Circumstellar (18 page)

I
couldn’t tell which was more interesting: the funny pink color the backs of my eyelids glowed or the accumulation of shrieks and curses that orchestrated the light show. I turned over as quickly as I could, shakily rising to my feet. The bright flash lasted only seconds, but even after it faded, I was cautious about opening my eyes. I squinted after a moment’s hesitation in time to see a red and black blur sprint past me.

It was
Emba taking off to the marble slab that still held my best friend and her nearby guard; not that he was much of a deterrent, yelling and blinking as he was. Emba wasted no time in kicking the blinded man in the stomach before reaching up to Lesia’s chains. As soon as her hand touched the metal, a pink flare shot out, breaking the link. A hand grabbed onto my shoulder, pulling me out of my balk. I snapped my head around, finding a most relieving sight.

“Loxl
ey!” I could nearly cry. “You saved us!”

“Nothing a little improvisation and magnesium couldn’t handle,” she said, smiling. “But it won’t last for long. Are you okay to walk, Ingrid? We need to leave with
Emba now.”

“Yeah, I’m all right,” I said. It was almost true, if you didn’t take into account my arms or my wrist . . . or my face. I glared over to where
Aureliel sat hunched over, hands covering her face. It would be so easy to –

“Hurry up!” I heard
Emba call. I looked over and saw her standing with a worried Lesia. She held out the Therion Stone.

“Come on, Loxley,” I said, grabbing her arm and moving forwards. I took a few steps, but my arm tugged backwards. “What are you . . .
”

I looked back, but Loxley wasn’t looking at me anymore. I followed her gaze to the marble throne, right where I had been glaring at a few moments ago. But Loxley wasn’t interested in Lady
Aureliel – just the thing next to her.

“The Orion Stone,” she muttered. She moved to go towards it, but I held fast to her arm.

“No.” I looked up. Hints of orange pierced around finger gaps. “There’s no time. We need to go, Loxley.” The clamor of the room started shifting to calm.

“But it’s right there,” she argued, taking in a sharp breath. “I can get it.”

“No!” I commanded, locking my fingers around her arm. She wheeled around on me, trying to pry my fingers off her. It was no use. Even in my wounded state, I held on like a vice. She looked up at me and into my eyes. I held her gaze, watching her face crumble into defeat.

“You’re right,” she admitted, sending one last miserable glance at the keystone. “Let’s go.”

We both sprang into action, heading for Emba and the stone that would get us out of here. I felt the rough rock under my fingertips, and I knew this was it. I looked at Lesia, and she tearfully smiled at me. We’d done it. We were going home together.

The stardust shot into the air and I –

I can’t breathe,
I thought, panicked. My airway constricted. Something cold tightened around my throat. My vision started to fail – a swarm of dust, trees, and flicking pink light hazing together.

“Ingrid!”
Lesia called.

“Release her,
Farron!” Emba’s voice echoed in the strangest manner.

A dark voice emerged, so close to me. “Give me the keystone.”

“Never,” she replied, stern conviction in that single word.

“Very well,” I heard. The pressure on my neck tightened, and the ground was gone. My feet dangled helplessly in the air, and I tried to let out futile protest
s.

“No, stop!” Despite my hazy state, I could still hear the desperation in her voice. “This isn’t right! She’s
– ”

“Who are you, of all people, to talk about what’s right,
Emba?” Farron interrupted her.  The flesh under his hand began to tingle, almost like static. “Give me the stone.”

“Please,
Farron,
Lugal
Uturik – ”

“
Lugal
Uturik is dead!” A searing hot pain ran along the skin of my neck. I knew I was screaming, but I couldn’t hear a single thing in the night. The burning in my neck stopped, only to be replaced by one in my chest. “The humans saw to that.”

“Please,
Farron. Please, she’s deceiving – ”

“The keystone.”

My brain screamed for what seemed like hours before I unexpectedly dropped to the ground. I lunged forwards, damn near sucking in dirt in my effort to get oxygen. Lesia was next to me in a moment, wrapping her arms around me and trying to shield me from further harm. I glanced out of the corner of my eye in time to see emerald spheres whisked away in a storm of dust.

“Shit,”
Emba growled, sinking to the floor. “I can’t believe this. After all that, I’ve failed.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” I said, regaining my normal breathing pattern.

“She has
both
keystones.”

“That’s fine. Let her have them. We’ve got what
really
matters.” I looked at my friend’s tear-stained face and smiled. “Are you okay, Lesia?”

“Stupid,” she muttered back, wiping her cheeks with the backs of her hands. “You’re so stupid, you know that?”

“A couple of people have brought it up.”

“Stupid,” she repeated. “And now you’re hurt.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I denied, rising steadily to my feet. The wobbly kind of steady, but who’s judging. “I feel fine. I could do it all again.”

“Never,”
Lesia whispered, her brown orbs staring up at me. “I’ll never let you do it again.”

