Hello, Falling Stars and Glittering Goddesses!
May I have this dance, my dear? I do hope you have a good sense of rhythm and balance, because…
This week’s Writing Group prompt is:
Celestial Waltz
RULES AND GUIDELINES BELOW!
Make sure you scroll down and read them if you haven’t! You may not be eligible if you don’t!
This prompt may evoke the imagery of the planets spinning in the sky above, surrounded by the myriad of stars glinting from within the depths of space. One could compare this cosmic cycle to a group of people pirouetting.
Or maybe you are more likely to think of a court of gods: a whole pantheon of celestial beings who dance and celebrate with unearthly splendor and plenty, wearing dresses spun of moonlight, and suits woven from dragon’s breath. I am sure any celebration of the gods is worth talking about.
Gods aren’t the only celestial beings. You could have angels attending a ball, spinning around and around to form stars. Perhaps the demons below hear the music, and long to join…but can only burn in the dark. You could even have the righteous spirits of the dead welcoming someone who recently died to paradise with a big dance. Maybe, in the world below, holy believers worship with a large festival by dancing while holding torches to simulate the stars in the heavens.
Perhaps you could tell a story about celebrities; how their reputations reach celestial heights, (whether through good or bad coverage), and many speculate how long their “waltz” in the spotlight will last.
But it doesn’t need to be a metaphor for gods or celebrities. It could just be the story of two lovers dancing under the light of the stars; hand in hand, maybe this simple dance could be all they ever wanted or imagined, and that would be enough.
Whether you go with gods, planets, or ordinary humans, try and think of what makes your waltz ‘celestial’. Also, any sort of dance will do to fulfill the prompt, but bonus points if you can somehow make it clear in your story your dance is a waltz!
As a challenge, pick a waltz from Youtube and try to write your story along with it! If you find one that fits, share the link in general-media, and/or writing-group (the private chat)!
A second potential challenge I have for you is to make your story this week a sequel to your story last week. The moon in a jar certainly fits with the celestial theme, and I could see how some of last week’s stories could be continued with this week’s prompt.
Now, Maestro, tell the orchestra it’s time to raise their instruments! As for you, my dear, put on your dancing shoes. We have a masterpiece to perform, don’t we? Why should the stars and planets have all the fun?
—Paul, Pearce, Felicia, and Kaylie
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Remember, this is part of our weekly Writing Group stream! Submit a little piece following the rules and guidelines below, and there’s a chance your entry will be read live on stream! In addition, we’ll discuss it for a minute and give you some feedback.
Tune into the stream this Saturday at 3:00pm CST to see if you made the cut!
The whole purpose of this is to show off the creativity of the community, while also helping each other to become better writers. Lean into that spirit! Get ready not just to share what you’ve got, but to give back to the other writers here as well.
Rules and Guidelines
We read at least five stories during each stream, two of which come from the public post, and three of which come from the much smaller private post. Submissions are randomly selected by a bot, but likes on your post will improve your chances of selection, so be sure to share your submission on social media!
Text and Formatting
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- Your piece must be between 250-350 words (you can use this website to see your wordcount).
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What to Submit
- Keep submissions “safe-for-work”; be sparing with sexuality, violence, and profanity.
- Try to focus on making your submission a single meaningful moment rather than an entire story.
- Write something brand new; no re-submitting past entries or pieces written for other purposes
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Submission Rules
- One submission per participant.
- Submit your entry in a comment on this post.
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- Be constructive and uplifting. These submissions are not for a professional market, and shouldn’t be treated as such. We do this, first and foremost, for the joy of the craft. Help other writers to feel like their work is valuable, and be considerate and gentle with critique when you offer it. Authors who leave particularly abrasive or disheartening remarks on this post will be disqualified from selection for readings.
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Comments on this post that aren’t submissions will be deleted, except for replies/reviews left on existing submissions.
Head Space
by Jesse Fisher
I could feel the world around me just move, I could read the speed that I was traveling. Yet looking out, everything was too big to judge how far I traveled. I wonder how it will feel to just forgo the protection and just drift in the void of the vastness of space. To be like what was once me, yet not me.
