The Promise of Stars

By Lindsey Bakken

At last, it seems that Ally is free from the controlling relationship of her past. She’s in the Rebirth with major plans for her own rediscovery. The creepy man who rescued her from her old life makes her his queen and informs Ally that her life is important, that she alone can change the fate of his people. Because, you see, Yohann’s people live trapped in a high-tech bubble with no means of escape. They live glamorous lives but want change. Change that only Ally can bring.
Ally can’t believe her stroke of luck. She’s come into real power and has a purpose in life. Maverick comes to live alongside her in the palace, where they finally get the chance to be together. Ally has more than she could ever have dreamed and it seems like nothing can go wrong. Until Yohann asks her to do one thing for him...
With the threat of beasts still out there, Ally comes across new information that will forever change the way she views her own people and the beasts she believed to be monsters. And when worst comes to worst, unexpected alliances will form.
When will true peace come?
Will Ally ever be free?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lindsey Bakken
• Release date: Mar 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311974259

Lindsey Bakken

Lindsey Bakken's current status is that of "Student" at the University of Minnesota. She's been writing since she learned the alphabet and is very excited to share her works. Lindsey loves to travel and wants to study abroad in London or Ireland. A few other things she loves are BOOKS, fireplaces, her job at the library, and people who don't take life so literally.

Book preview

Chapter One

Violent, tight hands shook me.

Warren found me. I’d been a fool to think I could escape him, and now he planned to make me pay by shaking the life out of me. His soft hands—hands unaccustomed to labor and hardship—touched me and they burned, reminding me of all the wrongs they had done to me, reminding me who possessed every ounce of power and who alone controlled my life.

Ally, wake up. We’re here!

Snapping my eyes open, I saw Darcy inches from my face, eyes wild with uncontainable excitement.

Forced to re-enter the present world, I understood what was truly going on. We’d just escaped Warren. Yohann had come through for me, saving me from an unspeakably tragic and unlovable life controlled by Warren’s every will. I’d be Yohann’s queen soon. A queen of a magical, strong city that really shouldn’t have survived; the rest of the planet had been taken out by the Haze, but not Yohann’s city. I’d be a queen of people who might not even exist. What had Jared warned me of? Ah, that’s right. He warned me that I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Jared…

I looked over at Darcy, who no longer focused on me but on the extravagant bubble emerging from seemingly nowhere. The biggest reality of all, the one my mind wanted more than anything to forget, was that I’d basically sentenced her brother to death. I’d separated the siblings and got Jared in trouble with the most powerful man in the districts. And all because of what? Because I only thought of myself. I’d already been given a chance at a new life with Warren, but I wanted more. Satisfaction never reached me and Jared in return was put in the crossfire of my unruly and hasty decisions.

Yet I felt sure this was the right one.

How could you have fallen asleep? This is the coolest thing ever! Darcy exclaimed, moving away from me again and pushing her face against the window, as if she wanted to break through the glass to ensure that she didn’t miss a detail.

Studying Darcy, I saw the fragile girl with a fragile heart full of hope. I saw bony limbs and the plain brown hair that never met a comb. I saw the girl I'd promised to always be there for, the girl I'd failed. She wore rags for clothes and dirt lodged under her nails. I remembered that though she seemed like a sister to me, we were different. My own nails were recently polished and my lavish clothes had been tailored just for me.

Darcy’s small hands shook with excitement and I couldn’t find a speck of the girl I’d first met, other than her appearance. The one I used to know who couldn’t locate her smile and cowered when in my presence. The girl who lived as an orphan and had nothing to look forward to. The girl who silently did as she was told and stuck close to her brother, allowing him to shield her from all things evil. The old Darcy had been replaced by a talkative girl who saw that her hope was paying off. A girl who wanted to believe that good remained in the world and who eagerly waited to find it. A girl who had a life with purpose now.

Fields and fields of grass surrounded us, threatening to swallow our carriage whole. This natural sight took my breath away with its unchanging beauty. Adorable little hills dipped up and down in the distance like a rollercoaster. The sun began to rise slowly, testing the scenery like a shy child who couldn’t decide if he should make an appearance, and finally completed the picturesque landscape. I felt like we were driving through a portrait and the painter would soon come yell at us for messing up his painting, or add us to the picture. Because it seemed we belonged.

Then it hit me. Yohann, were we driving through the night?

The man, my second and current fiancé, flashed me his famous yellow teeth in his familiar, creepy grimace-of-a-smile. His teeth weren’t rotted, just tinted yellow along with the rest of him: his skin, the whites of his eyes. The poor man truly did appear to be ill every time we crossed paths.

The wrinkles on his face moved as he explained, I told you about our countless technological advances, have I not? Well, this carriage may look average, but there’s a shield built of much of the same material as our bubble. The animals wouldn’t be able to get to us. We didn’t come across any on our travels, but once they recognized me they would’ve backed off anyway. You look tired, Allison.

