The stranger chuckles darkly at my silence, pushing the spear deeper into me until it breaks skin. All those lessons from Atlas and my father are about to pay off. From a young age, I was forced to learn how to protect myself. No one ever thought I'd need it, but my father still insisted. He would never admit it, but his reputation is the reason that self-defense is a mandatory skill in the Van Blake family. We all have our magic, of course, but one of the first lessons my father taught me is to never put all of my faith in magic— it isn't always enough. Atlas enforced this belief just as heavily by insisting we all spar with him from time to time. As much as I used to dread the self-defense sessions, I'm extremely thankful for them now.

The blonde beside me holds out a frantic hand. "Cyrus, stop—"

When the stranger's dark eyes drift over to his friend, I jolt forward, grabbing the spear pressed beneath my chin, and shove it back towards him. The flat end of the spear knocks him square in the nose, and he loses his grip. I yank the weapon out of his hands and jump to my feet in one swift motion. "Seeing as I was dragged here against my will, I think I'll save the thank you," I hiss defiantly.

Blood gushes down his face as he paws at his nose fruitlessly. His blonde friend is on his feet now, stepping between the two of us. With the sharp end of the spear pointing at the stranger, I glare at both of the men, taking a hesitant step forward. They both step back.

The blonde speaks first. "Love, we woke up on this island just weeks ago— same as you."

I stare at him in disbelief. "How do I know you're not lying?"

"You don't," the injured man growls resentfully over his friend's shoulder.

"Must you always make everything worse, Cyrus?" his defender mutters through gritted teeth. His warm eyes meet mine again, and he takes a small step forward, raising his hands slowly. "Can't we be civil with one another, Dear?" He smiles at me, but the corners of his mouth are curved downwards. It's an awkward smile that I don't return.

"Back up," I demand. He obeys, taking another step back. "What do you mean you two woke up here? Who are you people, and where are we?"

The blonde speaks first. "My name is Maddox. I was taken from my home by Starborns. They captured me and brought me here. The same thing happened to Cyrus a few weeks later. We've both been here ever since," he explains quickly, his hands still held out passively. "We are on an island, but I don't know exactly where we are. Now, I don't know how much you know about magic, but I can tell you that we are in what's called an Autolycus Cage."

Despite my confusion, I maintain a stern demeanor. "What does that mean?" I inquire assertively.

"Put that weapon down, and I'll tell you anything you want to know." Despite the daggers my eyes are shooting at him, his expression remains resolute. He must know that I don't actually intend on using the spear on anyone. I assume that's why he's not trying to fight me for it right now. "I'm sorry about Cyrus. He's stupid, okay?"

"Hey!" his freckled friend shouts.

I don't trust either of these men, but it would be unwise to make enemies of them. It might just be us three on this island, and I don't know how well I'd fare out here alone. Begrudgingly, I toss the spear to the side with a sigh. Cyrus leaps forward to snatch it from the ground. Before he can come at me with the weapon, his comrade trips him at the ankle with ease. Cyrus and the spear both land among the sand with a thud. He curses under his breath as his friend stoops down to pry the spear from his hand.

The blonde stands back up, his curious gaze meeting mine once more. "An Autolycus Cage is created with very powerful spell-work that is meant to contain any living thing whilst absorbing its magic. However, not everyone on this island is a Moonborn. Mortals are being imprisoned as well." He sounds bored. Almost as if he's repeating this information for the hundredth time.

My eyebrows raise at his words. "You two are Moonborns?"

Before Maddox can answer me, Cyrus's harsh voice cuts into the conversation. "Absolutely not," he snarls in disgust. When I look over at him, he is on his feet again, swiping at the dried blood on his face. "I couldn't imagine being such a dreadful creature. They're all a bunch of self-serving twits. Just like you!" he accuses, narrowing his eyes at me.

Maddox chuckles before I can formulate a response. "I think we would have found out by now if that were the case, Cyrus. Besides, Moons don't last long around here."

My heart nearly stops at his words. What does he mean by that? Is he bragging about harming Moonborns? Are he and Cyrus killing my people? Or is there a different meaning behind his words altogether? Either way, I can only pray that my siblings are nowhere to be found around here. But still, even if the compass was jinxed somehow, it still brought me here. As much as I don't want to consider it, it is likely that my brother is on this island somewhere. Whether he is alive or not is a different story.

