A Third of the Moon and the Stars Struck Read online

  A Third of the Moon and The Stars Struck

  HALATION #2

  JADE BRIEANNE

  WE WILL NOW WITNESS THE WAY JIN AMARIS DIES… THE THIRD TIME. THE FINAL TIME.

  They say three is the number of completion and as Jin Amaris’s third keystone lies discarded, broken and useless, those who have been tasked to save her know that she, as she is, has been lost to them.

  It isn’t an anomaly, it isn’t a mistake. She was meant to die.

  Yet, that isn’t the whole story, is it? There are answers that a realm that serves life must provide. There is a woman who has a plan that must be executed without fail. There is a war that is looming.

  And there is a price to pay, for everything, for nothing.

  There is a price and it will be paid in blood.

  PRAISE AND REVIEWS

  FOR THE HALO OF AMARIS HALATION #1

  This is an incredible read. I am in awe of the story, the writing and the characters. The story of Jin, and her unplanned quest to true self-discovery is nothing short of amazing. The intriguing tale that crosses lines of human flaw, and angelic understanding schools the reader on life, after life and all the spaces in between. Jade Brieanne has created a world that we as humans only try to understand, or dream about- not having the tools to truly see what it is we may believe, she lets us in on her world and helps us to see in such a creative way.

  –Elle D. Koon, Author of gravity, Waves and The Docks

  This is what writing needs to get back to. Never a dull moment throughout and it definitely keeps you turning the page. Stylistically outstanding and well beyond just "good", this story take you on a complete narrative and imaginative journey and by the end, the only thing that is needed is...another book to continue this spectacular story. BRAVO!

  – MissK

  Movie material! I was had a hard time returning to work while reading this. I started on my lunch break and wanted to leave early to rush home to finish it. I can see this being turned into a movie. The main character is brought to life by the amazing writing style of this author. Please, give us more!!!

  –BOOK LOVE

  Awesome storyline. I honestly couldn't put the book down.

  –Leo M.

  The Halo of Amaris: A Charming Mystery

  - Black Girl Nerds.com

  A Third of The Moon And The Stars Struck © 2018

  by Jade Brieanne

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or events, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Cover Art © by RebeccaCovers

  ISBN-13:

  978-1724543363

  ISBN-10:

  1724543369

  First Edition * February 2019[AW1]

  To Mom, whom I often call Cheryl in the swells of happiness and MOM, with urgency, which she always responds with answers, and with comfort…

  To Dad, the first Ronnie, from whom I inherited my entrepreneurial spirit and the energy to never give up from…

  To Alyse, who I call “Lyse”, who encourages me, pushes me, and who always protects me…

  To Amber, who I call Ambie, who challenges me, who I am as a person, and what I do as an artist….

  To Ronnie, my first friend, who taught me how to laugh so hard, I cry…

  Thank you

  “We can be together in this space, while being on the other side of the earth. We can be together at any time, not just at 12 o'clock. Physical matters certainly remained indifferent in our space. I only hope for this to never cease. I hope this space that belongs to you & me, be the site for anyone to rest in tranquility. I hope for our memories to rise as reminiscences and embrace you like no other.”

  —Kim Jonghyun

  (April 8, 1990 – December 18, 2017)

  “We only run out of chances when we stop taking them…

  Live.”

  —Yusuf Neville

  (June 22, 1985 – January 29, 2014)

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY TWO

  CHAPTER FOURTY THREE

  CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

  CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

  CHAPTER FORTY SIX

  CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER FORTY NINE

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

  CHAPTER FIFTY TWO

  CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

  CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

  CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

  CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

  CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER FIFTY NINE

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  CHAPTER SIXTY ONE

  CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

  CHAPTER SIXTY THREE

  CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR

  CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE

  CHAPTER SIXTY SIX

  CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER SIXTY NINE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY

  CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO

  CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR

  CHAPTER SEVENTY FIVE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX

  CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY

  CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO

  CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY FOUR

  CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX

  CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT

  CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE

  CHAPTER NINETY

  CHAPTER NINETY ONE

  CHAPTER NINETY TWO

  CHAPTER NINETY THREE

  CHAPTER NINETY FOUR

  CHAPTER NINETY FIVE

  CHAPTER NINETY SIX

  CHAPTER NINETY SEVEN

  CHAPTER NINETY NINE

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED

  CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED ONE

  CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED TWO
/>   CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED THREE

  CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED FOUR

  CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED FIVE

  CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED SIX

  CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED SEVEN

  CHAPTER

  ONE HUNDRED EIGHT

  PAPER CRANES

  Hello, Gaiain.

