Chapter 22: Eclipse

Eclipse was furious.

After she had spilled the secrets of her mother, she had been led away by her parents, her mother unsettled by both her exposing words and her daughter’s abilities. Eclipse knew what was coming from the moment she had spoken—that there would be a merciless consequence. Her anger had spilled over the limits, and she was going to pay the price for it. She had already begun to hear the whispers, the gossip increasing tenfold at the revelations.

That is, until the copper-haired, barefoot boy before her slammed into Oberon and his group, sending the guests into an even more frenzied state. He looked just as frazzled, his suit coat gone and his shirt and hair ruffled. He had thrown some necklace to what Eclipse assumed to be his accomplice. And then she had seen him plunge into the crowd and instantly thought to run after him, ignoring the cries of her parents. This trivial boy couldn’t possibly think he could just break into her house so easily.

She gritted her teeth, her arms straining to keep her stance.

“Let’s start easy, shall we? Tell me, how did you get here?”

Eclipse could see the struggle playing out on the boy’s face, obviously exhausted. She had caught a glimpse of his Speed, the Virgin’s Gift, and instantly knew he wasn’t from the Ash Court. The only thing keeping her from handing him to the guards was Oberon's hostility towards him—that was already enough to intrigue Eclipse at his motives.

“I came here with…with a partner, ” he began, his eyes glazed but his body still tense. “I came as part of a deal. I had to help her sneak into this ball. We crept in through one of the windows and entered while you were yelling at your mother.”

Eclipse bit her lip, her cheeks warming. “Why? What were you here for?”

“To spy on Councilman Oberon.”

Silence. Eclipse stared incredulously at the tall boy before her, who now began talking nonstop, unable to resist.

“My partner told me that he was the one who sent for the raid in Aldebaran. He managed to get his hands on Silmorite, and used it to eliminate many members of the Courts. My partner needed help to steal a pendant from him, but she didn’t say what its importance was. If we don’t figure out his plans, whatever they are, he could attack without warning. We are trying to stop a war.”

So she had been right all along.

“Why did you need that locket? I saw you throw it to your friend.”

“I told you, all she said was that he was attached to it. I don’t know what it’s for besides that.”

“Who is she? Who is your partner?”

The boy bit his lip, wincing. Eclipse could feel her grip on him losing its strength, but she held on to it fast.

“Focus. Who is she?”

He clutched the balcony behind him, sweat beading on his forehead.

“Astrid.”

Before Eclipse could ask who in all the stars Astrid was, she felt a small pierce at her back, freezing her in place.

“Hello there, daughter of Soleil,” said a silky voice. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Astrid.”

Eclipse’s eyes widened, and her Persuasion hold broke on the boy. Relief flooded his face as he slumped against the railing, looking past Eclipse with tired eyes.

“You see, I am holding a real, genuine blade between your ribs right now, unlike that fakeass sword you can barely keep aloft. I recommend you drop it from my partner’s chest so we can have a real conversation.”

Eclipse narrowed her eyes and scowled at the boy before dropping her sword with a hollow clang. She lifted her arms in surrender as she slowly turned around to face her captor.

A tall, silver-haired girl stood before her, her black dress covered with dust. Parts of her braided updo had fallen from their place, white strands sticking out in all directions. Eclipse realized with annoyance that she somehow still managed to look both graceful and threatening in her disheveled state. She looked to be in her mid-twenties and had a satchel strapped around her body—Eclipse guessed that the pendant was most likely in there. The girl stood confidently, her own, not-so-fake sword raised at Eclipse.

“Congratulations. You got me,” Eclipse said sarcastically, the sass heavy in her voice. “But how about you step away and lean yourself against that edge there?”

The girl didn’t move, an eyebrow raised.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said step away.” Eclipse stared at her in confusion.

The girl, Astrid, only stood there firmly, the sword still pointed at Eclipse’s body.