To float out there, to never age, and be in a state of solid and unchanging. A floating history of a life once there now frozen in time. That is if a number of other factors don’t cause some form of dysfunction like being exploded. Maybe just letting a little air out and slowly going out as everything would fit nicely into this world.
Thoughts kept flowing on the beauty around me, the untouch wilds of the universe all beyond my reach.
“Station arrival in ti minus sixty seconds.”
That shook me out of my mindset. Looking out to the station now as it loomed, that started to make me question what my mind was doing. I loved space but not that much, I wished to dance among the stars but not to just be a floating debris.
“Watch your step as the artificial gravity will be down for repair.”
The rest of the pod began to move and secure their items as we got closer to the dock. My head started to pound as if my mind was trying to burst out. I called for the attendant for some medical treatment.
“Dancing Around the Suns”
By Hemming Sebastian Bane
The golden and pearl ballroom glittered in the electric light of the crystal chandeliers. The heels of the gentlemen and women clicked against the whitewashed marble floor as they swirled in lazy circles. Left of the door was a large alcove occupied by chamber musicians halfway through a mid tempo piece. To the right, servants and guests swarmed back and forth from a bar set with hors d’oeuvres and a variety of expensive alcohol.
I hoisted my heavy skirt and tried not to spend much time dwelling on the room layout. The less suspicion I drew, the better. These Frusian balls usually had thirteen dances and I was not getting caught during the first dance. But first I needed to get the sacred prince consort and the sovereign queen in my sights.
I walked towards the wall where the more shy socialites waited and watched the dancers. It wasn’t too long before I saw them: two radiant suns of sapphires, aquamarines, and labradorites in the midst of circling reds, yellows, oranges and whites. They were cheek to cheek, the mighty undine queen nuzzling into her husband’s neck as they danced in the center of the floor.
A fire stirred in my belly. If the rumor was true, I witnessed guiltless bliss. I fought my emotions down. There was no proof yet. And if they were innocent, the Heptadeka forgive me. I hated the Frusian queen with all my heart at that moment.
That’s when a gruff hand slid onto my right shoulder. I turned and looked. A fylgia in all black met my gaze.
“Pardon me, miss,” he said, “I was wondering if you had any room in your dance card for me.”
I did my best to keep my composure, but the “dance card” was throwing me. I tried to stall but he stopped me before I could speak.
“Miss, would you kindly accompany me to the far corner?”
This was bad. The final movement was coming up. I was going to lose sight of the royals!
“Why?”
The fylgia’s face grew hard. “Our queen is an assassination target.”
Dodging Pirates
By MasaCur
“Bogies on our six and seven!” Myrgen called out, as he charged up the ship’s turret. Rydia had already taken evasive actions, flying the scout ship into a hard dive.
Pirates! Not a common occurrence through most of known space, but a Federation Scout ship would be required to map out unexplored regions. Regions where the more nefarious would often hide.
“Seriously, it’s not like we have anything valuable on our ship, though,” Myrgen tried to say, as Rydia banked hard to the right, throwing Myrgen into his restraints. “Why would they come after us?”
“Don’t know, don’t care!” Rydia was a total moron most of the time. However, when it came to navigation and piloting, she was a maestro. With her hands at the controls, she could make a ship dance.
Much like it was doing right now. So much so, that Myrgen was having a hard time trying to lock onto the pirate fighters on their tail. At least they were having just as hard a time aiming up on Myrgen and Rydia.
“There’s a nebula about six stellar units from here. I’m going to go see if I can lose them!” Rydia announced, practically laughing as she weaved the ship through space. “Prepare for a micro-jump!”
“What, no! That’s insane! You’ll kill us!”
Rydia blew a raspberry, then engaged the jump drive. The ship lurched forward, then just as suddenly decelerated back to cruising speeds as Myrgen saw the nebula fill the forward viewport.
Rydia dived in, making the ship drift back and forth, pirouetting before sending them into another dive, followed by a hard climb. The pirates in pursuit also jumped to the edge of the nebula, and flew in with equal abandon.
One of them was not nearly as successful as the others, as his ship got caught in a pocket of a nebula storm, and immediately exploded.
Rydia was still cackling as she swooped further into the nebula, far too fast and elusive to let the pirates catch up.
