"We will let you know of the result of the assessment," Cedric told me, holding out his hand. I looked at it and he broke into a laugh before offering a slight bow.

"Everyone, stay," Petros Saint ordered. He held my gaze as I prepared to leave. "We will meet again, Aster."

I nodded, catching Mertha's watchful gaze. Glinda simply looked away, perhaps still a little embarrassed that I witnessed her grand desire.

"I hope to explore more of your very enthralling ability, Aster," Cedric spoke again, escorting me to the elevator doors.

The doors opened, revealing Harald Evensen inside, a knowing smile on his lips. "Good day, Mr Corey," I said instead, stepping into the elevator. Never in my life had I imagined I'd choose to be trapped in a little room with Harald Evensen, but there I was, desperate to be alone with him.

"Harald," Cedric greeted the man with a nod. A look of familiarity passed between them. Not friends, but two people who tolerated each other because it was beneficial for their business.

"Cedric," Harald greeted back before pressing the button to close the doors.

Once out of sight, I leaned against the wall. I felt every inch of my flesh in flames. Sweat ran down my temple and down my neck. The elevator came to a halt and Harald's form hovered above me. I felt his hand on my forehead. I tried to brush it away, failed because my arms weighed like a log.

I heard the pop of his gold case and I shook my head. "N-No."

"You'll die if you don't take this," he said, voice almost sounding concerned. "You've used a lot of your energy back there." His finger pushed the pill through my lips.

My eyes closed as I felt the flames die down, the thudding in my chest slowed, and the noise ebb away. His hand closed around my arm, keeping me steady.

When I opened my eyes again, I swallowed. He stepped away, pocketing his gold case. "What is that?"

He smiled down at me. "Put yourself together. Your friends are waiting below," he said instead, pushing the button again.

"They're not friends," I said as I wiped my temple dry with one hand while the other dug into my pocket to hold my crux. Its warmth held me steady, its connection to my power licking through my veins while I recovered.

"Good. They're not."

I blinked at him through the mirrored doors. His eyes stared back at me with answers to questions I could not begin to ask.

"They're people you should be careful of," he said, voice low.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I straightened and squared my shoulders. "They'll find out about the pills."

"Because of the halo?" He shook his head. "They won't."

"What makes you certain?"

"The halo can't record what you've seen or heard, only your emotions. It recognizes other halos you have come in contact with, but that's it. It's not perfect." He looked down at me, his face austere. "But maybe that will change soon."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say they're looking for ways to make the halo more useful."

"What does it have to do with me—" I stopped and clenched my jaw. "They've been studying me."

"For two centuries. You and your gift."

I pursed my lips. "The bloody bastards."

A smile broke his face. "I never thought I'd miss hearing you say those words." He faced the doors again, a smile still pasted on his scarred mouth. "We'll have a lot to talk about, but not now. Not here. We can't be seen together."

"But we are together now."

"This is an exemption."

"You're deliberately being mysterious. It doesn't become you."

He sighed as the elevator stopped moving. "I've worked on the mysterious reputation for years. It works."

I pushed the same button to keep the doors closed and eyed him. "You do know, Evensen, that I don't trust you, do you?"

"Of course."

"You've abandoned everything in Old London for a better life here. You're one of these people now. You're a traitor to your kind."

Something flashed in his eyes—something dangerous. "I'm also the only one you know in this place and time, witch." He brushed me aside and pushed the button again. "Too much has changed while you were asleep, Aster, and they outweigh the mutual dislike I have towards you." As the doors opened, he looked at me intensely. "We may have been nemesis years ago, but I tell you now that I'm your only chance in this place."

"Why are you doing this?"

He blinked away. "Someone told me to."

"Who?"

"Aster?" Brenna and the others were already standing in the hall.

"This is not the perfect place and time to talk," Harald said under his breath.

"I'm not playing your game this time, Evensen," I gritted out as I stepped out of the elevator.

"Aster." His voice was grave, laced with something else. Desperation? I paused and looked back. "Now that they know what you can do, you have to be more careful. They'll start looking for a way around your gift."

I stilled as alarm rushed through me. Harald's dark eyes were telling me something.

Footsteps were coming closer behind me.

"Have a nice day, my lady," Harald said with a slight bow, his smile irritatingly sly. "I know you'll eventually come and find me. Once you do, I'll give you answers."

Brenna's footsteps stopped behind me. "What happened?"

"How did it go?" Spinett asked.

"Did you do well?"

I chose to answer Akiko's question, eyes on the closed doors of the elevator. "I did my best." I let go of my crux and gave the hall one last look. Looking at details had become second nature to me. They were inspirations for more beautiful and unnerving future dreams.

"That's our girl," Spinett said, beaming as Brenna led us to the doors. "And Mertha? Did you meet her? How was she?"

