When the Stars Defy the Sky

Chapter 2: Urgency

"So this is how you spend your days of exile, brother." 

The familiar chirps of two young girls' voices roused him from his sleep. Defying the very nature of his body's need for rest, the star prince pried his eyes open to see before him both of his twin sisters. One twin, Gem, was knelt beside him, looming over his lying body. The other, Ini, stood hovered over him; the brightness of the starlight cast her petite shadow across the flat plain of the desert, her arms crossed over one another.

"Why have you come to see me, Gem and Ini?" He bantered at the duo, still drunk with fatigue. He hadn't seen his sisters since the trial for his exile, nevertheless, kept his demeanor nonchalant. 

"We come with grave concern, brother", both twins spoke in unison, "Every Zodiac has been called to the Celestial council, and the matter is urgent." 

"The meeting will be held at the dusk of Jupiter and it's paramount that even you attend this one, Ophiuchus."

Yes, Ophiuchus. The leader of the stars and heir to the Zodiac thrown. Responsibilities born to his name, but never to his intention. He ignored his sister's pleas. 

"First and foremost, I cannot deal with your unison. This 'seeing double' thing is going to give me a headache, and frankly, I don't wish to hear two people say the same thing."

Gem looked up at her sister and rose from her spot beside Ophiuchus. This reminded Ophiuchus of the mimes he saw in France; they mimicked each other's movements fluently, and neither one had an aspect different. One twin intertwined her hand with the other, and in that instant puff of smoke, the two became one. A single body, but of two minds.

"There, better?" They asked. His only response was a light groan of unsatisfactory.

"We beg of you Ophiuchus" Gemini persisted, " Scorpio would not have sent us to get you if this wasn't urgent." A sudden silence filled the millennia-long gap that now separated him from his sisters, not to mention the resentment that built up over that time.

 "Why should I care," He exclaimed, years of anger beginning to swell in his tone. 

His sisters sighed in remorse. "We understand your anger, brother. As you know, we ourselves were saddened by the decision of the council. We truly didn't want to see you banished." And this was true. It all happened at the Quarter Moon Ball.

The Quarter Moon Ball was so long ago he can't remember just how long it's been. The barbant, inessential get together was an inexplicable dysfunction of a gathering his brothers and sisters had hosted. That day also marked the events leading up to his destined exile. He then vowed to never speak to any one of his siblings again, save for Gem and Ini. Out of all those who voted him to leave, Gemini begged the others to give him a second chance.

He lessened the tension in his voice. "I appreciate where your heart lies, Gemini, but I cannot participate in their masquerades and festivities no more. My ties with the others have been severed, and I do not wish to be beckoned by deserters after all I've endured for the sake of simply deciding what I want for myself." He turned his head away from his sisters and closed his eyes once more. 

Gemini crossed their arms in protest, slumping their body's weight onto their right hip. They knew they were not leaving without Ophiuchus, no matter the circumstances. 

"Ophiuchus you mustn't act this way, now is not the time for grudges. If what you desire is to be left alone, then don't look for now to be the case. We're not leaving here until you agree to come." He looked up to see the stained expression of true determination written in their eyes.

Ophiuchus scoffed at the remark and drew a single cigarette from his increasingly scarce pack. With a snap of his fingers, the end of the cigarette lit instantaneously. He remained unmoved. 

"I don't want to be in the same room with any of them. I have made my peace with my banishment, and going back will make all my efforts wasted." 

Gemini's patience was running thin.  "Stop ignoring the subject at hand. The fact of the matter is, there have been some serious incidences that could be catastrophic if we aren't all present, Ophiuchus. It's not ridiculous to believe that this could be bigger than any of us, that too goes for your animosity towards the others."

Ophiuchus went silent with thought. 

After a long period of silence, Ophiuchus finally decided. It is with a heavy heart and defeated sigh, Ophiuchus says, "Alright, I'll go. But just so you know, this doesn't change anything. Whether they lift the exile or not, I will not come back." 

Gemini's eccentric grin and eager eyes already gave Ophiuchus a sense of uncertainty, leaving him questioning if the decision he made was wise.

"Thank you, Ophiuchus, truly. We will leave at once." Gemini dug through the contents of the hidden pockets of their black dress and presented a jagged, chromed jewel. They hesitated with a look of patience.

"I'm not going with you," Ophiuchus stated, " I'll meet you there." 

Gemini's eyes lulled in disbelief. "How do we know to trust what you are saying? Though we love you brother, your track record proves reasonable doubt to disbelieve you."

He smiled at his sisters. The very same smile he used to reassure them many years ago. Ophiuchus stood up and placed his colossal hand onto Gemini's scrawny shoulder. He looked deep into their calico eyes.

"Gem, have faith in me. You too, Ini."

Gemini gave a soft smile, and the twins emerged back into standard form, each holding the other's hand. Both gazed up at their brother, then nodded in agreement. 

"We will be awaiting your arrival," they stated confidently. 

The two then turned on their heel with impeccable mimicry facing the rising sun. Ini held the jewel within her palm, and with a single swift movement, tossed it up into the air. The jewel burst into whirls of spirals and beams of bright purples and blues. And as they descended into the mist of colors, Gem turned back to see Ophiuchus, reverted to how she found him, halfway through yet another cigarette.

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