

"You do understand that the Wall has been deemed prohibited by the law of the Crown for centuries now, yes?" Nirvana keeps silent. She doesn't seem to care. The Crown hasn't been respected by her not her kind since the start of their animosity. She turns her back from the pile of ash that was once the city of Stonehaven. "There's a reason why people never return from there. What makes you think that we'll be able to reach them before they simply...disappear?"

Disappear?

Nirvana pulls her ring off her finger, running her thumb across the violet gem. "We will be there before they even step foot in Market Palace." The jewel winks at its owner before she tosses it the thicket. A purple cloud erupts in that empty space. Nirvana grimaces and looks down at the hand the finger was on. It had changed instantaneously. It had gotten paler-a sick color of porcelain white. She's using up whatever Star essence she had in her system. She's exceeded the usage of power. Nirvana had forgotten the initial warning she had told her sisters. The prince hadn't noticed the change. Not even in her eyes, for they blazed with determination.

"What kind of sorcery is this?" Prince Foustaz eyed the portal with wonder.

"It is a portal," she pulls her hood on as she strides towards it. "It will take us where we need to go. To whom we wish to go to." I will get my Star, she thought to herself, and my sisters will know who's truly the most powerful. It is a grave mistake to aim one's goal for revenge. Especially when one knows nothing about the abilities of others, when the other is most definitely stronger than you. But which one? Who will be the last standing?

We have one dead prince. We have two others that have decided to lay low. Another who's a murderer. And one who's partnered with his blood's enemy. As two dark sister steps back and let fate decide what it must do. The players on the board have formed clear strategies. Let us hope they know when to resign.