Harwa
The wolf doesn't come back and we leave the forest, but a piece of me, my calmness, surety that I am safe remains there, and in it’s place, a strain of worry and fear blankets over me like an endless cover.
There was a reason the wolves were feared. They were brutal, merciless, and monstrous creatures of the night. They hunted my kind, and even after 300 years, the Starlight’s couldn’t find out why our deaths were so important to them.
It was passing first phase, and the moons were reddening as we arrived back at the city.
Hopping out of the car, I SEE it, like a vision that has dropped its walls, showing the living a glimpse of a dream world, blue eyes so real, cunning, yet, patient. But the growl, the sound echoing in my ear drums, vibrating through my skin startle me into a fall. My brother, agile, swift and strong grabs onto my waist, pulling me close to him until I regain my stance.
What was that? My brother’s worry is real as his words drift in my mind
I’m not sure, but I can feel its power. Whatever it is, it’s very strong
Do you think it could be the wolf? Or a memory of a tainted soul?
Those eyes were no wolf
Neither was that growl
Let's finish up here and head home. I tell him telepathically
Be careful sister, your soul is by far too precious to leave this Sphere.
I nod my head in silence, but my eyes deepen and my mouth tilts up in a caring smile when my brother takes a step in front of me.
We arrive at our station in the City of Una. It was the biggest city in the sphere. And also one of two places that served as the gateway to cross The Galactic bliss. The Galactic bliss or aka, The Galiss was divided into two parts, it was the only place up until this day that still had no gravity unless you touch the water, then the water would push you to the other side, like a wormhole would suck you in. The journey is a rough 10 minutes. The Galiss was an hours run from the City centre.
We only used it to visit the other side. But unlike the ones who made the trek to see their families, clans and lovers, I did not. The Starlights didn’t like being too far from their own, so where one stayed the others followed close.
“Harwa! What are the chances of seeing you here?” The vibrant voice has me turning around, and I feel my brothers complete lack of empathy for my current situation annoying at best as he leaves me.
The owner of the voice, is suited in a white and green robe, crusted with the symbol of a stone. His sharp jawline, light eyes and exquisite complexion, a common trait amongst his kind.
“Cal-men.” My irritation is obvious by the clench in my jaw, the grit between my teeth and the octave of my voice.
“I see you and Lang are doing quite well on your soldier adventures.” If that was meant as a question I wouldn’t know. My vanilla scents hits Cal-men’s nose and the way his neck extends enjoying the smell makes my Starlight eyes darken in disgust.
Cal-men had the eyes of a snake and the beauty of a dark haired fae, with light eyes and healthy glowing skin. I sometimes wondered what would have become of us if he chose monogamy, if he chose me? But he didn’t, he chose the life of a free one, which made me hate him, and pity him at the same time.
As a latent Starlight, I didn’t have the pressure of marrying one, because nobody wanted to have latent offspring, so it worked out well for me when it came to any romantic encounters. Well, kind of, sort of. Cal-men was my bad mistake. While I stalked him, and took two years to finally get his attention, our romance lasted only one. I stayed away from him as often as possible but every now and again when the moons favored him, I would ‘run into the fae,’ or so he would say.
Get rid of him before you engulf us with your scent, we don’t need any uninvited guest joining us tonight. My brothers voice in my head sounds like he might implode.
“We have things to do, I’LL see you around Cal-men.” I ignore his ‘wait up,’ and rush forward. Until I am side by side with my brother. Cal-men wouldn’t dare stepping too close to my brother for fear he might get incinerated for just breathing the same air as the rest of us.
“Where’s the Sprite?” I ask my brother as one of the humans walking buy clumsily falls to the ground. I lift her up and give her a nod as the girl says thank you.
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“Quinn took her in now, why?”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about her, but a dreamer is never good thing.” Those who could see things and know things were far and in-between. But when they did see stuff, or showed us it rubbed me the wrong way. As a Starlight it was not in our destiny to believe everything is written that there are those who belong to the knowing.
“Harwa, where did you disappear to? I was about to ask if you wanted to join us for the Cresten tomorrow?” Quinn asks as we walk to the entry of the Station we currently called our office.
The Station of Una was a building created out of light and diamonds, like most of the structures in Una. Sawan had seventeen cities. Nine of them on one side of the sphere, and eight on the other.
“I can’t, my mother is making me turn soil tomorrow. She’s still upset about the tree of Trial.” It was a partial mistake, but a massive inconvenience at best when I destroyed one of our rarest trees. The Starlight’s got energy from many different resources, but we got justice from only one, the tree of Trial.
To the human folk it was just a white oaked tree with purple and gold leaves.
