Silence of Stars

by Holly J. Wood

  “Professor, what’s going on? What happened last nigh—?”

  He spoke over me. “Somehow my abilities to teach Mindspeak have been discovered and I am forced to go into hiding. I am sending you this message through one of my students whom I believe you are friends with—Isabel Flores.”

  The hologram blinked and I realized this wasn’t a live conversation, but a recording.

  Atwood lowered his voice. “I couldn’t leave without telling you what I discovered last night. During our lesson I placed you under deep hypnosis. Normally, it takes several sessions for a pupil to unlock Mindspeak, but you were different.” He glanced nervously over his shoulder and straightened his weathered cap before facing forward again. “When I reached the space in your mind, there was nothing to unlock.”

  A chill covered my arms as his gray eyes stared right at me.

  “Miss Taylor, you have the ability to Claim.”

  My heart stopped. I shook my head, unable to believe what he was saying.

  He grinned, revealing a row of crooked teeth. “In the right moment, it will come to you. Don’t worry about how—it will simply come.” His attention was drawn off screen. He turned back to face me. “There is something else . . . something which I fear will have a great impact on you and your fellow Recruits. I have given the information to Recruit Flores in case this stone is intercepted.”

  His voice dropped to an urgent whisper. “Trust no one. Things are not what they seem—” He looked off screen again, his eyes growing wide. “I have to go. I’ll try to transmit the rest later. This message will self-destruct as soon as you’ve listened to it. Good luck, Captain Taylor.”

  The hologram blinked twice and then went dark. I stepped back, shielding my face with my arms as I waited for a small explosion.

  Instead, the stone simply cracked in half. I lowered my hands slowly. I would have laughed at the anticlimactic display if my mind wasn’t preoccupied with Atwood’s message.

  Don’t trust anyone. Did that include Grace? Gideon? How could I even be sure I could trust Professor Atwood? I bit my hand. I’d never felt so alone. I paced the floor, praying for answers.

  My cuff buzzed, interrupting my flurry of thoughts as I read the message from Grace.

  If there’s ever a time your peers need a boost, it’s now. Good luck on your speech, Captain. I’m counting on you.

  I shook my head and typed a response. I don’t know what to tell them. Do you have any more information about the Council’s decision? What will our fate be?

  Her reply came quickly. The fate of your planet won’t be decided until after your group returns home. I know it’s hard, but don’t waste time thinking of that now. Study your books, write your speech, and get some rest. That’s an order.

  I rolled my eyes. Easier said than done, Lieutenant, but I’ll do my best. What about the information on Roth? Will you present the evidence to the Council?

  I waited several minutes, but it became clear that she wasn’t going to respond. An uneasy feeling sank in my gut. I pushed the feeling aside and retrieved my Bible. I prayed before opening it; prayed harder than I ever had. When I opened my eyes, I flipped the book open at random and scanned the page in front of me. My eyes widened when I reached a familiar verse. They were words I’d heard before—words I’d quoted to Rusty. But I hadn’t attributed them to the Bible.

  I jumped up from my bed and snatched the history book off the dresser, flipping through it until I found what I was looking for. Goosebumps covered my arms and a smile spread slowly across my face. This was it. The answer.

  I grabbed my quill and journal and began writing my speech. It took me less than an hour to get it exactly the way I wanted it.

  Next, I went to the dresser and opened a drawer, pushing clothes aside. A thought had been nagging at me even though I’d tried to ignore it. My hand brushed something hard and I cringed at the sight of Lord Krane’s calling card. The swirling green glass came alive as I carefully picked it up. My hand trembled as my thumb hovered over the button. Was I being too rash?

  I shifted my weight. There was still time. I would give Grace until morning to respond to my message. I blew out a long breath and set the card back in the drawer. I put the clothes back over it, and something glinted. I reached for the object and gasped—the Archive. I’d forgotten I’d placed it there to keep it safe.

