Chapter 1:
Falling Stars
I want you to name me a place, a place where the mention of your little sister's name strikes fear into the hearts of your enemies. Name a place where your best friend threatens to break your arm if you tell anyone what he's hiding, a place where a king plans a war against his own daughter. Give me a place where magic exists; a place where you don't know who to trust. Show me a place where the Stars walk amongst the Mortals; the place where people will do anything to get what they want. Welcome to my world. Welcome, to Imbroglio.
As the título ever so clearly states, I am a Star. Strange concept for you isn't it? And maybe it's not that clear. Well, it's a lot to tell so I guess I'd better start at the beginning. I'm Ashtaroth. That is the name I gave to myself. I amor fake names. Why keep the same name your entire life, right? My real name is Unukalhai. I don't like that name. I am part of the constellation Serpens Caput. But the main thing I need to explain is this; every estrela that falls, dies when it hits the ground. Occasionally however, a estrela would be chosen to survive on Earth. If the world needed help, the chosen Star, when it falls, would not die. It would turn into an angel. You must know that all anjos are Stars. However, only one could exist on Earth at a given time. They are what we call 'untouchables'. They cannot get hurt; they are unaware of danger because for them, there is none. They have nothing to lose. The Star's sole purpose on Earth is to solve the problem. And, as they say 'If you served your main purpose in your Earth life, you would live.', otherwise… Well, you get the picture. That's what we were all taught in the hopes that we may one dia become angels. If you were chosen, then you would perceive a straight progressivo, para a frente part of a mission, and then a part of a mission, the segundo part, you had to figure out on your own.
Today was one of those days, or nights, (to a Star, there is no difference) where you knew something was going to happen. You didn't know what, but there was that feeling in the o espaço around you. Everybody was all shifty, like they knew something I didn't. A horrid feeling if you ask me. The one time that I didn't know what was going on, something happened. It felt like that today. And, of course, a meteor shower. Several of us all at once began to feel the lack of that complete immobilizing grip that held us to the fabric of the sky. It was as if I was hanging por a thread, then…
There was a loud snap, the thread had broken.
I was falling. I was mortified! I mean it was completely understandable. Imagine, being alive for thousands of years then, "SNIP", and the sky cuts you lose and you have absolutely no control what-so-ever of where you are going? Suddenly feeling the pull of gravity toward Earth, a place where nearly all are destined to die.
I shot like a bullet, traveling a million miles an hour-- I saw the wind, the time and seasons changing around me-- I was alone, completely, utterly alone. I don't know what happened to the others, but they were no longer with me. I was to die, alone. I always knew I would, and the thought never bothered me, until the moment had come. I was rushing at incrível speeds, thrashing my flares as if I could slow myself...
I slammed into the ground.
I woke up in a strange place that disobeyed all rules of nature. For one thing I could mover on my own. For two, my flares were no longer flashes of light that lasted half a second, but solid and for three there were small sparks of various lengths protruding from the ends of these "solid flares". I had never seen, nor heard of anything like this. I had a body. There was a leathery "binding", that held me together it was white, pure white. I wore, what I learn later is called "dress" of white, with trailing "sleeves" as I learn they're called. I also received some things that are light and feathery that I learn are called "wings" yet, they were retractable, like a cat's claws.
I walked across the "grass" and through the "woods" it was night, I was sure of that. For I knew that on Earth, night and dia change. There are many stories of the sky, myths, and legends; about "the Earth Stars" or, I guess you call them humans. One is about the two things called night and dia that are constantly changing. And there are some that tell of different kinds Earth Stars, some that rule the skies, others the dwell in the murky depths of blue (oceans), we have also heard of monsters that have sharpened bones called fangs and claws that they use to rip apart the flesh of other Earth Stars (this one I'm familiar with, being related to one myself.). But my favorito is called love. You see, Stars can't love, and they want it. Just one mais unusual concept for you isn't it. The thing is none of us know if it's real. Even you Earth Stars pergunta it sometimes.
I felt the grama beneath my "feet", and the "wind" against my flesh, I felt so... at home. I felt that strange sense of belonging to this world. It was like I was meant to be here. Like there was nowhere else I was supposed to be. I had a mission, a mission to restore the Earth Star's connection with their home, and themselves. To create peace, and to bring amor back to this broken world, that is my soul purpose for existing. The one and only reason I lived, while the others died. Of course I still didn't understand that one variable. I believe that there are variables in everything, not just in math. Variables are the things that you're not sure of, and I wasn't sure of this part of my mission. I knew that no angel had ever been sure of anything from the beginning, but it still wasn't very reassuring. In my life, everything had always come naturally to me, and when it didn't, I had a habit of giving up all too quickly. There's a problem, I have only one mês to figure out and complete my mission. If I do not complete it, I die, and the Earth will forever be separated from the Stars. They will be on their own---
Forever… and will have been my fault.
I drifted over to the "lake" and stared into the blue. There was a girl staring back up at me, she had pale blonde hair so pale it was almost white, porcelana white skin, and eyes that were the same orangey-gold as marigolds. It was then I realized how different I looked compared to my mother. I didn't know who my father was. It always made me wonder what he was like…
I stayed there, hora after hour, sitting in the grass, and thinking. I listened to the Earth. The Earth has a voice just like anyone else's. The earth speaks to all of us, everyone and everything has a voice. However, you can refuse to hear, that's what most of us do. Just ignore. They don't listen. There was that sense of belonging again. Though I would not feel like this forever, there was no other place I would rather be. I really was meant to be here. The dawn is coming.
I see the sun climbing over the mountains awakening the Earth Stars.
I sprinted across the surface of the still water, and landed precisely and gracefully on the shore. I practically floated across the ground, looking in wonder at the strange things the Earth Stars were living in. The shelters were made of fabric and propped up with long smooth sticks. Someone beside me opened the fabric, and crawled out, inside there were multi-colored sacks that were opened at one end and the Earth Stars would then crawl into the open end and lay there all night. It is a bit strange here, so ignorant was I at the time. Didn't know anyone, didn't know anything.
I walked until I saw an Earth estrela that looked the same age I was, only; of course he couldn't have been, for I am several thousand years old. He had dark, dark hair, dark misty eyes and a somewhat dark completion. He had obviously seen some sun in his life.
"Hello!" I said cheerfully.
He looked at me and smiled "Hi." he said.
"Can you show me how to get to the nearest battle field?" I asked politely.
"Umm..." he trailed off. It was obvious no one had ever asked him that question.
"Which direction should I walk in?" I asked helping him along.
"Let me-- go get a map..." he said slowly.