Frightened. I hurt her pride. And maybe I shouldn't have. "She was such a charm."

***

It's official. Aster Byrne was the new Astral.

But two days after the announcement, I still didn't know what it bloody meant. All I knew was that I was now one of the most important witches in the Saint Society. I didn't care that these indoctrinated dimwits believed everyone was equal in their new world. They may call it functions, but it still surely seemed like factions to me.

The folks were definitely weaker than the rest, the Bishops higher than Elemantals, and Astrals were worshiped more than the Bishops.

But for the sake of maintaining the act, I listened to Mertha Krall's much thorough explanation.

She came to see me after the news broke. Still dressed in her light white dress, she looked as ethereal as the last time I saw her. Except that I also saw her frightened and threatened. That fact still hung heavily between us, but we both managed to be cordial at the very least.

She led me out of my room, Spinett and Akiko gaping at her as we passed, probably ready to lick the path she walked, and out into the hall where three young men waited.

"These are my apostles," she said without introducing each one. I blinked a few times, not sure if I heard her right. "All Astrals get three. Your apostles will not be just mere apprentices, although they are, but they will be your companions until they become Bishops or Astrals themselves. They will become your family, your champions. You will share most of your life with them more than any others, and in time, you'll become each other's eyes and ears and heart."

I spared the three men a look. They held their heads high and proud, never once giving me a look. They simply walked behind us—or behind Mertha, like cubs to their mother.

We crossed the bridge that led to the museum. Again, it was empty when we arrived. Down another hall, we emerged into a room filled with framed photos of men and women wearing white, all posing with their apostles.

"It's hard to truly comprehend what we do," Mertha said, staring up at a photo. It wasn't hers, but she was there, standing beside a male Astral. "But essentially, we offer our expertise—our gifts. As witches who can cross realms, we help the society look for threats and take part in projects that lead to the betterment of the Saint Society. The Bishops and the others can only do so much. In areas where they are blind, we step in." She looked at me, her eyes filled with devotion to her words. "I'm not the only one who can travel into the spirit realm. There are others outside the borders that can do the same. All these Astrals, including you, Aster, have gifts that may be weaker or stronger than someone else's outside the society. And if they can infiltrate us through those realms, our peace and order will be disrupted." She looked at me for a moment, as if expecting me to say something. "Do you understand?"

I blinked. Nodded. "Yes. We're not alone. We're not the strongest. We can still all die."

Her lips pursed, and she resumed the walk along the walls. The three apostles had positioned themselves by the door, hands clasped before them, waiting. "Sometimes, the Bishops ask for our help with the borders. Mostly because they want us to look for flaws in their designs. With our powers, we look into places the halos don't have access to. The woods, the areas near the borders, and of course, our realms."

"I can do that."

"How? Visiting dreams?"

I heard the contempt in her voice. "Dreams tell a lot about beings, Mertha," I said, stepping beside her. "They're the truest witness to one's wicked intents."

Her gaze remained stuck in the space in front of us. As if I said nothing, she continued, "We also perform tasks that the Bishops cannot."

"Such as?"

"Punishments. But only if necessary. We never had to resort to such tactics for more than a century now." Without giving me a chance to comment about how that might change soon, she gracefully made a motion with her hand toward her apostles. "But most of all, we take the best witches under our wing. With Astral guidance, they become the most powerful witches the world has seen."

After a full circle of the Astral Hall, Mertha stopped. I faced her. "Am I required to know every Astral that has ever lived?"

"No, of course not."

"Then why, pray tell, did you take me here?" I asked, glancing at her three apostles.

"We're here because we're waiting for your ride."

"To where?"

"Your new home."

***

Mertha Krall led me out of the hall and to the entrance of the museum where a man clad in black stood waiting. I stopped, frowned. I had seen him before. He was standing outside in the crowd the first time I left Windsor. Also, the scent that enveloped him was distinctly familiar.

"This is Felix Katz," Mertha introduced with an air of dismissal. Like making the introduction irritated her. Or the man did. He looked clean, his dark hair brushed out of his face, revealing a square hairline. His blue eyes were fixed on me, a hint of amusement behind them, before his gaze jumped to Mertha and softened with a playful glimmer. There was some history here I didn't know, I thought with interest.

"Good day, Mertha," he greeted before he veered his eyes back to me and offered a slight bow of his head. "Miss Aster."

Mertha, without looking at Felix, faced me. "Bishop Katz is your liaison to the Bishop function. All your projects with them, if any, only go through him." She stepped closer, face suddenly blank. "I hope they told you that as an Astral, you cannot take on lovers." When I blinked at her in disbelief, she sighed. "Of course, you didn't know."

I blinked in disbelief. "Why?"

Mertha's jaw tightened. "They are too trivial to our cause and they put us in vulnerable positions. Taking a lover means being stripped of your Astral function."

