I stare at Maddox in disbelief while the dots connect in my brain. Any doubts I have soon morph into realization. Maddox is a Moonborn, and he keeps his true identity a secret from Cyrus and the others. He must have tried using magic when he first got here, not knowing that the island would take it from him. But why bother protecting me? He doesn't even know me, yet he would go out of his way to spare me from the same fate.

"You're a Moonborn?" I ask for the sake of clarification, keeping my voice just above a whisper.

He shrugs, keeping his tone low as well. "I'm not much of anything now. Mortal, I suppose."

"Why bother helping a stranger?" I persist accusingly. "What's in it for you?"

A puzzled look graces his chiseled features. "What? Nothing... I'm just doing what anyone else would do."

For a moment, I don't believe him. My first instinct is to assume that he must be feigning innocence for some kind of personal gain. The only reason this belief fades is because of the genuine sincerity in his words, and the naivety that persists behind his warm, brown eyes. He truly believes that the people in our world would go out of their way for a stranger in the way that he has. Most Moonborns would leave others to their own fates— that's what I would do.

Another realization comes to mind. If I can't use my magic, I can't use the compass to find Atlas. The hope I had while clinging to the compass just moments ago fades away, draining me. I could do it anyway. Sure, I'd lose my magic, but it would be worth it if it saved my siblings' lives. But if what Maddox says is true about the island turning catastrophic when magic occurs, I'd be putting him and the people he cares about in danger. Damn him for saving my life. It'd be easier to do what I need to do if he were more like Cyrus.

Maddox speaks again when my lack of response goes on too long. "I'm going to go get Cyrus before the storm gets too bad out there. I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but watch what you say around him and the others. And I wouldn't recommend using your magic either. Not unless you're willing to lose it."

I catch his arm as he turns to walk towards the door. "Wait. How catastrophic can it get exactly?"

His expression darkens. "There used to be more of us on this island if that tells you anything. Trust me, you don't want to be the reason why people end up dead."

Mixed feelings swirl in my chest. Of course I don't want that, but I don't want to be the reason why my siblings don't make it back home either. "Is that what happened to you?" I press. "Did people die when you used your magic?"

"No, it was just me here at the time when I used my powers. But I've seen what can happen," he mumbles, avoiding my gaze. 

I'm taken aback for a moment. This is the first time I've seen Maddox look so closed off. He's been so open about everything so far that it's hard not to notice this change in behavior. My curiosity is piqued, but seeing as this seems to be a touchy subject for him, I don't pry.

Another thought pops into my head. "Wait, how did you even know that I was a Moonborn in the first place?"

He motions towards the compass dangling from my fingertips. "I've seen my fair share of charmed objects. And I doubt that you were some mortal who stumbled upon it by accident. Still, I suppose that doesn't prove anything. Call it a hunch that you've now confirmed to be true," he finishes, smiling sheepishly.

So he didn't know for certain that I was a Moonborn! I played right into his hands. I was right to stay cautious. I'll have to watch myself around him from now on. Sure, he seems to be kind and gentle so far, but now he's revealed how clever he can be with words. And he's way too observant for my liking. Despite my irritation, part of me is still a little impressed by his trickery.

I decide it's best not to comment on his response. There are more important things at hand. Like finding Atlas. But Maddox saved my life; the least I could do is give him the chance to protect his own and the lives of the people he cares about. "Could everyone on the island stay in a safe place if you all knew ahead of time that magic was going to occur?"

His head jerks back at my words. "You must be quite desperate to ask such a thing. You would lose your magic, and you would be gambling with people's lives, you know?" I nod in response, staring at him expectantly. When I don't say anything, an exasperated laugh escapes him. "Again, I don't think you're being entirely honest with me, Darl— er, Callie. I just... I can't help you if you're hiding things from me."

