Star Dust (Force Of Gravity Book 1)

by Ali Winters

  I wish Caelan was here…

  “Don’t worry," Oriana whispered. "Once we have the key, we’ll get out of here and go somewhere safe.”

  A soft sniff was the only response that came.

  She pulled herself out from under the desk, crawling around the drawers and shattered chair. Looking behind her, Oriana saw a pair of frightened, cerulean blue eyes watching her from under the ripped cushion. Oriana placed a finger to her lips and winked before sliding the window open and pulling herself out.

  Glancing down at the ground below, her fingers clutched at the icy surface. The tighter grip caused her fingers to slip, losing their grip on the icy surface. She fell, landing on an ice bush with snow flowers in bloom. It gave way under her and bounced back when she rolled off.

  “That’s handy,” she muttered. At least, there wouldn’t be much of a trace of left behind.

  Crouching down low, she pressed her back against the wall, heart pounding violently against her ribcage, threatening to burst. She inched her way to the corner of the castle.

  A trellis. mounted along the wall, supported a climbing snow vine. With one rough yank, she ripped a strand of the vine from its place and tumbled backward, just managing to keep her footing. Wrapping the vine in a loop, she slid it over her shoulder. She could do something with this.

  Voices floated through the air, too low to for Oriana make out what they were saying. She scooted along the wall toward an open window, rough voices grew louder at her nearing proximity.

  Reaching above her, she grabbed the ledge and pulled herself upward, peeking in through the window.

  Dusty-haired men wearing Pluto’s Citinal uniform stood in a circle talking.

  Except for the uniform, these men were similar to the ones who had been in her palace back on Soleis.

  Oriana dropped to the ground, her foot sliding in muddy clay. In a blink of the eye, she found herself on her back once again. She lifted a finger to her face and rubbed the substance between her index finger and thumb, it’s texture was smooth… like mud—a snow-white clay.

  She scooped up a handful and smeared it over her black boots and shirt. She should blend in better this way.

  After spreading the white clay over her clothes and boots, she sighed, taking a handful to cover her silky raven locks and massaging it in hesitantly.

  There!

  Now she blended in with the pale scenery of Pluto.

  She crawled, staying low, over to a nearby tree.

  Its long branches hung down, bending and twisting. Coming around the back of its trunk, she stood. Her gaze traveled up the thick rough trunk to its lowest branch—which was still more than a few feet above her head. A ladder would have been nice, as she’d never learned to climb.

  Oriana entwined her fingers and cracked her knuckles. Now was as good a time as any to learn. She reached up and grabbed hold of a wooden knot on the tree’s thick circumference, her knees hugging the tree, awkward and tight.

  At this moment, she had never been more glad to be alone.

  She used her arm to pull herself up and slowly, inch-by-inch, her legs moving the rest of her body up the trunk.

  Bright idea. Let’ s see what I don’t know how to do and learn it as I go. Why would I want to do anything I already know how to do? Too easy. Not enough challenge in doing what I know, while trying to escape with my life.

  She mocked herself as she climbed, it seemed easier than giving in to the hopelessness that threatened to swallow her whole.

  “Ouch,” her hand flew to the top of her head.

  While she’d been mentally berating herself for her brilliant plan, she’d made it to the nearest branch that could support her. Wrapping an arm around it, she swung her legs up catching the branch between her legs, she hung onto it upside down.

  Oriana twisted her body and within minutes was perched, sitting within the hold of the tree.

  I deserve a medal. She thought wryly.

  Using the branches she stood, navigating her way through them and trying to get as close to the window as possible. She pulled the vine off her shoulder and twisted it around the flimsy thin branch next to her, then let the rope slip through her fingers to the ground. Oriana climbed down, to the lowest group of branches, dropping her legs as she clung to it. Her feet dangled in the air beneath her, several feet above the ground. She let go and tumbled down, rolling onto her back.

  Well then, that wasn’t too bad.

