When Stars Fall(The Last Star Trilogy #3)

Chapter 15-Tristan Capricorn

The jewels in the necklace caught the Starlight coming through the rips in the tent, shooting light in my eyes. I hadn't taken it out of it's box ever since I got it from the jeweller. A Star pendant encrusted with diamonds and purple-zircons dangled from a thin gold chain, it was supposed to be her birthday gift but she probably celebrated it by herself. The accessory sat on a white silky cushion, placed in a box which was the size of my palm. I closed the box and hid it away in my bag, every time I looked at it I thought of Belle.

My legs ached from all the exercising. Thanks Phoenix, I thought. She did say we would thank her for the difficult obstacles.

Lewis and Nathan looked like they might actually cry after they returned from the training area. Anthony had offered to give another class on Astral Travel given that Phoenix had already thaught Amara how to and she was helping others. Lyra had become a mute, not to mention she wasn't eating or behaving normally. I guess she was paranoid and cautious. Anthony and Lewis explained everything to me but when they pulled out research books I declined. My Sign was burning, at some point I almost went unconscious when I touched it. Stargazing was exertion and Capricorn felt strange lately, as if something was amiss.

I lay on my back with my head resting on my hands, Lewis snored next to me and Nathan massaged his legs, mumbling curses in Latin and Greek. Anthony stepped in moments later and clapped his hands to get us active.

"Five more minutes," Lewis complained, clutching his bag on which he lay his head.

Anthony sighed, forcing a smile. "Yes, the greatest lie ever told."

I laughed but the other two didn't find it amusing.

"Nathan," Anthony said to him. "It's your turn today."

Nathan looked like he might throw up, which he could have if it weren't for Anthony who gave him a motivational speech while I tried to rouse Lewis. He kept slapped me away or whining like an infant. Honestly, I felt bad for his mom who had to deal with him for eighteen years. Anthony and Nathan had sat down next to each other and continued talking. Nathan's face was bright red and his blonde-brown hair had curled on his head, he looked weaker than usual and his under eyes were dark. Anthony had wrinkles on his forehead and yawned every once in a while, his light brown hair greasy like the rest of ours'.

"He's not waking up, guys," I said.

"How much could he sleep?" Anthony complained. "I'm living off eight hours of sleep."

"That's not bad at all," Nathan said as soon as he did the Math.

Anthony's eyes narrowed. "Eight hours, in the past week." Nathan's mouth formed an O shape.

Nathan grinned as if he had just had a revelation. "Hey, look, it's Raelynn!" he said with joy. Lewis' eyes snapped open, he sat up quickly, running fingers through his messy hair.

"Where? Do I look okay?" he said groggily. "I don't see her anywhere." He squinted, his face looking flat without his glasses. I handed them to him.

"Still nothing," he complained.

"She'll come around," I said, slapping him on the back. Lewis pushed me away.

"Just leave me alone," he said, sniffing. We had all been irritable since the bombing. Phoenix more than others, she angry-cried and demanded we attack already.

"Lewis, you need to learn this," I insisted.

"What are you going to do if I don't? Make Phoenix hit me with rocks until my bones break?" he challenged.

Nathan and Anthony broke out laughing. The day of the bombing we felt an earthquake as the after effects, we got confirmation when we saw fire burning in Crimsyn State from a distance. After she finished crying, Phoenix broke off a three branch by throwing heavy rocks at it. I gave up on Lewis and stepped away while Anthony coached Nathan while he lay on his back, arms folded and eyes closed. He winced and might have cried. His breathing went from normal to heavy to slow and back to normal. This repeated until he gasped awake.