The three crimson moons hung in the sky innocently, playing their part in the grand scheme of the world as though nothing particularly interesting was happening.
Down below, however, Star and McCoy stared at each other without blinking. Sarah and Zuru had already exchanged astounded glances for what felt like the fifth time, while the entire village, stared in high anticipation.
’They should get a room already,’ the Red Queen mused, ’bone to death, ha ha... But seriously, this is hot,’ she drawled lazily.
The uneasiness lingered until finally, McCoy snapped out of it. He said nothing. In fact, to everyone’s utter disbelief, he leaned forward and offered a genuine bow.
"It’s an honor to properly meet you, my lord." An unnoticeable sly smile appeared on his lips. "The High Prince of the Seven Kingdoms, Star Crestfold, son of Ikaris Crestfold IV, the Dragon King."
The moment those words left his lips, a wide gasp erupted from the crowd. Murmurs spread through the entire village like wildfire, except these weren’t the harmless kind of murmurs that came with curiosity. No. These carried panic.
"It can’t really be..."
"If it is him, then he’s the cursed prince," another supplied.
"He’s dangerous."
"He shouldn’t be here."
Even the Red Queen sat up in her seat, looking unusually introspective.
"Star Crestfold... son of Aurelia Crestfold?" The words escaped her mouth like a gasp. "No, this can’t be right."
Sarah’s eyes widened they nearly bulged out of their sockets.
’A prince?’ she thought dryly. ’No... the High Prince of the entire Seven Kingdoms?’ Sweat rolled down her neck. ’He lied to me about everything, everything.’
Zuru was shocked by the whole revelation, but the gratitude of having his ass saved from that stone somehow managed to bulldoze its way through everything else. ’So what if he’s a prince? I mean, he’s rich.’
Star remained in the midst of the rising chaos and panic, his heart hammering loudly against his ribs. Every sentence spoken, every question asked, every answer thrown around in the middle of the crowd, he heard them all. And no matter how differently they were put, they all said the same thing.
’He’s the cursed prince.’
’He’s dangerous.’
’He shouldn’t be here.’
Star looked up at McCoy and saw the sly smile playing on his face. A jolt of anger seared down his spine.
’It was all an act.’ His gaze dropped briefly to his ring before returning to McCoy. ’This is all part of some plan to throw me off balance and bring out the demon inside me, disgrace me, and give them a reason to slay me.’
He scanned the crowd before looking back at McCoy.
’But why? These people haven’t seen me before, and I can swear McCoy hasn’t either, except earlier. So he has to know I’m a demon somehow to have come up with such a...’
He paused. His eyes widening as everything clicked.
His gaze returned to McCoy. ’The only person who could have planned this is...’ His fingers curled into fists.
’Uncle Dante.’
He clenched his teeth they nearly squeaked.
McCoy and the Red Queen had appeared out of nowhere before the cart arrived. The only explanation was Dante. He had most likely used his father’s Portaling Orb to bring them here. Besides, Dante was the only person who wanted him out of the picture so badly, all because of that huge iron throne. And he was one of the few people who knew him well enough to manipulate him.
Star clenched his teeth tighter. ’That treacherous bastard is smart. I’ll give him that.’
He looked back at the crowd. Their voices continued to crash over him, one after another, until they began to overlap inside his head.
’He’s using them to get to me.’ His breathing grew heavier. ’Just like he did at the Citadel after he cursed me and stole my powers.’ He grimaced even further. ’Well I couldn’t be more grateful for this ring.’
His eyes hardened. ’Dante, this time, I’m going to be one step ahead of you.’
Star looked up at the crowd and finally spoke.
"You need to listen to me."
Silence washed over the entire village. Star exhaled slowly before continuing, completely refusing to play into McCoy’s and co little scheme.
"I know this is going to sound insane, but you all need to leave here. Everyone is in danger."
He hesitated, then slowly turned towards Sarah and Zuru. His eyes met Sarah’s, but she immediately looked away. He stared at Zuru next, only for the boy to shake his head. Star closed his eyes briefly before turning back towards the village.
"Something is coming. Something dangerous, and if you don’t—"
"Get out of here, demon!"
The word grazed Star’s ears like a blade.
For a moment, the noise around him disappeared, replaced by that single word echoing inside his head.
’Demon.’
His chest tightened and something seemed to scatter in his head.
"Yes!"
A middle-aged woman raised her voice from within the crowd. "We don’t need you here! You don’t belong among humans!"
Star’s breathing caught.
’No...’ the Red Queen whispered from her seat. For the first time that night, genuine concern flickered across her face.
Sarah, however, laughed. ’Yes, you just got it exactly... Demon’
She seemed to think the word was nothing more than a metaphor.
But Star closed his eyes, gathering himself.
Against all odds, he understood their reaction. He wasn’t sure his would be any different if circumstances were turned. Most importantly, he understood that this exactly, was what Dante was trying to do.
And he refused to let him win.
