“I don’t care how busy you are. These kids are fading. Avery is fading. You need to open the portal and send them home. Now!”
Melanie sighed and lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on my shorts. “What did you do to my jeans? When I told you to borrow my clothing, I wasn’t giving you permission to alter it.”
“Really? You want to talk about me cutting a pair of jeans you don’t even wear?” I scoffed. “You’re unbelievable. What aren’t you getting?” I snapped my fingers in her face. “Look around. Take two seconds to notice what’s going on here. People are fading. I’m not going to let you kill those boys. You’re going to open that portal.”
She shook her head and walked up the stairs. “I’m sorry, but I can’t send them home. The war isn’t over. No one leaves until the constellations are back in their places and Stellaris is on its feet again.”
I followed, keeping in step with her. “Avery is my best friend. He’s like family. I won’t let you risk his life to save this place. And that goes for the others too. They don’t deserve this either. You don’t get to play God and decide who lives and who dies.”
Melanie sped up, heading to her room so she could lock herself in there again. Anything to avoid dealing with what was happening. I was ready to yell some more when she stopped and turned to me.
“I’m sorry, Ella. Really, I am. But I can’t lose my army. Especially Avery. He’s one of the best fighters we have. The other boys look up to him. They don’t like Bobson very much, but they listen to Avery.”
“Of course they don’t like Bobson. He kidnapped them. And for the record, they don’t like you either. They’re well aware of the fact that you had them brought here. That you’re behind all of this.”
She ignored me. “They need someone from their own world to follow, and they’ve chosen Avery. He may be one of the newest recruits, but he’s already too important to let go.”
She didn’t give me a chance to protest. She ducked into her room and locked the door behind her. I stood there in disbelief for a whole five seconds before I pounded on her door.
“I won’t let you do this! I’ll find a way to get us all home with or without your help. And I hope the constellations tear this place apart!”
I headed back to the stairs, ripping pictures off the walls as I went. I couldn’t stop myself. People were dying, and I had to take my anger out somehow. I knew Melanie heard me and the destruction I was causing, but she was too chicken to come out and face me. I grabbed the family portrait and chucked it at Melanie’s door.
“Does that help?” Gabe asked, leaning on the railing at the top of the stairs.
“No.” I tossed another picture on the ground. “But I don’t know what else to do.”
“You’re worried about Avery, huh?” He tilted his head down and gave me a sideways glance.
I moved closer to him, feeling my anger fade a little. “I’m worried about you too. All of you guys.”
Gabe raised his fading hand, taking a closer look at the discoloration. “Avery doesn’t seem to like you hanging out with me.”
“He’s protective of me. That’s all.”
He raised an eyebrow like he didn’t believe me.
“Okay, well there’s the other thing too,” I added.
“The other thing?”
He was going to make me say it. Bring up Melanie and Avery’s feelings for her. “There aren’t exactly many females around here, and you happened to hit on the one he has a crush on.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I guess I did.”
I still had a hard time believing Avery or Gabe could like Melanie. She didn’t seem like either of their types. Not that I really knew what Gabe’s type was. I didn’t know much about him. I decided to leave out the part about Avery calling Gabe a player. I didn’t want to cause more trouble between them. We had enough enemies in this place already. We didn’t need to be fighting with each other too.
He ran his hand along the railing. “Hey, this is where we met.”
I smiled. “Don’t remind me. I thought I was going to break every bone in my body hanging from that railing.”
“I didn’t let you fall.”
“No, you didn’t, and you bailed me out with Melanie. If she caught me, she probably would’ve pried my fingers from the railing and watched me fall. No doubt with a smile on her face.”
His eyes widened, and a small smile crept across his lips. “Wow, you really do think she’s evil, don’t you?”
“Sorry, I know you like her—or liked her, but she’s—”
“I never said I liked her.”
I really hoped Gabe wasn’t one of those guys who didn’t care if a girl was a complete bitch as long as she was hot. “Oh. So you were just into her looks then?”