Being fully transparent with Maddox would be risky. I could share some information, but telling him about Atlas is a horrible idea. All it would take is the wrong person who knows too much about the Van Blake's to recognize him. I haven't ever been out of Lunaria, so blending in is simple for me. I'm not sure if my name would be known by many, but I do know that no one knows what Calypso Van Blake looks like. But Atlas's face has been seen by many people. Many people who probably noticed him at Dad's side in battle. I'm not sure about Atlas, but our father has definitely killed thousands of people. If anyone here found out that we're Alberich Van Blake's children, it would mean bloodshed for everyone. But what other choice do I have? Go behind Maddox's back and risk getting him killed after he saved my life? Did he know the leverage he would gain over me when he pulled me from the sea? He must have. It wasn't out of kindness like he'd have me believe, it was for manipulation.

 A sharp pain on the inside of my cheek scolds me for biting on it too hard. I make myself relax as I start to weigh out the pros and cons of telling the truth to Maddox. He would be able to protect the people on this island while I use the compass, but that's only if he agrees not to stop me. If Maddox complies, I'll likely find my brother if he is on this island. But I'd have to go off on my own so that no one sees Atlas—

"I didn't mean to pressure you," Maddox says softly, interrupting my scattered thoughts. "You don't have to tell me anything, Love."

"It's Cal—"

My correction is cut short when the front door swings open, revealing to me that the sun has gone down. Cyrus strides in, his dark hair soaked and sticking to the skin on his forehead. "You two can talk later. I'm going to bed," he growls, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Sorry, Mate. I was just about to come get you."

I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't even notice how hard the rain started coming down. A bucket near the center of the one-room home has water droplets trickling into it from the roof. Cyrus pushes another bucket that he brought in with him beneath a different leak by the front door. In his other hand is the fish on a stick that I left near the fire. To my surprise, he stops to offer it to me.

I do my best to ignore the scowl that seems to be permanently etched into his face. "Thank you," I murmur heedfully, taking the stick from his hand.

He says nothing as he saunters to the back corner of the room. Apart from the sleeping bag by the chair, the only semblance of a bed is the pile of palm leaves Cyrus plops down on. He throws one more dark look at Maddox before turning his back on us to sleep on his side.

"I don't feel pressured because of you," I whisper out of respect for Cyrus. Maddox looks back at me, eyes curious. Instead of bantering with myself internally, I decide to be truthful with him about my hesitation. "I want to be honest with you. But I want to know that I can actually trust you for certain. A promise isn't enough for me," I say with a small shrug.

He starts to open his mouth to respond but stops quickly. A thoughtful look graces his features for a moment before he finally speaks. "I see," he replies smoothly, a smirk creeping at the corners of his lips. "Perhaps I can convince you in due time."

"Wait," I object when he starts to turn away from me. "I still have questions."

He places a finger over his lips and nods towards Cyrus. "Tomorrow." He gives me a meaningful look when I start to object. I press my lips together in frustration, allowing him to continue. "I'm sure you could do with some rest after the day you've had. You can use my sleeping bag," he offers, gesturing towards the bright orange roll near the chair.

I insist that he keeps it for himself, but he refuses me. We bicker back and forth before I finally concede to his stubbornness, accepting the sleeping bag from him. He opts to lay on the floor like Cyrus, using a backpack as a pillow for the night. It is too hot and humid to actually sleep in the sleeping bag, so I decide to sit on top of it for comfort instead. I nibble at the fish Vivian cooked for me. It's cold now, but it's enough to ease the ache in my stomach for the night.

Cyrus is still turned towards the wall, sleeping by now, I assume. Maddox is leaning onto the backpack with his arms crossed behind his head. His eyes are closed, but I don't think he's sleeping yet. If it weren't for the sound of heavy rainfall outside, this room would be eerily quiet. Thunder rumbles once more, shaking the small structure. I can only hope this makeshift home will make it through the night.

After I finish eating, I curl up on my side to try and force some sleep. The lanterns in the room click off after a few minutes. I assume Maddox must've gotten up to put out the flames. Lightning flashes from outside, shining through the gaps in the home. A loud thunderclap follows moments after, startling me. I hope my siblings have found shelter if any of them are on this island with me. Poor, little Juniper is probably scared out of her wits. If she's still alive...

