by A. B. Bloom
"Because you shouldn't be influenced." Celeste's eyes hardened like deep pools transforming into mirrors.
"Influenced into what?"
Celeste let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Did you know Stars were fated together?" Her eyes flicked over my face.
"Fated? What do you mean?"
Lauren held up her hand, she took me by surprise because for a moment, I'd forgotten that she was there. "I remember this from science. Stars are paired in the sky."
Celeste gave a slow incline of her head. "It's true, we are. It's our souls, we are fated and matched to be with one soul for our entire existence."
My stomach plummeted and an uncomfortable pinch settled in the bottom of my belly. The chain rolled itself into a tight ball. I had a terrible idea I knew where this was heading and it wasn't something I wanted to hear. This was why Nick had kept his distance, because he didn't feel the connection for me I felt for him, because we weren't fated together. I should be fated to Connor? That's what he'd been waiting for. Bile rose up my throat. Images of Nick washed through my brain, the feel of his skin assaulting my senses. The way his kiss had set me on fire. It had all been on my side.
"I think I'm going to be sick." I stumbled from the ground, dirt clinging to my clothes.
"Bron, wait. You haven't heard everything." Celeste called after me but I turned, slipping on the ground and ran. Lauren chased after me, calling me back, but she hadn't caught me by the time I ran straight into Aaron's arms.
"Whoa, Tiger. It's an electrical fault not a bush fire." He rubbed a soothing circle on my back. I leant into him, breathing the familiar scent of his soap and aftershave.
Tears stung my eyes and I blinked them away. "What are you doing here?" I asked, although I already knew he wasn't far away because he'd been checking up on me.
"I heard the call about the electrics over the radio so I came by." He failed to mention his earlier visit, but I couldn't call him on it.
"Will you take me home?" I asked.
His eyes glanced over my face, worry etching deep lines. "Sure." His eyes narrowed as he looked over my shoulder—I didn't want to know what he could see. Nick and Connor as bloody pulps probably, but I didn't care. They could tear each other apart for all it mattered. I knew I had nothing to be angry about. Nick had never led me on, but the way I knew I felt for him, I'd made myself believe there was something there. Now I knew that something couldn't exist.
"Don't forget me." Lauren grabbed my hand and we followed Aaron back to his unmarked police car. I didn't turn back to see Celeste. I knew someone would turn up eventually. After all, there was still a wider war going on. One in which I had a part to play. But I wanted to go home and ignore the tug of war that was pulling at my heart.
His hand shot out and made contact, a deep reverberation echoing in his bones. This wasn't the way he'd wanted it to be, he'd fought so hard to try and keep things even—nice. Nice? He thought as his head ricocheted back off Connor's returning blow. He'd been naive, he knew that now. He couldn't fight destiny any more than Connor could. Seeing the way that Bronte looked at him and knowing he was hurting her, he deserved a beating for that alone.
One of the fluorescent lights stripping the ceiling exploded, raining glass down on to them. It didn't hurt, just stung a little—they both brushed at the minuscule glass shards.
"Stop," he said. His voice was hoarse and a pounding splinter thudded behind his right eye. He hoped more than anything that Bronte hadn't hung around to see his lowest moment. It was funny he thought of her as Bronte now and not Tara. Connor reached for him, but the fight had been exhausted out of him. They clung together more for balance than anything else.
Connor's breathing came in laboured gasps, and Nick felt every single day of the thousands of years he'd been alive. Those years, the pain, the heartache, it all took it's toll. But he also knew it had on Connor. He could remember a time when the world had been new and the Stars had been full of joy at the thing's they’d found. That was a light age ago.
Connor hadn't spoken to him, not really, not since the days after Bronte's birth. Not since the time when Nick had failed him in a way he knew Connor would never forgive. Nick should have been there for him. Instead, he hadn't been able to resist the pull of his soul. The pull of gravity that tied him to the earth, and bound him in unshakeable chains. Kesh had called days later, telling them they'd located another star child, the last of the star children. It had seemed to Nick he would have time to redeem himself. But fate hadn't been playing the game. Destiny had other plans.
