Stargaze (Half Light #2) Page 11

“I know, but I was so excited to meet them, and you were taking too long.” She brushed in front of the man. “My name is Ella. Welcome to North Star.” She held out her hand and shook Rachel’s hand first, then mine.

  “Are you the princess?” Rachel asked.

  “I am, but it is not a title I generally use.”

  “Ok. He mentioned it.” Rachel pointed to the man.

  “My brother is more interested in our titles than I am.”

  “Brother?” I didn’t see a huge physical resemblance between them, but then again Angie and I didn’t look particularly alike either.

  “I am very sorry for the treatment Etan bestowed upon you.” Ella glared at him.

  “Security cannot be rushed,” Etan grumbled. “We had to ensure they were not followed.”

  “Look at them.” The girl grinned. “True starmates. I never thought I’d see that again.”

  “Starmates?” I repeated the unfamiliar term.

  Ella beamed. “I sensed it as soon as you entered the atmosphere. It woke me from my long sleep.”

  “Long sleep?” Rachel appeared just as confused as I did. Evidently this was all new for her too.

  “My sister has been sleeping for two hundred fifty of her years waiting for another starmate pair to appear.” Etan straightened his shoulders.

  “Two hundred fifty of her years?” Did she live by a different set of time or something?

  “There is so much to discuss. Let us take leave for the castle.” Ella bounced up and down.

  “Can’t you explain more first?” I wasn’t in a hurry to rush off with these people without getting some more information. “Maybe give us some insight into what starmates are.”

  “You don’t know that which you are?” Ella and Etan exchanged looks.

  “Perhaps the bond has only now been awakened, sister.” Etan looked between Rachel and me. “You yourself just awoke.”

  “Yes, perhaps.” Ella rested her chin on her hand. “But how could they not know what is true to their souls?”

  “Does it matter?” Etan ran a hand through his long brown hair revealing pointed ears not that unlike what you’d expect an elf to have. Maybe Dale hadn’t been that far off with his fairy land comment. The dress certainly suggested it. “You see it as true as day, as do I.”

  “But if they fail at their destiny what result will the universe see?” Ella’s bubbliness had disappeared, replaced by disappointment.

  “And that.” The girl pulled the medallion out from under Rachel’s bodysuit. “How can she wear that?”

  Rachel paled. “It wasn’t by choice, I assure you.”

  “And you didn’t protect her?” Ella scowled at me.

  “I didn’t know her yet. We’ve only known each other a few days.” Once again I’d probably shared too much information, but the truth seemed so much easier.

  The girl released the medallion and put a hand to her head. “This is most distressing. We must go to the castle.”

  “We are fine here.” Rachel tapped her toe on the glass-like floor. “But we need information.”

  “You are starmates that don’t understand your true nature and you expect us to keep you here in holding? You are out of your mind.”

  “Maybe we are,” I admitted. “But we do need information. We need to know who the Emperor is working with.” Okay, maybe I should have been more subtle, but I had no idea what was going on with these two and they appeared to be in charge. If they weren’t going to be able to help, then we needed to consider going back to the ship—as long as we knew Rachel was safe that was. Everyone seemed to know what the medallion was, and that made me nervous. Ella had even noticed it when Rachel kept it hidden.

  “You are starmates. Once you understand that you can glean any information you wish.”

  “Uh…” I looked at Rachel. “Like I said, we don’t even know what that means.”

  “We will explain everything.” Ella’s expression lightened.

  “Can you take this off?” Rachel picked up the medallion. “I know its Narva gold but...”

  “Only the Emperor can do that. As he controls the forge.”

  “So being starmates doesn’t give us that power?” I guess that was hoping for too much. Not that I really thought I was a starmate, whatever that was.

  “Ok. Where is this castle?” Rachel tucked the medallion back under the top of her bodysuit.

  “Across the way. We can go there quickly by coach.”

