A Chronicle of Stars and Dust

There weren't always dragons in the Valley.

"Huh?" said Ella, distracted.

"There weren't always dragons in the Valley," Pax repeated. "That's the password. Remember? For the afterparty I was telling you about?"

"Um," Ella winced. "It was something about stars—"

"Starlight Valley? Yeah, and underage people can get in with that passcode."

"Great!" Ella said, but she was drowned out by the sound of the crowd.

"Five…Four…Three…TWO…ONE!" the crowd roared. Kissing couples were lit up with exploding colour.

The New Year's Eve fireworks sparkled brilliantly over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Reflections glittered across the rippling harbour water between the boats and the seeping smoke.

"Happy New Year!" Ella Harris called over the roar of the fireworks and the thunder of the crowd.

The broad walk around the Opera House was smothered in a solid mass of flesh cramming to get a vantage point to the lights permeating the fabric of the night sky. The humidity of the Australian summer’s hot night breeze made for a muggy atmosphere and Ella could feel her caramel coloured hair sticking to her neck. There was the stifling, undeniable smell of sweat and fading perfume.

“I have to capture this moment. Give me your bag,” the bohemian girl with a myriad of bangles and rings said, holding up a camera. “Smile!”

Ella stuck her tongue out in response, but the photo would later depict a shadowed outline backlit by the orange and white and crimson cascading through the sky like falling stars — or angels plummeting from heaven.

“Pax,” she yelled over the oohhs of the crowd crammed on the walkways bordering the water, "give me the camera. Let me take one of you.” Ella grabbed for the camera, but Pax shook her head playfully, dyed-red hair flying and snatched the camera away, stowing it in her satchel.

"I brought something to celebrate.” Pax was still digging in her bag.

"Oh no," Ella said distractedly as another round of fireworks exploded in the sky, bathing the harbour in light reminiscent of a nightclub.

"Here," Pax said triumphantly, the light creating shadows across her face. She produced a metal flask. "Try it."

Ella sniffed. "What is it?"

“I’m not even sure. Bought it off a guy I know. Promised it was good.”

Ella felt her eyebrows rise in incredulity. No one would ever mistake Pax for someone overly concerned about caution or making what adults liked to call ‘smart choices’, not with her vibrantly dyed hair, assortment of piercings and heavy eyeliner. Usually they just smiled tolerantly and murmured something about teenagers going through phases. Ella remained unconvinced.

"Here's to new beginnings!” Pax called giddily, raising the bottle high in a toast.

Ella grabbed her arm and wrestled it down into the shadows. “We don’t even know what it is!”

Pax sniffed the contents. “Something aromatic. Like jägermeister,” she announced. “Spices are the healing of a nation.”

“Herbs are the healing.” Ella glanced around.

“Chill. It’s New Year’s. We are obligated to celebrate.” Pax took a swig and coughed.

“And the rest of the quote is, ‘alcohol is the destruction’.”

Pax rolled her eyes. “You’re raining on my motorcade. This stuff isn't even any fun by yourself," she complained. "Just try it."

Ella bit her tongue this time, reminding herself that Pax intentionally corrupted quotes and sayings just to irritate her. Ella held the flask up, screwing up her face against the foul, earthy taste. For a moment it burned the back of her throat. A warm tingling spread throughout her body. She coughed. “Strong enough.”

Pax merely grinned. “Marks our passage into adulthood," she said.

"You're not even seventeen yet,” Ella pointed out, passing the flask back to Pax.

"Details," she said, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. “Keep it. I brought two.” She fished out another metal flask, this one dented with obvious signs of use.

“To freedom, adventure and new beginnings!” Pax took a swig, giddy at the crowd’s exuberance, the sweat, the flickering lights and the booming of the firework display.

