by Darby Cupid
“Her palace was about a day’s journey away by landcraft. My place was really nice but the royal palace?” I shake my head, remembering the glistening white walls and sprawling gardens. “You wouldn’t believe it.”
“It really sucks what happened to you,” Jordan says out of the blue. “I’m sorry.”
Jordan’s words take me by surprise, and I can only meet his sympathetic stare for a second before dropping my gaze to my shoes with a shrug.
“How old were you the last time you were on Starlatten?” he asks.
“I suppose around eleven or twelve in your years?” I swivel back and forth on the chair. “I can guarantee things have changed quite a bit in the last seven years though.”
“What do you mean?”
“Technology, fads, fashions,” I explain. “Think of how many things exist on Earth that didn’t seven years ago.”
Jordan considers this for a moment. “I’d imagine even more so on your planet as you’re so technologically advanced.”
A comfortable silence settles over us and I turn back to the stack of textbooks on Jordan’s desk.
“I wonder if Crystal’s told Dylan about the three moons and purple grass.” Jordan muses, his phone back in his hand again.
My jaw clenches and my shoulders stiffen as I flip the pages of the history book I’ve selected, trying to shake the frustration in my fingertips. Five days. She’s been here five days. Anger churns and bubbles in my gut until finally, it erupts. I slam the book down on the desk and turn to face Jordan.
“If you ask me, Dylan’s taking advantage.”
Jordan flinches but doesn’t speak.
“I mean, she crash-lands on a strange planet after losing her entire family, and he makes a move on her? Are you kidding me?” My skin is red hot and I want to crush something in my fists. At the same time, however, it’s so good to get this off my chest. It’s like a weight has been lifted.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that,” Jordan mutters.
“Is it though?” I demand, leaning forward. “Let’s face it, Crystal is extremely vulnerable and Dylan’s taking advantage.”
“Hey!” Jordan shouts. “Dylan isn’t like that. He really cares about Crystal. He’d never do anything to hurt her!”
I open my mouth to reply, a pile of spiteful retorts on my tongue, but there’s no point. Jordan is Dylan’s best friend. He’s not going to take my side. Exhaling in frustration, I lean back in the chair.
“You really care about her, don’t you?” he asks.
“Of course,” I answer. “She’s my only link to home. She’s one of my last memories of who I was.”
“Were you and Crystal ever more than friends?”
Jordan’s question comes quietly and stops the breath in my throat. A memory of lying side by side in lilac grass, breathless from running and laughing, fingers touching. Staring up at the moon, she’d started counting the craters and I’d taken her hand in mine. She’d turned to look at me, her brown eyes large and sparkling. I remember finding it slightly harder to breathe. It was the last time I saw her.
“No,” I say, shaking the picture from my head, surprised at the clarity of the forgotten memory. “I’ll admit, when we spent that summer together, I started to hope we might become something more, but we were so young. I thought we had time.”
“What about Linda?” Jordan asks.
My head snaps up and I frown. “What about her?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “You two seem pretty close.”
“I guess.” I smile at the thought of her face when she came to check on me earlier. “She’s pretty cool and I owe her a lot. She was so brave coming to find me after I - well - after how we met.”
“So, there’s nothing romantic going on?”
“Romantic?” I echo, unable to keep the smirk from my face. “No. If Crystal and I go home, there’s no point. I’ll never see her again, so why break her heart?” I look pointedly at Jordan, who shakes his head. “Why are you suddenly master of questions anyway?”
He ignores my question. “What if you don’t go home?”
I stand and lift the curtain, staring out the window at the empty sky. “Nothing we can do but wait.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Crystal
I wake with a hard knot in my stomach. It’s how I’ve woken every day since the explosion. Where am I? What horrors does today hold? As the sunlight filters through the curtains, my eyes focus, and I remember where I am. Sera’s house. Safe. Sighing with relief, I snuggle into my pillow and pull my blanket around me, enjoying the warmth of the bed.
