Episode 25
Welcome to the cereal serial version of Octave of Stars! Episodes will release every Monday and Thursday. If you’re finding this story for the first time, be sure to start at Episode 01 for maximum comprehension, or check out The Index for all available Episodes.
I highly recommend you read this on the Substack website or app, as this serial is a multimedia experience. You’ll find many audio embeds below that score the story, and they won’t function as intended in your email client. Only one track can be playing at a time, so when you reach the next one just start it and they won’t overlap. If you like the music you hear, please consider supporting the artists as well.
Octave of Stars Official Theme Song:
Cityfires came out with this little gem recently, and since so much of the rest of the story is already scored by 30XX, this fits in perfectly as the official theme. Enjoy!
(Turn down the volume a little to make it sound like it’s far away, if you want)
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The balcony and patio were the same, a large paved and fenced area overlooking the hill on which the hotel had been built. Strings of lights overhead lit up the rows of metal benches, where people sat and smoked and engaged in quiet conversation. Gayle had found a bench furthest from the entrance and slumped forward, gazing out at the road below and the forested area beyond.
Ash found her with her eyes closed, breathing deeply. She looked up at him as he approached. "Turned off my mic," she whispered, as she pulled off her evening gloves and folded them in her lap.
No one else was near enough for them to eavesdrop, and he was glad the Star with enhanced hearing was not only on their side, but sitting next to him. "Going quiet for a minute," he whispered, and switched his off as well.
Okay, Azalea answered. We'll let you know if anyone is sneaking up on you.
Ash sat beside Gayle and handed her the shared pack of cigarettes. She took one and handed it back to him. He lit both of them barehanded, wondering for a moment if he could use his launchers to accomplish that, or if they would just turn into cinders right away.
They sat there for a few minutes, Gayle blowing patterns in her smoke and twisting around her necklace. Ash tried to manipulate the smoke in some way, but it wouldn't obey him like actual flames would. He looked at the glowing cigarette in her hand, thinking she should have one of those long sticks to hold it that movie stars used decades ago.
"Do you… want to talk about it?" Ash said.
Gayle looked up at him with mournful eyes. Holding on to things never did help. "Sorry for buggin' out there. That song," she paused, the offensive tune still audible from within the ballroom, "was me and my ex's. We danced to it at our weddin'. Brings up a lotta memories, and not too many good ones."
He kept his eyes on the road. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, really," she said, pointing her cigarette at him, her green eyes flashing with anger. "He was a lyin', cheatin' jerk. I hope he got everythin' that was comin' to him. I hope someone else broke his heart, just like he did mine. I know it ain't very Christian, but there it is." She blew out more smoke than she should have been able to hold in her lungs. "But it probably didn't happen like that. I bet he's happy wherever he is. I know I hafta trust the Lord to sort these things out, but it still hurts. That's why I wanna make sure Azalea doesn't grow up and make the same mistakes I did. Fellas are awful, at her age or mine, you just cain't trust 'em."
Ash sat back, praying for Gayle and her ex-husband. He took another drag. "For hating on men so much, and saying you don't trust them, you don't seem to have any trouble trusting me."
"Naw, but you're different," Gayle slapped her hand against her leg, with her dress in the way it made a much less dramatic sound than she hoped it would. "You know how to treat a lady right. I've seen you take care of Cascadia all these years, and I know you would never do her wrong like that. You two will make a real happy couple, I know it." She gestured to him with her cigarette. "Invite me to the weddin', huh?"
Ash chuckled, smoke puffing out in bursts. "Yeah, we'll let you know as soon as we find out for certain ourselves."
Gayle paused. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I don't know if that's what God has in store for us," Ash admitted. "It's just funny, I mean, every time I say 'Cascadia's not my girlfriend,' everyone thinks that means, 'not my girlfriend yet'. They think we're like, star-crossed lovers in denial. Which is even funnier now, considering everything. But…"
She kept silent.
"We're not in denial." He took a breath, it felt good to be honest. "It's like this," he continued, leaning against his knees with his cigarette in his hand farthest from her. "Clearly God wants us to be together. I mean, he gave us both…" He glanced around out of habit. "…Our gifts, right? Which brought us together. And He's made sure we stayed together too. The guy who was in my apartment before me, moved out the same week I got kicked out of my parents' house. I only had to spend a couple of days on my friend's couch."
She just listened, watching the moonlight play on the iridescent fabric of her dress.
"Back when we graduated high school, we talked about dating. A lot." He reddened just a bit. "But we weren't sure. We didn't wanna just charge in blindly and hope it worked out. But mostly, there was that whole thing about our gifts. What were we supposed to do with them? Was she supposed to go stop flooding in the Amazon rainforest while I rescued people from burning buildings?"
Gayle tilted her head at him.
