Chapter Thirty-Six #2
“Wait, Nala,” I impose. “There is one thing I’d like to show you,” I continue, causing her to release the handful of Kareem’s fur she was going to use as leverage.
“Fancy taking a shortcut?” I ask, conjuring the portal in my hand.
She treads carefully in shock, staring at the pulsating void in my palm.
I can tell she is wary because she is skulking like a cat, cautious of its surroundings.
“What in the Gods’ names is that?” she asks, still keeping her distance.
“It’s a portal,” I reply whilst propelling it onto the wall of rock behind us. “A perk of being a Star,” I confess, still attentive to her reaction, her stare is intense as she ponders the surface of the portal, reaching her hand a centimetre away as if too scared to touch it.
“No freaking way!” she whispers, examining the portal closely. She mentally builds up courage and elongates her finger into its puddle. It ripples, and she pulls her finger back with speed.
“It won’t bite.” I giggle at her reaction. “It’s our dorm room,” I explain, and I see her shoulders relax.
“I can see our beds through the portal…how is that possible?” she asks in disbelief.
“I have no clue…” I confess. “I still don’t know how to use my powers properly.”
I find myself looking down at where the lilac flowers bring life to the bleak rock.
“I had no idea what I was doing when I brought you back.” My heart breaks all over again thinking about her cold, rigid body on the ice.
“I tried to heal you with every part of me, but it didn’t work, and you died…and I thought I had lost you forever-”
“But you didn’t lose me,” she interrupts with a soft tone. “You saved me.”
She smiles and reaches for my fingertips, cradling them in her grasp. A lone tear rolls down my cheek, and I smile back.
“Come on, let’s go through together.”
I intertwine my fingers with hers and begin the journey through the portal. “Craize, I’ll see you tomorrow for manoeuvres,” I call out to him whilst he and Kareem take flight back to the taming valleys.
“Looking forward to it, young one,” he replies and glides into the distance.
***
“So what else can you do?” Nala asks, her foot covering half of one of the runes on our rug.
“According to this book, the Starkind can mimic and learn all Sun and Moon powers,” I answer whilst pulling out my suitcase and propping it onto my bed. Nala leans over with intrigue as I unzip the red bag and take out The Soldark.
“All powers…that’s insane,” she replies, clearly dumbfounded by my confession.
“So far I have been able to wield light, shadows, and somehow restore,” I list, still amazed by my ability to pull Nala back from death’s grip.
“That’s incredible, Asha.” Nala beams. “It must feel pretty amazing being able to do those things,” she says whilst picking up the photograph of Mum and Luca.
“Yeah… When people aren’t trying to kill me,” I retort with amusement in my tone.
Nala furrows her brow.
“Kill you?” she asks with concern. “Why would anyone want to kill you?”
The floorboards creak as I walk over to my bed, perching my bottom on the soft sheets. I pat beside me, beckoning Nala to take a seat next to me.
“My whole race was wiped out by the Sun people.”
Nala gasps.
“If they find out I exist…” I pause, trying to articulate the right words to say. “They worked hard to make sure the Starkind stayed extinct.”
My eyes fall to the picture pinched between Nala’s fingertips.
“That’s my mum and dad; I never met either of them.
” I trace my finger over my mum’s auburn curls and Luca’s bright smile trapped in the edges of the photograph.
“They were chosen by the Gods to rebuild my race, and I owe it to them to at least try.”
“So what are you going to do?” Her voice breaks a little as she leans closer to me.
“First off, I am going to try not to die.” I hide my anxiety with a small chuckle, but I know Nala sees through it. “I need to master my powers and learn the ways of the Moon.”
“How the fuck are you gonna learn the ways of the Moon?” she asks, slightly worried.
“Ermm… I have had a little help.” I can’t help but smile and bite my lip at the thought of Ryder. My cheeks blush at whim, and I lower my head to distract Nala from the crimson in my cheeks. Too late. I watch as the dots connect in her mind.
She stands abruptly. “Asha Calloway, have you had an encounter with a Moon?” A toothy smile appears as she pokes at me playfully.
“Oh, I’ve had more than an encounter,” I answer, rising to my feet and feeding into her excitement.
“Oh. My. Gods! Tell me everything!” She squeals in anticipation, and laughter escapes my mouth.
“Do you know how long I’ve been wanting to hear you say that?” I giggle again. “Anyway, it’s not like that. As much as I want it to be.” I shake my head to try to suppress her giddiness and sit back down on my bed. She follows me down and comforts me.
“Well, if you’re needing boy advice, I’m pretty new to it, but I’ll give it my best shot.” The sun starts to fade, colouring the room with shades of orange.
“His name is Ryder. I know I shouldn’t want him; he’s probably bad for me, but the way I feel next to him…
I’ve never felt that way about anyone before.
” I sigh at the thought of him, how he feels so close but at the same time so far from me.
“I thought he liked me too, we kissed once, well twice, but the first one didn’t count…
and ever since then he has been pulling away. ”
“Guess boys are all the same. Moon or not,” she says whilst rubbing circles on my back.
“Don’t pretend you know. Charlie practically worships the ground you walk on.”
She nods her head in response.
“Hey! I’m trying my best here… It’s not my fault, I got lucky!” She laughs, which briefly pulls me out of the slump I was feeling. “Look, you said you could learn any Gift, right?”
I give her a nod as she takes my wrists and leads me into the centre of the room.
“So instead of moping over a guy who clearly doesn’t deserve you, how about we put that talent to good use?”
I look at her blankly. “I’m not following.”
“Influencing silly!” She laughs, which triggers me to smile. “Lesson one starts now.”