Alründ:

Midnight was a good time to fly, especially when Alründ couldn't sleep. The moon was high over Mont Albert Heights. The parklands below were quiet. And just at the edges of where streetlamps shone, leafy shadows wavered across the ground.

Alründ swooped into the parklands, spying a tree with a gaping hole in it. He could still remember his fist connecting with it on the night of the festival. His hearts burned at the memory of Ash when she saw him hit that tree.

For a fleeting time today, she had remembered her entire life. She had even sent Alründ a heartbroken look that had gutted him. Then Lücan had stripped her memories. Now Alründ was a faint memory, a boy who had a minor role in her dream every night, while Will remained the starring attraction. Alründ knew this all too well. He'd accidentally connected with Ash's mind not more than an hour ago. He'd been close to sleep when he'd fallen into her dream. Her dream stopped at the same moment it always did, then began to replay again. Unable to bear her torment any longer, he flew out of his window, determined not to sleep at all.

Alründ clenched his jaw, leaves brushing his coat as he descended to the outskirts of the parklands. He set off in a brisk walk towards the main road. Cafés and boutique shops were all locked up for the night, and the only thing remotely alive was the petrol station across the road. Knowing the coffee would be mediocre, he bought one anyway, drinking it as he roamed the streets and made his way back home. The caffeine proved useless. The moment he laid upon his bed he was fighting sleep, and it was only minutes before his dreams diverged and Ash's dream took over...

"Blue," the little boy said as he flew beside her. "I think I've got the hang of it now, of what you gave to me."

She pulled away a fraction, enough to see the dimples hiding beneath his mess of hair. "Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure I can fly as fast as you. So yes, I'm sure." He flew around her in a quick loop, smiling as he took her hand. "You and me, we gonna win this time."

"You really think so?"

"Yes."

"But they're bigger than us," she said, pouting.

The Boy gripped her shoulders, and said, "But we're faster."

Ash stared back at him, her doubt easing as she took comfort in the beads of liquid gold that drifted randomly within his skin. It was almost as if a spell of magic had spilled from a newly born star and sprinkled stardust over him, giving him life. More than that, he knew her every thought and secret, and of course she knew all of his secrets, too. Except one—his name. She studied the determined look in his eyes, sure that she was close to remembering, her mind forming the order of letters that could name him, but as they floated to the surface they immediately sank into a shadowy fog. For now, she would simply call him 'The Boy'.

Alründ tried to push Ash's dream away. He couldn't, and it infuriated him that she kept referring to seven-year-old Will as 'The Boy.' As the dream was a memory she should have remembered all of her friends' names, but Will's name was just another thing Lücan had stolen from her...

The Boy grabbed her hands and smiled secretively—the code for 'Get ready, Blue, this is it'. The gildé beads covering his body and hers began to quicken and vibrate. She giggled at the tickling sensation, enjoying the rush of energy as they began to cross over their skin and merge, until neither could identify whose beads belonged to whom. They were connected at this moment—he was a part of her, and she was a part of him. This always happened before the game. It was the buzz, the excitement of what was about to come, even if they did always lose.

"I'll go after Alründ," he said with extra stealth.

Young Alründ's gaze narrowed as he spotted the pair, and he exchanged covert words with the dark haired boy beside him.

"You can go after Theo," The Boy whispered. "Thinks he's so tough now that he's turned eight and we haven't. You'll show him!"

Ash huffed, scowling in Theo's direction as he shared a great big laugh with Alründ. The two of them stood coolly in their white wrap shirts and straight leg pants—bare foot, just like the boy in front of her. Ash had on her dusty pink frills with puffed up sleeves—all glamour compared to the three little Sepheri. Dress or no dress, she was ready for war when it came to orb ball.

Alründ strode into the center of the rose garden, kicking an orb that shone like a mini sun. "You two ready? 'Cause it's time we whip your be-hinds."

"Ha! No you ain't," The Boy said, meeting Alründ in the middle of the snow covered grass.

"You just wanna win so you can show off to your girlfriend." Theo grinned and blew Ash a kiss.

Ash screwed up her nose and stomped her foot hard in the snow. Her shiny shoe was now stuck. "Told you already, Theo, I'm not his girlfriend! Besides, Father wouldn't like that."

The Boy's head slumped forward.

Oh no, thought Ash.

"Now you've made your boyfriend cry," said Theo, wiping away make-believe tears.

"I am not!" The Boy yelled, scuffing snow up at Theo. His voice entered Ash's mind: Don't you love me, Blue?

She ran up to The Boy and hugged him from behind. Even though no one else could have heard, except maybe Alründ, she whispered into his thoughts: You know I do. I was mean. I'm sorry. Don't cry. Please don't. I don't want you not talking to me. I don't like the sound of that. Forgive me?

