Starlight (The Lightning Strike Trilogy Book 1)

by K. A. Rygaard

  He moved so he was lying next to me again.

  “I thought he had gotten Jess,” I whispered. “He made it look like she was there. . . That Tess had hurt her. I gulped. “That’s why I contacted the Council.”

  “It was good you did, Em. If you hadn’t, Mab might not have distracted him—”

  I squeezed Zach's hand so he would stop.

  “He would have found another way to contact them. But then— Lucas was trying to poison me again, and the next thing I remember, I was here.” I shook my head. “He must have made a mistake. Mab would never have been able to get to that place of his otherwise.”

  “It could have had to do with us seeing it.”

  I hummed in partial agreement, but I also knew that Lucas would never make that mistake again.

  Keeper Powers

  Lucas hasn’t bothered me in the past two weeks

  that I’ve been home, starting the New Year off peacefully. I scarcely managed to ignore all the memories of being on La’veer, to suppress the pain that came with them. Giving in would give him too much control over me, and I refuse to let that happen. He’s become too accustomed to abusing my Keeper powers through me, and I can’t let it happen again. . .

  ****

  A week into the New Year, Louisa came to visit

  us early in the morning. Usually we didn’t see any member of the Council until we went downstairs, so I was curious—and yet a part of me was worried that Lucas had pulled something again. Louisa’s demeanor, however, soon told me that nothing was wrong.

  “There is nothing to worry about,” she told us. “I am here simply to discuss being the Keeper with Emma.” I nodded. “You know everything about being the Kahi, Emma, and you’ve had a few times to practice those skills, had the Viewing, and many more Kahi duties. But the one thing that we, that is, I have failed to teach you is your powers as Keeper.”

  “I have— practiced, Louisa. When I’ve been with Lucas, he’s made me stop storms, and I’ve created them. I’ve made plants grow.”

  She hesitated.

  “I understand. If you are not up for practicing today, I—”

  “No, it’s fine, Louisa.”

  “All right. I’ll see you on the back porch in ten minutes’ time.” She smiled at us, and left.

  “Wonder what I’ll have to do?” I hollered from the closet as I changed.

  “No idea. If Galaxia is behind this though, she won’t let Louisa have you do anything too major without a fight.”

  “Ridiculous,” I muttered, coming back into the room. “I’ve always done Magic.”

  “I know it is, but it’s Galaxia. Don’t give into her if she’s in one of her moods. I’ll see you later?”

  I nodded and hugged him.

  “Yes, later.”

  I went through the open doors onto the porch once I got downstairs. Sunshine spilled out into my vision and I blinked, letting my eyes adjust. Galaxia and Louisa were standing near the steps, waiting for me. I walked up to them and saw that the snow from our storm earlier this week was completely gone. Louisa must have woken up especially early to use that much heat. . .

  “Good morning, Emma,” said Galaxia.

  “Morning,” I replied.

  “Are you ready to go?” asked Louisa.

  “Go where, though?”

  “Just near the forest, away from any distractions.” I nodded and we said our good-byes to Galaxia,

  heading off to the trees.

  “It won’t be much,” Louisa told me. “I just want

  to see what you can do, and after that we’ll move on.” “Okay.”

  We stopped at the bottom of a small hill, in a clearing. There was a small, very brown shrub a few feet

  away, and the forest joined in with this.

  “This is where we will be doing your lessons,”

  Louisa said. “Everything we need is right here.” “The shrub?” I asked.

  “Yes, the shrub. The shrub is our first lesson.” “What am I supposed to do?”

  “Go to the shrub and make it alive again.” I nodded, looking at the shrub. I saw it green and

  healthy, with blossoms ready to bloom. Seconds later,

  the dead shrub was practically humming with life. “Well done, Emma. Now, I would like you to

  make a tree. It takes a bit more Magic than bringing

  something back, creating something that never was.” “It’s fine.” I moved away from her and thought

  again. From my waist, I moved my hands, palms up,

  toward the sky. As I did so, sprouts came up from the

  ground. I stopped when the tree was as tall as the others. Again, I turned back to her amazed face. “Amazing, Emma. Truly amazing! Perhaps Adler

  did some good in having your Keeper powers touched

  into.”

  I disagreed with her, but kept quiet. Finally, she

  asked me to make it rain. I smiled lightly, and thought

  about how rain felt on my skin and how alive it made me

  feel when it drenched my hair.

  There was a thunder clap, and I looked up. A little

  black rain cloud stopped above the clearing, and dropped

  bucket loads of rain. I looked at Louisa and laughed.

  She’s soaked already.

  “I love the rain. I’m sorry.”

  She smiled, though, and I made rain cloud

  disappear. She dried herself through Magic, as I had

  remained so.

  “That’s quite all right; I enjoy the rain, as well.” I

  smiled. “I think that will be all, for today. I dread what would happen if I asked you to call a hurricane.” I

  laughed. “Let’s go back.”

  I nodded and we headed back. Galaxia is still

  there, sitting on a chaise lounge. She appraised us with

  her eyes.

  “Well?”

  “She passes, of course. I told you we needn’t doubt

  her.”

