Chapter 3 THE SPARK

"Are you sure you don't want to just sleep over? Riley is staying over too," Tamara says as I'm packing my stuff.

"I wish, but I'm sure my mom has been reeling to decipher this whole scholarship fiasco," I say, propping up my school bag. "Also, I don't want my dad to think I'm avoiding him." Reaching for the gift bag, Tamara hands me the pamphlet.

"Bye, Riley!"I yell. "See you tomorrow?" he asks. "I'm sure I won't be shipped to NYX this evening. See you guys tomorrow," I say as I reach for the door. "Text us when you get home," Tamara says, settling back onto her couch. "Okie dokie," I say before shutting the door.

Contemplating between getting an Uber, waiting for a bus, or calling my dad, I decided to take the twenty-minute walk home to clear my head. My mind, for the hundredth time, returns to those green eyes, the familiarity, the mystery. Where have I seen them? A light throb starts in my head, and I conclude I'm just overthinking. After all, I know I've never seen this boy before. The pain in my head worsens, feeling like bells ringing. I collapse to the ground. "How dare you break the laws of divinity? You are supposed to be a protector!" I see a glimpse of someone on her knees being reprimanded as the pain intensifies. "Are you okay, young lady?" A hand touches my shoulder, looking up, I see a young couple peering down at me. "Do you need help?" the woman asks. "Oh, no. I'm okay. Thank you," I say, glancing around. I realize I'm just a few blocks from home. "Stay safe, miss," the man says as I mumble another absent-minded "Thank you."

Surveying my surroundings, I check the sky, already dark. Shocked, I pull out my phone, six missed calls from my dad and eight from my mom. The time reads 7:48 PM. How the hell did I walk two hours from Tamara's house? I sprint the rest of the way home. At the door, I fumble for my keys, just as it swings open. My mother grabs me in a bear hug. "Oh my goodness, Kore! Where have you been? You had me worried sick!" She examines my face and body. "I don't know. I think I passed out at the bus stop," I say truthfully. "Passed out? Are you coming down with something?" she shrieks, touching my forehead. "I'm fine, Mom. I must've been exhausted. I was waiting for the bus and just fell asleep," I say, clasping her shoulders to calm her. "Why didn't you just call me? I would've picked you up!". "I wanted to walk to clear my head. I'm sorry, Mom. I'll be more careful," I assure her. "Well, okay then," she says, tapping my head.

"I thought Dad was coming back today?"I ask, fumbling with my school bag. "Yeah, I didn't want to interrupt your moment," my dad says, stepping forward. "Dad!" I squeal, jumping into his arms. "Oh my God, I missed you so much!". "I missed you too, kiddo. I missed you both so much," he says, kissing my hair. "Are you back for good this time?" I ask, pulling away and glancing between them. They exchange calculated looks. "Yes, he's back for good," my mom says, smiling at him. "Hell yeah!" I exclaim.

"So, star pupil, we heard you got a scholarship to some fancy prep academy," my dad says, walking to the dining table. My mom and I follow. The laptop is open on the table, and the email is displayed. "Yeah, it's pretty fancy," I say, handing them the gift bag. "Do you know where the school is located, Kore?" Dad asks, his tone serious as he sits. A sense of dread washes over me. "I mean, it's here, right? I'm just changing schools."

"Have you opened your envelope at all?"* He gestures to the letter in my hands. "No, I was waiting to get home so I could open it with you and Mom," I say, noticing their sullen expressions. "Oh, my baby... things just got complicated, "my mom says, her voice cracking. "Dad, what's this about?"* I ask. "It's not a lot, Kore. It's just... this school is located on Blackbourne Island. So, you won't just be changing schools, you'll be moving there," he says softly, as if trying to soften the blow. "Wait... what? No! I can't move! You just got home!" I exclaim, ripping open the envelope.

Scanning the letter, "Accepted into the NYX Academy of Blackbourne Island." A plane ticket is stapled to the letter "boarding in one week?!" I scream, dropping the letter. "I don't want to go!" I run into my mom's arms, sobbing. "I don't want to leave, Mom!"

"Oh, Kore, I wish you wouldn't have to either," she says, trying to comfort me. "The email says you'll be able to visit twice a year."

"Yeah, for two weeks each time," I say, breaking down further. Dad pets my head, leaning into the hug. "This is something you've dreamt of your whole life, Kore. Let's not make this too sad. Let's enjoy the time we have left before you move."

"Your father's right," Mom agrees. "You've dreamt of attending an Ivy League academy. Let's make the best of this."She kisses my tears away, wiping her own face. "Well, let's eat. We were waiting for you," Dad says, setting the table. "Take the week off, you've got shopping, packing, and a lot of goodbyes to say. Tamara and... what's the boy's name again?"

"Riley?"* I say, laughing. "Oh yeah. Such a sweet boy. Why didn't you two ever date?" The room falls silent. Mom and I exchanged wide-eyed looks. "Dad... Riley is gay. He likes boys."