"Brother," he gasped, his lungs straining, his face stinging. "Let's just stop and talk."
Connor slumped against him. "It's too late for talking, Nick, we both know that."
Nick's hands wound around his brothers arms. "I just lost it when I sensed the hunter, he was too close to her, I couldn't stand for what happened to Em . . .”
"Don't say her name," Connor growled but his shoulders slumped in defeat. "You don't get to say her name."
Nick felt himself wash out to sea and he battled against the tide to bring himself back. "Even if she lived, she still wouldn't have been the last star child. Bronte would have been. That is our destiny."
"Destiny sucks." Connor sighed.
Nick chuckled, although it hurt his ribs and made his spine feel like it was about to snap in two. "It sure does, brother, it sure does."
Nick didn't know if he regretted Kesh sending him to be the one to check on Bronte after her birthday. He'd always said he would never make contact with her. But then he always found himself near, just at the right time, like when she was falling out of a tree. Or when she was lost in town and couldn't find her way home. Times he'd helped because he could, even though he was breaking a promise to himself.
Seriously? If you couldn't keep a promise to yourself there really wasn't much point.
"I need to see her." He searched Connor's face but Connor's eyes kept a steady point of focus on the cracked white wall of what was still standing of the school office. "He's close, I can feel it. He was here, and it's hurting." He glanced again at Connor and found him watching him closely. "It's hurting."
"You know I would protect her above everything, I won't let it happen again." Connor winced and Nick winced with him. He tried not to read his brother's thoughts, normally because he was thinking harsh things about him. But he'd never been able to block the visions of what happened to Emma. The girl whose name he wasn't allowed to say.
If Bronte's blood spilled like that then they were all doomed. They were doomed anyway but it would mean they'd failed and that would be worse than his own death.
He'd been through the heartbreak countless times. More times then he would ever wish to keep on tally, but this would be worse. Indescribably worse.
"Let me see her, apologise, and then I will go back to the side-lines. I promise." He met Connor's eye.
"Promise?" Connor asked lifting a bloody eyebrow. Nick despaired. A promise once made couldn't be broken.
But he had to see her.
"I promise."
"I can't believe you haven't told me any of this," Lauren muttered. We were in my room, the lilac walls felt imposing after the breezy freedom of the tent the previous night. Glaring at the walls, I wondered if I'd chosen that colour years before as some form of premonition. That one day I would meet Nick and fall for him even though I shouldn't. Was life just one long predestined play and we were all just following the script we'd been given?
"I haven't known that long. Not really. And let's be honest, I was in a coma for half of it." Every time I contemplated how much my life had changed in the last couple of weeks, it felt like my head would explode. The walls would be covered in grey gunk. The good news about that situation would be at least the lilac walls would be covered.
"And let me get this straight," Lauren paused. "I haven't known Nick, Celeste and Connor for a year since they moved here from London?" My stomach pinched at the mention of Nick's name
but I studiously ignored it.
"Babe, you've known them two days. I've only known Connor and Celeste two days." This seemed unbelievable, but Celeste especially had made herself feel indispensable. I wanted to ask her so much, wanted her to tell me what I should do.
Maybe I should offer myself to the hunter. If I weren’t alive then the scales would still be evenly balanced. The war between night and day would still rage on but nothing could tip the scales in either side’s favour. Apart from maybe a defection from one side to the other—hell I didn't even know what side most of these Stars were on. Celeste and Nick, I gathered, were on the side of day, but Connor and Kesh...I wasn't sure.
Lauren was still wrapping her head around the facts of our altered existence. Darkness was seeping into the corners of the room. Stealthy shadows that brought with them a chill I didn't recall feeling in the tent. I shivered and wrapped my arms tight around my waist. It felt that I could hold myself together that way. "And this hunter, what does he want exactly?"
I hesitated. What did the hunter want with me? Did he want me dead so I couldn't tip the scales? Or did he want my energy—the energy I hadn't even controlled or utilised yet?