  Why had I not thought of it before? I closed my eyes and kissed the small drive. Funny that after all this time, the answer to saving Earth’s population wasn’t some big, grandiose plan, but a tiny piece of plastic.

  I lifted my cuff and tapped a message to Rusty.

  Still have those commemorative pins?

  CHAPTER

  Thirty-Six

  A noise startled me awake. My heart pounded in the darkness and it took several moments for me to get my bearings. I was in bed. I remembered getting back late from Rusty’s. I held my breath, straining to hear the sound again. Everything was still, and then I heard it.

  Someone was in my room.

  My breathing grew shallow as I pictured Slade hovering over me, ready to zap me with Light Kill. I opened my eyes and waited for my screens to adjust to the dark as my mind raced to come up with a plan. I didn’t have a weapon. I could scream, but then he would likely kill me on the spot. And what if one of the Norths rushed into my room and got hurt? I lay as if paralyzed, sensing the person moving closer.

  “I know you’re there,” I blurted.

  The movement stopped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  I bolted upright at the sound of Gideon’s voice. He sat down on the edge of my bed and I threw my arms around him, letting out a sigh of relief.

  He held me tight, his light pouring into me. “Your heart is pounding.”

  I pulled him tighter. “I thought you were Slade.”

  He stroked my hair, causing a delicious shiver down my spine. “I just got back from Skye’s and wanted to make sure you were safe. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  I stiffened at the mention of Skye’s name and pulled away. “How is she?”

  He shook his head. “She wanted me to stay longer, but I had a promise to keep.”

  I glanced up, raising an eyebrow. He smiled and traced his finger along my cheek.

  “Are you up for a swim?”

  >

  Chrysaor touched down in the meadow near Halo Pond, slowing to a trot before Gideon reigned him to stop at a nearby tree. He dismounted and put his hands around my waist, lifting me down. We stood face-to-face for a moment, his blue eyes glittering in the darkness. “Are you sure you’re alright with this?”

  “Definitely.”

  Now that I knew I had the ability to Claim Gideon, I wanted to be with him every possible second. I’d tried speaking to him in my mind several times since he’d come to my room, but never with any luck. I trusted Atwood that the Claim would come when the time was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to be patient.

  “I’ll turn my back so you can change,” Gideon said.

  I nodded, ready to shed my clothes for the bathing suit I’d put on underneath. It was more like a wet suit, with sleeves that went to my elbow and the legs fitted to the knee. I’d grown accustomed to the modest dress of the Liorites and found that I actually preferred more coverage.

  Gideon walked a few paces away and turned his back. I realized I was still staring at him as he stripped off his tunic, revealing his own wetsuit. I admired the way it stretched across his broad shoulders a moment before turning to look at the pond. The glowing neon water was so inviting that I couldn’t stand to wait another second.

  “Last one in’s a smelly shirt!” I called, stripping to my wetsuit and running to the pond. I laughed at the sounds of his protests and dove in. The water was like liquid velvet. I broke the surface and wiped my eyes, grinning. All of the stress of what I needed to do melted away in the glowing water. I was here alone with Gideon—hopefully with
the ability to Claim him. For now that was all that mattered.

  A loud splash sounded a second before I felt a pull on my legs. I squealed as Gideon came up underneath and lifted me onto his shoulders, launching me into the air. I shrieked before coming down with a splash. When I came up again I laughed and splashed his face with water. “What was that for?”

  “For beating me in our first race,” he said with a grin, his white teeth a stark contrast to his dark hair. “If you hadn’t given yourself a head start, I would have had you.”

  “Whatever makes you feel better,” I said with a smirk.

  As I swam to him, his face grew serious. I straightened my face to match his expression. “There’s something you should know about me,” I said quietly.

  “What’s that?” His eyes reflected the blue of the water.

  “I like to gloat.” I put my hands on top of his head and dunked him under before he could stop me. He came up with a sputter and I tried to get away, but he grabbed my leg and reeled me in.

