Melancholy emanates from Cyrus as he runs his hand across the sword's blade. He doesn't say anything for a long moment.

"Cyrus?" I press.

He blinks rapidly as if I've awoken him from a vivid dream. He then sucks in a quick breath and says, "Leo rarely used incantations, but whenever he was traveling to another dimension, he would sometimes say néo kósmo. I have no idea what it means, and I can't tell you how to channel the power to do it. I don't know how that works. All I know is that you'll have to use Star magic for the spell to work."

Thunder rattles the walls of the building, distracting me. "Uh, né kósmo?" I reply with uncertainty.

"No, néo kósmo," he corrects me.

I frown. "Néo kósmo," I repeat.

He nods approvingly. "Yes, that's right."

"Well, what do I do with the sword?" I ask, dropping my head to examine the jewels that line the weapon's hilt. "Do I just swing it and say the chant?"

He shakes his head. "Leo never actually swung the sword unless he was using it in a fight. When teleporting, he would simply point and slice. Very slowly—almost like he was painting on a canvas only he could see. And then a rift would open for him."

"A rift?" I wonder aloud. He nods in response. 

Eros said the Starborns that took Juniper and Orion came out of a white crevice that appeared out of nowhere. This must've been how they did it.

Cyrus clears his throat and glances at the mortals huddled behind us. Some of them are engaged in conversation, while others are staring intently at us. 

Cyrus turns back to me, using an even quieter tone. "Everyone on the island knew that Leo was a Starborn, but some of us humans didn't take to him. After you do this spell, my people are all going to know what you are, and some of them will hate you for it. Starborns put us in this cage, so some of us will see you as an enemy."

I don't want anyone on the island to know the truth about what I am, but I don't have much of a choice anymore if I want to save Nova and learn the spell to save Orion from Maddox.

I shrug. "They all think I'm a Moonborn already. I doubt this will be much different, but thanks for the heads up."

His expression grows wary. "Some of us hate Stars more than Moons, believe it or not."

"But not you," I say without thinking, causing his eyes to darken. I scramble for something else to say, feeling uncomfortable under his intense stare. "Er, you must've cared about Leo, who was a Starborn, to know so much about him is all."

"Yeah, I did," he says curtly, and I roll my eyes. Always so testy. 

His sour look morphs into a wounded one after a moment, and he looks away from me suddenly, lost in thought. And from the looks of it, the thoughts are painful.

I've seen this look before, but not from Cyrus. This is the look I saw on my mother's face when she received the letter from our General informing her that her husband may not return home alive from battle many years ago.

When I was fourteen, mortals invaded Fort Fos, one of our army posts located in our second most important city, Fos City. Selene City, my home, is the heart of Lunaria, while Fort Fos is where Moonborns go to become soldiers. It's the Moonborn version of a mortal military camp.

My mom and my father's advisors have tried and always failed to keep him from fighting in our wars. It isn't preferred that the king engages in such violence as he is expected to rule the country, and he can't do that if he is dead. 

However, my father always argues that a true leader doesn't abandon those who would die for him. I always found this mindset of his to be quite admirable. I still do, but I no longer look up to my father the way I used to. I used to think he was a hero, and to the Moonborns, he is. Everyone else... not so much.

The mortals outnumbered our soldiers during the battle is Fort Fos, and our father almost became another tally for the death count. I remember sitting next to Mom for comfort as she clutched onto the letter with everything she had in her heart. 

I remember watching the light she usually always harbored in her doe eyes slowly vanish with each passing day when she didn't hear back from the General or our father.

She was... utterly broken. Dad is her whole world and she is his.

Dad lived, of course, but he was on bed rest for weeks after making it home. He was covered in deep gashes that refused to stop bleeding for hours and hours.

I never understood how a mortal could've gotten that close to my father, let alone lay a finger on him, but knowing what I know now, I'll bet he wasn't only fighting mortals. The war with the Starborns had to have been brewing right under my nose for a long while before it got to this point. My parents and Atlas kept us all in the dark about it, but Starborns have likely been attacking us for years.

