The Star Caster Read Online Free

know why I don’t have any friends. My thoughts turn back to my classes; I didn’t talk to the other students. I studied alone. My time wasn’t spent in the library or coffee shops with study groups. I preferred to study by myself. “To be honest, I don’t know,” I say more to myself than Sterren. “I guess I never felt like I needed someone.”
    Sterren nods. He looks like he is about to say something to me but turns his head as the familiar sound of footsteps on gravel reaches us. He stands quickly and pulls his blanket off the cold ground, looking toward the source of the noise the entire time. His blanket is now tossed over his shoulder. His hands are held in fists at his sides, and he looks like he is deciding on his next move. Sterren looks toward me for a moment, nods in confirmation, and walks past my cage to the left and into the darker corners, past the extent of my vision.
    I turn my head from Sterren’ s general direction, knowing that I must keep his position a secret. This new person isn’t talking and it’s hard to trace his location. I don’t want him to be watching me without my knowing. That would be creepy and unfortunate. And even though I don’t fully trust Sterren, he’s all that I have right now. I sigh and lay my head down on top of my crossed arms. The sound of the dripping water makes its way back to my ears, and I count how many drops there are until I see a figure step into the light. He’s wearing dark shoes, along with a dark, hooded cape, and his eyes are hidden. I counted up to twenty.
    The person before me is much shorter than Sterren, with pale skin and a wide frame. His face is defined; a strong jaw and large nose protrude from the shade of his hood, making me think of some sort of wizard. His thin lips are a pale pink, almost tan or light brown. His hands are almost translucent, and I shiver, afraid of what he wants. “What is your age?” he asks.
    I stare at this man, and recognize his voice instantly. He is the man that was supposed to have all the answers; the second man in the conversation that I heard earlier. What was he doing asking me questions? Was he having trouble providing answers? I look at the ground and think about how I will answer. Should I just give him the answer?
    Tell him .
    “I’m eighteen,” I utter automatically.
    The man’s thin lips c url into an ugly smile. “When did you turn eighteen?” he asks. His hands are clasped in front of him.
    What the heck was that? I didn’t mean to just give him the answer. That was just plain stupid to me. Why would I do that? I needed some sort of leverage. I didn’t need to give him everything he needed.
    Just tell him.
    “Today,” I state.
    “At what time?” he pushes.
    “I don’t know,” I stammer, growing nervous. “My mother never told me when I was born. She never found it important,” I claim.
    The man nods.
    “Please. Please tell me when I can leave this cage. I’m growing tired and can’t fall asleep because of it. Can you please take me from here?”
    Those pale lips curl back up into a smile, and I realize that I’ve said too much. That was stupid of me, but I couldn’t help but continue with the truth. Why?
    The man just shakes his head; his smile remains while he does this, and I feel a deep fear fill my veins. Who is this man and what is he doing to me? “There is one more question that I have before I depart,” he states. “Who else has come to see you? Has anyone come?”
    Tell him.
    No! I think. I bite my tongue as it tries to form Sterren’s name and push my lips closed so that I cannot betray him. Every muscle in my jaw continues pushing me, but I hold myself together, knowing that I am stronger than this man is. I sit in silence for about thirty seconds, agonizing silence, and then the throbbing ache leaves me. “No one has come to see me,” I claim. “Only you and your leader,” I state.
    The man says no thing; he turns away and leaves; his shoes scrape against the