Morningstar

Phoenix holds her breath as she watches Icarus’s hand touch the corner of his gray mask. He then takes it off slowly. She could not believe what she was seeing. He is more beautiful than what she had imagined. He has a marked jawline, thin lips, and a nose that does not seem to be big nor small.

Her eyes flies to what he did not want her to see. He has two scars on his face. One starts below his left cheekbone, extends diagonally towards his lips, where it goes through, and ends at the right side of his chin. There is another scar near his left ear that goes diagonally and ends on his jaw.

Phoenix’s rises her hand slowly. She expects him to step back, but he does not. When she touches the scar near his ear, he flinches, but he doesn’t pull away. He is not accustomed to someone touching his scars. She traces the line through his honey skin, and then she looks at him. His icy blue eyes are staring at her without showing anything in them.

She moves to his second and longest scar. She begins under his cheekbone and traces with her fingers. She touches his lips where the scar is. He does not seem to mind. When she finishes tracing it, she pulls back.

“How?” Phoenix asks.

“Night has a whip,” he answers. She wants to hear the story behind it, but she knows that he has been vulnerable enough. That would be a story for another day.

She stands on her tiptoes and kisses him. “Flaws are what makes a person perfect.”

He does not take long to react. He grabs her by her waist, pulls her close, and begins to kiss her. She feels one of his hands go to her face. She feels his lips press harder as if he cannot get enough of her. Then, when his hand lowers to her lower back, someone knocks on the door.

He pulls back and both look at the door. He slips his mask on fast as he points at a door. She rushes towards that door and enters before closing it. It is a bathroom. The mentors get a room alone and a bathroom for themselves while the students have to share their bathroom with their roommates and the showers are communal.

She hears the front door open. “What?” she hears Icarus ask.

“Morning requests your presence,” a feminine voice says. Phoenix recognizes her to be Sonny. She is practically Morning’s servant who does whatever he asks without question.

“There are more mentors apart from me,” he says. It takes a second or two before he adds, “Give me a minute.” Phoenix hears the door close and then the door to the bathroom opens. “I have to go.”

“I know,” she answers.

“You can stay if you want, but I do not know when I’ll be back,” he says.

“No, I’ll leave,” she says. He nods. “But not before a kiss.”

She sees his eyes close a little. She knows that he is smiling underneath the mask. This time, he does not hesitate to take his mask off and kiss her. He has suddenly gained confidence about taking his mask off.

He places his mask on and moves to take his grey cloak that is hanging from the chair. “Wait a few minutes before you walk out,” he says.

“All right,” she answers. He stares at her for a few seconds. “What?”

“Nothing,” he says and heads towards the door.

Phoenix knows that she will finally see the real Icarus.

***

Morning is standing in front of East as East kneels beside Slier. East looks at where Morning’s feet are supposed to be, but they are covered by the yellow cloak. They have been summoned here. East does not why, but his heart is beating fast. It should not be great news.

“You may stand,” Morning says as East sees Icarus enter.

“Greetings,” Icarus only says as he bows.

“It is customary to kneel,” Morning says.

“It is,” Icarus answers, but he does not kneel. In all of his life, East has not seen anyone disobey Morning. If Morning suggest something, it is meant to be taken as a command than a suggestion. If he were a student, Morning would have already punished him.

Morning looks away from Icarus. He does not show anything on his face. His lips are still a line and his brown eyes unbothered. “Mr. East and Miss Lord, do you know why you are here? Do you wonder what is outside of Morningstar?”

“No, sir,” Slier answers. “Morningstar is my home and center.”

Morning looks at East, waiting for his answer. “I am not going to lie, sir. I have wondered what lies outside of Morningstar.”

“What do you think that is outside?” Morning asks.

“Endless forests with animals,” he says, even though he thinks that it is a trick. “Oceans that form huge waves. Birds that reign the sky. Small villages of people, living with each other as a community.”

“Quite the paradise,” Morning says. He lets that sink for a second. “It is not like that. The outside world is filled with chaos. There are endless wars threatening to kill us. The people outside run and hide every single day from them.”

“Who are they?” East asks.

“Witches,” Morning answers. “People who have dark powers that threatens our very existence. These witches hunt for our land or a chance to slaughter us.”

“Like Tulle,” Slier says. Morning nods.

East wants to ask a million questions. Why do the witches kill people like East, Slier, and the rest? What do they want? What are their reasons? But he has asked already one question. Morning would not be happy if he asks another.

“Let me tell you both your stories,” Morning says. “Miss Lord, your parents were soldiers. They were captured by the witches and then later killed. Mr. East, your parents were bakers. They had their own bakery and were famous for their bread. They were killed also by witches. By the time that we found you, you two were hiding inside a broom closet, hugging each other. You were three years-old by then.”

“Our… parents knew each other?” Slier asks.

