Stay still.

Auriella fell forward, though a hand caught her just before her face hit the concrete. She shoved herself free from the grip, spinning around as she expected to see Norman dressed in his jade and gold robes with a legion of Ihimyan mages behind him. Instead, Auriella just found a tall boy with chestnut hair and the loveliest shade of amber eyes. But under closer inspection, Auriella realized it wasn’t just any random boy.

It was Kye Martin, a senior in the same school as her, and who supposedly, according to most of Auriella’s friends, had a hidden crush on her.

“Kye?” Auriella exclaimed. “What the hell, dude? Do you just sneak up on people like that? God.”

“I don’t,” he replied.

Auriella reached down to pick up her bag, wincing a bit as another wave of pain crashed into her head, but rising as though nothing was wrong. She gave Kye a look. As much as he was handsome, his personality was as flavorful as a piece of bread. Not just any bread, but whole wheat bread. To put it simply, Kye had the blandest personality Auriella ever encountered. But that didn’t stop his spare use of words and stern mien to characterize him as a dark, brooding enigma to most girls at school. Though he never striked Auriella as such.

“You seemed like you were hurt,” he continued. “I didn’t mean to scare you. But I did find it funny.”

Auriella raised a brow. She’d never seen Kye laugh. Frankly, she’d never thought it possible that Kye had a sense of humor.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he added.

“Well, yes, I think I’m fine.” That was a lie, and Auriella quickly realized it as soon as she felt another stab to her head. Strangely enough, the scent of mana hadn’t disappeared, and instead, seemed to be stronger with Kye standing in front of her. Auriella looked around, a feeling inside telling her that it still wasn’t safe.

She looked back at Kye. Just as he was to the rest of the school, Kye was a mystery to her. She never got the chance to know him, despite being in the same friend group. Well, he never gave her the opportunity to do so, in Auriella’s defense. But it wasn’t like they were complete strangers. Maybe she could ask for his help just this once…

“Actually, Kye, could you do me a favor?” Auriella asked. Kye nodded. “I’m honestly not feeling well at all. Could you bring–”

Suddenly, Auriella’s knees collapsed, and she fell forward. Kye caught her and said something, but to Auriella’s ears it had been a mumble that soon drifted into a whisper. Again, the world had grown silent except for the beating of her heart and a clear voice that whispered to her,

Awake.

“Auriella?”

Auriella looked up, Kye’s brows pinching together. “Are you alright?”

Auriella closed her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. “I think someone’s following me.”

“I don’t see anyone,” Kye replied.

It was either she was incredibly tired or she actually needed to listen to Axle’s ridiculous advice for once.

Maybe she should visit a shrink.

“Could you bring me home, Kye?” Auriella sighed, pulling herself to her feet. “Please?”

Kye nodded. He did so without question.

“Axle really outdid himself.”

Auriella glanced at Anansi who held a flask to her lips, watching as Axle and a few other school friends challenged him to a dancing game on the Wii. For a man nearing his thirties, Axle wasn’t half bad.

“I don’t know whether you're being sarcastic or polite.”

“Do you not like it?” Anansi asked. “I like the starry night theme. It fits your aesthetic.”

Auriella observed the place. It was a small party with a few friends from school held at none other than the Astro Cafe. Axle added a few decorations for the festivity, like a Happy Birthday banner he custom designed for Auriella and some star-themed cups, plates, and table covers. It looked more like a low budget children’s party than anything else.

“I’m appreciative of his effort.” Auriella nodded.

“Now you’re the one being polite.”

Auriella smirked. “Personally, if I was going for a starry night theme, I’d actually do it outside under the stars. Probably in a place far from the city. On a hill.”

“Maybe next year you should host your own party.”

“Maybe.” Auriella smiled. She gestured to the flask in Anansi’s hand, changing the subject. “Also, Anansi, what is that?”

Anansi tipped her flask. “What, this? It’s water.”

“I smell alcohol.”

“Vodka, water, same thing to me.” Anansi took another sip.

Auriella scoffed, but she didn’t comment any further. Anansi Helspen was the first friend she made when she transferred to Hollen Academy and remained her best friend ever since. She wasn’t exactly the kind of person her father approved of– but yet again, her father was an ass and didn’t like anyone– but she was loyal and she was considerate. She was someone Auriella allowed herself to rely on, even after what had happened to her previous friends in Ihimya…

“Like I always say, why go to a party if you don’t have a bit of fun?” Anansi added. “Now–” She took a final gulp and tucked the flask away in her jacket– “why is it that the birthday girl stands in a corner with me, her pretty alcoholic friend, and not out there with that moron busting out his moves?”

“It’s precisely because of that. I’ll look like a moron.”

