Page 16 of Above
-From the journal of Nova Tershetta, 9272 AS
Walking to the border was made even worse by the snow as it fell in what felt like viscous, frozen bites. Every shop was still closed. Darkness seemed eager to envelop me as I trudged on, the only light that of the twinkling celestial beings above and their companions, Dajahim’s three moons.
Silence always gave me more time than I wished to think. Of Celeste’s pleas and my mother’s sad eyes at dinner. Of the burning smell of haya and the risk my absence exposed my family to. Of death and what it might be like to drown within the well of essence.
Artie had one thing right—my brain was in need of better past times.
So instead, I focused on the properties I had found in haya. The elderberries would be relatively easy at least. I knew those grew around the far east edge of the shaytan military base. Seeing as I would be living in the barracks, there was no need to stress about that singular ingredient. Magical bones would beharder, but I had stolen those before. Deciphering much of the rest had been a pain. Though, I was fairly sure I now knew all nine ingredients. It wouldn’t be easy to recreate, but once I was done with Elite Academy then I would surely have the financial resources to get it all if I hadn’t already. From there…well, I would think about that later.
I spent the rest of my long walk thinking about what was to come. The stars were not kind or merciful, that much we all knew. They liked to play games and test wills, anything that would bring a modicum of entertainment to them. I wasn’t necessarily the most exciting individual, though I had been deemed worthy twenty-five years ago, so apparently I interested them enough then. Hopefully I still did.
Ahead, the routinely guarded border between the Sham District and the Star District loomed. It was the same area I went to every day, where I was shadow walked to the base for morning grunt training. I stared into the eyes of the woman on the left, whose face paled as she watched me near. Elite Bargain seemed to grow more horrified with my every step. It concerned me, seeing my normally steadfast leader so shaken up. Had she not been hinting towards my participation in the shadow ritual just last week? Maybe I had read that wrong.
But, no, it was not me she was staring at. The closer I got to her and the other guard, the more I realized she was looking in a slightly different direction. Near the swamps?
My head subconsciously turned as I stepped up to the imaginary line, whatever was on my left calling to me as it did Bargin. It was then I saw them.
Four people walked toward the border, each of them dressed in the same training clothes I wore, though theirs were marked with the wealth they clearly possessed. Shining, thick, and accessorized. All four stood tall as they neared, their features sodifferent but their auras much the same. They moved in what seemed to be a predetermined formation.
On either end were two men. One had rich umber skin and hair so short I could barely make it out, the edges of his facial hair crisp and highlighting his sharp jaw. A single earing sparkled in his ear beneath the light of the sun as it now began its long ascent. The other had wild, chestnut curls that seemed to bounce as he walked. They paired nicely with his bronzed skin. His jaw was softer, though I could tell by his bulkier build that he seemed just as fit.
Taking up the rear—making the spot seem almost powerful—was a woman with midnight hair that ended just above her shoulders. She had olive skin and red painted lips, body petite in a way only the rich were. Her curves pretty and alluring. Ahead of her walked a man taller than them all, his body seeming to ripple as he walked. His hair was nearly the same shade as the snow at our feet, shorter on the sides than it was on the top, where it parted in the middle and seemed to perfectly flow outwards. His pale skin was a jarring contrast to the jet black of his clothing and the many dark rings that graced his fingers.
I had never seen them before, so—since grunts were grouped by age and skill—I figured they were quite a bit older than I was. That wasn’t surprising seeing as this ritual only happened every twenty-five years. Still, there was something off about them. Something foreboding. I had a feeling, judging by their clothing, that I knew what it was.
Core families.
“Tershetta, don’t say a word,” Elite Bargain hissed. All the confirmation I would need.
“So,” the one in the front said as they arrived at the rendezvous spot, “is this everyone?”
“Hardly. You’re all earlier than we anticipated.” I didn’t bother to look at the male guard, my eyes glued to the pack ofwolves before me. Why had they not been personally escorted by their parents? All of the core families possessed the shadows, as they had for generations. Them being here made no sense.
Without so much as an ounce of shame, I further studied them, attempting to decipher which families they were from and what their reason for being at the border was.
Each of them wore their family rings, though the one in the front caught me staring and tucked his hands away before I could see the crest. Every core family had one, so seeing the three beasts interacting with stars on their fingers was no surprise.
A lion with a star on its brow. Dofrel.
A raven with stars on its wings. Elders.
A wolf backlit by a star. Otarn.
But the one in the front. Who was he? The hair was nagging at something in my mind. I knew it was a sign, but I was struggling to recall which family was known for such a striking shade.
“What are you staring at?” the girl hissed more than asked. I hadn’t studied the newest batch of core family children. They had old world values, which meant they married young and bred quick. But I knew the crest on her ring was Otarn. A hateful family. Even more so than at least fifteen of the others.
“Grunt Tershetta, why don’t I take you over there separately so you can assist me with that task I mentioned yesterday?” Elite Bargain asked, her hand reaching out and gripping my elbow. My eyes finally left the group, landing on my superior and seeing the terror in her gaze.
I needed to hide what I was for as long as I could. If they killed me before I completed the shadow ritual then my family would be doomed.
That was the thing about core families, on the rare occasion they left the confines of their district, they loved to kill whatthey considered the unworthy. It was like a game for them. Or perhaps an eradication.
“No, she should stay. It is traditional for us to all go together, right?” If the Otarn girl’s voice was a cutting blade, his was immovable steel. There was no arguing with the man in the front, whose smirk seemed to grow the longer he looked at me. His steps towards me were calculated and taunting, like he might eat me alive just to say he could. It was at that moment that I realized his eyes were grey. Not the stormy shade of Dad and Celeste’s, but an almost icy shade. As if he knew what I was looking at, he winked my way.
It enraged me more than I wished to admit. Core families were entitled, despicable people. They were born to be prejudiced tyrants with no goals other than their own dominance.
“Pretty thing, aren’t you?” His voice was a predatory hum. An omen that rang in my ears.