“She is undeniably hot in an obvious sort of way, but she’s wickedly bossy and kind of a hermit.” He nodded toward her locked door. “She almost never comes out of there.”
“I know. I really don’t get what Avery sees in her.” I looked down at my cutoffs. “She was more concerned about me ruining her wardrobe than the room full of fading kids. Avery’s liked girls before, but they were nice. Sweet, like him. Melanie is definitely not sweet. She’s nothing like Avery.”
“You and Avery aren’t really that alike either.”
“Gee thanks. You sure know how to sweet talk a girl.”
“No. I don’t mean that you’re not nice. I mean Avery takes orders. He follows the rules. You don’t.”
He had that right. “No, I don’t. But actually that’s what makes Avery and I such a good team.”
“What, you set the rules and Avery listens?” Gabe laughed. “I think I just lost all respect for him. Though if he’s going to be whipped by a girl, at least he picked you.”
“He’s not whipped, and I don’t boss him around.”
Gabe held his hands up. “I didn’t mean to offend you. Lots of guys get a little crazy around girls. Your gender makes us do strange things, like forget we have a will of our own sometimes. It’s really not your fault or any girl’s fault.”
“Look at us, debating the male-female relationship.” I cracked a smile.
“I was only trying to say that you and Avery don’t have a lot in common. You’re very different.”
I shrugged. “Being different is what makes us get along. He’s everything I’m not. When you put us together, we fit. We make a complete person.”
“You’re not going to start quoting lines from cheesy romance movies, are you? Because if so, this is my exit.”
I laughed. “No, it’s not like that.” I looked at him, thankful he could make me forget where I was and what was happening—even if only for a little while. “You’re good at making me laugh.”
“Oh great, not only do you think I’m some future fashion designer, now I’m a comedian on top of it. This is seriously not good for my ego.” As much as he was trying to fake disappointment, his mouth twitched with the threat of a smile.
“I was actually giving you a compliment and trying to say thank you.” I playfully kicked his shoe with my sneaker. “I’m not good at the sappy, mushy stuff.”
His expression got serious. “Level with me. You and Avery, have you ever—?”
“What? No.” I stepped back, surprised by the question. “We’re friends. Best friends. Always have been.”
Gabe nodded and stepped toward me. “Good. Because if I’m about to stop existing, there’s something I need to do first.” He reached his good hand toward my face and gently pulled me to him. He pressed his lips lightly against mine.
I froze, not knowing what to do. I didn’t know Gabe. Although what I did know, I definitely liked. And maybe we were all about to die. That sort of gave me a free pass to do something out of character, like kiss a guy I barely knew. A cute guy. I gave in and kissed him back. He was a good kisser, but almost instantly, Avery’s face popped into my mind.
“I’m sorry,” Gabe said, making me realize I’d pulled away.
&nb
sp; “No, it’s okay.” I reached for him but stopped.
“I didn’t mean to—I guess I thought maybe you wanted me to.”
“I did.” I sighed. “It’s just…complicated.”
“Avery.” It was Gabe’s turn to sigh. “Best friends, huh?”
That was what I wanted to know. Why had I thought of Avery when Gabe kissed me? Why had I thought Avery looked hot holding his bow and arrow? Nothing was making sense to me.
“I never would’ve gone after you if I’d known you liked him. It’s obvious he has a thing for you, but I thought you—well, I thought you liked me.”
“I do.”
“Just not as much as you like him.” Gabe shrugged, but I could see the disappointment in his face. “Hey, at least I got to kiss you before—” He held up his hand again.
I reached for his good hand and laced my fingers through his. “You’re not going to die. I won’t let you.” My eyes burned into his, trying to make him see that I did have feelings for him. I cared if he made it through this or not.
“Ell.” Avery’s voice was shaky. He stood on the stairs, staring at my hand in Gabe’s. He shook his head like he was trying to clear the image from his mind.