“Oh, come on.” Anansi rolled her eyes. “I’ve known you for a year now and not once have you ever been the buzzkill to a party. What’s with the sour mood?”

Auriella shook her head. “I’m not feeling well.” Which was true, to some extent. After Kye dropped her off, Auriella went straight for her father’s drug cabinet to grab a painkiller. It helped slightly, but she could still feel a small bit of throbbing, as if it were waiting for the painkiller to wear off and strike again. The last thing she wanted was to do something that would make her head hurt.

Axle plus dancing equaled a massive headache.

“Maybe you’re just exhausted,” Anansi said. “Do you want me to get you a drink–” Anansi paused, her eyes squinting at a figure on the other side of the room. Auriella followed the direction of her eyes to find Kye staring back at them. Kye took one last gulp of his drink, set it down on a nearby table, and began approaching them. “On second thought, I’ll probably stay here.”

Auriella pursed her lips. “Do you still not like him?”

“I don't like anyone who likes you,” Anansi replied. “I’m possessive.”

“Well, he isn’t a bad guy…”

When Auriella first heard the rumors of Kye’s infatuation with her, Anansi had thrown a fit. It wasn’t the first time Auriella heard that someone liked her– after all, she knew she was nowhere close to being ugly– and it wasn’t the first time Anansi got irritated towards a potential rival to Auriella’s attention. But it was the first time she witnessed Anansi’s genuine hatred towards someone, a poisonous sort of animosity that even made Auriella’s skin crawl. Anansi was ruthless with words, but unlike previous admirers, she was merciless to Kye.

“Do you like him then?” Anansi asked abruptly. “Do you like Kye Martin?”

“Not in the way he does. Or at least what the rumors say.” Auriella took one last look at Kye, considering him for another second as a potential love interest, and then scratching him off immediately. “Anyways, you have nothing to worry about. I won’t be whisked away by some human equivalent to a slice of bread.”

“It’s not just that,” Anansi mumbled.

“What is it then?”

“Auriella,” Kye greeted, acknowledging Anansi with a nod. “Hellspawn.”

“It’s Helspen, dumbass,” Anansi sneered.

“Hm.”

Auriella tried her best to stifle a chuckle, for the sake of Anansi’s pride, but Anansi glared at her anyway.

“Have you gotten to dance yet, Kye?” Auriella asked. “I heard from my boss that it’s pretty fun.”

“I don’t like dancing.”

Auriella blinked. “Right. Me neither.”

A slice of bread. Auriella had to remind herself.

“What is it that you want?” Anansi asked, tapping Kye.

Kye barely glanced at her, focusing instead on Auriella. “Could we talk?”

“We’re talking, aren’t we?” Auriella smiled.

Kye’s stare was unwavering. “Privately.”

Anansi’s eyes widened. “Alright, that’s enough.” She pointed at Kye. “You aren’t reaching home base today, buddy.”

“Anansi,” Auriella scolded.

“Riel, do you want to get some drinks with me?” Anansi asked. “I’ll have that boss of yours whip up a sweet latte.”

“Anansi, play nice.” She grabbed Anansi’s arm, and when she did, the subtle throbbing in her head turned sharp. The painkillers were wearing off. “This is my party, and he is my guest.”

“And I am your friend,” Anansi bit back, “who is just looking out for you. I do not trust Kye more than the next sketchiest guy in town. I will not have you alone with him.”

Auriella frowned. “That’s not for you to decide– shit.” Auriella took a step back, almost hitting her head against the wall.

Kye reached for her but Anansi pushed his arm aside.

“Riel, what’s wrong?” Anansi asked, touching her friend’s face.

“It’s the headache,” Auriella replied.

Go.

Auriella’s eyes widened. She lifted her gaze to meet Kye’s whose constant stoic countenance ever so slightly expressed an emotion. Concern. When he glanced at Anansi, it shifted to suspicion.

Go with him.

Again, a small, clear voice echoed in her ear. Well, now that Auriella thought about it, it felt more like the voice echoed throughout the entirety of her body.

Go.

Auriella slowly rose to her feet. Whoever or whatever the voice was, it clearly influenced the way she moved. Auriella never had the intention of entertaining Kye’s request. She had an inkling that at the end of their private discussion, she would be faced with a decision, one she wasn’t prepared to make. Despite her many admirers, no one ever had the balls to actually confess, and Auriella wasn’t ready to be confronted in that way. Especially on her birthday.

It just didn’t settle right with her.

But there she was anyway, taking Kye’s offered hand, and telling him, “Let’s talk outside.”

The fresh air should help her symptoms and maybe even calm down the voice in her head.

It did help. Immediately after she stepped out of Astro Cafe, Auriella was hit with a wave of relief. Though her headache disappeared, a strange humming replaced it, vibrating in her ears and echoing in her chest as if it were waiting for something.

