Last Night on Aravast

A "Westfall" Short Story by Jill D'Entremont

Gemini gave a wary glance down the stairs, peering through thin-framed glasses while listening for the subtle sound of someone within the sitting room or the kitchen below. When she saw and heard nothing, she gathered up the edge of her long dress and hurried down. "Okay, I'm leaving for the party! I'll be home later!" She uttered quickly as she darted across the foyer.

"Gemini."

The young woman froze at the front door when the stern, yet gentle, voice called behind her. She glanced cautiously over her shoulder to the older woman standing silently within the kitchen.

Antonia Inova's tan skin was weathered with age, and her wavy gray hair was pulled back in a round bun. Her green eyes were narrow behind thick-rimmed glasses. Her arms were at first crossed against a red dress that hung loosely over her round frame, but they loosened as her expression faded to concern.

"Gemini," she said, almost pained. "That dress..."

Gemini dropped the end of her dress and shifted the golden shawl around her elbows. "It's fine, Grandmama," she mumbled in annoyance.

"But you're supposed to save that for—"

"We both know that's not going to happen." Gemini turned to face her grandmother. In as much as her words had been short with frustration, there was an undercurrent of hopelessness only the older Aravasti could notice.

"You may think that," Antonia took a few steps toward her granddaughter, "but I do not think so."

Gemini's lips tugged to a half-smile as Mama Antonia brought a hand to her cheek. 

"You may not wear this dress, but I know you will stand beside a fine young man one day."

The young woman's eyes rolled aside. "Yeah, but if he's not one Mom and Dad picked—"

"That doesn't matter," Antonia interrupted. "He gets to ask me now."

Gemini cocked an eyebrow. "Wait, really?"

The old woman nodded with a broad smile. "You're under my care now, so I get to make your matches." She poked Gemini in the shoulder. "You know, that Ian fellow is a nice young man..."

"Grandmama, he's just a friend," she said dryly.

"Well, whoever he ends up being, if you approve, I will approve." She bent forward to kiss Gemini's forehead. "But I will make it abundantly clear that it's about time someone tamed this flame," her smile simmered.

Gemini finally broke into a short laugh as her grandmother shooed her away.

"You'd better behave yourself this evening," she stressed.

The young woman rolled her head as she turned back to the door. "I will."

"No setting any fires, young lady!"

"I won't!" She called as she skipped down the walkway.

Antonia laughed. "I love you!" 

"Love you too!" Gemini yelled before darting around the short stone wall and out of sight—the edge of her blue dress flying behind her.

- - -

The group of young adults, many freshly out of their teenaged years, all but froze when fire rolled through the stone pavement. The strands of lights strung overhead flickered as they swung along their lines. The once dull roar of conversations had faded to silence, and all eyes turned as the newcomer approached.

Her dark brown hair was short and barely reached the tips of her shoulders, while a layer of white hair curled around her face. Her green eyes still bore a glint of blue-white light that reflected on the thin-framed glasses on her nose. The glow in her veins faded back to the diamond-shaped power mark fully exposed on her chest. Her low-cut, lilac bodice was layered under a blue, lace-edged dress slit up to her right hip, revealing short tights and tall brown boots that covered above and below her knees. A golden shawl was draped behind her back and looped around her elbows.

A collective groan rolled through the crowd, and one of the young men rolled his eyes. "Ugh, who invited her?" He grumbled under his breath.

"No one," Gemini flashed him a sarcastic smile as she passed. "That's why I'm here."

It didn't take much longer for Camille to storm over, and the rose-colored ruffles of her skirt flared behind her as her curls of white and blond hair did the same. Her bodice was also cut low enough to display her power mark in full, but her legs had nothing more than the split skirt to cover them. "What do you think you're doing here??" She scoffed heatedly.

Despite the young woman seething before her, Gemini remained calm. "Is this not the bridal party for one of the most prestigious Lux-Aravasti in the village?" She asked casually.

"I did not invite you." Her gray eyes narrowed.

"I didn't have to be—it's hard to miss a party this big," Gemini waved at the lights overhead.

"That's not how invitations work!" Camille stressed, her leg appearing in full as she took a step forward.

Gemini blinked away, shielding her eyes with one of her hands. "Goodness, are you showing off for your new hubby or everyone else around here?" 