“Huh. That usually works,” Eclipse said with a shrug, her confidence masking the frantic worry creeping up on her from the inside. Astrid slowly moved forward, pushing Eclipse back so that her own body was at the edge of the balcony.

“Well, well, well. How the tables have turned,” Astrid said as the boy staggered up next to her. “I hope you didn’t treat my partner too harshly, for your own sake.”

Eclipse turned her head to the boy, sending him an innocent look. “Did I? I don’t think it was too harsh.”

“I beg to differ,” the boy said, folding his arms.

“Oh please,” Eclipse scoffed. “If I wanted you dead, you would have been knocked off the edge by now. I had no intention of harming him. All I wanted was information.”

“What information?” Astrid pressed.

The boy turned to his partner, rubbing his face in frustration. “I’m sorry, I told her everything I knew. About the pendant and the raid. About stopping Oberon and a war. Her Gift is incredibly strong.”

Eclipse lifted her chin as Astrid gave her a long stare, before gradually backing the sword away from her chest. She let out a calm sigh as her body relaxed, Astrid tucking the sword away.

“So, you know why we’re here? You know what we are trying to do?” she asked, a skeptical look on her face.

Eclipse locked eyes with Astrid. “You came here to spy on Oberon, and you even stole something from him. He’s plotting against the other Courts as we speak. His plans are an easy gate to a civil war in Ophelia, and you and Redhead over here are trying to stop it from happening.”

Astrid nodded keenly. “That’s right. So, if you’ll excuse us, we shall be on our way. If you want to stop us, go ahead. You won’t last long.”

The boy glanced uneasily at Eclipse. “How do you know she won’t say anything?”

Astrid gave her a curious lookover. “You saw what she did in front of the guests. I highly doubt anyone is going to take her word seriously now.”

She turned on her heel, her partner following behind. Astrid went for the door handle, before Eclipse took a step towards them. A ridiculous idea was buzzing through her mind, yet she was still drawn to it, no matter how risky it may be.

“Wait,” she said, gulping. “Take me with you.”

The pair whipped their heads at her, a startled expression on both of their faces.

Eclipse took another step. “I’ve been suspicious of Oberon for some time now, but tonight, I finally got my answers. I knew that Oberon was the one behind the raid, even before Redhead opened his mouth, and I know about his secret ‘Ember Legion’ of raiders. I’ve known he has been up to no good, yet this whole Court is blind to that!”

Astrid narrowed her eyes as she spoke. Eclipse continued, “I have to get out of this Court, out of this world. You saw me in the ballroom—I’ve already thrown it all away. My parents most likely plan to confine me to my room for the rest of my life, all the while Oberon continues to plot and attack. I have nothing to lose, so take me with you.”

Astrid crossed her arms. “Listen, daughter of Soleil, I don’t know what you’ve taken me for, but the life of a runaway is no easy thing. I’m not sure you would be cut out for it, what with your…upbringing.”

Eclipse folded her arms as well. “You expect too little of me. I’m sure I can handle myself perfectly fine.”

“All right then, why should I consider letting you come to begin with? What could you possibly offer? Your fighting skills are clearly off the list—your stance is barely adequate.”

Eclipse shot her a glare. “You haven’t even seen me fight.”

“I don’t have to.”

“Astrid,” the boy interrupted, both girls turning to face him with matching glowering expressions. He stepped back awkwardly, before speaking again. “I think you should give her a chance. She may not be able to physically fight, but her Persuasion is extremely powerful. That’s a Gift you could definitely use.”

“Again, you haven’t seen me fight, but yes. My Persuasion is a work of art.”

The boy continued, nudging Astrid’s shoulder. “Besides, she has something else we need. Money.”

Astrid thought it over for a minute, before squaring her shoulders and locking eyes with Eclipse.

“Meet us at the stables. If you’re not there by the end of the hour, we leave. With or without you.”

Eclipse stared at her, determination written across her face.