"I don't know..." Cyrus murmurs doubtfully. His dull, cautious eyes meet mine.

"Oh, please," I say dismissively. "Believe me, if I had magic then I would've just ended you both with a snap of my fingers." In all honesty, I was too dazed and weak to conjure up a spell after washing up on the shore. That, and I wouldn't actually know the first thing about ending someone with the snap of my fingers.

Cyrus's shoulders sag as he visibly relaxes. He looks to be deep in thought about something as his gaze turns to the ocean behind us. I thank my lucky Moons that I didn't give myself away. There was nothing but fear and rage behind Cyrus's eyes when Moonborns were mentioned. I don't know how he'd react if he knew the truth. I do a double take when I realize that Maddox is watching me, a knowing look on his face. The kind of look that screams I know all of your secrets. A hint of a smirk plays at his lips, but he says nothing. And just like that, Maddox becomes the bigger threat between the two men.

"I didn't catch your name, Darling?"

I clench my fists. I'll have to comply, or he'll tell Cyrus that he knows what I am. But does he actually know or is he just being coy? "Callie," I reply offhandedly, glowering at him. "And stop calling me Darling," I demand, mocking his insufferable accent.

He ignores my bitterness, clasping his hands together decisively. "Lovely! I'll tell you more about the island back at camp. We should hurry; it will be dark soon." He turns his back to me, making his way toward the dark tangle of trees. Cyrus's spear is hooked against two straps across his back. "And no trying to kill each other!" he adds after a moment.

"Always the diplomatic doctor, aren't you, Maddox?" Cyrus calls out to him sarcastically.

What does he mean by doctor? It must be some sort of nickname. Maddox looks too young to have much experience in medicine. He looks older than his friend though. His friend, who may or may not try to kill me later if I go with them. Cyrus's grin drops when he sees me eyeing him dubiously. We exchange condescending looks for a moment before he finally scoffs. Without another word, he flounces after Maddox, not bothering to look back. I start to trail behind him but freeze after a few seconds. I can go off on my own, or I can follow two strangers into a creepy forest. Both options are unwise and potentially dangerous, but at least one of them may lead to some answers. Whatever Maddox knows about this island might lead me to Atlas. Going off on my own now would jeopardize that. Besides, these two are simple mortals. I could always resort to magic if I need to.

Reluctantly, I follow the two men into the ominous tangle of trees. The forest shields us from most of the sunlight, but it is still just as muggy inside the cocoon of trees. Everything is green and covered in even more green. Green moss. Green leaves. The only thing not green is the soil beneath our feet and the occasional patch of blue-colored grass. Seeing the indigo vegetation makes me wonder if we really are that far from Lunaria. Thunder begins to rumble above the trees. That's an abrupt change in weather. The sky was clear and bright just a few minutes ago. Maddox and Cyrus don't seem to be worried about it, so I don't question it.

The walk to their camp is a lengthy one. I try to get more information out of Maddox, but he brushes me off, informing me that we can talk at camp. I decide to let it go for now when he starts ignoring my inquiries. The pair of strangers bicker back and forth about dinner plans and sleeping arrangements for the night. I do my best to keep up with their long strides, but I don't contribute to their bantering. I opt to tune them out for the time being. I'm not sure why these two ventured so far from their safe place, but I'm thankful that they did. As annoying as they are, they did save my life. I'm both grateful and resentful. Being in debt to these men isn't an ideal position to be in.

The cluster of trees seems to tighten as we get deeper into the overgrowth. Very little light is coming through the canopy above us now, and it's making me uneasy. "Maddox, how much further?" I ask.

Cyrus glances at me over his shoulder, looking smug. "Worried we're gonna take you to our base and cut your skin off?"

I ignore him, keeping my eyes glued to the back of Maddox's head. "Maddox?" I press.

"It's just right up ahead, alright?"

"Okay," I say quietly. Maybe it was a mistake following them this deep into the forest. No going back now though. Even if I wanted to turn around, I would be lost in minutes. This place is like a maze.

Maddox is true to his word. Just a few more steps, and we're walking into a clearing. The sun is eclipsed by gray clouds, but the open circle of land shines bright in comparison to the darkness of the trees looming around us. If you ignore the eeriness surrounding it, the clearing is actually somewhat cozy. Several small shelters are placed around a larger, central one. The structures are made out of sticks and logs. Patches of fabric, mud, and rope hold the walls and roofing together. This must have taken ages. Two strangers are loading firewood into an unlit fire pit near the biggest shelter. A blonde-haired girl notices me first, tapping the boy next to her on the shoulder to whisper something to him. He glances up at me from the firewood in his hands but looks away quickly when I cock an eyebrow at him.

