Aster and her husband Jaxtyn live in Telarm, the city of Guardians.
When Aster works a night at The Menage, a peep show of sorts, she uncovers a secret clue to the infamous Sorcerer's Gate. Horrified by this discovery, she quits her position and tak...
"Good morning, gorgeous," Jaxtyn said to Aster as he approached her leaning against the front windows of Lenny's Shop.
"Good morning," she said bringing her mouth into a smile. Seeing him like this in the morning light, she realized how much she missed him. Jaxtyn kissed her and slid his hand into hers as they started walking farther into town. She squeezed his hand, letting her head rest on his shoulder.
Jaxtyn and Aster both had the day off and they decided to walk to the shore. He announced that no bodies had been found since the one outside of their apartment. They walked through the town and found themselves at one of the many docks on the edge of the coast.
"What a lovely couple, you are," said a woman who looked more like a child. Her face was extremely youthful and doll-like. Her eyes were big and round and red. Her long brown hair was wet like she had just come from a swim, but she was fully clothed.
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Jaxtyn and Aster passed the woman and Aster felt an odd sense of chill like there was something wrong about her. Jaxtyn looked back at the woman who was now far past them. Aster looked up at him to find him looking dumbfounded. Something in his eyes made her sense confusion and curiosity.
They stood onto one of the docks looking out at the sea. Jaxtyn's brown hair was flowing in the wind. I really need to trim his hair again, Aster thought. He smiled at her through his eyes, but something about it made Aster sense that he was holding his breath, like he was on edge, like the pin was about to drop any second now.
"What's wrong?" Aster asked, looking at him seriously and with concern.
"Nothing," Jaxtyn said, but he wasn't looking at her now, instead he was looking off into the distance towards the sea.
"Look at me," Aster demanded.
Jaxtyn looked at her then, but even he couldn't fake for her whatever it was that was bothering him.
"I'm terrified," he whispered, as his eyes roved around her face like something would crawl out of Aster's skin.
"I noticed. What's got you so shook up? The murders? I thought you said there hasn't been any bodies since the last one we saw."
"There hasn't. That isn't the point. Something's not right. They're speeding up. It's happening more consistent now. In the beginning of the month, it was one or two. Now, weekly it's multiple bodies. They're getting cocky," Jaxtyn said holding her face now.
"You said, 'They're.' Do you think it's more than one person killing these women?"
Aster could've sworn Jaxtyn's face twitched, but she must have imagined it. She felt on edge alongside him.
"I don't know. It makes sense. It's a lot of work for one person," Jaxtyn said, blowing out a breath.
Aster thought carefully about it. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted upon the dock post, a purple, dragon ceramic like the one she'd seen in The Library at Heronswood castle. This one was in a different position than the one in the Library. The Library one was in a seated position whereas this one looked like it was about to jump.