A question pinged into my mind and I fought to keep hold of it; it twirled and teased until I could form it into words. I couldn't comprehend it, but I couldn't believe that I'd been so blind not to ask it before. If the scales were even, then why was the darkness stretching? Surely if they were even then day and night would continue to exist as they always had?
A heavy empty sensation echoed in my chest. I realised that the Stars, that Nick, might not have been as honest with me as I'd thought. There was something amiss. What was it?
Was it to do with Connor and the destiny he'd been waiting for, which happened to be me, who didn't even like him very much?
"Bron?" Lauren waved her hand in front of my face. "Earth to Bron."
I shook my head. "Sorry. Uh, I don't know." I cringed from what would happen if the hunter got me. I'd been brave thinking I should hand myself over. But when it came to it, I wasn't keen to find out what had happened to the other star children on a first hand basis. Suddenly, I didn't want to talk about star stuff anymore—I was exhausted by it all. I couldn't even bring myself to wonder if Connor and Nick's smack down was over or not. "Eleanor looked minging today," I said. I rolled onto my tummy and tried to remember what it was like to talk to Lauren about normal topics before this all happened. "I wonder what's wrong with her?"
"Seriously, did you see her hair? You could have fried an egg on it."
"Have you ever known Eleanor to leave the house without being made up to the max?" I asked.
Lauren thought for a moment. "Nope."
"Me neither."
The sound of shattering glass splintered from down the street. I jumped, the memories of the school lobby this morning flooding back. "What was that?"
We both leapt for the window and pulled back the curtain, peering outside. A gang of men walked down the road, one of them was swinging what looked like an axe. The hunter.
My heart thudded erratically. "What is going on?"
Lauren blinked at me wild eyed. "What time is it?"
I grabbed for my phone and peered at the illuminated display my fingers shaking. It was only half two in the afternoon yet total darkness had descended. The man with the axe smashed another car window as he sauntered past. Footsteps pounded up the stairs and Aaron burst into my room. "Lauren, I'm going to take you home."
Lauren looked at me, her mouth open. "I can't leave Bron," she stated.
Aaron tutted. "And I can't get you home safely later, the streets are full of vandals and I've got to get to work now. I've just called your mum and they are expecting you." He turned his eyes onto me. "You, stay in your room."
My heart felt like it was trying to escape out of my chest, clawing up my throat. "Where's mum?"
"Downstairs." His expression softened. "I'll lock up as I go, stay up here and don't open the door to anyone."
He motioned for Lauren who was still hovering undecidedly. "I think I should stay."
He shook his head. "No. You need to be at home."
I couldn't see what difference it would make, but I could tell by the set of his face that there was little point arguing. I watched her leave with a heavy pull dragging on my heart. I hadn't had the chance to talk about half of this craziness.
Peering out the window, I watched Aaron and Lauren climb into the dark car. Aaron flicked the flashing lights on, putting his hand out the window to attach the blue light to the roof. The flash reminded the hurt that had crossed Connor’s blue eyes . I'd been fighting the tears all day but now I was alone, I couldn't fight the sting of salt water any longer. My eyes swam as I considered the mess I'd found myself in. The crowd of vandals jeered at Aaron's car and I held my breath as I watched it cruise through the crowd.
This darkness couldn't last. Civilisation couldn't take it. Mankind was too dark to live in permanent night.
A gentle rap pulled me from my teary haze. "Can I come in?" It was Nick. I didn't need to turn around to see him. I could sense him.
"I thought you weren't allowed near me." I kept my shoulders straight refusing to give into the pull that made me ache to want to turn and see him.
His return pitched low and it made my soul hum. "I don't know what gave you the impression I play by the rules."
I spun slowly, my eyes stinging with more tears. My face was a mess, my body wanting to collapse with the strain of it all. He paused there, his hands hanging at his sides. Waiting for me to relent and let him in. I nodded. The dark clothes and baseball cap I associated with him filled my room with their comforting presence. His face sported a purple bruise and his violet energy dipped low, flicking and clinging to his body.
