Our Little Star.

That was what her parents called her. A star, her mother wanted to radiate light in a dark world, a star that her father wanted to shine with love. Aaliyah too, had hoped to become that star. 

But those beautiful hopes were just dreams that faded away like smoke. Unfulfilled and smothered without distinction, by the ruthless realities of life. 

That was the lesson given to her at sixteen years old. A cruel lesson taught by Death. It had visited her like a robber, coming quickly to steal her valuables. And in its wake, it left ruin.

It was this ruin that had taken her light. And without her light, the star couldn't shine.

Over time, the star began to fade and was eventually lost to the devouring darkness.

Although long bitter years had passed ever since she last heard her parents' voices, any memory of them was a knife that twisted in her heart.

Yet she welcomed the pain. 

Aaliyah had learned to use it to keep alive the vengeful fire that burned within her.

For the last four years, her scorching vindictiveness has sustained her. It was what led her to become a spy for the Black Crow as she investigated their murder. And it was her thirst for revenge that drove her to commit a crime that night at the annual banquet of Iratheia's most esteemed families.

A crime that was currently not going according to plan. 

"Ack!" she cried out, her arms pinwheeled as she attempted to regain her balance.

I will not fall, I will not fa—

She plummeted to the floor. Her butt smacked hard onto the spotless marble ground, and she gasped at the pain. "Ow!"

Curse you gravit! And curse you, rude stranger!

Her fury-filled eyes searched for the offender who shoved her so rudely—not that she knew a polite way to shove someone.

Her bum throbbed and she clenched her teeth. But even worse than her bruised bottom was that the rude stranger didn’t even apologize—didn’t even spare a glance over his shoulder at her.

Well truthfully, she couldn't exactly tell what the gender of the person was, given their mask and dark cloak.

A very not conspicuous mask and dark cloak.

But given the person’s height, she was going with a man. Though she was being somewhat judgmental. Aaliyah herself was somewhat of a tall wom—

He was getting away! 

She got up gracefully. 

Well, kind of.

Not really. 

She only sort of slipped here and there a few times on her cursed banquet dress, but other than that—

Was he laughing at me?

She could have sworn she saw a slight shaking to his shoulders, and when he looked back at her, she saw something pink poke out of his mouth.

Was that his tongue?

Did he seriously stick out his tongue at her like a five-year-old child?

If she was not furious before, she was now. As any rational woman would, she took her shoes off and with all her strength, she hurled them at the culprit.

A wide grin was on her face, for she knew just how perfect her aim—

She cursed.

The man had caught her shoes before they could hit his inflated head. She glared holes at him.

He was being ungrateful.

She was only being kind. Really, what's cruel in her wanting to help deflate his ego?

Aaliyah gritted her teeth before she began to run, her eyes trained on the man who easily weaved through the crowd. Pumping her arms and legs, her heart raced as she swerved past groups of finely dressed men and women who jumped out of her way.

She narrowly missed crashing into a waiter who was carrying food. The delicious aroma of the freshly cooked steak and creamy mashed potatoes wafted past her nose. She had to restrain herself from grabbing a bite.

Focus.

She picked up her pace. Her blood pumped through her as she gave chase, uncaring of the strange looks she received.

Being an expert at catching criminals, she was going to catch this one. 

I'm going to catch him, I'm going to catch him, I'm going to catch—

"Watch ou—!

Crash!

She was on the floor. With someone sprawled on top of her.

What the—?

Aaliyah frantically tried to push off the person; she had to get back up before the man disappeared. But as she attempted to untangle herself from the young woman, and her mass of fiery red hair, the woman only seemed to get more tangled up with her.

“Stop moving!” she glared at the Redhead. The woman went completely still and she easily slipped out of her limbs.

Her eyes scanned the crowded room full of influential people from across Iratheia.

Where was he?

She began moving when something held her back. She looked over her shoulder in frustration.

What was this woman doing?

Her eyes narrowed at the Redhead. She couldn't help but wonder if the girl was sent by the man to stop her.

“Let go,” she commanded the woman, trying to yank her arm free. But to Aaliyah's surprise, she had a very strong grip for someone so small. 

She turned her attention back to the man. Her eyes frantically examined the spacious banquet room, sweeping over the gathering of people but...he was gone.

The young woman stared at her with determination. “But, did you hear me? You lost something.” 

She rolled her eyes. The girl was the reason she had lost the man and…she looked down at her bare feet, had lost her footwear. 

However, Aaliyah was not being entirely fair to the redhead. She had been the one to throw her shoes. But, how was she to know the man was going to take them? 

Was he some creep who loved stealing women's shoes? 

Well, she couldn't entirely blame him. After all, her flats were comfortable.

But how he was going to fit into them was an entirely different matter.

She hadn’t worn heels. As an already tall woman at five-foot-seven, she didn’t need them. Nor were they practical for what she was planning to do that night while the banquet was going on.

A banquet that was held once a year and wasn’t open to just anyone. It was exclusive to the eight Prestigious Families and the ones they extended invitations to. 

The gathering was a time to make strategic connections, put on a smiling mask, and plot others' downfalls.

The third being what she was there to do.

But the thing was, she was stuck. With seemingly no hope to get out of the thing that imprisoned her. Or more like who trapped her.