Chapter 2: The Crash Landing - How the Stars Fall

Nova didn’t dare open her eyes. If she did, it would make it all too real.

A chill drifted over her skin as she lay against solid ground. The hard, rough surface was an unusual feeling. It dug into her, scratching like thousands of tiny splinters embedded into her flesh.

FLESH!

She had flesh—like a human.

Tentatively, she dug her fingers into the soil. It trickled between the gaps of her fingers.

Suddenly, burning pain bloomed inside of her chest as she clawed at her throat. Opening her mouth to scream, that cool sensation that tickled her skin rushed inside as her chest expanded to pull more of it in. After a few more mouthfuls of the cool air, her breathing slowed and her heart rate resumed its sturdy rhythm—she forgot humans needed oxygen to survive.

The scent of damp minerals and organic decay wafted all around. Flitting creatures she’d only ever viewed from the heavens sang their early morning song. She was definitely no longer at home in Ara.

It was all too foreign, the smells, the sounds and who knew what the sights looked like.

A sharp object poked her in the back, sending a piercing sensation through her spine. Nova was too afraid to move for fear the discomfort would only intensify. However, if she was going to look at herself, work out her surroundings and find some sort of shelter against the chill, she was going to need to see where she was.

With a slow blink, she opened her eyes. All around her was a blur as her eyes adjusted to the light. Shadows loomed overhead, swaying like otherworldly beings, and for a moment Nova wondered if she was still in the celestial realms, even if not in Ara. The gentle push and pull of her chest reminded her that she was definitely no longer home.

Feeling somewhat brave, Nova rolled onto her side, taking her time and allowing her body to adjust to her movements.

Trees.

That’s what those looming shadows were.

Nova leaned on her elbow, pushing herself up into a sitting position. She blinked. The crater she’d left was enormous. No wonder her body ached. Did she really cause that?

Fingers—all ten of them—wiggled in front of her. Human fingers. Nova lightly dragged them over her face, feeling for her eyes, nose, and lips. She then dragged a hand down one arm, watching as the skin dipped beneath her fingers. It was smooth to the touch, yet warm and solid.

She was in a real human body—a completely bare one at that.

With a quick glance at her hands again, Nova wondered if she could use the powers she wielded in the heavens here in this part of the world. However, now was probably not the right time to find out.

Nova grit her teeth as she tried to get to her feet, but as soon as she moved her left leg, she cried out.

In Ara, the concept of pain was foreign. There, her form was light and untouchable, her existence a constant hum of illuminated energy. But now, as the sharp ache pulsed through her, her breath hitched—a sensation she had never experienced before. She pressed a hand to her ankle, her fingers trembling as they traced the unfamiliar sting. The discomfort was jarring. Nova rubbed her brow with the back of her hand. How long had she been here in this large, rocky pit? How would she find out where here was? Did it even matter? The last five years of spinning uncontrollably through the galaxy were finally over.

Before this ordeal took place, she’d been happily shining in the Ara galaxy, where the Creator had placed her. She’d looked down on Earth and watched humans for over a hundred years and secretly hoped one day she might actually experience what life would be like on the green and blue ball that hung on an invisible thread in the atmosphere.

This was not quite how she thought it would happen.

A phantom pain blossomed from the centre of her chest, and Nova instinctively reached for it. It was hard for her to see, but as she pulled her hand away, a star pattern glowed, imprinted into her skin.

It was pale blue—some of the star’s auras in the celestial realms shone different shades of blue or green, others, pinks, golds or lilac. Now, she had a branding from the home she may never see again.

With a quiet groan, Nova lay back against the ground again and stared into the early morning sky above. Pale colours of lilac, pink, and yellow painted across it, promising that the sun would soon rise. She’d studied humans for years, but she’d never realised their sky looked like this from the other side.

Her sisters faintly twinkled amongst the lilac hues and the organ inside of her chest pulled against its strains. Would she ever see them again?

Something wet and warm escaped from the corner of her eye and ran down her cheek. Nova brushed it with her fingertips. Was this a tear? Is this what it felt like to cry?

