Chapter 29 #2
Aela paused for another moment and solidified her line of questioning. She moved to a chair and grasped the ladder back, positioning it at the head of the table. Eros shifted his gaze over his shoulder when she sat down. Silence settled over the room as they appraised one another.
“I suppose I owe you an explanation,” he began, turning to face her.
Aela nodded.
Eros sat to her right. A shallow bowl of round red apples appeared on the table.
He didn’t react to her magic creating things out of thin air.
Setting his drink on the table, he plucked a fruit and turned it over in his hand.
His golden eyes were thoughtful, finding his own words as he thumbed the stem in small circles.
“I’ll start,” Aela said. “Why were you naked in my bed?”
“I sleep in the nude. While I’m flattered that you’re thinking of me naked, that’s not what you came to learn.”
“What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“I need your help.”
Aela’s eyes slanted on his thumb, idly circling the stem in agonizing slowness.
“If you think I’m some weapon or power to wield like Tarek did… I won’t be caged again.”
Showing the truth of her words, violet-white lightning sizzled up from beneath her skin, winding protectively around her forearms. Eros tensed as his flames answered in kind, rolling over his knuckles.
The red and orange hues were mystifying.
Arresting her gaze with his eyes, Eros lifted his fists one at a time to his mouth and blew his flames out.
Aela bit the inside of her lip, looking down at her arms. Her power banked, coiling inside her once more.
“Where the Bull sought to harness your power for himself by manipulating you into a bond where he could tap into your magic at will, I seek to unleash you. I would never control you.”
“Forgive me for not trusting your word,” Aela said.
Her emotions were in turmoil, curious and angry. She stood from her chair and paced along the wall, passing the rough window. On her second pass by the view into the realm sky, she paused.
“What about what I want? What if I don’t want to be unleashed? I just want to go home. You asked me what I wanted, and that’s what I want.”
“Then why haven’t you gone home yet?”
A tea service winked into existence next to the bowl laden with apples.
Her lips twitched at her magic taking care of her in simple, unbidden ways.
Coming back to the table, she plopped back into her chair.
Leaning back, she settled her elbow on the arm of her chair and propped her head atop her fist.
“Trust me, I want nothing more than to go home,” she answered, tracing one of the delicate saucers with a finger.
Unlike the set Tabitha had at her crystal shop, the porcelain teapot and matching cups were dove-white and edged in gold. Eros served her tea, and she nodded her thanks. She took a moment to settle her thoughts and blew over the deep plum tea, swirling the steam with her breath.
“Things got complicated. Do you truly know what Tarek is doing to his House? How he uses them?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“Why haven’t the other Primaries done anything about it? The Senate?”
Eros sipped his drink, forgoing tea. “The Senate maintains that each House be governed by its Primary Star. We don’t overstep.”
“But you denied Tarek his bond to Proxima, to me—isn’t that overstepping?”
“I see your confusion, but a bond for the leader of a House is different than how a Primary governs their constellation. Heze explained as much in the meeting.”
“A balance of power,” Aela said, her tea halfway to her lips. She stared at the Primary of Aries. The question she wanted to ask on the tip of her tongue. She couldn’t trust him. Not yet. She sipped her tea.
“You said you needed my help. That required taking me prisoner?” Aela asked, placing her tea on the table.
“On the contrary, I saved you.”
Aela arched an eyebrow, a silent ask for him to continue.
“By aiding me, you will in turn save the Taureons you care for so much.”
Aela shook her head. “I don’t care for them.”
“Yes, you do. You were ready to give your life for them despite your confliction. For all your desperation to get home, you stayed to help them. And if I hadn’t intervened, you would have gone back with him.”
“You don’t know that. And you’re wrong—I abandoned them. I helped in what way I could to ease their suffering, but I ultimately left them no better off than before I arrived. They’re still trapped in his crystal bands.”
“What if I told you that, by helping me, you could liberate them and spare all of Stardom from their impending collapse?”
“You speak of the curse of the Gods. How am I supposed to help with that?”
“Tell me,” Eros said as he studied her drinking her tea, “What do you know of the Gods?”
Aela frowned. “I know the history of the stars, Eros.”
“Humor me.”
Aela’s voice took on a lecturing tone. “The Gods created all life in the realm and eventually went to sleep. Then the stars rose beyond their place and, through their squabbling, woke the Gods. The Gods then cursed them for their disobedience and left, abandoning them to the consequences of their actions.”
Eros’ expression darkened, and faint smoke gathered around him. With noticeable effort, he composed himself. “To hear you summarize it so… succinctly.” Eros took a pull of his drink and the surrounding gloom abated.
“Well? How close is the narrative all of Stardom holds true to your version of history?”
Eros huffed out a breath and refilled Aela’s tea before responding.
“My version of history is a bit different. And for another time. Would you say you are content with the way things are? Having Zodiac Houses subject their constellations to crystal bands to survive. Sanctions in place before peaceful neighboring can be had? Restrictions on celestials intermingling with others not of their Line? Not to mention The Darkness that plagues the stars? Is that all the life you ever wanted?”
“All I ever wanted was to get home,” Aela snapped.
Eros’ eyes bored into hers. “I know who is responsible for the downfall of your House. And if you aid me, I will deliver them to you.”
Aela pushed her tea away from her gently and sat back, shaking her head. She wouldn’t take the bait. “You’re all the same. You only want power. Why should I care? Why should I help you or believe anything you say?”
I’ve already helped too many lost causes on my way home.
“Because hope is not lost. Do you know what lies at the center of the realm, Aela?” Eros’ voice lowered into something deadly. A bit unhinged.
“We’re anchored by—”
“The cursed orbit, yes. But do you know what the Zodiac Houses circle?”
“It’s not just our curse. The Gods set the constellations in an orbit circling…” Aela’s nightmare of the After flashed before her eyes, the fracturing star tumbling into the band of liquid gold. She furrowed her brow.
Eros carried on despite his question going unanswered. “No one knows. I’ll tell you. Better yet, I’ll show you.”
Again, without prodding, Aela’s other magic took care of her by providing a simple meal, as if it needed to prepare her for what Eros intended to show her.
They ate in silence, and she finished her tea before Eros stood and held a hand out to her.
Her eyes flicked from his offered hand to his golden gaze, then slid her fingers into his awaiting palm.