by A. B. Bloom
"I don't think so. She's challenged me to duel during Phys. Ed."
Lauren laughed. "A duel? How very exciting. Shame you aren't allowed to do it."
I grinned. "I may well make the exception today. She's looking rather fragile, I may be able to inflict some damage with a netball."
Celeste coughed and frowned in my direction.
"What?" I asked, as I sat down, and Lauren bent over to pick up her bag of crisps that mysteriously flew off her tray onto the floor.
Don't even think about it! You're supposed to be discreet. Celeste looked stern and I scrunched my face in response.
She's a bitch, she deserves a netball in the face. I thought back.
She coughed again as Lauren straightened up. And you are supposed to be the higher being, her words made me jump. I would never get used to hearing someone else's voice in my head.
Stop that. I thought back, vehemently, which made her smile. Lauren looked at us both, her expression blank.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Celeste and I answered at once. Lauren frowned but didn't push any further.
"So, where are Connor and Nick?" she asked, once she'd opened her crisps and shoved a generous handful into her mouth.
Celeste groaned. "They are off playing ‘who's got the bigger set of balls.’"
"What?" Lauren leaned forward to catch her words better.
"Don't worry," Celeste assured her. "They are just being typically male."
"Has this got anything to do with Bronte?" Lauren nudged me hard. "Told you." She gave me a pointed look down the end of her nose.
Celeste trilled a laugh. "Yes and no. Let's put it this way, there has always been rivalry between the two."
My ears picked up—this was interesting. "Why's that?" I asked.
Celeste toyed with the apple that she still hadn't taken a bite out of. "Well, they are very different. Connor is a loner, he's spent all his life waiting for the one thing he was told was coming, never knowing where it might be."
"And Nick?" I was on the edge of my seat.
Lauren slurped her carton of juice, her eyes flitting between us, as Celeste hid what she knew behind a guarded expression. "Well, Nick's always known what he wanted." Her lips pressed into a tight line and I knew she wouldn't give anything else. I would have to work on a plan of attack for later.
Connor didn't show up for lunch but I had the feeling he was around. Was it my imagination or was there a blue tint to the air over by the fire exit? I tried to blink and focus my awareness, but whatever block he had up was too strong for me to burrow through. When the bell sounded for the end of lunch, I bounded out of my seat. "Ready for some physical education?" I sung.
"There is no way you can do P.E." Lauren face said it all. "Your mum will kill you if you break another bone and you won't ever be able to leave the house again, not ever, not even to come to mine!"
"I won't! I will be careful. Come on, Lauren, it's been ages since we've had a laugh in the gym."
"You hate any physical exercise." She looked confused.
"True. But I love the thought of hitting Eleanor in the face with a ball even more, so let's go."
She groaned as Celeste stood by, watching everything play out. "Okay, but someone better check what's on the school menu tomorrow."
I laughed. "Come on." Linking my arm through hers, I turned her for the door leading to the gym.
The main problem to my gym attending agenda was that I no longer kept a gym kit in class. This was nothing that a rifle through lost property wouldn't sort out. Lauren had already headed to the gym, but Celeste was lingering at my side in bodyguard mode. She gave me a disparaging look as I pulled on the dusty black skirt and red T-shirt I'd managed to scavenge. "Seriously, you aren't going to put those on are you?" Her nose wrinkled and her top lip curled. The red T-shirt had a dubious stain down the front, which I was trying to ignore.
"It's either that, or my bra and pants." I waved the musty clothes in her direction.
"Or," she rolled her eyes like I was so incredibly stupid. "Or you can use the new skill you acquired this morning and create yourself a sparkling new gym kit. One that doesn't involve someone else’s long forgotten baggy lycra.”
"I don't have time for that! I've got to get out there and teach and Eleanor Heavers a lesson in manners." I gasped a breath. "And then I'll have to be on my way to learn all I can about star,s and some battle of the sky. All before darkness lasts for twenty four hours a day, and the human race spirals into some apocalyptic wasteland."