She squeezed her eyes shut, her chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Emotions surged inside her like a storm ready to break. She pressed her palms against the cool Earth, grounding herself in its steady presence. The rough texture of the soil and the faint pulse of life beneath her fingers slowed the chaos in her mind. With each inhale, the air filled her lungs, a little steadier, a little calmer, until the overwhelming tide of feeling began to ebb away.

She needed to get up. There was no point lying here. Someone would have surely seen her arrival. Perhaps she could seek refuge somewhere? Maybe a small town would be close by and she could ask for shelter.

Of course, before that, she needed to attempt to use her legs. Learn how to walk—if she could.

Her eyes shot open at the sound of stones skittering across the ground’s surface above her. She wasn’t alone.

There was nowhere for her to hide and there was no way of knowing if they were friend or foe. All she could do was lay as still as she could and watch as two hulking figures appeared over the lip of the crater before sliding down the crumbling walls, making their way towards her with heavy steps.

“Well, what do we have ‘ere then, ay.” The voice of a human touched her ears and Nova shuddered at its tone. It took a moment for the words to settle. Their language was strange, less melodious than what she was used to. The soft hum of her sisters, so gentle, so sweet—not the harsh, grating voice of a human.

Two sets of beady eyes loomed above her. Off-white teeth grinned in the early morning light.

Nova sat up, but before she had time to think or react, one of them reached down to smother her nose and mouth with some sort of cloth. The scent was choking, her eyes watered as she struggled to free it from her face. It was no use, and within moments, Nova succumbed to the darkness.

* * *

Nova stirred, her head lolling gently as her eyes fluttered open. Heat, more intense than she’d ever experienced, bathed her face. She attempted to raise her hand to shield her eyes from the bright light, only to realise they were tightly bound to the brown object she was seated on. Straining against the restraints, she tried to free herself.

Why was she tied to this . . . saddle? That’s what humans called them, right? The buttery leather was soft under her hands. Warm from the sun’s gaze upon it. Surely there was no need for her wrists to be tied to it?

The hard press of something solid pushed against her back. One of the strangers was sitting behind her on the horse.

Horse . . . she was on a horse.

Nova had awed at their beauty from her home in the heavens. She’d always wondered what it would feel like to touch one. Run her fingers through their silky manes.

“No need to pull at those bindings, love, you’re not going anywhere.” Warm breath brushed her ear and Nova squirmed away from it.

“I demand you let me go!”

“Not going to happen,” the male chuckled.

The sound of his laugh sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn’t a laugh of joy, but one that made Nova feel like the male was very pleased with himself. It infuriated her even more.

“Why do you have me tied to this saddle?” Nova yanked on her bindings again.

The male caught both her wrists in one of his large hands. “So ya don’t run away.”

“Why am I not allowed to be free? What do you plan on doing with me?”

“Well, a face as pretty as yours will sell for a handsome penny to the right person, but who you really are will get me and my brother a fortune.”

Nova was aware of her heart rate rising as she swallowed slowly at the male’s words.

In all her years of looking down at Earth and wishing she could walk amongst the humans, this isn’t how she dreamed it would be. Not tied to the saddle of a horse, with a very painful ankle, a smelly brute of a man behind her and this weird feeling in her mouth, like she’d devoured a whole mouthful of sand.

“I don’t think you have any right to sell me off, and how do you really know who I am? Unhand me at once!” Nova squirmed in the saddle.

“There was no missing your grand entrance last night. A rare occurrence around these parts of town, but we’ve heard the stories. We know you ain’t a regular woman. A fallen star like yourself is worth thousands of gold coins. And you may think I have no right to sell you off, but around here it’s first in best dressed and for once me and my brother would like to be the best-dressed men for miles around,” the male spoke as his arms tightened around her waist.

“Well, I hope not all men are rude like you are,” Nova huffed, giving in to her constraints.

The male on the second horse up ahead laughed. “I think you’ll be sorely disappointed.”

Nova glanced around at her surroundings. It was just her and the two males who looked almost exactly the same as each other, plodding along on horseback on a rough rocky road with rows of green trees on either side of them. Both males had short brown hair, cut close to their scalp. Their eyes were the colour of sad clouds. Neither held a smile for long, and their voices carried only crude words and harsh laughter.