Seeing the same hurt and fear my mother felt in Cyrus's eyes is surprising. He's always so defensive and agitated that I was starting to wonder if he even could feel another emotion besides anger.

But looking into his eyes feels different now. I assumed his gaze must've always been so lifeless and dull because of his bitterness, but now I think that the light left his eyes when he lost Leo. "You loved him," I whisper hesitantly, causing him to tense.

As much as I still hate Cyrus, I can't help but pity him. Just like my heart ached for my mother when she thought she was going to lose the love of her life all those years ago, I now feel that same sadness for Cyrus. 

His head snaps back in my direction, and I meet his gaze after a moment. I'm waiting for him to yell at me or counter with some spiteful remark, but he says nothing. His expression is briefly curious before he visibly buries all emotion beneath his usual scowl.

"What's it to you?" he asks, sounding highly defensive.

I shake my head, feeling guilty for some reason. "I didn't mean to—"

"Stop pestering me with nonsense and do the damn spell."

I clear my throat and oblige him by staying on task. "Néo kósmo. And don't swing fast. Right?" I question, arching a brow.

He nods and visibly relaxes. "Yes, and you should think of Maddox when you're focusing on opening the rift. The dimension is everchanging, so trying to think of a specific location that isn't on our plane is fruitless," he explains with determination.

"And then what do I do?" I ask.

"You should be able to touch the light from the rift, and it will pull you through to the second dimension. I would go with you, but Ares begged me to stay for the sake of our people." He cocks his head to the side, giving me a wary look. That, and Leo warned that jumping through dimensions can hurt the person you're bringing with you if you don't know what you're doing."

I frown. How am I supposed to pull Nova through with me if that's true?

I'm about to ask Cyrus how he expects me to bring Maddox back safely with me, but as if able to read my thoughts, he says, "I don't know much about magic, but Maddox is like a walking encyclopedia. He knows a lot about magic, mortals, and everything in between. He'll be able to talk you through getting back with the sword without hurting him or your friend."

I guess I'll need Maddox for more than one thing before I cut ties with him. A part of me wishes that Maddox isn't who Dolion says he is so that I don't have to turn my back on him, but even if he was lying about Maddox killing Leo, I can't take any more chances. 

Trust is what will stab me in the back. That, or Dolion Locke.

"Okay," I mumble as I take the sword back from him. I sit up so that I'm resting on my knees, and I'm about to push myself up from the ground, but I pause when Cyrus's previous hurt expression lingers in my mind. "Cyrus..."

"What?" he asks impatiently.

I fidget with the hilt of the sword, feeling uncertain. "I... I know you only helped me back there because you need me to save Maddox, but I still wanted to say thanks. I didn't think Dolion was trying to kill me at first, but after he threw that hatchet... I don't know what he was planning, so I'm lucky that you intervened."

He shrugs. "Whatever."

His response is to be expected, based on how he acts, so I don't sweat it. 

I push up from the ground and dust myself off. For the sake of my head and ribs, I pray that another earthquake doesn't occur. Getting smacked down into the ground again doesn't sound very appealing when my body is already so sore.

Cyrus stands up too, watching me carefully.

I close my eyes and will my magic to my hand that is holding onto the sword. I don't know how to tell if I'm using Moon or Star magic, so hopefully Star magic knows when it needs to come into play on its own.

"Leo never closed his eyes.  I think you have to look for something when you do the spell."

My eyes pop open and I frown at Cyrus. He gives me an impatient scowl.

I focus better with my eyes closed, but Star magic isn't like Moon magic. Leo's methods will likely produce more promising results, so I'll have to step out of the comfort zone of a Moonborn and keep an open mind.

I take a deep breath and pivot out of Cyrus's proximity. I extend the sword out in front of me but take care not to point it directly at any of the wide-eyed mortals surrounding me. 