“They were friends,” Morning answers. “After we found you, we brought you here to train and get your revenge someday. Every student at Morningstar was rescued also. They were all orphaned or abandoned by their parents.” He waits a few seconds, letting the information sink. “Do you want to avenge your parents? Do you want your parents’ death not to be in vain?”

“Yes,” Slier answers quickly.

“You have proved yourselves to be loyal,” Morning says. “You have earned your place at graduation by capturing the witch, and after graduation, you will join our army to avenge your parents and everyone else that has fallen. For now, Icarus will teach you everything that he knows about witches.”

“I am afraid that I do not have the time, lord,” Icarus says. East has forgotten for a second that Icarus was there. “I have eighteen more mentees that I must teach.”

“Make time,” Morning answers. “It is all in your contract.” Icarus only nods. “You are dismissed.”

Icarus is the first to leave, leaving East to wonder if he is still disappointed with their decisions of becoming witch hunters for Morning.

***

Norm’s eyes are on Ilya, whose head is on Killam’s lap. Norm thinks that it is a little odd. Killam is not affectionate at all, but when it comes to Ilya, he lets her do what she wants. Norm thought for a second that maybe Killam was interested on her, but he later learned that it wasn’t that. Killam might see Ilya as a little sister.

“Another one,” Ilya says and opens her mouth.

Killam drops another grape on her mouth. “I was a rook for nothing,” he continues saying. “I did not move once.”

“I was a pawn, so you were better than me,” Tilray says. She is sitting on the bench near the white road. The tree where Killam and Ilya are sitting in front is next to the bench.

“But you played,” Shin says. He is carving his name on the tree. “I was a pawn and I did not move.”

“But I wanted to be queen,” Tilray says. “Instead, he chose Slier. I cannot blame him. She is strong. I honestly was half-sure that he was going to choose Phoenix, though.” Norm notices that she is not looking at them as she speaks. “Speaking of her, why isn’t she with Zanna and Rin? I mean, she is always with them.”

Norm looks to where Tilray is looking at. A couple of meters away, Zanna and Rin are walking together.

“I don’t know,” Norm says as she shrugs. “I guess that she had something else to do.”

“I have seen it happened several times in the previous days,” Tilray says. “She is hiding something, and I will find out what it is.” She stands and heads to where Rin and Zanna are walking.

Norm follows her. “Tilray, stop,” he says as he tries to catch up, but she accelerates her pace. “She has a right to have secrets. Why do you care if she has secrets?”

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” Tilray answers. She reaches Rin and Zanna. “Where is Phoenix?”

“Why do you care?” Rin asks.

“Because she has been disappearing almost every single day,” Tilray answers. “Does she have someone special?”

Rin bursts into laughter. “Jealous much?” she asks after she stops laughing.

“Ah, she does have someone,” Tilray says.

“Think what you want, Tilray. I won’t pour sugar into your tea,” Rin answers and walks past her. Zanna quickly follows.

Tilray watches them go away. “Let’s find her,” she tells Norm.

“What? Why?” Norm asks.

“Because if she has a playdate or another secret, I would like to know,” Tilray says. “That way I can manipulate her.”

“That’s cruel, don’t you think?” Norm asks.

“She would do the same if the tables were turned,” Tilray answers, and that is something that Norm cannot deny. As Tilray begins to walk, Norm follows her.

“Why don’t you be the bigger woman and be the first one to make peace with her?” Norm asks.

“Because I don’t want to,” she answers.

They spend their afternoon searching for Phoenix. Norm continues trying to convince Tilray to stop wanting to have the upper hand with Phoenix. She does not hear. Norm knows that she thinks that he argues a lot, but he knows that almost every time he is right. This time is one of those times.

They end up on the road that leads to the mentors’ dorms. Originally, these rooms were meant for the instructors of Morningstar, but since the trials are starting, they are gone. They will come back once the trials are over to teach new students.

“Why are we here?” Norm asks.

“Because this is another part of the campus,” Tilray says.

“But do you really think that she will be…” he trails off when he finds her. Phoenix is walking out of the mentors’ dorm. She has not spotted them.

“What?” Tilray asks and turns to see where he is looking at. She spots Phoenix. She heads towards her. When Phoenix sees her, she only rolls her eyes and continues walking. “What were you doing there?”

“Why do you care?” Phoenix asks, not stopping for her.

“Because you are doing something fishy,” she says. “I have seen you walking on your own several times this week.”

“And?” Phoenix asks.

“You are hiding something,” Tilray says as she follows Phoenix. Norm quickly follows.

“I am sorry that I don’t feel like sharing things with you,” Phoenix says. “Don’t get paranoid. It does not look good on you.”

“Your hair is messy,” Norm speaks. She never has her hair messy.

“We had a trial today, don’t you remember?” Phoenix asks sarcastically.

“But you only moved once,” he says.

