Starbright: The Complete Series

by Hilary Thompson

  She’s ready, I think, and a vision suddenly manifests itself in my mind. Trea, hovering before a crowd just like this, in a place so beautiful and perfect it could only be the Garden.

  Except in my mind, when Trea opens her mouth, words do not spill out – darkness does.

  I gasp and slam back into reality, realizing I’ve already missed Isa’s introduction. Trea is glaring at her friend, and I wonder what I didn’t hear.

  Trea squares her shoulders and grasps the sides of the podium, scanning the crowd. Her eyes find mine, and she nods. I grin, just enough to let her know I’m here, but I trust she can do it.

  Her shoulders rise and fall with a deep breath.

  “People of Asphodel, of Tartarus, and of Elysium. People of our scattered Tribes – Kedesh, Hebron, and those who came alone. What Leader Isa said is partially true. I spent a long time avoiding my destiny. I waited underground here in Asphodel, buried in rage and indecision. When it became an issue of leaving or risking death by Keirna’s hand, I fled. My Balance was broken, because I put myself above others. But it was what needed to be done to find my true strength. Just as I promised my father – I left, but I have grown in strength, and I have returned. Leading you to the Garden, along with Lexan, Zarea, and Irana – this is the destiny I have risen to fulfill.”

  She pauses to look around the audience, and they are quiet at first, but then a few begin clapping, and then more join. The air is vibrating with the positive energy of hope, and Trea grins.

  The day may be freezing and overcast, but to me, her smile looks like the sun, broken free from every cloud.

  She holds her hand up for silence. “I promise I will never tell you who to pray to, or who to marry, or what to wear. I’ll never claim to be in charge of your destiny – only you are in charge of your own destiny. Together with the council you have already created, as well as everyone listening now, and those we find on the remainder of the journey – together we will work to create a community of equality. Together we will form fair laws, distribute justice evenly, and establish lasting peace.”

  A great cheer surges through the crowd, but it’s no match for the pride I feel watching this beautiful girl – a young woman, now – and knowing that in the end, she did choose me. After everything, she is mine and I am hers.

  Trea steps down and I see her trying to make her way toward me, but the crowd pushes in on her again and again. Everyone wants to shake her hand, or brush her arm, or catch her in an embrace. Finally we both stop pushing against the people and just wait for them to take what they need.

  I see Brenn muscle his way to the front and grab her in a hug which squeezes tears from her eyes and laughter from her lips. Our eyes connect briefly over the crowd, and her eyes show confidence that we will be together again soon, then she turns away to shake another hand.

  THIRTY-SIX

  ASTREA

  October 1, 2067

  The newsies are all crying the same story today – so loudly that we can even hear them at our house.

  The rebels started more fires, and those fires are spreading.

  Everywhere out west is burning, and soon there will be nothing left but scorched black earth. The fires might even be strong enough to reach us, here in the middle of the land.

  The sisters tell me each night not to worry, that I won’t be here when the fires come.

  I’ll be waiting at the edge of the earth, watching the ocean instead.

  From Aisa’s personal journal, saved from before the Cleansing

  Nothing is normal, but we manage better each day.

  “The census is complete for every group now,” Seren reports to me as I enter the council room. I merely nod – these proceedings don’t interest me at all.

  “What about the training?” I ask Stian, who is eating his breakfast at the large table, and getting glares from some of the others for it.

  “Most of the Elysians are hopeless,” he says around a huge mouthful. Brenn has told me as much too.

  “Our heightened intelligence is our weapon,” Tariel snipes back. For some reason, none of the Three Sisters were among the representatives elected for Elysium. None of them seemed surprised or upset, either, and although they were once a daily fixture in my life, I rarely see any of them.

  Even the Prophet seldom comes in the council room, spending much of his time in Head Minister Saloman’s study, reading every book or paper he can find.

  “Any word from Zarea?” I ask Stian, but he only scowls an answer. She left almost as soon as we arrived, and she’s been gone for days at a time since then, only returning for a night here and there.