  Turning over, she crawled and grabbed the vine, pulling it around the trunk. Making her way back to the wall of the castle, she inched her way closer to the open window. Oriana pulled the vine tighter, and tighter and the branch grew taut, resisting her efforts.

  She was just yards away from the window now and the vine was starting to fray. Letting go, it snapped back.

  The branch broke off and went flying toward the window of the room the men were in. Oriana didn’t wait to see what would happen next.

  She ran, diving for the window to the room she hoped Cassia was waiting in with the key. Her arms protested as she lifted herself up and in through the window. Oriana’s hands hit the floor first, then her knees. Standing quickly, she turned and slid the window shut, locking it behind her.

  “Princess?” she whispered.

  Whimper.

  Oriana leaped over the debris and ran to the couch. She lifted the edge, exposing the wide-eyed, tear stained face of Princess Cassia. The girl scrambled out from under the couch and into Oriana’s arms.

  “Do you have the key, Princess?”

  Cassia nodded and handed her the key.

  Shouts and footsteps echoed down the hallway.

  Oriana stood, holding the girl by the hand, carefully navigating the mess that littered the floor. She reached the door in the wall and felt around. Her finger slid across a switch and flipped it, the keyhole popped open. She didn’t waste any time pulling the tiny Princess through the door.

  She closed the door behind her and dropped to her knees, setting Cassia down. She wiped the young girl’s face.

  “It’s okay. I’m taking you somewhere safe.”

  “Nowhere is safe,” she said, tears welling in her eyes.

  “I’ll find somewhere safe. I promise.” She set Cassia down, kneeling on one knee and looked her in the eye.

  “I want my mommy,” she whimpered, and Oriana felt her heart break.

  “I know, sweetie. We are going to get help and then find them. Okay?” Oriana brushed the long strands of hair out of the girl’s face.

  Cassia burst out into loud sobs.

  “No! Mommy and daddy are dead!” she shouted, and then collapsed on the ground. “I want my mommy.”

  Oriana stared at her as all the wind was sucked from her lungs. She was just a child and she had already lost her parents.

  “Come on,” Oriana lifted her up, cradling her. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “No.” The Princess wiggled out of her arms and started to slide down. Surrendering, Oriana set her down.

  “My dolly,” she demanded.

  “We can come back later for your dolly when it’s safe. Do you understand?” Oriana bent down and looked her in the eye.

  “I won’t leave without her.”

  Oh sure, why would I mind risking my life for a toy? Oriana grit her teeth as the orphan Princess sat on the ground and refused to move. It was bad enough to try and navigate the other planets, but with an uncooperative child? It was too dangerous to risk.

  The other worlds might be safe, with no idea what’s happened on Soleis and Pluto, but what if…

  Oriana shook her head, clearing her mind. She couldn’t think like that.

  “Fine, you stay right here. She pointed to a flat rock next to the door.” She picked the key that she’d dropped and put it in her pocket. Straightening up, she leaned her head from side to side, stretching it. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Do. Not. Move.”

  Cassia nodded, sniffling back tears.

  “If you see anyone else
, you hide. Don’t come out for anyone, except me.”

  Another nod.

  With a sigh, Oriana turned and went back through the door, first peeking through a thin opening.

  The coast was still clear.

  Stepping through, she meandered around the broken furniture thrown about the room. Everything was silent. Her diversion must have drawn them to the farthest corner of the castle.

  She opened the door to the room as quietly as she could. The hall was deserted, not a Citali guard in sight. She slid out into the hall and walked swiftly to the left, away from where she’d had seen the men earlier. This wing of the palace was easy to navigate. The hall turned once and down the short hallway, was a single room.

  Pressing her ear to the door, Oriana listened.

  Silence.

  She pushed open the door and walked in.

  She wanted to cry and scream simultaneously—a library. Why didn’t she think to ask the Princess where in the castle her doll was? There was no way she could go down the other hall. She’d be caught for sure.

  Cassia would just have to live without it.

