Circumstellar

by J. W. Lolite

  “And you must be this Aureliel everyone keeps going on about,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady and confident. Surrounded by the enemy though I was, showing fear was not an option.

  “It is a natural thing for lesser beings to praise the greatness of their superiors. Tell me, Ingrid Fairheit, what tales do the dirt’s feeble children spread of great Lady Aureliel?”

  “Well, praise isn’t exactly the word I would use for it. I mean, I really don’t think I’ve heard anything good about you at all. Maybe I should keep it to myself. I wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

  A throaty growl resonated behind me and Plumbarco snarled, “You stupid . . .” The sound of metal shifting put me on guard, but before I could turn around, Lady Aureliel raised her hand.

  “That won’t be necessary, my dearest Plumbarco,” she said, her words affectionate, but her voice cold and unyielding. “Defiance and poor judgment run deep in this one’s blood. I will excuse her rudeness for now.”

  Plumbarco grumbled something to himself and, I assumed, went back to standing like a watchful troll.

  “That’s awfully generous of you,” I commented, sarcasm heavy on my tongue. “Kind of goes against your track record, though, doesn’t it?”

  Lady Aureliel fixed me with a baleful stare and asked, “What is this nonsense you dare speak to me with?”

  “Oh, come on,” I pushed. “You know what I’m talking about. How you deal with ‘defiance and poor judgment.’”

  She tilted her head to the side, her eyes burning into my vision. “That,” she hissed, “is none of your concern.”

  A stray thought occurred to me then. Perhaps. Perhaps she was right. Maybe that wasn’t any of my concern. It’s not like I remembered anything from back then. I didn’t know anything about her or about . . . him. Just that he was my father. He was only my father. One that was taken from me . . . and Mom.

  “The hell it isn’t,” I argued back, shaking off the odd feeling of wanting to agree with her. “He was my old man, and you couldn’t handle the truth.”

  “Your words are foolish, girl. Do not speak of things you do not understand.” Her voice was quiet, deadly. I was venturing in dangerous territory here. When did I ever let that stop me?

  “Understand? What’s to understand?” I countered. “I know all about it. He dumped you! All for a human. You couldn’t handle it! You couldn’t handle being kicked aside!”

  “That’s enough, human – ”

  “You’re just an old, bitter ex-girlfriend – ”

  Lady Aureliel shot up so fast all I could make out was a blur of purple and gold. She glared at me with complete loathing, her face distorting into a mask of fury. She took in a deep breath and screeched at me, “I was his wife!”

  I paused and took a step back. What? I didn’t know that. I thought . . . I thought she was just some other woman. Not his wife. But that would make my mother –

  “Uturik betrayed me! He left me for that disgusting mud whore! He grew soft living with those humans. He forgot his place and his goal, but no matter. Uturik is gone, and it’s up to me to reclaim what is ours. For thousands of years, our kind has wallowed in this hole. Uturik forgot what he promised. The heavens belong to me! It’s my right, and you know it! It’s what I deserve!”

  A sharp, stinging pain washed over me, starting at the base of my back. It wound its way up my spine, coiling like a spiked chain all the way up my neck. When it reached the back of my head, for a fleeting second my mind . . . my thoughts . . . all blinked together in a jumbled mess with the pain. And then it vanished. I blinked rapidly, trying to comprehend what just happened, if it had happened at all. But I couldn’t seem to grasp it. Every time I tried to think about what happened my mind glazed over, and the memory faded into nothing. There was only one thought that seemed to pierce through the fog of my mind, strong and constant: She’s right.

  But . . . but . . . I struggled in desperation, pushing against the enclosing white, trying to hold onto anything blinking in front of me. But . . . she’s right. Then why did it feel so wrong. It can’t be. She’s right. She can’t be. She’s right. She’s right. She’s right. The words echoed in a continuous cycle, filling every crevice of my brain, until there was only . . . she’s right.