"You four built this?" I ask.

Cyrus shrugs. "Maddox and I started it, then Vivian and Ares came along and helped," he explains, motioning toward the duo at the campfire. "Others came after, and it got easier from there."

A small handful of people begin to poke their heads out of the smaller huts, but they duck back into their homes when they realize it's only Cyrus and Maddox. Upon closer inspection of the clearing, it is evident that the empty space in the forest isn't something that occurred naturally. There is hardly any grass in the camp area and several dark spots suggest the earth has been scorched. Fallen trees outside of the clearing are singed and leafless.

I turn back to the pair beside me. "You two are lucky you didn't kill yourselves burning down the forest," I comment pointedly.

Maddox averts his eyes from me, while Cyrus scowls. "No one burned anything," he says a little too harshly. "Stop saying stupid things."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at his constantly sour attitude. Is he always so defensive about everything? A frustrated sigh escapes me. "Okay," I mutter irritably. Maybe these two aren't the ones responsible for it, but it's obvious to anyone paying attention that something burned here. 

But Cyrus isn't worth the argument.

"It's about to rain! Don't waste the firewood!" Maddox shouts.

The girl throws her arms up in exasperation and says, "It always rains! Ares and I went fishing earlier, and we don't wanna waste the food!" She doesn't share the same accent as Cyrus and Maddox. She talks like me. The sky grumbles overhead, causing her to look up at the dark clouds.

"Well, you'd better hurry and cook it then," Maddox orders. He makes his way over to them to help. I can't make out anything else they're saying from across the field.

Cyrus's dull, brown eyes are fixed on me when I turn to look at him. "I don't understand. Why do you all choose to stay here? Why not just leave?"

"Did you not hear the part about this being an Autolycus Cage?" he mutters indignantly.

I cross my arms, letting out a loud huff of air. "What exactly is your issue with me?" I demand, stepping in front of him when he starts to walk off.

He stops in his tracks, his expression becoming scornful again. "Let's make one thing clear. Maddox saved you, not me. I suggested we leave you to your fate instead of adding another person to our group to worry about, but clearly, things didn't go my way. Maddox signed up to be your babysitter, not me. I owe you nothing."

"I didn't—"

"Cheers," he says dryly, shoving past me to join the others.

I take a slow, deep breath, closing my eyes briefly. He's not worth the headache. Maddox seems to know more than him anyway. And he said he would tell me more about the island now that we're in their camp. As I twist around to observe the group standing around the now-lit fire pit, a water droplet lands against my warm cheek. I wipe it and the thin layer of sweat that has gathered across my face from the humidity in the air. My eyes lock with Maddox's, eliciting a hesitant smile from him. He waves me over to him. Reluctantly, I oblige.

I'm prepared to demand answers as I approach, but the smell of cooked fish makes my stomach growl. I shouldn't have skipped breakfast. As if she could read my mind, the blonde girl beside Maddox offers me a branch with a cooked fish on the tip. Unlike the stick that Cyrus jabbed into my skin not too long ago, this one offers food. A much kinder gesture. I give her a thankful look, accepting the offer for my stomach's sake. After a brief pause, I take a small bite. Cyrus grabs his own fish before retreating to one of the nearby huts, muttering something snippy under his breath.

"I'm Vivian," the girl says radiantly, fiddling with a strand of her hair. Maddox's dusty-blonde hair is not nearly as eye-catching as her icy waves. My attention strays from her when people begin emerging from their shelters for food. I think there are about twelve people in the camp in total, excluding myself. Vivian is frowning when I meet her gaze again. "I know this is all a lot to take in, but I promise it's not so bad here."

"And Cyrus isn't too bad either... He's just kinda prickly until he gets to know you," the man kneeling beside the fire says. "I'm Ares by the way," he adds as an afterthought. He looks to be a few years older than anyone else here. He also lacks Maddox and Cyrus's peculiar accent.

I offer both of them a half-smile. "Thanks. I'm Callie," is all I say before turning to Maddox. "Can we talk now?" I ask, eyeing him with impatience.