"Here's one." I said pretending to unfold an imaginary map, and right before our eyes a map of the earth appeared in midair.
I handed it to him.
He stared at it in pure astonishment and said, "I hope you know you can't walk to a war." He stopped and began again, "What are you?" he asked scanning me up and down.
"I am an Earth Star." I said shrugging my shoulders, not technically lying, I am one in form--- and besides he asked me what I am, not what I was.
"May I see the map?" I asked him.
He slowly passed it to me, "Sure…" He answered curiously.
I took it carefully and unfolded it. "Where is the war?" I asked again hoping for an actual answer this time.
"Here somewhere..." he said pointing to a shape with strange markings on it.
"Alright," I said circling the shape with my index finger, the place my finger touched glowed white, "Where are we now?" I asked.
He pointed to another, much smaller shape in a large "continent". I circled it with my index finger and wrote in Rishima (Star language) 'beginning' and over the place we were going to I wrote 'end of journey' I traced the route we would take allowing stops along the way, having learned that Earth Stars must sleep. Once again everywhere I touched glowed white.
"I'm ready," I said standing up "let's go."
"Go where?" He asked, looking terrified.
"The battle field obviously. Isn't that what we were just talking about?" I laughed as I said it as if it were nothing. I put the map safely in my pocket.
"Why am I coming?" He asked in horror.
"Well," I began, "You know where I'm going now don't you; therefore, I don't have to explain much more."
"Umm..." he paused, he ran. He tried to get away.
He was fast, but I was faster... I zipped in front of him faster than lightning and held out my arms to block him. He crashed into me, I stood stock still, but he fell backward staring up at me in complete disbelief.
"I would have thought you'd come with an angel if they asked you." I told him calmly.
"Angel?" he said shaking his head confusedly. "What?"
I shrugged my shoulders "I won't explain much now." I said and with that I took him por the hand.
He looked as if he would have a coração attack any second. I don't blame him. It all happened in such a short amount of time. I spread my wings and lifted into the air with him.
*
'What to do, what to do…' I thought. I was bored. I wanted to go to earth, where things happened.
Of course, Vega wouldn't do anything. He never did anything. So here I sat, doing absolutely nothing. Alright, I guess my side of the story isn't very interesting at this point either. All I could do was set up curses to put on. And putting curses on people bored me. Watching people suffer gets old after a while. I would just have to wait for the right moment before I could do anything…
Just then, Vega walked in. He looked the same as always, his hair was so blonde it was almost white, (like my sister), and he had silver eyes, or were they blue? You never could tell. por his looks, he almost looked like an angel. But it was not so, in fact it was my mother who looked dark, and she was an angel. The only thing that made my father look like himself was the looks he gave people. He never smiled, and I was certain that he was only capable of a few select emotions; the main ones would be rage and depression. Let's just say, my parents didn't get on well. That's just as lightly as I can put it. Capella, my mother, was one of the most highly positioned anjos there were, while Vega, my father, was one of the most highly raised demons. They are complete and total opposites. How they were in love, even if it didn't last long at all, is beyond me. When we, my sister and I, were little, my father took me and left. Unukalhai stayed with my mother, and she doesn't even know what happened or who Vega is, other than the fact that he's a well-known demon. You may be wondering how a Star, can walk in space. Well, Vega and I hide out in his castle. Yes, they do have castles in space. I know it sounds a little sci-fi, but that's how it works. You've never heard of castles in o espaço have you? They're there, but you can only see them if you knew that they were there in the first place.
Vega looked at me with a bored, miserable expression. I was never offended por this since I myself rarely ever show any facial expression at all. I stared back at him blankly; he looked away, put his hands in his pockets and walked on. I looked after him worriedly; I knew that our plan wasn't really going well. Vega didn't like waiting, and neither did I. So all we could do was sit around until the perfect moment to intervene came, and that could be a while. Planning a war isn't easy, he knew it to, but he wasn't going to give up or be careless when we were so close.
I waited for him to turn the corner at the end of the hall. I stood up, ran down to the workshop. My feet hit the ground softly and quietly. My black and gray dress flowed around me. When I arrived at the room, I took hold of the doorway to stop myself, my dress fell about me limply and my hair fell into my face like trickling water. I looked about at the messy stacks of books, some piling as high as the ceiling. My eyes traveled across the tables and desks scattered with numerous blueprints and papers. This is where we made people's lives miserable, and at the present moment were planning the war. I walked in slowly, stepping over the spells, curses, quill pens, ink pots, and the other numerous magical objects that littered the floor. When I arrived at the middle of the room, I picked up the ingredients for the spell I knew por heart, and threw and mixed them together in a slapdash manner. I sprinkled them carefully onto the center of the table; I blew at the dust and ash from the spell. It looked as if it had been picked up por the wind. It swirled in the air and created the familiar screen of smoke. It sluggishly began to reveal the image of my sister and the boy she had snatched up to help her. I had been watching her closely ever since we began our planning. Even though I knew that it would be a while before I could interfere, I couldn't help but be curious. All they were doing was flying, nothing interesting, still, it was better there than here. And because of it, the picture of them was mais interesting than anything else. I was so engulfed in interest in the picture on the smokescreen, that I didn't notice my father leaning on the doorway. He coughed to get my attention; I whipped around and lowered my eyes shamefully.
He laughed a bit and smiled kindly. He stepped carefully and expertly across the room to me without knocking anything over or stepping on his papers, not even on the corners. He put his arm around shoulders and turned to face the screen with me. He face changed instantly to curiosity when he saw the boy with her.
"Who is that?" He asked glancing at me.
"I don't know." I said simply. "She just grabbed him off of a campground somewhere."
He shrugged. He turned me around and walked me out.
He gently pushed me out the door, "Run along now." He said smiling.
I noticed his eyes were tired. I didn't say anything. He walked back into the room and the door closed behind him.
*
"Ahhh…" he screamed.
"Hey," I said "I never caught your name."
"It's Aundre!" He called up to me. "What's your name?"
"It's Ashtaroth." I said.
Just then we made a steep dip, Aundre screamed.
"Calm down." I said soothingly.
"I'm afraid of heights!" he yelled
"Why?" I quizzed.
"What do mean?" He asked perplexed.
"Why are you afraid? What reason do you have to fear?" I asked.
"I don't know." He said. "I just am. I always have been."
"You Earth Stars confuse me sometimes." I said simply. "Why do you fear what is, as far as you know, safe?"