"She came up with that," Ash said, the mood on their bench improving. "And a lot more stuff too. We wanted to take it seriously. We weren't just a regular guy and girl in love." He was surprised that had come out of his mouth so readily. His honesty was on fire this evening. The last word he had spoken settled over him, an invisible corona illuminating his heart. "If we just settled down with a family right away, we might be denying what God wanted from us. So…" he breathed out, his cigarette mostly forgotten. "We decided to wait, and talk about it again after she graduated. And, after I got a job, and a good one too. It's not like I could provide for a family right now." He tried to laugh, but it wasn't that funny. "But then… all this happened. I dunno what this'll do for everything…"
"See, that's what I'm talkin' about. You're treatin' her right. Wantin' what's best for her too." She clapped him on the back, gently. "You've got a lotta stuff, Ash."
Ash grinned. "Thanks?"
Gayle gave him her crooked grin. "It means you're good people. You do it 'cause it's right, not 'cause it's easy."
He chuckled. "Yeah. It took a long time for God to get me there, though."
She leaned back on the bench. "Good thing we got a lotta second chances, huh?" Gayle swirled both of their smoke together and gently twisted it upward, like a smoke signal or an offering of incense. Ash looked up at the smattering of stars above them and prayed he was doing the right thing. He had to be, as it certainly wasn't the easy thing.
Umm… gals and Ash, Azalea squeaked in their ears. Yin is acting awfully funny.
Gayle switched her mic on, making it seem like she was adjusting her hair. "You mean funnier than usual?" Ash did the same while scratching at an itch.
Yeah, don't turn around, or look over your shoulder or anything, but… I think he might know you two are there.
"The smoke," Ash whispered. "Like with Cas and I at the diner, he noticed it."
"Aw heck," Gayle said, and a convenient breeze blew all their smoke down the hillside while they extinguished their cigarettes. "Just stay cool, both kinds, and we'll see what's what."
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Yin was pretty certain he knew what was what. He had come out to the balcony for a sweep, usually only the smokers and those guests wanting more private conversations, but it needed to be done. He never thought he would see a couple of smokers with very intricate and specific patterns in their exhalations. His exacting light brown eyes saw it for what it was in a moment: much too detailed to be random eddies of the wind.
He nestled himself in a dark corner of the ballroom where the shadows were deeper, and one of the few spots where the cameras didn't cover. If the Witch was watching, he needed to be as discreet as possible.1 He jabbed his earpiece.
"Rand, you need to come down right now!"
Did they bring out more pizza?
"No, this is important!" he said as forcefully as he could without attracting attention. "The sylph and the salamander are here!"
The what?
"The sylph and the salamander!"
…You mean… Gayle and Ash Grisarco?
"Of course, I didn't look up all these old names for no reason.2 They're out on the balcony, I didn't notice them until just now."
Well, that seems like your fault, senior security officer.
"Why, you!" Yin snapped his mouth shut. He looked around, none of the guests nearby had noticed the snarling fellow in the corner yelling into his ear.
Rand continued with his level approach: If they are there, then I need to stay here for certain now. I'll get the boys to watch the stairwells and elevators. If they're on a rescue mission, they won't get far.
"But what do I do down here?"
Kick them out. You're security, right? Tell Mr. Frost and kick them out.
Yin smiled. His edge had dulled a bit in his confusion, but he felt sharper now. "Alright. I'll keep you updated." He stood up straighter, smoothed out his suit and walked purposefully to the table where his employer sat with a perpetually filled glass of wine in his hand.
He waited for the laughter to subside from the last joke. "Mr. Frost, a moment please?"
Frost turned to regard him with a careful eye. He raised an eyebrow, and Yin waggled his own twice. "Excuse me a moment, my dear friends," and he slowly stood up, turning around to face Yin.
Oh my gosh, Yin is talking to Frost right now! What are we gonna do?
Stay calm, dear, I told you he won't use force or any powers with people around.
Yin leaned close to whisper: "Boss, the Wind Star and the Fire Star are in attendance."
The gentleman was impassive. "Yes, I've known about that for some time."
"You have?"
"Of course," Frost spoke quietly, making his accent more pronounced. "You don't host a party without knowing who is here and who isn't. But they haven't caused any trouble so I've let them be."
Yin shifted his stance. "Boss, I suggest we remove them from the premises."
Frost clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, carry on then."
"Um, if I may, it might be a good idea to have strength in numbers? Meet them on equal footing?"
"Then get Rand," he hissed, turning back to the table.
"Rand is stationed in front of the suite, Boss. That seems the best place for him to be."
Frost turned back, studying him closely. Perhaps it was the jazzy music, or the bottle of wine he had already consumed, but Frost felt a bit more daring than usual. "Alright." He turned to his guests. "I'll have to beg your leave for a few more moments, friends. My associate has just informed me of an urgent matter I must attend to. The demands of business, as you all know." He stiffly bowed to the collection of suits and gowns seated around him as they turned to their own conversations.
Ohno! Frost is going with Yin!
Ash, Gayle, it is time to leave, Lumina said. Attempt to avoid them if you can. Stick to the outer edges of the room if at all possible.