“Deal.”

✦✦✦

Eclipse hugged the wall, peeking out the corner for any guards or servants who could catch her. A pair of them hurried through the hall, whispering with fearful expressions as they disappeared into a room. With a clear path, she made her way down the corridor, running past the familiar paintings and statues and vases. It was an odd feeling, to know she was leaving it all behind.

She knew she couldn’t stay. Tonight had been the final breaking point, and there was no way to undo what she had done. Yet the small, cautious part of her told her she was walking into something dangerous, with strange people she knew nothing of.

But she sealed that part away. If anyone was going to stop Oberon, it would be her.

I’m not letting any more innocent people die, not if I have something to do about it.

She had run to her chambers as soon as Astrid had agreed to let her join the two. Changing out of her white dress, she had pulled on a pair of pants, a tight-fit shirt, and a vest—a comfortable outfit she rarely got a chance to wear. Cleansing her face of her makeup, she had grabbed a large, hooded cloak before leaving and pulled the hood up to shadow her face. A spacious satchel swung against her hip, carrying multiple pouches of money, a few changes of clothes, and some other needed supplies. The wilted rose was tucked away in a small pocket of the satchel, the only nonessential trinket she had decided to bring along. Her tall, brown boots left heavy prints in the lush carpet, and her dark hair was tied back beneath the cloak.

Creeping down the enormous stairs, she set off towards the garden. She was on high alert, cautious with every step—she had to be careful for the frenzied servants and guards, who were undoubtedly searching for her all over the house. The garden was the quickest way out, and conveniently sat right next to the stables. Even though she could feel the fatigue of her Gift usage growing, she tucked those feelings away—she would need her Gift more than ever now.

The garden had two entrances: one from the ballroom and one at the other side of the house. Although the ballroom door would be the fastest way there, Eclipse knew it wasn’t an option.

It’s probably still crawling with guards and guests.

If Eclipse didn’t want to get caught, the best chance she had was finding a way to the other exit.

Dashing through the ground floor halls, she listened carefully for incoming footsteps or voices, slowing her breathing to mask any noise she might make. She reached the end of the hall, before a voice echoed from behind her.

“Search every room! They couldn’t have gone far.”

A cluster of heavy footsteps grew louder as a faint glow around the bend started to get brighter and brighter. Eclipse frantically ducked into a closet nearby.

Oh stars…

She heard the group pass by the cramped room, their feet pounding against the floor. Once it was silent again, Eclipse carefully opened the door, taking a quiet sigh of relief before darting into the next corridor.

Almost there.

After bolting past one last corner, the door lay just ahead of her, and she could see the light of the moon shining through its glass panes. Eclipse took off towards the exit, the hood of the cloak flying off her head, her feet drumming loudly at the floor. It didn’t matter if anyone heard her now. Only a few more steps, and freedom would be hers.

She lunged for the door, before a sudden hand gripped her arm. The force jerked her back, and she slammed into the person.

“Hey, where do you think—”

“GO TO SLEEP!” Eclipse yelped, panicking. She felt his grip instantly lighten, and his hand slowly fell off her arm as the guard dropped to the floor. His eyes shut as he fell into a restful slumber. Eclipse was surprised—the man had to have been especially exhausted for her Persuasion to be able to put him to sleep.

Breathing heavily, Eclipse felt a faint ache in her head, and knew her Gift was reaching its limit.

With her power beginning to wane, it wouldn’t be long until the guard woke. She could already feel him trying to resist. Without hesitation, Eclipse swung open the door, jumping out into the garden. Her boots clicked against the cobblestone as she darted towards the path at her left.

The tall hedges around her made for a good cover if any guards or servants were searching the garden. A rustle in the bushes caught her attention, and she stopped in her tracks, peering through the prickly leaves of the hedges. A single servant stood near the garden fountain, a glowing lamp in his hand. His eyes darted all around, frequently stealing glances behind him as two guards emerged from the shadows.