“But I killed a couple of people afterwards,” she answers. She stops on her tracks and turns. “Are you going to keep interrogating me? Because if you are, then at least buy me a drink or something.”

“You are hiding something,” Tilray says. “And I am going to find out what it is.”

Phoenix shrugs. “Suit yourself,” she says and walks away again.

Norm begins his walk again but Tilray extends a hand, stopping him. “Let her go,” she says as she watches her. “I’ve got what I needed.”

“And that’s what?” Norm asks.

“She is seeing someone,” Tilray says. Before Norm could ask how she knows that, she continues talking. “Her lips are a little redder than usual. The back of her shirt is halfway inside her pants and the other half is outside. And of course, her hair is messy. I saw her after the trial, and her hair was little combed.” Tilray looks at Norm and smiles. “She is seeing a mentor. Now, the question is which one?”

***

Vil has agreed to something. She learnt that all of Wither’s roommates have died. One of his three roommates was Yenta, his best friend. He died by the hand of Icarus on the first trial. Today, two-hundred people died on the second trial. Morning made sure that it was an exact number. He even pardoned some students from losing teams and transferred them to a winning group where someone had died. The other two of Wither’s roommates were of the unlucky two hundred.

When Wither learnt that, Lexan offered to have a sleepover with him. He did not want him to be alone. Vil did not understand why, but she agreed to slip into the men’s dorm and into Wither’s room. She is now sitting at some dead person’s bed, watching Lexan trying to sleep and Wither reading a book.

“I remember my father dying,” Vil says.

Wither looks up from his book. “What?”

“I remember when my father died,” she says. “It was one chilly night. He came running to where I was sleeping and grabbed me in his arms. He looked agitated, even terrified. He told me that there was nothing to worry about and told me to keep quiet. He began to run, and I watch my room be left behind. I remember appearing on a forest with him and then he fell. I was sent flying, but luckily landed on a pile of leaves. I remember trying to move, looking for my dad in the dark. And then I saw him. He was lying dead on the floor with a spear on his back. The next thing I knew, Morning was in front of me, picking me up.”

“How… do you remember that?” Wither asks. “I mean, you should have been very young.”

“I was less than two years old,” Vil says. She shrugs. “I don’t know why I remember. I just do.”

“Why are you telling me this?’ Wither asks. Vil shrugs again.

“Because she wants you to know that she knows what it feels to lose someone close,” Lexan says. He was not asleep. He sits up. “Right, Vil?”

“Whatever,” Vil answers.

“Were you scared?” Wither asks as he sets his book down.

“No,” she says. “I have never been scared of anything.”

“Well, I am,” Wither says as he looks at his hands. “I am afraid that I will be the next to go, or one of you.”

“We won’t go anywhere,” Lexan says. “We will stay here–”

Vil hears something. She knows what it means. There is another spirit calling out for someone to answer. She won’t answer. Icarus told her not to or she would form a bond with it, and it will never leave until it crosses over to the other side.

“Vil?” Lexan asks. Vil snaps awake. She finds Wither and Lexan staring at her.

“Yeah,” she says as she shakes her head.

She hears the calling again, like a howl or a singing. She turns to the window beside her. She sees it. A male spirit floating near the neighbor dorm. He looks like a student. He is even wearing the same uniform, only that it is clear or grayish. She cannot distinguish his features.

“What are you looking at?” Lexan asks as she kneels on her bed. She moves next to hear to look through the window. Wither quickly kneels with one leg at her right to peek too, trying to keep his broken leg extended.

“I…” Vil says. She does not know if she should tell them, but why wouldn’t she? “There is a spirit there.”

“A what?” Lexan says. He moves closer to the window. “I don’t see anything.”

“Right there,” she points at the spirit. Icarus said not to talk to it. He did not say anything about pointing at it.

“I don’t see it,” Lexan says. “Do you see it, Wither?”

“No,” Wither answers.

Vil grabs Lexan’s wrist and moves it towards the spirit. “There!” she says.

“Oh my… I see it,” Lexan says. His eyes are wide. Vil lets go of his wrist.

“What? I don’t see it,” Wither says.

Vil grabs Wither’s head and move it towards the spirit. “There,” she says. Wither’s eyes grow wide. He sees it too.

“How… what…” Lexan begins.

“They are spirits,” Vil says. “I saw one a couple of nights ago, but Icarus banished it.”

“But how is that possible?” Lexan asks. “How can spirits be real?”

“I don’t know,” she says. She sees a couple that are out of curfew walk past the spirit. They don’t see it. “Icarus told me not to speak to them. They form bond with whoever speaks to them.” She looks at Wither. His face has grown pale. “Wither?” He is shivering.

“Wither, what’s wrong?” Lexan asks as if he has returned from his shock.

“That-That-That…” Wither says, failing to form words. “That’s… Yenta.”