Page 95 of In Between Darkness

“I had no idea what I was doing when I brought you back.” My heart breaks all over again thinking about her cold, rigid body on the ice.

“I tried to heal you with every part of me, but it didn’t work, and you died…and I thought I had lost you forever-”

“But you didn’t lose me,” she interrupts with a soft tone. “You saved me.”

She smiles and reaches for my fingertips, cradling them in her grasp. A lone tear rolls down my cheek, and I smile back.

“Come on, let’s go through together.”

I intertwine my fingers with hers and begin the journey through the portal. “Craize, I’ll see you tomorrow for manoeuvres,” I call out to him whilst he and Kareem take flight back to the taming valleys.

“Looking forward to it, young one,” he replies and glides into the distance.

***

“So what else can you do?” Nala asks, her foot covering half of one of the runes on our rug.

“According to this book, the Starkind can mimic and learn all Sun and Moon powers,” I answer whilst pulling out my suitcase and propping it onto my bed. Nala leans over with intrigue as I unzip the red bag and take out The Soldark.

“All powers…that’s insane,” she replies, clearly dumbfounded by my confession.

“So far I have been able to wield light, shadows, and somehow restore,” I list, still amazed by my ability to pull Nala back from death’s grip.

“That’s incredible, Asha.” Nala beams. “It must feel pretty amazing being able to do those things,” she says whilst picking up the photograph of Mum and Luca.

“Yeah… When people aren’t trying to kill me,” I retort with amusement in my tone.

Nala furrows her brow.

“Kill you?” she asks with concern. “Why would anyone want to kill you?”

The floorboards creak as I walk over to my bed, perching my bottom on the soft sheets. I pat beside me, beckoning Nala to take a seat next to me.

“My whole race was wiped out by the Sun people.”

Nala gasps.

“If they find out I exist…” I pause, trying to articulate the right words to say. “They worked hard to make sure the Starkind stayed extinct.”

My eyes fall to the picture pinched between Nala’s fingertips. “That’s my mum and dad; I never met either of them.” I trace my finger over my mum’s auburn curls and Luca’s bright smile trapped in the edges of the photograph. “They were chosen by the Gods to rebuild my race, and I owe it to them to at least try.”

“So what are you going to do?” Her voice breaks a little as she leans closer to me.

“First off, I am going to try not to die.” I hide my anxiety with a small chuckle, but I know Nala sees through it. “I need to master my powers and learn the ways of the Moon.”

“How the fuck are you gonna learn the ways of the Moon?” she asks, slightly worried.

“Ermm… I have had a little help.” I can’t help but smile and bite my lip at the thought of Ryder. My cheeks blush at whim, and I lower my head to distract Nala from the crimson in my cheeks. Too late. I watch as the dots connect in her mind.

She stands abruptly. “Asha Calloway, have you had an encounter with a Moon?” A toothy smile appears as she pokes at me playfully.

“Oh, I’ve had more than an encounter,” I answer, rising to my feet and feeding into her excitement.

“Oh. My. Gods! Tell me everything!” She squeals in anticipation, and laughter escapes my mouth.

“Do you know how long I’ve been wanting to hear you say that?” I giggle again. “Anyway, it’s not like that. As much as I want it to be.” I shake my head to try to suppress her giddiness and sit back down on my bed. She follows me down and comforts me.

“Well, if you’re needing boy advice, I’m pretty new to it, but I’ll give it my best shot.” The sun starts to fade, colouring the room with shades of orange.