Bear the Right Stars (It’s Always Sunny in Olympus)
by Alexsander Edwards
“Mommy? What is that in the sky?”
The woman looked up to see the night sky adorned by a myriad of stars, moving around the cosmos as a new constellation slowly took shape.
“I-,” she stuttered. “Is that a donkey riding a unicycle?”
The two kept staring in bafflement as another set of stars moved around to form a message in the skies. ‘Stop this crap right now!’ they said.
“Mommy, are the stars talking to us?”
“I don’t-”
Before the woman could finish her sentence, a different set of stars danced in the sky until they formed their own message: ‘It’s funny, though!’
The initial set of words rearranged themselves in response. ‘We agreed we’d honor her, not mock her, you prick!’
‘Okay, fine,’ the other constellation said as the stars forming the donkey rearranged themselves.
“Mommy, is that-”
“Yes,” the woman sighed, “I think that’s a snail wielding a bow…”
‘How dare you!’ a set of stars said.
‘Come on, have a laugh!’
‘You motherf-’
The woman covered the child’s eyes before the message could finish.
“What did they say, mommy?”
“They said ‘you mother-lover’, Georgios.”
“But I thought I saw an F-”
“They. Said. Mother. Lover,” she hastily replied, holding her medallion of Artemis as the animal constellation above formed into the shape of a bear
‘Okay, that’s at least acceptable,’ one of the constellations said.
As the heavens quieted down and the messages dissipated into the regular night sky, the mother took her hand off the child’s face, who looked in awe at the starry bear.
Until a top hat suddenly appeared on its head.
‘Oh, you cu-’
“What did they say?” the child asked, its eyes once again covered.
“Callisto! THEY SAID CALLISTO!”
Misplaced Debris (The Will)
By Skeleton
It had annihilated three of Orlunae’s elite guard—nay, the figure had toyed with them until their mechanical, perfect nature failed them. Nobody could stand against her brother, she knew that firsthand. And yet the way it moved—the way it danced around them as if it was nothing more than some game… her brother was never that playful.
The Woman in White protected the unconscious body of the Sufferer’s protégé, watching the figure contort and stretch the body that had been meant for him. Looking up to the sky, the unknown variable recoiled in disgust. “What the fuck is that?!” it lamented, motioning towards Orlunae’s relatively new orbiting satellite. “Is that sediment from the bottom of the ocean?! MY ocean?!”
“It’s debris from a inviolium bomb,” the Woman in White said, standing now and stepping over the body of the dragoness. “With a liveable, gooey core of all the core essences of our disobedient creations.”
“It’s called a rhetorical question, sis,” the unknown said with a flamboyant twirl of his black clothes. “What I really want to know is how our little, conniving Orlunae thought it was a good idea to disregard my direct orders: no new celestial bodies! How hard is that?!”
The Woman in White stopped, hesitating in her assumptions. “…you are not my brother,” she reasoned. “He was never so—”
“Lively? Emotional?” The man smiled deviously—playfully, swaying his shoulders from side to side as he approached. The curved blade in his hands broke in two, liquidating into something like ink and forming into her brother’s favorite weapons: high-velocity lead launchers. “Well… he never liked me anyways, so he cut me loose and threw me into the queue. You know how it is with him.”
At the sight of his endearing, awaiting smile as he pointed both of his guns at her, the Woman in White, couldn’t help but smile in nostalgia as she readied her own. “I certainly know how it was, and you won’t be winning again. You’re only a fraction of your original power!”
“Oh sweetheart… a fraction of infinity is still infinity. Now… Let’s dance!”
Ice Waltz Memoria (Amelia)
by Lee Strangely
Even though the cave shielded little Dumas from the elements, it was still just as cold, if not colder than it was out there. The harsh frigid air burned his lungs. It was a mistake to have wandered this far, but by now the weather made any return all but impossible. Yes, the cave provided shelter, but honestly, it wasn’t entirely what drew him there…
It was faint; the clinking, and tinging, like the sound of glasses touching and rubbing up against one another. It echoed through the icy cave, and grew more prevalent the further in he went.
As close as he was getting to the noise, he immediately froze when movement crossed the edge of his vision. Just around the corner, it looked like the cave ceiling opened up. Some sunlight slipped through, but the large snowdrifts and ice sheets above kept nearly everything else out. In the light he could see them glistening, two little objects.