  Ah. Does that name seem unfamiliar to you? Does it taste funny on your tongue? Heavy? Does it bother you? I could see how it would. That is what ignorance does to you. Oh, relax. You cannot be considered willfully ignorant if I hide the truth from you! You are not ignorant.

  Wait. I take that back. I do not want to lie to you.

  Who am I, you ask?

  I am I and you already know who I am. You have known me all of your life and you will know me forever.

  See! You are such bright little beings!

  I see you are excited, now! Curious, even! Alright. Here is the truth you are so anxious to learn. I keep things from you because…I love you. Because I know you. Because you do not take news, or change, or…anything well.

  Oh, you do?

  Okay, a test then. How would you take the news that you aren’t alone? How would you take the news that you aren’t the most important thing in the universe? That you that there are things that are just as important to me as you are?

  What was that?

  Oh. “Gaiain”? Well, that is what you are. You may call yourself “human” yet that word means nothing to me. You are of the Gaiain realm, therefore you are Gaiain. My little Gaian creations. Not a magnum opus by any stretch of the imagination, frail with an affinity of destroying yourselves before time does, but still very precious to me. Since I created everything and anything and…nothing, it is at my disposal to call you what I want and call you what you are.

  But…but that’s not what this is about, is it?

  Your…prophets, they write a lot. I sometimes engross myself with it. Words. Language. Meaning. Sometimes their words make sense, while other times, they do not.

  This was interesting. From your apostle…John was his name?

  Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.

  Very well makes sense that a fever dream would speak of darkness. Because you are very much in the dark, my child.

  Oh…your face is doing that funny thing again. That is anger, right? I would apologize but…I do not care that you are upset. I care that you know. Light is what I offer you. Enlightenment. Limited as it may be, it is…something.

  Here is another truth: A third of your moon will be struck. A third of your stars will be struck. Your sun, as well.

  I know why. I know how this will end. And you must know it will end.

  One way or another… it will end.

  Darkness again, I’m afraid. Are you comfortable? That is fine. Seeing you shake and wither and complain as the light shone upon you was rather…annoying.

  So, I’ve told you what I’ve wanted to tell you and concealed what I’ve wanted to conceal. Satisfied?

  Oh. One more thing and remember this. It is so very important.

  Purpose is the string that holds everything together. Without it, nothing exists.

  Hm.

  That’s enough for today. Let us, and by us, I mean you, find out more about what I already know.

  Blessings, Gaiain.

  We will speak again.

  A Third of the Moon and The Stars Struck

  ELYSIAN CENTRAL

  MISSION MEMORANDUM

  TO:KITHLISH, SON OF YUSHIVA AND KOFI

  SUBJECT:AIDEN CHOI

  Jin Amaris is alive.

  As of this day, I have received approval from Khavah Dantò, Divine Matriarch of the Glory Beyond and Imperial Guardian of Caeli, to schedule a demarcation event to separate the soul fragments of Aria Jinni from Jin Amaris’s soul.

  In order for this to be successful, it is imperative that anyone with any emotional connection to Jin Amaris is kept from Caeli. We have faith that you will cooperate in keeping your captains and yourself from Caeli for the time being. We also have faith that you will not assist Aiden Choi in any means or methods in getting back to Elysian.

  We will contact you when it is safe to come home.

  Godspeed, Kithlish,

  Bon Baji, Interim Leader of The Above.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Elysian Bay Bridge

  Time: Unknown

  “Do you believe that I would hurt you?”

  Jin’s chest heaved. She sucked in air, large inhales and dry agonizing gulps that burned her throat as she fought to catch her breath. It hurt to breathe. She bent over, her hands slapping to her knees and her fingers shaking as they clutched her pants between them. She tried to fight her bone soaking exhaustion and failed. Her legs felt like rubber. Her eyes stung. Her skin simmered.

  It was sweltering, the kind of heat that made Jin feel like she was inside of an oven. Sweat drenched her brow and rolled down her temples and over her forehead, right into her eyes, causing her to squint and blink. The only relief came when the wind blew across the water, bringing a cool breeze with it. Yet, the air was heavy with smoke and ash, so the same breeze that cooled her down, choked her.