He didn't say anything, as if he was caught in a lie. We landed in Harkaimia that night…Chapter 1:
Falling Stars
I want you to name me a place, a place where the mention of your little sister's name strikes fear into the hearts of your enemies. Name a place where your best friend threatens to break your arm if you tell anyone what he's hiding, a place where a king plans a war against his own daughter. Give me a place where magic exists; a place where you don't know who to trust. Show me a place where the Stars walk amongst the Mortals; the place where people will do anything to get what they want. Welcome to my world. Welcome, to Imbroglio.
As the título ever so clearly states, I am a Star. Strange concept for you isn't it? And maybe it's not that clear. Well, it's a lot to tell so I guess I'd better start at the beginning. I'm Ashtaroth. That is the name I gave to myself. I amor fake names. Why keep the same name your entire life, right? My real name is Unukalhai. I don't like that name. I am part of the constellation Serpens Caput. But the main thing I need to explain is this; every estrela that falls, dies when it hits the ground. Occasionally however, a estrela would be chosen to survive on Earth. If the world needed help, the chosen Star, when it falls, would not die. It would turn into an angel. You must know that all anjos are Stars. However, only one could exist on Earth at a given time. They are what we call 'untouchables'. They cannot get hurt; they are unaware of danger because for them, there is none. They have nothing to lose. The Star's sole purpose on Earth is to solve the problem. And, as they say 'If you served your main purpose in your Earth life, you would live.', otherwise… Well, you get the picture. That's what we were all taught in the hopes that we may one dia become angels. If you were chosen, then you would perceive a straight progressivo, para a frente part of a mission, and then a part of a mission, the segundo part, you had to figure out on your own.
Today was one of those days, or nights, (to a Star, there is no difference) where you knew something was going to happen. You didn't know what, but there was that feeling in the o espaço around you. Everybody was all shifty, like they knew something I didn't. A horrid feeling if you ask me. The one time that I didn't know what was going on, something happened. It felt like that today. And, of course, a meteor shower. Several of us all at once began to feel the lack of that complete immobilizing grip that held us to the fabric of the sky. It was as if I was hanging por a thread, then…
There was a loud snap, the thread had broken.
I was falling. I was mortified! I mean it was completely understandable. Imagine, being alive for thousands of years then, "SNIP", and the sky cuts you lose and you have absolutely no control what-so-ever of where you are going? Suddenly feeling the pull of gravity toward Earth, a place where nearly all are destined to die.
I shot like a bullet, traveling a million miles an hour-- I saw the wind, the time and seasons changing around me-- I was alone, completely, utterly alone. I don't know what happened to the others, but they were no longer with me. I was to die, alone. I always knew I would, and the thought never bothered me, until the moment had come. I was rushing at incrível speeds, thrashing my flares as if I could slow myself...
I slammed into the ground.
I woke up in a strange place that disobeyed all rules of nature. For one thing I could mover on my own. For two, my flares were no longer flashes of light that lasted half a second, but solid and for three there were small sparks of various lengths protruding from the ends of these "solid flares". I had never seen, nor heard of anything like this. I had a body. There was a leathery "binding", that held me together it was white, pure white. I wore, what I learn later is called "dress" of white, with trailing "sleeves" as I learn they're called. I also received some things that are light and feathery that I learn are called "wings" yet, they were retractable, like a cat's claws.
I walked across the "grass" and through the "woods" it was night, I was sure of that. For I knew that on Earth, night and dia change. There are many stories of the sky, myths, and legends; about "the Earth Stars" or, I guess you call them humans. One is about the two things called night and dia that are constantly changing. And there are some that tell of different kinds Earth Stars, some that rule the skies, others the dwell in the murky depths of blue (oceans), we have also heard of monsters that have sharpened bones called fangs and claws that they use to rip apart the flesh of other Earth Stars (this one I'm familiar with, being related to one myself.). But my favorito is called love. You see, Stars can't love, and they want it. Just one mais unusual concept for you isn't it. The thing is none of us know if it's real. Even you Earth Stars pergunta it sometimes.
I felt the grama beneath my "feet", and the "wind" against my flesh, I felt so... at home. I felt that strange sense of belonging to this world. It was like I was meant to be here. Like there was nowhere else I was supposed to be. I had a mission, a mission to restore the Earth Star's connection with their home, and themselves. To create peace, and to bring amor back to this broken world, that is my soul purpose for existing. The one and only reason I lived, while the others died. Of course I still didn't understand that one variable. I believe that there are variables in everything, not just in math. Variables are the things that you're not sure of, and I wasn't sure of this part of my mission. I knew that no angel had ever been sure of anything from the beginning, but it still wasn't very reassuring. In my life, everything had always come naturally to me, and when it didn't, I had a habit of giving up all too quickly. There's a problem, I have only one mês to figure out and complete my mission. If I do not complete it, I die, and the Earth will forever be separated from the Stars. They will be on their own---
Forever… and will have been my fault.
I drifted over to the "lake" and stared into the blue. There was a girl staring back up at me, she had pale blonde hair so pale it was almost white, porcelana white skin, and eyes that were the same orangey-gold as marigolds. It was then I realized how different I looked compared to my mother. I didn't know who my father was. It always made me wonder what he was like…
I stayed there, hora after hour, sitting in the grass, and thinking. I listened to the Earth. The Earth has a voice just like anyone else's. The earth speaks to all of us, everyone and everything has a voice. However, you can refuse to hear, that's what most of us do. Just ignore. They don't listen. There was that sense of belonging again. Though I would not feel like this forever, there was no other place I would rather be. I really was meant to be here. The dawn is coming.
I see the sun climbing over the mountains awakening the Earth Stars.
I sprinted across the surface of the still water, and landed precisely and gracefully on the shore. I practically floated across the ground, looking in wonder at the strange things the Earth Stars were living in. The shelters were made of fabric and propped up with long smooth sticks. Someone beside me opened the fabric, and crawled out, inside there were multi-colored sacks that were opened at one end and the Earth Stars would then crawl into the open end and lay there all night. It is a bit strange here, so ignorant was I at the time. Didn't know anyone, didn't know anything.
I walked until I saw an Earth estrela that looked the same age I was, only; of course he couldn't have been, for I am several thousand years old. He had dark, dark hair, dark misty eyes and a somewhat dark completion. He had obviously seen some sun in his life.
"Hello!" I said cheerfully.
He looked at me and smiled "Hi." he said.
"Can you show me how to get to the nearest battle field?" I asked politely.
"Umm..." he trailed off. It was obvious no one had ever asked him that question.
"Which direction should I walk in?" I asked helping him along.
"Let me-- go get a map..." he said slowly.
"Here's one." I said pretending to unfold an imaginary map, and right before our eyes a map of the earth appeared in midair.
