•Azure•

Cerise wasn't what I expected- or I guess she wasn't the person I'd previously assumed she was.

When I first got here, and we formed a temporary alliance, I thought I would be constantly looking over my shoulder. Lunars were known to be untrustworthy, manipulative, and ruthless. Cerise appeared that way on the surface, but I wasn't so sure that was really her. Sure, she's rough around the edges. Her moral ambiguity was definitely in question sometimes, but to put it in her own words she wasn't 'a heartless monster.'  

Throughout the many encounters I'd had with her in the past, all I was shown was the Lunar warrior determined to kill me. She was vicious, deadly, and cunning. Now that I'd been around her when we weren't obligated to fight, I'd realized that she didn't exactly match Lunar characteristics.

What really surprised me was the importance she placed on her word. Cerise evidently didn't want to break her deal with me, even if she was told to. I figured she didn't agree to our truce without fully examining all of her options- still, her passing up the opportunity to take me out of this war was shocking.

If Onyx knew, he would be furious at Cerise for aiding me yesterday. Even if I was a temporary ally, in the long run eliminating me would offer huge benefits for her side of the war. She even warned me she would leave me to fight alone, and yet that wasn't what occurred.

Strategic reasons aside, Cerise was not as cruel as the people she allied with.

And then there was Vienna.

After figuring out that Cerise wanted revenge on Vienna- for unknown reasons- I couldn't think of much else.

I suspected Cerise hated her after that day in the apartment when she clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white after I just mentioned her. What happened that made Cerise hate her so much? 

I shook my head slightly in an attempt to clear it.

We would be heading out soon to meet Blaine before school. I would like to make it there without Cerise and I getting into an argument. If I thought about everything involving Cerise these past couple days, I was bound to ask questions and since she was very cagey on talking about Vienna or the Lunar side- it would likely result in a fight.

The sound of her door opened and closed. I looked up to see her walking out of her room. Her dark hair was up and she wore a simple black tank top and jeans. She looked like she usually did: calm and composed. The anger was gone from her eyes and replaced with aloofness.

"Are we going or what?" She crossed her arms, eyeing me coolly.

I stood from my seat at the table. I had been fixing the chair she split in half last night.

"Yea I'm ready."

I had figured that she wouldn't be up for discussing any topic close to our fight, and therefore would ignore it altogether.

I was going to do my best not to antagonize her- I admittedly got a kick out of it sometimes. It was amusing to watch her amber eyes flare at me with such ferocity. However, I didn't want to truly make her furious right now. She was always so serious, it was refreshing when I could poke her enough to get her to banter with me.

Last night I let my curiosity push her a little too far. Technically she broke our truce, but I recognized I more or less started it by pressing into her life.

"Let's go then," Cerise turned on her heel and headed for the front door. I followed, taking a deep breath as I did.

We exited the apartment, and walked out of the building into the warm California weather. She was strangely quiet- not that we usually had nice, easy conversation. This just felt tense, and we actually had been making some kind of progress in getting along. 

We had evidently taken a step back.

I glanced at the small brunette to see her expression completely focused. Her mouth was set in a thin line, and her eyes were concentrated on the task at hand.

We expedited the last quarter mile to Blaine's. We were moving so fast that the normal human eye wouldn't be able to detect us.

We could move like this in short bursts, but trying to expedite for too long would drain our energy. It was useful in high stake situations- much like the time I expedited to stop Cerise from beating up that man at the bar.

As I thought about that now though, even her actions then hinted at some sort of compassion. Her actions were violently misguided, but it had to come from a place of empathy. Otherwise, why take action?

As we continued to move, the world around me was a blur of blues and greens. The wind was nothing but a soft brush against my skin. 

We slowed to a normal pace when we reached Blaine's street. I couldn't help but glance at Cerise as we walked. I wanted to see if I could catch that wild fire that was in her eyes last night.

"Azure, stop examining me."

Cerise stopped walking and abruptly turned to face me. "I don't question why you work on the Solar side, so stop questioning me."

Her expression wasn't filled with untamed rage or anything like that. It was almost bored. Any trace of that vengeful energy was gone.

How did she hide it so well?

It occurred to me that her guard was really up now. She was keeping everything buried, and had the lid tightly sealed shut.

"Sorry, I'm just...observing." I gave her a small smile, hoping to break her out of this stone-like stature.

She just rolled her eyes. It actually made me feel better. She still possessed that snarky attitude of her's.

We continued walking and were almost at Blaine's house. I could hear him saying goodbye to his mom. She yelled goodbye back, and the sound of Blaine's footsteps going down the stairs followed.

"You view the Lunar side as the villains," Cerise spoke suddenly. "You view me as a villain too."