I grimace, shutting my eyes tightly. I shouldn't think like that. I need to think about what is true, not the 'what ifs'. Worrying about morbid scenarios will only distract me and cloud my mind. Focus on the facts. What do I know for certain? I know that Orion is smart and resourceful. I know that he would never let anything happen to Juniper. And I know that he can hunt, which means that he can keep himself and our sister from starving. And Atlas is resilient. He is more than capable of taking care of himself. And more importantly, I know that I will find them soon... one way or another.

When I wake, the storm has passed. The shelter survived its rage, but the rainwater in one of the buckets is starting to slosh out over the rim. The heat surrounding me feels even more unbearable than it did yesterday. My body aches from both the journey here and the uncomfortable surface beneath me. Sunlight spills through the small openings around the hut, causing my eyes to close in protest. After a few minutes, I roll onto my side, forcing my eyes open again. Cyrus and Maddox are nowhere to be seen. 

As I start to sit up, the morning light reflecting off of the shiny sword hits my face just right. I move my head out of its range to avoid being blinded by its glint. At a more appropriate angle, I gaze at the sword leaning against the stack of books. It's quite beautiful. Polished steel with red and black gems encrusted at the hilt. Like my compass, there's something less than ordinary about it. I retrieve the silver charm from inside the sleeping bag beneath me, then glance back at the sword in wonder. Maddox said he's seen his fair share of magical objects. Could this sword be one of them?

The front door creaks open, allowing even more daylight to fill the room. I instinctively slip the compass into my pants pocket. To my surprise, it's Vivian who pops her head in the door. Embarrassment turns her face pink. "S-Sorry!" she stammers as she starts to close the door. "I was just checking on you."

"Wait," I protest, rising to my feet unsteadily. Dizziness nearly takes me back down.

Vivian reopens the door and takes a few hesitant steps inside, watching me with concern. "Do you need help?" she asks urgently. 

I shake my head. "No, I'm okay. I'm just really thirsty and tired. This heat is miserable."

"Yeah, it's pretty bad. Believe it or not, your body does get used to it eventually," she says with a small smile.  She hooks a thumb over her shoulder, suggesting that I follow her. "We boiled some of the rainwater for drinking. It's not refreshingly cold unfortunately, but it'll help with the dehydration just the same."

I nod eagerly, following her out into the afternoon breeze. It's still smoldering outside, but the fresh air makes it more manageable. Vivian prattles on about how the storm kept her tossing and turning all night as we make our way to the unlit campfire. Her voice muffles as another wave of nausea threatens to bring me down. I do my best to power through it until we get to the fire pit. I basically fall onto one of the logs surrounding the campfire when we get there.

I hear Ares's voice mixing with Vivian's now, but I don't pay attention to what either of them are saying. I'm too preoccupied with trying to stop my world from spinning. Before I know it, a metal dish is placed into my hands. I look down to examine its contents. Water! I don't realize how shaky my hands are until I start to raise the dish to my lips. The water is lukewarm, but it still soothes the dryness in my throat almost immediately. The fog behind my eyes starts to clear with each sip. With how hot it is on this island, I can't imagine surviving without downing gallons of water every day. The amount of saltwater I involuntarily choked down yesterday probably made matters worse for me when it comes to dehydration. 

Vivian's shrill voice is coherent again. "The others are out hunting for more food, but Ares and I gathered some bananas." When I look up from my empty water dish, I see that she is holding out a bundle of bananas towards me. "Take as many as you like," she chirps cheerfully.

"Thank you," I say with relief. My voice sounds scratchy, so I clear my throat. I set my cup to the side and snag two bananas for now. As I peel open one of the yellow fruits, Ares pours more water from a larger dish into my smaller one. "You've both been very kind to me," I murmur halfheartedly, feeling a twinge of guilt for not being able to make up for my constant neediness. 

Ares, the redhead sitting to my left, offers me a bright smile. "Don't worry about it. We've all been in your shoes. Being taken from your own home and thrown onto foreign land isn't exactly a smooth change of pace."