Clink, tink, tink.
They looked sort of like, little glass people.
Clink, tink, tink.
Step by step, they slowly spun themselves in an embrace along the frozen floor. Leaning out a little further he was startled to see a woman laying against the wall, relatively close to him. Thankfully, she wasn’t facing him, but to the ice figures.
Seemingly by the wave of her hand, the light began to dim. Dumas looked up and was astonished as the ice over him began to thicken. The slivers of sunlight gradually shrank into smaller dots. Looking back at the figures, they continued to dance under faux starlight.
Dumas jumped and nearly fled when the woman suddenly turned her head, but thankfully still didn’t see him. A layer of frost surrounded her watering eyes. As another tear prepared to trickle down, she immediately wiped it away, casting it into the air. The teardrop froze instantly, before shattering like glass upon hitting the ground.
He gasped.
The figures stopped.
Night Terrors, part 2
By vellichorian
“Hey! Are you OK?”
The woman’s voice sounded far away, but her insistent tapping on Randy’s cheek felt much closer, bringing him back to consciousness.
“Smoff blub!” Randy said, swatting her hand away from his face. He’d meant to say, “Stop that!”
“Come on. Wake up!” she insisted, shaking his shoulder. “Please?” Her voice cracked on the last word.
Randy’s eyes fluttered open. The face hovering above him was pretty, but the woman’s mascara had run, and her lipstick was smeared. Her short dress looked like a disco ball, and Randy put a hand over his eyes to shield them from the glare.
“Who are you?” he mumbled.
“Shauna. With a ‘U,’” she answered. “Who are you?”
“Randy,” he answered. Because he felt like his name wasn’t enough, he added, “with a ‘Y.’”
“Do you know where we are? The last thing I remember is leaving the club. I but I didn’t have that much to drink…” she trailed off, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.
Randy felt the grass with his hand and looked up toward the moon. No. Not the moon, he reminded himself. A spotlight. He remembered the giant eye and shuddered. “The last thing I remember was leaving work…” he pointed at the KFC logo on his shirt.
“Are we safe? I heard you scream.”
“I don’t know. It just… lifted me up. Right out of the parking lot.”
“What?”
“The eye.”
“The what?”
A speaker crackled nearby. The sound of an acoustic guitar played, followed by Andy Williams’s voice, “Moon river, wider than a mile…” Before Randy could respond, the eye reappeared next to the glass wall surrounding the little park where they sat.
Shauna screamed and dove behind Randy. Next to the eye, a purplish tentacle tapped the glass. It made a swirling motion in the air.
“What is it? What does it want?” Shauna whispered.
Randy shook his head.
The tentacle repeated its motions. The music continued playing.
“I think… I think it wants us to dance,” Randy answered.
Penitent Monsters (The Ballad of the Monsters: Savion)
By i-prefer-the-term-antihero (Kaylie Hatch)
The wood creaked as I leaned back. “So…do I have to start confessing right away?”
A pause. “This IS a confession booth.”
“Yeah, but.” I shifted uncomfortably. “Can we talk first?”
“The pews are perfectly good for that, you know.”
“I’m…comfy.”
I wasn’t. But at least he couldn’t see my face.
“What are your questions, my child?”
I shifted more uncomfortably. “Oh no, we’re not there yet.” I wrung my hands. “If God is real…are we all just pawns on a cosmic chessboard? Is my life a joke to Him?”
“No. You are precious in His sight. He cares for you as His child.”
A laugh barked out of me. “You don’t know me. I’m something of a monster.”
“I know you’re here. Surely that counts for something.”
Sure. Mainly the guilt trudging through my veins.
I could still feel the blood on my hands.
“I sacrificed…everything, to be what others wanted me to be.” I traced my palm. “But it made my life hell.”
“Why did you do it?”
“Because they need it. Supposedly I need it too.”
“Sacrificing to help others pleases God.”
“So my desires, my happiness, don’t matter?”
“If you chose this, you must’ve desired helping others more than what you gave up.”
I covered my mouth. “You’re wrong,” I whispered. “What’s become of me…it’s the perfect punishment.”