Behind her, Felix Katz scoffed and shook his head. He caught her gaze. "I will now take you to your next location, Miss Aster."

As he spoke, Mertha merely stood still. She stayed behind when Felix started to lead me down the steps. "You aren't coming?"

"Mertha is too important to take on trivial tasks, Miss Aster," Felix Katz said over his shoulder.

I saw Mertha's brow twitch before she turned and disappeared back into the museum with her apostles. As I followed Felix Katz to a waiting vehicle, my jaw tightened. "Have we met before?" I asked.

He waited until I was walking a step behind him. "This is the first time."

I nodded, let him take a few more steps before following. My gaze bore into the back of his head. Did he think I was stupid? I had woken up to his scent too many times in my room.

Pine trees and grass finally had a face.

***

We passed by a familiar street. I looked out the window and swallowed against the insatiable thirst in my throat when I saw the facade of the Good Blood, its dark doors inviting me to return. I blinked away and met Felix's gaze. His knowing smile bothered me.

I wanted to ask why he was there amongst the crowd that day I went out to meet the Council. I wanted to ask what he had been doing in my room every night, leaving nothing but his scent.

But I maintained my quiet grace. I didn't know this man well enough. Asking the wrong questions may bring me trouble.

As I stepped out of the vehicle, I looked down the almost empty street.

"This is the safest neighborhood in Genesis City," Felix said, opening the door for me. "Although everywhere in Genesis City is safe."

"Mr Corey is already waiting for you in your new home."

"Cedric?"

"Yes."

I stared at the glass doors above the steps. "How do I—"

Felix realized what I meant, and he chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course. I'm sorry. The building recognizes halos. Once you go inside, it will know which doors to open for you."

"That's rather too convenient."

He shrugged. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

And he was gone, back in his vehicle. But it didn't leave until I was inside the building.

There was no one around, just an empty white hall and a line of mirrored elevator doors. One on the left opened. As I entered, a voice spoke. I jumped in surprise. "Good day, Miss Byrne. Welcome to The Keep where your safety and security is guaranteed. Unit 3060 is equipped with amenities that fit your needs, including a virtual assistant, Celine, whom you will meet in three, two, one..."

A cheerful voice replaced it. "Welcome, Miss Byrne. My name is Celine. I will be your virtual assistant in Unit 3060 in The Keep. Your penthouse has the best view of the Omega District and the skyline of Genesis City. I will take care of everything in your home. I can also provide answers and follow directions and commands. To serve you better, I'm programmed to study your activities and behavior. To override my programmed tasks, you can contact the management or provide the password given to you. For the meantime, I have regulated the room temperature based on your current physical condition. Cold water is already waiting for you in the kitchen. Mr. Corey is waiting in the drawing room. Is there anything else you need?"

I blinked.

"It expects you to answer sometimes," Cedric's voice said.

He approached me with a smile, his eyes holding mine prisoner. The hint of his fantasy still glimmered in their depths.

"Tell her you can take it from here," he said to me.

"I can take it from here, Celine," I said out loud.

"Very well, Miss Byrne."

Cedric tensed when I offered the barest of smiles.

"I didn't see you in my dream," he said, turning to guide me toward the corridor he came from.

I smiled. "Which version of me are you referring to?" I asked.

There was a knowing glint in his eyes. "So you saw it."

I looked ahead, hands clasped in front of me. "I most certainly did."

"And what do you think of it?"

"It was interesting."

"Good." A tense silence fell between us. Then he blinked, shaking his head. Suddenly, his demeanor changed. He sounded more formal as he asked, "I hope Mertha gave you a rundown of your Astral duties?"

"She did."

"Splendid. As you already know, this is your new home. You're moving in within the week once Brenna gives clearance. We wanted you to see the place first so we can take note if you want to change a few things."

I smiled at him, pausing in stride. "Forgive me, but I'm a little confused. You're a member of the Council. Why are you here?"

"Ah, yes. Sorry." He cleared his throat, stopping outside the threshold of what I assumed to be the drawing room. "I'm your official liaison to the Council." His gaze bore into mine, the excitement clearly glimmering in his eyes. "I hope that in time, we'll develop a strong relationship."

The small smile lingered at the corner of my lips. "You do know, Mr Corey, that as an Astral, I have to be careful with my relationships."

He grinned down at me. "But not when you're in a dream."

I smiled shyly and looked away.

He chuckled as he motioned with his hand. "This way."

I followed him into the drawing room and stopped short when I saw three people inside. Two women and a man. All young, perhaps the same age I was two centuries ago.

Their stance was sharp and attentive, their faces bare of emotions. But I saw the eagerness and excitement that crossed their eyes when they saw me enter the room.

Cedric stood beside me, eyes also on the three strangers. "Aster, I'd like you to meet your apostles."