#chapter snippet

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

Chapter 40 SUPER ROUGH SNIPPET

disclaimer: this is in the early rough stages so a lot of things are missing! But enjoy!

“You know for someone who claimed he had no time to spare for picking up his shipments, he sure is moving leisurely now, isn’t he?” Cepheus commented as the pair watched the group of nobles and servants come to what must’ve been their fifth stop near a glowing wallflower bush.

“That’s just the way people with power work,” Asha murmured as she sighed. 

“Or people who have more scents than sense, which full offense seems to be a running trend amongst your nobles.”

“Not all of them,” Asha argued back. “Some of them were and are quite reasonable when you get to know them. It’s just the bad ones who tend to have the furthest reach…”

“I take it that he’s one of the bad ones?’ Cepheus asked.

“He’s…well…he’s never been particularly kind to me,” she confessed. “Before I met you he scolded me for suggesting that something was going on with the forest. He rushed me when I tried to tell anyone else, and he’s always had this habit of making me feel…really small.” she confessed as the nobleman in question handed Lady Camille another flower before laughing. “It’s strange seeing him be nice to anyone-,”

“Hmm”

“What? What are you thinking?”

“Nothing really other than the fact that from what you’re telling me, he may be one of the most backstabbing, two-faced, air-wasting, disgusting, self-centered, heartless, inconsiderate bastards I’ve ever heard of!” the star smiled. “I’m impressed!”

“What?! What is there to be impressed about?”

 “I mean, all in all I know some bad, even terrible people to! So that’s something coming from me!”

“Terrible?” Asha frowned. Why would a wishing star know so many terrible people? Hadn’t he said that she was his first wisher? Granted she knew that there were apparently other people in space, but still. Why was the star keeping questionable company?

It was one thing for her grandfather to keep it but for the star-

Should she even be trusting him?

No, Cepheus was her friend! He had just saved her life. If she couldn’t trust him then, who could she trust?

“Yeah, what? Don’t tell me that you haven’t come across your fair share of terrible people. In terms of terrible nobles, where would you rank this guy?”

“I…I don’t know…I..I try not to think about him, more than I have to.”

“I see…”

“Asha, can I talk to you about something?”

“What is it?”

“Earlier you asked me whether I had stories about regular people doing regular things…Did my stories make you…uncomfortable?”

“No, of course not! It’s just that…” she paused, shaking her head as she looked down. “You’re probably tired of hearing it over and over. I’m sorry.”

“No, Asha, you’ve been burying these feelings deep within you for so many years. You can’t keep doing that forever, at some point in time you have to let it out. If not for me, then at least for yourself. Please Asha, let me help you.”

He was begging now. Something that shouldn’t have bothered her as much as it did.But As much as she hated to admit it, there was some truth to his words.

She bit her lip, slowly tugging at her braids as she hurriedly confessed,  “You see it’s one thing hearing those stories as myths and whatnot,” she cautiously began as she kept her eyes focused on her feet. “Because they don’t feel real, but then, it’s another to know that it’s real and that things like that can really happen…that legacies like this do and can exist and that they can result in wonderful things for some people.”

When he didn’t speak, she continued, feeling a bit braver than before as her face burned. “I know I’m being petulant. But… it’s just so hard living in a world where some people are blessed to worry about the after of achieving their dreams…when you can’t even be good enough to have them…”

“You think it’s petulant to be angry that life hasn’t dealt you a fair hand?”

She bowed her head as she brushed away a few stray tears. “No it’s just that!” she took a deep breath. “I…I know I should be stronger about it, I mean I live in a kingdom whose motto is to make impossibilities reality! And it’s true. Not a lot of kingdoms would have a prince who falls for a cook, or peasants who just so happen to be born with wonderful powers, but mine does.So, when I met with the king’s advisors turned my proposal down because the number of people like me…is statistically insignificant.”

She sniffled, as more tears seemed to escape her. “I only asked the question I did because I just hoped that being from a world of immortals, that maybe…just maybe you guys might see me differently. That me being in your world might be different, but I’m not sure.”

“What kind of legacy am I going to leave behind Cepheus? I’ve nearly died twice today! And my father…” she shook her head. “there’s nothing left for me in this world…”

“Then come to mine.”

“What?” 

“If this world never appreciated you, then maybe it never deserved you to begin with.”

“Deserved me?” she laughed as she shook her head. “Isn’t that a pretentious assumption?”

“Is assuming that everyone is entitled to basic decency a pretentious assumption?”

“Well no-,”

“I admit I don’t know anything about humans, but even I can see that what that man, your father’s supposed best friend is doing to you isn’t right.” the star quickly added as she cringed. “Do you really think if he cared for you or if that he was a good man that you’d be begging me to erase your very existence? Or you’d be saying that if you died no one would miss you? Asha that’s not right-,”

“But it’s just the way things are,” she sniffled. “In your stories and real life. No one ever cares for the little people like me.”

“I do!” he retorted. “I care for you and if you let me I could show you just how wonderful you are!”

“Wonderful,” she whispered, before looking away. “Am I really wonderful?”

“You are to me.”

She scoffed, weakly staring at the sky. “Why do you care so much for me anyway?” 

“It’s because we’re friends silly,” he smiled, repeating her words. “And this is what friends do for each other, right? They help each other out!”

“I know…” she sadly nodded, unable to understand the strange disappointment filling her at his words. She took a steadying breath, as she whispered.  “But what if I disappoint you and the other stars? Everything will be the same, just like how it is on earth and in those stories -,”

“Not this one…please, Asha. Not every story ends this way. Yours doesn’t…”So many don’t. And not many are as glamorous or as happy as everyone makes it seem.”

“What do you mean?”

“Twins have always been seen as a special things amongst stars, some even consider a blessing of sorts.. It was the reason why, when even after Betelguese had broken off his arrangement, that most of the crimson ones resented Deneb and her children for it. They thought it was an insult from fate itself.”

“Maybe they were onto something,” Asha replied. “Every time she opposed them things always worked out for her in the end so-,”

“Well yes but things weren’t that simple. You see after Rigil and Sirius had been born, Alhena had twins… Polaris and Cassiopeia but the process had been so grueling that she died shortly after they were born.”

Asha paused. There had to have been some irony interwoven into the story of an ambitious star who, when on the verge of finally ascending had only fallen victim to the circumstances she’d so desperately sought. It had been a story she’d seen and heard countless times on earth before. It was only strange to hear a star falling to it as well.

“A lot of stars suspected her death to be of foul play, as Deneb was no stranger to placing spies or even assassins within her enemy’s courts, and given how rumors of the midwife’s incompetency and strange methods ran rampant at the time, most suspected that she’d tried to kill Betelguese’s children.”

“Did she?” Asha whispered. “Would she really kill little stars like that?”

“I don’t know…I don’t think anyone ever discovered the truth…the midwife didn’t last long after that… but the repercussions were severe. Both Sirius and Rigel’s childhoods were fraught with danger…”

[tayraedoll]

WIP Wednesday Thursday

I was hoping to get the bonus chapter of Old Man done tonight since I am going out of town for a family Christmas celebration this weekend and won't be able to write much. Alas, life had other plans so it will be a bit longer before this project is completed. For now, I leave you with this sneak peek to the final chapter of this fic.

18+ MDNI

His hand came up to cup your jaw, holding your face still as he began rubbing his cheeks against yours. "Hmm, I wouldn't stray too far if I were you. I don't want you to catch a cold", as if on cue, a cool breeze blew by which caused his still-potent buck pheromones to swirl around you. You felt your body relax, wanting to let your mate take control; but you shook your head in an attempt to clear it, you may have been caught but you could still avoid making this easy for the stag. Alastor narrowed his eyes as he watched you struggle to fight off your biological instincts. He pressed his body to yours, you could feel every muscle quiver with the force he was restraining himself with. You smiled, perhaps you could get him to lose control first.

