Chapter 16

When I open my eyes, the light is blinding. For a moment I believe I'm right back home, waking up to the sunshine through the curtains, with the blankets pulled up to my chin and the loneliness at bay for just a few moments. A lot of memories run through my vision, my first job leading me towards a position as a Cadet on the Xero expedition to seeing my father one last time before he left. The crushing feeling of coming home to tell him that I had been accepted into the program only to find nothing to come home to.

"Ceceilia Glass."

Blinking away the visions, there are now beings in a semi circle before me. All wear intricate masks and two sets of wings upon their backs and one behind their ears. The garments represent those of Celestials and everything to them is glamorous and majestic. One, obviously the leader, dons a skull mask upon her pale grey face. Her wings bear eyes that stay eerily focused on me with glassy blue irises. She was the one who called my name, her voice sounding pure and beyond heavenly.

I can finally move my limbs now, though they feel entirely too heavy. The void-like expanse around me shows no end in any direction. My body quivers when I look downwards and see nothing, so I gaze up at the group before me with wide fearful eyes. Each being is unique to itself, other than the garment colours they share and the long silky white manes of hair. The long pointed ears and sharp features carried on with the Celestials.

"Stand up."

Complying to the being's orders, I push myself upon shaking legs. Instantly my head becomes a great cloud of fog, not a single coherent thought comes to me. The skull masked being approaches, she lifts the pendant on my neck and studies it with those icy blue eyes glowing from under the flaking gold mask. When she meets my gaze, everything leaves me. My surroundings become the galaxies, I am floating through the endless space till my feet touch down on a pearly white bridge leading up to a zen garden. My steps are silent and I do not move my own body, but move as if I am a puppet. Finally coming to a rest before a woman sitting with her long legs tucked under her, I can move myself voluntarily.

She turns, strikingly resembling Centauri other than her left eye carved out from the skull and surrounded in white scar tissues. The damage runs down her neck and collarbone, telling of a fearsome battle. I kneel down beside her and study the praxidaisy before us.

"They brought you here for a reason." The Celestial murmurs, brushing a slender finger along the flower, causing it to play a quiet symphony. "To be reborn."

My eyes flick to her with confusion, my mind is still a million miles back, every word said echoing itself. I cannot speak myself, even as my mouth moves to form the words. Biting my lip, I look up at the starry skies and still don't see any end. I think of the beings and wonder where they had gone.

"They are the Highest." The woman stands and offers a hand to help me up. I follow suit and we move towards a pool in the center. Glimmering creatures inside swim in synchronization and when they breathe, little bubbles ride to the surface and carry on moving upwards into the abyss of cosmos. I look to the woman again to find her studying my reactions. "They watch our kind grow and fade, our gods you could call them. Each one of us earns our place by death only to return as we are now." Her eye sparkles with the lights of the pool and I see Centauri again, taken aback, I look away with a pang in my heart.

"Call me Faye." Her eye goes to the pendant, a smile coming to her face. "You have met my children." Faye looks downcast to the pool and sighs. "It takes a lot of power to extinguish a star, and yet I watch my daughter fall to it."

I shake my head and cross my arms across my chest against the sudden cold. Faye gestures to the pool, the creatures inside have formed a circle around the brim, awaiting.

"I have faith you will restore balance. You have the ability to save our stars, Ceceilia."

Once again, I feel nothing as my body moves itself down into the depths of the pool. Struggling against the pull, I clench my jaw shut and watch the light overhead fade as these creatures become dark beasts, dragging me further down. A furious pain rips through my back muscles and through my shoulder blades. It travels down my back, feeling like something is ripping itself free from the skin. Unable to bear it, I throw my head back to scream, letting in the cold liquid. Everything freezes still again and my thoughts hit me like a speeding ship, I crumple down on the cold platform and blink a glimmering dust from my eyelashes.

"Ceceilia?" Thaili crouches down next to the platform and wears a worried smile. He reaches out to help me up, bearing the same warm touch as Centauri.

Centauri.

I quickly heave myself up and the world spins around me, something heavy like an oversized backpack nearly throws me backwards. Rai grabs my flailing arms and I steady myself before looking up at him venomously.

"You stabbed me!" My voice is raspy like I'd been screaming for hours straight. Both look relieved and I hear a gasp from Cain still waiting at the doorway.

Throwing a glance back, I catch a glimpse of what's been weighing me down backwards. Two slender silvery-white wings lay behind me, looking like they've been dusted in stardust. The primary feathers all tipped in a raspberry colour and the same freckles that cover most of me are scattered on the base of both. My skin remains the same bronze but covered in faint markings and symbols. Not to mention the clothing change to a robe like outfit baring my shoulders, its navy blues and golds shimmer faintly. The whole getup Celestial orientated and lightweight for flying perhaps.

"Well, now that that's over and done and you've come back in one piece." Rai smiles apologetically and pats his sword softly.

We head back, slowly because I can't seem to get the gist of folding wings neatly against my back, and an army of people greet us with a roar of cheers. Thakur stands proudly in the midst of it, wielding a beautifully ornate sword and headpiece. When we approach, Rai instructs me to kneel again and I shoot him a glare until he back off far enough. Thakur murmurs something in his foreign language again and places the small headpiece upon the crown of my head and when I stand he holds out the sword. I haven't had much practice with swords as much as guns and machine weaponry but I take it anyways and marvel at the lightness of it.

"Promise me you'll bring them all home." Thakur watches his people board the ship they've prepared with a solemn look.

"I will put everything I have into restoring what you once had." I have a feeling this isn't what he meant and nod. "I'll bring her back too."

Thakur nods and rests a hand on my shoulder before letting me go. "Thank you." He smiles as I attempt to fold my wings against my back again. With a laugh, the Alpha shows me a way to properly fold them and keep them that way. Embarrassment makes my cheeks hot as I copy and thank him before heading off. I'm the last to board and watch as the bay door closes on what I've promised to save.

It's all a matter of how well I can keep to it.