  And yet, there was something else. Tiny – almost invisible – it flickered valiantly against the onslaught of . . . of . . . she’s right. I reached out, grabbing onto it and focusing on it so hard my whole body tensed. She’s right. It was so warm. And the more I pushed myself into it, the bigger it got. She’s . . . she’s. . . I gave everything in my being over to it, letting it consume me and the fog. She’s not right, a voice whispered to me. She’s not right, Ingrid. Sweet and gentle – I knew it so, so well.

  Warmth washed over me, and for the first time in my life, I was filled with what I could only describe as absolute peace. There was no worry, no stress, and no enemies – just calm. When it subsided, I was left with a strange sense of longing. And I could think. My thoughts were once again my own.

  “No,” I breathed, gradually regaining my sense of things. “No, it’s not your right. I know what the humans did to the Ankida was wrong. What my father did to you was wrong as well,” I confessed, dutiful sympathy driving me to say it. “He was a scumbag. But that doesn’t give you the right to try and invade the Human World.”

  Lady Aureliel surveyed me with what I could only guess as unwelcomed interest. She peered at me in thought before settling back down into her throne.

  “I see,” she commented, regaining her composure. “It must be that girl. You are one of the cursed warriors are you not, Ingrid Fairheit? Legend speaks of them, of their connection to the stones and to the Neti.”

  That little statement was enough to make me forget her totally ignoring my comments about invading the Human World and change gears. “You mean the Locksmith?” I jumped forwards. “Where’s Lesia?” I demanded.

  “She’s been here the whole time, ignorant human. Cupraius, my love, if you could be so kind,” she ordered.

  “Of course, my Lady.”

  I watched as the man in copper armor moved from behind the marble throne to the side of the room where one of the large curtains hung. He reached into the curtain, and with a sharp tug, pulled it to the side. My heart pounded in my chest at the sight that was revealed. Gagged and chained to a heavy stone slab was my best friend. She wiggled and tugged against her bonds, and when she looked towards me, I could see her soft brown eyes light up with fear.

  “Lesia!” I called and made to run to her, only to be grabbed roughly from behind.

  “Now, Ingrid Fairheit, it’s time to repay my kindness for letting you into my grand tower,” Lady Aureliel announced, frigid being too warm a word to describe her. “It’s time for you to help me find the location of the Gate.”

  Chapter 29

  Polarity

  My arms ached with horrible agony in the bruising grip, and I worked hard to suppress the wince that was threatening to betray my pain. I wouldn’t give them the benefit of seeing me squirm. I wouldn’t let them make Lesia watch me cry. I had to be strong for her.

  “You see, the Neti hasn’t been very forthcoming about the location of the Gate despite our most gracious hospitality. It seems she needs a little more incentive,” Lady Aureliel said, narrowing her eyes. “Plumbarco.”

  The pressure on my arms increased to drastic proportions, pulverizing force crushing into the bone. I tried with all my might to suppress the loud yelp that was unhinging in my throat. The only saving grace was the lack of blood flow steadily making my arms become numb.

  “You can do better than that, my soldier.”

  “Yes, Lady,” Plumbarco replied, letting out a low chuckled. “How’s this?” He slid his hand down the length of my arm until he reached my wrist. His massive hand wrapped around it, his touch deceptively gentle. And then he squeezed. I couldn’t hold back any longer. A sharp cry pierced through the air, far too high and shrill to be mine
– but it was. My bones creaked under the hold, gritting and scraping against each other. The veins in my wrist twisted and burst. He gave the limb a quick jerk, a dull pop sounding from the flesh.

  His hold on my wrist loosened, and I sagged forwards, panting hard. Muffled cries echoed through the large room. I looked up at Lesia as she struggled in vain against her bonds. Tears poured down her face and blood seeped down her arms. Her glassy eyes met mine and she struggled harder, refusing to give up.

  “I think our honored guest is finally ready to divulge her secrets.” Lady Aureliel indicated over to Cupraius, who moved forwards and harshly ripped the gag from Lesia’s face. Angry, red blisters marred the corners of her mouth, but still she spoke.

  “Please,” she begged, “please, don’t do this. I’ve already told you I don’t know where the Gate is. I haven’t found it. Please, let Ingrid go. Don’t hurt her anymore. Please, I beg of you. Hurt me instead!”