I turned to her and rose a brow. Well of course I did, they were my opponent.

"You think we're evil and corrupt, but do you realize that I view you and the Solar side the same way?" She met my eyes for second. "To me, you guys are the villains I want to stop."

Her amber gaze was steady as they rested on me. She then turned to look ahead and kept walking.

I blinked after her.

For once I didn't immediately have something to fire back at Cerise. It was a strange thought to entertain. I knew logistically that the other side wanted Solar demise- but to think of them viewing us how I viewed Lunars...was a different perspective.

Still it was hard to rationalize considering how Lunars executed their plans. They were powerful and skilled, but they also held the mentality that there could be no weakness- that killing was a plausible course of action. Even in their own order, sacrifice for strategic gain wasn't uncommon.

No one thought of themselves as the bad guy. I didn't doubt that Cerise believed her part in the war was just. However, Onyx was a different story. That man was covered in darkness and his methods seemed to advance one goal: power.

It was true that there was a certain line of morals that majority of beings would perceive as good and evil. However, there were those who crossed that line. I believed Onyx was one of them. What happened when that line of morals and values became grey to a person. How did they determine what was right and wrong?

I broke away from my thoughts at the sound of Blaine's front door creaking open. My attention narrowed on the current objective.

I caught up with Cerise just in time to see Blaine walking down his front porch. His chestnut eyes landed on us, and I could see him tense for a moment before he relaxed.

"Wow, you guys are punctual," he commented as he walked the rest of the way to meet us.

"Yes well we don't have much time," Cerise replied.

I nodded in agreement, "We need to fit in all the  training we can."

"Right." Blaine walked past us to the sidewalk, and to his truck that was parked on the street. "So where to?"

•••

"I'm gonna try really hard to not immediately assume you guys are trying to kill me." Blaine surveyed the area we'd directed him to. As his gaze went up and around the environment, his mouth curled down into a frown. "It's not working."

We'd gone to the beach- not to the parts with people and swimmable shores, but to the cliff side with caves and hazardous terrain.

The entrance to one of the caves was before us. The mouth was a dark umber color, soaked from the continuous waves that crashed into it. The surface looked slick, gleaming under the sunlight that touched it.

"Believe me Blaine," Cerise began, "With your crystal active if I wanted you dead, you would be."

"That's...comforting, thank you," Blaine grimaced.

"Don't worry," I assured, "Your death would be beneficial to no one now. Not even Cerise."

"Hm," she huffed, "Can't say the same about your life Azure."

"What a shame you can't seem to kill me in combat then," I snickered.

Cerise's amber irises narrowed as her jaw tightened. She scowled before whirling to face the cave again.

"Wait," Blaine interjected, "If you need all six crystals for the war, then doesn't that mean you two can't actually kill each other?"

I shook my head, "No. Once you devote allegiance to the Solars or Lunars you've officially joined the war."

"So after you pick a side, you can be killed with no loss to the war's end," Cerise added, sending Blaine a sharp glance. "Now let's go. We're wasting time."

She led the way into the cave, gracefully avoiding the water puddles and slick rocks. Blaine and I followed. The hum of waves crashing surrounded us, as a faint ocean mist brushed my skin.

The smell of salt seemed to increase as we walked further in, as did the dimness. Fortunately, there were holes in the roof allowing the sun to provide us with some light.

We made our way past the carved out gaps in the cave floor. The ocean water would fill it before the rolling sea pulled it all back. Eventually the rock became more dry, flat, and sandy until we reached a round cove area.

It would do well to train Blaine and keep him protected.

"So why are we training in a very dangerous part of the beach?" Blaine looked between Cerise and I questioningly.

"Because it's the safest place for you to practice using Akain magic," I answered. "Umbra hate water so where large bodies of it are, less will be present."

"And the cave?" Blaine pointed up.

"Keeps you out of human view," Cerise supplied, "It also functions a lot like a natural 'house'. It messes with Umbra's ability to track your essence when utilizing your crystal."

He nodded slowly, "Ok. So what are we starting with? Weapon summoning? Fighting Techniques? Shard wielding?"

"Expediting."

Blaine's brows furrowed in confusion, "Like expediting shipping?"

"Like expediting yourself." Cerise then vanished from my side, and in half a second appeared behind Blaine.

"See?"

"Shit," Blaine muttered, jumping slightly. His eyes were wide as he turned towards Cerise. The shock in Blaine's brown eyes quickly changed into intrigue. "I didn't know we could teleport."

"Well it's not actually teleportation." I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning against one of the large rock formations that lined the walls.

"We're just moving so fast that the human eye can't pick up on it," Cerise explained.

She then vanished from next to Blaine, and appeared next to me again.