Leaning up on the very tips of your toes, you wrapped your arms around his neck and ran your nose up the column of his throat and jawline. He shivered at the soft caress, his claws digging into the bark of the tree behind you. You kept running your nose slowly across his sensitive skin while you unbuttoned his shirt, listening to his breath hitch with every swipe across his pulse point. "I won't venture too far into the forest. It would be a shame if I ran into some other buck all alone out here", with that you bit down hard on the juncture of his neck and shoulder, tasting his blood on your tongue.

His viscous snarl reverberated off your very bones; before you could even comprehend the movement you were flying through the air before bouncing onto your shared bed. Alastor stepped out of the shadow portal he had thrown you through and loomed over your smaller frame. His knees forced your legs apart as one hand curled around your throat, applying just enough pressure to reduce your breathing to small pants.

"Is that what you think of while I'm fucking you? Imagining it is some other buck's cock bruising your cervix? You are MINE in EVERY way possible! But if you truly require a demonstration of ownership, I will happily oblige, Ma Biche."

[xxpeppermintxx109]

Hii, Mint 🥰 how are you? Just saw your ask about the brooch/earring swap. And wanted to ask if you'd be sharing a snippet of ch 41 at some point? 👉🏻👈🏻 Totally fine if not of course

Hi hi friend!!

I’ll share one rn🥰

“People speak as if it was you who nearly killed my nephew, princess,” Gwayne said, sharpening his blade with a whetstone. It was the only thing he could do right now. The only thing that kept his mind from wandering back to the image of men turning to ash and liquid. If he kept sharpening or cleaning his sword, maybe he could forget.

And the young Princess Shaera Velaryon-Martell was not terrible company, at least in comparison to the men around them. Gwayne preferred her, really. She looked like his sister.

(And he dared not think of what that meant for the rumors of his nephew courting her. Surely, Aemond did not have interest in her in such a way? Pious lad he once was.)

“People meaning my uncle?” she asked, refusing still to meet Gwayne’s eyes. He did not blame her. She was the one chained to a post each day they made camp. He was the one who sometimes had to lead her along from the back of his horse. Criston demanded it, and who was Gwayne to defy the Lord Hand?

Gwayne smirked at the bite that she managed to carry despite her clear exhaustion. “Yes, he is one such person.”

“I wish it had been him, instead,” she muttered, curling into herself, away from those who walked past. “I do regret it, if only slightly, ser. Daeron had been friends with Jace when they were babes.”

Gwayne stopped sharpening his sword, and he glanced up at Shaera, and a frown made its way to his lips. Rare was it for him to hear someone speak with true remorse and regret, if it only was ever so slight as she claimed. He wasn’t sure what to feel, if he was completely honest. Anger at her admission that she truly had been the one to harm Daeron and Tessarion. Rage for the harm she brought to his childhood home. Despair, perhaps, for a young woman driven to violence.

(Empathy, because he knew all too well what it meant to harm for the sake of family.)

Gwayne swallowed thickly, and he twisted his sword back and forth in his hands. A sword he hardly even used in this last battle—if one could call it that. This was no war of men and steel and horses, but of fire and ash and dragons. How woefully unprepared were they all for that which they were now thrust into.

“Do you miss your husband?” he asked after a long silence.

Only then did Shaera turn to him, her dark eyes nearly black with exhaustion, and there was a pallor to her face that promised only sickness. It made Gwayne hope they could return to King’s Landing swifter, if only so they were not responsible for the Princess of Dorne’s death.

“Almost as much as I miss my mother,” she whispered.

I hope to get this chapter out in the next week!!🤍

- mint

[rebeccawritesbooks]

Medwhump May, Day 18: Fainting

I'm using this as an excuse to write parts of my novel drafts and just have fun with my characters. This piece follows Marcus Abernathy, the protagonist of my novel draft What Once Was.

TW: Panic attacks, blood, teeth stuff.

-0-

Dinner was supposed to be normal. Light conversation, Dad commenting on how good Mom’s cooking was (Mom said that’s how she initially won him over), and Allison dramatically retelling something that happened at school. 

But like everything else after coming home, that had to be ruined too. Instead, Marcus poked at the chicken on his plate, the clinking of silverware the only sound around the table. He hadn’t had much of an appetite since he was found, and that still held weeks later. The doctors said this was normal, considering how deprived of food he was most of the time. But still, he felt bad for just sitting there while the rest of them ate like normal.

Marcus pressed his hand against his cheek, right where the sore spot in his mouth was. He had a dentist’s appointment on Tuesday, and he was dreading it. They had to see any damage that occurred over the past three years, but he didn’t want to do it. The thought of anyone putting their hands near his face, near his mouth, even, it just…he couldn’t…

“Sweetie?”

Marcus jolted, his fork almost slipping out of his hand. The table snapped back into focus, its colors more vibrant. The food in front of him gleamed artificially in the light, looking more like food for dolls. Marcus’s eyes darted up, his stomach clenching at the eyes locked on him. His fingers began to tingle a little.

Mom swallowed thickly. “Sweetie, is it too much for you right now? Do you need me to put some away for later?” Her brow creased, her grey eyes glimmering with concern.

Marcus’s stomach clenched. His eyes darted to Dad, who had a similar look on his face. He didn’t have to look at his sister to know that her face was the same. He hated this; he should be able to eat like everyone else. But that bastard had to use food as punishment, shrinking his stomach down to the size of a soda can. Marcus rubbed at his mouth again. God, why was it bothering him so much tonight?

“Is something hurting?” Dad asks.

Marcus shook his head. “It’s fine, Dad,” he mumbled. 

Dad’s brow furrowed; Marcus’s shoulders shrank in slightly, but enough for something in Allison’s eyes to shift. “Marcus–”

“I’m fine, Dad!” Marcus snapped, cutting off a piece of chicken. “I just wanna do this like everyone–”

The second Marcus bit down, a sharp pain shot through his jaw. It felt like someone had shattered it. He groaned, the fork clattering onto the plate. The coppery taste of blood immediately hit his tongue. His eyes widened.

Chairs scraped on the floor. Mom was by his side before he could blink, her hands squeezing his shoulders. Allison said something to him, but he couldn’t hear over the roar of blood in his ears. His tounge prodded around in his mouth. His face paled: there was something in there, something far too hard to be a piece of chicken.

Dad’s eyes widen. “Marcus?” he asked, his voice tense. “Talk to me, buddy. What’s going on?”

Marcus whimpered, blood trickling past his lips. Mom gasped; Allison covered her mouth. Marcus bolted up, the chair clattering against the floor. He staggered into the kitchen and hunched over the sink. A tear slipped down his cheek as the wad of half-chewed chicken fell out of his mouth into the sink, blood curling in ribbons around it.

And there, in the middle of the food remains, was a molar, grey at the roots. Marcus trembled, his heartbeat quickening. More blood dribbled down his chin. His head swam as his posture stiffened. 

Allison stepped up to the sink, letting out a trembling gasp. “Oh God.”

Marcus swallowed thickly, his head spinning. Oh God, he’s lost a tooth! That’s not supposed to happen at his age. How much more of him was broken? Why is there so much…

Marcus staggered back, the room tilting. He barely heard his name before his body hit the floor, the world fading to black.

[yurikalonesome]

Tiny snippet from chapter 2. I'm glad things are going well.

“I like to make an entrance! Keeps people in suspense,” he said happily, trying to skip towards her only to nearly fall on his face.

“More like wasting my time,” she mumbled, crossing her arms. “We have to clean the windows.” Something they had never done together. Really, she wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t on her list of tasks that had been delivered on her front door yesterday.