I let go of Gabe, finding it really hard to look either of them in the eyes.
“I could use a little help with the guys.” Avery motioned over his shoulder toward the sitting room. “Some of the younger ones are getting pretty freaked out about what’s happening to them.”
“I’ll help,” Gabe said. He turned his back to Avery and smiled at me. “Thanks. Even if you didn’t mean it, thanks anyway.” I knew he was talking about the kiss. My cheeks burned, but I managed a nod before Gabe walked downstairs.
Avery stood there staring at me. “What was that about?”
“Nothing really.”
He moved closer to me, and I suddenly felt like I was being interrogated. “You two seem to be getting close.”
I shrugged. “We kind of clicked right away.”
“In the training room?”
“No. Before that. We met after I got changed.” I looked down at my cutoffs. “He helped me bandage my leg. I cut it on that cactus plant.” I pointed to the cactus, trying to get Avery’s eyes off me.
“So you guys go way back then.” He forced a smile, trying to play it cool, but I saw right through him. He was mad. Avery kind of mad. And that meant silently sulking and pretending he was fine until I felt guilty and apologized or gave in to what he wanted. I wasn’t doing that this time. He had no right to act this way. Gabe hadn’t done anything to him or to me.
“Yeah, we go way back, like you and Melanie, I guess.” I wasn’t sure why I’d said that, and I wished I hadn’t. But his feelings for Melanie were really bugging me, and he didn’t seem to care. So why should I care if he didn’t like me being around Gabe?
Avery’s jaw tensed, and he nodded. “Got it.” He turned and started down the stairs again.
“Ave, wait.” I reached for his arm, but he shrugged my hand away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. At least not how it came out. Let me explain.”
“No need.” He held a hand over his head like he was dismissing the issue. “We’ll talk later. I have to help the others.” He didn’t even look at me as he turned into the sitting room.
Just great. As if things didn’t suck badly enough, I’d pissed off my best friend. And over something stupid: Melanie Pritchard.
8
I slammed my hand down on the railing, angry with myself for treating Avery that way. I wanted to break something else, get out some more frustration. The cactus that cut me had it coming, so I started toward it.
My eyes were focused on the cactus, but I couldn’t help noticing the door at the end of the hall was slightly open. I didn’t hesitate. I barged in. The room was circular with windows covering every wall except the one with the door. This had to be the tower that jutted out of the side of the castle. Every castle’s got to have a tower, right? I looked up at the huge skylight in the ceiling. If I’d been in my world where the night sky was actually dark and filled with twinkling stars, this would have been beautiful. But here in Stellaris, it was bright as day and the huge constellations were looking back at me.
I turned away from them. The only thing in the room was a giant orb sitting on top of a claw-shaped pedestal. It almost looked like a big crystal ball. I walked over to it and saw it was a miniature model of the heavens. It was actually pretty cool. And a lot less creepy than having the constellations hovering over me. I saw Sagittarius, the first constellation I’d met.
“Scalp your cow,” I said, remembering the words he’d seemed to be trying to say when Draco attacked me by the portal.
“Beg your pardon?” a voice said.
I whipped around toward the door, expecting to see Melanie’s mystery man, but no one was there. “Hello?”
“Over here.” This time I knew the voice was in the room with me. “Sorry, where are my manners? I’m Sagittarius.”
I turned back to the orb and looked at Sagittarius. He waved. I stepped back. No way was this real.
“You’re Ella, right?”
Sagittarius was talking to me through the orb. I looked up through the skylight at the constellations. Then back at the orb. How could they be in two places at once? What was this thing?
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Sagittarius said.
I moved closer to the orb. “How are you—I mean, you’re up there too?”
Sagittarius laughed. “It is a little odd, isn’t it? Being that you’re not from this world and all. This is how Melanie and her family keep watch over us. The orb is a miniature version of the heavens. But it’s very real. What happens to the orb, happens to the sky.”
“Melanie and her family watch over you?”