The undercover duo nodded to each other. Their time was up. The quickest way to leave from the patio was down the hillside, possible but hardly discreet. While putting her gloves back on, Gayle had searched for a secluded space they could jump from, but no such luck. It was back through the building, or face them on the balcony, with their backs to the railing. They tried to maintain their façade, acting as though they didn't know two dangerous Stars were headed their way.
Ash led Gayle toward the bar in front of the band, counting on it taking time for Frost and Yin to cross the room in that direction. But a dark-suited businessman was right in their intended path. Or, it looked that way. Ash's eyes must have been irritated by the smoke, Frost's outline was slightly blurry. Ash steered them in the other direction, toward the food tables, and came up short as Frost and Yin stepped around a younger couple and headed straight for them.
"Did you see that?" Ash whispered.
"Yup."
See what? Azalea asked.
Well, I seem to be mistaken, Lumina said, Drake is reckless enough to use his power in public after all.
It was an odd sight, the four of them. A restaurant cook and a waitress, both in disguise, facing off against a powerful energy magnate, and a twitchy fellow who kept glancing around the room.
Frost used a medium-strength glare. "Mr Grisarco, what a pleasure to meet you in person." Yin made eye contact with the attendants behind the table and jerked his head sideways. They nodded and vacated the area quickly.
Ash tried to think quickly. "I believe you have me mistaken for someone else."
"I'm rarely mistaken," Frost said steadily. He reached towards the chafing dish that held pasta arrabiata and grabbed the gel burner underneath it, pulling it out to the edge of the table. "Let's just make it easier and assume that I'm right. There is an easy way to verify my claim, after all."
Ash's first instinct was to quail, but he felt more confident, especially after Gayle's endorsement minutes ago. He crossed his arms and set his jaw, drawing on his reserve of stuff. Gayle was quiet behind him, poised. Ready to knock over the whole table onto them both in a second, if needed.
"Fine," Ash said. "You're right. But we don't have anything else to talk about, since we're already leaving."
"Excellent," Frost said, but wasn't pleased. "I don't want you going out through the lobby, use the kitchen exit. I'm sure you know where it is, considering your background. And yours too, Miss Earhart, how ironic."
What a jerk! He can't talk to them that way!
Azalea, please, they need to concentrate.
Ash flushed. He was making fun of his job and possibly his ethnicity too, that was pretty low. But he didn't say anything, only nodding. Frost kept his icy glare on them and moved back toward his table, Yin stepping between him and his opponents. Gayle and Ash walked slowly and deliberately away.
Yin was happy, he had driven off the invaders, or had helped, anyway. Never one to let a defeat go unnoticed, he muttered to himself: "Too bad! They were so close." Neither Ash nor Gayle heard this, but the sensitive microphone on their ears did.
Oh my gosh! Did you hear what he just said? Azalea squeaked. 'Too bad, they were so close.' That has to mean Cascadia's in the hotel!
Ash nearly missed his next step. Gayle watched him, looking for rage in his eyes, but he was calm, if anything.
Don't jump to conclusions now, Lumina said slowly. That isn't necessarily what he meant. Yin is a sore loser, he is likely getting in one more insult.
Gayle nodded to Ash, an imploring look on her face. Ash returned the nod and they continued through the room.
Okay sure, but what if he just gave away something huge? What if they can get her out? I mean, they're like, right there in the same building!
The duo slipped through the service doors without attracting any further attention, into the long hallway leading out of the building and into freedom. They stood against the wall, opposite the busy portal to the kitchen itself, and beside a door with a stairway symbol above it. A red fire alarm switch was built into the wall.
"That was pretty close," Gayle said.
"Yeah," Ash replied, leaning against the wall to compose himself. He couldn't stop thinking about Yin's words and Azalea's interpretation. She might be right, this could be their chance. Perhaps the best chance yet.
"C'mon, let's get outta here." Gayle turned towards the exit and kept walking.
Ash took a deep breath. He didn't feel confident. They could run around the city searching, or he could find out right here and now. He’d counted the rows of windows while they’d walked in from the back of the parking lot. Ten stories didn't seem too bad, especially if he could find an elevator or two.
A prayer formed in his mind: Santa MarÃa, guide me and help me. Help me to protect Cascadia and bring her back.
He opened his mouth to say: "Gayle, I need you to cover for me."
She turned around, his reckoning had only taken her a few steps away. "What are you doin'?" she asked, with narrowed eyes.
Ash had one hand on the fire alarm switch and the other raised at the sprinkler on the ceiling. The launcher on his raised arm popped out. He looked her in the eye, green and gray churning together like smoke. "I'm not being in denial."
Octave of Stars is currently airing on Substack for free, with two of the 45 total posts per week. It’ll be fully released at the end of April 2024. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can get the entire story right now, in either Ebook or paperback. Every purchase supports the ZMT Books mission of family-friendly entertainment.
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Yin’s on Witch watch
He is remarkably well read for someone so… like him…