// Chapter 11 \\

The creak of a metal door and the uncomforting shutters of unnatural chills was familiar. Yet, I was still standing there.

Despite how those eerie violet eyes made the comfort of these halls shrouded in a starry skied world seem more foreign than the home they had been for me. Despite the chills that ran along my tan and speckled skin, making them feel darker than the night above. Despite the weight of that gaze and how I felt stripped before it. How I felt so ashamed and yet so prized. However, I knew that I needed to do this and that is why I stepped forward into that cell.

They'd all tried to talk me out of it: Hongjoong, Yeosang, Heeyoung, even Seonghwa decided to put his opinion in the matter. I'd either brushed off their comments— statements of rebuttal— or simply outright refused their claims. My own guards had given looks of question to my actions as if I wasn't even their own High Monarch. No matter the case, they said nothing. Even as Elara stifled a remark that I surprisingly saw in her features. She had complied with my order in escorting myself and the rest here. The only one who solely followed my lead without any questions or justifications against my motive was Nanny. She'd been the one in front of the group now, standing tall with prideful eyes on me from the other side of the threshold.

The door creaked closed behind me. That was when he shifted.

His head had been tilted down. Though, it had made a slight angle upwards when the door opened with me on the other side of it. The angle was just enough for him to see me and for me to see the violet glint that had almost pried me to the threshold; not entering. It wasn't his full gaze, though, as his shift now drew up the full view of his violent souls. It almost made me recoil, but, if there was one thing I'd learn from these passing months, it was to keep all my dreaded emotions within. Except, this had felt different.

I would've recoiled, shivered, and had my legs fall to the floor as unblinking images would flash in my clear gaze. But my recoils had no more strength for the symphony. Shivers too familiar, they became obsolete. And, images too confusing, I truly didn't know if they drew me in the room with comfort or pain. I was too numb of all the things to decipher that. Or perhaps the inference of the ache of my head from being in his had me believing there was a way to get something out of him. Perhaps that was what kept me going through the fog of confusion; I'd believed I found a lead to a clear path.

A redemption.

I glared and he smirked. No words were spoken as a breath of chills blew throughout the room, the air of it signifying the monster in front of me. We simply stared, observing each other's gaze.

I tried to be like my brothers of past— those two men— and drew up a mask of cold, calculated observance. It didn't seem so hard to mask with my golden glow of eyes. Truly, it didn't seem like there would've been anything to hide because I'd come down here to ask questions. I wanted this path, and all presumed thoughts or pains couldn't keep me from that.

His gaze didn't seem to reveal much of what I wanted at all, however. They were as maniacal and as mischievous as ever; their own kind of mask and guard allied with the forceful thrust of his mind which hid the true answers I seeked. He seemed to know that himself, his smirk conveying that as it grew ever wider.

"Ah, it's good to see you getting well, my darling," Wooyoung mused from where he sat. He smirk remained there in silence before a frown— what could've been taken as a pout— fell over his face as he drew out his next words, "I mean, as well as you can get."

He was the first to speak, cutting the edge of shuttering silence. If I didn't know any better, I would've found a hint of threat in his words, but I refused to. He'd been locked in this cell for at least an hour, chained to the wall with the strongest metal known in the realms: craytier. The only metal stronger than that would've been the mysterious metal that some takers have wielded in encounters with this metal. The metal of his swords, which he hadn't had with him in the first place. He was secure, and even if he did find a way to break out of the strongest cell in the Night Court, he couldn't have done it within that one hour.

I didn't move from where I stood and I didn't respond.

For some reason, that had him smirking once more. He tilted his head to the side as he tried to sit up, the clink of chains following in a similar shuttering sense to the chills the Takers brought.

Wooyoung cooed, "Come on, why so glum, Starlight?"

I froze, a slight gasp of breath as the uncomforting chills of the room finally reached my body. They filled them with such a pure emotion that threatened to clear the fog that it almost sent me to my knees— to his level. I at least refused that, but it didn't stop my legs from shaking. From my arms from shaking. My entire body was shaking.

My hands balled into fists, trying to grip the unsettling air into an obedience which did no good as I was already obedient for that air. I was uncomfortably shaking from all of the eeriness. Eeriness which was only amplified from staring into those eyes. Those violet eyes I was staring into weren't a dark icy blue, but they knew well of those eyes and the person they belonged to. He chuckled as if my strife was a game to him. So nonchalant it would seem our roles in the room had reversed.