Camille appeared outraged as she thrust her finger into Gemini's chest. "You're one to talk! None of us wants to see that much of that weak power mark of yours!"

"At least I'm not showing off the rest of my body to every male within a twenty-yard radius of town." She recovered quickly from Camille's shove backward.

The bride-to-be flared as power pulsed through her veins—most of which were visible due to her clothing choice—and her body began to glow at an almost blinding level.

A young woman with white bangs and long brown hair glanced across the stone path when the light caught her eye, and with a disappointed sigh, she left her circle of friends and started over with a clay wine cup in hand.

Camille noticed her first, lowering her skin's brilliance and shooting her glimmering eyes toward her. "Polara, can you remove your sister from my party??"

Polara shot Gemini a look of mild frustration. "I don't know; she's capable of coming and going on her own."

"Then go!" Camille barked at Gemini.

"But, I don't see a problem with her being here," Polara continued as she brushed her wavy hair over her shoulder. "This is generally the type of celebration for all of the young men and women of the village to attend, and she's included in that."

"I'd hardly call her young anymore," Camille cocked an eyebrow.

Gemini stuck out her tongue.

Polara shifted in her high-heeled shoes, her thin purple dress waving as she moved. "Well, your sister is here, and I'd say she's too young considering she's barely discovered her power—and there's some stronger drinks present," she waved the cup in her hand. "But I don't feel we should kick her out of the celebration if she's already here," she added with a hint of sarcasm.

Camille gave an exaggerated huff and set her hands on her hips. "Fine—just... don't burn anything down, Igne."

"I have a name," Gemini sneered.

"Whatever." The woman in the rose dress turned away. "If you want to attend a bridal party and be constantly reminded how you'll be forever alone, be my guest."

"Alone and happier than you'll ever be!" Gemini shot forward as Camille started away. She turned to her sister after a moment, meeting her stony gaze. "What."

"Gemini, you really need to stop doing this," Polara's eyes dropped to the ground. 

"Hey, they already don't like me; I might as well have some fun." Gemini smirked as she crossed her arms.

"But if you keep this up—"

"What? They'll keep not inviting me? They'll keep ignoring me? There's nothing left for them to do."

"They may stop inviting me."

Gemini's sneer paled at her younger sister's admission. "They wouldn't," she said softly. "They like you. You're a Zephyr, you're smart and powerful, you're playing the matchmaking game just like they are..."

"And, I've accepted one," Polara lifted her left hand.

Gemini took a weakened step back as her eyes dropped to the small golden ring with a large diamond embedded within it. "...What??" She barely choked out the word.

"I haven't had a chance to come over and tell you; it happened last week," Polara seemed both happy and sad as she looked at the ring on her finger. "But Aurel seems to be a good man, and a good match—"

"Aurel Sanborn??" Gemini's eyes bugged. "His stupid brother is one of the ones I had to turn down!"

"You didn't have to turn him down," Polara stressed the word.

"I did, because I refuse to be set up with someone purely based someone else's flawed opinions!"

Polara put a hand to her forehead. "Well, no matter what you think, Aurel is it for me. So, I guess the next bridal party will be mine."

Her older sister bristled, her arms still crossed tight against her chest. "Will I be invited to that one?"

"If I had my way—"

"But you do have your way," Gemini interrupted.

"I'm not the only one who gets to decide!" Polara tried. "I have to plan this with Aurel and his family, and I have to keep Mom and Dad's considerations in mind, and..."

Heat rose around Gemini's body as anger flushed her expression. "So, you get to disown me just like them."

Polara shut her eyes. "Gemini."

"It's fine; I know how it works by now." The Igne-Aravasti waved her hand exaggeratedly and turned away in a huff. "Any association with me means you get ostracized too. It's better to pretend I don't exist so you can still get invited to parties and find true love and happiness for the rest of your life."

Polara's hazel eyes narrowed painfully. "I really hope you're not being serious right now. You know how much I care about you—and how much I could care less what you are. You know I will do anything I can to get you involved... but you know there's only so much I can do." She frowned when her sister's slow pace was unchanged. "Hey—don't tell me you're going to leave after I convinced Cami you could stay!!" She thrust out her hand and caused a gust of wind to billow in a circle around the Igne.