Celeste shook her head, her expression serious. "There is always time for new clothes. Here, shall I do it for you?" She held her hand out towards me. I was going to back away, but then my deadline seemed rather pressing, so I gave into her touch and closed my eyes.
"I'm not going to kiss you."
My eyes flew open. "Ugh, yeah. I know."
"Why do you have your eyes closed then? It's new clothes, not a make out."
I grimaced. "Nick healed my bleeding nose once and I shut my eyes."
"Because you wanted him to kiss you."
"Maybe." There was little point denying it.
"Anyway, you are all good to go," she said, removing her hand from my shoulder. I glanced down at my outfit.
My eyes bulged on stalks. "I can not go into gym wearing this!"
"What's wrong with it?" Celeste looked hurt. I bent down and inspected my legs.
"There is no skirt. Where is the skirt?" There was a wide stretchy belt which might have be seen by some as a skirt. But those people would hang out the back of a train station and charge for their services by the hour.
"You look fantastic, come on, let's play some . . ." She looked at me. "What's it called again?”
"Netball."
"Yes, that."
We swung through the doors, but that's as far as we got, because Connor grabbed me by the arms as soon as I stepped onto the squeaky floor of the gym. "Come with me." His voice was a harsh bark.
"Get your hands off me." I yanked away from him, spinning free of his grasp. One of my newly acquired sneakers stuck to the floor but I quickly righted myself. "What is your trauma? Seriously?"
The gym class huddled in the corner. They were watching Coach Rivers demonstrate a chest throw. She shot it like a cannon ball at her unwilling helper.
Surely they must be able to see him grab me?
He softened his stance and held his hand out for me. "Please, Bron. We have to go. He's here."
Ice froze through my veins. "Who's here?"
Celeste whirled around, her back touching against mine. Connor edged in front of me, one hand reaching backwards to connect with my arm. They were flanking me, willing to protect me against anything that came, even Connor, who hated me. Tears stung in my eyes, I wanted more than anything to fight for myself.
You can. Celeste soothed into my head. Instead of visualising new clothes, visualise being someone else. Visualise looking like someone else, until you feel like you could.
I shook my head—I didn't see how it was possible.
Just try. She sounded calm despite her body coiling like a spring behind mine.
Using every shred of control I could muster, which wasn't much, because I was shaking like a spring leaf in a brisk wind. I visualised being someone else. The only person who I could think of and I knew that well was Lauren. I focused until it felt like every molecule inside of me was melting and transforming.
Wow. Celeste sounded impressed, so god knows what I was doing. When I opened my eyes, I found Connor staring at me, his mouth agape. He gave me a small smile before leaping into action. "Follow me." He commanded.
I did, I didn't even hesitate. I didn't want to die in the school gym. I didn't want Celeste or Connor to die trying to defend me; I was under no doubt they would if it meant I could survive. I was their destiny at any cost—that much was becoming crystal clear.Glancing down at my body I almost died of shock, when my gaze fell on Lauren's ample chest ins
tead of my slight frame. Shit. I'd actually done it. I’d used a glamour to become something else.
My head reeled as I let Connor grab my hand and guide me towards the doors. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lauren lift her head. She'd been inspecting her nails instead of watching Coach Rivers demonstration. Her eyes widened and her face went deathly pale.
"Crap." Celeste muttered under her breath.
"Don't worry, we can fix it later," Connor rushed his words as he pushed me through the door. Both of them flanked me tightly. His blue energy was vibrant and alert. It peaked and troughed as it sensed the threats around us. But it paled into insignificance when Nick's violet hue filled my vision. He's here. My heart kicked up a notch and I thought over the pounding in my ears. I heard Connor sigh. Nick stood in the reception area, his gaze intent on the people in front of him. His head turned towards me, and his lips curved into a smile, before resetting in their familiar firm line. He knew it was me, he could recognise me even when I didn't look like me. What did that mean?
Aaron caught my attention. He was talking through the glass partition of the office. Mrs Herd was waving her arms in animation at him, her bingo wings jiggling as she tried to explain something.
