Starry Night

I looked at the man as though he were crazy. What would make him figure I was a phantom? And if that were the case, then why did he seem happy and not frightened? Wouldn’t fear be the natural reaction of some one who believed they were facing some sort of ghost?

“I’m sorry, please excuse me.” He suddenly appeared embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just that I had my doubts about the rumors.”

As curious as I was over who this man was, he was still someone I didn’t know. So as he spoke I began to slowly walk backwards towards the balconies. He noticed and his expression changed immediately.

“Oh! Please don’t leave! I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He held his hands up in a form of surrender. “I just wanted to hear you sing is all.”

I stopped and examined his face. He seemed sincere enough, yet I still didn’t feel comfortable around him, so I continued my pace, after all, I still had to plan a way to escape from the police station back home before Carter figured out who I really was.

“Just one song?” He then asked, appearing distraught.

Hearing his upset voice made me reconsider running. From what I had learned the night before, the people here liked me for my voice. Therefore it was understandable if that were all this man wanted.

“Please?” He asked woefully, as though I had already refused.

I glanced at the Lyriar, then out over the balconies. After a moment, I went up to the instrument and hovered my hand over a hole.

Before I started into my rhythm I glanced back at the man to make sure he didn’t come any closer. When I was positive that he hadn’t moved an inch, I began playing.

Every now and then I’d look back to make sure he wasn’t attempting to approach me secretly. The notes flew through the air and out into the night sky for all to hear, yet I noticed that the man seemed to be expecting more and I knew just what it was.

Eventually I took a chance at embarrassing myself and began singing. As soon as I did he began smiling. My song wasn’t happy nor sad, simply calming.

When I was done he commenced clapping loudly.

“Excellent!” He exclaimed. “Wonderful! You truly have a magnificent voice!”

I gathered up the courage to speak then. “Who are you?” I asked at last.
He appeared surprised that I spoke, just as everyone else did when I first addressed them. And just like everyone else, he got over it quickly.

“Forgive me. I am Prince Shermar, though you can just call me Spyke.”

“Prince?” I asked. “Like Chase and Blake?”

“You mean Prince Neldoth and Prince Beldarum?”

“Who?”

“Those are their official titles.” Spyke explained.

“So they’re princes too?” I wondered.

“Of course! Did they not tell you? I thought Prince Beldarum would have for sure.” The man seemed to speak to himself.

I shook my head and he smiled one of those common perfect smiles. “I see. So you don’t know much about them do you?”

“I know about as much of this place as you do of me.” I stated flatly.

“That’s interesting.” He grinned. “How about we trade information then?”

I tilted my head. “How?”

“Simple.” He clapped is hands. “You answer my questions and I’ll answer yours.”

“Okay.” I agreed. I was dying to get more information about this place anyways. “Explain this place then.”

“How should I start?” He asked.

“How many princes are there?”

“Five. One for each country in the world.” He answered coolly. “May I ask how it is that you didn’t know that? I assumed that knowledge was common sense.”

“I’m from a less informed town. Ask Fern if you don’t believe me.” I responded.

“I see. Then let me explain further.” Spyke complied. “The five princes are each named after their countries. I am the prince of Shermar, therefore known as Prince Shermar. Chase is the prince of Neldoth, thus he is known as Prince Neldoth, and Blake is Beldarum’s prince, thus he is formally known as Prince Beldarum. The other two, Prince Carustap and Prince Glidian aren’t nocturnal, plus they are all the way on the other side of the world and only come here to Beldarum when there is a global matter to discuss.”

“But then who’s the king?” I wondered aloud.

“King?” He asked.

“Yeah. Who’s the guy that controls everything?”

Spyke seemed confused. “I don’t suppose we have a king.”

I was confused. “But then how do you have princes of there’s no kings?”

“Simply because that’s the way things are. The power of the world is split into five parts so as to prevent any form of corruption from ruining the world. Although Beldarum is actually made up of two continents we have put them both under the reign of one prince so as to keep an odd number of voters when decisions are made. It is to make sure there is no stalemate in any global decisions which would postpone any necessary actions.”

“But no king?”

“No king.” The man giggled at my insistence. “If there were merely one man in charge than that would create a greater opportunity for chaos to spread, besides, running a country is difficult enough. If one man were expected to take control of the entire world how would he keep up with all the work?”

“I just figured that if there was a king then he’d have the princes help him run things.” was my answer.

Spyke observed me seriously for a moment. “I’m going to count that as three questions from you. So now it’s my turn to ask YOU three questions.”

“Shoot.”

“Why would I do that?” He seemed appalled at my answer.

“It means go ahead.” I explained.

“How strange….” He calmed down. “I’ve never heard anyone use such a phrase before. You truly are from a different part of the world.”