That was not true.

But my body failed that statement. It shook uncontrollably with the only ounce staying steady being my head which I'd lifted to stare at the wall and my fists which were fisted at either side of my body. My nails dug into my palms and teeth grit in closed lips. My cold masked glare had shattered with the utter of that one word. Strong emotion of fear, agony, and confusion mingled over my features. Someone could've mistaken me from being in a Taker's choke hold. My emotions were flaring, despite the extensive effort to keep them hibernated, keep them cool.

"Well," Wooyoung's bored voice felt like a silent echo before it lured me back to the place I was standing.

I didn't dare to look down.

The chains clanked and I could only assume he shifted before he posed his question, "Is there a reason why you came here? You visit me so soon, Starlight, I can only assume—"

My ears were ringing and my vision seemed to haze. I didn't take knowledge of what happened next. I was completely oblivious to all my senses as I was lost in that sickness. I didn't realize what I'd done until I saw the now closed metal door to the cell I'd once been in. I huffed out quick and heavy breaths, the ringing fading away to silence and my vision taking in the rough details of the door. One heaving intake of air brought my full grasp to reality while the exhale ridded me of the mindless torture I'd just endured.

That's when I was struck with it. Night, what was I thinking? I'd felt so foolishly fortified with myself, walking into that room. That was what he wanted. And it was my fault for not being fully cautioned of all the possible things that could happen. I so blindly walked in for a demand of answers, I wasn't fully prepared for the fact of what happened. I chastised myself for that. He wasn't just a Taker skilled in physical pain, he knew mental just as well— his own crazed and disgusting approach.

I brought a hand to my mouth in the sickness I felt from that knowledge alone. But I just as quickly brought the hand back down from my face. I was reluctant that I instinctively left. It felt less chilling out here.

I inhaled a long breath before I let one out all the same. I slowly turned around to the group that had followed me down here. I'd originally insisted in coming down here alone, but Nanny had outright refused. That was why my eyes were met with another pair of golden ones.

Seonghwa simply stared back, his neutral face setting off a grim atmosphere which dulled the colorful clothing he wore. I'd let him come down for nothing more other than for knowing what pain the Taker behind the metal door had caused him. It wasn't all his pain, but I'd respected him enough to bring him down other than others I found more trusting. His gaze didn't comfort me, nor the fogged one to my left, or the clear one to my right. Only those slow and steady breaths kept me from collapsing right there and then.

Nanny wordlessly wrapped an arm around me from the side she stood on while Elara merely joined me at my right. No one questioned to know what had happened because I think they all had an idea of what it was. I'd proven everyone's claims to be right; I wasn't ready to come down here.

We went down the paths of hallways from the cell, passing guard after guard after guard which had haphazardly banded together to guard. The Knights had given that order— a Captain's order— but I didn't find myself caring after the instances that had all occurred. I didn't even want to acknowledge and resolve that issue in itself— not now, at least.

We'd made our way down the dark blue halls when I found a warm hand had been placed on my shoulder. I looked up to meet the golden eyes to who I knew touched my skin then. I didn't bother to hide an annoyance that crept onto my face from that. Seonghwa narrowed his eyes in a revoke to my gesture. The two of us had stopped to do this which led to Nanny turning back in question, following Elara whom I assume took knowledge in the lack of footsteps.

"Star?" Nanny gently and quietly asked. Her voice was so soothing and calm it almost broke the chilling atmosphere that still shrouded me entirely.

I should prepare for a storm of chastisement in not responding to her (or had she given up on that?) as I ignored her question in my name. I chose to focus on Seonghwa as a rustle inside of me shifted uncomfortably.

I brought my hand up to his, which I knew Seonghwa found cool to the touch. I plucked his hand from my shoulder and let go of it to have it dangle at his side. I didn't bother to sound delighted, taking from Nanny's question as I spoke, "Seonghwa?"

The High Monarch of Dawn Court sighed, blinking away the glint of suspicion in his eyes as he looked down at me with some form of pity. That certainly didn't do well for the dwindling patience I had inside of me.

"Star, can we talk for a moment?" Seonghwa asked quietly, his silken voice making the question appear soft. His gaze rose from mine to the other two who were behind me, "Alone?"