His words make me feel a bit better. It is comforting to know that I'm not alone in this. "Thanks," I reply with a shy smile. I look around the camp and realize that almost everyone is gone. The few that are still here are outside of their tiny shelters, eating their own lunches and chattering to one another. The others must still be inside their huts or out hunting. I don't see Maddox or Cyrus anywhere. I turn back to Vivian and Ares expectantly. "Where's Maddox and Cyrus?" I ask.

"Cyrus is out hunting for sure. But I'm not sure where Maddox went exactly," says Vivian. "He said he wanted to talk to you after you wake up though."

"I see," I say with a frown. 

Vivian giggles. "I can't blame you for missing him. He has a really reassuring presence for sure."

I cock an eyebrow at her, taking a small bite out of the banana.  "Sure, but that's not my issue," I say after I finish chewing. "He's helping me with something... I hope."

"Uh huh," she says, giving me a suggestive look. 

Not sure what to say to that, I take a sip of my water. Vivian has been sweet so far, but she's a bit too jittery for my taste. In a lot of ways, she reminds me of Nova Marble. They look nothing alike though. Nova has dark skin and kinky hair, while Vivian's icy waves compliment her porcelain skin. You could say Nova is the closest thing I have to a friend due to the amount of time we've known each other, but she's always been Eros's girlfriend. She's bubbly and silly like Vivian. It's endearing at times, but I still feel like I need a nap after most conversations with Nova. 

"Ignore Viv's teasing. Is there anything we could help with until Maddox is back?" Ares offers.

When I look up at him, his light green eyes are sincere. I shrug in response. "I just have questions that only Maddox seems to know the answers to."

Vivian snorts unceremoniously. "Maddox just thinks he knows everything."

Ares grins at me. "Try us," he challenges. "We've been here on this island almost as long as him. Vivian and I might just surprise you."

I guess it couldn't hurt to try and satisfy some of my curiosity. There are certain things I'll only be able to talk to Maddox about regarding magic, but I still have harmless questions about the island in general. "Okay..." I murmur, pondering what I want to ask first. "Well... Maddox said this is an Autolycus Cage. Do you two know about that?"

They both nod, but Ares speaks first. "We've all tried to escape many times, but the entire perimeter of the island is lined with an invisible barrier that no one has managed to break through. Maddox is clever, but even he hasn't discovered a way out. But he's working on it every day. For now, the only people who can get in and out of the island are the Starborns that trapped us all here."

"How far does the barrier go out?" I ask in disbelief. "I mean... there has to be a weak spot somewhere, right?"

Vivian's pink lips form into a small pout. "You're welcome to look around, but I promise you that it's pointless. You can only go so far out into the water surrounding the island. I've tried to swim above and below the water to get past the barrier, but it's useless."

Great. Even if I do find my siblings we'll all still be trapped on this island. Being trapped on a magic-sucking island with a handful of mortals who detest Moonborns doesn't sound very appealing. Still, a part of me thinks it'd still be better than going home to die anyway. I can save my siblings and find a way to bring them home, but for what? To be sacrificed in the Moon Gathering? I'd be leading lambs to the slaughter— myself included. Maybe if we can find a way to survive here, this island could be a blessing in disguise. But what would happen to Eros?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to discourage you," Vivian says, a guilty look crossing her face. "I'm just trying to be honest."

I shake my head. "No, it's okay. I asked for the truth," I say slowly as I plan my next question. "What do you two know about magic?" 

They both exchange uncomfortable looks with each other. Vivian starts to speak, then stops, looking to Ares for assistance. I wonder if these two are Moonborns that were sworn to secrecy by Maddox as well? Ares clears his throat and finally says, "All I know is that this cage was conjured for magical beings, and the island turns into total chaos when the Moons use magic."

"Maddox mentioned things can get catastrophic around here when magic is involved. Are there Moons in this camp then?" I ask nonchalantly, pretending to be more interested in the chip in my fingernail. "And what did the Moons do to the Starborns to tick them off so badly?" I add after a brief pause.