  Galaxia stood silent for a moment.

  “I will remember that. And now, Emma, for my

  lesson.”

  The Dormant

  Galaxia led me deep into the manor and stopped

  me at the end of a hallway near a lone door.

  “Where’re we going?” I asked.

  “You shall see.”

  I sighed, but followed her up the spiral steps. A

  short while later, we came to another door which Galaxia opened. She stepped inside and I followed.

  The room is large and wood-paneled. It seems as if no one has been in here for ages, just from the feel of it. There isn’t any furniture except a stand in the middle of the room.

  “Where are we?” I asked, turning to Galaxia, who was waiting patiently.

  “This is the safest place for you to practice. . . the safest place for you to be.”

  “Why?”

  She smiled.

  “This is where your soul was before we placed it inside of you.”

  I started.

  “What?”

  “What held the Galaxies before you rested right here.” She gestured to the stand. “When it was too weak to hold the Galaxies any longer, we chose you.”

  I became very captivated by the stand. It is wooden, with hundreds of symbols carved into it. I wanted it.

  Ignoring Galaxia’s presence in my haven- she should just leave! She has no business here-, I went to the stand, and without thinking twice about it, I put my hand on it.

  The air was sucked from my lungs, but I could still breathe, and blackness swept into my vision to block everything out, but then I saw. I saw stars, planets, and nebulas. . . Then trees and creeks. . . I heard birds singing to me from high in the canopies. . . There was a glistening ocean, people. . . I felt a cool breeze hit my face, smelled the sea. . . And then everything was black again, and I was seeing a reflection of myself. My reflection turned to smile at me with heartfelt joy, but before I could say anything, I
was falling backwards, my hand leaving the wood.

  When I could see properly again, Galaxia was leaning over me.

  “Emma? Are you all right?”

  I pushed myself up to stand, staring at the podium.

  “I’m—I’m fine.”

  “Your eyes were gray,” she said lowly. “When I said your name, you didn’t react at all. You didn’t move until just now.”

  I shook my head.

  “I don’t— I don’t know what happened.”

  “This room— Emma, it is very peculiar. I told you this is where the Galaxies was. It may have rubbed off somehow before we put the Galaxies inside of you, and you being in here just caused a reaction inside of you.”

  “Whatever it was,” I mumbled, still staring at the stand, “it was peaceful.”

  “I would imagine so,” she mused. “Now, Emma, for why I actually brought you here.”

  “Why?”

  “I need you to Open them.”

  I stared at her.

  “T-the Galaxies?”

  She nodded.

  “Galaxia, last time—”

  “This isn’t like when Adler had you Open them. You are stronger.”

  “They didn’t like anyone being there,” I told her quietly.

  Her eyes flickered to the podium.

  “Perhaps they will remember me.”

  Knowing I couldn’t get out of this without a fight, I put my hands together.

  “Epilia Galaxa,” I said, once again releasing them.

  The dark blue light burst through the cracks in my hands again, but it didn’t feel as it had before. It was less painful. And, like it did so long ago, the space light escaped through all of my body. I watched as the room became engulfed in space.

  I watched the moon orbit e2 with fascination as the animals and plants came. Galaxia wandered, but soon stopped moving and looked at me.

  “Why are you just standing there?” she asked.

  “I can move?” I asked, confused.

  “Of course you can! Oh, I didn’t tell you the other Magic enclosed in the spell, did I?” I shook my head. “You can move around, with your hands unclasped.”

  “Last time, when my hands came undone, the Galaxies came back to me.”

  “I must have forgotten to tell you what words to say to be able to unclasp your hands without bringing back the Galaxies.”

  “What are they?”

  “Galaxa Aima. After saying them you can release your hands, and walk around. Then, to bring back the Galaxies, all you have to say is Amia Axalag. With those two words, the Galaxies will draw themselves back into you. Try,” she said supportively.

  “Galaxa Aima.”

  A bright white spark jumped around my hands and closed around them, like a ring, then vanished.

  “Now you may release your hands and walk around.”

  Slowly, I took my hands apart. I looked at my scars: they are glowing white, with dark blue veins around them.

  “It is normal, Emma.”

  I looked up from them and walked to e2. I knew the Galaxies didn’t want anyone in here but me, but I also knew that telling Galaxia what I was feeling would only cause problems between us.

  “Galaxia?” I asked instead.

  She turned to look at me, but kept quiet.

  “Can you explain now?”

  She sighed.

  “Explain why we chose you as both the Keeper and the Kahi?”

  I nodded.

  “I just can’t figure it out.”

  “Can’t you?” I looked at her quizzically. “Emma, you are strong. Even if you do not think you are, it is the truth. You have handled more than anyone else has.”

  “Because I’m the Keeper and the Kahi.”

  “But we knew you would be able to handle it. We chose you as the Keeper first, because, as a Witch Faerie, your system could handle more. The Galaxies would not crush you, as they would in someone else. This happened before Liam Adler’s prophecy to kill you, and so they also protect you.

  “We chose Zachary as the Kahi first and spent months trying to find someone to be Queen. Again, your genetics proved that you would be best for the job. We also wanted more Magical protection on you, and it was only fitting that who held the Galaxies would also rule them. We expected things from you, and you have proved to us, over the years, that you are best for both titles.”