I handed it to him.
He stared at it in pure astonishment and said, "I hope you know you can't walk to a war." He stopped and began again, "What are you?" he asked scanning me up and down.
"I am an Earth Star." I said shrugging my shoulders, not technically lying, I am one in form--- and besides he asked me what I am, not what I was.
"May I see the map?" I asked him.
He slowly passed it to me, "Sure…" He answered curiously.
I took it carefully and unfolded it. "Where is the war?" I asked again hoping for an actual answer this time.
"Here somewhere..." he said pointing to a shape with strange markings on it.
"Alright," I said circling the shape with my index finger, the place my finger touched glowed white, "Where are we now?" I asked.
He pointed to another, much smaller shape in a large "continent". I circled it with my index finger and wrote in Rishima (Star language) 'beginning' and over the place we were going to I wrote 'end of journey' I traced the route we would take allowing stops along the way, having learned that Earth Stars must sleep. Once again everywhere I touched glowed white.
"I'm ready," I said standing up "let's go."
"Go where?" He asked, looking terrified.
"The battle field obviously. Isn't that what we were just talking about?" I laughed as I said it as if it were nothing. I put the map safely in my pocket.
"Why am I coming?" He asked in horror.
"Well," I began, "You know where I'm going now don't you; therefore, I don't have to explain much more."
"Umm..." he paused, he ran. He tried to get away.
He was fast, but I was faster... I zipped in front of him faster than lightning and held out my arms to block him. He crashed into me, I stood stock still, but he fell backward staring up at me in complete disbelief.
"I would have thought you'd come with an angel if they asked you." I told him calmly.
"Angel?" he said shaking his head confusedly. "What?"
I shrugged my shoulders "I won't explain much now." I said and with that I took him por the hand.
He looked as if he would have a coração attack any second. I don't blame him. It all happened in such a short amount of time. I spread my wings and lifted into the air with him.
*
'What to do, what to do…' I thought. I was bored. I wanted to go to earth, where things happened.
Of course, Vega wouldn't do anything. He never did anything. So here I sat, doing absolutely nothing. Alright, I guess my side of the story isn't very interesting at this point either. All I could do was set up curses to put on. And putting curses on people bored me. Watching people suffer gets old after a while. I would just have to wait for the right moment before I could do anything…
Just then, Vega walked in. He looked the same as always, his hair was so blonde it was almost white, (like my sister), and he had silver eyes, or were they blue? You never could tell. por his looks, he almost looked like an angel. But it was not so, in fact it was my mother who looked dark, and she was an angel. The only thing that made my father look like himself was the looks he gave people. He never smiled, and I was certain that he was only capable of a few select emotions; the main ones would be rage and depression. Let's just say, my parents didn't get on well. That's just as lightly as I can put it. Capella, my mother, was one of the most highly positioned anjos there were, while Vega, my father, was one of the most highly raised demons. They are complete and total opposites. How they were in love, even if it didn't last long at all, is beyond me. When we, my sister and I, were little, my father took me and left. Unukalhai stayed with my mother, and she doesn't even know what happened or who Vega is, other than the fact that he's a well-known demon. You may be wondering how a Star, can walk in space. Well, Vega and I hide out in his castle. Yes, they do have castles in space. I know it sounds a little sci-fi, but that's how it works. You've never heard of castles in o espaço have you? They're there, but you can only see them if you knew that they were there in the first place.
Vega looked at me with a bored, miserable expression. I was never offended por this since I myself rarely ever show any facial expression at all. I stared back at him blankly; he looked away, put his hands in his pockets and walked on. I looked after him worriedly; I knew that our plan wasn't really going well. Vega didn't like waiting, and neither did I. So all we could do was sit around until the perfect moment to intervene came, and that could be a while. Planning a war isn't easy, he knew it to, but he wasn't going to give up or be careless when we were so close.
I waited for him to turn the corner at the end of the hall. I stood up, ran down to the workshop. My feet hit the ground softly and quietly. My black and gray dress flowed around me. When I arrived at the room, I took hold of the doorway to stop myself, my dress fell about me limply and my hair fell into my face like trickling water. I looked about at the messy stacks of books, some piling as high as the ceiling. My eyes traveled across the tables and desks scattered with numerous blueprints and papers. This is where we made people's lives miserable, and at the present moment were planning the war. I walked in slowly, stepping over the spells, curses, quill pens, ink pots, and the other numerous magical objects that littered the floor. When I arrived at the middle of the room, I picked up the ingredients for the spell I knew por heart, and threw and mixed them together in a slapdash manner. I sprinkled them carefully onto the center of the table; I blew at the dust and ash from the spell. It looked as if it had been picked up por the wind. It swirled in the air and created the familiar screen of smoke. It sluggishly began to reveal the image of my sister and the boy she had snatched up to help her. I had been watching her closely ever since we began our planning. Even though I knew that it would be a while before I could interfere, I couldn't help but be curious. All they were doing was flying, nothing interesting, still, it was better there than here. And because of it, the picture of them was mais interesting than anything else. I was so engulfed in interest in the picture on the smokescreen, that I didn't notice my father leaning on the doorway. He coughed to get my attention; I whipped around and lowered my eyes shamefully.
He laughed a bit and smiled kindly. He stepped carefully and expertly across the room to me without knocking anything over or stepping on his papers, not even on the corners. He put his arm around shoulders and turned to face the screen with me. He face changed instantly to curiosity when he saw the boy with her.
"Who is that?" He asked glancing at me.
"I don't know." I said simply. "She just grabbed him off of a campground somewhere."
He shrugged. He turned me around and walked me out.
He gently pushed me out the door, "Run along now." He said smiling.
I noticed his eyes were tired. I didn't say anything. He walked back into the room and the door closed behind him.
*
"Ahhh…" he screamed.
"Hey," I said "I never caught your name."
"It's Aundre!" He called up to me. "What's your name?"
"It's Ashtaroth." I said.
Just then we made a steep dip, Aundre screamed.
"Calm down." I said soothingly.
"I'm afraid of heights!" he yelled
"Why?" I quizzed.
"What do mean?" He asked perplexed.
"Why are you afraid? What reason do you have to fear?" I asked.
"I don't know." He said. "I just am. I always have been."
"You Earth Stars confuse me sometimes." I said simply. "Why do you fear what is, as far as you know, safe?"
He didn't say anything, as if he was caught in a lie. We landed in Harkaimia that night…
Copyright © 2010-2011, Waverly L. Harris. FictionPress user Id 748202. All chapters, prologues, prefaces, epilogues, sneak peeks, and mais belong to me.