A familiar scent winds its way to my nose and I open my eyes to find I’m clutching Dylan’s sweatshirt to my chest. I smile and bring the soft blue material to my face, inhaling deeply. The knot in my stomach slowly starts to unravel, giving way to hope, and hunger.
Stretching, I swing my legs over the bed and motion to the clothes piled on the chair. They drift across the room and into my open arms. Oh. I stare, astonished, at the clothes in my hands. It’s the first time I’ve used my amulet so casually since the ship and it brings with it an uneasiness I can’t quite place.
By the time I arrive downstairs, Sera is munching on some toast and nursing a cup of coffee.
“Hey,” she grins, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “You’re up! Tell me everything!”
I slip onto a stool, keeping my face neutral, and pour myself a glass of orange juice. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Sera groans. “Oh, come on, Crystal. Don’t make me beg. What’s going on with you and Dylan? Did you sort everything out?”
“I suppose so,” I nod, giving her a small smile. “We’ve decided we’re going to make the most of whatever time we have.”
“Aww, that’s sweet.” She says, before adding as an afterthought, “Well, bittersweet I guess.”
“So, what’s the plan for today?” I ask, changing the subject. “What do people do when they’re not running from murderous rebel leaders?”
Sera laughs, sending her long golden tresses in ripples across her shoulders. “Something fun! I’ve already messaged everyone to meet here when they’re up.”
I glance around for a clock, even though I haven’t quite got the hang of human time. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost midday,” she replies, shaking her head. “It seems we’ve all had a bit of catching up to do in the sleep department.”
As I consider this, there’s a knock on the glass double doors. My heart jumps into my throat as I turn to see who it is, but sinks with a wave of guilt as I see Linda and Eddie waving to be let in.
“Morning!” Linda grins as Sera opens the door. “Did you sleep well?”
I nod. “Very well, thank you. And you?”
Linda shrugs and pulls up a stool, looking pointedly at Eddie. Sera called Linda last night immediately after Jordan had told her about his conversation with Jaik. Perhaps it’s for the best that Jaik isn’t interested in Linda that way right now. Eddie still hasn’t forgiven him for the whole ‘attacking his little sister in an alley’ situation.
“Are you okay, Eddie?” I ask as he props himself up at the table.
“Right as rain,” he nods. “Which means good.”
I smile gratefully for the explanation. “We were just discussing what we’re going to do today.”
“I’ve been thinking about that too!” Linda blurts. “You need to experience some proper human culture before you go back.”
“Please, not a museum.”
I turn at the familiar tone to find Jaik standing at the open doorway, Jordan by his side.
Jordan heads straight to Sera’s side, wrapping his arms around her with a tender kiss. I smile at the sight of their happiness before turning back to Jaik. He’s still leaning against the doorframe, his tall, broad figure filling the space. He must have borrowed the black long-sleeved t-shirt he’s wearing from Jordan, because it’s tighter than anything I’ve
seen him wear, showing off his muscular arms and chest. His green eyes gleam like precious stones in the morning light and I find myself trying and failing to find the young boy I held hands with so many orbits ago.
“Museums are boring,” Jaik continues, locking eyes with me. “I should know. I’ve slept in most of the ones around here.”
“You poor thing!” Linda pats the stool beside her and Jaik pushes himself off the doorframe and makes his way over. “Did Cadicus kick you out a lot?”
He shrugs. “If I didn’t come back with enough information, money or goods, he’d make me stay out until I did. I got good at sneaking into places until they shut.”
“So, it’s a no to museums then?” Jordan jokes.
“As if I would suggest a museum,” Linda laughs. “I was thinking the cinema and perhaps the zoo.”
Chatter flutters around the group as they discuss the idea and I watch, sipping my orange juice, quite content. I have no idea what ‘cinema’ or ‘zoo’ mean, but everyone seems quite pleased with the suggestion.
“There’s a decent film on in town at one,” Eddie offers, already tapping away on his phone.