“What? Why?! It’s pitch black out there!” he cried, throwing his arms up in exasperation.

“I don’t know, Dario. Let’s just–” She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Let’s just get this over with before they can come up with more asinine tasks.” She turned around and started to climb. “Hold the ladder, will you?”

She only made it up two rungs before he stopped her. “But you’re wearing a dress.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “So?”

Dario sputtered, face turning a dusty pink. “Wh- You’re not supposed to climb things while wearing a dress! It’s not proper!”

She sighed. “I don’t know, Dario. Are you acquainted with gravity enough to climb a ladder and hang off the side with one arm standing between you and some broken bones? From what I’ve seen of you in passing, you get along with it about as well as Charo does with birds,” she said, though not unkindly.

Dario’s face turned red. Rubbing the back of his neck, he grumbled out a “No.”

“Just be a gentleman and don’t look up,” she ordered, continuing her climb.

“Yes, ma’am!” he chirped, giving her a faux salute and dopey smile. “The floor is pretty interesting.”

[writing-through-the-snow]

Sneak peak into chapter 25 of my ash in hisui fic

“We did!” Akari nods, holding up her hand for Ash to high five.

Ash stares at the hand with an unreadable expression, long enough for Akari to look at him weirdly.

“Don't tell me they dont have high fives wherever you're from?” she says, eyeing Ash weirdly. Not for the first time does she wonder what kind of world Ash lived in before.

“No they do! Just…” Ash pauses, thinking.

“I just prefer this!” Ash holds out his hand, fist clenched, like he was going to punch something. But he holds it still out in front of Akari.

“What is that?” Akari questions, tilting her head.

“A fist bump!” Ash grins, “Here give me your hand!”

Ash grabs Akaris hand and folds it into a fist, before guiding her to lightly bump it against Ash's.

“It's like a high five but with a fist!” Ash says with a smile. Akari narrows her eyes, before shrugging.

“Alright!” she smiles, hitting her knuckles against Ash in this ‘fist bump’. It's not that different from a high five, Akari supposes.

[purepadawanmaster]

Think of Me - Chapter 1 (1/4)

a/n: I recently found this old story on my computer and got the urge to work on it again. This is the first 1,000 words from the first chapter that I went back and rewrote. My writing style has changed a lot, and I like how it is turning out so far. I hope you guys enjoy! 💙

OCs: Derick and Violet

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The sounds of violins and voices with melodic touches sounded throughout the Opera House, as the stage filled with dancers of different genders and species. They were practicing for a performance they had to do that night to keep the place up and running. A particular raven waltzed through the stage floor as he danced with his partner gracefully. His bright, electric blue eyes dimmed with feeling as the sounds of music filled his ears.

He had been at the Opera House ever since his parents died from a tragic disease when he was younger. At twelve years old, he was an orphan, living brokenly out on the streets with nothing but his thieving skills to keep him alive. It wasn't long until he met a lovely Twi'lek woman who had been living on her own with her foster daughter. Without a second thought, the woman eagerly took the young boy in and raised him.

The now eighteen-year-old had just finished lifting his partner when the rehearsal was suddenly interrupted. The manager was walking towards them as he started to shout to get everyone's attention. "Everyone, may I have your attention, please? As you may know, there have been some rumors about me quitting my post as the manager of this building. I can now tell you that this is all true."

Gasps and murmurs sprang throughout the stage as people started talking amongst themselves. However, the raven wasn't very stunned by the news. He knew the man was going to retire one day. Not finding anything to keep his interest, he ignored the ongoing news about the new people who now ran the Opera House.

"So, it would give me great pleasure to introduce you to the two people who now own the Opera House, Mr. Derick Knight and his wife, Mrs. Violet Knight." The manager announced as the two known people waved at the group of singers and dancers.

The newcomers received claps and cheers from all around. The first was a man with dark hair that hung loosely over his dark brown eyes. He wore a formal suit and pants while his wife clung desperately to his arm. The brunette woman was a little nervous about her new position. Her emerald eyes glowed with wonder as she gave the happy crowd a shy smile.

"Thank you, everyone, for welcoming us into your theater," Derick said as he gently patted his wife's hand. "However, we would also like to inform you about our new patron, Mr. Kanan Jarrus."

While clapping emerged from the group, a young woman with colorful hair approached the raven, who wasn't paying much attention. "Ezra, it's not polite to ignore our new guests at the theater." She said, lightly nudging his shoulder.

Ezra rolled his eyes as he continued to look through some old music sheets on a table. "So? I'm not interested in meeting them when I'll probably never see them anyway, Sabine."

Sabine frowned as she sighed slightly. Ezra was always the stubborn type whenever it came to meeting new people. It seemed he didn't trust anyone except her, their foster mother, Hera, and himself. Sabine could still remember when she first met Ezra. A hungry teen is searching for food as he tries to ambush her in Lothal's marketplace. Who knew the two would grow close as brother and sister from that sudden meeting? "Will you at least look at the new patron? He seems pretty handsome and nice as well."

Ezra gave a huff as he lazily turned around for Sabine's amusement. Why couldn't she leave him alone? He had nothing against the new people; he felt uncomfortable around people he barely knew.

But this time, it was a different story.

Once Ezra made contact with the new patron, his body stiffened instantly. Those stormy green eyes and dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail were much too familiar to him. Ezra could feel his cheeks start to burn as his blue eyes loomed over the now young man before him. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't stop the excitement on his face.

"It's Kanan..."

"You know him?" Sabine asked, making the blushing teen jump. Sabine couldn't help but grow amused as she watched her so-called brother try to calm himself down.

"Y-yeah... you could say that. Before my parents passed away, Kanan and I were close friends. We would do everything together. Since he was older, he frequently teased me constantly and called me names like 'Little Ezzy,' which annoyed me." Ezra looked at Sabine to see that she had a Cheshire cat grin on her face.

"Little Ezzy, huh?" she said teasingly with a smug grin.

Ezra glared at her. "Don't even think about it."

"What? It's a cute nickname~!"

"It is not!" he hissed back, gazing away to see that the managers and Kanan were now talking to Zeb, the lead tenor. The Lasat was a show-off to all the other performers on stage. He thought he was the best of everyone. It's too bad most of the audience wore earplugs during his performances, although Ezra doubted that would do anything to upset the big oaf.

Suddenly, the group split, and Kanan started to make his way towards Ezra and Sabine. Ezra immediately straightened his posture as his gaze fell to the floor, not wanting to catch Kanan's eyes. Unfortunately, the man walked right by him, showing no sign of knowing Ezra.

Frowning, Ezra looked to where Kanan had walked off. What was he thinking? Of course, Kanan wouldn't notice him. It had been years since they last saw each other. He gave a small sigh, "Figures. I doubt he'd recognize me with it being so long."

"He didn't see you, Ezra," Sabine said as she grabbed the teen's hand so they could start rehearsal again.

TBC

NEXT

[pureangels22]

Fanfic Rewrite - Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (CH. WIP)

a/n: This is a snippet of a chapter of one of my old works. I went back and tried my best to edit what I could, but I think my younger self did pretty well with this one. Hope you enjoy 🤍

OC: Zaria

~*~

Snow silently fell from the sky as it swirled through the cold morning wind. Two figures clung desperately to each other as they made their way towards the graveyard. Ezra had been meaning to come visit his parents' grave sooner, but after his encounter with Zaria, he really wasn't sure if he should take the girl back to the Opera House or let her stay with him. It took several minutes to finally come to a conclusion that the girl wasn't going to leave him alone no matter how hard he tried to reason with her. But, with seeing the marks and burns on her arms and legs, he knew pretty well why she probably wouldn't.

