Page 13 of Bound By Stardust
“Oh Drazhan, you pretend to be so wise. If only you knew.” Iscariot shook his head, and then he leaped.
He hurled into me, and I slammed against the back wall, causing the room to shake.
Roaring, I brought up my fist and punched him in the stomach. He retaliated with a blow to my face. I ducked, his fist catching the top of my head, rocking me back.
I fumbled for the knife as a blow landed on my shoulder. Throwing an elbow, I caught him in the chest, and he staggered back, giving me time to pull my knife.
I should have had it in hand before I walked into the room. My reflexes were too slow.
Iscariot gave a barking laugh and brought up his fists, hurling toward me again as I drove the knife up.
He froze as black blood poured from his side, and when he spoke, his voice was a low hiss. “You’ll have to do better if you intend on killing me.”
Then, he leaped on top of me. I went down hard, the knife flying out of my hands as claws tore at my clothing. My hands went up to defend my face, and I yanked Iscariot’s mask off. He growled as one of his claws nicked the leather string that held the vial of stardust.
In the struggle, the top came off, and it fell, shattering on the floor and sending a cloud of dust into the air.
Iscariot howled and hurled himself back, hissing.
Interesting.
Leaping to my feet, I snatched up the stardust and threw it in his face then dove for my knife.
A burning stench filled the air as claws ripped my robe. I grunted, ran my knife across his throat, and stabbed him through the heart.
Iscariot slumped to the floor, twitching, burning.
Breathing heavily, I stood over him, grimacing at his true appearance.
Memories came rushing back. Iscariot had caught me off guard outside of the palace. I hadn’t my knife or the mask that helped me blend in. He’d been stalking me as I’d stalked him.
A pounding came on the door. “It’s time!”
“One moment,” I shouted back. The ceremony!
My eyes tore around the room, searching for a place to hide the body.
Under the bed would do until I returned. I only hoped no one would notice the smell or the blood stains.
I tugged a rich carpet over the blood and snatched up Iscariot’s mask, giving myself a fleeting glimpse in the mirror.
The pounding came again. “Hurry up, Iscariot. We can’t be late.”
I flung open the door. “I’m ready.”
9
Asira
My name. At last, they had called my name.
Emotion surged through me: joy, disbelief, and then…disquiet.
Words I’d forgotten floated back to my mind.
“One day, Grandmother, when I grow up, I want to be chosen, like the beautiful girls at tithe. They get to fly away in golden chariots and live in the starry kingdom. It must be magnificent. I bet they are treated like princesses.”
Grandmother sat up straight, dark eyes clouding over as she stared at me. A trembling hand fell from the mixture she’d been stirring to the table as she pressed her lips together. “Oh, my lovely Asira, what a dream you have. The fates will do what they wish, but you have a unique task here as the next Stardust Collector. When I’m gone, you must carry on.”
