Page 39 of The Stars

“Punished? For what? We didn’t even do anything—at least not yet,” he said.

“Maybe that’s the point. Or they’re worried we will,” she suggested.

Amy pulled her gown over her shoulders, tying the sash as she glanced at Dante. He was struggling with his shirt, and the familiar sight of him doing something so ordinary brought a brief flicker of warmth to her chest. But her mind kept spinning. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched and scrutinized. Separated. It wasn’t just paranoia—it was something deeper. The way the villagers had avoided them, the way they were being kept here, isolated, it all felt... intentional.

As Dante finished dressing, he walked to the balcony, his eyes fixed on the sea. Amy followed, leaning against the stone railing next to him. The fresh breeze off the water tickled her skin, but the beauty of the view couldn’t distract her from the weight pressing on her chest.

“So what’s the plan? We just wait here, in this time, until they decide to let us go?” he asked.

Amy wrapped her arms around herself, staring out over the endless horizon. “I don’t think we have a choice. The Fates said this is where we need to be.” She paused, the memory of those cryptic words tugging at her thoughts. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t find answers ourselves.”

Dante’s jaw tightened as he nodded, the frustration evident in the tense set of his shoulders. Amy understood—neither of them was the type to sit back and do nothing. But what were they supposed to do here, in this temple, cut off from the world?

The knock on the door startled her. Amy exchanged a glance with Dante before turning towards the sound. A servant entered, silently holding a tray with bread, fruit, and water. He didn’t speak, didn’t even lift his head to look at them, just bowed slightly and left.

“Well,” Dante muttered, “that answers the food question.”

Amy walked over and grabbed a piece of bread from the tray. “Looks like.”

He let out a dry laugh. “Great. Food and isolation. The perfect combo.”

As they ate, they chatted about everything they could remember about the Fates, Greek myths, and the geography of the area.

The Fates’ words kept replaying in her mind, looping endlessly. The inevitability of Pandora’s awakening, the way they were destined to be here, fulfilling some ancient prophecy—none of it sat well with her.

Once they were done with their meal, Amy’s eyes met his. “Okay, we have to figure out how to change the future.” Amy’s heart raced as the idea took root. “Theo,” she said after a moment, the name sparking a glimmer of hope in the haze of uncertainty.

Dante’s brow furrowed, his deep eyes searching hers. “Who is Theo?”

“The boy who brought me to you, remember?” she said, a small smile forming at the edges of her lips. “He didn’t seem afraid of me, and kids… they tend to see things differently. Maybe he didn’t get the memo to stay away from us.”

Dante’s frown softened as realization dawned. “You think we can find him?”

She nodded, feeling a rush of confidence. “I bet we can. He wasn’t afraid, Dante. He seemed curious, if anything. And maybe, just maybe, he can help us figure out what’s going on here. It’s a long shot, but it’s better than sitting here waiting for the Fates to decide everything.”

Dante ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “Okay, so we get that walk in.”

Amy’s smile widened, and she felt a renewed sense of purpose. The sun was already high in the sky, warming everything around them, but there was plenty of time. They could try. She grabbed her sandals and slipped them on quickly, the urge to move, to do something, propelling her forward.

Dante followed her to the door, and together they stepped out into the midmorning air. It felt different now—less oppressive. The weight of the day still lingered, but with a new goal in mind, the world around them didn’t seem quite as confining.

The narrow streets of the town were quiet, save for the occasional clatter of pottery or distant murmur of conversation. Amy led the way, her eyes scanning for any sign of Theo. She remembered how quickly he’d appeared before, like he had been waiting for her, like he knew something that she didn’t.

Dante walked beside her, his hand brushing against hers as they moved through the village. The buildings blocked out the sunlight, casting long cool shadows. If they could find Theo, if they could get him to talk, maybe they’d finally get the answers they needed.

After a few minutes, Dante broke the silence. “Do you think this kid knows more than he let on?”

Amy shrugged, her eyes still scanning. “Maybe. He brought me to you like he knew exactly where I was supposed to be. That can’t be a coincidence.”

Dante hummed in agreement, his fingers brushing her arm lightly. “Let’s hope we find him, then.”

They finished going through the main part of town and then she had an idea. She turned and they made their way towards the outskirts.

They found Theo just outside of town in a field, tending to his goats. He was perched on a rock, calmly watching over his small herd as they grazed on the patches of grass. As Amy and Dante approached, Theo looked up, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Found you,” Amy said, her smile tugging at her lips.

Theo grinned. “I wasn’t hiding.”