"Néo kósmo," I say under my breath. 

Instead of the familiar cold sting of ice, my magic burns beneath my skin this time, but not like fire. This feels like some sort of chemical burn that is threatening to wound me from the inside out. I wince at the sensation and vaguely wonder if my magic is going to burn my hand again, but I don't let it shake my resolve.

I have to save Nova, and I have to find Maddox for Orion's sake. This has to work. 

I repeat the chant once more, louder this time. 

For a moment nothing happens, and my eyes come up short when searching for the unknown. Apart from the raging storm beyond the walls of the building, the entire room is silent. I'm frozen in place, and my arm is starting to feel heavy from holding the sword up for so long. 

Just as I start to lower the weapon, I notice the smallest, almost completely translucent particles vibrating around the tip of the blade. The glowing flecks are no bigger than a grain of salt, and they move like the fireflies Juniper would chase around the castle grounds. Only these aren't insects. These fragile wisps of light are tiny fragments of magic, I'm sure of it, however, they're not any kind of magic I've ever seen before. It's like I'm watching hundreds of microscopic shooting stars dance around my sword.

I steal a glance at the audience of mortals. Their blank expressions reveal to me that they can't see the surreal effects of the magic I've created, but Cyrus's determined stare encourages me to continue. He can't see the specs either, but something about his steady gaze tells me that he knows something is about to happen.

I hesitate before lifting the sword up again and running it through the tiny light wisps. The little stars disperse and multiply themselves. There are thousands of particles spinning and dashing around me and the sword now, but none of the mortals react. I'm still the only one who can see the magic. 

"You have to think of where you're going before the rift will open. Remember landmarks won't work since the second dimension is everchanging," Cyrus whispers urgently. "Think about Maddox."

I keep my eyes glued to the glowing specs of dust as I sway the sword once more and envision both Nova and the blonde-haired man. I'd much rather find Nova first, but thinking of both of the absent Moonborns should increase my chances of opening the rift, right?

I continue to slowly swipe the sword back and forth as if it were the paintbrush Cyrus imagined Leo holding when he used his Star Magic, but I hardly think much about anything other than the two people I need to find in the second dimension. 

Nova, with her bouncing curls and rosy red cheeks, is probably pale with fear right now. The creatures in the second dimension aren't for the faint of heart. I may have temporarily escaped the dimension, but those monsters followed me back here and haunted my dreams last night. Her usual warmth will soon vanish if it hasn't already.

And then there's Maddox, with his upside-down smile and reassuring eyes. His gentle and skilled touch saved me time and time again while we were trapped together. It even made my stomach swarm with unwelcome butterflies.

But now, I know that I can't trust him. His heart is anything but kind, and he wants me dead. He's a liar. A means to an end. My brother's only hope. That's all.

The tiny stars suddenly lose their momentum and unhurriedly combine into a white wall of light. Without putting much thought into it, I slice through the glow with the blade, and the atmosphere rips open abruptly, causing everyone around me to audibly react in astonishment.

"A Starborn?" someone gasps quietly, just as another mortal exclaims, "She's like Leo."

"She isn't like Leo. We could trust him, but we can't trust this girl."

"Did Cyrus know what she was the whole time?"

"She can bring Maddox back to us. Who cares what she is?"

"Everybody shut up!" Cyrus cuts in sharply.

Thunder rattles the building, and I drop my sword, but the rift stays in place, still shining its' blinding rays in every direction. It's waiting for me to pass through. To touch it.

I turn to Cyrus after stooping down to retrieve my sword. "I guess this is my cue," I mutter dryly.

He nods. "Like I said, Maddox will be able to help you return to us."

"Wait!" Vivian suddenly shouts. She shoves past Ares and the other humans and makes her way over to me. She is holding out a round, metal canteen as she approaches me. "I don't know exactly what it's like over there, but I'm sure having water at the ready would be a big help for you, right?"