Sera swipes something on her phone. “That means we’ll still have a couple of hours for the zoo if we still fancy it! Perfect!”
Jaik leans over to me, whispering conspiratorially in my ear. “The cinema is giant moving pictures telling a story and the zoo is where they keep different types of animals from around the planet.”
I smile at him in thanks and he closes one eye in a gesture I’ve now been told is called a wink. Turning away, I stare out of the window to the garden. Where is Dylan? Why isn’t he here yet?
A black hole opens in my stomach. What if the healing reversed? What if he’s dead? As I picture his lifeless body before me, my body turns to solid ice, my heart shrinking into a tiny useless shard.
“Has anyone heard from Dylan?” I choke out.
The chatting stops abruptly as everyone turns and stares.
“Are you okay, Crystal?” Jordan frowns. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I try again, cold fear making every fibre of my body shudder. “Has anyone heard from Dylan?”
Eddie holds up his phone. “I’ll call him.”
Linda reaches across the table and places a hand on mine. “What’s going on?”
I force myself to utter my worst fear. “What if the healing didn’t work? What if we missed something? What if he’s—”
“Late?”
I spin around on my stool to see Dylan standing by the doors. I melt off my stool, and fall like a wave towards him, wrapping myself against his chest. “I thought something had happened to you.”
“Whoa!” he exclaims as I almost knock him back through the doors. Relaxing into my embrace, he rubs my back and kisses my hair. “I’m fine. I just needed a nap between opening up the bakery and coming here. I’m exhausted.” He tips my face and winks. “Must have been the late night.”
“You opened the bakery this morning?” Eddie gasps. “You almost died last night!”
Dylan loosens his embrace, lifting his head from mine. “I couldn’t exactly explain that to my mum, could I?”
I wonder whether I’ll still be here when he tells his mother he’s had enough. As I picture him, heartbroken and wracked with guilt, a lump forms in my throat and I reach up to stroke his face.
“Right!” Jaik smacks his hands down on the breakfast bar so loudly it makes me jump. “I’m off. Have fun kids!”
Linda’s face falls and she reaches up to place a hand on his arm. “What? You’re not coming?”
“Nah.” Jaik stands and gives her shoulder a squeeze. “I’m going to swing by Cadicus’ place to see if the police have found it yet. I want to see if I can find any useful information. He might have kept some of my mother’s stuff too.”
“Be careful,” I offer as he walks towards the door.
He stops right in front of me, his green eyes intense. “I will.”
Lifting a hand to the others, he steps outside, knocking Dylan’s shoulder on his way out. I wince, but Dylan says nothing, his mouth set in a firm line as he ignores the vaguely aggressive gesture.
“Right,” Sera dusts the crumbs from her fingers and finishes the last dregs of her coffee. “Let the day of fun begin!”
I’m so happy I could burst. As I snuggle down into the seat next to Dylan with my second slice of pizza, my face aches from smiling. I don’t know many human foods and as pizza was the first one I tried, it seemed like a fitting choice tonight when they asked me what I’d like to eat.
In the furthest corner of my mind, a small knot of nerves glows like a distant beacon, but I’ve covered it in so many layers of happy, I hope perhaps it will fade away.
Today was an incredible experience. When Jaik described the cinema as moving pictures, I had not been prepared for the overload on my senses. We watched a film about two people racing to save the city from a villain. Dylan explained that the people on the enormous screen were called actors and most of the things happening had been added later by computers.
I mean, Starlatten has art, stories and music, but nothing like that. It was so loud and powerful. I laughed and cried, completely exhilarated by the end. It also gave me a glimpse of other countries on Earth. I’m in awe of the diversity spread across such a small planet.
After the cinema, we made our way to the zoo. It was very busy and filled with herds of small children, which I admit I enjoyed immensely. I haven’t seen much of normal human life and it answered several of my questions. Oh, and the animals! What amazing and incredible creatures! My favourite by far was the giraffe. Dylan had to pull me away from their enclosure. I read every single fact plaque for every exhibit, lapping up information until the crowds waned and the air took on the chill of late afternoon.