  By coach? I looked at their clothes. He looked like he was from the middle ages. She was dressed like a fairytale princess and was talking about a coach. This wasn’t like another planet, it was like some weird time mashup or storybook.

  “Come. Come.” Etan gestured for us to follow him through the small space between the glass panels. We stepped back into a long hallway, but this time there was a carriage waiting—drawn by two robots that kind of looked like horses.

  “I take it this is the coach?” I gestured to the carriage.

  “Of course. Isn’t it delightful?” Ella asked.

  “Uh huh.” I nodded.

  Ella and Etan got into the front row, and Rachel and I sat close together behind them. I tried not to look at the creepy horse robot things as they took off running down the tunnel. I couldn’t even imagine what Dale would be saying at this point. It was probably good he was back on the ship. Although I really hoped things were going okay up there.

  Part 6

  Caspian

  16 Caspian

  I’d made the right decision. Keeping Rachel safe was of the utmost importance, even if it meant sending her away. She’d be safe on North Star. And like him or not, the Earthling named Noah cared for her.

  Life was full of difficult decisions. It was the way of things. I’d made many, and I was starting to accept I may have chosen wrongly. Never again.

  We’d defend the ship, and Rachel would remain safe. My father would never succeed in getting Rachel, or her medallion, back.

  What I couldn’t tell anyone, not even Telton, and certainly not Rachel, is that I knew more than I could reveal. I’d believed I’d be Emperor before my father could enact his plans, but I’d been wrong. I’d been wrong about so much already. I’d seen the darkness around his heart and wondered where it would lead him—but I’d thought it could be kept in control. I’d been wrong.

  “You better have an actual plan. If you were just saying that to get Rachel to leave I’m going to be seriously pissed.” Dale, the Earthling who never stopped talking, followed me around the ship. “I don’t want to die. I’m too young.”

  Fear, like an oversized cloak, hung all around him. He’d followed Rachel looking for one thing and found something entirely different.

  “You’re not going to die.” I didn’t have time to placate him. This situation was so much bigger than him, but he couldn’t see that. He couldn’t see anything. It wasn’t his fault, but that didn’t change anything.

  “So you do have a plan.”

  “Yes, I have a plan.” I stopped to face him. “But you need to let me take care of it. You’re only slowing me down.”

  “I can help if you want.” He craned his neck to look up at me. “Just let me know.”

  “What kind of help can you offer?” I had no use for any help, but I’d humor him for a few seconds.

  “What kind of help do you need?”

  The few seconds were up. I shook my head. “I work better alone.” Unless it was with Rachel. I was always better with her—but I’d kept her at arm’s length when it came to work. I’d listened to my father.

  “Dale, I have a job for you,” Telton called from inside the command pod.

  “What kind of job?” he asked skeptically. Smart kid.

  “A job. Come here now.” Telton didn’t bother yelling this time. He knew he had Dale’s attention.

  “Aren’t you going to say please?” Dale smirked. He was only doing that because Telton couldn’t see. He liked to talk the talk, but it was obvious the kid wa
s scared. I didn’t blame him. He was in way over his head.

  “Do you want me to throw you off this ship? As the captain I have the authority to do so if you are insubordinate.” Telton didn’t make idle threats, but there was no way he’d cross Rachel that way. Still, if I were Dale I wouldn’t want to test him.

  “I’m not one of your crew members.” Dale took a step back further from the command pod.

  “Dale. Don’t be stupid.” Carl walked out to join us in the corridor. He was the Earthling I understood least. He had adapted to life aboard the ship quickly and naturally, but he was clearly an Earthling. Maybe Telton understood more. I had more important things to worry about, so I didn’t bother to ask.

  “Why would I listen to you?” Dale threw back.

  “Because I’d rather you not end up dead. Don’t think it’s because I like you. But Noah would be pissed and I like Noah.” Carl’s voice was rather flat—emotionless. But he didn’t really feel that way. I could tell. Why would he want to hide his true feelings? Earthlings were strange creatures—well, other than Rachel. She wasn’t strange at all. She was perfect. She was everything.