"Oh. Wow," Dad replies, awestruck. Mom and I burst out laughing. The teary moment fades as we talk and laugh about everything and nothing, just like before. At intervals, I catch Dad glancing at me, tears brimming but not falling. Later, I get up to clean. "You can skip that tonight, honey. Just go to bed," Mom says, kissing me as she and Dad clear the table. "Okay. Good night," I say, kissing them both before heading upstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"One week? Are you joking? It can't be that soon!" Riley exclaims. "I thought you'd still live here," Tamara adds, pushing her face into the screen. "Yeah, so did I. This all sucks," I say, deflated. "I get two visits, two weeks each in June and December. Like that's enough."

"Oh, darn. We're going to miss you, Kore," Riley says. "Kore..." Tamara breaks down. "Oh no, Tammy, please. You're going to make me cry again."

Tamara and I have been friends since our moms were pregnant together. I've never not had her in my life. "I love you guys. I'll miss you so much," I say, holding back tears as Riley hugs her through the screen. "We'll be in touch. The handbook says all my gadgets are allowed, so we'll always talk. Besides, don't forget our pact." Tamara's face lights up. "Oh my God, we have to teach you makeup in a week!"

We all laugh. "We better start soon, "I say. "What about your parents?" she asks. "I think they'll be fine. I'm happy Mom won't be alone anymore." We talk for another hour before Riley yawns. "Good night, guys," I say. "Good night," Tamara replies.

As the call ends, my door opens. "Hey, kiddo," Dad says, shutting the door behind him before sitting on my bed. "Hey, Dad."

"Kore, I just want you to know I'm proud of you. It kills me that I wasn't around enough to say it before, and now that I'm back, you're leaving. But I'll always love you," he says, kissing my forehead. "I love you too, old man," I reply. Dad had always been everywhere except home, a consequence of life as a pilot. His absences stretched so long that Mom often joked they were "practically divorced already." "What's the point of being married," she'd say, "when you're just waiting for someone who's never there?" But I knew it broke her. "Your mother and I are giving it a second chance. We're nullifying the divorce." "I'm so glad to hear that." He ruffles my hair, standing. "Who knows? Maybe you'll have a sibling by your next visit." He raises his brows. "Eww, get out of my room, Dad!" I laugh. "Good night," he says, shutting the door.

Alone, my mind drifts back to those green eyes, like it does every spare moment. That picture on the bus... The odd jolting sensation from this morning returns. I sit up, shutting my eyes to calm down. Taking deep breaths, I try to empty my mind.

Suddenly, I see myself in an endless meadow. A girl stands at the centre with silver hair, glittering accessories, and arms raised to the sky. She twirls, steps light as a feather, the moon illuminating her caramel skin. She stops, looking right at me...and I see my own face. I snap my eyes open and back in my room. 11:43 PM. "You must be losing your goddamn mind, Kore," I mutter, heading to the bathroom to splash water on my face. Staring into the mirror: "You are not a wacko."

I return to bed, drifting into sleep, only to plunge into another vision.

"Please don't do this. He did nothing to deserve it!" I beg, clinging to Ezurkael's red cloak. "Punish me, but leave the mortal be!"

His hollow, blazing red eyes glare down at me. *You forget your place, young guardian. You forget the laws." He shoves me, spreading massive black wings wreathed in flames. "You cannot do this! The Eldritch laws do not condone this, this is unreasonable!"

"You know, young one, what you and this mortal have done is a divine abomination," he says, raising his left hand. Firestorms erupt beneath us, the land exploding in flames. "All under it must be destroyed."

"NO!" I scream, diving back down.

At the gates, he lies face down. I cradle his face, staring into those deep green eyes that had consumed me from the first moment.

"My love, please don't go."

"Astra... you are here," he coughs. "Of course I am. Don't leave me."

"Did we not warn you to tread carefully guardian?" His voice is hollow, fading. "Ulgaroth!" I yell. "What could the Council possibly gain from this?"

"Oh, we gain nothing but a burden," Ulgaroth replies, his voice sultry and soft.

"This union will bring about the destruction of cosmic energies. We cannot simply sit and let them fall."

"Please, don't let him die!" I plead.

"Oh, but my dear, I am only here on divine orders from Zaltheron," he laughs. "She cannot possibly care about this!" I interject. Why would the most powerful cosmic being intervene?

"I am here to bestow a prophetic vision," he says, his eyes turning white, his black hair elongating to match his cloak.

"You shall lose your divinity and memory, dying with your lover. Reborn as a human, you will never remember this life. As for him, he shall live countless lives, searching for you in agony and despair."

He holds out a pocket watch.

"Ulgaroth, please don't do this!" I cry, my tears falling onto the dying man in my lap.

"Your fates have been rewritten. If either of you tries to change it, you shall lose your will, and he, his soul."

He crushes the watch into dust.

"No... no... you can't do this! He doesn't deserve this!" I wail, stroking his cheek, his emerald eyes locked onto mine.

"Goodbye, my love. I will find you in every lifetime," he whispers, going limp.

"Till we meet again, guardian," Ulgaroth says as he ascends. The raging fire cackles, swallowing everything.

"NO! NO! NOOO..."

I jerk awake, gasping, my body burning as if I'd walked through a furnace. Steadying myself, I check my phone 4:23 AM.

In the bathroom, I turn on the shower, trying to recall the dream. The details blur, hazy voices, indistinct faces. But two things remain sharp: the burning city... and those green eyes staring into my soul.