Starry Night ✔

"For someone who just fell from the sky, you sure are a little too energetic!" The boy shrieked as he followed me around. "No! Not that. Gran will chop me into pieces!"

I looked at the vase, then at the pale boy with filthy glasses, and tossed the vase anyway. He cursed and crouched down to gather the pieces as I resumed my search. With shaking hands, I searched every corner of the dingy house for the lost crown but found nothing. I tugged my raven hair and groaned.

Time was slipping right through my fingers. I could only hope that the crown did not select its owner yet.

"Whoa! Sit down, wonder-woman! You're bleeding... oh, my god! You're bleeding gold."

"Stupid mortals," I hissed. "You should not have meddled with my business, boy."

A wolf howled in the silent night. My heart leaped into my mouth and I clutched the burnt curtain to my chest for dear life. My mortal form had suffered greatly due to my yearlong trials. I needed the power of another constellation to survive a fight with the Draco constellation, but I had no choice left.

"Stay inside and do not step out no matter what happens," I warned the boy and snapped my fingers. The partially burnt curtain wrapped around me like a makeshift toga. The boy gaped as I glared at him and limped out of the cottage.

"Lupus!" A wounded wolf scurried towards me and nudged my leg. "Did you find anything?" He whimpered and lowered his head. I swallowed my disappointment and smiled. "It is all right, Lupus. Now, you shall rest."

With a moan, Lupus disintegrated into specks of light. The specks circled me and repositioned themselves on my spine. A silver thread connected the returned freckles in the shape of Lupus- the wolf constellation, before fading away. The color of my skin darkened to the slightest. I sighed in bliss and popped the pressure off my joints.

A roar rattled the glass panes of the house behind me. I scowled and clenched my fists. This was the last set of constellations I needed to attain my full power; I was not going to let anything spoil that for me. I snatched my javelin out of thin air and swished it above my head. Silver fumes followed my weapon.

"Scutum," I called out. The freckles on my cleavage glowed in the shape of Scutum, the shield constellation. Seconds later, I had that very shield in my left hand. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the skin of my neck where Draco was supposed to be. As if reading my thoughts, Draco growled. I bared my teeth and braced myself.

With a stomp, I challenged Draco for a duel. A huge shadow tore its way through the aurora borealis that danced in the shades of green above us. Ladon, the giant serpent-like dragon represented by Draco constellation, crashed on the earth. My legs wobbled, and I cursed myself for challenging Draco with a feeble stomp. Draco raised its snout towards the sky and breathed fire with pride. I scoffed.

Its beady onyx eyes snapped towards me. The hatred in those dark pits froze me on the spot. Draco took its time to bow its gigantic head to my level as it examined my slowly and sneered. Using my distraction, it rammed its scaly tail on my right side and tossed me away like a rag doll.

I gritted my teeth as I snapped back to reality. Draco breathed fire on me, and I rolled just in time to save my skin. It growled as I jumped back on my feet. Before I could aim my javelin at its heart, its tail cracked down at me like a whip. I darted out of the way, but Draco wounded my throwing arm. I hissed in pain and balled my fist as the vyar from my wound stained the earth.

Draco breathed fire again. I raised my shield and tried to stay put to no avail. It pushed me back with flames until its throat turned hoarse. This time, I took advantage of its weakness. With every ounce of energy left, I ran straight towards it and threw my javelin. The weapon pierced the air like a silver lightning flash. The world tilted beneath my feet, and I fell down before I could see the result. Though, Draco's pained roar announced me the clear winner.