"Aaron?" I spoke automatically before realising my mistake.
He turned, his eyes narrowing. "Lauren? What are you doing here?"
"Uh," I scrambled, "I was in gym and had a headache. I needed to ask for some pain killers." His eyes stayed focused on me so I assumed the other's had concealed themselves.
Aaron took a step towards me, and Nick reached out. I frowned at him and shook my head. "Have you seen Bronte? I didn't see her this morning and I'm worried about her."
A pang of guilt shot through me. It seemed to be becoming a familiar sensation. "She's fine." I frowned but played the guilt card even though it hurt to say it. "Aaron, I think she'd be upset if she thought you were checking up on her."
"We're just worried." He rubbed a hand along his jaw.
"I know that, you know that, but she wants to get on with life." I may have taken this statement a step too far, because Aaron narrowed his eyes, his expression thoughtful as he mulled over my words.
"So I should just go home and ignore that I don't think she slept at home last night?"
Celeste stiffened at my side and I offered a nervous laugh. "Of course she did, where else would she be?"
"Well, she wasn't there this morning."
I smoothed Lauren's face into a confident grin. "I know, we had pancakes at mine before hitting the library early."
Aaron raised his eyebrows. "You went to the library in the dark?"
I gasped. "What did Bronte tell you? I will kill her!" Aaron laughed and relaxed.
"Okay, don't tell her you saw me."
I winked. "Your secret is safe with me."
Aaron peered at me a little closer. "Good." And with that, he waved to Mrs Herd and walked out into the dim light through the door. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and went to talk to Celeste before remembering that no one else could see her.
Mrs Herd waved me over. "Lauren, dear, did you need a paracetamol?"
I wondered what she was talking about until Celeste nudged me hard in the ribs. "Oh, you know, it's funny, I'm feeling much better."
"Hm." Mrs Herd pushed her glasses back up her nose. "Funny that, go back to gym please, Lauren."
"Yes, Miss." I turned for gym but Nick who had followed Aaron outside was back in front of me in a flash.
"No," he exclaimed, his voice hard. "You are with me."
"Hold on." Connor grabbed hold of my arm, his fingers biting into my skin, but Nick stepped up close.
"Not this time, Connor." His voice was as tight as a violin string. He placed a hand on my shoulder and a soothing rush melted along my skin. I could feel myself breathing deeply. My lungs grabbing at air, although it didn't feel like any of the oxygen was reaching my brain. "No one can see you, Bron. Come with me." He coaxed me forward and Celeste let me go but Connor kept his hand tight on my arm.
"No," he growled.
"Please?" I wondered why Nick sounded like he was begging. "Just let me have five minutes with her.”
"No," Connor repeated. His hand tighter.
"Okay, gentlemen, let's just cool it down." Celeste tried to wedge herself between them but they were practically chest to chest. Nick loomed over Connor's shorter but more powerful frame.
Connor tore burning blue eyes onto Celeste. "Why should he get to be with her when he hasn't been waiting for thousands of years?"
Nick hissed and the ferocious power behind the guttural response made my ears ache. He removed his hand from my shoulder and I instantly felt exposed. My Lauren glamour slipped just as the girl herself came screeching down the hallway. "Hell, Bron, there you are." She skidded to a halt and stared at the battle of wills Connor and Nick were embroiled in. "What's going on?" She stared wildly around and I could hear Celeste muttering under her breath.
"Ahhh, here is the mortal friend, ready to watch me kick the boy here's pretty arse." Connor smiled a wicked grin.
I grabbed onto Lauren's arm. I had a very bad feeling about this. The hallway pulsed with a violet light. It would have blinded my eyes if I hadn't known it was Nick and known in my soul that the light was beautiful and safe.
"Holy shit," Lauren exclaimed. She turned both her hands grabbing me tight. "Bron?"
"It's okay," I assured her although I couldn't be sure it was.
"Girls." Celeste's voice cut through my panic. "You'd better run."