  I squealed and tried to wriggle free. Gideon laughed darkly. Suddenly his hands were around my waist and we were pressed together. I could feel the firm contours of his chest. I glanced down at the chiseled muscles beneath his suit before looking back into his eyes.

  “There’s something you should know about me,” he said, sending goose bumps over my entire body. A smile stole across his face when he felt me shiver.

  “What’s that?” I tilted my head, our foreheads almost touching.

  “I’ve been through all of the reasons why we can’t be together, over and over.” He looked at me and my breathing slowed.

  “When I went to Skye’s house tonight, she told me she had feelings for me.”

  I bit my lip and looked down at the water, not wanting him to continue. He tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him.

  “But I don’t have feelings for her. There’s only one girl I care for.”

  My breath caught. His eyes shimmered like diamonds under light.

  I’m in love with you, Lark.

  I went completely still. My heart stopped beating for a moment. His Mindspeak penetrated the deepest reaches of my soul, to places I didn’t know existed.

  He pressed his forehead against mine. You’re what I want—the only thing I want. I don’t care if you can’t Claim me back, just let me be with you.

  Gideon. I shuddered a moment before putting my hands behind his head and pulling his lips to mine. He let out a soft groan. A searing light passed through me the moment we kissed. It was Gideon’s light, and it was so powerful that it threatened to blow me back, but I held him tighter.

  He kissed me with an intensity I’d never known; like he was starving and I was the only thing that could feed his hunger. I matched his intensity until his light became so penetrating it threatened to split me apart at the seams.

  I allowed the kiss to deepen for another second before I was forced to pull away, my breathing ragged and uneven as I clung to him with shaking arms.

  “Are you okay?” He took my face in his hands.

  I smiled. “Better than okay.” I drank in the look in his eyes at that moment. They were clear and filled with the intensity of his recent declaration. I never wanted to look away.

  He traced his thumb along my jawline and I realized that he was tall enough to stand on the bottom of the pond, holding us both up. I took his hand and held it against my cheek, looking into his eyes as drops of water ran off his dark hair and down his face.

  I closed my eyes and focused all of my energy into speaking in my mind. I love you too. I’ve loved you from the first moment we met.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  I opened my eyes, trying to hide the disappointment beneath a shy smile. I wouldn’t say the words out loud. I wanted the first time he heard them to be in the Claim—the same way he’d said he loved me.

  “I want to be with you, Gideon. No matter the cost.”

  He closed his eyes and whispered, Lark, before kissing me again. The way he’d said my name sent a delicious tremor through my body. I savored the warm feel of his lips and the caress of his light flowing through me. I clung to him as tightly as possible and got lost in the connection woven through our hearts until his light grew too intense.

  I pulled away and sighed, pressing my forehead against his. “Any chance you can harness that light of yours for a little while?”

  His brows pulled together. He looked down at his hands and then back at me. “I thought I was.”

  “I mean the light flowing through you . . . any way you can control it?”

  He frowned. “You could feel my light? Did it hurt you?”

  I laughed. “Of course I could feel it. Every time you’ve touched me I’ve felt it, but when we kiss it’s more like a laser beam.”

  He pushed away from me, his face darkening in concern. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I thought you knew.” I smiled and tried to swim to him but he held up his hand. “Don’t come any closer.”

  “Gideon, this is ridiculous. I love feeling your light—I need it. It was only when we kissed that it got a little too intense.” My smile turned coy. “I’m sure if we try again we can find a way to make it work. Let’s experiment.” I grinned and started to swim toward him, but he moved back in the water, his face turned to stone.

  “I’m an idiot. I never should have compromised you like this.”

  I shook my head. “What are you talking about? Nothing has changed except the little light issue that I’m sure we can work through. It’s no big deal.”

