Chapter 30

Nova looked at her hand for the tenth time, there was no trace there had been a burning, ugly mark on it. She’d drank blood. Not just that, but blood from a being from a different realm—whose eyes turned red. She’d be bringing that up during the next group call with the princesses.

She touched the stone resting against her skin. A real-life fae had added extra magic to Crystal’s spell. Yes, spell. Today had been one of many firsts and of things she thought were only from works of fiction. Turning, she looked at the bookshelf behind her, if Dracula turned out to be real, she was done with the outside world forever. Magic was real, fairies were real, and other realms were real. She smiled at her fish, “and we already knew souls were real.”

Checking the cameras one more time, confirming she was safe and secure in her underground home. She got up and turned off the desk lamp. She needed some sleep. Picking up the bag of items the Gemini women had given her, she started to her room. She still wasn’t sure what she planned on doing with their gifts, but she was keeping them nearby, just in case.

Tomorrow with a clear head, after some rest, she needed to decide what she was doing about Bastian and why she’d been referred to as the Solrelm Prince’s other. Other what?

Going through the sitting room, she hardly ever sat in, she flicked off the light and went down the hallway. She debated for half a second on having a bath, but then she’d start thinking and she didn’t want to think anymore today.

Nova wasn’t even sure she’d processed everything that had happened. Glancing around her room, she realized she hadn’t put everything back in the closet she’d had to kick and shove out to get through it when she’d come down this ladder. Tomorrow, she vowed silently, right now she needed rest.

The blood, she paused on that word for a second, after drinking that, her hand had healed. Inside still felt heavy and she was weary tired. She wondered if that was the result of that man trying to rip her soul out. She couldn’t even think about that part. Crawling under the covers, she put her hand over her chest. It wasn’t like she could feel her soul, she just needed to assure herself, she was fine, soul intact, and home in her bed.

Turning off the light, she closed her eyes and leaned back on the pillow. She opened them again, she’d forgotten to get her book ends back. Annoyed with her brain for remembering now she squeezed them shut. Another thing to do tomorrow. Popping them open once more, she looked at the ceiling in the dark, did she really want them though? She would think about what happened every time she looked at them. She groaned, well, now she would definitely think about it.

The phone vibrating across the nightstand had her bolt upright. Who would have thought it would be that loud? Picking it up, she saw Bastian’s name. She slid the green circle open. “Hello?”

“Nova. I meant to get back to you earlier, things just—I had to work.”

“Oh.” She didn’t need to clarify what his work was. The way he said it, so casual like he had a job like most others madder her realize that what he had told her earlier was true. He saw it as a rebirth and not death.

“I didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten about you.”

“It’s fine. Just, I know what your work is.”

“Would you feel better if I told you they were very old and had been suffering for quite a while? They were more than ready to join their loved ones in that heaven humans believe in.”

She knew he was trying to make her feel better. “If it’s true, it does make me feel better.”

“It is.” She heard a door open, then close. “I wasn’t sure if you went to bed early, or never slept because of the time you called me last night.”

She winced; she had got him up in the middle of the night. “It varies.” She lay back down; might as well be comfortable.

“How are you? I should have led with that, after your day—chit-chat is new for me.”

Nova grinned. “Yes, it’s a new thing in my life too.”

He laughed softly. “I guess it is.”

“I’m okay. It was uh, an interesting day.”

“Please tell me you don’t have any errands tomorrow. I know that amulet will protect you, but I’m hoping you have no plans to run out and test it.”

She touched the stone. “No. I think cracking one crystal this week should do it.”

“Good the hear.” He paused; she couldn’t hear if he was busy or if he just didn’t know what to say. “I spoke to my mother today, and told her about you.”

She slid up the headboard, so she was sitting again. “You did?” His mother? How old would she be?

“Mhmm, she’s hoping to meet you, when it’s safe to do so.”

“I don’t know what to say to that.”

He sighed into the phone. “I don’t know why I told you that.”

“Your mother, she must be…”

“Old? Yeah, well, no. She’s old as far as years go, obviously if she is my mother. In appearance though, she looks like she’s in her forties—by your standards, I think. I’m not the greatest at telling human ages because in Solrelm…”

“You don’t age.”

“Mostly. We age, just differently and it’s up to us when we want to really age.”

Nova frowned. “You get to decide when you age?”