Star opened his eyes again. "You need to believe me. Your lives are in danger." He exhaled. "A monster is coming. You need to get out of here."
Murmurs immediately spread through the crowd. Some even laughed.
"He’s lying!"
"He’s trying to scare us!"
"Do you really think we’ll believe you, after all we have the Accor—"
BOOM!
The ground shattered.
Everything seemed to slow for a heartbeat.
Several feet away, beneath the very house where Star had been hiding moments earlier, something gigantic ruptured from the earth. The foundation exploded upward as a massive figure tore through the building, sending earth, stone, bricks, and splintered wood flying into the air.
The sight left the entire village frozen.
Then—
"RUN!" Someone finally managed to yell.
Panic erupted instantly. Villagers scattered in every direction, shoving past one another in their desperation. But it was already too late. The debris that had been thrown into the air began raining down and much of it was falling directly towards the crowd.
Star’s eyes widened. His entire body moved before his mind could catch up.
He thrust out a hand. Crimson light burst from his palm and spread through the air in an instant, expanding above the fleeing villagers until it formed a massive, curved shield.
BOOM!
The first chunks of masonry and lumps of earth slammed into it.
The crimson shield strained under the assault.
Star clenched his teeth and dug his feet into the ground, forcing himself to hold it firm. His arm trembled under the pressure, but he refused to lower it.
"Come on! Everybody, run faster!" he shouted, glancing towards the fleeing villagers.
More slammed into the shield, but Star gritted his teeth harder and held on.
But despite the pressure and all, he was still astounded. "My Mattersmithing ability, it’s... Urgh!" He groaned under the pressure. "It’s working."
But the surprise barely had time to settle before something else crashed onto the shield.
Star froze. For several long moment he stared at it.
A dead body lay sprawled across the crimson barrier, its limbs twisted unnaturally from the impact. As though on cue, a severed foot landed beside it.
Star’s face went pale and his stomach turned badly. ’People were in that house.’
His fingers loosened and the crimson shield vanished. Everything resting on it came crashing to the ground.
By now, most of the villagers had fled. Surprisingly, only one person remained standing in the open besides those tied to the stakes.
"McCoy?"
He stared past Star, his usual amusement completely gone.
"What... is that?"
Star slowly turned.
The creature stood amidst the ruins.
It was a monstrous thing unlike anything Star had ever seen. Six thick, muscular legs supported its enormous body, each ending in hooked claws that dug into the earth. Jagged, bony ridges ran along its back, while a long tail dragged behind it, its tip ending in a blade-like edge.
Four blood-red eyes stared from its monstrous head. Beneath them was a perfectly circular black maw lined with rows of jagged teeth. When the creature opened it, the mouth stretched unnaturally wide, revealing a darkness so deep it looked almost bottomless.
The creature raised its head and roared.
As the creature reared back and roared, Star saw the opening and acted immediately. He leaned forward and thrust both hands towards it. Crimson energy wrapped around his arms before racing over his entire body, bathing him in a crimson glow until even his eyes burned red.
Ten crimson spheres suddenly appeared on the ground around the beast, forming a perfect circle.
Star threw his hands up and the spheres began to move.
Crimson matter surged upward from each one, forming thick pillars of glowing energy. The first shot beneath the creature’s jaw, striking it hard enough to throw its massive head backwards. Since the beast was already in rearing position it lost its balance and began to fell backwards. Before it could fell, another pillar erupted behind it and slammed into the back of its skull. Two more rose from either side, catching its limbs, while the remaining pillars burst from the ground one after another.
Within seconds, all ten pillars had risen around the beast, each one slanting inward until they formed a massive crimson cage trapping it within. The creature roared in pain, but the cage held firm.
Star immediately turned towards McCoy.
"Mr. McCoy."
The man didn’t respond.
"Mr. McCoy!"
Still nothing.
The man stood frozen, staring at the beast as though he had forgotten the rest of the world existed.
"MCCOY!" Star shouted, this time, his hand assisting him as it connected a piercing SLAP that drove the man out of his daze.
"Ow!"
His eyes snapped towards star, one hand rising to his cheek.
"What was that for?"
"You need to get everyone to safety," Star said sharply. "Take your villagers to the northern part of the village. Get them to your estate. Now."
For a moment, Mr. McCoy simply looked at the boy standing before him completely astounded.
After everything that had happened, after everything Star had heard from the villagers, he was still trying to save them.
His eyes shifted towards the crimson cage holding the beast, then back to Star.
’And he did that too... Universe!’
Maybe everyone else saw a cursed prince but he saw a boy, with a selfless resolve.
’To hell with Dante and his plans.’ Perhaps, just this once, he could be something other than a selfish man.
Perhaps he could be a hero.
"Okay." McCoy nodded.
Without asking another question, he turned and rushed after the fleeing villagers.
Star watched him go for only a moment before turning back towards the stakes.
His eyes settled on Sarah and Zuru.
Then he slowly walked towards them.