They were the same ones that appeared on his back.

He didn't need an explanation as to how she got them, he knew. Ezra gave a curse under his breath as he pulled the girl closer to his side. It was going to be hard to get her to talk about what had happened, but really, who would blame her? He had gone through the same phase when he was her age, so he would give her time. Just enough so he could be able to gain her trust; it's what mattered the most.

The entrance to the graveyard came into view before the young teen and child. Ezra gave a small pause as he looked up at the gate in wonder. Blue eyes dimmed slightly as he reached out with his hand to open the gate --

"Ah!" the sound of someone gasping caught the teen's ears as he turned around to see the Pau'an child clutching at his sleeve desperately. Fear and worry showed in her dark eyes as she gave the fabric a light tug in order to pull Ezra back towards her.

Ezra gave a small smile as he turned around, crouching before the frightened girl. "I'll be right back, Zaria. I just have to go take care of something first, okay?" he said as he started to get up again, but only to be pulled back down.

"W-wait! D-don't leave me here by myself! Please!" Zaria exclaimed, fear stinging straight into her eyes as she breathed heavily at the thought of being alone again.

Guilt started to crawl its way into Ezra's heart as he averted his eyes away from the youngling. He knew he shouldn't leave her by herself in the cold. She'd been alone for who knows how long until he found her in his old forgotten house, and now he was going to leave her alone again. It wasn't that he didn't want to take the girl with him, it was the fact that he didn't want her to come. He felt as if this was something he had to do by himself, and if that meant leaving the poor child alone for a few minutes in the cold...then so be it.

A small whimper reached the raven's ears as he looked back over to see that Zaria was crying again. Sadness showed in Ezra's eyes as he slowly pulled the girl towards him and hugged her tightly in his arms. Zaria wasted no time in wrapping her small, delicate arms around his neck as she snuggled closer to his chest in order to keep warm.

A few minutes passed before Ezra finally decided that it was time for him to go. Carefully, he pushed the girl off of him as he looked at her in the eyes. "Zaria, as much as it pains me, I have to go. I promise I will be back and come get you when I'm done. Then after, we can go to the Opera House where we can get you fed and cleaned up, okay? But I have to go and do this one thing before we can leave, alright?"

"B-but..." Zaria started, but Ezra cut her off.

"If I'm not back in 10 minutes you can come inside and look for me, okay?" Ezra reasoned as he looked at the girl with hopeful eyes.

It took a while, but finally, Zaria agreed to let the teen go on without her. A smile formed on Ezra's face as he nodded his thanks to the child and quietly made his way inside the graveyard.

Snow fell from the sky as its powdery flakes fell to the floor. White flakes covered the ground as a Christmas Wonderland. Gray tombstones stood tall and strong as they stood guard for the person they were left for in the ground. The smile that was once on Ezra's face soon started to fade.

He hated coming to graveyards. Who wouldn't? You were basically walking into the world of the dead. A sanctuary that was specifically for the ones you've lost throughout the years. It was actually one of the reasons why the teen didn't come see his parents so often. He hated having to relive the memories of his dead parents in his head. The once warm presence of his mother's touch and determined smile from his father was nothing but a distant memory to him now.

A sigh soon left Ezra's lips as he slowly started to make his way down the aisles of tombstones, in search of his parents.

You were once my one companion. You were all that mattered. You were once my loving family and parents. But then my world was shattered.

[hufflepuffwithaslytherinkink]

Transmogrification of a Not Yet Lord - Chapter 1 Snippet

Amelia ran, her legs burning and her chest heaving with the effort of running as well as the emotion bubbling inside of her. She needs to get away, she can’t think straight. How had this happened? She thinks.

Harry Potter had been killed by Lord Voldemort. She can’t breathe. She needs to escape, somewhere, anywhere. She needs to get away from the death eaters and the image of Harry’s limp body in Hagrid’s outstretched arms. The way hope seemed to die on everyone’s faces as they stared at the boy who lived, now dead.

She doesn’t remember leaving, she just remembers seeing Harry’s body and the need to get away. The urge to throw up overwhelming her. She couldn’t face that, she didn’t want to face that, her friend dead, hope dead. So she ran, she ran as fast as her legs could  carry her until finally she stopped.

Amelia finally looks around wondering where she’d ran to, she sniffs back tears as she realises she’s in the headmaster’s office. Yet Snape is nowhere to be seen, probably at the Dark Lord’s side she thinks bitterly. It’s strange though, normally the office is locked behind the stone gargoyle but it must have been open, Amelia doesn’t know the password to get in.

Amelia walks around the room glancing at the different objects. It’s odd how little it had changed since Dumbledore died, a lot of his things remaining in place. Maybe it wasn’t his stuff, she ponders, perhaps the trinkets get passed down from headmaster to headmaster.

Still, she thought Snape would have gotten rid of anything even linked to Dumbledore. This all certainly reminded her of her old headmaster. She sighs making her way over to the desk in the middle of the room, her legs aching from the run. She needs to sit down, to process everything that’s happening. What her plan of action is going to be.

Unfortunately her eyes are strained from crying, meaning she trips on the step before her. She stumbles haphazardly towards one of the displays at the side of the room. She throws her hands out in front of her, hoping it will reduce the impact of her fall and not damage too many of the objects before her. However, she still hits the shelves full force, knocking the silver instruments, potions and what seems to be ruin stones to the floor with a loud bang, her in the middle of it all.

Just before she hits the ground she feels a sick pulling sensation at her navel, the world spins around her and she can’t figure which way is up or down.

It must be the adrenalin from the battle, she thinks. Her head still whirling uncontrollably.

She lies on the floor trying to catch her breath and calm her mind. She’s not sure how long she lies there for, but it must be a while considering the world is spinning faster than normal.

Slowly she opens her eyes, running a hand over her head. Odd, its bright daylight now, the sun was only just starting to rise when she walked in there. She must have been out for hours. Slowly she manoeuvres herself into a sitting position. Noticing as she does so, a lack of mess around her. No potions or instruments. No evidence of her clumsiness. Maybe someone came in cleaned up around her.

A wave of nausea suddenly hits her, causing her to double over clutching her stomach. She’s just glad she’s still sat down as she wobbles a little, the dizziness hitting her forcefully. Slowly she starts to rise from the floor, gripping the shelves beside her for support.

Amelia groans as she moves her arms and legs, she’s aching all over though she doesn’t know if it’s from the impact of the fall or from the previous battle. Probably a mix of both, she concludes.

She stretches her arms and legs before glancing around the room, something is off. This is the headmaster’s office alright, but it’s different. Like things are missing or changed. She can’t quite put her finger on what though.

She sighs shaking her head slightly, she must be concussed.

Perhaps the death eaters had raided it after they won. No that couldn’t be, they won they wouldn’t need to raid it, it was there’s now. They probably wouldn’t have left her alive either.

She looks down at her clothes. She’s wearing her wide leg jeans and a Nirvana t-shirt. Both now, unfortunately, ripped in places, scorched in others and completely covered in blood and dust.

She sighs thinking how much she loves this top. If only Voldemort could have given them enough notice to change into their scruffs.

Oh well she thinks, we’ve lost more important things than band t-shirts. The thought stabbing at her heart. She reluctantly wanders towards the door. No need to put off the inevitable, the quicker she does this the quicker it’ll be over with.

She saunters through the corridors trying to find someone, anyone who can tell her where they stood now. What was happening with the magical world, are they about to be carted off to Azkaban? Tortured for years until they’re insane? What was going to happen?

But there’s no one. Nothing. Literally nothing, no rubble, no bodies. Nothing to suggest a battle had just taken place. It looks like a nice normal sunny day at Hogwarts. It makes her feel sick to her stomach. That’s something she can never have again.

