AZA

Aza burst out of the Sanctuary's door into the cold night air that whipped at her face and blew her hair back. She ran down the rough steps into the dark, slightly damp grass. It felt good the coolness against her bare feet, but it wasn't enough to calm her. She glared up at the sky where a small crescent moon hung limply in the darkness.

She screamed at it. It felt better, letting her shrill voice pierce the silence of the night, ruining the peaceful stillness. Finally she just collapsed in the wet grass, hearing the small chink of her mother's charm in her hair as it bounced on the ground. Instinctively her hand went to it, to feel the worn metal that she so often rubbed for comfort. It was the gift that first person to show her love, had given her. Slowly she lowered her hand to the grass that she now lay on. She stared up at the heavens, reaching for the eternities, the pin pricks of light in the night sky, circling the faint smudge of a moon, illuminating her surroundings.

Aza was glad that the moon was dim tonight it meant she could see them clearly. Stars. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes; her heart began to beat normally. Stars always made everything better. When she had first moved to New York and discovered that stars were never seen in the highly polluted state, that had been the worst. After her father's rages, she would find refuge in the billions of lights that dotted the blanket of black. They became far more than a part of nature to her. They became a part of her darkened, damaged soul.

Aza slowly opened her eyes again, but the stars were gone. Instead a pale face with dark hair and large swimming pools of violet were staring down at her. Aza nearly jumped out of her skin. "Whaa-?" She clutched at her heart, the finally eased beating completely forgotten. "Would you stop doing that?" She glared at Del and his stupid silent ways.

"What? Existing?" He grumbled.

"That would be a bonus." Aza put her arms back to her side.

"What are you doing out here?" The shadow boy asked glancing around as if he was nervous he would get caught talking to her.

Aza turned her head away from him. "I could ask you the same question."

"But I asked you first."

Aza glared at him. "What are we five now?"

Del's cold stare was so freaking annoying, especially now as he stared down at her in silence. A part of Aza wondered if her judgment of Del was based off of that awful boy from middle school. They dressed the in the same dark clothes and had the sharply defined features that all the girls melted for, but admittedly there was a difference in the boys, and it wasn't just the color of their eyes. It was their vastness. The stupid kid Aza had known's eyes were up front and shallow. You looked into them and they just ended, but Del's were the opposite. Those violet eyes held a million eternities inside them. She looked into his eyes and would keep going, never finding an end to the universe they held.

Yuck. Aza thought, disgustedly. Honestly brain? You're really thinking crap like that? "Fine," Aza closed her eyes. She was now feeling that sense of exhaustion she had lacked earlier. She was just too tired to argue with him. "I like the stars." She said finally. "They're my... my peace, I guess. When I just can't handle anything anymore I go out and look at the stars. For some reason they just calm me down, give me my peace."

Aza opened her eyes to once again an immense, cosmic sky filled with and eternity of her peace bringers. She felt the air move around her as Del, to her surprise, settled on the grass across from her, so that his head was above hers. When she looked at him, all she saw was the top of his dark head as he too stared up to the stars.

"What makes them peaceful?"

He sounded tired too. Aza thought. She turned back to the stars as well. "I'm not sure what you mean." She replied.

Del sighed. He sounded resigned and almost sad. The only emotions, Aza thought he had owned were anger and rudeness, if rudeness was an emotion. "How do they give you peace? What about them is peaceful?"

Aza was silent for a moment. She wasn't entirely sure why, or well she supposed she had never really delved deeply into the matter. But finally words that she knew were true trickled from her mouth. "I look up at the stars and see hope. The sky is so dark, like the world or the trials of life. That dark and dismal life floods over everything, leaving either: destruction and chaos in its wake, or just tortured souls left to die or live a tormented life. But the stars they don't let the darkness swallow them. They fight to shine through and live, even when it's hard. The stars didn't give up. They fight and shine out for those of us who are drowning in that water of turmoil and strife."

There was a silence only broken by the pair's breathing. Finally Del said. "Well, that's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard."

Aza groaned. Why did she even try?