His gaze looked down to mine, a rare flash of a genuine gleam there. Perhaps that was what had convinced me into agreement. I made a slow nod of my head before I glanced back to where Nanny and Elara stood.

Nanny had an equal nod in understanding while Elara's face seemed to be one of neutralness, as a soldier should. Nanny spoke to her for them to leave out the door that would take them back up to the main part of the palace. Only when that door creaked shut did I turn my gaze back around to Seonghwa.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice surprisingly clear. Though, I knew I wanted to get to the point.

He seemed to pause, eyes searching my gaze. It was like whatever he was pondering, he wasn't sure if he could even speak to me yet. But he did so within a moment of time, proposing, "I would like to offer you training into your connection with the dream realm."

There was the obvious point I couldn't blink in question to his point. My eyes were unblinking; blinking willingly didn't come. No tears willingly came. No sleep willingly came.

I settled for a tilt of my head and the furrow of my eyebrows to impose the question, "What?"

Seonghwa exhaled a sigh that seemed like one he'd been holding since his slip-up from the party. He licked his lips before reasoning, "Star, you claim your eyes are unblinking, however, when we all came to you after the party, you were knocked out. Your eyes were closed."

I found myself shivering in recoil from his statement as my gaze dropped to my feet on the floor.

He continued, "I didn't really think anything of it, but then I observed you in that state. Your eyes were moving behind your eyelids. It may be foreign to you but that is an action many have in their state of sleep when they're dreaming."

"Seonghwa, I-"

Seonghwa rose up a hand, gently speaking more silken than any of his previous words, "Please, let me finish at least, Star."

I glared back up into his eyes, but I made no move to stop him.

He nodded in gratitude, "The dream realm helps connect many things and can balance a being to their natural state. This goes for everything living in the realms. Beings not connected to this state can often find themselves distraught, confused. If I may, Star, I believe I've seen a lot of that in you from the bit of time I spent here. The Takers have been strangely inactive up until this point and with the Crescent and the High Monarch selection in Dusk Court, it may do well for you to have a better grip on things."

I didn't bother to hide the gleam of gold in my glare as I stepped towards him, "I decline, Seonghwa."

It was his turn to blink, tilt his head, and furrowed his brows in confusion, "Wh-What?"

"The dream realm isn't my priority right now."

I'd never felt stronger lies tinge on my tongue.

Seonghwa was completely taken aback, his head arching away. He blinked a few more times in faint gasp, "Star, please, I- maybe I was mistaken- I believed this was something you wanted."

I was surprised he bought it.

"My priority is leading my Court back to a place of power," I simply stated. I never sounded more cold with those words. Perhaps it should've concerned me, but I dismissed it as I began to back away and turn from Seonghwa.

His warm hands grabbed at my shoulders, slightly pulling me back. I couldn't believe the desperation he had or the words he spoke next, "Star, you aren't ready-"

There was a smack, and a sting at my hand which was still in the air.  

"I am ready." I stated in a loud cry, so cooly it seemed to burn in a numb frostbite.

My eyes must've flared with some form of white undying heat, it felt as if they were burning. A spark had been lit in them, and rage took over my features. I half expected a raged gaze to look back to my own, but his golden eyes had remained melted and blinking in surprise. He held his hands in the air— one hand which I smacked and the other he'd voluntarily removed— and he backed away. I let my hand fall to my side.

Night, there was so much more I could say— so much more I could do. Rage brewed inside of me, fueled by the one I looked at and ready to deliver upon that face still full of shock. But I didn't. That face of shock brought me into a cool calmness once more. The face that had ignited me, snuffed out what almost consumed me and I certainly had no more words for it.

So, I turned away wordlessly and made my way towards the door.

I may have not been ready to come into these cellars of my Court, but I was certainly ready to lead it. I opened the metal door with a creak and left it ajar for Seonghwa before the clap of my footsteps on the cool stone ground took me out of the place. I didn't speak or acknowledge Nanny or Elara as I did so, who were both waiting on the other side.

His statement burned in my head and brought out a stubbornness I hadn't realized died out from being at his Court. It had died in his Court and had been resurrected in mine.

No, I was ready to lead the Night Court because that was one thing I was meant to do.

REMEMBER:​​​​​​

1. Smack dat butiful star

2. Leave a comment talkin abt dis tea

3. Share dis tea induced book with yo fwends

WHY? Because I appreciate it 🥺

\\ See u in the next chapter! \\