There’s no one around, none of the students, the order or death eaters. How long had she been out? As she turns another corner, she hears footsteps and a curious voice calling out.

“Excuse me, can I help you?”

Amelia spins in shock at the calm polite tone. She nearly falls flat on her face when she sees who’s speaking.

Albus Dumbledore is stood in front of her, clear as day. But he looks strange, his hair isn’t his normal silver, instead it’s auburn with streaks of grey. He has a beard, but it’s nowhere near as long as when she knew him. He stands starting at her waiting for her to say something.

Amelia doesn’t know what to say or what to do. How is this possible?

Then it clicks. Hogwarts was as warm and welcoming as when she first arrived. No bodies or death eaters fill the corridors and Dumbledore is stood in front of her.

She was dead.

[tabswrites]

Heads Up 7 Up

Tagged by @rachaellawrites here!

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From the upcoming Ch. 9 of ToL

There had been too much happening around them lately to reflect, but with nothing else to do but walk and think, she had been occupied by thoughts of thick thighs wrapped in black leather, full, pink lips in a permanent smile, and sparkling brown eyes that made her weak in the knees. With as close as they were, she could just make out the smattering of black freckles that were nearly impossible to see on her deep brown skin. Mara did always have an appreciation for the finer details.

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

First 10-15 pages of Chapter 40!

>:)

“Hear anything yet?” Asha whispered as the pair cautiously stepped through the crowded town. It had been roughly thirty minutes since the Abaraca returned, promptly (albeit) politely excusing himself from the young noble’s company as he’d seemingly wandered off.

“Not yet,” Cepheus replied, before casually eyeing a group of teenagers who’d all been dressed eerily close to the other apprentices. However, she hadn’t expected to see a few noblewomen dressed as Dahlia. 

“You know for someone who claimed he had no time to spare for picking up his shipments, he sure is moving leisurely now, isn’t he?” Cepheus commented, promptly bringing her attention back to the nobleman leisurely chatting with a fellow nobleman as costumed servants and merchants scurried about the well-lit decorated streets. 

“That’s just the way people with power work,” Asha murmured as she sighed, stepping out of the way of passing costumed dancers. “Or people with more cents than sense, which full offense seems to be a running trend amongst your nobles.”

“Not all of them,” Asha argued back. “Some of them were and are quite reasonable when you get to know them. It’s just the bad ones who tend to have the furthest reach…”

“I take it that he’s one of the bad ones?’ Cepheus asked.

“He’s…well…he’s never been particularly kind to me,” she confessed. “Before I met you he scolded me for suggesting that something was going on with the forest. He rushed me when I tried to tell anyone else, and he’s always had this habit of making me feel…really small.” she confessed as the Abaraca offered a beautiful noblewoman a flower before grinning. “It’s strange seeing him be nice to anyone-,”

“Hmm”

“What? What are you thinking?”

“Nothing really other than the fact that from what you’re telling me, he may be one of the most backstabbing, two-faced, air-wasting, disgusting, self-centered, heartless, inconsiderate bastards I’ve ever heard of!” the star smiled. “I’m impressed!”

“What?! What is there to be impressed about?”

 “I mean, all in all I know some bad, even terrible people to! So that’s something coming from me!”

“Terrible?” Asha frowned. Why would a wishing star know so many terrible people? Hadn’t he said that she was his first wisher? Granted she knew that there were apparently other people in space, but still. Why was the star keeping questionable company?

It was one thing for her grandfather to keep it but for the star-

Should she even be trusting him?

No, Cepheus was her friend! He had just saved her life. If she couldn’t trust him then, who could she trust?

“Yeah, what? Don’t tell me that you haven’t come across your fair share of terrible people. In terms of terrible nobles, where would you rank this guy?”

“I…I don’t know…I..I try not to think about him, more than I have to.”

“I see…”

“Asha, can I talk to you about something?”

“What is it?”

“Earlier you asked me whether I had stories about regular people doing regular things…Did my stories make you…uncomfortable?”

“No, of course not! It’s just that…” she paused, shaking her head as she looked down. “You’re probably tired of hearing it over and over. I’m sorry.”

“No, Asha, you’ve been burying these feelings deep within you for so many years. You can’t keep doing that forever, at some point in time you have to let it out. If not for me, then at least for yourself. Please Asha, let me help you.”

He was begging now. Something that shouldn’t have bothered her as much as it did.But As much as she hated to admit it, there was some truth to his words.

She bit her lip, slowly tugging at her braids as she hurriedly confessed,  “You see it’s one thing hearing those stories as myths and whatnot,” she cautiously began as she kept her eyes focused on her feet. “Because they don’t feel real, but then, it’s another to know that it’s real and that things like that can really happen…that legacies like this do and can exist and that they can result in wonderful things for some people.”

When he didn’t speak, she continued, feeling a bit braver than before as her face burned. “I know I’m being petulant. But… it’s just so hard living in a world where some people are blessed to worry about the after of achieving their dreams…when you can’t even be good enough to have them…”

“You think it’s petulant to be angry that life hasn’t dealt you a fair hand?”

She bowed her head as she brushed away a few stray tears. “No it’s just that!” she took a deep breath. “I…I know I should be stronger about it, I mean I live in a kingdom whose motto is to make impossibilities reality! And it’s true. Not a lot of kingdoms would have a prince who falls for a cook, or peasants who just so happen to be born with wonderful powers, but mine does.So, when I met with the king’s advisors turned my proposal down because the number of people like me…is statistically insignificant.”

She sniffled, as more tears seemed to escape her. “I only asked the question I did because I just hoped that being from a world of immortals, that maybe…just maybe you guys might see me differently. That me being in your world might be different, but I’m not sure.”

“What kind of legacy am I going to leave behind Cepheus? I’ve nearly died twice today! And my father…” she shook her head. “there’s nothing left for me in this world…”

“Then come to mine.”

“What?” 

“If this world never appreciated you, then maybe it never deserved you to begin with.”

“Deserved me?” she laughed as she shook her head. “Isn’t that a pretentious assumption?”

“Is assuming that everyone is entitled to basic decency a pretentious assumption?”

“Well no-,”

“I admit I don’t know anything about humans, but even I can see that what that man, your father’s supposed best friend is doing to you isn’t right.” the star quickly added as she cringed. “Do you really think if he cared for you or if that he was a good man that you’d be begging me to erase your very existence? Or you’d be saying that if you died no one would miss you? Asha that’s not right-,”

“But it’s just the way things are,” she sniffled. “In your stories and real life. No one ever cares for the little people like me.”

“I do!” he retorted. “I care for you and if you let me I could show you just how wonderful you are!”

“Wonderful,” she whispered, before looking away. “Am I really wonderful?”

“You are to me.”

She scoffed, weakly staring at the sky. “Why do you care so much for me anyway?” 

“It’s because we’re friends silly,” he smiled, repeating her words. “And this is what friends do for each other, right? They help each other out!”

“I know…” she sadly nodded, unable to understand the strange disappointment filling her at his words. She took a steadying breath, as she whispered.  “But what if I disappoint you and the other stars? Everything will be the same, just like how it is on earth and in those stories -,”

“Not this one…please, Asha. Not every story ends this way. Yours doesn’t…”So many don’t. And not many are as glamorous or as happy as everyone makes it seem.”

“What do you mean?”

“Twins have always been seen as a special things amongst stars, some even consider a blessing of sorts.. It was the reason why, when even after Betelguese had broken off his arrangement, that most of the crimson ones resented Deneb and her children for it. They thought it was an insult from fate itself.”

