When Stars Fall(The Last Star Trilogy #3)

Chapter 21-Annabelle Virgo

I sobbed the entire way to Crimsyn State. Gramps' body was in a bag and it haunted me; I wanted to take my eyes off it but they were fixated there, hoping he would rouse. I kept dozing off and nausea washed over me. I vomited Stardust blood; my eyes crying stardust. I guess there was more Virgo in me than I thought. The Sign had only faded on my flesh, it stung and glowed white. The Stars from Virgo had disappeared but if I squinted correctly I could make out the Constellation. Each time I tried to manipulate it's Stars my knees would buckle and I started sobbing, knowing I would never be able to do that with Virgo again.

The burial was short and silent. Raelynn and Phoenix hovered around Hellen and cried with her over Gramps' grave. People glanced at me and whispered behind their hands, talking about why I was still here, no doubt. Tristan glued his hand to my shoulder. Anthony and Nathan stood next to us with their arms crossed and heads lowered. Rasal was at my feet, hissing a prayer which translated in my head. The sky above was darkening with a red blush. I wiped away the tears but they only flowed back down. I fell to my knees and let the tears fall. After what seemed like a lifetime, Tristan helped me up and said it was time to leave. Hellen seemed to be more put together than me, her red nose running but at least her cries didn't echo.

Before today I had no clue that there was a graveyard in Crimsyn State. It was located at the backside of the warehouses. My shoes crunched on the dry soil, dress tattered. I passed more graves which made my stomach churn, the place smelled of smoke and ashes. The letters on the gravestones swirled in front of my swollen eyes. Surrounding the graveyard were flowers; Stargazer Lilies, they had been burned. Judging by the crimson ashes of their deep pink petals, they had withered and burned a long time ago. Now, scarlet and crimson ashes coated the entire cemetery.

I can see why they call it Crimsyn State, I thought.

"Come on, Belle." Tristan put an arm around my shoulder and followed Hellen to the van we had come in. Leaving so soon. I shielded my eyes from the demolished building and dozens of bodies bleeding into the earth. Anthony and Nathan trailed behind us, sniffing. Phoenix and Raelynn's tears were frozen on their faces.

Rasal curled around my arm and I passed out in the vehicle.

I ran into Amara's arms when we got to the camp. We sobbed into each other's chests.

"I'm sorry, Belle." Her breath turned to mist.

I nodded but not words came out of my sore throat. Lewis embraced Raelynn, which I found slightly amusing. Phoenix hid in the tent, Anthony patted Nathan on the back as consolation. Hellen rushed away, disappearing for the day. I felt guilty enough to not face her.

We shuddered in the cold for a few awkward minutes. I noticed that we were missing someone. I thought my vision hadn't fully come back so I rubbed my eyes and looked around once more.

"Where's..." Amara and Tristan exchanged worried glances before the sentence even flowed out. I instantly knew this day was about to get even worse.

"Belle..." Tristan trailed off.

"We'll talk later," Amara started. "You need to rest right now. And heal."

I approached the tent in which Phoenix had went in. Amara grabbed me too quickly.

"Oww!" I would've fallen back if Tristan wasn't standing behind me.

Touching my arms and bringing pain to the bruises in them. I rubbed my elbows, hoping that the purple injuries wouldn't show through my tissue dress.

"Don't go in there," Amara warned.

"Amara." I turned to her with a clenched jaw. "I just lost the last real family I had today. There is nothing that could make this worse for me." I pushed past her and shouldered Tristan, stomping into the tent where another crisis awaited me.