Chapter 38 Astraea
Astraea
I finished my dance with exhilaration in my chest and lightness in my bones.
I’d stepped into the center of the banquet as a trembling mess of nerves, but then the music had started from a violin, lute, and piano ensemble in the corner, and that was all it took for the notes to erase every set of eyes and place me above the clouds among the stars to dance.
For my circus act, I had a lightweight ball I’d performed several tricks with.
I threw it in the air while my body curved backward, and it glided seamlessly around my split legs, projecting back up for me to catch when I straightened; that had earned the most awed gasps, one of the few disruptions loud enough to make me aware of the onlookers.
I was beaming, on a high from the adrenaline and the passion the dance had invoked in me.
The admiration for my performance beaming through the crowd made me feel proud and I yearned to entertain again and again.
I searched for Nyte to share my feelings with, but I quickly remembered he hadn’t been watching.
He should have been back by now, but perhaps the trident was farther away than we hoped for.
If there were any obstacles, I knew he could handle himself.
It was my part to distract and stall when necessary.
There was one set of eyes that tingled a line of tension up my spine: the eyes of Vermont’s son, Kairos. While most smiled at me and talked among themselves, his deep brown eyes were always fixed firmly on me, and it had to be my own paranoia that thought them accusatory.
A guard came toward Vermont, and I turned to leave.
I didn’t make it to the doors before guards blocked it and my heart leapt up my throat.
But no one came to detain me right away.
Looking around in confusion, I noticed them start to gather the circus crew.
Those who were in the designated waiting room were brought into the banquet hall with a mix of frightened and confused expressions and I started to sharpen my senses for what might be about to come.
I was pushed with the others, herded into the center of the tables, like we were cattle for the wealthy to scrutinize and bid upon.
I stayed calm while calculating every part of my surroundings that I could see from the middle of nearly two dozen circus performers.
More guards had been called into the hall, and the guests were various degrees of upset and restless, clueless to the sudden disruption as well, but at least they weren’t the ones on trial.
At last Vermont spoke; his voice grated over me in a croak that sounded like death. “I am informed we are honored by infamous guests,” he announced, silencing the hall instantly.
Every hair on my body pricked.
How could he know?
Had Nyte been found?
I mentally shook my head, not doubting him for a second. Even if he had been discovered he would have made it back to me by now. I tried to reach through our bond, but it was like there was static interference. I couldn’t feel the void either, making a quick escape impossible.
“The traitorous star-maiden and her villainous Nightsdeath are among you now. So cowardly they need to hide themselves.”
The circus members looked at each other, completely confused and terrified.
“W-we are only performers, my lord,” one man said for the group.
A hand took mine, and I jerked in fright, snapping my head to find Silvia holding onto me tightly while her frightened gaze fixed on Vermont.
“I will offer this one chance for you to reveal yourself,” Vermont said coldly.
In the silence, my battering heart filled my ears as I contemplated if I should abide by his demand or call his bluff. I tried to feel for my magick; it was there, but a humming interference was causing me to slip my grip on the threads within me.
Guards moved at the flick of Vermont’s chin, and the man who’d spoken in our group was pulled out roughly and pushed to his knees. I squeezed Silvia’s hand, and we exchanged a look.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. Her brow furrowed deeper, then just as quickly it turned up and her hand slacked on mine.
The guard raised his sword above the man’s neck—
“Wait,” I called out.
The group turned their heads to me, and I pushed forward. Until I stood staring right at the overlord of Volanis. Vermont Lionel. The man who almost bought me.
He blinked a few times, his expression contorting with his mind slowly letting go of the illusion Nyte had placed in it, to see the true image of me. Silver hair, not red. Blue eyes, not green. Every silver marking adorning my skin on full display in this clothing.
When he seemed to finish painting my real image, he didn’t immediately speak.
I studied him as he did me in those tense seconds.
He leaned on the table like he needed the support, or I was sure he would have approached me.
His skin was like paper, revealing more bone and veins than a person of his age should. He was sickly.
Then it all made sense.
Had he heard of the effects of my blood?