Hmmm... Always. He turned and squeezed her tightly, his arms fitting perfectly around her waist. As if no one was watching, she darted forward and pecked the side of his cheek. The Boy slapped his hand upon that kiss, his eyes lit with surprise.

Present-day Alründ cringed. Fate, I hate this insipid dream.

But the dream continued...

Theo frowned. "Why does he get all the kisses?"

"Wrong question, Theo. You should be asking, 'How could he kiss her?'" Young Alründ said, seemingly appalled. Present-day Alründ knew the truth. Jealousy was a killer, even when you were eight.

The dream became awkward to watch as The Boy stomped up to Alründ and grabbed the sash around his waist. "Don't you talk about Blue like that, you... you... faery prince!"

Alründ punched him square in the face.

Theo and Ash gasped.

The Boy swayed as blood poured from his nose. His eyes narrowed at Alründ.

"That's a bad word that is!" screamed Alründ. "I'm telling Mother and Father. Just 'cause I look like the pictures doesn't mean I am one. Dumb faerie myths! I can prove I'm not a wimpy faery. One: I can touch iron. Two: I can't do magic. Three: I'm better looking. And I can tell lies—I tell them all the time! Did you know that faeries bite people? Call me that again and I'm gonna bite you." He chomped at The Boy, baring his sharp teeth.

"No, Alründ!" Ash dropped to the snow, her hands in a prayer.

Alründ sneered down at her.

The Boy flew up into the sky, and shouted at Alründ, "Faery! Prince of the faeries!"

"I quit!" snapped Alründ. "I don't play with commoners. Besides, I have target practice to do." He drew a small silver dagger from the satchel tied around his thigh and began flipping it elegantly.

Ash shook her head, her flowery pigtails swinging over her arms. She dusted the snowflakes from her legs and flew towards The Boy, collecting his hand along the way.

"Everyone can fly but me," sulked Theo, glaring at The Boy holding her hand. Theo looked smaller and sadder on the ground, his dark hair drooping below his chin. "Why does my cousin get to fly now and I don't? It's not fair!"

"He's special, that's why," Ash called.

"And I'm not special?" Theo asked.

She thought about that for a moment. "You are, don't worry."

Theo beamed back happily. He bounded up the steps of an archway and disappeared into a building of glistening marble.

Alründ tied back his hair, grumbling to himself, "I guess I'm not either." He turned and threw a dagger at the magnolia tree. Having begun his target practice, he threw another two daggers on either side of the first, forming a perfect line. Present-day Alründ was impressed. Dream-Alründ still looked displeased with the events.

Staring at Alründ's back, Ash released The Boy and descended, dodging the branches of another magnolia tree beside one of the hedge-mazes. She ran across the snow and stood behind Alründ, gently patting his feathers. "You are special," she whispered.

His wings tensed. He never turned. "If I was, then you wouldn't have given him that star."

"I didn't mean..." Ash's hand stilled upon his wing. "When Father taught me how to make stars I was so excited. I tried to find you, to show you... I'm sorry," she breathed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Present-day Alründ always hated this part. Seeing her regret at what should have been. But Dream Alründ turned and smiled, then whispered into her ear, "Keep crying, Ash. You should be sad. You're stuck with him forever. Fine by me. I'll forget you."

"You can't mean that!" she whispered. "We're best friends."

"No." His nostrils flared. "I don't think we ever were."

Ash buried her face in her hands and cried harder. By the time she looked up, Alründ was gone and The Boy was standing in his place.

"Blue, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing. Nothing I can say."

"Poor, Blue." He picked up her hands and swung them back and forth, then he hummed her favorite tune. The lullaby repeated for a second time, gentle and lilting when it came from his voice. He stopped humming. The miniscule beads raced in chaotic swarms within his skin and hers. He tightened his grip, their hands clammy and trembling.

The world disappeared, as if light ceased to exist, the darkness so overpowering that light might never have existed at all. Time might have skipped. The world reappeared. The Boy screamed and she cried. He tugged at her hands, but she refused to budge.

Run, he yelled in her mind. We've got to run now! I won't let him take you, I promise.

The clouds were darkening to the time of evenfall, their little feet running silently as he pulled her along the dark paths and turns of towering walls. They stopped, blocked by three corners of the hedge-maze. A man howled in the near distance as steel clashed over and over.

Ash whimpered, covering her ears. I should fly to him. Father needs me!

Her father roared a wounded sound, and she felt the depths of his pain weighing on her spirit, becoming her pain, too. The boy braced her tighter, rocking her back and forth in the snow, his tears falling onto her cheek. The clash of metal tolled through the air, becoming louder and louder. Her heart wanted to burst from her mouth—

Present-day Alründ leaped out of bed, threw on his black fighting gear and soared out the window. Her dream was progressing further than ever before. He had to wake her. Now.

Flying across the road, he felt too slow. She could not see the end of the dream. Nor did he want to see her reliving the end. It would break her and him.