  “Fine.” Dale stomped off into the command pod.

  I followed because I needed to collect a few things from inside. We didn’t have much time. I’d known that from the beginning, but time was slipping away far too quickly. I could think straight now that Rachel was safe, but the stress was there. And the loss. I could pretend all I wanted, but things would never go back to the way they used to be. That didn’t mean I was giving up—but it was going to take far more than a few apologies.

  “What do you want me to do?” Dale asked casually as I walked back into the supply room. I hoped Telton had what I needed. I scanned the shelves, finally finding what I had been searching for. The explosives.

  “No way! I’m not doing that!” Dale’s scream echoed all the way back where I was.

  “Yes, you are. You will be perfectly safe.” Telton sounded calm as always.

  “Perfectly safe? I’m not going to play the sacrificial lamb. I came here to support my friend. He ditched me. Now I’m just biding my time so I can go home.”

  “You aren’t the sacrificial lamb.” Telton sounded bored.

  I walked out of the supply room, unsurprised to find Telton had already moved on to other tasks.

  “If you’re about to say I’m bait I’m going to lose it.” Dale’s lips were tight. His eyes were fearful.

  “Not bait. You are going to be the hero. Don’t you want to be a hero?” Telton called over his shoulder.

  I chuckled quietly. Telton knew how to play the kid all right.

  “I can’t die. I really can’t die.” Dale sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

  “Afraid to die a virgin?” Carl teased.

  Dale froze. “I’m not a virgin.”

  “Yes, you are. Don’t pretend.” Carl grinned.

  “Like you’re not.”

  “No. I’m not. But that’s not the issue.” Carl crossed his arms.

  “Why don’t you go out there then? Why don’t you play the hero, Carl, if it’s such an easy thing to do.” Dale smiled.

  Carl shrugged. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  “Yeah right. Like you’d give in that easily.” Dale’s smile faded.

  “I’d like for Earth to survive, and I wouldn’t mind being the one to help ensure it so of course I’ll do it.”

  And that did it. Dale puffed out his chest. “I’ll do it. Where is this suit I’m supposed to wear?”

  “It’s in the back. I’ll pull it out. We need to time this perfectly.” Telton wore a slight smile.

  “And you’re sure no one is going to shoot me or anything?” Dale shrank back a step.

  I felt for the kid, but I also enjoyed watching him. I’d had so little experience watching others struggle with true emotions.

  “Not through the suit. You’ll be safe for the amount of time you’ll be out there.”

  “And if you take too long?” He asked a very reasonable question.

  “We won’t take too long. There is absolutely nothing to worry about.” Absolutely nothing? Telton was stretching it, but most likely he’d be fine following Telton’s plan. Lucky for him, my plan would give him an even better chance of survival.

  17 Caspian

  Timing was everything. It permeated every aspect of life. It determined the outcomes of wars, relationships, births, and deaths. And it was completely and utterly out of our control.

  Even with all the craziness, my thoughts returned to Rachel. I thought back on all the time that had come before. I thought about the first moment that I saw her. I remembered the way my chest had clenched. The way my heart had soared. I’d known then that I’d never be the same. And it only grew worse. The more time I spent with her, the more I needed her. I knew nothing of the truth behind her arrival until it was too late—until my heart was so completely tethered to her that it was impossible to let go.

  I knew nothing of the true story of Earth until it was too late for her to simply return to her life—but even if it had been possible, I couldn’t have allowed it. I wasn’t sure I could survive without her. I’d turned her into a crutch. I’d tied her so into my being that I couldn’t allow her the air she needed to grow. Yet even knowing all of that I doubted I’d have done anything differently. Would I have really sent her back all those years ago? No. I wasn’t that good of a man. And I knew I could make her happy. She’d loved me, and one day she’d realize that again. And together we’d save what was left of our people—for even if she was of Earth, she was a Lexa now.