“I heard something…just through the hedges. Footsteps,” he told the two men. The guards instantly drew their swords, their eyes alert as they crept towards the bushes. Eclipse lifted her hand out of the leaves and silently strode to reach the end of the path.

Once she was a good distance away, she broke into a sprint, reaching the edge of the garden’s stone wall. She heard a faint call from one of the guards, and knew they had heard her loud and clear.

Where in the stars is that damn door?

She shuffled through the thick vines, recalling the door was masked somewhere behind. The door was used as an easy path to the stables, yet was hidden and locked away to keep out intruders. Eclipse could usually find it with ease, but the stress of escaping and the lethargy of her Gift tampered with her head. The darkness of the night didn’t help either, and she knew she was running out of time. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek, and she felt the guards’ footsteps getting louder and louder, their voices disturbingly clear.

“This way! I heard something over here!”

Panic flooded through her head, and she frantically glanced around, looking for somewhere to hide. Yet all that lay nearby where short bushes of flowers and dense hedges of prickly leaves. There was nowhere for her to hide. They would surely catch her, and there was nothing she could do.

She pulled the cloak back over her head. Eclipse began to step away, her mind racing with alarm, before her hand grazed against a plank of wood in the stone wall. She tucked the vines away, and saw the exit door before her.

Yes!

She dove in for the lock, quickly trying to undo it as the light of the guards’ lamps grew closer behind her. They were too close now.

With a triumphant click, the lock came undone, and Eclipse hastily reached for the handle, pulling it open with a heavy swing. Without checking her surroundings, she immediately burst outside, greeted with the faint wind and an open sky. A dirt road lay just ahead of her, one that was used as a path for the horses. She shut the door behind her as quietly as she could and hastened across the yard, the stable just within her sights.

Thank the stars.

Her heart pounding from the adrenaline, she pulled the cloak closer around her as she reached the stables. The sharp smell of horses filled her nose, and she involuntarily wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“Well, look who it is. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show up,” Astrid said as Eclipse shut the large door behind her.

She followed Astrid’s voice and hurried to the back of the room, where Astrid and her partner were pulling out a pair of horses from their stables. They carried large sacks of supplies on their steeds, and Eclipse felt slightly better about packing such little items in her own satchel. Perhaps these two did know what they were doing. They both had changed out of their evening wear, each in practical clothing. Astrid’s sword hung freely at her side, the boy strapping his own blade on.

Astrid opened one of the hanging sacks, pushing the contents down aggressively. “Hand me your clothes,” she said to Eclipse, extending an arm.

Eclipse reached into her satchel, and pulled out bundles of folded garments. She was secretly grateful for the lighter load to carry. Astrid stuffed the clothing into the bag, burying it deep among other fabrics and cloths.

After buttoning the sack’s latch, she grabbed the reins and hoisted herself onto the horse. Astrid peered down at Eclipse. “I would get a horse of your own if I were you. You seem to have an abundance of them, Princess.”

Eclipse frowned at the name, but still turned to the array of horses that lay behind her. Which one should she choose? Although she rode on horseback often, she never claimed any one of them as her own. She always just took whichever one was available. Yet this time it was different—whichever one she chose, she would never see the others again.

After studying each one, watching them sleep or stand and stomp behind their gates, she finally settled on one. Phantom, a black horse that was known for being the fastest among her family’s steeds. He would be the most useful right now. Quietly swinging the gate open, she stepped inside the stall and gently dragged Phantom’s reins out into the open.

With his saddle already on, Eclipse pulled herself onto its back, shifting to find her balance. She gripped the reins firmly and adjusted the horse’s position.

“That’s a nice horse you got there,” Astrid’s partner commented as he brought his honey-colored mare forward.

Eclipse gave him a polite smile. “You know, I don’t actually know your name.”

“Antares. And you?”