Her gesture is surprising. Despite our differences, Vivian still insists on lending me a hand. I'm grateful for a moment, but a negative thought washes that away almost instantly. Or maybe it's all for Maddox's sake, and she hates me just as much as Cyrus does. 

Either way, water is definitely a valuable resource that I will gladly accept. 

"Thank you," I reply as I take the offering from her pale hands. I sling the leather strap of the canteen across my shoulder so that I can hold my sword with both hands. "I'll be back as soon as I can," I add when my eyes meet hers again.

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip and she nearly smiles. "I have no doubt that you will. I know you care about Maddox too."

Guilt sits in my stomach like a rock, and I have to look away from her blue gaze. "I should probably go now," I mumble.

Cyrus nudges my arm, and I begrudgingly lock eyes with him. Time for another threat, I think bitterly to myself. But the threat doesn't come. Instead, his words throw me for a loop.

"I know you only saved me for your own reasons too, but you could've let Dolion kill me back there. You didn't... and, well, I just wanted you to know that it didn't go unnoticed is all."

Cyrus does have a heart. He buries it deep, but I saw it twice today now. Right now, in this moment, and when he thought of his dead lover, Leo. 

Something in me softens and the words, "I'm sorry about Leo," escape my lips before I can stop them. Cyrus blinks silently at me, taken aback. "See you soon," I say as I reach out to touch the beam of light I created.

My hand barely makes contact with the white light of the crevice, but it's enough to make the magic react to me. With the same level of aggression as the wind outside, a force from within the rift forcefully drags me forward and sucks me right into the blinding light.

Before, when I was pulled into the second dimension against my will, everything was dark, and I passed out rather quickly. But passing through my rift of Star magic is anything but dark. The light is so unyieldingly intense that I have to shut my eyes. The movement of my magical travels makes me nauseous, but I don't think I'm going to pass out in this case.

The burning sensation is still battling beneath my skin, but it isn't painful enough to make me scream or lose consciousness. I'm going to be okay, I think. 

I keep a firm grip on my sword and wait for the rift to spit me out. I wonder if it will be Nova or Maddox's face that I see first when I'm in the second dimension. The protective side of me is hoping that I'm being carried over to Nova, but my vengeful side wants it to be Maddox.

Despite my closed eyelids, I can tell that the white light surrounding me is starting to dim, so I open them expectantly. Dizziness sweeps over me, but I keep my eyes open anyway. I know I'm almost there. Any second now, I can feel it.

The white light is completely gone now, and I abruptly stop moving. I hear the rift close behind me, and I slam into the dirt roughly. My ribcage pangs and a pained groan escapes me.

I hear something crackling, and the smell of smoke makes me sit up quickly. I'm outside and it's dark, but my surroundings are still visible due to the seemingly endless wildfire pirouetting around me.

Orange flames lurch forward and threaten to singe my hair and face, but I throw myself backward to avoid its rage. Ashes cling to the fabric of my clothes, and the heat of the fire makes me sweat. The smoke climbs into my lungs, choking me with everything it has.

My hand lands on something warm and firm. It feels like a person. The unexpected contact combined with the panic surging through me makes me lose my balance and fall onto the overheated person.

I sit up quickly and nearly shriek at the sight before me. A stranger with wide, lifeless eyes stares up at me in absolute horror. He's not actually staring at me though. He died like that—afraid and helpless. The smoke must have suffocated him.

My eyes travel down the length of his body. Black burns and red welts are dotted across the lower half of him. My heart sinks. Or maybe it wasn't the smoke...

I use my shirt to cover my nose and mouth, but the dark smoke is far too thick. I still can't stop coughing. I'd say I have just a few minutes to distance myself from this place before it's too late.

I've barely made it to my feet and collected my sword when a child's fearful voice suddenly rings through the air. "Mom! Mom, please! I can save you! Where are you?" The young boy whips past me suddenly, sprinting clumsily and narrowly evading the unpredictable flames consuming the surrounding village.