"No, they're not in our camp, but they're out in the forest. If you see anyone in the trees that isn't from our group you'd do well to run. While most of the Moons lost their magic within minutes of arriving on the island, some still haven't used their powers. The Moons that lost their magic warn the new Moon prisoners," says Ares. An ominous look crosses his face as he continues, answering my second question. "And Starborns hate Moonborns because they're the reason the Stars nearly got wiped out. Now they're vengeful," he grunts resentfully.

Vivian cocks her head to the side, watching me carefully. "Everyone knows that the Moons have always been bad news. How could you possibly not be aware of this? Van Blake and his people are the reason Starborns were believed to have been extinct for a time. They're the reason Sunborns actually are extinct. And even if you didn't know all of that, surely as a mortal, you've experienced some of the Moonborn cruelty in our world?"

I don't allow myself to react to her words as I take another sip of water. While I'm staying calm on the outside, I'm spiraling on the inside. They make my father sound so horrible. Sure, he can be harsh, and he isn't against killing when he perceives a threat, but Starborns have always been monstrous. Killing is their first instinct. If my dad hadn't kept them at bay for as long as he had, the world would've been torn apart by Star magic years ago. And while Sunborns existed before I did, I do know that they weren't much better. Before my father rose to power, Henrik O'helio was the Sunborn man known for scorching the entire mortal world to the ground so that he could recreate it in his image. It was years before anyone saw a mortal born again. O'helio went down in history as one of the most evil dictators to have ever ruled on this planet. He killed for sport, forced anyone who wasn't a Sunborn into slavery and showed no mercy to those who crossed him. My father was the first man to go against Henrik O'helio and live to tell the tale.

Despite my tangled thoughts, I manage to keep my expression composed, speaking ingenuously. "My parents found a way to keep me safe from magic and war. I've heard stories, but I was always tucked away from everything to a certain extent." Technically, I'm being somewhat truthful. I've never left Selene City until yesterday. As a result, I've been fairly hidden away from the world all my life.

"How did your parents manage that?" Ares asks, looking impressed and doubtful at the same time.

"We've always been wealthier than most," I murmur, keeping my voice small. I avoid eye contact with them as I intentionally fidget with the water dish in my hands. Now I just need to throw my family name into the mud to convince them further. "Van Blake isn't against taking money for freedom, so my parents bought my safety." As expected, my body language gives Vivian and Ares the impression that I'm ashamed and afraid.

Vivian's expression softens and she squeezes my knee reassuringly. "Oh, don't feel bad, Callie. You were lucky. It's nice to hear that not all of us have had to suffer."

Ares lets out a humorless bark of laughter. "Sounds about right. Van Blake would be a greedy bastard. Takes what he wants while making everyone else face the consequences of his actions."

"He's a coward," Vivian agrees with a glower.

Pity and shame stir up inside of me. My father would be disgusted with me for smearing his name. But is the world really as broken as these two mortals say? Vivian and Ares both have the same fear and anger behind their eyes that Cyrus had on the shore just yesterday. I feel awful lying to them after they've been so generous. And if they see my father and the entirety of Moonborns as the cause of their suffering, I feel even worse. If only I could do something to show them that their assumptions about my father aren't true. He's ruthless, but he's not malicious. Everything he does is to protect his people and his family. And he saved the world from Henrik O'helio's dark rule! The Starborns are the ones antagonizing everyone! I wish it were safe for me to be honest with them so that I could find a way to ease their pain, but they probably wouldn't understand anyway.

I opt to change the subject for everyone's sake. "Did you two know each other before the island?" While I'm asking this to ease the tension, I am still genuinely curious about their dynamic. 

Vivian grins, her pale blue eyes lighting up. "Yes! Ares is my half-brother." I glance between the two. They don't look much alike, but I can see the bond clearly now. Ares looks to be almost in his thirties, while Vivian looks about my age, but I can tell they're close despite the age gap.

Ares stands up, stretching his freckled arms above his head with a groan. "Yeah, we went into town to buy some eggs for our aunt and got snatched up," he says with a heavy exhale as he lowers his arms back down. "Neither of us knew it until it was too late, but Starborns had already invaded the town. Our entire village and home is probably long gone by now."

"I'm sorry to hear that," I say sullenly.