Try a whole other world. I thought to myself.

Spyke cleared his throat before continuing. “Alright. Tell me who you are.”

That was kind of a personal question when compared to mine which all involved the government. Plus I felt that if I told this man all about myself he may come to hate me like everyone else had back home. I felt bad about it, but I had to lie, or deter his attention.

“I’m Singer.” I answered.

Spyke giggled. “I know that. Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Alright.” I tried to think. “I hate chocolate. I love animals. I don’t have any family or relatives and I can’t stand the smell of cigarette smoke.”

“Hmmmm. Not exactly the answer I was looking for, but good enough all the same.” He smiled.

“You got two more questions.” I reminded him. “And after that I want to know why Blake’s not here.”

“Why? Are you worried about him?” He asked. “From what I understand he’s gotten caught up in a discussion with Chase over something regarding Lower Beldarum. Since I couldn’t get to sleep and he wasn’t going to be here to greet you as I assume he usually is, I figured I’d come up and formally make you’re acquaintance in his absence.”

“Oh…” I hadn’t realized that being a prince meant work. “I guess that puts you back at three questions again.”

“Right. How about you tell me how you keep getting in here each night without the security noticing?”

I should have seen that one coming. “I’m not really sure.” I answered honestly. “What did you see when I came tonight?”

“I didn’t see anything.” He said. “I simply blinked and you were here, but how is it you get in here and don’t know how?”

“It just happens.” I answered. “I can’t help it. I can leave anytime I want, but I come every night whether I like it or not.”

“Interesting…..Do I get an extra question from you’re answering mine with another?” He suddenly asked.

I laughed and shook my head. “I think I’m done talking about myself for one night.”

Spyke glanced at me. “I suppose having stood through the entire conversation couldn’t have been very comfortable either.”

“Yeah.” I nodded and walked out to the balcony to look down at the handsome population. Leaning on the railing took away some of the stress on my feet. Before I knew it, Spyke was there too.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” He asked from behind me.

“Who could say otherwise?” I responded.

He came up beside me rather close and I had to fight the urge to slide way. We stood like that for a while before I turned upwards.

The sky in itself was amazing. There were stars everywhere under the dull glow of the floating orbs of light which illuminated Mooncrest. What I did notice was that there was no moon. Normally, one would expect to see numerous enlarged planets when looking up into the sky of another world, but this one seemed completely barren of anything but stars that swirled around eachother and a large span of shining dust which looked similar to the Milky Way.

One star in particular seemed to shine brighter than the others. I for once imagined it to be the northern star, then realized that this wasn’t earth. Yet I couldn’t ignore the mysterious sense of dejavu' which suddenly came over me.

I then glanced over at Spyke who I realized had been staring at me. His handsome green eyes shining in the starlight.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing.” He smiled kindly.

His face didn’t seem like any a human could ever possess, which was the basis for my next question.

“What are you?” I boldly asked.

“What do you mean?” He replied.

“Everyone here has green eyes, and not to mention you’re all good looking. There’s no way any of you could be human.” I explained.

“Human…What is that?”

That set it, he wasn’t human. My question was meant to be sarcastic, yet he appeared to have answered seriously. Realizing this, a small shiver of fear ran down my spine and I backed up away from him.

“Human is what I am. But what species are you?” I retorted.

“Why do you suddenly fear me? Weren’t we getting along?” He tried to approach me.

I quickly ran to the end of the balcony and faced him again.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“What are you? If you’re not human, than what are you?” I asked, frightened out of my mind.

“The same as anyone. I’m a-“

“What do you think you’re doing here?” Came Blake’s angry voice from the inner part of the room.

We both turned to face him as he glared at Spyke.

“You may be a guest here but this is not a place for you to be skulking around! What did you say to him? You better not have tried anything!” Blake was shouting angrily at the brown haired man who waved his hand at him.

“Oh calm down, I didn’t do anything.” Spyke responded.

Blake’s eyes turned to me. “Did he make you uncomfortable? He didn’t touch you did he?”

I looked back into the man’s eyes. They were green, which meant he wasn’t human either.

I was frightened and needed time to think before reproaching this situation. So I turned and ran behind a pillar, mentally screaming for the shadow to hurry and take me away.

“Singer!” I could hear Blake approach me from the other side.

I closed my eyes tightly as the footsteps came to an abrupt halt beside me. It got quiet all of a sudden and I could hear people talking.

Opening my eyes, I was back in the lounge room of the police station.

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Author's note: I know it took a really long time for me to upload this chapter. Life just kinda caught up with me and I hadn't been getting any reviews lately so I didn't feel as pressed to write it.

Please read and review! Reviews are greatly appreciated!