Finally, exhausted, we made our way back to Sera’s house to order pizza and go over the events of the day. Dylan has barely left my side all day. I can’t describe how much I’ve enjoyed being close to him. Holding his hand and relishing the warmth of his arms slipping around me; the soft brush of his lips on my skin when he kisses my neck. My heart swells at the memory and I glance up at him as if to check it’s all real.
There were a couple of times today, however, when I caught him staring at me with a sad, distant look on his face. I tried to ask him about it, but every time I did, he dismissed it with a kiss, telling me he was just admiring how beautiful I am. Of course, I know it’s something more than that.
“I hope Jaik’s okay,” Linda says through a mouth full of pizza.
I look away from Dylan. “I’m sure he is.”
“Could you find out?” Linda asks, peering out from beneath her lashes. “You know, with your amulet?”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Dylan grumbles. “He’ll show up at some point.”
Linda stares at me, her eyes pleading, so I finish my bite of pizza and wipe my hands on a napkin. Closing my eyes, warm, purple glittering energy fills my mind. I concentrate on Jaik, trying to picture him neutrally, but I keep coming back to the brooding image of him in black, leaning against the doorway earlier today.
Are you okay? I push the message out and he replies almost instantly.
Yeah, I’m fine. Did you enjoy your ‘day of fun’?
The sarcasm hanging on every word irks me, but I shake it off. It was very nice, thank you. Are you coming back to Sera’s? We have food.
There’s a pause. Do you want me to come?
I frown. Whether I want you to or not is irrelevant. We’re here. There’s pizza. Are you coming or not?
Calm down. I’m coming.
Opening my eyes, I end the communication before he can add anything else. Linda stares at me expectantly. “He’s coming.”
Linda smiles and returns to her pizza.
“Great,” Dylan mumbles.
When the doorbell goes, Linda leaps up to answer it. I meet Sera’s eyes briefly sharing the same look of concern. Jordan tol
d Sera that Jaik thought Linda was nice but there was no point getting involved, which Linda seems to have taken as a positive sign to pursue something. Sera has tried to steer her away from the idea several times, but she doesn’t seem to be listening.
Linda drags Jaik into the room and on to the sofa beside her.
He gives a collective greeting and grabs a slice of pizza. “So, did you all have a good day?”
“It was brilliant!” Sera smiles. “You should have come.”
“Did you have any luck at Cadicus’ house?” Jordan asks.
Jaik nods, looking at me. “I found my mother’s amulet.”
My mouth falls open. “That’s amazing! I suppose that’s how he’s been able to keep in touch with Zarbilian.”
Jaik nods and pulls a glistening blue amulet out of his pocket, holding it aloft. “We can try sending another signal tonight if you want?”
“Do you not think it could be dangerous, using too many amulets?” Dylan speaks up from beside me. “The aftermath of the last attempt was pretty intense.”
Words stick in my throat as Dylan and Jaik stare at each other, the underlying aggression palpable. I kiss Dylan’s cheek, causing him to look away. “We can think about it and weigh up risks. There’s no rush.”
General chatter resumes as Eddie and Sera go to fetch some more drinks. I breathe a quiet sigh of relief but as I watch Jaik, I can see the anger rippling just under the surface. The crust of pizza he’s holding is mush beneath his clenched fist.
Are you okay?
He doesn’t even look in my direction. I just want to know I’ve done everything I can.
I’m about to respond when Linda echoes my question, unaware of our silent conversation.
“I’m okay, thanks,” Jaik says, putting an arm around her and pulling her towards him. “Thank you for looking out for me.”
“Any time,” she grins.
I watch, eyes wide, as he bends and kisses her on the cheek. His eyes flick toward the kitchen door briefly before he lifts Linda’s face and kisses her on the lips. I’m not sure if it’s mine or Linda’s gasp that I hear.
