Page 50 of A Dusk Of Stars

Soon it becomes so nauseating, I close my eyes and start rocking back and forth to try to make it stop.

It doesn’t help.

Until I feel the touch of a hand on my left shoulder, so warm and solid, it almost instantly grounds me.

I feel him pull his hand away and retreat back to his spot, but the nausea stops, and so does the rocking.

I open my eyes, fixing them on the bowl again.

On the other side of the surface of the water, there’s the entire universe, made up of all the people I’ve ever known, all the people I’ll never get to meet, all the things I’ve seen and all the ones that have left their mark.

The book.

The eyes.

The symbol.

A shiver runs down my spine. The goddamn symbol. Why do I have a feeling something starts awakening in me every time I recall the symbol?

I don’t know why, but I get up.

At that very moment, the universe in front of me seems to get sucked into a hole, I dig my feet firmer into the ground, opening my mouth to call for help, but then…

Then there’s nothing.

***

I’m standing on my own two feet and still, it feels like floating. There’s darkness all around me, but I can feel something in its depths — breathing, watching, waiting.

For one long, long moment, there’s only silence.

Then that deep, ethereal female voice booms from everywhere around me.You need to leave this place,it says. The underlying threat shakes me to my very core.

I gulp, deciding not to do as it says. Not now, when I’m closer than I’ve ever been. Nervously, I peer deeper into the darkness, but find nothing there.

And I know it won’t answer — it never answers, but still I say, my voice coming out all choked-up, “Alright, I’ll leave.” I pause before I add, “Just show yourself first.”

I’m not talking to you,she says coldly.

For a second, it renders me speechless, that I actually got an answer. Then I find myself taking a few hesitant steps forward. There’s this growl that booms from the darkness, but I keep walking until I see these barely visible shapes.

Bars.

It feels like a punch in the gut that knocks the air out of my lungs. I stop, and something nudges me to glance down and then up. There’s no visible end to them, as if I’ve found myself in boundless space.

The growling turns louder and more menacing, making me snap out of it. I take a deep breath before I do it. “Whywon’t you talk to me?” I ask with determination in my voice, making her go quiet.

To my surprise, she lets out a low, mocking laugh.Why won’t I talk to you,she echoes.Alright. Let’s talk.

Fuck yes.

Tell me, she says before I can even open my mouth.Who are you?

The question makes me frown. “Anna.”

The silence makes it clear to me I haven’t gotten the answer right. “Um, Librarian at Grimm Academy.”

I only get more silence. “A shifter?”

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