  They were standing on the bridge–the one that connected Au Courant to Elysian, the one Rooke was so excited for them to see their first days here. It had long been abandoned, leaving nothing but an empty stretch of concrete and asphalt. Jin peered over the concrete barrier and towards the city of Elysian. The people in the city went along as if nothing was wrong–vehicles zoomed up and down the street and signs buzzed with lights and sounds. A boat approached the harbor and laborers scuttled to the pier in preparation. Some kind of aircraft zipped across the sky. It was the picture of a normal day.

  It was not normal! It was a lot of things but it was not normal! How could they not see? How could they go about their day without seeing the smoke and the fire and debris? How could they not see the gaping hole in the bridge that prevented Jin’s escape?

  She shifted her gaze from the city to the figure in front of her, her brown eyes narrowing to a point. Billows of smoke rose and drifted between the two of them, at times concealing the other person’s visage.

  That didn’t matter. She knew who the person was without knowing why she knew. She remembered the soft lines of her face, the hue of her brown skin, the sound of her voice, the color in her eyes.

  She remembered her name.

  Aria.

  She was dressed in antiquated clothing, something akin to a warrior goddess. It damn sure didn’t look like it belonged in Elysian. Her shoulders were bare and a fitted, sleeveless, deep blue tunic wrapped around her torso and draped down over her legs like gonfalon flag. A tailcoat of the same color was there too, but Jin had only seen it in quick flashes, and even then, she’d been too…busy to pay attention to the detail. Stitched into it was the vestige of a phoenix and a lion in gold, like a coat of arms or a badge of honor or some silly shit that meant absolutely nothing at the moment. Around her waist were three sashes–a dark red, a gold, and a black one–that hung down her side, almost to her knees. Two leather straps ran across the bodice, securing a sheath across her back, and another piece of leather held back long, back-sweeping locks that huddled around her nape and in between her shoulders like a tapestry of brown and black rope.

  Loose fitting harem pants were stuffed into tall brown leather boots and razor-sharp golden bracers were on her arms. All of it was strange, weird, alien…but it was the glowing pendant around the umber column of her neck that stood out as the most extrinsic. It echoed faintly in the back of her mind, a dream she’d once had, one where she’d seen a sword plunge through Aria’s back and–

  “I asked you a question,” Aria repeated, her voice, clear and demanding, slicing through Jin’s thoughts like ra
zor wire. She brought her sword down and the movement cleared the smoke and ash away in a whirl of grey and black. “Do you believe that I would hurt you?”

  Jin’s eyes flickered to the sword before traveling up Aria’s sword arm. Thick black tribal tattoos looked back at her, peeking behind the dangerous metal of her bracers, almost intimidating her into silence. Almost. Without thinking, Jin straightened and it cost her. A sharp searing pain ripped across her chest and she clutched at it as if the desperation to make the pain disappear would bend it to her will. “Why are you asking me a question you already know the answer to?” she wheezed. “Look at me!” She pulled her hand away from her chest and it came back red. “I am hurt!”

  “I didn’t do that to you.”

  “I don’t care! It still hurts! You said you would protect me! Key and Tahir and Rooke, all of you said you would protect me! And in the end, it was your kind who did this to me!”

  Aria tilted her head as if she were studying Jin, as if Jin were not wounded, as if Jin had time for her to be an inquisitive ass. “So, you’re tired of being misled,” she stated. “Big deal,” she sneered. “Grow up.” Another billow of smoke passed over Aria, obscuring her from sight and for a moment, Jin wanted her to be swept up in it and carried off. Disappear.

  “Shut up!” Jin gasped, the will to stay upright taking more energy than she had. Of course, she was tired of being lied to! Everyone last one of them had been lying to her since this whole ordeal started and every time they told a lie, she just so happened to die!

  “Do you want me to shut up,” Aria mocked, a hand on her hip, “or do you want me to tell you the truth?”

  Jin growled because she didn’t want anything! She wanted to go home!

  “Make up your damn mind. I don’t have the time for this! Neither of us do! It’s not like I’m asking you a hard question!” Aria lifted the sword at her side, aiming it at Jin from across the bridge, the black blade gleaming. Her tattoos shimmered gold. “Take your pick. The hard truth or momentary peace. Both will cost you. One will end up with you dead.”