Gemini paused, keeping her back to her sister as the Zephyr's wind died out. Her hair had been tossed, and the golden shawl had fallen off one of her arms. "True," she said softly, "I'd hate to waste my one opportunity at acceptance," she finally glanced over her shoulder.

The younger sister managed a smile. "Besides, you are absolutely slaying tonight. I don't think I've seen you in that dress before."

Gemini brought one of her hands to her shoulder and glanced down. "This was supposed to be my engagement dress. I figured, since I won't need it for that, I might as well wear it out."

Polara stepped up behind her sister. "Gem," she slipped her hand behind her back and squeezed her against her side. "Hang in there, okay? You not that old," she paused for a short laugh between them both, "and you never know what's going to happen. For all we know, this is all to allow the right guy to come along and sweep you off your feet."

Gemini was already rolling her eyes as Polara's fingers swept through the air. "Yeah, right."

Polara smirked, giving Gemini a nudge. "Ian's still available, you know."

Gemini threw up her hands. "For the eightieth time, Ian is just a friend!"

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," Polara released her and turned back to the party, "Miss Forever Alone." 

Gemini snorted as she tossed the edge of her long blue dress and spun after her. "Alone and happy!" After a few steps, she slowed to a stop, causing her sister to turn and do the same. "Thanks, Lara," she muttered.

Polara recognized the calm surrender in her sister's voice and smiled. "Anytime, Gem. Now, come on."

- - -

The laced edges of Gemini's dress skirted across the ground as she walked slowly down the stone streets of her village. She had had her fill of the party once the beverages began flowing more freely and Polara's future husband arrived, and she quietly took her leave without a single person noticing she was no longer there.

Her arms were tucked at her sides, keeping the golden shawl loose around her elbows as she approached the cottage she shared with Mama Antonia. After two failed attempts at marrying her off, Rhas and Soleis declared their oldest daughter to be under her grandmother's care—partly because she had already been spending much of her time there, but mostly because they could better focus on Polara's matchmaking with Gemini out of the way.

Gemini stopped at the edge of the walkway, and her eyes drifted to the star-filled sky above the cottage's roof. She sighed almost sadly as her mind began to wander. She often dreamed of life beyond her village's borders—far beyond Aravast's sandstone hills and azure bays. She dreamed of somewhere where being an Igne or a Zephyr or a Lux didn't matter; somewhere where she would be accepted precisely as she was. She didn't need to be matched or paired up; she just needed people who genuinely cared about her who she could care for in return.

"Gemini?"

She spun around, her long dress twisting around her legs in the process.

A tall, blond-haired man with white bangs was standing across the street, looking at her in mild confusion. He was dressed down in a blue tunic shirt and khaki pants with a long, purple scarf looped around his neck.

"Ian!" Gemini immediately tossed the golden shawl over her low-cut bodice to cover her exposed chest. "Hey!" She blurted.

Ian's lips tugged into an amused smile. "Hey," he said. "That's a pretty dress."

"It's... thanks!" She flashed a grin.

"Were you actually invited to Camille and David's party?" He tilted his head.

"Nope." She coaxed a chuckle out of the young man. "Were you?"

"Yeah, but I didn't go," he kicked his brown boot against the ground.

"That explains why I didn't see you," she also shifted on her feet. "Honestly, I would have had a way better time just hanging out with you."

"Well," he smiled somewhat bashfully, "the night is still young... if you wanted to go for a walk."

"A night walk?"

"I'm a Lux, and you're an Igne; I don't think light will be a problem," he raised an eyebrow with a smirk.

"Good point," Gemini grinned, but when she took a step forward and her shawl fell from her neck. She grimaced and attempted to reposition it, only to huff and let it fall. "Can I change first?"

Ian laughed and helped her recover the shawl. "Go ahead."

Mama Antonia had already gone to bed when she slipped inside the quiet, candlelit home. She bounded lightly up the stairs, threw off the dress, and slipped on a comfortable pair of khakis and a black tunic dress split at the sides. She topped them off with a blue vest and black boots, then hurried back to find Ian waiting on the stoop outside.

"Much better," she joked, twisting her body to pose for him.

"You always look nice," he bit his lip, "but this suits you."