  “A wish I will be happy to grant, retched dirt breeder,” Aureliel snapped. “You will tell me where the Gate is! I know you know the location! Tell me!”

  “She already told you.” I panted, the throbbing in my wrist doing nothing for my mood. “What are you, deaf? Dumb bitch.”

  Whack!

  I think I was in the air, albeit momentarily. The side of my face ignited in a flurry of agony, followed by the rest of my body as I crashed into the ground and rolled in a tangle of limps. My vision blurred past the point of severe, white stars dancing brilliantly across the floor. I could feel the beautiful black of unconsciousness creeping for me, and if it wasn’t for the distant sound of Lesia screaming my name, I would have welcomed its comforting embrace.

  “How unfortunate,” I heard above me. “She can’t be tortured if she’s dead, Plumbarco.”

  “Sorry, Lady.”

  A metallic taste filled my mouth, and I shifted up on my arms, spitting the warm liquid out at Lady Aureliel’s feet. I looked up at her sitting so high in that marble throne. She looked down at me disgusted, her face still tilted up despite the fact I was at her feet.

  “You know,” I gritted out. “You shouldn’t look down on people so much. I’ve got a pretty good view of your throat from down here.”

  “It matters not, child. Your father couldn’t reach me,” she replied in a whisper. “A lowly half-breed in the dirt could never hope to reach a star.” She raised her leg, a golden heel poised above my head. “Get away from me.”

  Crash!

  Metal smashing against stone tore through the air, and confusion and surprise manifested on every face in the room, except for one.

  “That’s enough, Aureliel, or is torturing young women all you can aspire to these days?” Emba’s voice mused from behind the marble throne.

  I took advantage of the open situation and rolled away a safe distance from Aureliel’s feet. I could see her now, strolling confidently away from the door and around the purple rug. Emba made it about halfway before a figure in black stepped forwards to block her path.

  Farron stood in front of her like an iron statue, threatening and uncompromising. The corners of her mouth twitched, sliding downwards ever so slightly. The longer she looked at him, the more the smug expression or her face looked all the more forced.

  “You aren’t welcome here,” Farron warned. “Leave, now.”

  “I can’t do that,” she retorted. “I’m surprised you can.”

  “Stand down, Farron,” Aureliel ordered, interjecting herself into the conversation. “She poses no threat to me, my love. She’s nothing but a silly girl who struggles to accept her place and let go of foolish desires.”

  With aggression, Emba pushed past Farron, stomping her way in front of the throne. “Is that so?” she asked, livid fire burning in her voice. “Then how come I’ve managed to slip right under your nose all this time? How come I managed to steal this,” she thrust out the Therion Stone, “from your guards?”

  A loud, shrieking laughter erupted in the room, joined by a dark chuckle and an obnoxious guffaw. I must have missed the joke, because Agentina, Coppertone, and the Plumber were all highly delighted with themselves. They were laughing at her. Farron and Aureliel, however, stayed perfectly composed.

  “Oh, Emba,” Aureliel said in mock sympathy, “did you really believe you could steal the keystone on your own? Did you really think it would fall so easily into your hands had I not willed it so?”

  To her credit, Emba did a damn sight better job at hiding her surprise than I did. All I could do was lay there, slack jawed at what Aureliel said. You had to be kidding me. This whole thing had been some kind of trap? I lay back, exhausted. This was it. We walked right into her stupid den, just like she wanted. And now all I’m going to get to see before I die are these shitty rafters and weird blue –

  I looked away at that instant, hoping nobody saw my strange reaction. I turned back to the conversation, trying to play cool.

  “I knew you would seek her out,” Aureliel added, glancing over at me. “I suppose, in a way, Uturik’s disgrace has worked out favorably for me. I can accomplish every wish that has haunted me these past long years.”

  “Don’t!” Emba growled. “Don’t you dare speak of him! You don’t have the right!”

  “I have every right, you witless pawn. I was everything to him! You are nothing, and you will die like nothing,” Aureliel bit out. “But it is a shame. You did have a knack for accomplishing exactly what I wanted.”