Nova squirmed in the saddle. “Who are you anyway?”

“I’m Dante and that’s Finnian, but most people just call us The Twins,” Dante answered.

Nova could definitely see the uncanny resemblance in both males, good looking enough in an odd way, but not enough to make her flutter her lashes at either of them. That’s what women did when they wanted to encourage a male, wasn’t it? Secretly, she hoped, not all men looked like these two either, or Earth was going to be very disappointing.

“Can you at least tell me where I am?” Nova mumbled.

Dante shooed a flying insect away. “This part of the world is Sapphire Vale. And if you were to look at a map, this region ‘ere is Emberfell.”

Despite being tied to a horse, sitting with a male, she’d rather not be. Nova couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful Emberfell was.

Cold air whipped at her face, and Nova shuddered once again. Maybe it was normal to feel like this. They’d draped some kind of fabric around her shoulders and tied it loosely around her waist. She hadn’t looked like this when she landed. Was this what humans considered clothing? If so, someone needed to show them how to dress properly, because this was terrible.

“It’s getting dark bruv, we should find some place to make camp for the night,” Dante called out to his brother.

“Yeah, alright,” Finnian called back.

Neither man put her at ease, and Nova could sense something was off. The way their eyes kept drifting over her, sizing her up, sent a wave of heat through her stomach, while her skin turned cold and clammy.

Nothing about them felt good.

Finnian steered his horse to the right, off the beaten track and through the undergrowth, making a path with his horse’s feet. Dante followed behind. Nova felt uneasy. Surely staying on a well-known road might give her the opportunity to cry out for help if someone came along. Heading into the dense forest would not allow for that.

Deeper in the woods, the brothers brought the horses to a halt.

“We rest here and then leave at the first sight of dawn,” Finnian grunted.

“Obviously—I’m not daft.”

Finnian snorted. “Could ‘ave fooled me.”

“Go lick a doorknob, Fin.” Dante slid from the horse, but left Nova tied to the saddle.

Nova listened as the two men muttered quietly to each other, their voices rising and falling in a way so unlike the fluid communication she shared with her sisters in Ara. From her perch on the horse, she observed them closely. It seemed her celestial powers were translating their strange language into something she could understand.

“We will just keep her tied up over there by that tree. We can take turns watching through the night and before we know it, come morning we can be on our way again,” Dante said as he moved away and squatted down to build a fire. Finnian grunted in response as he came towards Nova and untied her from the horse. With a rough tug, he pulled her down.

Fire speared through her leg as her feet hit the ground. Nova cried out, but did her best not to crumple on the spot.

“What’s your problem then?” Finnian barked.

Squinting her eyes in distaste, Nova fired back, “If you must know, I have injured my ankle and I am in a lot of pain.”

Finnian rolled his eyes as he scooped her up into his broad arms and carried her to the base of a large tree, sitting her down on a log stump before tying her against it.

“Don’t move,” he said as he walked back towards the horses.

He returned moments later with a small, round leather pouch—similar in feeling to the saddle she rode on earlier—and a piece of something that was white and brown. “Here . . . have this.”

Nova eyed him warily. “What is it, and should I be afraid?”

“Only if you’re not afraid of dying . . . It’s water for drinking and bread for eating. Now take it before I change my mind.”

Tentatively, Nova grasped it and brought the bread up to her nose. It smelled okay and looked okay, so she touched it to her lips, taking a tiny bite. It was crumbly and bland in her mouth, but her stomach growled in response as she slowly ate. If only she could get rid of the dry feeling inside her throat.

It took a few attempts to twist the lid off the container, but when she brought it to her nose, it had no smell at all. The inside sloshed strangely. Putting it to her lips, she let the cool liquid wash over her tongue and glide down her throat. Within moments, the dry feeling was gone, and Nova felt refreshed. Water was definitely a favourite of the two Earthly items she’d just inhaled.

She watched the pair intently as they set up a small camp. No shelters, just a fire and some food. Nova was grateful for the moon’s gentle glow. Its beams seeped into the small parts of her exposed skin and rejuvenated her soul.