But Del went on. "There's a story about the stars and the night sky. It was once said that the darkness was the veil that shielded earth from heaven, but over time the veil grew old and began to fall apart. Little holes started appearing in the fabric, giving mankind glimpses of heaven."

Aza, amazingly, understood what he was saying. "But it's the same." She said. "Hope. Stars are hope."

Del's head rustled the grass as he leaned upward to stare at Aza. Aza did the same. His purple eyes were so freaking cool, but Aza would never admit that. "I thought you said that stars were peace." He said, those annoyingly pretty eyes reflecting the holes of the veil where heaven shown through them.

Aza blinked at him. "I've always found that peace and hope are one in the same."

EVABELLE

Evabelle tossed and turned in her bed. She wore perfect pajamas and lay in a perfect bed, and yet could not get comfortable. The piano man took a longer time before he started to play that night. When she finally heard the soft chimes of the keys, she relaxed somewhat, but not enough to fall asleep.

Talking to Lucis today had helped her in a way she couldn't explain, but the guilt in her heart wasn't gone and it would never leave until she decided it was time to.

She rolled from her bed and left the room, stopping by room number one. She stared at it, feeling her hands shaking at her sides. Stop being so afraid! She brought up her hand to knock, but she couldn't. Her fist hovered inches away from the old wood, yet she couldn't bring herself to tap against it.

Evabelle lowered her hand and went to the stairs. Before she knew it, she found herself in front of another recognizable door. It was the one that lead to the piano room. The music coming from it was louder and felt more real. Now she was just inches away from finding out who played the lovely calming music every night, and yet she couldn't open that door either. She wasn't afraid, but for some reason she enjoyed the mystery of not knowing.

A slight movement from the corner of her eye caught Evabelle's attention. She turned and saw Kai frozen to the spot, blinking at her. He bowed his head. "I'm sorry, I-" He was turning around to leave.

"Wait!" Evabelle cried. Her heart was pounding, but she held her ground. This couldn't go on any longer. "Please," Evabelle swallowed. "Will you please come and sit with me?"

The pale elf/vampire slowly turned back to Evabelle and stared. "Are you sure?" He asked.

Evabelle nodded. She slid her way down the wall by the door and waited for Kai.

Cautiously he made his way over to her and sat beside her against the wall. The music continued playing. It was a song that Evabelle actually recognized. It was a famous song, by the artist Yiruma. It was May Be.

Evabelle watched him for a moment. He was older than her. She wasn't sure by how much. She had read that time and age was different for elves and vampires. He only looked a few years older, about Calandra's age. Finally she took a deep breath. "I have owed you something for a long time. You don't have to forgive me. I could never ask that. But I know I have to apologize for everything that I said to you that night. I was completely wrong. I've seen you. You are kind, and polite, and I know now that you would never hurt someone intentionally."

Kai's faded eyes reflected emotions that Evabelle didn't understand. He closed them and leaned his head back. "I had a feeling about you." He said softly. Evabelle liked his accent that she now knew must come from the elves.

"What do you mean?" Evabelle asked.

Kai turned his head to look at her again. "That you were more than you seemed. The people in this house question you. Lucis however does not. I, myself had doubts, but perhaps there was more than what reaches the eye. I am the perfect example of that."

Evabelle felt the tears burning at the corners of her eyes. "You mean you're not angry with me? You don't hate me?"

He shook his head. "You being afraid of me, it was not terribly surprising for me. I am used to people just being disgusted by the sight of me. I can barely stand my own reflection at times. I am the enemy of myself. I was the preserver of life and now I am the destroyer of it. It is my fault that I am the way I am now. If I hate anyone, it is myself."

Evabelle gasped. "Don't say that!" She exclaimed. She could hear Gem's little voice crying. "I know that he hates being a vampire more than anything. I know if it were his choice he would starve himself. He practically does."

"Kai, you can't hate yourself. Please don't." Evabelle gazed at him sadly.

He gazed back. "But what about yourself? Why do you hate yourself?"

Evabelle was taken aback. "What? I'm... I don't hate myself. I just..."

