Noran watched the stars die.
The sky became laden in light as it gathered into iridescent strands, spilling out from one dark wound till nothing but radiance could be seen. Auroras spread across the sky, spurred by some hidden wind.
It was breathtaking.
He walked out, Lokel—his friend—following him out to the balcony. Lokel leaned on the rail. After a few silent moments, Lokel whispered, "You're bored."
"Is it that obvious?" Noran just wanted to be alone. Alone with him, and his thoughts.
"Yes," said Lokel, grinning. His fathomless eyes sang amusement. "You're like Wiv—but she'd try to hide it."
"I'd hazard a guess that she doesn't like me." Noran leaned on the rail, watching a saint soar by with their rusty Halo with an avian gnome.
"That's why. It's your 'gall.'" Lokel grinned and shook his chalice of lux'tuy. Noran frowned. Shadows plucked the cup out of Lokel's grasp and put it into Noran's slender hand.
"You shouldn't drink so much."
Lokel sighed. "One cup. Promise."
Noran returned the chalice with a wince. "It's your life, but please, Lokel. Just one."
"'Course."
"Lislan, Noran! Come here!" shouted their father, waving a hand.
Noran turned towards Lokel who shrugged. He said a quick good-bye and soared up to the upper pavilion. Lislan was already there, shining and bright. "What is it?"
Mum's eyes reflected the heavens. "Do be understanding. It is a frightful thing we will be doing."
"Doing…what?" Noran asked, reviewing his past actions.
Mum winced and looked at Dad. He continued for her.
"We will be taking in a child from Nixthys."
Lislan gaped, and Noran flinched.
"Excuse me!" Lislan dug her fingers into her head, setting her glorious hair on fire; the flames flirted with smoke. "A human?"
Mum said, "No, a saint."
"A saint in Nixthys? Did the Council approve?" hissed Noran.
"A Vindai did. They ordered us to take the kid in. You alright with that, kids?" said their father, eyes simmering stars.
"Oh lis! A Vindai!?" shrieked Lislan, shock shifting to elation. Noran remained apprehensive; he didn't trust this, but…if Lislan wanted it, he could deal with it. Just for her. He stared up at the dying stars.
His opinion didn't really matter. That was fine.
Momma winced and glanced at the other Nobles. "Let's discuss this more inside."
They didn't get to see the new stars take their place.
…
Aysu opened her eyes, surrounded by…arcing lights. They flew across the horizon, leaving trails of glowing dust.
It disappeared, and then she was among the lights. It looked like night, but there were distinct little dots of light around her. What were they called? They were beautiful. They faded.
A soft sweep of color before her eyes and paradise blinded her.
On the ground, Aysu breathed in, suddenly aware of the softness around her. The ground was…soft. Cool. Her eyes stung still, but it wasn't constant.
She dared to look up.
Oh ashes.
There were no ashes falling from the sky. Unholy hells? The sky was blue. A shocking, light blue like her mother's eyes. There were clouds—puffy white clouds that looked softer than what she lay on.
What was this…green thing? Grass? But the grass was brown and prickly.
The sky…wasn't gold. It was a foreign blue.
She stood up, grabbing her abandoned gun. "What the hells is this?" she breathed.
"This is your home."
Aysu whirled around, pointing her gun towards the voice. "What the hells are you!"
she demanded.
The thing's skin was grooved like bark, a grayish-brown with virescent hair—could you even call it that?—that resembled lush strands of leaves. His eyes were mesmerizing: his pupils were blossoms with irises that sparkled with white and sclera a faint gold.
He was a beauty.
Wait, was he the one who did this to her!?
"What the hells did you do? Get me back."
No. No. Aysu did not want to go back. This world was pristine, gilded in beauty. It had a glamorous allure, everything painted in grand colors. If her world had been hell, this was heaven.
But her hells had been home.
"Please, get me back home. My parents—"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" she shouted, fear drowning her. What was this place? What could she do? How could she go back!? What were his motives? What was he going to do to her?