She wanted to test out her powers. Could she use them here on Earth like she could in the galaxy? If she could, would it work in her favour to free her from her captors?

Nova glanced at the twins as they scoffed down their bread and water, wiping the back of their hands across their mouths before using their trousers as a cleaning cloth. Nova shuddered. Something in her gut told her to keep as much of herself a secret as possible.

It was best to stay put for the evening, rest her body until she could use the sun’s light to find a way to escape.

The rest of the evening was uneventful. Nova remained tied to a tree and the two men took turns watching their surroundings.

Orange flames from the fire put on a show. The flames produced inky shadows that danced along the forest floor, up the thick tree trunks and over Nova’s shivering body.

“So star . . . can you grant me a wish?” Dante grunted across the flames.

Nova eyed the twins, both grinning from ear to ear. “No, I can not.”

Finnian huffed. “I thought all stars could grant wishes.”

“Well, you thought wrong.”

Dante placed his hands behind his head and leaned back against the rotting log behind him. “Or perhaps you’re telling us lies.”

“Maybe she’s more valuable to us as a magical tool rather than selling her to the highest bidder, bruv,” Finnian muttered.

“You’re a magical tool,” Dante spat

Finnian smirked. “I’ve got one . . .”

“I know . . . We’re twins.” Dante said as he winked at Nova.

She closed her eyes at their conversation. The pair of them were insufferable.

“How do we know she’s magical at all?” Dante spoke, his rough voice grating on her ears.

“She’s a trophy, more like it. If she had powers, we couldn’t have grabbed her so easily.”

Nova opened her eyes and looked at the twins from her place against the tree trunk. “You’re right. I don’t have any powers. In fact, I’m very boring. You might as well let me go.”

“Don’t think so,” Finnian grinned.

It was worth a try, right?

The twins muttered to themselves as Nova’s eyes grew heavy. She wanted to stay awake and plot her escape, but the pain in her ankle begged her to rest, and the warmth from the fire sang to her a silent lullaby, and before she could fight it, sleep claimed her once again.

* * *

Walking. Walking. Walking.

That’s all they ever seemed to do. Walking this way and then walking that way. Walking up a hill and then walking down a hill.

Nova felt like they might just walk all the way back to the galaxy at this point.

When she awoke in the early morning, the two men dozed, and she’d tried her best to summon her powers. All she managed to do was make her skin glow. Perhaps it would take some time for her body to adjust to the foreign atmosphere—or maybe they simply didn’t work.

“Must I be on this horse for a moment longer?” she groaned softly.

“If you’d rather walk behind the horse . . . then by all means, be my guest,” Dante replied, sarcasm lacing his voice.

Nova rolled her eyes. “To be honest, I think I would rather walk behind a horse right now than sit for one more second with either of you.”

Dante pulled the horse to a stop and got down, violently pulling Nova behind him. His rough, calloused hands dug into her arm, and she uttered a cry as her foot hit the ground.

“Be careful, bruv. We don’t want damaged goods, do we now?” Finnian hissed.

“Even as damaged goods, she’ll still be worth more than we’ve ever earned.”

“Doesn’t mean we should break it before someone buys it,” Finnian replied.

Nova rolled her eyes. Why did she have to be captured by these two idiots? Why couldn’t it have been someone nice?

Dante was tugging her along when a rustling from some bushes nearby caught his attention. He stilled and Nova lightly bumped into his solid frame at his sudden stop.

“What are we doi—”

“Shut up,” Dante hissed.

How dare he tell her to shut up? No wonder her sisters were never interested in coming to Earth like Nova had been—especially if this was how humans treated each other.

“Get your blade ready, bruv,” Finnian whispered gruffly as he slowly got down from his horse.

Nova stood still, shaking. Something tightened in her chest, sending a shiver down her spine. Her skin prickled, almost as if every hair was standing on end. Her muscles tensed, ready to flee. She didn’t know what was happening, yet she knew this feeling was horrid, and she didn’t want to feel it again. Was something coming for them? Should she run and hide? If she did, where would she go?

With swift movement, Finnian slapped his hand against the side of his neck, looking shocked and red in the face. He dropped to the ground in a crumpled heap moments later.