“Maybe they were onto something,” Asha replied. “Every time she opposed them things always worked out for her in the end so-,”

“Well yes but things weren’t that simple. You see after Rigil and Sirius had been born, Alhena had twins… Polaris and Cassiopeia but the process had been so grueling that she died shortly after they were born.”

“Stars can die from childbirth?” she asked, hardly able to believe his words.

He slowly nodded. “Rarely…but even under normal circumstances the process is…grueling…A lot of stars suspected her death to be of foul play, as Deneb was no stranger to placing spies or even assassins within her enemy’s courts, some suspected that she’d tried to kill Betelguese’s children.”

“Did she?” Asha whispered. “Would she really kill little stars like that?”

“I don’t know… but given how Kentaurus had tried to come to Alhena’s aid, something that I doubt he would’ve done if they’d planned it together. Regardless…the birth was going to be difficult whether or not she’d be involved. A weaker star giving birth to a stronger one is always dangerous…maybe Alhena never stood a chance…”

Asha paused, listening to the distant bell tower chime just as a servant stepped out of the crowd, presenting several of the heavy boxes he was carrying to his master.

“Your shipments, my Lord,” he bowed as the nobleman’s eyes seemed to gleam.

She sharply hissed, stepping back as she released a curse. “I should’ve known-,”

“What?” Cepheus  “What’s wrong?”

“Nobles don’t pick up shipments. They have their servants do it for them. How could I have forgotten that?!”

“Hey it’s okay-,”

“Is it?!” she snapped, trying to ignore the sliver of tiredness that gnawed at her limbs. “This could’ve been my chance to know something! To finally get answers!” she yelled, earning them a few glances from passersby. “Sorry,” she winced as she took a deep breath. “It’s fine. Everything is fine. At least Lord Carillo is still here, so he probably hasn’t started his investigation yet. Right?”

The star didn’t answer, glancing at the onlookers as they quickly diverted their attention elsewhere before asking, “do you know that servant? The one who brought him his shipments?”

“Yeah.”

“Is he important? Does he hold some sort of high regard or status? Is he trusted”

“Well…no not really-,” she hesitated, remembering Abaraca’s frustration at Carlos’s incompetence on several occasions.

“And there you have it. It couldn’t have been that important if he’d sent out a servant to tend to it rather than himself. He probably has a reason as to why he chose to stay here specifically.”

“I think I can guess,” Asha replied, watching as the nobleman looked from the second box of jewelry to the beautiful noblewoman he’d been entertaining before.

“Well at least it’s obvious that she’s not going to marry him for his personality,” Cepheus whispered as she snorted.

“Geeze anyone hearing you talk would’ve thought you’d have a personal encounter with him.”

“Let’s hope for his sake not. I’d be the second worst thing to happen to him.”

“Second? What the’s first?” she queried as the crowd began stirring and a servant bolted. 

“Make way for Lord Velius!” he cried. Oh no. She’d nearly forgotten he’d be here. She trembled quickly stepping behind the star, as she felt him tug her wrist. 

“Whoa? Where are you going?” he frowned, squinting at her arm. “Why are you so warm?”

“Velius isn’t Abaraca’s only problem-,” she whispered, looking to the approaching figure on horseback. “He can’t see me here. Not like this! You say how he treated my grandfather off of suspicion- imagine what he’ll do when he has proof! Imagine what they’ll all do?!” She trembled, trying not to visualize the rage on their faces when they’d inevitably find out….

“Great,” Lord Abaraca muttered as his smile vanished, and he gestured to the servant to the step to the side.

“Ah, Abaraca,” Velius sighed, carefully dismounting his horse with the help of servants. 

“Lord Velius…it certainly is…a pleasure to see you. You’re early are you not?” Lord Abaraca spoke, offering him a smile that could barely pass for polite.

Shooing away the servants, he turned to the nobleman before squinting, “only by a minute-,” Velius replied. “But you can never be too careful-,” his eyes scanned the streets, barely taking note of the fleeing servants and wary nobles before it settled on something.

“The Proud Jackel tavern?” he scoffed before glaring at Abaraca. “You told me you had rid Banquo of th-

Lord Abaraca unevenly swallowed before glancing at Carillo, who nodded. “Rest assured, sir. If all goes as planned tonight, it will be gone before the morning.”

“It better be,” Velius stopped, eyeing the squirming servant who held the jewelry box. 

“Shipments? I see someone has been busy-,”

“As always,” Lord Abaraca nodded, gesturing for the servant to open the jewelry box. “What better time to take advantage of things than now? After all, with a certain someone’s expulsion, I think I speak for all of us here in Banquo when I say that we can promise you that the price of exports will be far more…reasonable going forward.”

“...a bold promise to make, but for your sake, hopefully not a foolish one-,” he turned to the box, missing the darkened scowl on Lord Abaraca’s face before he said, “My, that’s rather beautiful-,” his eyes widened at the shimmering emerald necklace in question. “The heart of Saphrya? Correct?”

“Indeed,” Abaraca nodded, a small smirk on his face. “Fit for a queen, isn’t it? It cost more than a small fortune to obtain, much less make-”

“I can tell-,”

“Oh! Do try not to smudge it,” Abaraca interjected as he placed himself between Velius and the jewels. “it’s important that it’s in perfect condition for tomorrow’s festivities! I hope you can understand”

“Of course,” Velius huffed, promptly withdrawing himself. “And that?”

“Oh this?”  “Not quite on par with the heart, but still worthy of any beauty our kingdom has to offer.”

“It’s good to have aspirations- even if they’ll never quite materialize…” he sighed as Abaraca scowled, and Carillo quietly snickered. But his laughter didn’t last as Velius turned to him. “____ is that you?”

“AH-” Carillo nearly choked, abruptly bowing his head as Abaraca slyly grinned. “Yes, my Lord-,”

“Oh. For a moment there I was hoping my eyes made a mistake, seeing you here instead of at your appropriate post-,”

Asha had never seen Carillo’s face pale so quickly, not even the night when the assassins had been in the garden.  But the smirk on Lord Abaraca’s face was unmistakable. 

“No, what you see before you is real,” he assured Velius ,who sternly glared at the head maintainer. “He is here. But only because I called him.”

“Given the influx of…undesirable company, I thought it would be important to keep myself and my associates fully updated to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible for the king and his apprentices. Right, Carillo?”

“O-of course,” Lord Carillo nodded, frowning as he rolled his eyes.

“And yet you are still here,” Velius’s eyes narrowed as Lord Carillo’s eyes darted away. “You new blooded nobles are barely a departure from your ancestors-,”

Lord Abaraca cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Come now why don’t you join us for some of the festivities tonight? Dancing, acting, shopping.I think it’ll be to your liking, just at is the royal’s-,”

“Very well then,” Velius waved his hand as Abaraca eyed Carillo before nodding as the pair led the elder into the crowd.

They’d been following the trio for approximately thirty minutes when Velius looked around the market and boldly declared, “Do you really plan on gracing the royal’s presence with this?” 

The disgust in his voice was poorly hidden as several merchants glared. Their ire seemingly ineffective as the elderly man continued,  “Surely your merchants could’ve obtained better purchases for the festival than this?”

Lord Abaraca cast the unhappy merchants a stoic glance before they’d all turned their attention elsewhere. Then he’d spoke, “Given the market’s current circumstances and absences, we’ve decided to expand our horizons with new business partners.”

“Amateaur business partners, no doubt.” Velius sneered, examining several creme colored roses from the nearby flower stall. “At least the Clariveaus always made it a point to keep the most experienced and powerful merchants within their pockets.”

“And now look at them both, neither gone nor missed,” Lord Abaraca muttered beneath his breath.

“What did you say?” Velius questioned, sharply turning to him as the onlooking merchants flinched.