Falling Stars
I want you to name me a place, a place where the mention of your little sister's name strikes fear into the hearts of your enemies. Name a place where your best friend threatens to break your arm if you tell anyone what he's hiding, a place where a king plans a war against his own daughter. Give me a place where magic exists; a place where you don't know who to trust. Show me a place where the Stars walk amongst the Mortals; the place where people will do anything to get what they want. Welcome to my world. Welcome, to Imbroglio.
As the título ever so clearly states, I am a Star. Strange concept for you isn't it? And maybe it's not that clear. Well, it's a lot to tell so I guess I'd better start at the beginning. I'm Ashtaroth. That is the name I gave to myself. I amor fake names. Why keep the same name your entire life, right? My real name is Unukalhai. I don't like that name. I am part of the constellation Serpens Caput. But the main thing I need to explain is this; every estrela that falls, dies when it hits the ground. Occasionally however, a estrela would be chosen to survive on Earth. If the world needed help, the chosen Star, when it falls, would not die. It would turn into an angel. You must know that all anjos are Stars. However, only one could exist on Earth at a given time. They are what we call 'untouchables'. They cannot get hurt; they are unaware of danger because for them, there is none. They have nothing to lose. The Star's sole purpose on Earth is to solve the problem. And, as they say 'If you served your main purpose in your Earth life, you would live.', otherwise… Well, you get the picture. That's what we were all taught in the hopes that we may one dia become angels. If you were chosen, then you would perceive a straight progressivo, para a frente part of a mission, and then a part of a mission, the segundo part, you had to figure out on your own.
Today was one of those days, or nights, (to a Star, there is no difference) where you knew something was going to happen. You didn't know what, but there was that feeling in the o espaço around you. Everybody was all shifty, like they knew something I didn't. A horrid feeling if you ask me. The one time that I didn't know what was going on, something happened. It felt like that today. And, of course, a meteor shower. Several of us all at once began to feel the lack of that complete immobilizing grip that held us to the fabric of the sky. It was as if I was hanging por a thread, then…
There was a loud snap, the thread had broken.
I was falling. I was mortified! I mean it was completely understandable. Imagine, being alive for thousands of years then, "SNIP", and the sky cuts you lose and you have absolutely no control what-so-ever of where you are going? Suddenly feeling the pull of gravity toward Earth, a place where nearly all are destined to die.
I shot like a bullet, traveling a million miles an hour-- I saw the wind, the time and seasons changing around me-- I was alone, completely, utterly alone. I don't know what happened to the others, but they were no longer with me. I was to die, alone. I always knew I would, and the thought never bothered me, until the moment had come. I was rushing at incrível speeds, thrashing my flares as if I could slow myself...
I slammed into the ground.
I woke up in a strange place that disobeyed all rules of nature. For one thing I could mover on my own. For two, my flares were no longer flashes of light that lasted half a second, but solid and for three there were small sparks of various lengths protruding from the ends of these "solid flares". I had never seen, nor heard of anything like this. I had a body. There was a leathery "binding", that held me together it was white, pure white. I wore, what I learn later is called "dress" of white, with trailing "sleeves" as I learn they're called. I also received some things that are light and feathery that I learn are called "wings" yet, they were retractable, like a cat's claws.
I walked across the "grass" and through the "woods" it was night, I was sure of that. For I knew that on Earth, night and dia change. There are many stories of the sky, myths, and legends; about "the Earth Stars" or, I guess you call them humans. One is about the two things called night and dia that are constantly changing. And there are some that tell of different kinds Earth Stars, some that rule the skies, others the dwell in the murky depths of blue (oceans), we have also heard of monsters that have sharpened bones called fangs and claws that they use to rip apart the flesh of other Earth Stars (this one I'm familiar with, being related to one myself.). But my favorito is called love. You see, Stars can't love, and they want it. Just one mais unusual concept for you isn't it. The thing is none of us know if it's real. Even you Earth Stars pergunta it sometimes.
I felt the grama beneath my "feet", and the "wind" against my flesh, I felt so... at home. I felt that strange sense of belonging to this world. It was like I was meant to be here. Like there was nowhere else I was supposed to be. I had a mission, a mission to restore the Earth Star's connection with their home, and themselves. To create peace, and to bring amor back to this broken world, that is my soul purpose for existing. The one and only reason I lived, while the others died. Of course I still didn't understand that one variable. I believe that there are variables in everything, not just in math. Variables are the things that you're not sure of, and I wasn't sure of this part of my mission. I knew that no angel had ever been sure of anything from the beginning, but it still wasn't very reassuring. In my life, everything had always come naturally to me, and when it didn't, I had a habit of giving up all too quickly. There's a problem, I have only one mês to figure out and complete my mission. If I do not complete it, I die, and the Earth will forever be separated from the Stars. They will be on their own---
Forever… and will have been my fault.
I drifted over to the "lake" and stared into the blue. There was a girl staring back up at me, she had pale blonde hair so pale it was almost white, porcelana white skin, and eyes that were the same orangey-gold as marigolds. It was then I realized how different I looked compared to my mother. I didn't know who my father was. It always made me wonder what he was like…
I stayed there, hora after hour, sitting in the grass, and thinking. I listened to the Earth. The Earth has a voice just like anyone else's. The earth speaks to all of us, everyone and everything has a voice. However, you can refuse to hear, that's what most of us do. Just ignore. They don't listen. There was that sense of belonging again. Though I would not feel like this forever, there was no other place I would rather be. I really was meant to be here. The dawn is coming.
I see the sun climbing over the mountains awakening the Earth Stars.
I sprinted across the surface of the still water, and landed precisely and gracefully on the shore. I practically floated across the ground, looking in wonder at the strange things the Earth Stars were living in. The shelters were made of fabric and propped up with long smooth sticks. Someone beside me opened the fabric, and crawled out, inside there were multi-colored sacks that were opened at one end and the Earth Stars would then crawl into the open end and lay there all night. It is a bit strange here, so ignorant was I at the time. Didn't know anyone, didn't know anything.
I walked until I saw an Earth estrela that looked the same age I was, only; of course he couldn't have been, for I am several thousand years old. He had dark, dark hair, dark misty eyes and a somewhat dark completion. He had obviously seen some sun in his life.
"Hello!" I said cheerfully.
He looked at me and smiled "Hi." he said.
"Can you show me how to get to the nearest battle field?" I asked politely.
"Umm..." he trailed off. It was obvious no one had ever asked him that question.
"Which direction should I walk in?" I asked helping him along.
"Let me-- go get a map..." he said slowly.