The blackness of the smoke makes it hard to see it, but almost every building in this mysterious village is up in flames.

I don't even recognize this place or the little boy, and Nova and Maddox are nowhere to be seen. Where am I? Did I do the spell wrong? How am I supposed to save Nova and Orion now?

"Mom!" the boy wails through choked tears. He approaches a small hut and begins to pound on one of the windows. The front door is completely blocked by a hot, orange tower. That boy is going to get himself killed.

I chase after him, somehow avoiding the wrath of the growing flames along the way. "Hey! Get away from there, it's too dangerous! We need to leave! Now!"

I don't know if he's ignoring me or if he simply can't hear me over the sound of the collapsing buildings and distant screams bouncing around the small village, but he doesn't turn to acknowledge me. 

Instead, he continues to sob and bang his fists into the wood of the burning home. "Mom! Are you in there? Say something, please! Mom!" I didn't notice until now, but I think this child shares the same accent as Cyrus and Maddox. It's hard to tell from here though.

When I finally catch up to the little runt, I grab his shoulder, forcing him to turn around. I'm about to scold him and drag us to safety, but his face makes me lose all thoughts. I'm frozen in place, gawking at the young boy in shock as my words die in my throat.

Wide, brown eyes speckled with amber flecks stare up at me in despair. His lips form into a small, delicate pout. He rubs at the wet streams left behind from his crying, but more tears continue to slide down his cheeks to take their place.

This boy can't be any more than eleven or twelve years old, but he looks just like Maddox. From the blonde wave of hair on his head, down to the warm eyes and soft demeanor, this boy could be Maddox's twin if they were the same age. Could this be his brother? Or maybe—

"Callie!"

My head snaps up in the direction of the distant shout. I know that voice. 

Standing beyond the smoke and wildfire submerging the village is Maddox himself. His expression is torn between both terror and shock. He calls out to me again, making my heart skip a beat.

My eyes suddenly pop open, and I quickly realize that none of what just happened was real. Somewhere between Cyrus, the rift, and now, I very much did pass out. 

But then why do I still smell smoke? 

I try to sit up but my arms are tangled around a person lying beside me. My heart rate increases. Am I resting my head on the chest of the dead stranger I saw just moments ago? Maybe there was some truth to what was going on in my head.

I scramble to unlock myself from the man and then use my grip on his tunic to right myself. Just as I begin to prop myself up, he grabs onto my wrist, startling me. Unable to hold myself up with my hand surrendered, I fall against the stranger's shoulder with a gasp. 

I pull away, but just as my nose brushes past his, the man holds me in place to get a better look at me. "Callie?" the accented man murmurs weakly.

My heart gets stuck in my throat and stops beating for what feels like seconds before finally plummeting back down into my chest, beating double time. "Maddox," I breathe.

Relief floods through me, but Dolion's warning pulls me right back down to reality.

'I don't know what you and Maddox went through in that dimension, but he will kill you when the time is right. Just like he killed Leo.'

Anger takes the reigns on my heart, and I glare at the man lying beneath me before I can help it. 

Confusion sweeps across his weary face, but before either of us can say anything to the other, a tall, burning oak tree suddenly crashes into the ground just a few feet away from us, sending sparks and orange waves rushing in our direction. 

-------- author's note

Hey! Sorry for the sporadic updates, I've been busy with work and the holidays. Also, please forgive any typos/errors in this chapter. I usually use an app that reads my book to me as I re-read and briefly edit my chapters, but it was malfunctioning.. so my eyes may have overlooked some stuff. (I do plan to do one big in-depth edit once the book is complete though, and I'll make better corrections then). For now, please bear with me, haha.

Anyway, thank you all for reading! If you're enjoying the story, I would appreciate a vote or a comment if you have the time. Hope you all have a lovely day! xo