I held her gaze, watching the myriad of emotions that was her soul. She had been through a lot.
I could see it in the dried blood on her arms, the dark circles under her eyes, and the blisters on her lips. The fear in her eyes. But, it wasn’t fear for her. It was for me.

“
Lesia,” I gently said, holding out my hand. “Let’s go home.”

The journey back through the woods had about as much joy and cheer as a funeral procession. It seemed the only one who felt we actually accomplished a victory was me. And that’s exactly what it was. Rocks be damned, I got my best friend back. Emba trailed behind us, solemn and lost in thought. In the lead, Loxley didn’t fare much better.

“There was no way you could have gotten it,” I told her. “She would have taken off your arm if you’d reached for it.”

“Maybe,” Loxley sighed, doubt coloring every letter of the word. “But I should have at least tried. It’s my duty to protect the Orion Stone, but still, I did nothing. Even when it was right in front of me.”

“And beside a complete psychopath.
You can’t bring anything back if you’re dead.”

“Grandmother won’t see it that way.”

“Hey, that’s not true,” I disagreed. “Hardass or not, I’m sure Meissa would rather have you back than some stone.”

“Maybe,” she said. I frowned. Just as much doubt as before.

Coming to the conclusion that conversation obviously wasn't a priority here, I decided to do as the Romans do and stayed silent for the rest of the trip. We eventually came to the edge of town and stopped, all taking in the soft glow of the street lights. It would be morning in a few hours. I almost felt the need to say as much. Too bad I refused to be the one to break the silence this time.

“It’s so peaceful,”
Lesia whispered. “Do you think it can stay that way?”

“I don’t know,” I answered with a shrug. “For now, I guess.” It was as positive an answer as I could come up with, I suppose. At this point, I had no idea what to expect from Lady
Aureliel and her evil minions. I was still trying fully grasp onto what had already happened. My body and mind ached, and the longer I stared out at the town, the heavier my eyelids felt. The adrenaline faded a long time ago, and my exhaustion was catching up to me. I yawned and started for the town. Bed, how I long for you. “I’m going home.”

“Wait!”
Lesia stopped me. “Ingrid, you’re coming with me. We have to get you to a doctor.”

“No way.
I’m fine, Lesia, trust me. I just need to get some rest. Besides, all the doctors’ offices are closed, so where would we go? The Emergency Room? By time they see me, I’ll have healed on my own.”

“We have to go somewhere. You need help.”

“Grandmother knows some healing remedies. She may be able treat your wounds,” Loxley inputted, finally breaking her silence.

I quirked my eyebrow at her.
Lack of treatment or Meissa’s personal brand of medicine? Which was less likely to end in death? I may be better off rolling in the dirt.

“Are you sure
– ”

“We’re going,”
Lesia decided for me. “Right now.”

She narrowed her eyes at me as though daring me to argue. I met her gaze, and despite the tense situation, couldn’t help but smile.
Lesia looked so funny when she was trying to be intimidating.

“Okay,” I finally cracked. “I’ll go, but,” I paused dramatically and she waited for me to continue, “
only after I’ve gotten some sleep.”

She opened her mouth a few times, trying to find a good argument. “That’s not
– ”

“It is,” I stated, ending the conversation. “And anyway, you need to go home, too,
Lesia. Your parents are probably worried sick. Not to mention the cops will be looking for you everywhere.”

“I don’t care about all that. What about you?” She asked, worry coating her voice.

“I told you I’ll be fine.” I yawned. “I’m sorry. Come on, let’s get you home. I don’t think I’ll make it much longer without passing out. Loxley, could you. . .?”

“Of course,” she replied, taking on my request. “I was just about to suggest it. I’ll need to speak with the police about what
really
happened, and how we found Lesia lost by the campgrounds. I’ll fill you in on the details later, so we can keep to our story.”

“Thanks. I’ll be sure to, uh,
corroborate what went down.”

“Very good,” Loxley said, turning to leave. Loxley beckoned for
Lesia to follow, but the girl stood still, looking at me with glassy eyes.

“Goodnight,
Lesia,” I urged with a soft voice. She suddenly leaped forwards, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace.

“Goodnight, Ingrid,” she whimpered in my ear. I held on to her tightly, my eyes starting to prickle. She pulled back and swiftly turned after Loxley.

I watched as the two descended towards the town, refusing to let my emotions get the better of me.

“Well, what about you,
Emba?” I questioned, trying to shift the mood. I waited for a reply. Complete silence. “Emba?”

I turned to look at the redhead but . . . I was alone. She already took off. Well, what do you make of that?

S
uch a deceptively peaceful night. I blinked rapidly and trudged with weary steps up to my front door. So quiet and boring. There had been more than one occasion when I wanted to just curl up on the sidewalk and catch a quick nap. I felt bad about not taking Lesia home myself, but I knew I was approaching my limit. Despite my denial, my body had taken one hell of a beating. I wasn’t good to anyone like this. Loxley would be a much better bodyguard.