To Lord Abaraca’s credit, he didn’t back down as he’d straightened himself before replying “I..I said, Give them time, and I promise you that they will be able to succeed if not surpass their predecessors in due time.”

“Due time,” Velius scoffed, continuing down the path before stopping to interrogate the town’s artist who’d sat on the side of the road sketching a couple posing for their picture..

“You there- where are you from?” he questioned. “You’re not Ischanian are you?”

“N-no! I…I’m from the north, sir! I’m a student from the art academy a-and- I was just passing through for the festival and-,”

“The north,” Velius’s expression softened as he examined the portrait. “I see…Carillo! Abaraca!” he snapped, as the men straightened themselves, as Velius gestured to them to come. “You will draw our portrait next,” he commanded the artist who feebly nodded. “Big things are ahead child, and it’s best to have some record of the way things were before-,”

As much as Asha hated to admit it, that was a rather prophetic claim on his part, given how the doomsday clock was still ticking.

However the other two nobles, couldn’t have looked more annoyed even if they tried.

“What is the life span of the average elderly man in Rosas?” Lord Carillo whispered, leaning towards Abaraca.

Lord Abaraca sighed, shaking his head as Velius continued to take in more of the merchant’s shop. “Between him and Sabino, I daresay they make a strong case for outliving us all.”

“Wonderful,” Lord Carillo sighed as he tenderly massaged his temples. 

It was one thing to dislike Velius, but why bring her grandfather into the comparison? Sure he was…unpleasant at times, but not to the degree that the former was!

What were their problems anyway? She scowled at the unimpressed-looking trio barely sparing any of the stalls or shops they passed a glance.

Why they’d do such a thing was beyond her, as from what she could see, everything here was extravagant, and expensive. Beautiful books, jewelry and all sorts of trinkets adorned each shop front, and yet the trio was unmoved, barely sparing any expectant merchants and their shops any attention. 

So much for being on the side of his merchants,’ Asha mentally grumbled, as the artist finished the couple’s portrait before attending to the trio. The solemn expressions on Carillo and Abaraca’s faces nearly made her laugh until she’d caught sight of the star trying to walk away.

“Oh no, not this again,” she sighed, firmly grabbing his arm to hold him in place. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“To enjoy a festival,” the star simply answered. “I’m dangerous when I’m unoccupied.”

“True,” she conceded. “But we’re here for a reason, remember?”

“Yeah I remember,” he frowned. “But in my defense if Velius can have fun, why can’t we?”

“Velius isn’t having fun-,”

“No but he’s doing what he wants, and that’s what our day was supposed to be, remember?”  Us just spending time together doing what we want. And what better way to do that than at a festival? We don’t have to go far-,”

“Well-,”

“And you are on vacation too, right?” 

“I am, but-,”

“And at a festival that you’ve always wanted to go to but never had the opportunity!” he pointed out. ”So why don’t we just relax for five minutes? It’ll be fun!”

She hesitated looking towards the sullen noble then to the pleading star. “Fine, but no more than five minutes!”

Cepheus triumphantly beamed, as the pair began to take in the sights and sounds of the nearby stalls. Her eyes sweeping over the display items from shop to shop until she’d reached the dress shop. Every now and then she’d stopped to explain them to the star who’d seemingly taken in every word she’d said with fascination, until he’d pointed to one shop in particular, “what’s that?”

She paused, taking in the assortment of beautiful pearls and feathers adorning the sparkling amethyst and lilac ballgown. The poofy sleeves and sparkles of the dress’s tail enchanted her as she mentally etched the dress into her mind.

If Rosas had ever had a princess, or perhaps a duchess then she knew that this would’ve been the dress for them. 

She hadn’t realized she’d been staring until she’d heard the star shift. 

“Hmmm…do you like it?” he asked.

Asha nodded, “of course I do, it’s beautiful…but-”  her eyes lingered on the price sign that depicted an amount she’d never be able to afford.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I was just looking at the price. That’s all.”

“That’s a lot-,”

“Yep. It wouldn’t be noble fashion if it weren’t ridiculously priced.” 

“This is what the nobles here wear?”

“On occasion yeah.” She paused, as a small yet teasing smile came to her face. “What? Are you spooked by the feathers?”

“I fear no feathers, but that cape…” his voice trailed off as she spotted the short cape attached to the dress. “It scares me.”

“Oh brother,” dhe muttered. 

“But cape aside, it is appealing…” he paused, glancing at her while he hummed thoughtfully. 

“What? What is it?” she asked, unable to resist squirming beneath the star’s gaze.

“Oh nothing…I was just thinking the Apsuramal’s daughters would love this…”

“Really?” she blinked in surprise. “Is fashion not that different in space?”

“Yes and no. This is on par for humans, but my people tend to like incorporating our less inhuman traits into our fashion.  Horns, feathers, claws and what not. It’s funny you know, in my world, the less inhuman you look, the more attractive you’re seen, at least until a human is present.”

“So are you attractive in that sense too or is just you know,” she looked him over. “This form-,”

He looked at her sympathetically, “Unfortunately for you, I’m attractive in every form. Consistency is key, you know.”

She blinked, feeling completely lost at his words before speaking  “...What?”

His eyes were glowing with laughter as he continued, “Asha have I ever told you how some of the clothes we made for humans change colors to match the sky?”

“Um…no…” she answered, watching as Velius called for a pair of guards.

“Really? Hmm would you like to see an example Asha?” 

“Uhh sure,” she hesitantly nodded, watching as Velius neared. “but whatever it is, please tell me that it involves us disappearing. Promptly!”

“You!” he started, as Asha felt her blood turn to ice. “Don’t think I haven’t been noticing you two following us!”

“W-what?” Asha breathed, weakly stepping in front Cepheus as the other nobles and guards arrived. She had no idea what she was doing, nor did she know what she could do.

This wouldn’t end well for them, or at least her.

Still she had to try, if not for herself then for her family’s sake.

She’d already endangered them too many times tonight. 

She trembled, the gazes of several onlookers nearly crushing as she weakly replied. “We weren’t-,”

“Oh yes you are! You are not as subtle or as-,” his hands mere inches away from her when his voice halted. His eyes darting to a hand tightly gripping his shoulder.

“Velius,” Lord Carillo interrupted. His eyes briefly flashed a familiar midnight blue. “Do you have any idea what on earth you’re doing right now?”

“What?” Velius looked stunned as the soldiers roughly yanked him backward as he stumbled to the ground. 

No one helped him up as Lord Carillo leered over him, “Yelling at a fellow noble like that is nothing short of complete idiocy-,”

Idiocy?” Velius spat. “She’s not a noblewoman! Ask her! Ask her for her name!” he yelled as Asha felt her throat dry. But thankfully, Velius’s words landed on deaf ears as neither Carillo nor the soldiers flinched. 

“Someone! Anyone!” Velius called, but the crowd was strangely unmoved, continuing on as if the old man had never said a word.

“W-what’s happening?” Velius cried pitifully, trying to stand up, only to tumble back to the ground. “What’s wrong with you all?”

She knew it was against her better judgement to help, but she couldn’t stop herself from offering as she stepped forward with her hand out. “W-would you like some help?” Asha asked as Velius scowled and shoved her hand away.

“You stay away from me!” he screamed. “You! You have no idea what you’ve unleashed! You- AHHH!” He cried as the soldiers roughly yanked him upwards. “Help!” he screamed. The fear in his eyes was palpable. “Somebody help me! Anyone!” He was hyperventilating as he crawled further from the guards. “No..no!” he screamed. 

Asha winced, taking a step back as she covered her ears. Velius was nothing short of completely terrible, but this…this was too much. 

“Cepheus,” she pleaded as the star innocently stared back at her. She would've thought him innocent if it hadn’t been for what she’d seen him do earlier in the forest to Lady Allard and the others. But as it stood, not only was he doing it again, but arguably on a much larger scale as the entire market seemed oblivious of the commotion.