She shyly grabbed the ends of her hair to curl around her fingers. "It's way more comfortable," she deflected. She then held up her light-tipped fingers and sparked a flame above them. "So, where to?"

Ian looked up, and as light filled the diamond-shaped mark on the back of his neck, a ball of light materialized over their heads like a lantern. "Let's just see where we end up."

The two started down the quiet road, watching their light pass over the row of tall juniper trees and the short stone wall that lined it. The windows of most homes along the way were dark, though a few still bore the warm glow from those who were awake. One older couple was walking down the road in the other direction, and they offered a short wave and wide smiles to the younger pair as they passed.

"So, why didn't you go to the party?" Gemini glanced at Ian.

"To be honest," his gray-blue eyes turned to the sky, "I'm getting tired of everyone asking me when I'm going to make my choice."

"Oh," her voice turned dull. "That's right; you're twenty now."

"And everyone in the village knows." His voice was also muted.

"Well, if you ask me, I think everyone is way too caught up in all this matchmaking stuff," she offered bluntly. "Once your power emerges, that's all anyone talks about until you're old enough to be paired off. And if you don't do it right, or not soon enough," she rolled her eyes, "you're simply written off like some lost cause."

"Spoken like a true cynical Gemini," Ian pestered with a smirk.

"Hey," she sneered at him. "I can't be the only one around here who thinks all this stuff is ridiculous."

"I think the bigger problem is no one would admit it even if they did."

"Would you?" She glanced back at him.

Ian blinked. "Of course. I think you forget sometimes I have my own struggles with matchmaking over here," he averted his eyes. "Since I have no family or next of kin left, I'm expected to make my own choice." His hand idly rubbed the power mark on the back of his neck. "I used to think I'd like this better, but all it's done is make me constantly field other girls' parents' requests for why I should choose their daughter. I feel like I'm having to haggle for what kind of person I want to spend the rest of my life with—like I'm trying to pick a piece of produce, not a partner."

In his annoyance, Ian's pace had slowed to a crawl. Gemini had to stop completely to allow him to catch up, and the wearied look of his expression caught her off guard.

As a Lux, Ian would have no lack of eligible matches. Lux were considered the most powerful of all the Aravasti; thus, marrying one was ideal, and the Lux in question would experience a wave of popularity. Rumors would fly if he was seen talking to an Aqui, and spending time with another Lux would bring well-wishes for pure children. For Ian to even attempt being seen with an Igne like Gemini was practically a travesty. 

But, unlike others in their village, Ian refused to give up his friendship with her simply because of her supposed rank within it.

"Like I said," her lips pulled to a sarcastic half-smile, "this matchmaking stuff is stupid."

"I absolutely agree." He nodded, smiling weakly in return. "Sorry."

"You're always free to vent to me. You know I'm going to."

Ian had to laugh again. "Yep."

The pair came to a round balcony at the top of a hill with their village laid out below them. They could see the dots of light from the party as faint echoes of laughter reached their ears. Beyond them, past the trees and sleepy homes that blended into the darkness, lay a wide bay that reflected the starry sky like a mirror.

Gemini was drawn to the edge of the curved stone banister, and she released her flame and rested her fingers lightly upon it.

Ian scooted closer, allowing his light to fade as Gemini looked out into the water. He watched her wide eyes slowly scan the view as the starlight reflected in her glasses. His lips tugged to a smile. "The stars sure are pretty tonight."

"They are," she said dazedly. "I'd give anything to be out there."

He turned his eyes to her fingers on the banister. "Have your parents really given up on you already? You're only three years older than me," Ian tried.

"That's three years to late in the eyes of everyone in this village."

"Except me."

"Yeah, but you're different," she glanced at him. "You're, like, the only person in this village who hasn't abandoned me—and I'm still not entirely sure why."

He seemed hurt despite his lips twisting to a smile. "We've been friends since primary school; you really think I'd abandon you?"

"Everyone else has," she turned back to the bay. "Except Mama Antonia..."

"And Polara."

"She's accepted a match," she shook her head. "It's only a matter of time before her new husband forbids her from seeing me."

Ian cringed and turned aside. The life of an Igne was usually paved with disappointment. Igne were seen as the lowest ranking among the Aravasti since anyone could to create sparks or flames using other means, and what little power attributed to them was seen as dangerous, destructive, and most of all, unnecessary. 