"What? Why?" I spun and tried to find her, but Connor's blue was clashing with Nick's violet, making a spectrum of colour that didn't exist. It blinded like the sun on a white washed beach, and my eyes stung from the intensity.
Celeste grinned like she was ringside at a big match. "Because there's about to be a showdown that's been sixteen years in the making."
I grabbed Lauren's hand, linking my fingers through hers and ran for the doors. I wasn't sure where the threat was greater. The hunter who was at the school, or Nick and Connor combusting into a firework show in the lobby. A deafening crash echoed, like the fall of thousands of panes of broken glass, and I knew I'd be better off taking on the hunter.
What was this all about? My head spun as I ran for the cover of a parked Volvo in the car park. Celeste would be out soon; I took comfort from this fact as my head whirled and my pulse raced. I knew she wouldn't leave me unprotected for too long. Lauren and I slid onto to the pavement, both of us panting with the exertion of running—not a natural ability either of us possessed. Although I think my breathing was more shock induced than physical.
What was this all about? Connor thought I was his. This much he'd told me. Nick had never made so much of a claim, sure he'd kissed me but that was it. Why then, when he begged to see me, did it sound like he couldn't survive unless he got what he needed?
"What on earth, Bron?" Lauren looked wild—her hair stuck to her face, bright pink spots flushed her cheeks.
"It's nothing to worry about." I glanced at the school, half expecting to see a mushroom of colour blast through the top of the building, like a nuclear cloud.
"Nothing to worry about?" she panted. "Nick and Connor just exploded into colour."
My weight wobbled on my heels as I crouched behind the car. I made eye contact with her. I wanted her to know the truth but I didn't want her in harm's way. If I knew how to glamour properly, I could have distorted her memories, but I didn't have that control, hell, I had no control. "They are Stars," I blurted.
She looked at me shrewdly, I was expecting a jaw drop moment but it failed to arrive. "What are you?"
"Pardon?"
"What are you?" She leaned forward. "If they are Stars then what does that make you? Because just in case you think I'm stupid, I know you aren't the same person I've been best friends with forever."
"I am." My eyes stung and my attention focused solely on Lauren, all thoughts about the smack down inside the buil
ding forgotten.
"Well, up to thirty seconds ago I would have gone with Vampire. It was the only explanation I could come up with. I thought maybe you'd fallen sucker for a brooding stranger like in The Vampire Diaries."
I laughed. "I'm not a vampire."
"And?" she prompted.
"I'm a half born, half a star."
"Half born?" she raised both her eyebrows so they disappeared into her hairline. "That sounds rather derogatory."
'Thank you! That's what I said."
She peered at me closer. "You are still you, though, right?"
"Of course." I smiled at her, hoping I didn't look too deranged. "I can tell you more later, well, the little I know." My eyes flashed to the school where the fire alarm wailed, splitting the air with it's deafening scream. Celeste strode out of the building like she was walking out a saloon in a Western.
"Apparently there's been an electrical fire," she said, hands on her hips.
I shook my head. "I've told her. I'm sorry, I know I'm breaking a code or something but I can't lie."
Celeste's rolled her eyes. "You are so predictable."
"I'm sorry." I muttered.
"So what's happening now?" Lauren peered at the school. Kids were streaming out through the doors, no one was sticking to the fire drill procedures, and there wasn't a sign of Nick or Connor. My stomach clenched and my muscles coiled ready to make a move to go and find them.
"Well, right now, Nick and Connor are discussing some ongoing issues. Then all will be dandy." Celeste inspected the lengths of her hair like this was the perfect opportunity to check for split ends. I straightened my legs and made to go back to the school.
Celeste's arm shot out. "Oh no, you have to stay here."
I frowned but crouched back down again. "What's this about, Celeste?"
She thought for a moment, her focus far away. "I'm not supposed to say anything."
"Why?" I leaned in closer. A shattering crash echoed through the air. The way things were going there wouldn't be any school left. I shrugged to myself—the thought wasn't all bad. If Nick and Connor could take down the gym, I reckon that would be a good afternoon’s work.