The Starside

            When the trio got back to the mundane world, not even a full day had passed there. And that was perfect. That means that they could have a few days of rest before school started up again. Thanksgiving was this week as well, meaning there were only three days of school. So after having a huge adventure the trio could just… relax. Although the entire weekend Aloice was having… dreams. Dreams about a vampire with red hair, dreams about chains, and dreams about the pendant. But Aloice couldn’t worry about that now, he was in theater class! Preparing for the winter performance. Aloice was already the best actor by far. But now Aloice was absolutely DESTROYING the stage with his incredible performance.

            “Holy shit Aloice that was amazing!" Samantha clapped Aloice on the shoulder, as class was dismissed for lunch “maybe we’ll get a grammy.”

            “The satisfaction of performance is all I need.” Aloice said dramatically. “How have you been doing by the way? After you… kind of died and all.” 

            “I’m alright, I just like being able to breathe, it feels a little bit more precious. Although I can’t wait to be a lizard again. I miss having a tail.” Samatha sighed. “Being a human can be so boring. And it doesn't feel quite right, I’m like… stuck in skin that’s not quite mine.”

            “I can’t say I feel the same, but I understand to a degree. Have you tried transforming at all? You can change into animals can you not?”

            “Magic doesn’t work on this side, remember? I’d be a raccoon every night if I could though.” Samantha thought about it dreamily, hanging out around her hometown as a little animal.

            “I haven’t tried any spells while on this side, It’s not particularly my forte, although magic casting is yours.”

            “Your forte is being really sneaky.” Samantha chuckled, "maybe there’s magic to that but I don’t know.”

            “A cloak of shadows to hide every move.” Aloice said, posing dramatically as we entered the cafeteria.

            “That would be something you do, maybe we could get you a magic shadow cloak, that’d be sick as hell. If we keep saving towns from evil witches and stealing their treasure, maybe we’ll be able to buy one.”

            “A magical veil of shadows to hide my visage from this cold world.”

            “Yea, totally. Oh speaking of treasure, have you had any more weird amulet dreams?”

            “Oh every night.” Aloice explained with a smile.

            “Hm, we should head to the Starside after school. See if the junk shop or Amy can help.” Samantha pondered.

            “I agree, I would also love an opportunity to use my earnings from our last adventure on something fun.”

            “Then we go to Amys after school!” Samantha cheered. After getting their lunches they met up with Lydia in the courtyard of the school. In the center was a field of grass that many students used as a sort of picnic ground, while everyone else sat at outdoor tables to eat. Lydia for the past few days had been sitting and eating with Samantha and Aloice. And since they were decidedly the freaks and outcasts of the school and Lydia was sort of a social butterfly that everyone liked, people took notice.

            Especially James Dorado. He had clawed his way into getting a free ride to this charter school, and worked every day of his academic life at GCS to outmatch Lydia. And he’d watched her from afar before. For the last two weeks she’d been taking her studies less seriously. He didn’t see her at the study hall and instead of spending her lunches working and eating she was sitting next to the outcasts? He had to know what was going on. 

            James was 16 like most of the people in his grade. But unlike most of the people in his grade he was not rich and white. His skin was dark chocolate, and his eyes shone like amber stones in the sun. His long hair cascaded down the back of his head in braids. And at the moment he was wearing a chunky hoodie and blue jeans. Watching the odd new group from afar. Something didn’t add up. Why are they all hanging out? Why is SHE hanging out with them now? He had to know. So After School when he saw all of them pile into the same car, a beat up Volkswagen Beatle, he got in his own beater and followed behind.

            He was surprised to see the four of them park at the Arlington theater and walk in. He quickly parked his car and followed after them. He followed behind casually, while also listening to their conversation.

            “I trust Amy, she’ll know what’s going on with the amulet.” Samatha said, “I hope it’s not cursed or anything, it’s very you.”

            “If I must depart with this beautiful jewelry because of a curse, then I must. I’m sure our fair friend Amy will have a suitable replacement.” Aloice said.

            “Have you noticed anything other than the dreams?” Lydia asked, opening the front door of the Arlington and stepping inside with the other two following behind.

            “Yes, sometimes the Amulet is warm. But that is all.” Aloice answered. James had just managed to slip in behind them and continue listening to the conversation.

            “Weird, but ok. We’ve seen weirder.” lydia shrugged.

