When the Stars Align

It's a Ping-Pong Battle to the Death

"How was your herbs and medicine class?" I asked politely as Will led me towards the rec room.

"It was okay until it ended and I came to find you," he replied.

I stopped walking and turned to face him. "Look, I really am sorry okay? But it's over with."

He nodded. "I know, you're right."

"So, what's your last name?" I asked as we climbed a flight of stairs.

"Carter," he replied. "How about you?"

"I thought you know everything," I said.

He smirked. "To an extent."

"Green," I said. "And no, green isn't my favorite color if you were wondering. You have no idea how many people ask me that."

"Nova Green. I like it. So what is your favorite color?" he asked.

"It's kind of hard to explain, because it's a certain shade. Some people might describe it as wine red, garnet, burgundy, or maroon," I said. "How about you?"

"Mine actually is green, but more of like an emerald shade," he replied as we walked into the rec room.

Josh and Avery were playing a game of Ping-Pong.

"Boys vs. girls?" Avery suggested once they finished their game.

"As long as you two aren't afraid of getting beat," Will said as I picked up a paddle next to Avery.

"It's funny that you think you're going to win," I replied.

"We'll see, Green," he said, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards.

"We'll even give you guys the advantage of serving first," Avery said tossing the ball to Josh.

"Play to 21?" Josh suggested.

I nodded. He served. I hit it back to which the boys missed and it was our point. The second serve was their point when Avery hit it into the net. It was their point again when I hit it off the table. It was 1-2. Five minutes later and the score was 20-19. I served. It was a pretty good volley; it went back and forth few times before Will hit a fastball that neither Avery nor me could hit. It was 20-20. Whoever hit the next point would win.

"How about we make this a little more interesting?" Will suggested, his eyes glittering with amusement. He twirled the paddle between his fingers.

"How?" Avery asked.

"50 bucks," Josh said.

"Deal," I replied.

Will served. It went back a forth a few times before I hit a fastball. I was already putting my paddle on the table, sure that we had won when Will hit it back. Neither of us were prepared and the ball went flying past us. It was the boys point.

Will slammed his paddle down in triumph. Both of the boys did a chest bump in mid-air.

"That'll be fifty bucks!" Josh yelled. I smiled.

"Just wait, we'll get you back," Avery promised.

"You can try," Will said. "Pay up."

I dug around in my pockets and found a twenty and a five. Avery pulled out two tens and a five. Reluctantly, all of the money was handed over to the boys. The four of us went and had a seat on a couch off to the side.

"What kind of meeting were you at earlier, Josh?" I asked.

"It was just some of the latest news on the Obscurité, what actions we should take, all of that stuff," Josh replied.

"And?" Will chimed in.

"Nothing has happened," Josh said.

"That's a good thing, right?" Avery asked.

"Not nessasarily. They've been strangely quiet, especially after Nova's arrival at the Hotel," he explained. "We're worried they're planning something."

"Like what?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I don't know, but if it's something to do with the Obscurités, then I promise you nothing good can come of it."

All of the sudden, Brendan busted through the rec room door. Will went rigid. Brendan spotted us and ran over, out of breath.

"Nova, you-"

"Get out of here, Brendan," Will said cutting him off.

"No, just listen-"

"No, you listen! I said get out of here," Will stood up trying to look bigger than he was, but Brendan had him by a few inches.

"Get out of my face, Will! It's not about that!" Brendan yelled shoving him back. People were staring now. "Nova, it's your brother."

I could feel the color drain out of my face. "What?"

"He was getting ready for my other class with Carrie and they stepped outside the barrier. The Obscurités got them both," he said hurriedly, the words rushing out of his mouth.

"Carrie?" Avery said just as shocked as I was.

I stood up quickly. "Well then we have to get them, we have-"

"It's not that simple, Nova. The Obscurités aren't exactly negotiators," Will said.

"I don't care. I have to get my brother back," I replied fiercely.

"Well then let's go get him back," he said.

We stopped by the training room and grabbed whatever we could use. I grabbed the same sword that I had used earlier plus a small dagger. I raced down the flights of stairs, Will at my side, Josh and Avery behind us.

"Wait up," Brendan yelled at us as we reached floor 1.

I turned. "You're not coming with us."

"Yes, I am. I want to help. I'm your best fighter," he said.

I took a step towards him, dagger in hand. Our faces were inches apart.

"It's you're fault they took him, you should have been watching him. You're not coming with us," I spat.

His eyes darkened. "You're just like any of the other Obscurités."

I moved so fast that I surprised even myself. I held the dagger at his throat.

"Say that again, and I'll cut your tongue right out of your mouth," I said venomously.

"Let's go," I said to Will, Josh, and Avery.

We walked through the front door and out into the blinding sunlight. Jase and Carrie were nowhere in sight.

"Where do we even go to look for them?" I asked.

"Well, they're most likely going to what we call their 'headquarters', but we don't know where that is," Josh said.

"So we don't even have a plan," I said exasperated.

"Well we know where they are, we just have to figure out how to get there," Will replied.

"Great," Avery mumbled.

"What if we had a bait?" I suggested.

Josh raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"

"What if we let them capture me, then you guys could follow them to wherever their 'headquarters' is," I explained.

"No, absolutely not," Will said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it's too dangerous," he replied.

"It is a good plan, Will. Plus, it's not like we have a lot of options," Avery chimed in.

Will still looked skeptical.

"Look, I'm going through with this plan whether you like it or not, so either you can help me or you can let me die," I said.

He nodded reluctantly. "Okay, let's do it."