“God didn’t plan your pain to punish you.”
“Well He doesn’t seem to care that I’m fucking miserable all the time!”
A pause.
“…I confess I swore at a priest.”
He laughed. “He cares. More than you know. I have a better image for you; think of it more as a celestial waltz. God is love. He can be love because He is three. Before time, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit danced together. A dance of knowing and being known. Loving and being loved. God wants us to join in this dance.”
I thought of the dance Thomas Verian invited me to.
I could still feel the blood on my hands.
“I don’t think He’d want me there.”
“He wants everyone there.”
“Even sinners?”
“Especially sinners.”
Starlight Songbirds
by Dagmar Makara (dystop)
Fate had long ordained this orchestral incandescence in the deep, deep twilight.
The scientists below clinically remarked that E208 would collapse into the supermassive black-hole. But in the unfathomable dark, 62 miles high, the universe itself played ethereal violins and cellos in a symphony of love and fate. This wasn’t clinical; instead, it was the final resplendent waltz of two starlight songbirds.
The universe wished it could tell those below that this was not a sad occasion, but knew its place, and not to interfere.
The nebulas and galaxies of E208 swirled playfully around the black-hole, back and forth like so many dancing humans below. The nearby starlights gathered and watched, and with them sounded out their own bright charms and melodies. They too would one day perform the transformation-waltz.
Some took pity on the humans who believed they were watching loss, rather than a beautiful and amorous entanglement. The two would become one. They would all become one in the end. The fantastical knot of the celestial waltz- all is starlight, and all starlight is one. The universe was a canvas that swirled like tidal watercolours on an artist’s page.
As cosmic crescendos go, this one was magnificent.
The two swayed gracefully in front of their audience of red and white dwarves. Blazing blue stars joined the gathering crowd, shimmering the couple like diamonds; their glittering sparks dancing around.
The violins marched dutifully- from dulcet, mellifluous tones, honeyed symphonies, and finally– the grand conclusion. Surrounded by friends known for eons, their eyes lit up with excitement only a true celestial could comprehend. Fate was a long time in the making– but destiny is destiny, and the two always knew that.
“Those last few notes were played… perfectly”.
Suddenly, a blinding flash in the sky as E208 disappeared from the night.
“Time of extinction, 22:36”, said the lead Cosmologist. “Record it and get some sleep”.
But somewhere beyond the event horizon, those starlight songbirds had finally become one.
E208 petitioned the Universe; “Please, tell them– this is love, not loss”.
“We don’t interfere, you know that”, replied the Universe.
A Glimpse into Dreams
by Gerrit (Rattus)
Raela sped through the asteroid belt, weaving between the boulders with a measured recklessness. Chunks of rock—the largest wide enough to safely land on—whizzed by in blurs as she shot through the expanse.
“How’s it feel?” Calras’s voice sounded directly in her ear as he kept watch from the safety of the Control Centre.
“It’s everything I’ve dreamed of.” Ever since she was little, Raela had thought of soaring through space. Many restless nights had been spent staring up at the stars, envisioning herself zipping between them.
As she turned around a larger asteroid, she was met with a smaller stone whizzing directly at her. Instinct took over, her hands gripping the steering and tilting it hard to the side. Her shoulder pressed against the side of her seat as the craft rotated sideways, missing the oncoming debris by a hair’s breadth.
“Is everything alright, Raela?” The concern in Calras’s voice was mild, but noticeable.
“I’m fine. Caught off guard, that’s all.” Raela returned the craft to its previous position, taking a moment to adjust herself back into her seat.
“Quick thinking, I’m impressed. System’s reporting no damage to the ship. Still, I’d rather you not do that again.”
“Believe me, I’m not in a hurry to repeat it.” Raela’s heartbeat was still working to return to normal. Her first flight, and she already came so close to ruining her ship. What a story that would have made.
After a few minutes of silence, she once more heard Calras speaking through the commlink. “Control wants you back. Reverse your course and head back to base, Raela.”
Raela sighed. A part of her wanted to argue, to fight for a few more minutes. Then she remembered how many strings her and Calras had to pull to be approved for this joyride, and decided being difficult might not be the best course of action.