  “Who knew, other than the Council and Mark Barrens?”

  She smiled slightly at the name, which made me curious, but then she answered.

  “Other Kings and Queens, and their children. Like Queen Allu and King Eamon. . . They all knew and wanted to protect you and Zachary at all costs. Queen Allu was the one who wanted you to be Keeper, initially. She felt something.”

  “Really? I just— Zach and I wondered about that, once. If anyone knew. . .” I paused. “What else is there to know?”

  “Nothing about Opening the Galaxies. If you like, you may bring them back now and we shall leave. We shall continue with our lessons some other day.”

  I nodded and said: “Amia Axalag.”

  The Galaxies, slow at first, started pulling away from the walls, ceiling, and floor. When fully separated, they rushed quickly back into me. I shuddered.

  “Emma, please tell no one of this room,” Galaxia insisted.

  “Why not?”

  “It is best that as few people as possible know of this room.” I stared at her, frowning. “If the time comes that this planet is broken into—”

  “Is that likely?” I asked.

  “Anything is likely. We can only hope—But if the time comes that this planet is broken into, take Zachary, Jessica, Morgan, and Vera here and lock both doors. Do not leave until I, Louisa, or Horatio come for you.”

  “Galaxia—”

  “Time to leave.”

  I frowned, but followed her out. “What if someone sees us leaving?”

  “They won’t. Until you are a way from this door, you are invisible. It is because of the Galaxies’ Magic.”

  “Oh.”

  I opened the door at the end of the staircase and we exited. We left the hallway and walked to the main staircase. When we reached it, we stopped and Galaxia turned to me.

  “I want you to remember something, Emma.”

  “What?”

  “Never give up. Times will continue to harden, greater- and worse- things will happen to or toward you. All you have to do, when times become rough, is to fight.”

  I nodded.

  “Good, I shall see you later. I have a promise to keep to Vera.”

  With that, she turned and walked away, but I stopped her.

  “Galaxia?”

  She stopped and turned around. I went to her.

  “If I’m prying too deeply, just tell me, I won’t mind. But I’ve been wondering something.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Who is Vera and Morgan’s father? No one ever talks about him.”

  She watched me silently.

  “You do know him.”

  I blinked.

  “I do?”

  “Not personally, but you do. Vera and Morgan’s father is Mark Barrens.”

  “The author Mark Barrens?”

  “Yes. We loved each other very much, and I trusted him. That is why he was able to know of you and Zachary being the Kahi.”

  “Yeah, I— I have the book.”

  She smiled.

  “I know. When he passed, we made sure you found it. You had a great love of books so it was only fitting. . . Is that all?”

  I nodded.

  “Thank you for telling me.”

  “It wasn’t a secret.”

  She smiled and left.

  I walked down the hallway and to my and Zach’s room. Quietly, I opened the door and stepped inside; closing the door. I walked into the room and heard the announcer for the Galaxy’s broadcasting company say that a hit show is on next.

  “That was easy,” I announced, sitting next to

 
Zach on the couch.

  “It didn’t take you that long, only about an hour.” I nodded.

  “Galaxia had some things for me to do, as well.” He nodded.

  “Yeah, I figured. What did you have to do?” “For Louisa, I had to bring a dead shrub back to

  life, make a tree out of nothing, and make it rain.” “And Galaxia’s lesson?”

  “Just Opening the Galaxies.”

  Worry flickered in his eyes.

  “Are you okay?”

  I nodded.

  “It didn’t bother me to Open them where I was. It

  was. . . peaceful, in a way. They didn’t want Galaxia there, though. . .”

  “Last time you looked like you were in absolute agony, Em.”

  “Because Lucas was there. They hate him, Zach. Something about Galaxia does rub them the wrong way, but. . . It was like nothing bad could ever happen to me there.”

  In silence, we watched the show. Well, Zach watched the show. I was too busy remembering what had happened when I’d touched the stand. I was very curious about my reflection, and why my eyes were gray, especially after Mom had told me she had seen my eyes flash gray before. Part of me wanted to go back to the room and stay long enough to talk to the reflection, to see if I—she talks back. But then. . . it may not work again.

  “Em?”

  I blinked, looking at Zach.

  “Yeah?”

  “You okay?”

  I nodded.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just—thinking about where I

  Opened the Galaxies.”

  “What about it?”

  I bit my lip, wondering how to say this. “I’ll show you.”

  I extended my hand and he gave me his. Holding

  my memories of Galaxia telling me what the stand was to when I could see again, I Pathed it to him. When it was over, Zach gasped and stared at me in shock.

  “What was that?”

  I shrugged.

  “Galaxia thinks it’s because that’s where the

  Galaxies were before I became the Keeper, and that was the first time since that they’d been back there. But I want to know the whole reason why, and why I saw my reflection.”

  “I don’t think it was your reflection, Em.” I frowned.

  “Why not? She looks just like me. It’s like we’re twins.”

  “Yeah, for the most part you are, but her hair’s different, and so are her eyes. They’re gray.”

  My eyes widened.