"This is something we use in short bursts and only for emergencies when you need to move somewhere quick," she continued, "Expediting too much will deplete you."

"This is a basic skill that will help you begin to access your power, while also being something useful if you ever need to get away from Umbra," I added.

"Where do we begin?" Blaine asked, stepping into the center of the sandy clearing.

"We begin by starting to connect you with your crystal power." I stood to my full height as I began to explain, "The energy is physically in your body. So the best way to start is to picture it. Picture it manifesting itself in your veins. Imagine the very real energy coursing through you. As you breath, feel the air flowing through your lungs mingling with that very power."

"You want him to like...meditate?" Cerise asked, the disapproval clear in her tone. When I glanced at her beside me, she was grimacing like she ate something rotten.

"I mean it is a meditative process," I turned to her, trying to gage what she was getting at. "Why? Do you have a better suggestion?"

Cerise pursed her pink lips contemplatively as her eyes went to Blaine who was watching intently for further instruction. After a moment, she shook her head.

"Not yet."

"What do you mean not yet?" I pressed.

"Let's just say I don't think you're quite ready for my input."

I cocked my head at her, internally groaning at her stubbornness.

"Go on, hero," she sneered mockingly, "Do your thing."

Despite it being a positive word, Cerise made hero sound like scumbag. I knew it was a jab at our argument- villains vs heroes and who exactly was who...

"Feel like elaborating on why you despise my side yet?" I pressed once more. She seemed to have this deep hatred for anything related to heroics and Solars.

"Not particularly."

"I can only understand what you let me Cerise."

"Well maybe I don't want you to understand more. That ever cross your mind?"

"No," I retorted with a smirk, "But the more you throw jabs, the more I'm gonna want to have a conversation about it."

"Oh goody," she rolled her eyes. "Is this how heroes operate? Pursuance to help those that don't actually want your help."

"Depends on who I'm pursuing," I threw her a wink, "And how in denial that person is in wanting my assistance."

"So heroes are egotistical dicks. Got it."

"Do you two need a minute?" Blaine interjected.

"No." We both replied in unison.

I turned back to Blaine. His gaze was darting back and forth between Cerise and I with furrowed brows.

"Let's begin," I stated, regaining his focus.

Blaine nodded and stood tall in the center of the clearing. He took a breath and closed his eyes.

"Your crystal is also tied to your senses," I explained. "So while you're picturing that energy listen to the sound of the waves. Listen to the rush of energy gathered in the water as it crashes onto the shoreline. And the sound of the wind blowing threw the crevices of the cave. Concentrate on the feeling of the ocean mist and the salty smell of the sea."

As I described the world around me to Blaine, I felt my own crystalized energy stir. The power flowing through my veins. It was illuminating.

"Now your crystal energy will feel like a push or pull in your chest. Wait for it and when you feel it begin, hold onto it."

Blaine clenched his jaw in concentration. Even though his eyes were closed, I could tell he was distracted. His hands were fidgeting and he was shifting on his feet.

Eventually he stilled, and the tension seemed to loosen. We waited in the silence, allowing for Blaine to focus on his power. The sunlight caused the reflection of the water to dance on his bronze skin and sun bleached hair. Nature surrounded him, providing multiple sources for his senses to feed off of.

It was the ideal setting.

We waited a few more moments as Blaine stood like a statue, fixating on his crystal.

"I feel stupid." He suddenly opened one of his eyes, peeking at us.

"You look stupid too," Cerise chimed in from her spot on the rock behind me.

I rolled my eyes at her, "Not helpful," I stated, before turning back to Blaine.

He let out a defeated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I don't feel anything in my chest or anywhere."

"That's ok," I assured, "Don't overthink it. Remember this is natural for you."

"Natural," Blaine repeated, "Right."

I went back to stand by Cerise as Blaine readied to try again. He shook out his hands and feet before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes once more.

This time we sat in silence even longer. The minutes ticked by and all that was heard was the soft flow of the ocean water.

After about twenty minutes Blaine opened his eyes again, "Ok so if it's natur-"

The sound of crystal interrupted Blaine. I saw his brown orbs widen, before he abruptly dove out of the way. A red crystal shard barely missed Blaine's head, as it flew past and wedged into the rock wall behind him.

My gaze shifted from the crimson gem to Blaine who was now on the sandy floor.

Did Cerise really just shoot that at him?

I whirled around to face her, "What was that?"

Cerise flexed her hand, still perched on the rock slab. "My input."

I narrowed my eyes, "Your input is to attack him?"

"Yes," she confirmed, hopping to her feet.

She walked over to Blaine and held out a hand to him. He looked at it skeptically for a moment, eyes darting to her face and then back to her hand.