  It happened then: a soft whooshing noise followed by a metallic clink. Every eye in the room turned and focused on one thing. In one of the torches by the throne, the end of a stick poked out, feathers lining the end.

  “Just promise me you’ll close your eyes if you see one of these fly into anything hot.” And close my eyes I did, just in time for a bright flare to light up the room.

  Chapter 30

  Static

  I couldn’t tell which was more interesting: the funny pink color the backs of my eyelids glowed or the accumulation of shrieks and curses that orchestrated the light show. I turned over as quickly as I could, shakily rising to my feet. The bright flash lasted only seconds, but even after it faded, I was cautious about opening my eyes. I squinted after a moment’s hesitation in time to see a red and black blur sprint past me.

  It was Emba taking off to the marble slab that still held my best friend and her nearby guard; not that he was much of a deterrent, yelling and blinking as he was. Emba wasted no time in kicking the blinded man in the stomach before reaching up to Lesia’s chains. As soon as her hand touched the metal, a pink flare shot out, breaking the link. A hand grabbed onto my shoulder, pulling me out of my balk. I snapped my head around, finding a most relieving sight.

  “Loxley!” I could nearly cry. “You saved us!”

  “Nothing a little improvisation and magnesium couldn’t handle,” she said, smiling. “But it won’t last for long. Are you okay to walk, Ingrid? We need to leave with Emba now.”

  “Yeah, I’m all right,” I said. It was almost true, if you didn’t take into account my arms or my wrist . . . or my face. I glared over to where Aureliel sat hunched over, hands covering her face. It would be so easy to –

  “Hurry up!” I heard Emba call. I looked over and saw her standing with a worried Lesia. She held out the Therion Stone.

  “Come on, Loxley,” I said, grabbing her arm and moving forwards. I took a few steps, but my arm tugged backwards. “What are you . . .”

  I looked back, but Loxley wasn’t looking at me anymore. I followed her gaze to the marble throne, right where I had been glaring at a few moments ago. But Loxley wasn’t interested in Lady Aureliel – just the thing next to her.

  “The Orion Stone,” she muttered. She moved to go towards it, but I held fast to her arm.

  “No.” I looked up. Hints of orange pierced around finger gaps. “There’s no time. We need to go, Loxley.” The clamor of the room started shifting to calm.

  “But it’s right there,” she argued, taking in
a sharp breath. “I can get it.”

  “No!” I commanded, locking my fingers around her arm. She wheeled around on me, trying to pry my fingers off her. It was no use. Even in my wounded state, I held on like a vice. She looked up at me and into my eyes. I held her gaze, watching her face crumble into defeat.

  “You’re right,” she admitted, sending one last miserable glance at the keystone. “Let’s go.”

  We both sprang into action, heading for Emba and the stone that would get us out of here. I felt the rough rock under my fingertips, and I knew this was it. I looked at Lesia, and she tearfully smiled at me. We’d done it. We were going home together.

  The stardust shot into the air and I –

  I can’t breathe, I thought, panicked. My airway constricted. Something cold tightened around my throat. My vision started to fail – a swarm of dust, trees, and flicking pink light hazing together.

  “Ingrid!” Lesia called.

  “Release her, Farron!” Emba’s voice echoed in the strangest manner.

  A dark voice emerged, so close to me. “Give me the keystone.”

  “Never,” she replied, stern conviction in that single word.

  “Very well,” I heard. The pressure on my neck tightened, and the ground was gone. My feet dangled helplessly in the air, and I tried to let out futile protests.

  “No, stop!” Despite my hazy state, I could still hear the desperation in her voice. “This isn’t right! She’s – ”

  “Who are you, of all people, to talk about what’s right, Emba?” Farron interrupted her. The flesh under his hand began to tingle, almost like static. “Give me the stone.”

  “Please, Farron, Lugal Uturik – ”

  “Lugal Uturik is dead!” A searing hot pain ran along the skin of my neck. I knew I was screaming, but I couldn’t hear a single thing in the night. The burning in my neck stopped, only to be replaced by one in my chest. “The humans saw to that.”