the fog she saw is the second book in the series shattered stars is in :o i thought i'd share an excerpt from it in the hopes of introducing a bit more of the new unnamed character in the latest chapter - you've seen her before in my 'what i'm doing with shattered stars' project thing. this book may be a tad more dark, however, and deals with some darker topics (if it can, idk lol) i'm editing out the sensitive parts as well as spoilers have fun:) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (this happens sometime in the 'future' of shattered stars) Black-heeled foot tapping repeatedly and eerily on the hard, endlessly expanding marble floor, the girl sat comfortably in a plush coral armchair directly across from Liselle. She smiled expectantly, an ice-orange flower perched in her hair. Her coal-black hair trailed down her back from a knot at the back of her head, and cool, pale red makeup formed blossoms around her eyes. Closing her eyes and still smiling, she sang a soft song in a foreign language, a Spanish melody from long ago. She repeated a short verse over again, tapping a slightly tanned finger on her knee. Pale, opalesque silk was draped loosely across her figure, the shimmering fabric translucent with an inner, healthy light. Strange - considering the woman was dead. She shined a thin butcher knife with the silk, the sharp blade cutting her delicate hands, though the cuts healed over almost immediately. Sighing with pleasure, she took the knife and held it to her cheek with one hand, stroking it gently into the flesh of her face. Slowly, a flower of blood is created on her face, the petals healing over as she creates them. With a twirl of her fingers, the knife disappears. Her face just as smooth and fine as ever, the girl stretches back, her legs together on the chair. The silk shifts and slips down her shoulder, and she makes no move to brush it back, completely comfortable. Liselle awakened, her thick eyebrows furrowing. She sat up, blinking, and as the room came into focus, she regressed more into fear, her eyes widening as she scooched back in her seat. Swallowing, she demanded, “Get me out of here.” The girl smiled sweetly. “Sweetie, I just want to talk. The hurting comes later.” “I don’t want to talk to you,” Liselle said firmly, a quiver of fright edging its way into her voice. She frowned now, tilting her head slightly. “That hurts, sweetie. Don’t say things like that. Didn’t your mother ever tell you, ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all’ ?” “My mother never said anything like that, you freaking [redacted].” “There you go again,” the girl said, shaking her head in mock disappointment. “Maybe she can tell you now, then.” She flicked her finger slightly upwards, and Liselle felt a sudden and absolute feeling of cold dread creep down her spine. A shadow slithered across the floor, and, shaking, Liselle felt a frigid, bony hand caress her shoulder. “M-Mama?” “It’s me, Liselle. It’s me,” a warm voice assured her, and tears welled up in Liselle’s eyes. Then she blinked and shook her head emphatically, clenching her eyes shut. “Why are you doing this to me?” she pleaded, head in her arms. “Make. It. Stop.” She inhaled, and the breath was shaky and uncertain. “Where am I?” “You’re in the Aether, dearest.” The girl stood up and spread her arms, leaning her head back, content. Swirling smoothly from the ground, building themselves up, shiny caramel candies assembled in the large marble expanse. Surrounding them, the floor built out as an endless path of creamy pink sugar-blades, the sunset sky soaking in above like watercolor paints dripping onto a wetted surface. Far away, a figure was killing small candy-creatures, crushing them in their hands. Above, a red-haired arsonist with the smile of the Cheshire Cat perched on the crescent of the glass moon, twirling a flame between their fingers. “We’re all here. Always. Two feet on earth, your eyes in this one. We work behind the scenes,” the girl continued to explain. “And when something goes wrong,” she opened one previously closed eye, “it is our duty to find the problem and sort it out.” Suddenly she was right beside Liselle, who was holding her head in her hands and muttering to herself repeatedly. A calm yet wicked grin adorning her face as she cupped a hand to her mouth, the girl whispered, “My duty is to shake you out of whatever trance you’ve put yourself in.” Gasping, the dream shattered, and Liselle awoke.