  Oriana turned, ready to head back and stopped. A doll lay on a child’s table in the corner. She snatched it up and headed out the door at a run.

  She didn’t stop as she pulled the key from her pocket and rushed through the still open door of the study room that held the Gateway.

  She pressed the button and stuffed the toy under her arm.

  Crash.

  The key slipped through her fingers as the color drained from Oriana’s face. She looked over her shoulder. A lamp had been hanging off the edge of the desk and had decided to fall when she had been feet away from her freedom.

  “I heard something,” A male voice shouted.

  Heavy footsteps came running.

  Oriana scooped up the key and dove under the overturned sofa, covering herself with a ripped cushion. She held her breath as the door burst open. Boots pounded on the floor, rushing into the room.

  She’d been safe.

  Safe! She just had to go back for the doll, she couldn’t just run. Dying to save the child she could deal with, but dying to save a toy was ludicrous. There hadn’t been many decisions in her life that she was in charge of making, but of the few she did make on her own, this was by far the one she regretted the most.

  “The room is clear, Micah. There’s no one here.”

  “Help me move this,” a gruff voice commanded. His rough hands gripped part of her hair as he took hold of the less than ideal object keeping her hidden. She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out as the rough grip on her hair pulled, and yanked.

  Stars!

  “This is no time for a nap,” the first man answered.

  I’m going to die. I’m going to die.

  Oriana squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Alton! Micah! What are you two doing in here? Redecorating?”

  “No,” the first man snapped. “I thought I heard something.”

  “Well, I doubt rearranging this room is going to help you hear better.”

  “N—”

  “Get out there,” the third voice roared. “Now!”

  Heavy footsteps, followed by a long silence. Voice two, the one she guessed was Micah, let the couch fall from his grip as he said.

  “Come on, let’s go before he comes back. I don’t want to see him any angrier than he is now.”

  Alton chuckled.

  “Did you see how red his face was?”

  Their voices trailed off as their footsteps moved away and out the door. Oriana listened until there was complete silence before allowing herself to breathe again. She gasped for air, her lungs burning.

  That was too close.

  If she wanted to live to save her Kingdom, anyone else, or even herself for that matter, she couldn’t allow herself to be sucked into another foolish errand, no matter who requested it. Not thinking clearly would get her killed.

  She rolled out from her hiding spot and vaulted over the couch.

  Jabbing the key into the keyhole, she opened the door. Her momentum causing her stumble as she fell through the opening, closing the door behind her with her foot.

  She landed on her side and rolled onto her back, panting.

  Blue eyes stared down at her as Oriana handed Cassia the doll. The joy on the girl’s face almost made up for it. Almost—but not quite.

  “Are you ready to go now?” Oriana asked Cassia as she stood, dusting herself off.

  The girl nodded and grabbed Oriana’s hand, ready to be led to safety.

  Oriana

  “Okay, you were the last path,” Oriana mumbled, more to herself than the child clutching her hand in a surprisingly powerful death grip. “So that means… one, two, three, four, five… That has to be Jupiter’s.” Grabbing a stone, she stomped it into the ground at the edge of the path and lightly covered it with dirt.

  Together they crossed the circular clearing and hurried down the walkway as fast as the little girl’s legs would allow.

  Cassia tugged on her hand as Oriana looked forlornly at the door before them.

  This has to be it, it just has to be. She couldn’t very well drag a child through unknown worlds that could be full of the unknown Citali trying to kill them.

  Speaking of the guards… where were the Citinal of Soleis or Pluto? They couldn’t have all been killed, or have disappeared without a trace. Nothing was adding up.

  Cassia stepped forward, her hand reaching for the knob.

  Kneeling, Oriana lowered the girls hand to her side. “I don’t think you should go in with me until I know it’s safe.”

  “Don’t leave me alone,” Cassia whimpered.

