Chapter 4: The Departure
"Who is it, Mom?" Starlight called anxiously from the living room.
Before Clara could answer, the woman stepped past her without waiting for an invitation.
Startled, Clara quickly shut the door behind her to keep the reporters outside.
The woman strode into the living room as though she owned the place.
Starlight’s world spun. The room suddenly felt too small. No. No, no, no. This isn’t real.
How are they already here?
"Congratulations, Starlight Dawson!" the woman announced with a dazzling smile. "You are one of the selected candidates for this year’s Lunar Mating."
She placed a hand against her chest and gave a graceful bow.
"My name is Vanessa Hartwell. You may address me as Miss Hartwell. I’ve been sent to escort you to Asterion Academy, where your life as an official lottery mate candidate will begin." Her smile widened.
Starlight’s world spun. The room suddenly felt too small. This isn’t real. This isn’t real.
She repeated the words in her head as though saying them enough times might somehow make the whole situation feel less real.
How were they already here? She hadn’t even had time to process what was happening, and they had already come for her.
"Miss Hartwell, is there any possibility of reversing the selection if I said I had no idea my name was being submitted?" Starlight asked weakly.
Vanessa’s smile faltered.
Humans usually cried tears of joy when they were selected. Why did this one look like she was being led to her execution?
"Well, I’m afraid not," she replied, that impossibly bright smile returning to her face. "Once a name has been chosen, the selection becomes final. The Moon Goddess’s will cannot be overturned."
The Moon Goddess’s will cannot be overturned, my foot.
Starlight literally wanted to roll her eyes so hard they might get stuck in the back of her head, but instead she simply said, "I see."
Vanessa nodded enthusiastically. "I know this is overwhelming, but I promise you’ll adjust quickly. Most candidates are nervous at first."
Starlight was certainly feeling a lot of things, but nervous was not one of them.
"Transportation is already waiting outside," Vanessa continued. "You’ll be given time to gather your personal belongings before departure. The Academy has prepared accommodations for all selected candidates."
"Departure?" Clara repeated, her voice rising. "You mean she’s leaving today? Surely she can stay for a few more days. We haven’t even—"
"I’m afraid we can’t wait, Madam," Vanessa replied, her smile never wavering. "Lottery winners are transported to Asterion Academy as soon as possible after selection. It has always been the procedure."
"You don’t understand. Her father—"
"Ma’am," Vanessa interrupted politely, though there was a firmness beneath her pleasant tone. "This is standard protocol. We’re not changing it for anybody. Miss Dawson, you’ll need to gather whatever you wish to bring. Pack light. Everything you’ll need will be provided by the Empire."
Starlight felt her stomach twist into knots. The reality of the situation was settling over her with a suffocating weight. This wasn’t something she could escape. They were really taking her away from her family.
Aiden suddenly stepped forward, his earlier excitement rapidly fading now that he understood what winning actually meant.
"Don’t take her away, please," he said, tears finally spilling over his cheeks as he grabbed for Starlight’s hand.
Even Angel began fussing in Clara’s arms, disturbed by the tension filling the room.
"Time is ticking, Miss Dawson," Vanessa reminded her, her smile growing slightly strained. She was clearly beginning to lose patience.
Starlight looked from her mother to Aiden and then to Angel.
"I’m sorry, Star," Aiden whispered, his voice cracking. "I didn’t know they’d take you away right now."
"I know, buddy. It’s okay," she lied softly.
She bent down and kissed the top of his head before pulling back to look him in the eyes. "Take care of Mom and Angel for me, alright? Be the man of the house."
"Two minutes, Miss Dawson," Vanessa announced.
Starlight hurried into her bedroom and returned a short while later with a small backpack slung over one shoulder.
The moment she stepped back into the living room, Clara reached for her and pulled her into a fierce, desperate embrace, careful not to drop Angel as she wrapped both daughters in her arms. Starlight buried her face against her mother’s neck, inhaling the familiar scent of home. Aiden threw himself into the hug as well, wrapping his arms tightly around his sister’s waist. Starlight immediately pulled him closer, holding him tightly.
"Everything will be alright," Clara whispered softly. "When your father returns, we’ll figure something out. Just hang in there until then."
Starlight swallowed. She didn’t know why her mother was bringing up her father now. What exactly was he supposed to do? Storm the Academy and drag her back home? The man was barely part of their lives.
He would appear every few months, stay briefly, then disappear again. According to Clara, he was always away on business trips or handling important work elsewhere. Starlight had stopped believing those excuses years ago. it was her mother’s life, and if she wanted to keep making excuses for the man, that was her choice.
"Time’s up," Vanessa said. "We need to leave now."
Starlight slowly pulled away from her family. Clara squeezed her hands one last time.
"Hang in there, okay?" she repeated.
Starlight nodded, unable to trust her voice. She turned and followed Vanessa toward the door.
"Sister Star!"
Aiden suddenly broke free and rushed after her, tears streaming down his face. He reached for her just as Clara hurried after him and caught him by the shoulders, pulling him back while trying not to lose her hold on Angel despite how fiercely Aiden struggled.
"Let me go!" he cried, kicking and twisting in her grasp. "I want to go with Big Sis! Don’t take her away! Sister Star!"
Every desperate sob struck Starlight like a knife. Her chest tightened until it hurt to breathe, and every instinct screamed at her to turn around, and hold him one last time.
But she didn’t.
She knew that if she so much as looked back, there was a very real possibility she would never find the strength to keep walking. So she clenched her trembling fists and forced herself to put one foot in front of the other.
The moment she stepped outside, however, the sight before her brought her to an abrupt halt.
"Oh, shit," she muttered under her breath.