The Fallen Star

Alex took my hand and gave it a squeeze, a warning to be quiet. “And why does she need to be trained to be a Foreseer?” Nicholas stared bewilderedly at him.

“Um, because she is one.”

“No, she’s not,” Alex said.

Nicholas shook his head, looking frustrated. “Did she or did she not use a crystal ball to see a vision?”

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Well…Crap. How did he know about that?

Alex hesitated. “Listen, there’s been a misunderstanding. Gemma she’s…well, she’s different.”

I shook my head. Different. There was that word again.

“Look, I don’t care what she is. The law says if a person can see a vision, then they belong to the Foreseers. She saw a vision, therefore she belongs to us.” He put a little too much emphasis on the word “ us,” if you asked me. “But you’re a Keeper so you should already know that.”

“I know what the law says,” Alex snapped. “But like I said, she’s—”

“Different,” Nicholas finished, making air quotes. “Doesn’t matter. She has to go back with me. She can try and plead her case when she gets there if she wants to.” His gaze bore into me, making my skin crawl.

“But personally, I’d prefer if she didn’t.” 577/695

I shrank back behind Alex. The room grew so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Or even a grandfather clock ticking, since I could.

Finally, Alex threw his hands in the air.

“Fine, she’ll go.”

“What!” I exclaimed in outrage. “Are you kidding? You can’t let him take me.”

“She’s definitely a wild thing,” Nicholas commented with a smirk.

Alex shot me a look, cautioning me to keep my mouth shut.

“You can’t let him take me,” I hissed.

Be quiet, he mouthed and turned back to Nicholas. “But just so you know, I’m going with her.”

“You can’t,” Nicholas said. “It’s not allowed.”

“There are no laws that forbid Keepers from entering the City of Crystal,” Alex informed him. “So I’m going.” 578/695

Nicholas glowered at Alex, his golden eyes smoldering like ambers. “Nothing has changed with you. You still just do whatever you want.”

“Yep,” Alex replied. “I sure do.” And really, he did. But that was fine by me in this case, because there was no way I wanted to go off alone with this Nicholas guy. He was creepy. And I especially didn’t want to go off alone to some city filled with people who could see the future.

“Let’s go, then.” Nicholas said and he headed over toward the coffee table.

I looked at Alex. “You really want me to go?”

He nodded. “You don’t have a choice.

There are certain laws that we all have to abide to, and one of them states that when someone possesses the Foreseer ability, they have to get trained by the Foreseers.”

“But I don’t want to,” I complained.

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Alex leaned in close to me. “I’ll get you out of this, I promise. But we have to go.” Of course he’d get me out of this, but not out of the kindness of his heart or anything.

It was because I had the stars power inside me.

Grudgingly, I followed Alex over to where Nicholas stood.

Nicholas retrieved a miniature size crystal ball from his pocket and balanced it on top of the table. “Ladies first.” My stomach twisted into a billion knots.

“What exactly am I supposed to do?” Nicholas nodded at the crystal ball. “Put your hand on it.”

I glanced at Alex and he gave me a nod, giving me the go ahead. I swallowed hard and reached out for the crystal ball, hesitating briefly before letting my fingers brush the glass .

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There was a bright burst of light. And then I was spiraling down a dark tu

Chapter 28

I tried very hard not to fall smack dab on my face when I landed, but we all know how great I am at avoiding falling. So yeah, basically, I ate it. I did, however, manage to keep my head from hitting the ground, which I was grateful for since it was made of crystal.

Hence the name City of Crystal.

Pushing myself up from the ground, my wrist let out a loud pop. I winced as the pain spread up my arm. I cradled my injured wrist against me and glanced around. I was standing in a cave. At least that’s what it looked like. A very unique cave, anyway. The high arched ceiling was dusted with what looked like glittery charcoal, and dark red crystals hung down from it. Rubies ran in a wavy pattern across the snow-white crystal 582/695

walls. Through the translucent crystal floor, a river as dark as the midnight sky elegantly flowed; flakes of gold speckling in it like stars. I had to admit, the place was absolutely beautiful. Unrealistically beautiful, though. I mean, how many times have you found yourself stumbling around in a cave made of glass and crystal?

Probably never. That is, unless you are a Foreseer.

I heard a faint swoosh, and then Alex dropped down from above, landing gracefully beside me.

Startled, I jumped back, pressing my hand to my heart. “You scared the crap out of me,” I said breathlessly.

Alex put a finger up to his lips. “Shhh.” Huh?“Why?”

Before he could answer me, I heard another swoosh, and Nicholas dropped down next to me.

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“Well, that was fun,” Nicholas remarked with a grin. “Wouldn’t you all agree?”

“Oh yeah, super fun,” I muttered.

Alex shook his head. “Can we just get this over with? The quicker we get out of here, the better.”

“What’s the rush?” Nicholas slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans, and rocked back on his heels. “No matter how long you’re down here, they’re never going to let Gemma leave until she’s trained.” He winked at me. Yes, actually freaking winked.

“Which gives you and me plenty of time to get to know each other.”

“Yeah, no thanks,” I told him. “I’d rather just go back with Alex.”

Nicholas expression slipped into scowl, and Alex, I could tell, was working hard to suppress a grin.

“Let’s go,” Nicholas said in a clipped tone as he waved at us to follow him down a glass path.

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We made our way over a bridge paved with broken pieces of porcelain. And just on the other side of the bridge towered two massive pillars. They peaked up, forming an entryway to a set of silver doors that stretched to the ceiling. The handles of each door were twisted in the shape of a circle that wrapped an S; the same exact shape as the tattoo on Nicholas’s wrist.

“Wait here,” Nicholas told us and pushed through the tall, silver doors.

I leaned over in an attempt to catch of glimpse of what was on the other side of the door, but it I snapped shut too quickly, like it had been yanked by some kind of magnetic force.

Alex turned to me, his words rushing out in a jumble. “Okay, here’s the deal. When we get in there, let me do most of the talking.

It’s kind of going to be a problem getting them to let you go because of the laws.” 585/695

“That’s what I don’t get.” My wrist was throbbing so I cuddled it closer against me.

“How are you supposed to get them to let me go when you keep talking about these laws that won’t allow them to?” He considered this. “Well, the Keepers have a little bit of power over the Foreseers, so I’m hoping that will help.” I gaped at him. “You’re hoping that will help. But you promised you’d get me out of here.”

“I will,” he assured me. “I’m just hoping that it will be easier with Keepers having some power over the Foreseers. But if that fails, we’ll just go another route.” I eyed him suspiciously. “What kind of route?”

“Trust me, you’d rather not know.”

“I always want to know.”

“This time you don’t.”

Silence.

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“So do they know what I am?” I asked in a small voice.

“No,” he replied, keeping his voice low.

“And it needs to stay that way.” I leaned closer to him. “But wasn’t it a Foreseer who made the prediction of what was going to happen to me and the star?”