Ella glanced at the heavily pierced couple making out a few feet away, the metal glinting in the inconsistent light. Nearby a woman sat on top of a man’s shoulders. As she turned back to Pax, Ella stumbled forward as something pounded into her back. She felt fingers brush against her hers as if another hand were attempting to grab her arm. Ella fell heavily into a woman, who shot her a dirty look. Looking up from where she sprawled on the ground, she spotted a boy’s startled look.

The boy’s face was a study in shadows and light as the colours of the exploding lights illuminated his features: tied back long blond hair, as if he were a Bondi surfer, and a light tan that contrasted vividly with his entirely black outfit. He started toward her, hand unconsciously outstretched, but then seemed to think better of it. Ella noticed some sort of stone bracelet on his wrist. He looked directly at her with a small frown, then slipped back into the crowd.

"Jerk," Pax said, hauling Ella to her feet.

"It doesn't matter," Ella replied, cheeks red. She picked up the flask from where it had fallen. A modicum of fluid still sloshed against the metal, which she downed before any more could spill.

“He was super hot, though.” Pax assumed a thoughtful expression, but her eyes danced with humour. “Apparently hot enough to knock you off your feet — if you even noticed.”

“Oh shut up,” Ella said irritably. She blushed again, at the realisation that she had noticed. Her eyes wandered back to the place where he had disappeared, and she felt a vague sense of disappointment. In that moment, Ella was immensely grateful for the uncertain lighting. The concrete suddenly shifted beneath her feet — or, at least, it seemed to move. She pressed her hand against her forehead, but the sensation passed quickly.

"You're such a lightweight," Pax laughed. “Come on, there are some stairs down to the water. I want to put my feet in.”

They pushed through the crowd, and found the barrier. As they clambered over, Pax with far more grace, Ella paused as she caught a glimpse of a pale face that shone brightly between the silhouettes of the crowd. The girl turned toward her and lime green eyes met hers. Perhaps it was the shadows or the alcohol, but as her eyes began to slide away from the girl’s, the green seemed to expand, seeping out like watercolour paint on wet paper, to cover the whole eyeball. Only the pupil remained, a startling bead that narrowed on Ella’s face.

Pax was tugging on her arm again and she shoved against some girl who glared at her. Then they were at the top of the stairs and watching the flickering water lap against the stonework below them.

"Ella,” Pax began, "there's something I should tell you. I mean, it’s crappy timing, but I’ve been trying to work out how to say—"

Ella started to turn back to Pax, but something over her shoulder caught her attention. There was something glowing, which seemed to spark like electricity — or a small firework. But it had a hilt, and the hand that held it belonged to a tall boy with clear Asian heritage. Possibly Chinese, Ella thought distractedly. He was dressed in strange black attire similar to the blonde boy had been wearing just before. This boy however had fierce gaze that wandered over the crowd and she had the impression—from his expression or his stance, she wasn’t sure—that he was absolutely looking for a fight. She instinctively took a step back. He looked like the sort of person you would cross the street to avoid. The dangerous sort that parents still hinted at when they warned teenage girls not to walk on lonely streets at night. She began to interrupt whatever Pax had been saying, suggest that perhaps they should move somewhere else when the boy’s eyes fixed suddenly on something. Then he moved, launching himself forward.

The strange green eyed girl Ella had spotted earlier darted away quickly and leapt onto the guardrail. She ran along it lightly with impossible balance, dodging the people leaning against it, faces transfixed by the lights across the harbour. No one seemed to take any notice. As she passed them, the girl threw a sharp, interested look at her, verging on predatory. Ella flinched. The man holding the electricity followed, leaping directly up toward Ella.

“Pax, watch—" She cried out and threw herself backwards. There was an instant as she teetered on the edge that she felt weightless, looking up at burning magnesium and distant stars. Then there was the cold shock of the water.

***

The tall Asian boy had been surveying the crowd for some time. If he was bored, it didn’t show. He stood with tension throughout his frame. He caught a glimpse of his companion as he moved between the sightseers and nodded to himself. There had been a tip off earlier of darkling activity nearby, and together they had been given the patrol assignment.