            “Yea, whale carcass ship, I don’t think anything will beat that.” Samantha shivered as she opened a side door, and the three of them disappeared inside. James snuck up to the door and opened it as well. And before him was a restaurant, a restaurant that SHOULD NOT have been there. By all means he should be outside the building. But no, he was watching the trio walk towards a set of Glass doors that led to a street that should also not exist. Now James couldn’t turn back. He entered the restaurant and followed quickly after them. But he stopped dead in his tracks when they stepped through the glass doors. Lydia shot up to be a foot taller, and her brown hair turned into perfect flowing galaxy colored hair that flowed around her pointed ears. Aloice did not change save for his ears becoming long and pointed. Then Samantha and her pigeon both transformed dramatically. Samantha a 3 ft tall purple bipedal lizard. And her pigeon, a tiny yellow dragon who flew up off her shoulder.

            “What the fuck.” James said under his breath. He dashed for the doors and stepped out, intent on confronting them and asking them what was happening. But he was interrupted by his own transformation. His skin gained a slight golden sheen, his eyes changed to pure gold, massive dove white wings sprouted from his back ripping through his hoodie, and his long hair turned into golden chains. “WHAT THE FUCK!” he shouted. Causing the trio to whip around and look at him.

            “Oh fuck off.” Lydia groaned, “what are you doing here James?”

            “What are YOU doing here!” James shouted back, “and why am I like this????”

            “Oookkkk soooo… you appear to be… different.” Lydia said, studying James’ new form.

            “Well SO ARE YOU!” he shouted, “you’re tall as shit now, you’re… exactly the same Aloice, and You’re a FUCKING LIZARD.”

            “I’m actually a kobold.” Samatha corrected, her tail swishing back and forth.

            “Why aren’t you blinking?” James asked, on the edge of hysteria.

            “I don’t have eyelids.” Samantha answered, her tongue swiping across one of her eyes.

            “WHAT THE FUCK.” 

            “Ok, Ok, James? Follow us, we have someone who’ll be able to help… explain things a little bit.” Lydia said. Now her mind was filled with how she was going to have to take care of another idiot. But she pushed that aside as she pulled James along to the clothing shop owned by Amy. Amy looked up and was happy as always to see her best customers for the last few weeks of Starside time. On the outside only two and a half weeks had passed since the trio crossed over first.

            “Who’s the new friend?” Amy asked, stepping forward and inspecting him.

            “This is James, he kinda… How did you get here James?” Lydia asked.

            “I was… I was following you.”

            “I will crush your spine.” Lydia threatened.

            “Well DON’T DO THAT.” James huffed, “I was curious why you were acting so weird.”

            “Weird? I haven’t been acting weird.” Lydia defended.

            “Well yes you have! You don’t go to study hall anymore and you’re hanging out with these two outcasts! No offence.” James winced a little at what he said.

            “None taken.” Samantha replied, licking her eyeball again.

            “This is… this is too weird.” James started laughing, “I’m dreaming? I have to be dreaming right?”

            “Woah woah woah, calm down tiger, you’re ok. You’re in the baby mode district.” Amy said, “nothing here is going to hurt you. I can tell you what’s happening. Welcome to the starside, a dimension parallel to your own that’s connected to a whole bunch of other dimensions. Magic and mysticality are very real here.”

            “And why do I have wings?” James asked weakly, extending them and accidentally hovering a few inches off the ground, scrambling a little bit before he landed again on his feet.

            “Well, you’re uncommon I’ll start with that. I’m pretty sure you’re an Asimar. It basically means some hundreds of generations ago you had an angel in your bloodline. And that recessive gene just happened to pop up in you. And now you’re all… sparkly and gold.” Amy raised her eyebrow, her head churning on possible ways to style this kid’s clothes.

            “Wait, an angel, like an actual angel, like a servant of the big G god Yahwey angel?” James asked.

            “I mean, probably? Based on your wings and the gold motif I can’t imagine you come from any other pantheon of angels.” Amy mumbled.

            “PANTHEON.” James wheezed, “ok… ok I think it’s out of my system. I’m not dreaming, I’m part angel, that lizard is asleep with her eyes open, and her pigeon is a dragon.” Lydia took notice of Samantha sleeping on one of the benches in the store and pulled a baby bjorn out of a bag she had. She strapped Samantha into it and hung the lizard up on the front door of the shop. Samantha slept through all of it.

            “What? She had a long day.” Lydia shrugged as everyone stared at her.

            “Yes! Sorry I couldn’t really tell you more, dick across the street could help you a little bit more though. Figure out if you’ve got a magical speciality.”

            “Speciality? Like what?”

            “Lydia is a barbarian, her strength is enhanced through her magical connection to anger. Samantha is a druid, she casts nature spells and can transform into different animals. Aloice is a rogue, he’s very good at hiding and attacking from the shadows as well as casting a few spells.”