"Your face," I exclaimed, taking an automatic step towards him.
"You should have seen the other guy." His lips lifted a little and my heart gave a patter I couldn't ignore.
"No, thank you," I replied. Silence followed so I made small talk. "The darkness is worse." I held my hands up like I expected him to hand me a solution.
"I know." The cap dipped and I wanted to rip it off and look at him. But now I knew he was hiding himself because he wasn't meant to be with me, I knew I would have to hold back on those impulses.
A red-hot rage flushed through me, a torrent of burning fire. "You should've told me."
"Told you what?" His head titled.
"Told me that what I was feeling wasn't right, that it meant nothing."
He studied the carpet before replying. "I'm sorry."
The fire became engulfing, it combusted out of me. "You've been lying all the time. You told me the scales were evenly balanced and that I was the star child that was going to have to make a decision." The words rushed from me. "But the darkness is growing. It's nearly taken over, people are going crazy, and my vote hasn't got a single say." His shoulders slumped. "Well?" I demanded.
"We don't understand it. I can't tell you more, because I don't know more." His hand reached for me, fingers outstretched before dropping and swinging by his side. "I need to get you to camp. The hunter is close."
"I don't care." I folded my arms. "He can come and get me. I don't know what to think or feel about anything anymore, so maybe it's best if it was all over."
Nick gasped and took a deliberate step towards me. "Never say that." The air between us zapped with electricity and I had to remind myself that he couldn't feel it—that it was all me. "We care about you, not just because of who you are, but rather," he hesitated. "Rather because we've watched you since the day you were born and you mean something to us."
I was appalled that my eyes stung again. I shifted my body a little so he couldn't see. "I don't want to go anywhere with you. I don't trust you."
He took another step closer and I felt like I’d die from wanting him to touch me. "Always trust me."
"You said the hunter was at school and then you got distracted in
a testosterone face off with Connor. How am I supposed to trust you after that?"
"Come to camp and we can talk." He held his hand towards me.
"No. Aaron said I couldn't leave the room."
"Bronte." His tone was firm. "Now." I tightened my arms across my chest. With a deep sigh he stepped forward and closed the space between us. "Fine."
And then everything went dark.
The smell of incense woke me up. I stretched from what felt like the deepest sleep I'd had, pre coma, and flickered an eye open. On the silk pillow next to my head was a sprig of heather. Nick.
With a rush of adrenaline, I sat up, fighting my way out of the sheets. He sat on the ottoman staring at me. "I'm sorry I had to coerce you like that." His words were a low murmur.
"Coerce? You knocked me out."
A flicker of a smile glanced under the cap. "You were being a trifle difficult."
"A trifle?"
Again with the smile.
“Why are you here, Nick? I don't think it's fair. Can't you send Celeste in to guard me or something?"
He ignored my question. "Would you take a walk with me?"
I laughed and pulled my legs up tight under my chin. "What, around camp with all the other Stars staring at us? Connor glaring at me because I'm supposed to be in love with him and I'm nowhere even close?"
"It's just a walk." He stood and stretched, and I wished my eyes weren't drawn to the lithe length of his body. It felt all wrong now. Holding a hand out, he waited for me to scramble up and place my hand in his. Bolts of electricity flickered across my skin as our hands touched. I glanced at him to see if he could feel it, but his expression didn't change. Disappointment settled in my stomach.
He marched for the wide opening of the tent. Pulling me behind him with one hand and holding back the canvas with the other. When we stepped out, the camp was empty. Glowing lights inside the other tents told me the other Stars were encamped and bunked down. Although, I knew they didn't sleep, so I wondered what they were all doing. My eyes searched for Celeste but I couldn't see her. "Follow me?" he whispered and I wondered if those higher up the chain of command had sanctioned this walk. Kesh was also absent, and there was an eerie calm settled over the camp. We wove through the guy ropes until we were at the back of a green tent. I searched for the wall that lead back to town but my eyes couldn't pick it out of the darkness. "Ready?" he asked.
