Floating Stars

Chapter 27: Reflections

As Astrid walked through her despair, pushing herself forward and further away from her flat; she felt many prying eyes staring at her in the shadows of the night. Deep black eyes burrowing deep into her. 

The dark didn't bother her when her memories were lost, but now that they were coming back, all of her past fears were taking root inside of her again. 

She could hear Luchinda's whispering voice echo in her mind as the night breeze brushed her ears. 

"Astrid! Astrid, I saw it. I saw. My dear niece, it is to happen. We're running out of time!"

"Slow down, Luchinda, what's going to happen?" Astrid heard her own voice echo from a memory.

"Oh, my dear, I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry," Luchinda's words shook with emotion.

"What is it? You're not making sense."

"I saw, in the smoke, your eyes growing dark. My dear, Noir-Astra, he is coming, he will catch up with us and he'll take you!"

"When?" Astrid's voice began to reflect her aunt's panic. "Luchinda, when?"

"You have a week, maybe two, Astrid, I'm so sorry. The prophecy, my dear, it's coming true."

A tear fell from Astrid's eye as she walked along the dark streets of her home-town. She couldn't shake the memories that insisted on echoing in her mind and she couldn't ignore the darkness that pressed in from all sides. 

"What can I do?" The memory continued with a worried whisper. "Luchinda, tell me, what can I do? I'll do anything."

"I'm sorry, there is only one thing that can be done." Luchinda's response caused a sharp pain to drive through Astrid's abdomen. She remembered the pain she felt as apprehension stabbed its way through her in the moment that played so clearly in her mind. "You must leave, join your father - my brother, in the other realm."

Astrid stopped and stood before a darkened window. The dim glow from a streetlight cast her reflection into the glass.

"The non-magical realm?" Astrid's past self asked, to confirm her suspicions.

"Yes, that is the only place where we can starve the dark magic and stop Noir-Astra from working through you."

Astrid's, crystal clear, memory caused her face to tremble. She looked into her reflection's eyes in the dimly lit glass. The greyish, lilac tint to her irises showcased how this realm truly affected her. The bright violet glow they should have was gone, as the magic that touched them was gone. 

"I had to come here," she confessed to the empty building standing in front of her. "I had to come, alone, to save my family, to save Natanstrelle. I can't go back. How can I go back?"

The echoes of her memory spiked her mind again.

"You don't have to go alone, of course, take True and Amber with you," Luchinda said in a rush. Astrid, remembering the warm touch of her aunt's small hands grasping at her own in desperation.

"Can you guarantee their safety," Astrid's voice from years ago echoed in the darkness. "Can three people travel without risk?" 

"It's never been done…" Luchinda answered, the truth was too important to try and hide.

"What have you seen? In the smoke. What do I do?"

A distinct pause choked all voices from Astrid's memory in a brief moment. It felt like a lifetime, as Astrid remembered how Luchinda's hesitation caused her to think the worst.

"I saw you leaving," Luchinda's trembling voice began, struggling to reach the end of what she must say. Astrid's heart grew heavy when Luchinda finally found the courage to continue.