Chapter 12 Stars

So the reward he mentioned earlier due to my newfound "obedience" was something quite simple.

He let me leave the ship to go explore the snowy mountains.

He was casually leaning against the glass arms crossed, watching me from above as I took my first steps outside on the soft snow. I was given warm attire and boots. He did some of his alien magic on my clothes so that it's warm. He said that I have an hour before the warmth runs out and for me to be back by then.

I scowled.

It's like I'm his dog. He lets me out once in a while for a walk as a 'reward' until he puts me back on his leash. I pulled at the collar around my neck uncomfortably. It didn't come off no matter what I did.

I hated it. I hated all of this.

I grabbed a hand full of snow, shaped it Into a ball, and threw it at him with all the force I can muster. It smacked against the glass that protected him from my wrath.

I watched him give me a slow lazy smile, eyes twinkling with amusement. Then he flicked his fingers and snow started to float around me and slam against me out of the blue.

I waved my hands in surrender.

The arrogant bastard liked to show off.

I stomped away in a fit of fury hoping to put much distance between me and the ship. I didn't care where I was going as long as it was away from him. I felt Azreals gaze on me as I walked away.

Shadow followed me close behind keeping his distance knowing I'm in a foul mood as I walked across the snow. I feel the floor beneath my feet shift and realized I wandered onto a frozen lake of sorts. The ice was transparent beneath my feet and reminded me of my younger days when we used to Ice skate during winter. Suddenly, the urge to break down and cry overwhelms me. I would trade anything for the world to go back to how it used to be.

Anything.

It's been over thirty minutes and the sun had already set. The stars started to show up in brilliant twinkles and the sight merely saddens me. I feel the cold creep in knowing I'll have to go back soon. I sleep on the snow looking at the sky as the tears make their way down my face.

perhaps I'll stay here and freeze. I don't want to go back there to Azreal.

It's strange how the moment I think of him I feel his presence before I could even see him.

He was here.

I wanted to hide my face away, I didn't want him to see me cry. I didn't want him to see me break.

He lifted my head and placed it on his lap as he sat behind me. Running his fingers through my hair. I huffed in annoyance but just decided to remain there.

"You should come back to me when I tell you to Aurora. I don't like you wandering off for too long," he says gingerly running his fingers through my hair.

I grunted in response. Too emotionally drained to tell him off or be disobedient.

I chose to look at the stars instead.

"Which planet are you from?" I asked looking at the twinkling sky wondering if it was one of them. I'm surprised the question left my mouth at all. His hand stilled in my hair before he replied.

"I'm not certain. I have a vague memory when I recall my origins." That answer surprised me even more. It just brought about more unanswered questions about this strange being.

"You know Aurora some of these stars don't exist," he says his voice sounding distant.

"What do you mean?"

Azreal shifts and brings me onto his lap. His legs were crossed beneath him and he kept me in the middle. warmth engulfed me immediately.

"By the time the light is reflected off some of these stars and reaches earth, it's easily thousands of light-years passed. They would've been destroyed by now. You're looking at the whisper of a past, the dying light of dead stars. they're not there anymore."

It feels strange. knowing you're looking at something that isn't there. I wonder what he sees when he looks at me. Am I the same girl I was before all this happened or am I just an echo of my past self?

I didn't have much time to dwell in my thoughts because suddenly there was a red flash, like a giant Lazer beam that shot through the sky and reached Azreals floating glass ship.

The sound of the explosion was deafening.

Azreal stood up instantly, shielding me with his white cloak as I saw flames go up into the sky. There were fleets of ships that showed up one by one, giant Lazer beams attacking Azreals ships over and over. I looked up at him and saw his eyes hooded with untamed fury.

A horrible thought came to me.

My sister. Was she on the ship? He promised me no harm would come to her but what if she was there? I couldn't find where he kept her no matter how hard I tried but he promised. Azreals word was the only thing I could count on which was not much.

"Azreal, my sister!" grabbed at his cloak with my trembling hands forgetting to address him as master or my lord like I was supposed to.

"We must go back!" I shout turning to run fast. He grabs me by the waist and puts me at his side immediately.

"Your sister is not on my ship don't worry. She's far from here." I search his face, trying to see if He's trying to deceive me but all I can see is the fury in his green eyes. He was angry.

"Stay with Shadow. Do not let yourself be seen."

With those words, I saw him glow in a strange black aura. I realized he was gathering dark matter onto his form.

I felt Shadow tug at my sleeve as we started to run away from the destruction that was about to happen.

When I looked back the last thing I saw was Azreals regal form in the middle of that chaos and a black beam shot from his body and into the sky. The ice beneath his feet trembled to form a giant circular crater beneath him.

This is no doubt the first time I had a glimpse at his true power. The power that he was trying to hide just underneath the surface.

I've never feared any creature as much as I feared Azreal at that very moment.