  He took another step back. “You don’t understand—I can’t control the light inside of me. I’m not sure it can be controlled. We train through Light Harnessing to keep from glowing, but I didn’t realize you could still feel it.” He raked a hand through his wet hair. “I shouldn’t have admitted my feelings for you. It was selfish.”

  “Gideon . . . please.” My lip trembled and my body was growing tired from treading water. “Don’t do this—we can work things out, I know we can.”

  He looked at me with sad eyes and glided closer, taking my arm. “We’d better get back.” He pulled me into his arms and cradled me there until we reached the shore. I clung to him and allowed his light to flow through me, healing the cracks our conversation had left. Everything inside of me screamed to tell him about Atwood and the possibility of my Claiming, but I couldn’t do it. What if Atwood was wrong?

  He set me gently on my feet. “I’ll take a walk so you can change. Stay close to Chrysaor.” He grabbed his clothes and walked off into the night.

  I waited until I could no longer see him and then stood behind Chrysaor to change into my dry clothes. Even after I was dressed the air felt colder. I wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to keep the heat in, but it seeped out of me along with my hopes. If there was ever a time I’d needed the Claim, it was now.

  A soft snapping sound made me start. I spun around, expecting to see Gideon. No one was there. The sound had come in the opposite direction of where Gideon had gone. It was eerily similar to the sound we’d heard last time we were here. A chill rose up the back of my neck as I crouched in the grass.

  Several moments passed as I strained to hear the sound again.

  What’s wrong?

  I jumped and barely held back a scream as Gideon knelt down beside me.

  “I thought I heard something,” I whispered.

  Where? He stood and silently moved in the direction I pointed, returning a few moments later. I didn’t see anything, but we’d better get going. It’s almost dawn. His face was impassive and every word punctured me like a stab wound. When he offered to help me mount Chrysaor, I shook my head.

  “I can do it.”

  He nodded and waited for me to mount before climbing up behind me. We were quickly in flight. I wished I could leave my heartache behind with every beat of the stallion’s wings. I’d never experienced such euphor
ia and then paralyzing pain—and to feel it all in such a short amount of time was almost more than I could bear.

  Chrysaor carried us swiftly through the night. We reached the tree home, and Gideon drew him up alongside my balcony. I climbed over the railing as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the dusk.

  Sleep as long as you want. I’ll see you at the ceremony tonight.

  Gideon, please don’t go, I pleaded. There’s so little time left.

  He didn’t hear. His shoulders were stiff as he turned Chrysaor away and flew off into the predawn light.

  I numbly opened the door to the balcony and then locked it behind me. I glanced at my dresser and dread filled my chest.

  It was time.

  I checked my cuff again to make sure Grace hadn’t responded, even though I already knew she hadn’t. My heart pounded as I moved toward the dresser and opened the drawer, easily finding Lord Krane’s calling card. It glowed a fiendish green in the half-light.

  “We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” I whispered and then pushed the button.

  CHAPTER

  Thirty-Seven

  When I awoke hours later, my eyes were like sandpaper. I glanced at the calling card beside me which now blinked at regular intervals—a timer counting down to when they were coming for me. There was no turning back now, but I wasn’t afraid. For the first time in six months, I felt hope.

  A glance at my cuff made me sit upright. I’d slept all day! I tossed off the covers and noticed a breathtaking gown draped on the chair of my dressing table. I walked over and fingered the shimmery violet material. There was no note, but I hoped it was from Gideon. Thinking of him and our kisses last night sent a thrill reaching all the way to my toes. Tonight I would Claim him. I would figure out how to do it before it was too late.

  I smiled and ran to my bathroom to shower. I knew I was going to the dance with Rusty, but I couldn’t keep from thinking of Gideon as I got ready. I tried the dress on and let out a small gasp as I looked in the mirror. The gown fit perfectly, draping over my body as though it had been tailor-made. After spinning a few twirls I sat at the dressing table to do my makeup. A soft knock sounded at the door. My heart fluttered, hoping it was Gideon.