            “Well… alright then.” James, deflated, sat down on one of the benches in the store, “I’m gonna sit for a minute.” 

            “Sure kid… is there anything else you guys needed while you were here?” Amy asked, turning her attention to Aloice and Lydia.

            “Yes, I was wondering if maybe you could have a look at a possibly cursed amulet.” Aloice asked excitedly.

            “I hope you’re not wearing it if you think it might be cursed… you’re wearing it aren't you.” Amy smacked her forehead as Aloice fished the amulet from out of his shirt. “Alright, give it here.” she sighed. Aloice somewhat reluctantly took it off and handed the amulet to Amy. She examined it carefully, casting a few spells and mumbling to herself. “Did you cast any spells on this?” she asked eventually.

            “When I first got it, I freed it from a pile of much in a dead whale ship belonging to a witch who controls birds. So a mix of bird poo, whale guts, and general ocean nastiness was on it. So I cast a small prestidigitation on it.” Aloice said bashfully.

            “Oookkkk.” Amy groaned, stepping past Aloice and to the front of the shop. She closed the blinds on the front window, turned the open sign to close, unhooked Samantha from the front door for a moment so she could pull down the blinds over the door window, carefully replaced Samatha, and went back to her desk. She picked up the phone from behind her desk and dialed a number. It rang for a moment and Amy began speaking.

            “How soon can you be here?... yes it’s an emergency… someone found the amulet… yes he did… yes he had… alright, see you in a few.” and with that short conversation she hung up the phone. “He’ll be here in half an hour.”

            “Who will be here?” Aloice asked nervously as Amy handed him back the amulet.

            “Someone who can tell you more about the nature of that amulet than I can.” Amy sighed. The half hour seemed to drag on and on for everyone. But for Aloice it was a frightening eternity. There was a notable exception to this in the sleeping Samantha in the baby bjorn hung on the door. She just kind of… stared into the darkness of the closed shop with wide lizard eyes that were currently seeing nothing. Although occasionally her tongue would swipe across her eyes. That peaceful slumber was stopped when the door to the shop opened, and the bell jingled. Samantha woke up with a squeak and transformed into a raccoon who tumbled out of the bjorn indignantly.

            “WHO PUT ME IN THAT THING!” Samantha Demanded, looking at everyone with wild eyes, “AND WHATS GOIng on?” Samantha glanced up to see the man who just entered, wearing a long coat, white gloves, and had his face obscured by a hood.

            “My apologies Amy, I got here as quickly as he could.” the man apologized, lowering his hood and taking off his jacket. He handed the garment to Amy who hung it up behind the counter. The man was tall and elegant, thin as a reed. His skin was deathly pale, and his straight silver hair cascaded all the way down past his hips. But something that gave away his nature immediately was his ruby red eyes. He was supernaturally handsome, beautiful, stunning, all at the same time.

            “Why is Sepharoth here?” Samatha asked James, who was blushing from just making eye contact with this glorious man.

            “You are the one who found the amulet?” the man said in his voice that was gentle like raindrops. He approached Aloice who was very intimidated.

            “Y- yes sir.” Aloice answered, stammering as he did “you can have it back.” Aloice held the amulet out to him.

            “I’m afraid it is not mine either. It belongs to my brother.” the man said, “I thought I felt the connection of the amulet, I hoped it was him but. Now I see you have found it.”

            “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to steal it! It was on a whale carcass.” Aloice looked to be on the verge of tears.

            “It’s good that you found it, and if you’ve been having dreams about my brother that means he’s still alive. He’s been missing for a few months now.” he pulled a nearly identical amulet out of his shirt, “we’ve had these amulets our whole lives, they’re tied to us with jewels made of blood.”

            “I- I’m glad I found it then.”

            “However, when you found it you unknowingly cast a spell on it. And now you too are tied to the amulet. Which means you are tied to my brother. Will you assist me in finding him?”

            “Um, yes?” Aloice answered

            “Excellent… My name is Luca. as you can probably tell I am a vampire.” Luca shook Aloices hand.

            “M- my name is Aloice.” he said, “I like your Sepheroth hair.”

            “I am unsure of who Sepharoth is, but I accept your compliment graciously.” Luca bowed slightly. “It will be a few earth days before we can begin the process of finding my brother. I must gather resources. I will let you all know when it is time. You will be paid in full for your work in this endeavor. And your discretion is appreciated.” with that Luca took his coat, and left.

            “What did I stumble into?” James asked quietly.

            “Vampire politics.” Amy answered blankly.