The Moon's Fangs | 1

Amelia

Reks and I stepped through his gate ring, right into the abandoned greenhouse.

Everything looked the exact same, except for the pile of sand in the middle. The pile turned into a large heap as tall as me, covering a good expanse of the center of the conservatory, ever-growing with the faint trickle of desert sand from above.

I looked up at the dim light filtering through the hole. A streak of violet light intermingled itself through the stars, like a string of fate reaching out between worlds to connect two destined souls.

I reached my hand up to trace the violet streak with a finger, wishing I really could touch it, to see where it truly led.

“You’re quite the stargazer.” Reks stood next to me, running his long fingers through the desert sand, still warm from the day’s end. It trickled out of his palm as he looked up at the view. “Though, you can only see a fragment from this limited perspective. When this is all said and done, I can show you a view bound to take your breath away.”

Just the thought of a breathtaking view of the stars sent my heart into a fluttering mess. And with him? It almost felt like he asked me on a date. Was he asking me on a date? No. Maybe?

I smiled, feeling a twinge of blush heating the tops of my cheeks. “Gosh… I don’t know. I might be busy after that. But I’ll let you know if anything opens up.”

He gave me a bewildered look, then I laughed out loud at the sight of him, tipping my head back.

A wolfish look eclipsed his face, a half-smile desiring penance. “Oh. You think you’re funny. Don’t you, Outlander?” his eyes cascaded down my body in a slow once-over, sizing me up. “Don’t tell me you think you can get rid of me that easily after this is done.”

I drew in my bottom lip between my teeth, unable to get a good hold with the betrayal of a smile to fight against. “I just find it funny how the last time we were here, you thought me to be an enemy. Now you’re asking me out.”

“Would you prefer the former? I’d be happy to oblige you.”

“No, no. Stars are good.” I said, pulling the empty drawstring pouch off his belt. I did think that if he did chase me, I could hold out longer than last time, what with no broken ribs or the paralyzing shellshock of what I had gone through… but we both knew he’d catch me with Luk in his arsenal. My odds were annoyingly slim.

Although, the idea of him chasing me now leaned more towards a worth exploring thrill on the thrill-to-fear balancing scale. Like a game of cat and mouse.

I fiddled with the string to get the pouch open. “So, what kind of seeds should I gather?”

He turned, scanning the array of dead plants. But his gaze hesitated when falling on the inactive stasis machine in the back of the moonlit conservatory. The orb was no longer there, but the wires still laid haphazardly across the floor, attached to the nearby dais.

What a strange place to put a stasis machine.

Something about it nagged at my brain. If the empress wanted to save him, then why hide him here where anyone could have found him? Why not put him within the barrier, at the very least? Or his lab.

Just that one glimpse of it turned his light mood into cold indifference. “Think of this as practice utilizing your Guide.” he said, leaving me to scrounge for seeds while he went to investigate his previous imprisonment.

I pursed my lips, squinting pointedly at the back of his head for his curt dismissal. I guess I didn’t blame him. Facing something that locked him in an indefinite stasis must be taking an effect on him. I wondered what it must have been like. Did he experience a never-ending dream, or had it been like a clear-cut pause on life in that aspect too?

I turned away to give him a sense of privacy, opening my senses to the Guide in my head. Nox’s projection snaked out of my skin like a ghost leaving my body. Its tail tickled the nape of my neck as it pulled free, settling in its spot across my shoulders.

Hi, nice of you to join. I gave the snake a bemused look. I’ve got a job for you.

~Oh, please. I already did the leg work while the two of you were busy dallying.~

One of my brows lifted dryly. What legs?

Its head snapped towards me, stare narrowing dramatically thin. ~I’ll have you know I can take on any projection I see fit! And technically, your legs are my legs. If I had reason to use them, I’d do it.~ Its nose turned upward, like a snooty middle school girl trying to make a point.