“Yes. They are the Keepers of the Stars. Our protectors.”
I couldn’t imagine Melanie protecting anything. She was tossing us to the constellations, not caring who got hurt. I felt bad for the people of Stellaris for having to listen to her all the time. And to think she had control over the constellations too. No wonder Draco, Serpens, and Scorpius were so angry. I could see why they’d hate Melanie. I hated her, and I barely knew her.
“Are you all right?” Sagittarius asked.
I stared at him without answering. I had a few questions I needed answered. “Why didn’t you help when Draco was attacking me back at the portal? I know you saw me. You warned me Draco was there, but you could have shot him with an arrow or something instead of just watching me fight for my life.”
“Shooting an arrow from the heavens would have been very dangerous. The force alone would’ve taken out Draco and you. Not to mention it would’ve created a huge crater in Stellaris.”
I nodded. It made sense. And for whatever reason, I felt like he was being honest with me. Like he might be the one—thing—in Stellaris that I could trust.
“I told Melanie you were here,” Sagittarius continued. “And that you needed help.”
“It looked like you were saying ‘Scalp your cow.’”
Sagittarius laughed. “I thought that’s what you said before. No, I told Melanie ‘Help her now.’”
I smiled for what seemed like the first time in a long time. “That makes more sense.”
“What do you think you’re doing in here?” Melanie yelled from the doorway.
I jumped. I figured she’d be holed up in her room until the war was over.
“Sagittarius, have you been running your mouth again?” She stormed over to the orb.
“Answering basic questions isn’t running your mouth,” I said, glaring at her. “It’s called being polite.”
“You’re going to give me a lesson on being polite?” Melanie raised an eyebrow and smirked. “I leave this room unlocked for two seconds and you pounce on the opportunity to snoop around some more. And besides that, you’ve made a mess of my hallway twice now.”
I would have loved to smack her, but she looked l
ike a hair puller. I wasn’t about to get into a catfight over who was more rude. I knew I wasn’t exactly Miss Manners, but neither was she. Putting Melanie in her place was more satisfying anyway. And Sagittarius had helped me figure out a few things I could throw in her face.
I smiled. “You’ve already taught me about being polite, Melanie. With the way you’ve welcomed me and the others here. With the way you attended to the wounded after the last battle.” I ran my finger over the claw-shaped pedestal and stared into Melanie’s cold eyes. “With the way you and your family imprisoned the constellations in the sky in the first place and caused them to come here seeking revenge.”
Her nostrils flared, and she swallowed so hard I thought she’d choke on her tongue. It was better than a knockout punch.
“Did I get it all right?” I asked. “You put the constellations in the sky. You and your parents. That’s why Draco took them. Now he and his buddies are coming after you. But you’re too much of a coward to face them. So you’re hiding behind a bunch of kids you had kidnapped. You’re so weak you couldn’t even kidnap us yourself! Well, let me tell you something. We’re done fighting for you and your stupid world. I’ll personally feed you to Draco the first chance I get.”
It felt good watching Melanie crumple. She deserved it. I was about to storm out of there completely satisfied, when Melanie collapsed on the floor, sobbing.
What kind of fight tactic was that? I knew I’d won the argument, but she didn’t need to be a baby about it. It didn’t fit her personality. Coldhearted Melanie crying like a baby? But then I remembered the first time I’d met her. Her eyes were swollen and red. She’d been crying. She liked to act tough, but it was just that—an act.
“Um, do you need help getting up?” I asked, not knowing what else to say.
“Just leave,” she sobbed. “Go away. You’ve done enough.”
I sighed and reached out my hand. She slapped it away and stood up on her own.
“Do you really want to keep going like this? Because I’ve got several good rounds left in me.” Really I didn’t have time to be arguing with her. I needed to get Avery back to the portal and figure out a way to open it. Only I had no idea how to do that. But Melanie did. I had to try to get it out of her, even if it meant playing nice.
Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances Page 42