  “I won’t leave you. I promise I’ll be back in just a few minutes. I just need to check and make sure it’s safe for you.” The little girl looked up at her, tears flooding her cerulean eyes. Oriana pulled her in for a hug. “Stay here with your dolly, and I will be right back. I promise.”

  Straightening, Oriana placed the key in the lock and turned it. The door creaked open and she stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

  A loud gasp sounded to her right. Caught off guard, she threw herself to the side and away from the source of the noise. Hitting the side of a table, Oriana bounced off it and lost her footing, hitting the ground with a thud.

  “Oh no, are you all right?” a gentle voice asked.

  Oriana scrambled to her feet as a woman approached her. She’d messed up.

  What kind of entrance was that? Surprise by self-injury? But… the young woman wasn’t hiding. She’d been near the desk, in front of the large window.

  Standing a safe distance away, she watched Oriana with wide lavender eyes. The orange dress and blue opalescent apron were distinctive of Mercury, as was her hair—in deep sapphire blue with silver and orange streaks.

  The woman clasped her hands in front of her, as though she were trying not to reach out to her.

  “Is it safe?” Oriana demanded.

  “Wha—well…” She took a step back.

  “Is it safe?” she demanded again, not caring that she looked like a half-crazed lunatic, covered in white clay.

  “Yes,” the woman said, her expression unreadable.

  Oriana rushed back to the door and unlocked it, “Cassia, you can come now. It’s safe.”

  The tiny Princess ran through the doorway, reaching for Oriana’s hand as though it were the only thing in the world she could count on.

  “P—Princess Oriana?” the Mercury girl asked, tilting her head, recognition lighting her face.

  “Yes, and this is Princess Cassia of Pluto.” Oriana straightened her back, “And we need your help.”

  Teacups rocked on a silvery-blue tray as a man sat them down on the table between them. Just like all the other Mercurians, his hair was dark blue with orange highlights blended throughout.

  Oriana watched the woman in front of her pour the hot liquid in each of the cups, with Cassia curle
d up into her side. She stroked the girl’s hair and waited for their host to explain.

  “I am Erin.” The girl pushed a strand of her shoulder length, blue hair behind her ear. Eyes downcast, she stared intently at her hand, resting in her lap, and continued. “I am just a handmaid here… but may I ask, Princess, what has happened to you?” Red flooded her cheeks as soon as the words left her. Her gaze darted to the man who’d delivered the tea as he walked out of the room, closing the double doors behind him.

  “It’s okay. I know I look a mess,” Oriana said, trying to put the girl at ease with the best smile she could muster, though she was willing to bet that it was more a grimace than a grin. “My Kingdom was attacked. I don’t know why, or by who. I barely managed to escape with my life. When I did, I landed on Pluto, only to discover they suffered the same fate,” she glanced at the sleeping girl curled up at her side. “It was only by luck that I found Princess Cassia.”

  “Yes, I see. I am glad you made it here safely.” Erin stood, “I will fetch someone to care for the young Princess so that we can talk. There are some things I must show you.”

  Oriana pursed her lips and watched the rise and fall of Cassia’s breath. Why hadn’t a royal greeted them once they’d arrived? Unease settled at the base of her spine.

  Erin cleared her throat, drawing her attention.

  “I can see by the look on your face that you are wary of the situation, but please, Princess, trust me.”

  The woman was clearly from Mercury; she didn’t resemble the strange Citinal that had been on Soleis or Pluto...

  For that matter, there were no Citali Guards around, which was unusual. Her father always had, at least, one Citali standing in the room, like a silent fixture, anytime a guest arrived.

  Then there were the questions burning to get out. Questions she needed the answers to. Oriana nodded in agreement.

  What choice do I have?

  Gently, she nudged the sleeping Princess.

  “Wake up Cassia.”

  Erin walked over to the desk, picked up a bell and rang it twice. Within seconds, the blue and orange haired man was back in the room. He had the posture of a servant, not a Citali.

  “Dax, please take Princess Cassia to a room. Have Milly clean her up and get her something to eat.”