“Ah, sorry,” Lord Abaraca shook his head as he faced Asha. The midnight blue in his eyes was diminishing. “He’s going senile, so he tends to make these mistakes time to time.”

“Senile?!” Velius snapped. “Open your eyes, Abaraca someone is-,” he gasped. His eyes widened before he abruptly froze. Asha could see the blue smoke around his feet as he hung limply in the guards’ grip.

“Rest assured, he won’t remember any of this.” Lord Abaraca smiled, but whether that had been him or the star speaking, she wasn’t sure. “We’ll be departing now.”

“Please enjoy the festival.” Lord Carillo smiled before the soldiers released Velius and departed. No sooner had they left than Abaraca venomously shoved Velius.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Velius yelled. “Get your hands off me!”

Lord Abaraca blinked, rubbing his forehead. “What are you talking about? I wasn’t touching you! Wait…how did we get here?”

“More sightseeing, probably,” Lord Carillo replied. “Given our current arrangement. I’d consider any gaps in memory an act of mercy.”

“Likewise,” Lord Abaraca groaned as Velius all but snarled before glaring at the onlooking crowd. 

She blinked. What…? Why hadn’t Abaraca and Carillo recognized her? 

Better yet, what had the star done to them?

It hadn't mattered, she thought, fiercely facing him. "You…you did it again, didn’t you?”

"I only did it to help you," the star replied, tilting his head to stare at her. “Don’t be deceived. It’s as you said…None of them would take kindly to discovering you here.”

She winced, “I..I know, but did you have to? To all these people?” her voice wavered as the people continued chattering and moving, blissfully oblivious to what had transpired, of what could potentially transpire. 

 His smile failed to thaw the coldness seeping from his eyes as he stepped closer. “Velius and his companions needed to be taught respect.” 

 “But not like this…” she shook her head as images of Lady Allard, and the others came to mind. Their faces permanently etched into grins as their eyes remained hollow and lifeless.   “This isn’t right, Cepheus!”

“It isn’t?” the star asked, his brows furrowed as he examined her. 

"No! What if they hurt themselves or worse?!" she cried, his eyes widening as she felt some of the tenseness in her muscles loosen. She needed to stay calm. Yelling would only escalate things. So if she wanted to protect anyone here, she needed to be reasonable. 

 "Look I know you’re trying to help me stay hidden ...but could you do it more humanely, please?" 

“More humanely?”

“Yes, meaning no more controlling or anything of the sort. Please,” she begged as he squirmed and looked away.

“I'll try," he sighs. "But only if no one else sees through the disguise.” 

“Disguise?” Asha repeated, looking herself over. She didn’t…look different, or at least she hoped she hadn’t. 

“Come see for yourself,” the star gestured to a nearby well. “It’s a special one I made just for you.” Hesitantly, she neared before peering over the well’s edge. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting as her dread grew, nearly threatening to overwhelm her before she saw it.

A dressed figure was staring back at her from the water’s surface. 

Carefully, she moved her hand, taking note as the figure in the well did the same before leaning forward to take in more of the person.

The beautiful pearl crystal necklaces and earrings shimmered under the moonlight as the masked face stared at the beautiful white dress adorning her. Its sleeves and dress skirts were decorated with an assortment of swan feathers and pearls. .

“Is…is that me?” she whispered.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” the star sighed. “It’s what the world sees.”

“It is?” she squeaked, straightening herself as she looked around the crowd that had returned to acting normal. 

Her eyes scanned the passersby before landing on the familiar face of Lady Camilla. Carefully, she smiled, politely waving to the crowd of noble girls who waved back.

“Love your dress!” Camilla called.

“It’s beautiful!” another girl called. 

“Your jewelry is stunning!” someone else chimed in.

“Thank you!” Asha breathed, waving back. They’d…they’d complimented her! They saw her! A laugh slipped from her as she spun around the well. This…this was incredible!  

Was this what it felt like to be a part of their world? To not have to walk on eggshells around the people who owned more?

She’d nearly been convinced to join them, but on second thought, that wasn’t a good idea.

She didn’t know any of those girls, and as nice as Lady Camilla was, she’d probably only tolerated her because she was an apprentice doing the king’s work. If she were to slip up, then there was no guarantee that they’d take kindly to the star’s deception, nor was there any guarantee that the star would treat them kindly.

It was probably best to stay away for now, she concluded. But that hadn’t stopped her from admiring the disguise.

“You know there’s a river near one of the golden courts,” the star started. “They say the face looking back is never the one staring in.”

“It isn’t?”

He shook his head. “Sometimes it's your reflection from the future, or maybe it’s even someone else entirely. The prevailing theory is that the river exists between the time and space continuum. It’s a pretty pleasant experience for everyone who looks into it. Everyone save for Kentaurus, that is. He’s frightened of that river.”

“Interesting…” she mumbled. She supposed it would make sense for Kentaurus of all stars to be scared of the river, considering that there were arguably two other stars who bore a heavy resemblance to him. Was it possible that he was seeing the others’ faces? But what could he have seen that would have frightened him so badly? 

Hmm she would have to think about that later, but for now, she had other things to worry about as the noblemen reappeared, this time chattering with two noblewomen.

“They’re probably going to dance for a bit,” Asha noted as they headed for the dance floor with their companions in tow.

[xawkward-ariesx]

‘Even in trying to save her, you will doom her. Love is the poison you carry in your veins and destruction is all you are capable of, so why not make a spectacle of it.’

Catherine, All We Are is Memories.

[writin-ideas4newriter]

Original work chptr 1 snippet

1 - A Not So Normal Day.

I never gave much thought to how I would die. When I had thought about it, I had always imagined something… different, something quiet that the universe wouldn't remember. But you dont always get what you wished for. I definitely found that out the hard way.

Eyes. staring, unblinking. Piercing into my very being. It was, weird i felt i know those eyes but that was madness. Those eyes are not normal. Dark and strong, now that sounds totally normal right? Well they were a harsh scrunched brow that looks like he has smelt something foul, black without an iris. They were completely dark. They looked straight out of a scary movie.

[paperlit]

We as a fandom moved way too fast past this:

And this:

[maiko-coy]

I think they'll get along quite well, actually...

[yurikalonesome]

Another small snippet from chapter 2:

Their names were in a language she did not understand, but she was correct in her guess that they were merchants, but she could see now that the woman was pregnant. They carried themselves well but they – like everyone else – seemed so far away. Like they, too, were in their own little world.

They came to a stop in front of the knights that guarded the King and Queen, who parted to let them through. They bowed and curtsied to the royals in turn, listening with rapt attention as the King quietly demonstrated and explained how one materialised their wish into a physical form.

They nodded, closed their eyes, and placed their hands over their hearts. They glowed for a moment and small, genuine smiles grew on their faces just as the wishes appeared. The man’s was pure gold and the woman’s was a soft amber.

Not for the first time did Amina remind herself to ask what the different colours meant. She always got so tired that she forgot.

They stared at their own wishes in wonder. From her spot she could see shadowy figures moving in the small balls of light but not much else. What she did notice, however, was the life in their eyes. They looked so… happy.

But the King held out his hands expectantly and the couple hesitantly handed them over. The second they left their hands, the light in their eyes died and the colour drained from their person. They stood in a daze, eyes slightly clouded before the Queen stepped forwards and swept her hand above their heads. Green sparkles settled in their hair and landed on their noses, causing the two to sneeze. Luckily for them, the Queen quickly returned to the King’s side before they did so.

While the colour did not return to them, they had gotten their senses back. With another bow and curtsy, they returned to the crowd.