“Eclipse. It’s a pleasure to meet you Antares. I apologize for Persuading you earlier, by the way. I was just alarmed is all. It’s not everyday that your house gets broken into.”

“Don’t worry about it, as long as you don’t do it again.”

“I won’t, unless you give me reason to.” She smirked.

He nodded. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

Astrid came behind the two. “Are we going to just sit here and talk or are we going to leave? Maximus over here is getting restless.”

Antares smiled. “Ah, so you like the names.” He turned to Eclipse. “That’s Maximus, this is Bella.”

“This is Phantom,” Eclipse replied. A faint memory resurfaced in her head: when her father had just bought the new black horse a few years ago. Eclipse had been the one to suggest the name, seeing that its dark coat reminded her of a fleeting shadow as it ran.

Rolling her eyes, Astrid pushed her white steed ahead and started for the door, Eclipse and Antares following closely behind. The horses around Eclipse in the stables let out small neighs in the quiet night, almost as though they knew about what she was about to do, the journey she was prepared to set off on.

Just as they approached the enormous doors, Astrid pulled back in her reins, her back rigid. Jumping down, she reached for the door and peered outside.

“Guards. Spread out around the corners.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Antares, would you mind clearing our path? That is, if you’re not too drained.”

Antares let out a sigh, and slid off Bella. “I guess that would be the quickest option.”

He walked over to the doors, pulling them open wide enough so he could slip out as Astrid mounted herself back onto Maximus.

“I’ll be back in a second.”

Suddenly, he was gone, bursting through Eclipse’s yard without warning. She heard faint yelling outside, and loud thumps and crashes against stone walls. She winced, knowing that had to hurt.

Just as soon as he had left, Antares emerged from the door, throwing it open with a loud bang. He was panting furiously as he was soaked in sweat, his eyes heavy. He stumbled over to his horse, clearly dazed and tired.

“You’re well enough to ride?” Astrid asked.

“Yes,” he groaned. “But that run used the last of my strength. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it again for a while.”

Astrid nodded, a hint of sympathy in her expression, and started out the door. Eclipse followed her out into the yard, the dirt path digging into Phantom’s hooves. Astrid snapped her reins, and Maximus broke into a gallop across the side of her house. Broken lanterns laid at the floor—some of them still lit in a faint glow—shining light on the unconscious soldiers sprawled on the grass. They were careful to ride away from the scattered men, avoiding crushing their limbs.

With the forest at one side, they rode past the stone of her house’s walls, and Eclipse stole a glance into the windows. Alarmed guards and servants bustled around, the light of their candles bouncing with their frantic arms. She was sure someone must have spotted them by now, but it didn’t matter. They would be long gone by the time they would get a chance to mount up.

As they neared the corner of the house, Eclipse was greeted with the cobblestone courtyard—now empty of guests—and an open sky. Eclipse’s nerves were on high end—patrolling guards most definitely had to have heard them. Yet Astrid and Antares remained unfazed, riding across the courtyard with just as much urgency as before.

Eclipse stayed cautious, before a groaning fallen soldier caught her eye at the floor. He pointed to their horses, struggling to keep his arm up, before it fell back down defeatedly. It appeared Antares had cleared the courtyard as well.

Astrid rode through the metal gates, flinging them open with a loud crash. Phantom stepped out into the vast outside, Eclipse finally free from the prison of her house. The three sprinted forward into the infinite road, the shouts of guards and pounding footsteps echoing behind them.

“Get back here!” a faint voice called.

When they were a good distance away, Antares sped up ahead of Eclipse as she briefly slowed to a stop. Eclipse glanced over her shoulder, taking one last look at her house, the only home she’d ever known. She didn’t know when she would return, or if she would return at all. Why should she? There was so much more to life than reputations and gossip. So much more than politics and power.

With a deep breath and a smile, she urged Phantom forward, galloping into the night as her cloak flew back in the wind.