"This is your new home. Your parents are dead."
His voice was monotonous; there was a lilting accent to his words, but despite the declaration, his voice maintained the same level. It was emotionless.
After a pause, he said, "I'm Rnlaip." He paused. "Do you trust me?"
Aysu stared and choked out a dry laugh. "No, of course not! Just…get me home. Please."
"I am not lying."
Strangely, she felt she could trust that at least with his monotone, plain voice. Aysu had…a talent for catching lies. She was often wrong, but she was more often right.
Oh damning gods of ashes.
Was she deluding herself—no! Why should she believe the thing!
Aysu was mad, insane, demented—all the kinds of crazy and oh damning gods.
Was this all…real?
Aysu took a deep breath. "They are…dead?"
"Yes." He seemed so callous though he did look away for a moment before fixing those lamp-light eyes on her. "I wish—"
He stopped.
No she would not think of that.
He stared, tilting his head. "It is okay."
In a moment of defiance, she shouted, "No it isn't! My parents could still be alive—you're kidnapping me!" Her words caught.
Breath.
By.
Breath.
"It is taken care of. The Aranlis House is ready for you; they gave you to one of the younger branches of the house; their children are excited."
Aysu didn't let her face change from its stormy sulk. "Sure."
He canted his head. "Your mother's necklace."
What? How'd he get that!? Aysu fought the shock with relief, extending her hand for the silver necklace. It was a pendant set in silver wires with a symbol on its black backdrop. Straight, solid lines twisting to make an eight-pointed star set inside a ten-pointed star.
Dead, then. Her mother never put it out of her reach. And her father never let the ring out of his sight.
Fine.Fine! She was fine.
Aysu squinted her tears away, breath shaky. She was shaky all over. Her chest constricted, this unpleasant feeling drowning.
He paused. "Are you alright?"
"Of course not!" she shrieked, her voice an octave higher. She loathed how helpless she felt. "It is completely fine for you to introduce this. No, really. It's fine! Oh gods of damning ashes, how am I supposed to do ANYTHING!?"
Without them?
"Aysu, stay calm—"
"—How can anyone calm down in circumstances like this? Wait, what are you doing? Let me down!" Aysu shouted as Rnlaip lifted his arms and roots wrapped around her gently before plopping her into a cold pond.
"Won't people notice I'm gone?" she whispered, shock washed away.
"They will assume you were also murdered along with Tatlis and Yinaey—I mean, Aylin and Bolin. I know this might be hard," Rnlaip said, "but you mustn't give up to despair. Please, Aysu. How can I prove this is real?"
"Why? Why would you—why can't I not—"
She was not making any sense!
"Aysu. We have to move on. I don't want to hurt you, but you will live and you will live for an infinity. You will not end."
"What." Aysu wanted to shout and yell and scream. So, she did. "You expect me to believe you? That—no! Billions? Why am I talking weirdly?"
He looked relieved at her question. "You are speaking our language."
"Ha!"
Huh. I'm speaking a different language!? This—huh—new language is so weird—is it like default or something? A translating mechanism? I don't understand…
This was overwhelming.
This is a dream. Entertain the dream.
Aysu shook her head, biting her lip as she rubbed her eyes. "Will…my parents' murderer be killed? They will be killed, right?" Even if it was all her imagination, pleasure and satisfaction welled up at the thought of the "dream" murderer being punished.
He sighed. "The Council will try."
"Try? They will succeed."
He was silent. "All of their capabilities have been washed away along with their independence. I am hesitant to indulge more into a discussion of their vulnerabilities." She pondered what he meant, apprehension curling in her stomach.
Rnlaip reached into his body and pulled out a silver cube. Someone appeared—a hologram—pacing, and turned to them. She pointed at Aysu and at Rnlaip, squeaking.
And he said, "You are going to meet the Aranlis family. They are prepared."
So. Hollow.
"How did they already know that I don't have a family anymore?"