Kai nodded and stared at the opposite wall. "I've noticed that this Sanctuary is filled with people who hate themselves, and I'm afraid that we can't win the war this way. One cannot hate oneself and expect to achieve success."

Evabelle looked at her hands. They were still scraped up from the training earlier. For a moment her vision blurred with her unshed tears. "Kai, I know that I am pathetic, but more than anything I don't want to be. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do."

Kai was silent for a moment, so that only the sound of the music echoed in the corridor. "More than anything." He whispered. "I wish for that too." Once again he looked at her. His eyes, Evabelle had originally thought as a faded gray color, but now she saw them differently. They were faded, but Evabelle saw what she had not before. Underneath that lonely gaze was a light. She could see Gem's eyes. They were a greenish blue like the sea. The silvery hair was golden sunshine. And his smile was pure and filled with life. This was the real Kai, the one Evabelle had been so blind to. "Perhaps it's time we tried." He said a little louder. "We need to find what we need to do so that we can someday be okay with who we are, or at least find the person we want to be and become them."

Evabelle sighed. "You make it sound so simple and easy."

Kai shook his head. "I hardly expect that. I've learned that great things come from hard work, diligence, and determination. Everything requires some fragment of effort, and I know this is no exception."

"How?" Evabelle asked desperately. "What do we have to do?"

Kai sighed. "I believe that is what we have to figure out on our own."

Evabelle sighed and leaned her head back again, to stare at the ceiling. "That's the thing. I'm no good at figuring things out by myself. I know it's lazy, but I prefer being told what to do and how to do it. That's not very leaderly, is it?"

"It's all a matter of choices. They shape us." Kai replied.

A small voice spoke out. "Kai?"

Evabelle turned. It was Gem with that poor little black cat clutched in her arms. Her blind eyes gazed down the hallway, nervously. "Kai, is that you?"

Kai straightened. Evabelle caught his expression soften to one he held only for his little sister. "It's me Gem, come here."

The little elf girl padded toward them. "Is Evabelle with you?" She asked, coming to her knees beside her brother.

Evabelle swallowed. The image of Gem's face, tear-streaked and broken, flashed before her. "Yes." Kai said. "We've been talking, and your first impression of her was correct, Gem. She is a very lovely princess." He glanced at Evabelle, who blinked in surprise and pleasure.

She felt tears burning behind her eyes. "That's what you really thought of me?"

Gem's head turned toward her and she nodded. "Yes, I still think that. I just think that you made a mistake."

A tear slipped out. Quickly Evabelle wiped it away. "You're right. I made an awful mistake by misjudging your brother. I know him a bit better now. I know that he is kind. I know that he doesn't want to hurt anyone, least of all, you." Evabelle brushed Gem's arm. The little girl's beaming smile warmed Evabelle's heart and encouraged her to go on. "I know that he is good. I know that he loves you. And," Evabelle glanced over at Kai, who wasn't looking at either of them, but Evabelle saw that small shy smile. Evabelle grinned. "I know that he's a great man; and that he knows not to stop there. He knows to continue on and become better. He just taught me that." He glanced up at her with that small smile still there. How could I ever be afraid of him? He's just like me.

Gem laughed a sweet, beautiful laugh. "I could have told you all that! Kai is the best brother in the whole entire world." She dropped Jewels, who ducked away, and gave Kai a big hug.

Evabelle smiled at the pair. She wondered if her own little brother admired her as much as this little girl cared for her big brother. She gasped as the little elf's arms wrapped around her now. "I knew it." Gem whispered.

Evabelle returned her embrace. "You really are something else, Gem." She said. Once again, Evabelle's mind wandered back to Chi. "You remind me of my own little brother." She actually told her.
"Really?" Gem's head popped up. "What's he like?"

"You, silly." Kai tickled the little girl's sides. "Didn't you hear her?"

Gem squealed in delight and spun away. She tried to run, but Kai jumped to his feet, snatched her arm, and whirled her back to him. The two of them laughed as they fell back to the floor. Evabelle laughed herself as she watched them roll around.

