Chapter 3: Into the City's Shadows
The streets were alive with pulsating activity, as Luna merged herself into the madness of city life. Cars passed, casting momentary lights over the sharp curves of her face. Under the neon signs, her auburn hair glowed like molten fire, and her emerald eyes darted around the vicinity, likely scanning for a lead. The thief was somewhere in this stolen piece of her emerald stone, and every tick of the clock felt like a crawl farther away from home.
Her fingers brushed absently against the remaining shard nestled against her chest, its faint pulse a reminder of dwindling energies within. It is a lifeline to Zarythia and she would not lose hope over it.
Luna recalled all that had happened after arriving on Earth. Dazed, drained, most vulnerable, this was no state for a warrior-princess. The thief's quick strike and disappearing act remained written in her memory but heightened senses had given her something to work with: a tongue-tingling but distinctly acrid smell.
It isn't much, but it is enough to follow. Earthlings were really smart in their own way, but not ready for what she had learned on Zarythia, how to track her prey across torturous ground, even here, surrounded by the overwhelming noise and scents of the city.
It was a walk through an underpass dimly lit, with graffiti walls flanking her on both sides. Shadows loomed ominously, and the air carried chilliness that sent shivers down her spine. Still, she walked on, unafraid.
She heard a low whistle behind her. Suddenly, she spun around, spotting a bunch of men leaning against the wall. Their eyes roved over her with that mix of curiosity and malice.
"Well, well," one of them drawled, coming forward. "What's a pretty thing like you doing here all alone?"
Not breaking stride, her gaze as cold and unyielding as ice, Luna said, "Leave me alone," the authority in her voice making it all the strictest orders.
The man chuckled; he blocked Luna's path. "Feisty," he said. "Yeah, I like that."
She sighed as her patience wore extremely thin. "You don't want to do this."
"Sweetheart, I think we do."
Before he knew what was happening, Luna had moved. Her hand grasped his wrist with inhuman strength and twisted it to make him cry out in pain and drop the crude weapon drawn from him. She shoved him aside, and his eyes flashed with an almost uncontrolled fury.
The others froze up, their bravado crumbling as they watched their leader disintegrate.
"Leave. Now."
They scattered without hesitation, like frightened prey. Luna adjusted her skirt, and boldly continued on her way, her heart racing. Such was time being on her, and she could not afford distractions like this.
It led her to an impoverished apartment complex up in the outskirts of the city. There were cracked windows that squalid place bore the faintest odor of mildew. Luna inched toward the entrance, instinct already spiraling her senses: Here lurked danger.
She stepped in, the creaking floorboards revealing her every movement. The scent continued to grow stronger, guiding her toward the second floor. Her emerald eyes glinted in the dim light when she approached a door at the end of the hallway.
A muffled voice came from within.
Luna pressed against the door, listening closely for what was being said.
"I'm telling you, man," an excited voice carried through the door, "it's worth a fortune! Look at this thing—green as a damn jewel. Some rich collector would pay through the nose for it."
Tightening her jaw, they were talking about the stolen fragment.
With no hesitation, she kicked along the door, which hardly opened. The force made her crash against the wall. On the inside of the room then were two men, looking shocked at her entrance. One holds the emerald fragment in his hand.
"What the—," one of them started, but Luna silenced him with a glare.
"That belongs to me," her voice low and deadly.
The man with the fragment laughed nervously. "Finders keepers, lady. You want it, you'll have t—"
He didn't finish speaking. Luna lunged, her movements a blur. She snatched the fragment from his hand, ignoring his protest.
A pipe was swung toward her by the other man, but she thrust herself aside, reflexes much more superior than those of the two. He twisted the arm of the man, forcing him to release his weapon.
"Lesson two," she said, her tone cold. "Never touch what doesn't belong to you."
Piece in hand, Luna turned and walked out with a racing heart.
Outside, she was leaning against the wall with shallow breathing. The stone pulsed weakly against her hand, but its energy signature felt too wrong—damaged, incomplete.
Pressing it to the shard that lay on her chest, she held her breath for a reaction. A pale glow appeared at the point where the pieces touched--then fizzled out almost immediately.
Cursing under her breath, Luna thought she needed the other piece to be able to reactivate the stone's total power.
Then footsteps came, interrupting her thoughts. She looked up at the familiar figure who walked toward him. Sargent Ethan Cole, the young army officer she had met at the hospital.
"What are you doing here?" he inquired, his tone sharp but tinged with curiosity.
The fragment was shoved into her pocket while Luna threw her back straight. "Just taking care of some business," she answered smoothly.
Ethan focused his blue eyes on her, suspicion flickering across his face. "You're not exactly blending in."
Luna smirked, her confidence slowly returning. "I wasn't trying to."
Ethan crossed his arms and had no intention of believing her. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Her heart dropped at the mention, but she did not let it show. "And how did you find that out?"
"The way you move, the way you talk-it's... different."
Luna stepped closer, emerald eyes locked with his. "Maybe I like being different."
Ethan might have buckled under the force of her gaze, but he would not back down. "You're hiding something," he said quietly.
"And if I am?"
Between them stood an electric tension, neither willing to yield.
Luna knew she couldn't trust him, not really. But Ethan was persistent, and his involvement might complicate her mission. For now, she needed to stay one step ahead.
"Thanks for your concerns, Sergeant," she said lightly but dismissively. "I can handle myself."
Ethan frowned, clearly unhappy with his response, but before he could answer, Luna slipped away into the night with her mind racing.
The stolen fragment was once again hers, but this journey was far from over. There remained one last piece scattered somewhere, and with Ethan now doing his watch, things were going to get even more complicated.