"Here's one." I said pretending to unfold an imaginary map, and right before our eyes a map of the earth appeared in midair.
I handed it to him.
He stared at it in pure astonishment and said, "I hope you know you can't walk to a war." He stopped and began again, "What are you?" he asked scanning me up and down.
"I am an Earth Star." I said shrugging my shoulders, not technically lying, I am one in form--- and besides he asked me what I am, not what I was.
"May I see the map?" I asked him.
He slowly passed it to me, "Sure…" He answered curiously.
I took it carefully and unfolded it. "Where is the war?" I asked again hoping for an actual answer this time.
"Here somewhere..." he said pointing to a shape with strange markings on it.
"Alright," I said circling the shape with my index finger, the place my finger touched glowed white, "Where are we now?" I asked.
He pointed to another, much smaller shape in a large "continent". I circled it with my index finger and wrote in Rishima (Star language) 'beginning' and over the place we were going to I wrote 'end of journey' I traced the route we would take allowing stops along the way, having learned that Earth Stars must sleep. Once again everywhere I touched glowed white.
"I'm ready," I said standing up "let's go."
"Go where?" He asked, looking terrified.
"The battle field obviously. Isn't that what we were just talking about?" I laughed as I said it as if it were nothing. I put the map safely in my pocket.
"Why am I coming?" He asked in horror.
"Well," I began, "You know where I'm going now don't you; therefore, I don't have to explain much more."
"Umm..." he paused, he ran. He tried to get away.
He was fast, but I was faster... I zipped in front of him faster than lightning and held out my arms to block him. He crashed into me, I stood stock still, but he fell backward staring up at me in complete disbelief.
"I would have thought you'd come with an angel if they asked you." I told him calmly.
"Angel?" he said shaking his head confusedly. "What?"
I shrugged my shoulders "I won't explain much now." I said and with that I took him por the hand.
He looked as if he would have a coração attack any second. I don't blame him. It all happened in such a short amount of time. I spread my wings and lifted into the air with him.
*
'What to do, what to do…' I thought. I was bored. I wanted to go to earth, where things happened.
Of course, Vega wouldn't do anything. He never did anything. So here I sat, doing absolutely nothing. Alright, I guess my side of the story isn't very interesting at this point either. All I could do was set up curses to put on. And putting curses on people bored me. Watching people suffer gets old after a while. I would just have to wait for the right moment before I could do anything…
Just then, Vega walked in. He looked the same as always, his hair was so blonde it was almost white, (like my sister), and he had silver eyes, or were they blue? You never could tell. por his looks, he almost looked like an angel. But it was not so, in fact it was my mother who looked dark, and she was an angel. The only thing that made my father look like himself was the looks he gave people. He never smiled, and I was certain that he was only capable of a few select emotions; the main ones would be rage and depression. Let's just say, my parents didn't get on well. That's just as lightly as I can put it. Capella, my mother, was one of the most highly positioned anjos there were, while Vega, my father, was one of the most highly raised demons. They are complete and total opposites. How they were in love, even if it didn't last long at all, is beyond me. When we, my sister and I, were little, my father took me and left. Unukalhai stayed with my mother, and she doesn't even know what happened or who Vega is, other than the fact that he's a well-known demon. You may be wondering how a Star, can walk in space. Well, Vega and I hide out in his castle. Yes, they do have castles in space. I know it sounds a little sci-fi, but that's how it works. You've never heard of castles in o espaço have you? They're there, but you can only see them if you knew that they were there in the first place.
Vega looked at me with a bored, miserable expression. I was never offended por this since I myself rarely ever show any facial expression at all. I stared back at him blankly; he looked away, put his hands in his pockets and walked on. I looked after him worriedly; I knew that our plan wasn't really going well. Vega didn't like waiting, and neither did I. So all we could do was sit around until the perfect moment to intervene came, and that could be a while. Planning a war isn't easy, he knew it to, but he wasn't going to give up or be careless when we were so close.
I waited for him to turn the corner at the end of the hall. I stood up, ran down to the workshop. My feet hit the ground softly and quietly. My black and gray dress flowed around me. When I arrived at the room, I took hold of the doorway to stop myself, my dress fell about me limply and my hair fell into my face like trickling water. I looked about at the messy stacks of books, some piling as high as the ceiling. My eyes traveled across the tables and desks scattered with numerous blueprints and papers. This is where we made people's lives miserable, and at the present moment were planning the war. I walked in slowly, stepping over the spells, curses, quill pens, ink pots, and the other numerous magical objects that littered the floor. When I arrived at the middle of the room, I picked up the ingredients for the spell I knew por heart, and threw and mixed them together in a slapdash manner. I sprinkled them carefully onto the center of the table; I blew at the dust and ash from the spell. It looked as if it had been picked up por the wind. It swirled in the air and created the familiar screen of smoke. It sluggishly began to reveal the image of my sister and the boy she had snatched up to help her. I had been watching her closely ever since we began our planning. Even though I knew that it would be a while before I could interfere, I couldn't help but be curious. All they were doing was flying, nothing interesting, still, it was better there than here. And because of it, the picture of them was mais interesting than anything else. I was so engulfed in interest in the picture on the smokescreen, that I didn't notice my father leaning on the doorway. He coughed to get my attention; I whipped around and lowered my eyes shamefully.
He laughed a bit and smiled kindly. He stepped carefully and expertly across the room to me without knocking anything over or stepping on his papers, not even on the corners. He put his arm around shoulders and turned to face the screen with me. He face changed instantly to curiosity when he saw the boy with her.
"Who is that?" He asked glancing at me.
"I don't know." I said simply. "She just grabbed him off of a campground somewhere."
He shrugged. He turned me around and walked me out.
He gently pushed me out the door, "Run along now." He said smiling.
I noticed his eyes were tired. I didn't say anything. He walked back into the room and the door closed behind him.
*
"Ahhh…" he screamed.
"Hey," I said "I never caught your name."
"It's Aundre!" He called up to me. "What's your name?"
"It's Ashtaroth." I said.
Just then we made a steep dip, Aundre screamed.
"Calm down." I said soothingly.
"I'm afraid of heights!" he yelled
"Why?" I quizzed.
"What do mean?" He asked perplexed.
"Why are you afraid? What reason do you have to fear?" I asked.
"I don't know." He said. "I just am. I always have been."
"You Earth Stars confuse me sometimes." I said simply. "Why do you fear what is, as far as you know, safe?"
