Blood Ties

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

        It was hot again, though not nearly as painful as last time. It was instead an annoying burning on her face without relief.  Moaning, Star opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the bright sunlight. She felt sore all over her body and extremely exhausted. Her head throbbed with every beat of her heart.

        Her eyes finally adjusted to the light enough where she could take in her surroundings. She was lying on her back on a dusty road, and something soft but non-substantial was supporting her head. In front of her, three horses stood, tied to a nearby tree. More trees encased the road she lay on, rising up on either side. The sky above her was clear, the pale endless blue of a normal summer sky.

        Yawning, she eased herself into a sitting position, her head whirling at the movement. Now that she was upright, she could see a brook a few yards away, near the horses. Marco stood by it, his face pensive and sad.

        “Marco?” Star rasped, frowning and clearing her throat. Immediately, Marco smiled, ambling towards her.

        “Afternoon, Star,” he said cheerily, sitting beside her.

        Star gazed dully at him, her eyelids drooping. “What’s wrong?” Another yawn enveloped her face.

        “What do you mean?” he asked, his smile vanishing.

        “You look sad,” she slurred. She felt so sleepy, and the sun was starting to feel like a pleasant blanket of warmth.

        Marco half-smiled weakly, replying, “I’m not sad.”

        “Yes, you are,” she insisted, yawning again, “you’re sad. Tell me why, please?” Her head nodded forward, but she jerked it back up, rubbing her eyes.

        “It’s nothing, but…the boy that was with Layla.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “He looked like my brother. He looked like…” He trailed off, a small, fond smile on his face.

        Star had fallen asleep where she sat, a small string of drool already hanging from the corner of her mouth.

        Marco laid her gently back down on her makeshift bed, brushing her frizzy hair away from her face. Rising to his feet, he returned to the brook, memories swirling through his head. He watched Kiya passively as he appeared from the wooded area, his face blank.

        “Has she woken up?” he asked as he neared Marco, his hands clasped behind his back.

        Marco stared into the streaming water and didn’t reply for a moment. Finally, he said, “Momentarily. She was disorientated.”

        “Expected,” remarked Kiya placidly. “I’m truly shocked at what a seamless job I did in binding all that power. The magical backlash was felt by even the weakest of us.”

        “You’re amazing,” Marco snorted, chucking a stone into the brook.

        Kiya narrowed his eyes at the younger man, his lips clamped into a thin line. “This changes things, Marco. Her magic is a risk to her health and yours. And her memories are more closely intertwined with them than I originally thought. You-"

        “Can’t tell her anything. I know.”

        “No, you don’t,” Kiya snapped. Marco finally met his eyes, his full attention on him. Kiya went on, “You must tell her as much as you can, but let her reach the obvious conclusion on her own. Everything may come as less of a shock if you hint at it. This should help some; I wish I could help you more, truly.”