💫 Starburst ⭐️

Starburst; Part 11

Kassamel Mountain
"I was in so much pain, but then right after I closed my eyes, there was this thing. It was a silhouette. I don't know who it was, but it was female that's for sure. It was so dark I couldn't see, but the girl moved to me. She whispered something, and then she touched my hand. Before I knew it, I woke up. When I saw what was happening, I quickly took action, but I didn't know I could do rock lifting magic... and it happened!" Astiana was explaining how she'd come back.

Lacey looked at Katherine, who seemed to focus more on walking than listening. They were going to walk until nighttime. "Where exactly are we going?" Lacey asked. "We don't have a destination," Katherine replied bluntly.

Lacey shared a look with Astiana. She knew Katherine well enough to know something was wrong, and Astiana could pretty much understand as they were sisters.

Was she still upset about Astiana's near death experience? Then, something hit Lacey's brain. Mackenna. So that's what Katherine's worried about. Astiana looked at Lacey questioningly.

Mackenna. Lacey thought. Astiana made an 'Ohhh!' expression and nodded to agree. Lacey started thinking too. Was she okay? Mackenna had a curse that Lacey had promised to remove.

She'd promised to free her father. And Mackenna herself. But she hadn't thought about it yet.

And then, Lacey understood something. Mackenna could read her brain. So could Astiana. Astiana was a spirit, so would Mackenna be a spirit too?

Mackenna read my mind. Is she a spirit like you? Lacey was conversing with Astiana in her mind.

There is one more type of magical being that can read your mind. Astiana sent a message back.

She looked at Lacey with sadness in her eyes.

Kaireens. Astiana replied in Lacey's mind. "You know, you don't need to talk all privately in Lacey's mind. I'm your sister aren't I?" Katherine interrupted.

Astiana blushed. "Oh right. Forgot you could read minds..." she stammered. Lacey giggled behind her hand, then returned her attention to Astiana's word. Kaireens. "What are Kaireens?" Lacey demanded.

Katherine looked at Astiana dangerously. "Not something kids should know. Right Astiana?" she gritted her teeth.

"Oh yes, of course!" Astiana replied nervously. Lacey had a talent of staring at people with displeased eyes. Then, they'd tell her what she wanted to know.

She began her look and aimed it at Astiana. Before Astiana could open her mouth, Katherine clapped her hand over it. "No," she said warningly.

"Then I'll research over it!" Lacey announced. Katherine looked at Lacey, exasperated. "Fine. I say it less violent than the books," she sighed.

"It's storytime!" Astiana exclaimed. Lacey shot her a look, which meant business. Astiana quietened down and looked at Katherine.

"Kaireens are shape shifting creatures. They are very depressed creatures, and are extremely vulnerable to control spells. Kaireens are sad because their own families have to die, in order for the rest of Kaireens world to live." Katherine paused and looked at Lacey.

Shape shifting. Mackenna? Depressed?! Lacey's thoughts rang in her head.

The other reason they're depressed is because of..." Katherine looked at Astiana. "I'm not telling the rest. You do it!"

"Fine. The other reason they're depressed is because... they are born cursed to live on blood. If they go without blood for a day, they start dying. Shivreling, withering, skin peeling-"

"That's enough!" Lacey plugged her fingers in her ears.

"Also, if they're under a control spell, they won't be able to have blood which is usually why Kaireens are kept away from. They can read minds because... well it gives them energy to fight back the control curse. In Mackenna's case, she's a lonely Kaireen. She wants friends but knows she can't have them because of the blood thirst or control curse," Katherine added.

Suddenly, Lacey's ears were blocked. "Um..." Lacey looked around. They were so busy talking, they'd walked right up a mountain! "Kassamel mountain," Astiana murmured under her breath.

They'd already reached the top, and it was flat. Lacey sat down and heaved a sigh. "So much walking!" she moaned. "I forgot you were six cause your attitude shows that your twelve," Astiana teased.

Lacey grinned and pulled her down. "How old are you?" Lacey asked.

"Hmm... don't know. Do you?" Astiana challenged Lacey to think. "Twenty?" Lacey guessed.

"Well I'm in my twenties. Katherine's a year older, but she's also in her twenties," Astiana replied. "Not bad," Lacey smiled casually. "The suns setting. We should sleep," Katherine sounded tired.

"No problem," Lacey lay down and stared up at the beautiful sun. "When are we going to look for the flash?" she questioned. "Tomorrow," Astiana pulled the bag on Lacey's eyes.

She pushed it away and looked up at the sky. It was dark now, the moon was lighting up. The stars shone down at Lacey. Astiana and Katherine were asleep, it was just Lacey now.

Lacey had heard of the expression 'wish on a star' and she'd taken it seriously. "I wish... I wish that we can find the flash quick," Lacey whispered to the star. The star twinkled, and it seemed to jump.

And then, the star zoomed down to Lacey, flashing in the night sky. At that moment, an important realization smacked Lacey hard.

This shooting star was the flash. And it was coming right at her.