"Are you always in such a rush?" he asks in amusement.

"Maddox," I urge.

The exasperation I'm feeling must be evident because his expression suddenly becomes serious. He tilts his head towards the large shelter, suggesting that I follow him. I nod in response, stooping down to place my fish on one of the large stones around the fire. "Just take it with you!" he calls over his shoulder.

How does he walk so fast? I almost pick the fish back up, but decide I'll return for it later. I thank Vivian and Ares one last time before running off to catch up with Maddox. He ignores my complaints about him walking off so quickly but finally speaks when we're outside of the large structure.

"I apologize for avoiding your questions, but it's best our conversation occurs in private. As promised, I'll tell you anything you want to know," he says, opening the door for me.

I nod stiffly, pausing only for a moment before stepping inside. The shelter is square-shaped like the others and made mostly of mud and logs. There are no windows, but the inside of the home is dimly lit with several lanterns. Despite being the biggest shelter in the clearing, it isn't very spacious. It is one big room with clothes and clutter thrown about. Spears and other makeshift weapons are propped along the walls. They all look to be crafted by hand, except for a neatly polished sword leaning against a stack of books. A sleeping bag and some other supplies rest beside a chair that was handmade out of logs. Sitting in the chair is an exhausted-looking Cyrus.

When he notices me, he is on his feet in seconds, glaring cautiously between Maddox and I. "What's this?" he asks sharply.

Maddox brushes past me. "Cyrus, could we have a moment, please?"

He stares at Maddox incredulously for a moment. "Are you serious?"

"It's only for a few minutes, Mate."

Cyrus laughs hollowly. "Oh, okay. As if she hasn't had enough special treatment, now I'm expected to leave my own home to accommodate her privacy?"

Maddox sighs. "It's not for her; it's for me. Please."

"That's rubbish!" his friend exclaims. "When have you ever had to say something with me out of the room? It's absolutely for her!"

I swallow the dryness forming in my throat. I want to say something to try and remedy the situation, but I'm certain my input would only make things worse. I didn't realize that I was unknowingly driving a wedge between the pair. I'm not sure why Maddox has been so accommodating towards me either, but I now understand why Cyrus feels so daunted by my presence.

"I'm not doing this, Cyrus. Get out," Maddox demands, his usual lax tone has been replaced with an authoritative one.

The two glower at each other for a few seconds, before Cyrus starts laughing in disbelief. "Of course, Mate. It's what Maddox wants, right? Wouldn't want to impose," he sneers, shoving past his friend. He makes sure to roughly slam his shoulder into the side of my head before flinging the door open. He doesn't bother to close it behind him as he storms off.

I rub the side of my face that collided with his shoulder in irritation. First, a cut below my chin and now a bruised temple. The small amount of pity I felt for him just moments ago has vanished.

Maddox shuts the door beside me before reaching out to try and examine my face. I push away from him, crossing my arms. "I'm fine."

"I'm so sorry. I'll talk with him—"

"I said I'm fine. I just want to know where I am, how I got here, and how to leave!" I burst out. I didn't realize how much pent-up frustration I had until now. It's not common for me to take my emotions out on others, but recent events are bringing out the worst in me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just..." I want to tell him that I'm just worried about my brothers and my sister. That I've been worried sick ever since they went missing and that none of my feelings are intentionally directed towards him, or even Cyrus. But instead, I say, "I'm just overwhelmed."

He frowns at me. "I understand, and I want to help. But I don't believe that you are being entirely honest with me, Love."

The image of him suppressing a smirk on the shore pops into my head. That knowing look he gave me when I said I was mortal like them. Does he know that I'm a Moonborn, or was I reading too much into it? If he does know who I am, this must be the part where he demands something in exchange for his secrecy. Saving my life is another thing he could hold over my head to try and force me to submit to his blackmail too. "My name is Callie," I say obstinately, looking anywhere but at him.

"Right," he murmurs. "Well, Callie, what do you want to know?"

"What do you want to know?" I ask accusingly.

He cocks his head to one side. "What do you mean?"

I shrug irritably. "I saw the way you looked at me on the shore... when we were talking about Moonborns," I say, doing my best to give no emotion away.

He grins, the corners of his mouth dimpling. "I didn't realize I was looking at you in any sort of way," he says innocently.