  I waited until Telton’s plan had been set in motion. Dale was outside of the ship. Standing as bait—for that was what he was no matter what Telton wanted to call it. While Dale distracted the ship, Telton got the cannons ready. And they would work—but only on that ship. Not on the next ones that would be following behind. I didn’t need Rachel’s robot to tell me that more waited in the wings. My father wouldn’t have sent a solitary ship. If he’d determined Rachel’s location he would have sent many. But he also wouldn’t shoot. If he believed Rachel was on board, he wouldn’t take that chance.

  I waited for the shots to ring out. The incoming ship blew up in a flash of fire and light. Telton had ammunition to take out more, but that was this time. It wouldn’t stop.

  Dale ran inside the ship so fast, curling up in a ball on the floor. I left him alone. He’d done his part. Maybe one day he’d recover from it. “Good luck, kid.” I gave a terse goodbye before I walked out the way he came.

  “There’s more coming!” I heard Carl’s cry as I climbed out onto the wing. “Ready the guns.”

  “Caspian!” Telton called into my headpiece. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m doing what needs to be done.” I took off the headpiece and headed further down and away from the door.

  The two ships moved out of their cloaking cover. I’d been spotted. They wouldn’t shoot me. They needed the medallion I wore on my ring. They could kill me once they had the ring, but I doubted they would. My father wanted me back even if it was only to use me as a pawn.

  I put my hands up above my head in the universal sign of surrender.

  The explosives were hidden away—impossible to find in the search I’d be given once inside. Turning myself over was dangerous. There was always a chance I was wrong—but if I were on the inside I could turn their attention away from the ship—away from Rachel. This was it. My chance. I’d prove to her I could be who she needed. I could be the kind of man she’d learn to love again.

  Part 7

  Angie

  18 Angie

  Malton was snoring again. How the dog could sleep with the loud music, chatter, and screaming was beyond me. But he was. I, on the other hand, was petrified as I sat on the very edge of a cold metal bar stool.

  “Please tell me those screams aren’t real.” I stayed close to Kelby’s side as we waited for an audience with someone named Darto. Geor
gie’s warning rang through me as I listened to harrowing screams coming from a room behind a back bar. No one else at the bar seemed to notice or care about the disturbing noises spilling out from under the door, but the hairs on the back of my neck were sticking up, and my stomach was doing flip-flops. Sitting back while someone got hurt wasn’t my M.O.; I was itching to burst in there and do something.

  “They aren’t real.” Kelby patted my arm. “Relax.”

  I turned, careful not to bump my backpack with Malton into anything. “Are you just saying that to make me feel better, or is it true?”

  “Would it matter?” He stretched out his legs in front of him. Luckily there was no foot traffic where we waited. He would surely trip someone with as long as his legs were. I had an idle thought about how our height difference would manifest in bed but pushed it off. My mind really didn’t need to go there. Especially not with that awful screaming, real or not.

  “Of course it would matter. It would matter a whole lot.” If someone was being hurt I couldn’t just sit there.

  “Darto doesn’t torture people. The screams aren’t real. He’s trying to keep people away.” Kelby stared straight ahead at the door. “It’s all theatrics with him.”

  “Then why did Georgie warn me to be careful?”

  “Because he can be very persuasive.” Kelby crossed his arms. “She was warning you to stay out of his web.”

  Out of his web? I didn’t like the sound of that. “Maybe we should leave. Don’t we have enough help already?” I bounced my knee.

  “Not the kind of help Darto can give.” Kelby turned to me. “He may be quirky, but he’s powerful. He can give us manpower and weapons, and pretty much anything we need.”

  “But those screams.” I covered my ears. “I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

  “They aren’t real. No one is being hurt in any way. Try to relax.”

  “You keep saying that. It’s easy for you to say.”