The fireworks were brilliant and thunderous, but he did not even look up. His hand moved, resting on the hilt of the blade at his belt instinctively. He appeared calm and impassive, yet the fact that he was clenching and unclenching his hand on the hilt betrayed his agitation. He scanned through the crowd again, and began to wonder if it had been a prank call. They didn’t happen often, but they were incredibly irritating when they did: the Ordinances required any report of unlawful activity be thoroughly investigated. He was about to call to his companion, say that this area was clear and suggest they move further along when his eyes settled on a girl with green, iris-less eyes.

The boy didn’t think. He leapt forward toward the girl, shoving past a heavily tattooed man. As he moved, he drew his blade, which buzzed and radiated light. The girl saw him coming and nimbly darted between the crowd and up onto the guard rail. The boy threw himself after her, nothing of the people around him registering as he pursued his target.

He did not pause, did not even notice the human girl fall. His face was focused with a fixated expression as he shoved his way through the crowd after the girl, sparks falling from the blade he carried as he ran. The blond-haired boy began to follow him, but skidded to a stop as he heard the splash and Pax’s scream and he looked down.

***

The water was cold and dark and would have been refreshing from the lingering heat if her jeans and sneakers hadn't been weighing her down. Ella struggled to kick her legs, to resist the reflex to gasp for air. The cold had shocked all the breath out of her.

The water acted like some sort of smoky haze distorting the flashing lights in the sky to brilliant washes of colour. At any other time, it would have been breathtaking. But as it was she felt her panic rising and the pressure in her chest increased. The surface did not seem to be getting any closer despite her desperate kicks.

Something touched her leg and she wanted to scream, remembering that sharks roamed the harbour. In the murky water she thought she saw a white face, one with glowing salamander eyes. It grinned at her, revealing teeth filed into razor sharp points. She tried to push away. Her lungs were burning and her vision began to darken. She saw a hand reach for her in the darkness. Pax, she thought, and she would have sobbed in relief as a hand gripped her arm like a vice. There was that same sparking, flickering light, and the face with the teeth seemed to snarl at it, then disappear back into the depths. She opened her mouth the water rushed in.

 ***

“Ella! Ohmigod, Ella!” Pax sounded perilously close to tears. Ella coughed hard. A salty, sour taste filled her mouth and she spit. She tried to sit up, but her head spun and the concrete was swaying.

The fireworks had ended and some of the crowd had dispersed. The ones that remained were hanging over the railing looking down at her. One had a phone out, recording. She looked past Pax’s hysteria, thinking vaguely that Pax must have drunk a lot more than she realised, and saw the dark haired man standing a few steps above her. The blond boy was standing next to him, wet hair plastered to his face. He pushed it out of his mouth impatiently. Water droplets splattered to the ground as he wrung his black shirt. The dark one hit his arm and indicated toward her. Ella stared at him. Grey eyes met hers. She wanted to say thank you, but her mouth wouldn’t form the words. His lips tightened and a small frown appeared on his brow when she didn't look away. Then it increased and he pulled the other boy away from her view.

Ella tuned back into Pax’s —so sorry," Pax was saying. "I only wanted to put my feet in. And there are sharks and god knows what in there. Are you sure really alright?”

"Who pulled me out?" Ella rasped, although she suspected she already knew.

“Some guy. I didn’t really see. He just dove in when you didn’t surface and dragged you out, then disappeared.” Pax blabbered. “You could have drowned or been eaten alive!” She shuddered. “I’m sorry, it was my stupid idea to come to the water.”

“I’m fine,” Ella managed, her throat raw. “It’s not your fault.” She felt awful, and her heart was racing. She had even hallucinated. She shook her head to clear it, although it just made it hurt more. This time when she sat up, the ground at least didn’t spin. This wasn’t the start to the new year that she had been hoping for.