Long ago, she had read in a textbook that Ihimyan babies developed what was known as Bees Syndrome which was when their powers remained stuck in a small ball of buzzing energy inside of them. Mana was developed alongside the child’s growth and learning and motor abilities. Just as a child learned how to say its first word at the age of two, so did Ihimyan babies learn to express their mana in the form of a power. But Bees Syndrome kept the energy needed to express that mana tightly coiled in a ball only which therapy and some encouragement could resolve. It was equivalent to a child unwilling or unable to speak when it should be able to.

Auriella understood that when she drank the contents of her Grandmama’s ruby, she inherited the Constellation Goddess’ mana and powers. Though it’d been ten years since she did so, not once was she able to connect with it, much less wield it.

Maybe it was different now. Maybe now was the time–

Auriella shook her head.

Her powers had remained dormant for years. Why would they suddenly appear now?

“Is it another headache?” Kye asked.

“No, I was just thinking,” Auriella replied. She realized that they had been walking in silence for about half an hour, considering they now stood in front of the town’s clock tower a few blocks away from the cafe. She turned to him. “So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?”

Kye looked at her as if he’d been asked if he believed in aliens. “I…” He paused. “I don’t understand why, but lately I’ve been drawn to you, Auriella. I seem to… I can’t keep my distance from you.”

Auriella’s brows raised. She didn’t know if her shock was because it was the longest she ever heard Kye speak or if it was because she felt the beginnings of a confession weave itself into the conversation.

She needed to end it quickly and swiftly, for her sake and Kye’s.

“Kye, I’m sorry. If the rumors are true, and you do like me, I need to tell you that I’m not interested.” Auriella looked for any sign of hurt in Kye’s eyes but found none. A stiffness formed in Auriella’s throat, and she found it hard to continue what she was saying. Tears threatened to form in her eyes, and she found it incredibly ridiculous that they did so. But she understood why. It reminded her of a memory she both cherished and desired to forget.

Norman wasn’t the only reason she left Ihimya.

And neither did she leave Ihimya in peace.

Auriella had run and abandoned it to ruin, leaving everyone she’d ever loved to crumble.

Auriella watched Kye’s expression for a hint of embarrassment. To her surprise, she only found sympathy and understanding, as if he could feel the storm of emotions and memories inside her. She then had a dizzying idea to tell Kye about what happened to her when she was younger, how she lived with Grandmama until she was murdered and how Auriella was sent away to a new land to learn of other worlds bigger than hers. She wanted to tell him about her past in Ihimya, about her friends and her crush, her heartbreak and misery, and how she left Ihimya not as a runaway but as a coward. After all, Kye would never believe her. Mortals on Earth were egocentric, skeptical, and dull, most unwilling to believe that there was anything larger or beyond themselves and what they were accustomed to. Kye was the very definition of such a human, so it wouldn’t hurt to unload all the baggage she’d been carrying for a year.

Would it?

Trust him.

Auriella grinned. Even the voice agreed with her.

She definitely needed to see a shrink at this point.

“Can I ask you a question?” Auriella began. Kye nodded. “Do you believe in aliens?”

Just as she finished her sentence, the hand of the clock tower struck, and a loud bell echoed the announcement of a new hour. Auriella felt her heart begin to race and her skin crawl, as if someone was watching her. Again.

Auriella observed. This time it was possible that someone could be lurking in the shadows since it was night, and the only source of light the two had were a few streetlamps and the stars in the sky.

Unlike earlier, Auriella was certain that Kye and her weren’t alone. She could feel it. Even the voice told her,

Beware.

“Do I believe in aliens?” Kye repeated the question. Auriella returned her attention back to him. “Do you think I’m a dumbass?”

Auriella would’ve been surprised by Kye’s response, since she never imagined him cursing. He seemed to be too proper and classy for that. But Auriella’s attention was elsewhere as she heard a faint cackle behind her. She whipped her head around, hoping to find maybe a stray animal or a homeless person near the square, but all she found were shadows.

Auriella’s heart began to hurt, and she felt panic threaten to take her breath from her.

“Did you hear that?” Auriella asked.

Another sound, this time a snarl, but it echoed from behind Kye’s back.

Auriella grabbed Kye’s hand, her body shaking. “Let’s go back to the party. I don’t feel good out here anymore.”

The buzzing inside Auriella intensified as her paranoia grew. She could’ve sworn she saw something scuttle behind Kye and bolt past her shoulders to send her baby hairs standing erect. But she saw nothing until–

Two red eyes glimmered between the dark patches of a nearby bush. Two red eyes and a snarl like a beast.

Run.

Auriella pointed at it as Kye turned around.

Run!

But it was too late for that. The creature had already pounced on them.