“More or less.” He sighed into the phone again. “It’s very hard to explain to someone that has no knowledge of my realm and our purpose.”

“I’m trying to learn. It’s not like I can research it on the internet.”

He chuckled, “It’s almost been leaked to the outside world a few times.”

“That would be…”

“Wonderful chaos, but bad at the same time.”

Nova shook her head. “Have you always looked for chaos and trouble, or have the last few hundred years been that boring?”

“Your realm is never boring. I find the human species entertaining. Your spirits, are likely the strongest and most determined in any realm.”

His answer surprised her. “We have to work harder for it, we can’t just vanish with a blink or button.”

“For that, I’m thankful. I would have an awful time chasing down teleporting humans to take their souls into safekeeping.”

She smiled, like an idiot sitting in the dark. “The image of you teleporting around like a ping pong ball is going to be stuck in my head now.”

“I’m dizzy with just the thought of it.” He was laughing.

“I’m glad you called, Bastian.” She meant it. “I was stuck in my head and probably wouldn’t have slept again.”

“Are you all right? Except for the whole soul-sucking chase today.”

“You didn’t find them?”

“No, but we will.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” She pulled her knees up to her chest. “They’re after me, but if they’re stealing souls that are meant…”

“Don’t get upset about that. There isn’t a soul shortage crisis or anything. In fact, if the humans don’t stop multiplying, we’re going to have to build an addition onto the chamber of souls soon.”

She smiled. “I wish I could see that. A room filled with souls. I think it would be calming and exciting at the same time.”

“Once we get some issues resolved.”

“Like the soul thieves?”

“Yes, those. I’ll bring you over to see.”

She sat up straighter. “I can go there? To Solrelm? How? I don’t have the ability to vanish.”

“Oh, there are ways, trust me. We could pop over to Alterealm too sometimes if you’re interested. I love it there. Never a dull moment with the royal family.”

She had to admit it was an appealing idea. She would like to meet more of the princesses. “I spoke to Queen Daxx today. She said she’d come over and kick some ass if those bozos didn’t leave me alone.”

“She would too. They’re all fantastic warriors. Kara with her bow is absolutely amazing.”

“I haven’t spoken to her yet.” She’d never seen anyone use a bow, outside of a movie.

“I’m glad you’re making friends. Your life must have been lonely.”

“The first twenty years were pretty normal.”

“Do you have a family?”

She touched the pendant. “No, it’s just me now. My dad passed away when I was fifteen and my mom when I was twenty-one.” She always wished she’d been able to explain to her mother what was going on with her, but she’d never been the same since her dad died. “I was an only child and so were both of my parents.”

“That breaks my heart, although if you knew my oldest brother, you would rejoice in not having siblings.”

“You have two brothers?”

“Mhmm, Trendan isn’t a lost cause, I still feel hope for him.”

She smiled and then yawned into the phone.

“Ah, I’m boring you to sleep, better than any sleep tonic.”

"No, it’s not that. You’ve helped me relax, actually.”

“It tickles me that I’m useful. I have some things to do in the morning, but I’d like to see you after that. Maybe go through those journals and see if there are any answers hidden in there.”

“I’ll have to check my agenda and see if I have free time.”

He chuckled. “If you could pencil me in between brisk runs in the parking lot and bashing men in the face, I would be grateful.”

She smiled again; his description of her day made it seem less serious. “Call me when you’re done with your things in the morning.”

“I will, uh, are you going to tell me where you live? If not, it’s your fault if I’m late.”

Was she going to bring him downstairs? She wasn’t sure yet. “Meet me at the house and we’ll see from there.”

“Oh, intriguing. Is there a test I have to pass to be deemed worthy to see where you live?”

“I guess you’ll find out tomorrow.”

“You know I won’t sleep now; the anticipation will keep me awake.”

She yawned or she would have smiled. “Good night, Bastian.”

“Sweet dreams, Nova Gaines.”

She hung up and then looked at the phone. Her life had either gotten more interesting or more complicated, she couldn’t decide which. She did like him, he was funny and entertaining, not to mention quite cute to look at. In the back of her mind, every time she was near him, her soul that had known him or of him for much, much longer, told her to run away from him. It was creating more internal conflict than she’d ever experienced before.

“What am I going to do about you, Bastian?” She frowned; did he even have a last name?