With a final look at the stars spread out before her, her dreams twinkling in the surrounding void, Raela pulled her ship up out of the asteroid belt and set her course for home.
Dance of Eternity
by VulpesRose
The Dance continued as it had for eons. The twelve took their places, two dancers at a time, the pattern predetermined and immutable. It was said that their very dance held up the dome of the sky.
Scorpio twirled on the dance floor, her blue gown spinning with steps memorized by endless repetition. Her partner, Libra, held her securely, but as always, it wasn’t enough.
As their sequence came to its close, he handed her off to Sagittarius. Sagittarius’s steps were more playful, their dance a bit more fun than the measured one she shared with Libra, but there was still something missing. Something Scorpio longed for more and more with each repetition of the Dance.
Soon, she would hand Sagittarius off to Capricorn, stunning in her green dress, and Scorpio would feel the pull, as she so often did, to take Capricorn’s proffered hand herself.
It began with secretive glimpses in Capricorn’s direction during other dancer’s turns. But once, Scorpio had risked a glance and been met with the intense gaze of Capricorn herself. Capricorn’s eyes had reflected a stunning curiosity and interest that mirrored her own.
The Dance had continued. They remained in their places, but Scorpio and Capricorn spoke with little smiles and soulful looks, more than words could ever convey between them.
And now, it was time again. Time to release Sagittarius into Capricorn’s care.
Scorpio was tired of waiting, was tired of losing time, was tired of being unsatisfied with the endless repetitions they were asked to endure. It was time for change.
She stepped in front of Sagittarius and held out her own hand to Capricorn. Muffled gasps sounded from around the room. But Capricorn grinned almost devilishly and grasped Scorpio’s hand in hers.
The two spun on the dancefloor, a new dance, an impromptu creation the likes of which hadn’t been seen for close to an eternity. They smiled, and the passion that filled Scorpio as she held her partner filled her very soul with light.
The dome above them began to crack, and through the cracks, the stars themselves began to shine.
A Moonlit Dance Lesson (Students of the DiamondBridge Academy universe)
by Carrie (Glaceon373)
“You don’t know how to dance?” Roselyn asked.
“No?” Sam answered. “My oldest of my youngest sisters does ballet, but I never did—”
“Not ballet. ACTUAL dancing. You can’t waltz, tango, swing, any of that?”
“… No.”
“Really?”
“Not all of us grew up in a mansion, Roselyn.”
“Oh. I suppose you make a valid point.”
“Yeah.” Sam paused. “Isn’t waltzing, like, really difficult?”
“Well, no. It’s actually quite simple. Here, stand here…”
Roselyn positioned Sam parallel to herself, then directed the other girl’s eyes to the floor.
“The waltz is a three-step, but it’s more of a six because there’s two sets of three.”
“Uh, okay…” Sam was already lost.
“Now copy my motions. Backwards, left, close.” Roselyn demonstrated the motion in four-inch heels that thudded on the carpeted floor.
“Backwards, l-left, close?” Sam’s sneakers copied Roselyn’s movements.
“Yes, exactly. Now forwards, right, close.”
“Forwards, right?”
“You moved the wrong foot first and now you’ve crossed your feet. Try again.”
Sam reset her shoes. “F-forward, right, close.”
“There you go. Now do the whole box again.”
“Backwards, right, close, forward, left, close?”
“Excellent! See? Waltzes aren’t difficult at all.”
“If you say so…”
“Now,” Roselyn squared up in front of Sam. “Try it with me.”
“Wait, already?”
“Because I’m taller in these heels than you and also because you don’t know what you’re doing, I’ll lead. Put your left hand on my shoulder.”
“A-are you sure?”
“Yes. That’s why I asked you to do it.”
“No, are you sure that you’re taller than me?”
Roselyn blinked, then looked her up and down. “Sam.”
“What?”
“You’re floating again.”
Sam looked down. A beam of moonlight crossed across the carpet underneath Sam’s hovering sneakers.
“Not again!”
Roselyn burst out laughing as Sam struggled to get back on the ground, flailing in the air like a cat in water.
“I’ll have to teach you in the daytime, then,” Roselyn said between giggles.
“Can you please help me get down?!”
