Black Star

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

I am not surprised. Ian isn’t either. We both knew the number of times we’d risked it, and know it happened. Menodora seemed excited for me, yet afraid of Arthur’s reaction. Arthur indeed was angry, which made things scarier.

- So I guess we’ll kill the baby along, he said.

It angered me. He couldn’t do that. I managed to get up, but Arthur pushed me back down.

- Don’t touch the baby, I said half struggling to get up again.

He grinned at me.

- No choice, darlin’. That’s how life goes.

No, that’s not how life goes. How life goes, it’s when the bad guy dies and the heroes get to go home and have a happy ever after thingamajig. And in this case, nothing of that is realising.  

- Please, everyone. Let’s congratulate our dear Diana for her baby.

Arthur laughed along with the Circle as Aurelia said these words.

- Is it a boy or a girl? asked Aurelia.

Menodora replied. I didn’t know how she knew the answer because even I didn’t. But then again, she probably had a vision.

- A boy.

Arthur claps and everyone breaks into silence.

- Bravo. A boy.

He continues clapping and I attempt to back away as he approaches towards me, but instead, I collapse and lean on him for support. It was a false move and I wanted to back away as far as I could and stay close to Ian, but Arthur held his grip on me. 

I try to control my pain by taking deep breaths, but I feel weak either way. a tear gently falls down my cheek and I had a quick thought that it was the end. The end of us all. The end of the Black Stars.

Arthur calls Rowena and Hector to hold on to me.

- Tomorrow, he says looking at me but addressing the crowd.

I look at him with eyes cursing at him.

- Tomorrow, he continues, Diana Ward, the Black Star, shall die at midnight with the magic created by the Circle of Dawn reunited. Whether you’d like it or not, he said to Cecelia and Braden who just woke up, you’ll have to collaborate. No buts. Suicide yourself, I don’t care. I already have a drop of your blood to do the ceremony.

Arthur turns to Ian.

- You took her powers. I thank you for leading her towards me powerless. It helped.

Arthur turned to me.

- How is the most painful way to die for a fifteen year old?

Fifteen? Right, Kyle told him that. I wasn’t fifteen.

- I am not fifteen. Kyle was teasing you.

Arthur turned to Kyle, annoyed. The boy was awake and there was just Colin Travis who was still under the spell. It was surprising since he seemed to be the toughest one.

- Hey, man. A few jokes won’t hurt you. Ya, I think she’s about sixteen. She had her birthday before she discovered what she was and another after. Which means she’s sixteen, right? No sweat, you’re on track.

Arthur talked directly to Kyle.

- You try to make yourself laugh. Mentally. I know why, it chases away your fears. At least, that’s what you think. But it won’t help you, Kyle. It makes it worse.