Nine Star Burden Novels & Stories

There was a grand exotic beast on the token with some characters on the back. “Nine! “The Nine-Star Supreme Token!”

Two hours later, Celeste opened the door and came out of her room. She was holding a teddy bear, and her eyes were all swollen. The teddy bear was the only gift James had ever given her. Celeste treasured it more than any of her other possessions. "Mom, I don't want this anymore." Celeste held out the bear, pretending to smile as she pushed it into Naomi's hands. "Mr. James only has two chances left." "Okay." Naomi didn't know how to comfort her.

No parent could ever mistake their own child. She knew I had burn marks from when I was young, Jacob had done my ear piercings, and Dad himself had treated my leg injuries. She believed that even if I were reduced to ashes, Dad would still recognize me as his daughter. Dad let out a cold, humorless laugh. "Someone like her doesn't die easily. The worst ones always manage to survive the longest." Ruth furrowed her brows. "But she's been gone for days now. Mr. Eastman said the body has burns on the legs, just like Lina's scars that never healed!"

He was selfish, through and through. The next morning, I stepped out of my room carrying the urn. Mike was still kneeling on the floor. It had only been one night, but he looked like a wreck—his eyes swollen and bloodshot, his hair a tangled mess, his face pale as a ghost. When he saw me, he tried to stand, but his legs had gone numb from kneeling too long. He wobbled, then collapsed back to the ground. His gaze landed on the urn in my arms, and he knew—I was taking my mom to be laid to rest.

His voice, filled with fatigue, spoke softly to himself, “I’ll continue the search tomorrow. There’s still hope. Maybe she’s using those strange machines they call ‘cars.’” He let out a deep sigh, knowing that he had to accept this little setback for now. Understanding that rest was important, he finally allowed himself to find comfort in sleep. As he drifted off, the name of his beloved Luna echoed gently in his dreams, filling his heart with warmth and hope for their reunion. * * *

It’s my responsibility, so if I fail, of course it’s my fault. *** Nathan stood in the back yard clutching his shorts, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. His gaze was glued to me as I walked in the empty plain. As soon as I was a little far from the house he came running towards me while I sat down on the grass under the tree. “Adam…” He hugged me from the side, wrapping his arms around my neck since he couldn't complete the loop around my shoulders, “Adam you’re hurt.” He touched my bleeding ear, “Did the Alpha do this?”

“Of course, I will let you go.” “Really? Oh my God, thank you so much.” “But that will be after ninety days.” “What?” She screamed. “Yes, ninety days.” “What do you mean after ninety days? Are you crazy? You kidnapped me for no reason and you won't let me go till after ninety days?” “You should be lucky I didn't say I will kill you.” “Let me go, this is a great offense and I will report you to the cops, untie me and let me go.”

The old woman's words hung in the air long after she said them. "The Bride of the Ninth Life has returned." Nobody moved. Not Kai, Not Draven, Not even the servant. The whole courtyard had turned to stone around me, and I stood in the middle of it, shaking, with no idea why a stranger kneeling on cold marble made me feel like the ground had opened under my feet. Ninth life?? What did that even mean? I looked at Kai. His jaw was tight enough to crack. I looked at Draven. For the first time since I'd met him, he wasn't smiling.

I felt it in the way they hovered, the way they watched, the way they spoke to me like I might break at any moment. But none of that filled the space inside me. None of it replaced what was gone. “Support doesn’t fix this,” I said quietly. “No,” Sarin agreed. “But it helps you carry it.” I didn’t want to carry it. I wanted— I didn’t know what I wanted. Everything felt too far away. Too heavy. Too impossible. “The ritual is tonight,” he said after a moment. “At moonrise.” I didn’t respond. “I’ll be there,” he added. “If you choose to come.”

“They always say STARS IN THE NIGHT SKY” THE END.