He didn't say anything, as if he was caught in a lie. We landed in Harkaimia that night…Chapter 1:
Falling Stars
I want you to name me a place, a place where the mention of your little sister's name strikes fear into the hearts of your enemies. Name a place where your best friend threatens to break your arm if you tell anyone what he's hiding, a place where a king plans a war against his own daughter. Give me a place where magic exists; a place where you don't know who to trust. Show me a place where the Stars walk amongst the Mortals; the place where people will do anything to get what they want. Welcome to my world. Welcome, to Imbroglio.
As the título ever so clearly states, I am a Star. Strange concept for you isn't it? And maybe it's not that clear. Well, it's a lot to tell so I guess I'd better start at the beginning. I'm Ashtaroth. That is the name I gave to myself. I amor fake names. Why keep the same name your entire life, right? My real name is Unukalhai. I don't like that name. I am part of the constellation Serpens Caput. But the main thing I need to explain is this; every estrela that falls, dies when it hits the ground. Occasionally however, a estrela would be chosen to survive on Earth. If the world needed help, the chosen Star, when it falls, would not die. It would turn into an angel. You must know that all anjos are Stars. However, only one could exist on Earth at a given time. They are what we call 'untouchables'. They cannot get hurt; they are unaware of danger because for them, there is none. They have nothing to lose. The Star's sole purpose on Earth is to solve the problem. And, as they say 'If you served your main purpose in your Earth life, you would live.', otherwise… Well, you get the picture. That's what we were all taught in the hopes that we may one dia become angels. If you were chosen, then you would perceive a straight progressivo, para a frente part of a mission, and then a part of a mission, the segundo part, you had to figure out on your own.
Today was one of those days, or nights, (to a Star, there is no difference) where you knew something was going to happen. You didn't know what, but there was that feeling in the o espaço around you. Everybody was all shifty, like they knew something I didn't. A horrid feeling if you ask me. The one time that I didn't know what was going on, something happened. It felt like that today. And, of course, a meteor shower. Several of us all at once began to feel the lack of that complete immobilizing grip that held us to the fabric of the sky. It was as if I was hanging por a thread, then…
There was a loud snap, the thread had broken.
I was falling. I was mortified! I mean it was completely understandable. Imagine, being alive for thousands of years then, "SNIP", and the sky cuts you lose and you have absolutely no control what-so-ever of where you are going? Suddenly feeling the pull of gravity toward Earth, a place where nearly all are destined to die.
I shot like a bullet, traveling a million miles an hour-- I saw the wind, the time and seasons changing around me-- I was alone, completely, utterly alone. I don't know what happened to the others, but they were no longer with me. I was to die, alone. I always knew I would, and the thought never bothered me, until the moment had come. I was rushing at incrível speeds, thrashing my flares as if I could slow myself...
I slammed into the ground.
I woke up in a strange place that disobeyed all rules of nature. For one thing I could mover on my own. For two, my flares were no longer flashes of light that lasted half a second, but solid and for three there were small sparks of various lengths protruding from the ends of these "solid flares". I had never seen, nor heard of anything like this. I had a body. There was a leathery "binding", that held me together it was white, pure white. I wore, what I learn later is called "dress" of white, with trailing "sleeves" as I learn they're called. I also received some things that are light and feathery that I learn are called "wings" yet, they were retractable, like a cat's claws.
I walked across the "grass" and through the "woods" it was night, I was sure of that. For I knew that on Earth, night and dia change. There are many stories of the sky, myths, and legends; about "the Earth Stars" or, I guess you call them humans. One is about the two things called night and dia that are constantly changing. And there are some that tell of different kinds Earth Stars, some that rule the skies, others the dwell in the murky depths of blue (oceans), we have also heard of monsters that have sharpened bones called fangs and claws that they use to rip apart the flesh of other Earth Stars (this one I'm familiar with, being related to one myself.). But my favorito is called love. You see, Stars can't love, and they want it. Just one mais unusual concept for you isn't it. The thing is none of us know if it's real. Even you Earth Stars pergunta it sometimes.
I felt the grama beneath my "feet", and the "wind" against my flesh, I felt so... at home. I felt that strange sense of belonging to this world. It was like I was meant to be here. Like there was nowhere else I was supposed to be. I had a mission, a mission to restore the Earth Star's connection with their home, and themselves. To create peace, and to bring amor back to this broken world, that is my soul purpose for existing. The one and only reason I lived, while the others died. Of course I still didn't understand that one variable. I believe that there are variables in everything, not just in math. Variables are the things that you're not sure of, and I wasn't sure of this part of my mission. I knew that no angel had ever been sure of anything from the beginning, but it still wasn't very reassuring. In my life, everything had always come naturally to me, and when it didn't, I had a habit of giving up all too quickly. There's a problem, I have only one mês to figure out and complete my mission. If I do not complete it, I die, and the Earth will forever be separated from the Stars. They will be on their own---
Forever… and will have been my fault.
I drifted over to the "lake" and stared into the blue. There was a girl staring back up at me, she had pale blonde hair so pale it was almost white, porcelana white skin, and eyes that were the same orangey-gold as marigolds. It was then I realized how different I looked compared to my mother. I didn't know who my father was. It always made me wonder what he was like…
I stayed there, hora after hour, sitting in the grass, and thinking. I listened to the Earth. The Earth has a voice just like anyone else's. The earth speaks to all of us, everyone and everything has a voice. However, you can refuse to hear, that's what most of us do. Just ignore. They don't listen. There was that sense of belonging again. Though I would not feel like this forever, there was no other place I would rather be. I really was meant to be here. The dawn is coming.
I see the sun climbing over the mountains awakening the Earth Stars.
I sprinted across the surface of the still water, and landed precisely and gracefully on the shore. I practically floated across the ground, looking in wonder at the strange things the Earth Stars were living in. The shelters were made of fabric and propped up with long smooth sticks. Someone beside me opened the fabric, and crawled out, inside there were multi-colored sacks that were opened at one end and the Earth Stars would then crawl into the open end and lay there all night. It is a bit strange here, so ignorant was I at the time. Didn't know anyone, didn't know anything.
I walked until I saw an Earth estrela that looked the same age I was, only; of course he couldn't have been, for I am several thousand years old. He had dark, dark hair, dark misty eyes and a somewhat dark completion. He had obviously seen some sun in his life.
"Hello!" I said cheerfully.
He looked at me and smiled "Hi." he said.
"Can you show me how to get to the nearest battle field?" I asked politely.
"Umm..." he trailed off. It was obvious no one had ever asked him that question.
"Which direction should I walk in?" I asked helping him along.
"Let me-- go get a map..." he said slowly.
"Here's one." I said pretending to unfold an imaginary map, and right before our eyes a map of the earth appeared in midair.