The Starlights didn’t share their sentiment. The tree of Trial was the one thing which could prove one innocent. But again it only worked on the Angels and Ethereals. If one of us touched the tree it revealed our truth. If you lied, the tree would drop a thorn on you and that thorn would worm its way through your skin, causing you excruciating pain until it reached your brain, then it would force you to lose any sense of self in order to tell the truth. No one wanted that to happen, the recovery period was too long AND it drained you for years after.
“What happened anyway?” Quinn asks and Lang laughs as we all walk into the office building. The black metal floating lights and robotic cleaners gain my attention as I greet them. The fae and angels are next to see.
Copper, a fellow soldier drags a drunken Fae by his head. Copper had a swollen eye and blood gushing out of his shoulder.
Copper looks like he ran through a blender. I’ll see how he’s doing and meet you upstairs. Don’t forget to tell Quinn about the tree.
Liking him isn’t going to make him forget what you did to his sister
No, but it will make her forgive, sister My brother winks and I snort.
I’m the first one to step through the body. Markus, one of the newer soldiers greets me with a chin lift, as Lang and Quinn get through the scanner next. Lang walks over to Copper all smiles. It amazed me how a like we looked but acted so differently. My brother was the carefree kinder one. I was stubborn and known for my erratic manner.
Quinn and I fall in step as we head to the free faller. It was the fastest way to get to the top floor if you didn’t have a set of wings. I just hated what the wind did to my hair. Quinn surprises me when cloaks my head with an invisible shield as we jump. We are pushed up to the 223th floor in a matter of seconds by the force of the wind. My arms get chills as they remain stationery to the side and my feet tightly tucked together.
I role my shoulders back, welcoming the fresh air as I jump onto the hard floor.
“We have to wait until the meeting is done. Want a drink?” Quinn asks as he pulls his robe in place.
“Thanks for the pocket, at least I can have a meeting for a change without the bad hair day.” Quinn winks at me and my stomach tumbles at the memory of our kiss a year back. We haven’t spoken about it since the day after it happened. But then again we had nothing to talk about since I had the biggest crush on Maleal. Most of the people in the force knew about it, besides Maleal himself. I am not sure if he knew and chose to ignore my feelings for the sake of our friendship or the sake of not complicating his life.
“Tell me Harwa of the Spring Land, what made you get cursed with the turning of soil?” Quinn questions as he grabs us beers. Alcohol didn’t affect Runics like it did humans so we were allowed to drink on the job, it made our senses sharper. But we did have our own drinks which caused us to go into drunken stupor.
I groan at the mention of my parents ridiculous punishment, more so that I was 26 years of age and tomorrow while everyone enjoyed the Cresten Ceremony and parties I would be turning soil.
“Sally-Jane, Walang and I went to the bouncy inn, got drunk on Devine Spline, and decided to climb the trees, but none of the ones on the east front was enjoying our effort so we snuck into the secure section, jumped over the fences, lied to Druid when he caught us, then climbed the tree. I also spilled a lot of Devine Spline on it.”
Devine Spline was created using fae plants and magic. It was cheap and we drank it in batches. It also tasted like citrus fruit and quenched your thirst until it went to your brain.
He laughs, “TREE GOT DRUNK?”
I SNORT as I open my beer.
“Psst, no. Sally-Jane did, which led her to fall, Walang to drop her smoke in shock, which I caught by the way. I had to hang over the tree."
"Then what happened?"
"I, maybe, was playing with a lighter waiting for Sally-Jane to get up and I, maybe dropped the lighter.”
“Knowing Devine Spline is extremely flammable?”
“Yes, hence why I said, maybe.” I push his shoulder in a playful gesture.
“Miss me? Why are you two still out here?” Lang inquires as he walks closer to us, ruffling his hair. My brother had long hair as was the way of the Ethereals. Our hair was a part of our power source.
“The Devines COULD be busy with other matters?” I answer with a question.
My brother shakes his head, and walks toward the door. Quinn rushes to stop him but my brother as fast as always rushes into the room. I follow after Quinn, but not before putting my beer on the ground as my stomach sinks knowing this meeting was not going to pleasant.
The room has over twenty odd angels, mostly heads of our sectors. But I stop as my skin changes purple spotting Zarealius. One of the 6 heads of Sawan. He controlled the Northern Burgs. A level 12 Angel, and also the leader of the City of Una. So powerful, it was a wonder and honor he was here. But the Devine (as he insisted he be called) didn’t look too pleased for chit chat. There was an issue. And as I looked closer at the ones in the room, I couldn’t miss their anger, stress, anxiety, frustration.
There is too much darkness in this gathering sister. Prepare for anything.
Easy for you to say.
“What are your words Starlights of the Spring Land and Sprite of The Wind Seeker that you seek an audience without invitation?”
A strong voice comes from the back of the room making my ears twitch and my skin release a potent sense. I hated how I gave myself away, why couldn’t I control my emotions like my brother?