  She hunts the Lost, protecting our bloated settlement.

  “Are you coming?” Stian asks me as he stands to head for the training room.

  “Of course.”

  Lexan enters the room as I’m exiting, and I pause to give him a quick hug. He tries to kiss my cheek, but I duck away, conscious of the people watching.

  “See you at lunch?” he asks, and I nod, smiling an apology. He knows I can’t sit in the council room for more than a few minutes without getting antsy. It’s just like school all over again.

  So instead Stian and I spend the mornings teaching small groups of beginners to wield blunt knives and string pretend arrows. Most of them will never be fighters, but since the Lost found Asphodel, we have yielded a dozen or so good people to their bloodthirsty ways.

  Only the best fighters are allowed to stay in the meadow buildings now, headed by Brenn and several other protectors. The heavy snow and harsh temperatures have driven almost everyone inside anyways.

  Asphodel itself is excruciatingly crowded.

  “Have you and Lexan thought about the Garden designs much?” Stian asks as we make our way back to the Common Area to pick up our lunchtime rations.

  I shrug. “I like my ideas, but I honestly don’t even care at this point. There are too many opinions, and nobody even knows what we’ll be up against. It’s pointless, really.”

  “Yeah, but it gives people hope to have a plan.”

  I glance over at him. He’s really grown up since taking charge of Hebron. Leadership definitely suits him.

  “Zarea’s an idiot, you know,” I grin up at him. “Maybe when we get the Garden built you can get her to settle down.”

  “I hope so,” he says, his voice too quiet as he turns away. “I hope so, Tre.”

  I spot Lexan sitting at the edge of a table, a seat across from him saved for me.

  “Are you okay?” he asks as I slide my plate onto the table.

  “Yeah. Just tired of this waiting. I feel like I’ve been waiting and training and following my path forever. I just want all of this to be finished,” I say.

  “What do you want to do when it’s finished?” he asks, his tone trying to be light. I see the hope in his eyes, though, and a flicker of panic shoots through my chest.

  I can’t promise him anything – Hade warns me nearly every night in my dreams that I’ll have to choose. Between what, I don’t know: I can never quite hear him when he explains my choices.

  “Trea?” Lexan prompts, and I realize I still haven’t answered.

  “Sorry, just preoccupied. Have you been to see Aitan today?” I ask, changing the topic.

  He scowls. “Yes. He’s not any different.”

  Meaning he still won’t come out of the cell, although the door has been wide open for weeks. Pacem stays near him, and now Irana and several other groups of people have crowded in, making use of every bit of space.

  “Will we have to force him to leave with us?” I wonder.

  Lexan’s scowl deepens, and now I feel bad for even bringing it up. We eat in silence for several minutes, and I dream of spring. Everything will be better when the air is warm again. It has to be.

  “I think the council will choose your idea for the Garden today,” Lexan says finally, scraping the last bite of food into his mouth. He glances at my plate, and I slide it over to him. None of us have enough food
in our bellies now, but I’m too agitated to enjoy any of it.

  “I don’t care what they pick,” I say for the second time today. “Any decision will be good. You know, at least when Keirna was in charge, stuff got done. Now we have to argue over every miniscule detail.” I sigh, already tired before the meeting even begins.

  We stand and dispose of our plates, then make our way toward the council room.

  Someone calls my name, and I turn back.

  Hesten weaves through the crowd, tugging Kesh behind her. She is beaming, and her cheeks are flushed. “I’m so happy I saw you!” she says, embracing me. “I have news – we have news! Kesh and I decided we’re ready to marry!” Her eyes are sparkling with so much happiness, it’s contagious.

  “That’s wonderful!” I say, squeezing her hands.

  “When does Asphodel hold weddings?” Kesh asks. “In Elysium, we always wait for a full moon. But I’m so disoriented down here,” he laughs.