I handed it to him.
He stared at it in pure astonishment and said, "I hope you know you can't walk to a war." He stopped and began again, "What are you?" he asked scanning me up and down.
"I am an Earth Star." I said shrugging my shoulders, not technically lying, I am one in form--- and besides he asked me what I am, not what I was.
"May I see the map?" I asked him.
He slowly passed it to me, "Sure…" He answered curiously.
I took it carefully and unfolded it. "Where is the war?" I asked again hoping for an actual answer this time.
"Here somewhere..." he said pointing to a shape with strange markings on it.
"Alright," I said circling the shape with my index finger, the place my finger touched glowed white, "Where are we now?" I asked.
He pointed to another, much smaller shape in a large "continent". I circled it with my index finger and wrote in Rishima (Star language) 'beginning' and over the place we were going to I wrote 'end of journey' I traced the route we would take allowing stops along the way, having learned that Earth Stars must sleep. Once again everywhere I touched glowed white.
"I'm ready," I said standing up "let's go."
"Go where?" He asked, looking terrified.
"The battle field obviously. Isn't that what we were just talking about?" I laughed as I said it as if it were nothing. I put the map safely in my pocket.
"Why am I coming?" He asked in horror.
"Well," I began, "You know where I'm going now don't you; therefore, I don't have to explain much more."
"Umm..." he paused, he ran. He tried to get away.
He was fast, but I was faster... I zipped in front of him faster than lightning and held out my arms to block him. He crashed into me, I stood stock still, but he fell backward staring up at me in complete disbelief.
"I would have thought you'd come with an angel if they asked you." I told him calmly.
"Angel?" he said shaking his head confusedly. "What?"
I shrugged my shoulders "I won't explain much now." I said and with that I took him por the hand.
He looked as if he would have a coração attack any second. I don't blame him. It all happened in such a short amount of time. I spread my wings and lifted into the air with him.
*
'What to do, what to do…' I thought. I was bored. I wanted to go to earth, where things happened.
Of course, Vega wouldn't do anything. He never did anything. So here I sat, doing absolutely nothing. Alright, I guess my side of the story isn't very interesting at this point either. All I could do was set up curses to put on. And putting curses on people bored me. Watching people suffer gets old after a while. I would just have to wait for the right moment before I could do anything…
Just then, Vega walked in. He looked the same as always, his hair was so blonde it was almost white, (like my sister), and he had silver eyes, or were they blue? You never could tell. por his looks, he almost looked like an angel. But it was not so, in fact it was my mother who looked dark, and she was an angel. The only thing that made my father look like himself was the looks he gave people. He never smiled, and I was certain that he was only capable of a few select emotions; the main ones would be rage and depression. Let's just say, my parents didn't get on well. That's just as lightly as I can put it. Capella, my mother, was one of the most highly positioned anjos there were, while Vega, my father, was one of the most highly raised demons. They are complete and total opposites. How they were in love, even if it didn't last long at all, is beyond me. When we, my sister and I, were little, my father took me and left. Unukalhai stayed with my mother, and she doesn't even know what happened or who Vega is, other than the fact that he's a well-known demon. You may be wondering how a Star, can walk in space. Well, Vega and I hide out in his castle. Yes, they do have castles in space. I know it sounds a little sci-fi, but that's how it works. You've never heard of castles in o espaço have you? They're there, but you can only see them if you knew that they were there in the first place.
Vega looked at me with a bored, miserable expression. I was never offended por this since I myself rarely ever show any facial expression at all. I stared back at him blankly; he looked away, put his hands in his pockets and walked on. I looked after him worriedly; I knew that our plan wasn't really going well. Vega didn't like waiting, and neither did I. So all we could do was sit around until the perfect moment to intervene came, and that could be a while. Planning a war isn't easy, he knew it to, but he wasn't going to give up or be careless when we were so close.
I waited for him to turn the corner at the end of the hall. I stood up, ran down to the workshop. My feet hit the ground softly and quietly. My black and gray dress flowed around me. When I arrived at the room, I took hold of the doorway to stop myself, my dress fell about me limply and my hair fell into my face like trickling water. I looked about at the messy stacks of books, some piling as high as the ceiling. My eyes traveled across the tables and desks scattered with numerous blueprints and papers. This is where we made people's lives miserable, and at the present moment were planning the war. I walked in slowly, stepping over the spells, curses, quill pens, ink pots, and the other numerous magical objects that littered the floor. When I arrived at the middle of the room, I picked up the ingredients for the spell I knew por heart, and threw and mixed them together in a slapdash manner. I sprinkled them carefully onto the center of the table; I blew at the dust and ash from the spell. It looked as if it had been picked up por the wind. It swirled in the air and created the familiar screen of smoke. It sluggishly began to reveal the image of my sister and the boy she had snatched up to help her. I had been watching her closely ever since we began our planning. Even though I knew that it would be a while before I could interfere, I couldn't help but be curious. All they were doing was flying, nothing interesting, still, it was better there than here. And because of it, the picture of them was mais interesting than anything else. I was so engulfed in interest in the picture on the smokescreen, that I didn't notice my father leaning on the doorway. He coughed to get my attention; I whipped around and lowered my eyes shamefully.
He laughed a bit and smiled kindly. He stepped carefully and expertly across the room to me without knocking anything over or stepping on his papers, not even on the corners. He put his arm around shoulders and turned to face the screen with me. He face changed instantly to curiosity when he saw the boy with her.
"Who is that?" He asked glancing at me.
"I don't know." I said simply. "She just grabbed him off of a campground somewhere."
He shrugged. He turned me around and walked me out.
He gently pushed me out the door, "Run along now." He said smiling.
I noticed his eyes were tired. I didn't say anything. He walked back into the room and the door closed behind him.
*
"Ahhh…" he screamed.
"Hey," I said "I never caught your name."
"It's Aundre!" He called up to me. "What's your name?"
"It's Ashtaroth." I said.
Just then we made a steep dip, Aundre screamed.
"Calm down." I said soothingly.
"I'm afraid of heights!" he yelled
"Why?" I quizzed.
"What do mean?" He asked perplexed.
"Why are you afraid? What reason do you have to fear?" I asked.
"I don't know." He said. "I just am. I always have been."
"You Earth Stars confuse me sometimes." I said simply. "Why do you fear what is, as far as you know, safe?"
He didn't say anything, as if he was caught in a lie. We landed in Harkaimia that night…
Copyright © 2010-2011, Waverly L. Harris. FictionPress user Id 748202. All chapters, prologues, prefaces, epilogues, sneak peeks, and mais belong to me.
