I slowly let go of my father’s hand, knowing this would be the last time I’d see him. I took a long look to memorize his face. He looked so different from me; I didn’t think I’d be able to look into a mirror and see any of him staring back at me. Tanned skin from working the vineyard’s fields and chocolate-colored eyes that looked back at me with a mixture of fondness and fear. His honey-blonde hair was smoothed back to tame the flyaway strands he always fought with. I inhaled his scent to remember that too, berries and whiskey invading my senses.
Before I could let go entirely, he slipped something down the sleeve of his ragged cotton shirt, which, once blue, was now nearly white from the sun and age, and paired with light tan linen pants, perfect for Sunrise’s heat. I tried to hold back my emotions, the pain of knowing I’d never see him again. I was distracted as he slipped whatever was in his sleeve into my hand. His right hand quickly came up as if he were grasping my hand in both of his. My brows furrowed in confusion as I looked down, my eyes going wide with shock as what could only be an iron knife slipped up into my sleeve.
I looked up, wild eyes locking on my father’s. His chocolate eyes were more severe than I’d ever seen them as he shook his head, his cue to stay silent, as I slipped the knife further up. I grabbed the edges of my dress’s sleeve to ensure it was secure: If I were caught with this, I would be killed instantly.
How in the Otherworld my father got his hands on this, I’d never have the chance to find out. Nor would I have the opportunity to ask why he would give it to me when he didn’t even trust me with my temper around the Fae.
My mother pulled my attention to her, so I turned and gave her all of my focus. Tears were rolling down her face as I heard the call from the podium. “All humans up for Placement, make your way to the stage!”
The announcement transformed any residual confidence I had left into pure dread as my mother and I exchanged looks. This was it, and it was now my turn to face whatever the future may hold, whether I wanted to or not.
“Individuals not up for Placement, make your way to the back.” The proclamation rang around the open space, and the limestone obelisks echoed it back to us. It must have been magic, something done to make it echo sound when it hit them.
I glanced over quickly, seeing the mass of people splitting off. Those my age made their way up to the stage, funneled to where the chairs lined each side of the aisle.
In that line of sight, the spectators would sit and enjoy the show as we were left to our misery. Those older and younger quickly separated, forced to the back of the arena. The lull was over, and it was time for Placement Day to begin truly.
I took advantage of the momentary pandemonium and threw myself into my mother’s arms. She held me tightly—making me flashback to when I was a small child—rocking me back and forth as she sobbed into my shoulder. I ran my hand down her curly brown hair, trying to calm her enough to say our goodbyes. I had to before it was too late. We had minutes, at most, before the line moved, and I was forced to join them.
I pulled back as my mother cupped my cheeks delicately, her green eyes sparkling with tears, staring into my sky-blue ones as her full lips parted. She spoke softly, full of love and tenderness—in a way I had never heard from her before. Perhaps it was the knowledge these parting words were forever, but I was left breathless with tears. I choked back as she said her goodbyes.
“I have loved you from the very first moment, Asteria.” My mother began, tears welling in my own eyes that matched the streaks falling down her cheeks. “My little star. You were our miracle—you know that, right? I had given up hope of ever having a child when we discovered the impossible had occurred. Take this, my love.” She pulled out a delicate necklace, and my jaw dropped as I took it in. “Wear it well and keep it as a memory of the parents—” I watched helplessly as my mother choked on her words. “Of the parents who loved you beyond measure.”
It was…beautiful. More beautiful than they could afford. It was a precious necklace that a Fae should own. The chain was a delicate silver metal highlighted by a slight shimmer.Silverium, I realized. A rare metal only mined in the Day Kingdom. We were taught basic lessons in my village, Sonmathion, covering everything the Fae predetermined all mortals should know. All to ensure we could best serve our masters and not let human stupidity get in the way, according to our teacher. A crotchety old woman, but she had her uses, as she’d taught us about all the big exports from each kingdom. Silverium was a big one for Day.
The pendant was a sun, or half of one, with its rays coming off the top, and merged into an upside-down crescent moon with stars hanging underneath its curve. The stars were the only part of the pendant not made of silverium, instead made of pure star opals, the kind only mined in the Etheralta Mountains—the range that crossed from Day into Night Kingdom.
They each mined the opals from their sides of the mountain—the star opals could only be found in that one mountain range, making it the rarest gem in the world. Adamah had plenty of gems across its continents, but the star opal was special. The result of a blending of magics from Day and Night Kingdoms somehow going into the making of them, that shared mountain range making all the difference, though it was kept a closely guarded secret what exactly caused them. The star opals werenamed for their shine and shimmer that mirrored our stars above—those precious white gems shone with a rainbow of color inside them, making them twinkle like stars in the sky. They certainly lived up to their name, both in the sparkle of their finish, and the unique qualities that made them so brilliant.
My mother stepped behind me, moving my long, dark hair over my shoulder as she clasped the necklace around my neck. My hand immediately went up to hold the pendant as she stepped back around to face me. There was no time to ask questions about where they found such a precious item. I could only assume they must have stumbled upon it by accident, possibly dropped by some careless noble. We’d had many visits to the vineyard over the years for tours—it was the best time to get new gossip, which the ladies in the village lived for, small and cut off as we were in Sonmathion.
“Now, when you look at this, you’ll remember your parents loved you more than the stars love the sky.” My mother smiled tremulously, and I sniffed back the gathering tears.
“Thank you, mom. I promise I won’t forget. Ever.” I swore solemnly.
I stepped back, nearly running into Verin, one of the girls from my village—one of the worst.
Just my luck.
“Watch it!” She snapped, glaring at me. I rolled my eyes and turned back to my parents. I heard her aggrieved huff when I didn’t acknowledge her, but my parents were more important than our never-ending enmity.
I grabbed my father’s left hand with mine, and my mother’s right, squeezing them both tightly. “I love you both. Thank you, for everything.”
“We love you too, Asteria.” My father’s gruff voice shook, his eyes holding a sheen of something protective, even as he attempted to hold back the threatening tears. I looked at themboth once more, preparing to go. With a deep breath, I turned around, forcing myself to walk away.
This separation had always been coming. I couldn’t show the world how much walking away from my family hurt. The Fae expected us to leave without issue, and to do otherwise would not serve me well. I tilted my chin up high as I walked forward to the platform, resigned but unwilling to show the Fae any weakness. I knew better than to let feelings rule me, regardless. Any hint of them was best served being buried deep.
There was no place for love in our world. That belonged to the Fae.
Just like everything else.
I followed the clustered young humans walking to the roughly cut limestone stage—its jagged edges came off the sides in a strange irregular formation. Just as jagged and dangerous as whatever Fae I ended up enslaved to, I was sure.
Before I could step up to the large stone platform, Verin’s voice rang out, and I sighed internally. She was coming for me, now of all times. I shifted to the right, stepping aside to let others make their way up to the platform. The habitual sneer on Verin’s face whenever she looked at me was firmly in place as I turned to her.
“I do wish you good luck, Asteria.” She smirked, clearly mocking me. “You never know what kind of master you’ll have, but a whore like you is bound to find a master with no hesitation in using those skills.” She was always trying to cut me with words, and I straightened up, resigned to this last battle of wills.
“A whore. Really, Verin?” I glared back at her haughty face. “You must have me mistaken for yourself.”