I almost argued its reasoning but remembered how Nox helped influence my body during the short training session back in the armory. That little fact was equally intriguing as it was scary.

Okay, fine. Where are these seeds then? They need to impress the Black Market. Can’t be anything they can easily get their hands on.

~Obviously. I have already cross-referenced their inventory and pinpointed salvageable seeds the Black Market will consider worthwhile.~

Several of Nox’s projection-like scales plucked free of its body, moving on their own accord to various places across the dead greenhouse. They reflected a blue-violet against the dim light cast down from the hole in the roof.

Nox’s head inclined towards one of the closer scales, hovering near the aged rock formation where Reks had caught me only days ago. ~Over there between the rocks at the bottom, there are nodes hanging onto roots. Do you see? Go on. Make use of our legs.~

I rolled my eyes, but walked over, kicking a stray rock with the combat boots I found within Ellison’s things. They didn’t match the tunic I still wore from last night, but they did go well with the cute two-piece outfit I wore underneath. The oversized tunic concealed the high-waisted leather shorts and little bralette that was definitely more suited for a party or a rock concert than a seed-picking excursion. But in my defense, Ellison’s clothes were designed to impress rather than protect. Hence the tunic.

I bent down to examine the dried roots. Nox’s head drooped over my shoulder, using my neck as leverage as it looked down at the nodes in curiosity. Like a cat who might have seen one of those red lasers.

Careful to not damage them, I plucked the nodes and lightly dropped them in the bag. Nox’s tail curled around my neck, tickling my collarbone. The thought of the Guide made so many wonders fill my head. Reks had stated Nox’s projection form wasn’t something a normal Guide can do. And from what I’ve observed thus far, Reks’ Guide, Luk, doesn’t come out in that form either. It led me to believe the skill wasn’t inherited, but self-taught.

Nox gave me an expectant look as I dropped more seeds inside the bag, already registering the question I wanted to ask. ~You want to know where Guides come from? How they are… stored?~ When I didn’t decline, Nox continued. ~Guides are known to be gifts from the Fates, as you’ve been informed. My species derives from within a pocket hidden amongst the stars, somewhere between here and Celestia, and tended to by the Fates’ loyal retainers. It is said a rift appears before those who hit the suitable age, and it is up to them to travel through the rift to accept the Fates’ gift.~

The thought of a child around ten years of age having to face a decision like that was baffling. Though, it didn’t feel that way to the people living here. Guides were an absolute boon for the people, and the Fates seemed to play an important role in their lives. It wasn’t my place to throw my ignorant opinion around.

I stood, moving to the next holographic scale pinpointing another spot with potential seeds. I knelt down, then glanced back over at Nox. Its widely observant eyes studied everything around us, soaking in every detail. After so, so many years of solitude, every new sight must feel world-changing. Like a child’s excitement toward magical fantasies.

I stroked the top of Nox’s head, then pressed its cheek to mine. Even though we had a rough start, I was glad it could see and experience new things now. “Gosh. What am I going to do with you, my cute little claustrophobic snake? Guess we’ll just have to tackle adventures together.” I giggled.

A small noise rattled through the Guide’s body. Its tail curled against my shoulder, as if in eager anticipation of what wonders we’d find in the future. ~Our bond feels strong. It is… a good feeling.~

I smiled, dropping another few seeds in the pouch before subtly checking over my shoulder. My smile fell. Reks hadn’t moved much, still studying the inactive stasis machine. There was a slight tremble to his fingers as they hovered over the dais screen. My heart twisted. It haunted him still. The memories of that day, the finalizing betrayal from the empress he served… possibly loved.

Nox idly swished its tail. ~Do not beat yourself up over something you have no control over. It will take time for Reks Arlen to come to terms.~

I wish Reks would take that advice, I smiled weakly at the Guide. I just wish I could understand why the empress did what she did. Why would she put him through all that if she didn’t plan on living too?

~Ghosts I am certain Sio will breathe life into when the time comes.~

Something about that answer left a sinister feeling lingering deep in my gut.