He remembered well the day her power awakened shortly after she turned eleven. He remembered her excitement when she created a flame out of the air; something neither of them had seen before. He remembered the look on her parents' faces when they realized she had not become a Nox or Zephyr like they were, but that she had inherited the power of an Igne from her father's mother. He remembered her confusion when her parents grew upset—and when everyone within their group of friends stopped associating with her. Ian's parents, too, had warned him to stay away from her and her 'unfavorable' power.

But even as a young boy, Ian couldn't bring himself to do so. Gemini was kind to him; she played all of the games he wanted to play, and she was always friendly and fun to be around. He remembered, however, watching as Gemini's playfulness was slowly crushed into jaded indifference as the years went by. He remembered when she turned twenty and was paired with two different young men with strong Nox genes, hopeful that they would outweigh Gemini's 'fluke' and bring forth Nox children—and he remembered the aftermath of Gemini's fiery disapproval.

His eyes watched her gaze into the stars. He would give anything to give her the life she wanted.

"Honestly, Gemini..."

"Hm?" She hummed, glancing over her shoulder.

With her eyes upon him, he immediately glowed pink and averted his gaze. "I sometimes think... that I should choose someone... so I can stop worrying about all this."

Gemini lowered her brows in concern as Ian's demeanor declined into nervousness. "Yeah?" She wavered.

Ian glared at the ground, unmoving, before his eyes slowly turned up to meet her. "If I had to pick anyone in this village, I'd..."

His words were drowned by a low rumble that broke into a loud crack through the dark sky overhead.

Their eyes shot up as a streak of orange passed over them, curved toward the ground, and struck the land on the other side of the bay. 

A burst of light broke from the darkness, rising into a cloud of smoke, ash, and fire. Moments later, the rumble of the explosion shook the ground and rattled within their chests.

Gemini shrieked as she and Ian staggered backward into each other. "What—what was that??"

Another crackling overhead blended into the sound of screams when others took note of the blaze. The second missile struck closer, closing the gap between the billowing cloud and the deafening blast.

Ian grabbed her hand. "Run!!"

The two bolted from the balcony and raced away from the bay. Another missile cut through the sky and shot behind their backs. It struck the ground and caused the very streets to ripple beneath their feet.

A chunk of rock broke off from a nearby wall, and Ian narrowly threw up a shield of light to deflect its fall. 

Gemini winced within Ian's bubble of light as she watched it bounce aside. "What's happening??"

"I don't know—but we need to get away from the village!!"

Her eyes watched clouds of dust and flame rise behind them, teeth clenched tight. "But... everyone—Grandmama—Polara—"

"We have to hope they're running, too," Ian grabbed her shoulders to refocus her attention.

"What if I'm the only one who can stop this??" She stressed, light glinting in her eyes as her power coursed through her veins.

Ian was caught off guard by the fearful determination in Gemini's expression. Could she be strong enough to quell the flames that threatened them?

Another explosion burst nearby. This time, the wall collapsed completely as the street they were standing on cracked in two. Ian could scarcely shove Gemini across before it broke into a deep chasm and rocks rained down upon the light shield.

They ran as fast as they could run, refusing to look back as the air filled with screams and cries. The night sky was lit in an eerie orange glow from the missiles continuing to strike around them. They rushed through a narrow alley and broke into the wide village square. Below them, beyond the fountain, and down the hill lay the wide grasslands that marked the edge of their village.

Gemini's footing faltered as a nearby strike rocked the ground from the behind them. She fell to her knees and scrambled as Ian helped pull her up, only for a shockwave to knock them both into the stone fountain in the center of the square. 

Gemini was struck in the head as the two were barraged from all sides by a rain of rock and debris. She shouted before falling limp, curled upon the ground. Ian dove over her, crying out in pain as rock pelted across his back. The light from the mark on the back of his neck pulsed and recovered his translucent shield, where it remained as a pale bubble among the thick dust and rubble that collected around them.

Eventually, the cacophony dulled into a rumble and the light faded into darkness. Ian struggled to remain conscious despite the drain of power on his body and the bloody wounds that covered his back.

He was unsure how long to keep protecting her.

He simply knew he had to.

He would give anything to give her the life she wanted.