Earth Angel, Earth Angel, Will You Be Mine (Overly Familiar AU)
By Marx
Proms were supposed to be magical. And tonight was perfect. But then Laila got up to leave. Matt didn’t know what came over him. His body started moving and then they were kissing.
Laila was always the one. She was the girl who made him realize he liked girls. She was the one who was always there for him. And in that moment, he wanted her more than anything in this world.
So when she shrieked and fled to the other side of the couch, he was confused.
“I’m sorry!” Laila gasped, “It’s just that you almost-”
“No, it’s my fault.” Matt admitted dejectedly. “I shouldn’t have kissed you like that… You’re just so… pretty and I didn’t want the night to end and-”
Laila took his hands into hers. “No! That was amazing! The kissing isn’t the problem. Well… it is, but-… Oh, the hell with it…”
Laila stood up in the middle of the living room as her magnificent, glowing wings suddenly appeared. “See?”
Matt blanked a moment before responding, “Yeah… that adds up.”
“Wait… what?”
Matt smiled back warmly. “You’re always gorgeous, but tonight, in all that… romantic atmosphere under the disco ball, it was like… we were spinning around in space and… no one existed but us. I already thought you were perfect. Why would I be surprised you’re an actual angel?”
Laila smiled back. “That’s… so sweet. And cheesy.”
Matt chuckled again. “It’s what I do. Wait… is this why you won’t date me?”
“YES!” She shouted, the relief clear in her voice. “I shouldn’t even be kissing you!”
Matt looked up thoughtfully. “That kiss… It kinda felt like-”
“You almost made me into your familiar,” Laila interrupted, her tone growing more serious. “Which should be impossible, by the way. Angels can’t be familiars. Oh. Right. You’re not human either. You’re half demon/half angel.”
“…I’m sorry, WHAT?!”
Laila gave him a look. “Come on, Matt. Humans don’t heal animals just by being near them.”
Matt threw up his hands in exasperation. “You said I was just gifted!”
“Yeah… I said a lot of things…”
To Dance is to Trust (A Song for: Kit)
By Lunabear (Edit help from Skeleton Prime)
The ballroom’s orchestra was the first thing to capture Kit’s attention. Its sweeping strings and deep horns left her swaying.
The chandelier’s lights pulsated blue, muted white, and indigo. Intermittent streaks of gold shot across the indoor sky.
Tables were draped in dusky purple and sparkling stardust. Many of the guests sat, their faces half shadowed due to shimmering candles.
Kit gasped at the elegantly dressed couples waltzing high in the air.
Her fangs shone as she smiled wide. Tonight’s theme, Falling Stars, was exceeding all expectations.
Someone bumped into her. Turning, the angry words stuck in her throat.
A boy bowed. His skin was midnight and tattoos crawled up his neck. The scent of his blood screamed divinity. He. Was. Breathtaking.
“Apologies.” He offered his hand. “I’m Sharine. I haven’t seen you before.”
Kit accepted his hand, stuttering her name when he kissed her skin. “I-I was here last night.”
He repeated her name, seeming to savor its sound. “Beautiful. Would you like to dance?”
Sharine’s light squeeze sent magma up her arm.
Entranced, she found herself nodding and was whisked into a whirlwind. They spun and swirled, as though gliding on air.
His heat intoxicated her. Soon, she was lost to the magic. Kit rested her head against his collarbone. “It feels like we’re floating.” Her voice was dreamy.
Sharine chuckled in her ear. “Look down.”
She acquiesced and saw other guests moving beneath them. Kit squeaked, “How??”
He lifted her face. His eyes glowed with an iridescent teal light.
“You’re…Fae?”
“Mmm. And you are vampire. I knew from your scent.”
“Wow. Can your blood truly allow my kind to feel the sun?”
Mischief curled his lips upward. “Would you like to find out?”
Kit thought for a moment, curiosity edging out caution. “Yes, actually.”
Sharine dipped her, laughing at her sudden yelp. “Good. Find me before dawn.”
Kit held fast to him.
Their feet met the ground, and she felt lightheaded.
His mouth touched her knuckles once more. “I hope to see you again soon.” Sharine strolled away, his gait regal.
Overwhelmed, Kit slumped into an empty seat.