He shrugs. "We've all got our sob stories around here."

"Why mortals though?" I ask abruptly when the thought pops back into my head. "An Autolycus Cage steals magic. Why are we here?"

Ares snorts. "Couldn't tell ya."

When I turn to Vivian, she half shrugs. "Starborns aren't any more fond of humans than they are of Moons. I think they put us all here as some kind of sick joke," she says bitterly. "But Maddox thinks that maybe us humans somehow help in containing the magic that the island absorbs or something like that. I don't remember what he said, honestly. His theories usually don't make much sense to me."

"How does he—"

My next question dies in my throat when Cyrus clambers into the clearing in a panic. "Moons!" he shrieks. After speaking with people who share my accent, his peculiar one throws me off once again. "There's one right outside of our camp, but she's running! Grab a weapon and let's go. We can't let her get away!"

Ares, Vivian, and the other strangers in the camp rush to their shelters. I rise to my feet, but I don't move. My heart rate picks up in anticipation. Cyrus said 'she', so it can't be Atlas out there. But what if more people were taken from Selene City? If Starborns overran Ares's and Vivian's home, could it be possible that they took over mine as well? With my father out looking for his children, and my mother slowly decaying, it is very possible. Ares and Vivian rush back out to me in less than a minute. Vivian has one spear in hand, while Ares is handling two.

"C'mon! It isn't safe to stay at the camp by yourself," Ares urges, handing me one of the spears. I take it without question, following the group of mortals out into the gloomy forest. "What did you see, Cyrus?" Ares shouts as we take off into the trees.

"I found one hiding behind some tree roots while I was hunting. I think she was trying to sneak into our camp! I haven't seen this one before, so they might still have magic. We have to be careful!" he commands breathlessly. 

"How do you know it's a Moonborn?" I pant out as I struggle to keep up. This heat is insufferable. My mouth is already drying again after drinking water just minutes ago.

"Shut up!" Cyrus barks back at me.

Despite the burning in my legs and chest, I force myself to take longer and quicker strides to catch up to Cyrus. Whoever this Moonborn is, I won't let him hurt them. I see a small figure dart out from behind a tree, encouraging Cyrus to throw his spear. The alleged Moonborn slides down a hill and narrowly avoids the projectile. Leaves and branches smack into my face as I stumble around clumsily beside Cyrus. Moments later, I hear something snap, then the girl screams from a few feet ahead of us. Did she trip, or are there traps of some sort out here?

Cyrus's run turns into a ridiculously fast sprint when he hears the girl cry out. I ignore the ache in my legs, exerting myself to keep going. It's nearly impossible to keep up with the violent brunette ahead of me now. Cyrus's legs have more length than mine, but he is still speedier than I would've guessed. Being the one running from him must be pretty terrifying. Is he actually going to try and kill this Moonborn when we catch her? When Cyrus finally stops running, I nearly lose my balance at the abrupt halt. I avoid crashing into his back as I whirl around wildly to try and spot the supposed Moonborn.

When I notice that Cyrus is looking up, I follow his gaze. Hanging from one of the trees below the hill is a little girl. A rope is fastened around one of her ankles as she dangles upside down helplessly. Her purple dress is caked with mud, but there's something memorable about the outfit. It couldn't be...

"Cyrus, it's a little girl," a dark-skinned woman from the camp comments earnestly from behind us. She and the rest of the camp that followed are all catching up now.

"Hush," Cyrus hisses. "Let's cut her down!" he orders, turning around to look at the exhausted group. He snatches the spear from my hands before I can blink. I scowl at the back of his head, biting my tongue.

Cyrus, Ares, and a third man I haven't met yet begin to surround the girl. Vivian appears next to me as we both work on trying to catch our breaths. The men take hesitant steps below the suspended girl, raising their spears up defensively. She sobs fearfully in response, and my heart skips a beat. The sound of her crying is just as familiar as her now inelegant dress. The little girl flails her arms around in a panic, causing her body to spin around awkwardly. She brushes the dark hair that resembles my own from her face, and I gasp in astonishment. 

"Juniper!"