I stood, tying the string tight at the top of the pouch. A part of me worried the old, dried-up seeds would be looked at as too much of a burden to restore back to health. I hoped that wouldn’t be the case.

“Outlander. Exactly how did you manage to free me from cryo?” something rough edged his tone, like doubt armed to the hilt.

My gaze drifted back towards him. His finger traced stains of dried blood streaked across the dais. My blood. It flaked off from his touch as I vividly recalled battling with it to get him out. The palms of my hands burned from the memory of them going raw when gripping onto vines for dear life as I chose to scale down to get to him. Somehow, it felt far away and so close at the same time.

And his present tone deftly reminded me of the explicit rage he embodied upon waking.

My weight shifted. “I-I’m not really sure. The language on the dais was unrecognizable. When I couldn’t solve it, I tried chunking a chair at the orb to get you out… multiple times.” I laughed to repel the phantom ache crawling up my side. “In the end, I think Sio’s nightmare bite somehow triggered it open. But with everything going on, I never gave it much thought. In case you forgot, you went all Cujo on me after waking up.”

Reks turned silent for a few long moments.

“She took everything from me. My family, my life, the future I…” his voice shook, kindling an unbridled fire I didn’t want lit. But it was like protecting a single tree unmarred in the center of a burning forest. There was no stopping the embers from reaching the leaves, setting fire to the canopy. “It’s all gone because of her.”

“Maybe she thought it was the only way to save you.” I said softly, taking tentative steps toward him. Nox’s tail curled nervously around the top of my arm.

His entire body went rigid. “No. She stripped me of control and tucked me away like a pathetic pawn in her own game. Only…” the side of his face twisted in a snarl. “If you hadn’t come along, I’d still be in that damn thing - rotting away for who knows how many more lifetimes.” he turned to me with hatred burning through his black eyes, searing me where I stood. “Do you honestly believe that twisted measure was her way of saving me?”

Nox sank back into me, clearly reading the room. I strongly wished I could sink away and disappear too at that moment. My hand curled up tightly against my chest. “I’m not supporting what she did to you. I… I just want to understand both sides. That’s all.”

“There is only my Fates-damned side.” He bit back. He pressed his lips together in a tight line as he shook his head, slowly raking his bottom lip with his canines. “Well… I’m sure you’ll have a great seat when you get to watch the rest of my life crumble. It’ll be a cruel twist of Fate to watch a face like that stand by as the last of my strength holding me together breaks.”

A face like that.

It felt like he jammed a dagger through my chest. A sharp pain seized me.

Only moments ago, he spoke of taking me to breathtaking places, acting as though our ties wouldn’t so easily be undone after we completed our imminent goals. And now… now he had the gall to compare me to her again.

Ellison Lucil thoroughly destroyed this man.

“Go without me then!” My voice broke. Vision blurring with hot, angry tears, I flung the pouch of seeds at him as hard as I could. He didn’t move to stop or catch it. It hit his chest lamely before dropping to the ground. “If that’s how you feel, then just go. You don’t need me. You already know where to find Sio. So go! I’d hate to let a face like mine hold you back.”

I turned, wiping at the stupid tears tumbling down my cheeks. If he felt like I was a burden, then he’d be better off finding out those answers without me. I didn’t deserve to be his punching bag. Especially not after the hell I’d gone through, too.

“Amelia, wait. Please.” Reks’ voice lost all sense of harshness. “I shouldn’t have said those things. It’s this damned rage caged in my chest without an outlet. I... it wasn’t my intention to break one of the conditions, grey or... not.” His last word drew out as a shadow cast down on us from above, leaving his attempt at an apology to hang between us.

I looked up to see a silhouette of a person peering down at us from the serrated hole in the roof.

I wiped the blur away from my eyes, but it took a moment to figure out who the silhouette belonged to.

When I did, I lost all manner of speech. Shock crippled my every sense.

It was Blaire.