When the Stars Align

Brendan Needs to Pay

Nova's P.O.V

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I suddenly felt myself being dragged onto rough sand. I was able to pull the gag down from my mouth and began violently coughing up water. I turned over on my back and tried to keep the world from spinning.

"Hey, are you okay?" a worried voice asked.

I was able to make out Will's face under the light of the stars.

"Brendan needs to pay," I said struggling to get on my feet.

Will helped me up and began fidgeting with the blue handcuffs that were still attached to my wrists.

"Thank you, by the way," I said.

"Don't. I didn't do anything," he replied.

"Yeah, well, you've saved my life so many times now I've lost track," I said.

He shrugged. "These have the same key as any other Étoile handcuffs, I think I have one in my room."

We walked around to the main entrance of the Hotel soaking wet and shivering. As Will reached out to open the door, it flew open for him. Jase stood there looking surprised to see us there too. He wrapped me in a hug. We climbed the stairs to floor 3.

"Why don't you go on to bed? I need to get these off," I said to Jase gesturing to the handcuffs.

He nodded and ran off down the hall.

"Lock the door!" Will called after him.

We took the stairs the rest of the way to Will's room.

"Do you think Brendan is still in the hotel somewhere?" I asked him looking around as he unlocked the door.

"It's hard to say," he said leading me inside. "There were no Obscurités with him, just Étoiles, so he might not be working with them at all. He could be out on the streets somewhere or taking refuge in the hotel."

Will opened his closet to reveal a large number of weapons. He began digging around in there.

"But he communicated with the Obscurités somehow to hand Jase over to them," I pointed out.

"We don't know everything that happened with that," he argued.

"If he is taking refuge in the hotel, we need to find him," I said.

"I agree but the hotel is a pretty big place. Tomorrow we can talk to the Chancellor and maybe get some answers out of Noah," he replied. "Found it."

He held up a small blue key. I held out my wrists as he unlocked them. I rubbed my raw wrists.

"I'll go with you to your room to make sure they're gone," he offered.

I nodded. "Thanks."

We walked down the stairs to floor 3. The thought of Brendan still in the hotel made me shiver. Will noticed me shivering and slipped his hand into mine. The door to my room was ajar. Will went in first and I followed. He picked up his sword that was lying in front of the window. He looked around a little but there was no one in the room except for the two of us.

"I should probably get into dry clothes," I said.

He nodded. "Goodnight, Nova."

"Goodnight, Will," I replied before the door closed.

I changed into a plain t-shirt and shorts before climbing into bed.

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Will's P.O.V

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I nodded. "Goodnight, Nova."

"Goodnight, Will," she replied before the door closed.

I slumped against the wall beside her door and fell to the floor. I examined my sword under the dim lights. I let Brendan get to her once, I wouldn't let it happen again.

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Nova's P.O.V

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That night I had another nightmare, but this one was a little different. It was mostly just a replay of what had already happened. I would be dragged out of my bed, Noah would chase Jase, Jase came back with Will, and I would fall out of the window and off the roof. I became restless as soon as I hit the water and the icy numbness came over me. I felt a hand on my arm and screamed.

"Hey, it's okay, it's me," Will reassured me.

"Sorry, sorry," I said turning to face him.

"Nightmare?" he asked.

I nodded. "Will you stay with me?"

"Yeah. Yeah, of course," he replied.

I scooted over on the bed to give him room. He gracefully lied down. I laid my head on his chest to which he wrapped his arm around me. I fell asleep to the beating of his heart.