Yawning, I kicked open the door and staggered into the house. I didn’t even bother looking into the living room as I passed. It would have been a waste of time; my bleary vision wasn’t much help at this point. I didn’t bother looking down Auntie’s hall, either, knowing full well that stupid attic ladder was blocking the way.

I nearly exploded with bliss when I saw my bed. It was the most glorious thing in the world. I collapsed into its soft embrace and let out a deep sigh. This was Heaven. I rolled onto my back and closed my eyes. The chirping crickets were getting further away, fading with the rest of this horrible, awful night.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

My eyes snapped open, and I glared murder at the ceiling.
Damn it!
What the hell is Auntie doing up there? It’s the middle of the damn night! I threw the pillow over my head and tried to block out the racket. A loud
crack
resounded through the room, and I almost ripped my failed earplug in two.
That does it!

I shot out of bed and tore the bedroom door open. I stomped into the hallway intent on giving my aunt a piece of my mind, and maybe fist, when a muffled scream echoed in the house.

“No! Stop it! It’s your fault!”

My tired mind snapped to attention, and I took off for the attic. What was going on? That was Aunt
Kaline! I flew up the ladder, not caring what awaited me at the top.

“Auntie, what’s wrong?”  I yelled as soon as I was at the top. She was hunched over, her back towards me. Her arms were held in front of her, and I was positive she was holding something.

“It’s your fault,” she murmured.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
My fault? What was my fault?

“Auntie, what are you
– ”

“It’s your fault,” she repeated in a harsh whisper.

“Auntie, you’re tired – ”

“No!” she snapped, her voice
raising. “It’s your fault. It’s all your fault!” She flung her arms down and whatever she had been holding collided with the floor, a deafening
screech
sounding from the impact.

“It’s your fault!” She was manic now. “
He’s
dead!
She’s
dead! And it’s all your fault!”

My throat tightened, and I swallowed the bitter realization. So, we were back to this. How
he
died and it was because of me . . .

Aunt
Kaline whipped around, turning so fast I thought her hair would give her whiplash. My stomach twisted at her soiled, tear-stained face – her wide, hysterical eyes.

“
Don’t you see, Ingrid
?” she screamed, mouth contorting in tortuous anguish. “It’s all
my
fault!”

I didn’t even have time to register what she said before she launched forwards. She came at me, surging with a speed I had never seen before. I didn’t know what to do. My mind couldn’t keep up with this. My body just . . .
reacted
.

Pain pulsed up my arms when I hit the floor, a flurry of wood cracking and a voice shrieking accompanying my crash to the floor. I turned over, staring wide-eyed at the attic entrance from my place near the wall. I moved. Somehow, I dodged out of the way.
Even though she was coming so fast. I looked at the hole. But then –

“Auntie!”
I yelled, scrambling over to the entrance. I looked down and my heart stopped. Broken steps and jagged pieces of wood where a ladder should be, and at the very bottom . . .

“Auntie!”
I jumped down, not caring about the splinters of wood that dug into my knees as I hit the floor. I crawled to her side, tears streaming down my face as I watched her take in a shaky breath.

“Ingrid,” Auntie moaned, holding up her hand, “where are you?”

“I’m right here, Auntie,” I whispered, grabbing onto the appendage. “I need you to hang on, okay? I need to go get you some help. You’re going to be fine.”  Twisted bones. Bloody wood.

“N-no,” she rejected before erupting into a coughing fit, blood splattering across her face.

“Auntie, please. . .”

She gasped, struggling to recover her breath. “No. Ingrid, the-there’s something I – I need to tell you.”

“You can tell me later, Auntie,” I sobbed, “when you’re all better.”

She ignored my protests and looked at me. “I’m so sorry, Ingrid. It’s
all my fault you have to live – live like this.” Tears welled up in her eyes, and she took in a sharp, wheezing breath. “I to-told her where they were.”

“What?”

“Your parents,” she continued. “I didn’t mean t-to, but I was so angry with Adel-Adeline and jealous that she had been taken away. I told her. That Lady came looking – looking for him. And I told her where he was.”

“What you saying?”

Aunt Kaline coughed again, more blood hacking from her throat. “I didn’t know she would kill him,” she lamented when she caught her breath. “And now she’s back. The Orion Keystone – ”

The Orion Keystone?
What did Auntie know about that? As far as I knew, Auntie had never met Meissa or even been to the Orion Temple . . . unless. . . I opened my mouth in surprise. “You took it?”

She coughed much harder than before. I watched in fear as the blood kept coming up.
There’s too much
.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes dimming . . . her lips smiling.
“I lo-ove . . . Ingrid.”

Kaline’s
hand went limp. I blazed out of the house, the world blurring around me.