  “The Partnering Ceremony is held in March – the twentieth,” Lexan says, glancing at me. It’s the day after Choosing Day. The day after my birthday.

  And now the day after Mother’s death.

  Too many different emotions buffet me like waves, and I feel my excitement for Hesten and Kesh being eroded like sand on a stormy beach. I feel Lexan’s hand grasping my elbow, his fingers sliding down toward my wrist, and I have to resist the urge to jerk away.

  “That’s only a month away! We should have a joint ceremony!” Hesten gushes, and I snap my eyes to hers.

  “What?” Surely she isn’t suggesting…

  “Like with anyone in the whole city who was thinking of getting married. We can have a big wedding party before everyone leaves for the Garden!”

  Kesh hugs her tight, grinning. “That’s such a cool idea, Hes. A celebration of the good things in life.”

  Lexan is smiling at the two of them, something I can’t quite identify hooding his eyes. He nods. “I’ll ask the council. I think it’s a great idea,” he says. “Congratulations again. We really should be going, though.”

  They nod and hurry away, calling someone else’s name. Lexan and I resume our path in silence.

  I almost screw up the courage to ask him what he’s thinking about when we round the corner, and shouting and words of disagreement and derision pour from the council room.

  I sigh. “Well, here we go.”

  We enter the room and take our places. The afternoon plods along as the council hears as many different Garden plans as there are people in the room.

  Lexan is as patient as I’m apathetic, though, and eventually he coaxes the group into agreeing on three plans.

  “We can have Pacem draw up the plans, then hang them in the Common Area for the people to study,” he suggests. “After a few days, we can allow them each one vote. We have the census forms, after all.”

  The group descends into a discussion of who will be allowed to vote, and I allow myself to dream again of spring.

  Zarea makes it back to Asphodel just in time for the vote. The three plans have been hanging in the Common Area for three days, along with a proclamation of the mass wedding, which I think people are even more excited about.

  The voting takes all afternoon to complete, and half the night to count.

  “Welcome, everyone,” Lexan addresses the waiting people first thing in the morning. “You have decided on a plan. It was not unanimous,” he grins, “but a clear majority has chosen Plan A, created by Astrea of Asphodel. When we reach the Garden, our city will be designed in four quadrants – one for each of the four main elements. A center circle will be reserved for public gatherings such as this one. Each individual will be allowed to choose the quadrant he or she wishes to live in, and there is to be no competition or penalty for changing quadrants at any time.”

  The crowd claps here, and I feel a sweet satisfaction in my chest. I don’t think anyone really cares about the quadrants. I think my plan won because of its attention to choice.

  “In addition,” Lexan continues, “the council has discussed the eventual addition that after safety has been achieved and the eclipse has passed, groups and individuals will again be allowed to venture into the wilderness to form other communities.”

  A group from Hebron whoops here, and I see Stian bend his head to Zarea’s, whispering in her ear. A grin spreads over her face.

  “Now we have a report on the weather and the elements,” Lexan says, stepping away from the podium. He holds his hand down to Zarea, and she climbs the steps.

  “I’ve been gone nearly two weeks, as many of you know. In that time, I’ve killed seventeen Lost. I don’t know how many more are out there, but you must all be vigilant in your training. Once we leave the safety of this cave, I cannot protect you all.” She glares out over the crowd, and I see some of them flush, while others glare back.

  Many of the people resent the way she pushes them, but I’m glad she’s courageous enough to do it. I hope they never have to test their fighting skills, but reality does not pander to hope.

  “The elements are still at war with us, as well. I have followed a snowstorm here, and often the snow has been as deep as my own height. Even now, the door to the outside is blocked. I suggest we try to clear a path every day for hunters, and to keep a possible escape route open.”

  The people break into low conversation, and I look to Lexan, who is frowning slightly. I wish Zarea hadn’t brought up so many negative thoughts to overshadow our positive announcement.

  I stand and clamber up the steps to the podium. “I’ll volunteer to clear the path. I can melt the snow, and if the Lost come near me, I’ll burn them right back!”