Is he taunting me, or does he genuinely not know what I'm talking about? There's a mischievous glint in his eyes, suggesting that he knows something. But I don't want to come right out and say what I think he knows and risk putting myself in danger. He remains silent, but that knowing look is back, irking me to my core.

"Are you gaslighting me?" I accuse.

He chuckles. "Don't make it sound so dirty, Love. I would say that I'm simply teasing you."

"Well, stop it," I demand. "I want to know what you think you know about me before we talk about anything else."

"Are you implying there is something to know?"

I purse my lips at him. Why is he being so coy? I wonder if it is actually harmless teasing or if he's trying to trick me into saying too much. In a situation like this, it's best not to say anything at all. Let him talk.

His amused expression is replaced by a thoughtful one after a moment. "I admire your stoicism, Callie."

I cross my arms expectantly. "Okay," I say dismissively, raising an expectant brow.

He takes a deep breath. "What I know is that you very well could have ended Cyrus and myself with the snap of your fingers."

Something between an exhale and a laugh escapes me. "I really couldn't."

"Perhaps not in that moment, but I'm sure you're more than capable," he replies, watching me carefully. "And I know that this isn't a normal compass." He reaches into his pocket, revealing the silver compass that brought me to this island.

My composure drops as he hands the small treasure over to me. Even though it is the reason I was ripped away from my home, I'm beyond happy to have it back. I wrap the chain around my hand, feeling a sense of safety surge through me. I haven't found Atlas yet, but having the small trinket back reminds me that he's only an incantation away. The only downside to the compass being with me is that Eros won't be able to find it when he goes looking for me. Now, he will have no idea where I could've gone, and he will worry more. But this might still be for the best. I can find Atlas, and now I don't have to worry about my little brother getting pulled onto this strange island with me.

"I know that you have no reason to believe me, but I promise you that any secrets you have, whether you admit them to me or not, will be safe with me." His voice is sincere. I almost want to believe him.

When I look up from the compass in my hand, he takes a step closer, his brown eyes burning into me with curiosity. But not the kind of curiosity that demands information from me. No, the way he's looking at me suggests that he wants to tell me something. Despite whatever conflict he's having in his mind, his lips remain sealed.

"Thank you," I say after a moment. "For giving this back to me, I mean."

He shrugs. "It wasn't mine to keep. And by the looks of it, it is very special to you."

Atlas's jovial laughter echoes in my memory. Storms always frightened me when we were children. I remember clutching the silver treasure to my chest, wrapping it around my hand for comfort as I am now. The more the thunder would shake the castle, the tighter I would hold onto the compass. I only ever used it for reassurance. I never once actually used the gift to track him for a serious reason until now.

The incoming storm outside rattles the makeshift shelter, pulling me from my thoughts. My grip tightens around the compass, determination welling up inside of me. "It is," I declare.

He nods understandingly, then sighs. "I'm sorry to rush this, but I don't want to make Cyrus stand out in the rain any longer than necessary," he says, running a hand through his hair. "The reason I made him leave is because I needed to tell you that you can't do magic here."

"What do you mean?" I ask warily.

He looks at the door, then back at me, lowering his voice considerably. "Don't ever tell anyone that you're not mortal. Don't even say it to me. Cyrus isn't the only one on this island with a distaste for Moons. As long as you're trapped here, you must play the part of a human."

I lower my voice to match his secrecy. "What do you mean 'trapped'?" I ask, curving my fingers to make air quotations. 

"Do you remember when I said that this island is an Autolycus Cage?"

"Yes?" I whisper in confusion.

"Essentially, an Autolycus Cage is a giant barrier, and anyone inside of it cannot penetrate its walls. While we may not be able to escape, the island can only take your magic from you if you use it," he says quietly, giving me an urgent look. "Do not use your powers for any reason, Callie. You will lose your magic, and the island will react in catastrophic ways."

I shake my head, trying to wrap my brain around all of this information. Maddox told me earlier today that Starborns stole him and Cyrus away from their homes and brought them here. But if an Autolycus Cage steals magic, why drop off two mortals on the island? Maddox and Cyrus have to be mortals... there's no way that Cyrus could be a Moonborn. His hatred for my kind was too genuine. But then why would the Starborns bother with mortals? It doesn't make any sense.

"How do you know all of this?" I ask slowly while trying to organize the several questions swirling around in my mind.

He hesitates for a moment, then says, "Because it happened to me."