Jewels rubbed herself against Evabelle, who obliged and ran her hand down the cat's spine. "They really are like me and Chi. Kai and Chi even have similar sounding names." Evabelle told the cat. "You know originally, I was afraid of everyone here. They were so strange and alien, but now I'm seeing potential for new friends and possibly a sort of haphazard family." Evabelle chuckled and looked down at the furry little creature. "Well, what do you think?"

Jewels meowed once, snuggled in close, and began to purr.

DEL

Del stared up at the constellations glimmering above him. He had come out here on own impulse. He often felt alone. There was only Lucis. He was all that there ever was, but now Lucis was in there with Tru. That twisted girl that Del couldn't stand for more than a few seconds. He had no idea how Lucis could stand there and take her abuse.

He had wondered why he had wandered out here. Why he had decided that the cool night air was the place for him. Maybe the quiet stillness would calm him down. At least that's what he had thought, but then she had screamed, shattering that calm air and bringing her crazy self out. Aza.

He had watched her storm out of the Sanctuary, completely livid. He watched her throw up her arms and collapse onto the lawn. Then he had wandered over to her just to have her glare at him with those silver rings of fire. Del could barely stand the sight of Tru, but this girl was something else. She made his blood boil, but then she had said her bit about the stars, and for some reason he had decided to listen. Maybe because she wasn't insulting him, but then again, he insulted her, but whatever.

Now he stared up at the stars in silence. He liked it strangely enough. She wasn't talking; he wasn't talking. It was almost peaceful as she had said. He watched a long reaching shooting star streak across the sky. Del stretched out a hand as though he could catch it in his palm, but it vanished far too quickly, with only the imprint of it behind his eyes.

Del dropped his hand up by his head and felt his fingers brush hers. He flinched back, his heart clenching, but Aza didn't seem to notice. He rolled onto his stomach and propped himself up on his elbows. She was asleep, curled to her side. Del inhaled deeply. Her breathing was slow and even. Her blonde hair was strewn a little wildly across her face, while her weird little charm lay right over her eye. She looked like a small child who had exhausted herself after a long day of playing.

Del reached out carefully and moved the little silver flower from her face. She didn't even stir. It was the first time that Del hadn't had the urge to scream at her. He liked her better this way, he thought. She was much less trouble; like this.

The cold wind whipped his hair around him and caused the little runt to shiver. Silently he draped his wing over her and felt her breathe easier underneath it. Del glanced up around them. There was no one there, but the distant fairy lights that were sparkling in the trees. It was late, he knew. If his internal clock was correct it was about two in the morning. He sighed. Well he didn't want to get caught lying by this human in the morning. They couldn't stay here. He lifted himself to his feet and stared down at Aza, appearing more like an innocent child than anything else.

He kicked her, none too gently, with his toe. She groaned and rolled over. "Wake up, rat." He snapped.

Aza moaned as she rolled onto her other side. "Why do you have to be so mean?"

Del looked back up at the stars. Stars, billions of miles away that were exploding, leaving nothing, but destruction in their wake. He shook his head. Only this girl could find peace in some of the most chaotic things in the universe. He replied simply. "Because, I've forgotten how to be nice."

EVABELLE

Evabelle returned to her bedroom feeling almost giddy. She hadn't realized how much the guilt over Kai had been weighing her down. Now she had sorted it all out with both Kai and Gem, and felt as though the weight on her heart was lifted. She felt light and springy.

Also, Evabelle felt a new sort of feeling. Maybe there was a chance of familial relationship. She definitely felt closer to Kai and Gem after tonight. And Evabelle felt good when she was with Lucis. And Faux had made it quite clear that he would like to be close, even if it wasn't quite the same as Evabelle saw it.

Saving the world didn't seem quite as bad if there were people standing behind you. Evabelle really didn't know if she could do it, but right now things seemed to be alright. Nothing bad or dangerous had happened recently, so perhaps now was the time to enjoy this semi-peace and worry about the war when it came.

Evabelle slid into bed and yawned. She was exhausted, but still she was happy. Her thoughts still filled with becoming closer to everyone. She didn't even notice the piano man had suddenly stopped playing or even the dark shadow rising over her.