I didn’t know what was wrong with him; if it was a fatal illness inside him, my blood would have only given him borrowed time, like it did for Cassia.
But time was the most precious currency to mortals with so little of it.
So much so he was willing to trade his entire island—buying me in the hope I would grant it to him.
“Astraea Lightborne,” he said, my name like a piece of discovered treasure. “The star-maiden, Daughter of Dusk and Dawn, fallen ruler of Solanis, and as I now hear, Lightsdeath.”
“As you can see, I am not fallen,” I said calmly. “I am and always will be the ruler of Solanis.”
“You’re a far cry from the obedient, shy maiden that was to be my son’s bride.”
Every nerve cell in my body recoiled at that piece of information he delivered like a hot brand. My attention slipped to Kairos. A muscle in his jaw twitched; not gloating or proud like his father, he almost seemed as uncomfortable over our near betrothal as I was.
“You were misinformed of a lot of things about me, I’m sure,” I muttered bitterly.
“I don’t think so.”
Vermont’s eyes left mine, and I didn’t have a second to react before the sickening sound of sliced flesh and blood splattering on the marble came from behind me. I whirled to find the man on his knees, clutching his gaping throat, choking on his blood before he fell.
“Why did you do that!” I roared, spinning back and feeling the vibrations of shallow magick at my fingertips.
“You did that, Maiden. You killed everyone here, selfishly using them to infiltrate my palace. They are all guilty of aiding and abetting known fugitives and smuggling enemies past my defenses. My ruling is death.”
“Then so is mine,” I said, and with those words the dark intent of death overcame me.
“Don’t—!” It was Vermont’s son who shot up from his seat, but his warning was too late.
As I thrust out a hand, light shot from my palm toward Vermont. Seeing his wicked, icy smile through the gale before it left me doused me with dread.
The lethal blast rebounded off a protective veil around the banquet tables I’d failed to see. The next second I was airborne, struck by my own magick. Just as fast, I slammed into the back wall; the world around me started to fade.
I clung to every fiber of consciousness, which kept trying to slip away because of the impact to my head, which turned hot. People were screaming. Crying. I had to get up. I had to help them.
I had enough determination to give my bones strength, and I pushed myself up, leaning with a hand on the wall for balance.
With what I saw, I wished I were unconscious.
That this was a vicious nightmare. There was so much blood all in one place, spilling out of the bodies that piled on top of each other, their flesh slashed in various places.
The final scream was cut off, and the ten guards with their white cloaks splattered in blood were all that stood between the banquet tables now.
He’d killed them all.
Every last performer.
I pushed off the wall, staggering toward them. My eyes met the glassy blue of Silvia’s, who’d fallen, still holding Trevor’s hand.
“What have you done?” I whispered.
“I don’t give second chances to traitors,” Vermont said, not a shred of regret or remorse.
Most of the others in attendance at his feast had stood, backing themselves to the wall and hugging each other. As if they had anything to be fearful off … as if they were the victims.
All I saw next was light. All I felt was death.
My black wings shot out as the power of Lightsdeath blasted from me, shattering the veil that protected all those in robes of white and gold. Their bodies became glowing forms of light to me now, revealing the many shades of dark souls I was starving to reap.
I mourned for the innocent lives taken so senselessly.
It was my fault they were killed.
No, Lightsdeath snarled. My sight targeted the darkest soul in the room. It’s his.
My power sharpened with wrath and grief.
The dark soul tried to retreat, but it was too slow, and I slammed the door behind him shut before he could slip through it.
“You’ve lived too long, Vermont,” I said icily.
His face clarified the more I balanced Lightsdeath with my rational mind. Feeling his soul … it was far too old and tainted for the body he had.
“Thanks to you,” he said, fearful of me, but still he retained a seed of superiority.
I understood then. “Goldfell had been selling you my blood to heal you and prolong your life, long before you knew what it was. Then you discovered you could try to buy the source.”
“Yes,” he confirmed.
Disgust roiled in me. “What has sustained you has come to end you.”
I hissed at the sting clamping suddenly around my wrist. My palm slammed to the chest of the guard who’d snuck up behind me to fit the shackle, and his wail burned out in the light that set him on fire.