Rough hands grabbed Nova around the waist, and she squealed. The edge of a blade found the soft skin of her throat and she winced as it pressed in, a warning..

“Come any closer and she’s as good as dead,” Dante threatened.

The pair encountered silence.

Nova’s eyes darted back and forth. Whatever was out there was very good at blending in with the shadows of the forestry.

A soft, whooshing sound whistled past her ear, followed by a grunt. Dante’s rough hands let go of her body, and the blade he held against her throat clattered to the ground.

He dropped in a heap, just as his brother had.

Nova trembled, still searching for the silent attacker. “Please . . . don’t hurt me. I mean no harm,” she called to the trees.

Movement caught her eye, and a figure stepped casually from the shadows. Loose gravel crunched beneath the male’s boots, shifting slightly with each step as if he had not a care in the world. His expression was hollow, free of emotion.

Nova drew in a breath as he neared.

Black shaggy hair skimmed just below his ears, covering part of his forehead. Russet eyes trailed over her body from head to toe. He wore well-fitted black and brown clothing with a long silver blade hanging at his side. It glinted in the sun, and Nova thought it was breathtaking . . . seeing a deadly weapon for the first time.

His form was about the same size as the two brothers who currently lay unconscious on the forest floor, yet something about the way he walked made him different.

Instinctively, all she wanted to do was run. This male made her tremble more than the other two had. His eyes were cold and unforgiving. This was someone who shouldn’t be tried or tested. Why was she attracting all of these unpleasant males?

“My lady.” The stranger took a bow.

His voice washed over her body. Filling all the cracks with a soothing balm. It was deep and smooth—tickling her ears—making her cheeks feel warm.

“Who are you?” Nova questioned cautiously.

The man stood and placed his hands in his trouser pockets. “Ryker.”

She stepped back until she bumped up against the warmth of the horse behind her, eyeing him. “Please go away . . . Ryker.”

“Can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve been ordered to take you to the king.”

Nova stilled against the horse. “Why?”

“Because you’re a very special guest here on Earth and King Branoc wants to meet you.”

Was who she was that obvious to these humans?

“Who said I was special? What if I don’t want to go?”

“Anyone with sight can see that you’re the star that fell from the sky and . . . you don’t have a choice.”

What was with all of these humans presuming they could take her and do what they pleased? Surely there were other options.

As she quickly glanced around though, Nova could see that she really had little choice. Her wrists were bound and her ankle ached every time she moved. Even if she tried to escape, she wouldn’t make it very far.

“Did you kill them?” Nova nodded her head towards the males on the ground.

Ryker flicked his gaze down towards the men and took a small step towards her.“Unfortunately, no. And if we don’t get a move on soon, they will come to and I can’t promise it will be a pretty sight.” His eyes bore into hers the closer he came. His nearness sent a thrill through Nova’s body, and her heart leapt into an erratic state.

Was it his scent that brought the wave of buzzing energy coursing through her veins, making her heart race and her breath quicken? Or perhaps it was the sensation she felt before—the one she never wanted to feel again. Something about this male told her she should be very careful.

“If I go with you, could you untie these ropes for me?”

“Like I said before . . . you don’t have a choice and no I will not.”

Nova held back the foreign emotions coursing through her body. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”

Ryker reached for the rope hanging from her wrists. “Behave yourself and I’ll think about it.”

Warm fingertips brushed against her cold, pale flesh as Ryker reached for the rope. Tiny bumps rose to the surface of her skin.

“Are you going to behave?”

“I guess you’ll find out.” Nova looked up at him.

Ryker’s gaze held no sympathy for her situation. His heart matched the icy coldness of his eyes. How could anyone live like that?

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Was this another man she needed to free herself from at the first possible chance? Did she even want to go with him to see his king? What if that was a worse fate than running away? Yet, where would she even go if she did?

It was Ryker who moved first. Clearing his throat, he placed the rope in one hand as he took the reins of the horse in the other. “Shall we . . . ?”

The way his words trailed off gave Nova the impression that he wished to know her name. Should she give it to him? What difference would it make if she did or didn’t? With a small sigh, she answered.

“My name is Nova . . . Nova Seraphine.”