  A ripple of laughter spreads through the crowd, and I feel their tension lessen. Zarea rolls her eyes at me, but doesn’t push the issue. She only nods, and gets out of the way for another Leader to grab the podium and give us updates on how little food we have.

  The people begin to wander away in clumps of twos and threes as the speakers deliver mundane news.

  “So when do you want to start on the snow?” Zarea says, coming up behind me.

  “Is it really that bad?” I ask, eying her.

  She leans in, her voice low. “Look, a few nights ago I watched the Lost one night. They circled a family of deer, forcing them bit by bit into a cave, and then they set fire to the opening. They watched from the trees while their dinner was burned alive. So yeah, it really is that bad. As soon as they find us, they’ll use the same technique to either smoke us out, or burn us in our own hideout.”

  Stian steps up behind her. “I need to keep training the people, but maybe I can pull together a full round-clock watch.”

  “That’s probably a good idea,” I agree. “Especially if I’m going to start clearing paths, any Lost who come near would know there are people inside. It would be easy for them to find us. Want to come with me?” I ask Zarea, and she grins.

  Stian sighs, but she shrugs at him. “I hate this cave, you know that,” she says, turning to go with me. I spot Lexan in the crowd and give him a half wave. He returns a half smile, and it’s my turn to sigh.

  “Trouble with your endless love?” Zarea asks as we make our way through the Leadership Complex. I stop in the council room, where I store my thick coat.

  “Why did you tell Stian you wouldn’t marry him?” I ask, surprising both of us with my blunt question.

  She stays silent as we wind through the halls, and when we open the gate and follow the concrete steps into the white-covered world.

  The snow is indeed taller than me. It spills onto the steps like rubble from a white mountain. I draw flames, and sigh when I realize how slow it’s going to be.

  “Marriage is just…permanent,” Zarea says in a soft voice beside me. I glance at her, amazed she’s answering my question, but hoping she’ll go on. “I guess I don’t feel comfortable pledging my life, when I don’t believe it’s my life.”

  “What do you mean?” I feel the same way, but I want to hear
her say it.

  “I owe my life to the people. That’s how Abraham raised me – and evidently Thema wanted the same. So I have to protect them. Not just Hebron – now, I have all of these crazies.” She gestures back toward the cave, and I snort a laugh.

  “We don’t get forever,” I say softly.

  “Of course, Stian always says we should take advantage of whatever time we’re given,” she answers. I blink, but decide not to point out that Stian also used that line on me.

  “So why don’t you partner with him at the ceremony?” I ask instead, giving her a sly smile.

  “Eh. If I decide to settle down and give Stian what he wants, I don’t need to make a public proclamation about it. We’ll just slip off into the night once the Garden is complete.” She gazes into the distance, her mind even farther than the clouds above, which are still sifting snow down on us like fine sugar.

  I kick at the snowbank in front of me. I’ve made a dent, but the air around is just so cold that it seems to be draining my power faster than normal. I’m shivering, even in my heavy winter gear. “I should just shovel this Styx out of the way. It would go just as fast, and keep me warmer.”

  Zarea nods. “I was thinking the same thing. I told them to make more shovels. Maybe we can put some more of those crazies to work, instead of letting them sit around and gossip and get fat on what little food is left.”

  She leaves and I turn back to the snow. The places where I’ve burned are slick and hard, like ice – the flakes aren’t really even melting so much as compressing into walls of ice. Swirls of steam rise from them, a milky counterpart to the tendrils of darkness that still twist around my heart every time I’m alone.

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  LEXAN

  October 12, 2067

  I’m in shock. Mother has finally, inexplicably, begun to train me again.

  I begged her for months to show me what she knows about medicine and science, but she always claimed it would be too dangerous for me to know. Like I might run out of the house to help someone and get killed. Of course, I’ve kept up my studies as much as possible anyways, in between learning the zodiac books from