When she made no aggressive move, Blaine accepted her hand and she hauled him back onto his feet.

"Blaine needs high stakes to begin accessing his power," she turned to me. "If we can create an adrenaline spiking environment, I think it would be more effective than...whatever this is."

"So you just want to attack him until he accesses his power?"

"We're on a time crunch," Cerise crossed her arms and glanced back at Blaine, "I wouldn't be doing real damage or harm, just a little pinch to make the urgency real."

"That is a terrible idea."

"I disagree," Cerise refuted, "Blaine's an athlete, he's most connected with his body when his adrenaline is high. We need to replicate that to connect with his crystal."

"She's right. I think I just felt something but it was fleeting," Blaine said drawing Cerise and I's attention. "You just said not to overthink, well sports require a certain instinct that allows for that. I think we should try it."

I glanced at Cerise and then back at Blaine. I still didn't like the idea but if Blaine wanted to give it a try- then why not make the attempt? Besides, I knew Cerise didn't want to do him harm, not with what was at stake.

"Alright," I stepped back, and leaned against the rock Cerise previously occupied. "But be careful-"

"Yea yea, I will," Cerise waved away.

I couldn't help but be wary. If anything we could use this opportunity to teach Blaine how to heal himself as well.

They moved into the space, both going to opposite ends of the clearing. Blaine stood almost against the wall facing Cerise and I. He was to move side to side to avoid Cerise's crystals that she would shoot from across the cave.

"I'll attack in a series of patterns," she stated, "I'll speed up over time until it's necessary for you to expedite. Understood?"

Blaine nodded, his feet were a little more than shoulder length apart as he bounced lightly on the balls of his feet.

"Let's do it," he said determinedly.

Cerise waved her hand, summoning a small handful of her crimson crystal shards- six in total. The scarlet gems morphed out of thin air, floating around their owner.

She held her hand up in a fist directing the crystal shards in front of her. They fell into a neat line, rotating slowly. Then with a quick glance at Blaine before her, Cerise released her fist.

The first shard shot at him and Blaine easily dodged it, stepping to his right. The second one went and he leapt to his left. The next one had him shuffling once more to the left, before he had to quickly dive to the right to avoid the next two.

The process went on, speeding up as each round reset. Cerise was quick to re-summon her shards with a sharp wave, recycling after they collided with the rock wall.

I saw Blaine begin to breathe slightly heavier and his forehead begin to glisten with sweat. However, being a trained athlete, his form never wavered and his irises remained intent with focus.

Cerise began to speed up.

The sound of crystal crashing, echoed off the wall in an almost staccato. If Blaine wasn't so fast, I'm sure one of the crystals would've hit him by now.

As the speed increased, I saw Blaine's eyes flash in realization. He wasn't going to be fast enough to continue avoiding the crystals.

Cerise fired the next round. Blaine dodged, dove, and swerved, but as I watched the next crystal begin barreling toward him- time seemed to wind down. The slick scarlet of the crystal shimmered as it passed through a circle of sunlight, and then it was in front of Blaine. He was too slow this time.

The crystal collided with Blaine's arm. The red gem burrowing itself in his flesh. Blaine fell back from the impact, grunting as his hand immediately came to cradle his arm.

He hissed out a breath as his face contorted in pain, "Damn that hurt."

I let out a sigh as I turned to Cerise with narrowed eyes. Her claim to do no real damage or harm coming to the forefront of my mind.

She met my gaze and placed a hand on her hip.

"Don't give me that look," she chided, "I have to make it sting somewhat so he feels motivated to move."

"Well consider me motivated," Blaine groaned.

Cerise looked back to Blaine and walked over to his crumpled form on the ground.

"Come on, shake it off," she said as she knelt down beside him. She grabbed his arm and held it out so she could get a better look. Blaine grunted in protest.

"Hold still if you want me to fix it," she ordered.

His eyes darted to her, still looking slightly wary- but nonetheless he listened and held still. However, his chest was still rising and falling rapidly.

Cerise placed her other hand over the crystal on Blaine's arm causing him to wince slightly. After a moment a red glow seemed to hum from the crystal. When she pulled her hand away, Blaine's skin was healed.

"There, like it never happened," Cerise stood.

Blaine looked over his arm, his fingers running over the now healed skin as his eyes began to widen in awe.

"Whatever damage a Celestial causes with their crystal they can also fix," she explained. "Healing wounds given by other Celestials or Umbra is a different matter. But that's for another lesson."

"Wow," he muttered impressed, "Thanks."

Cerise just nodded, before walking back to the other side of the cave. She summoned six more crystal shards and turned to Blaine.

"Ready to go again?"