It’s been a long few weeks. I yawned, not bothering to question his technology.

Put your best face forth, my dear, we’ll be entering the Rebirth soon and we can’t have the future queen appearing to have been dug from her grave.

Yards away from the Rebirth, I could see buildings taller and fancier than I could’ve ever imagined, made from materials that shone as if made of sparkles instead of stone or wood. A few traveling specks that I took to be people milled about in the early morning. Vibrant colors filled my vision, the source of them being flowers, pure blue streams and sprawling trees that were both greener and higher than I’d known possible. I could see the faint glow of lights coming from various windows, and they reminded me of the fact that Yohann had brought all the luxuries, such as electricity, to the Rich District. I couldn’t help but wonder what other inventions he kept for his own people.

His people. In one of our secret chats, Yohann had informed me his city housed one million people. One million. It was unfathomable. I’d be the queen of one million people. And that should’ve probably given me some sort of rush, but terror clouded my senses. I’d just turned 18 not too far back. I also held claim to being emotionally unstable and partially broken. What if his people didn’t like me? One million against one didn’t make for good odds.

I vowed to myself that I would do everything I could for these people. I hadn’t even met them, but I felt a strong sense of duty already. They were my responsibility and nothing would prevent me from doing my best. All I could do was hope it would be good enough.

Nearing the bubble, which had a soft blue hue to it, something extraordinary happened. We went straight through. The bubble made a sort of sucking noise as the carriage traveled through this protective shell and then a pop! as we ended up on the other side. Worried we fractured the thing, I flipped around in my seat, only to find that everything remained intact. The bubble still towered over the city, either trapping us or protecting us. To be determined.

I had expected a medieval civilization with princesses and knights, but of course it wasn’t like that. But I had anticipated that his people would bow down and worship him when he arrived, which they didn’t. They carried on with their day, unaffected by their king’s existence, probably since Yohann was always coming and going and they could no longer keep up with his travels.

My focus rested on the people as we zipped through the paved streets—which were impossibly clean, by the way—and not on the scenery. A part of me had assumed that his people would all have yellow tinted skin, but every citizen I saw had the normal tan skin of any human being on earth. I wondered how much I knew about this man riding across from me, watching my reactions to his city.

What he didn’t know was that I was numb. I wanted to exclaim at all the flashing lights and weird metal machines on wheels that people zoomed around in. I wanted to squeal along with Darcy as people walked dogs tied around ropes. But there was too much to take in, so I shut down. Without emotion, I watched it all sputter past.

Receiving a nudge from Yohann, I turned to face him as he said, You have to keep up appearances. Would it hurt you to wave or something? You’re a figurehead, to be loved by your people or loathed. You decide.

As quickly as I’d gotten into my funk, I left it. As much as I’d believed myself to owe Warren, I now knew what it meant to be in someone’s debt. Yohann deserved everything from me. I’d give him the air from my lungs if he asked for it.

I began to wave confidently. But that confidence faltered a bit when people began to whisper. The innocent people we drove past suddenly took serious interest in us, or just me, I realized. They pointed their fingers at me, not either of my companions. I threw out a few smiles and a couple more waves, but eventually it became disheartening because no one I smiled at returned it. I received many glares fueled by unknown reasons. One odd woman flashed a finger at me, which I supposed meant something offensive in their city.

I shrunk lower in my seat and turned away, having seen enough for now. Yohann patted my knee in understanding. You’re an outsider to them, and they don’t know why you are here. But I’ll make them see. I’ll show them how special you are.

Later, in my room, a brisk knock woke me from a nap I hadn’t been aware I was in. A girl walked in who seemed to be about my age. She wore a clean dress, though plainly designed and hanging off her well-fed body in an unflattering way. Her hair was light brown and combed, pulled back tightly from her face, emphasizing her round cheeks.

I guess congratulations are in order, the girl’s voice didn’t fluctuate or really change at all. She spoke without emotion or care, but raised her eyebrows and studied me, since she’d obviously seen me watching her. The girl appeared to be sizing me up, not just glancing. She rubbed me the wrong way, looking me over so boldly.

For what? I asked, keeping my voice neutral. She shrugged and said nothing. And who are you? I questioned, hoping to receive an answer this time.

She dipped low to mock me. I’m your servant, Odessa. Pleased to meet you.

Previously, I would’ve been opposed to having a servant, but the girl needed a job and I needed practice controlling people.

Being the almost-queen, I could’ve had her removed. But just the knowledge that I had the option to control people’s lives in such major ways overwhelmed me. I decided not to. For the sake of my own sanity, I couldn’t ruin other people’s lives on my first day.

Reading the unhidden disdain on her face, I wondered if it was personal and not due to a personality flaw. Maybe she wanted off my service because I was a foreigner to her and that was why she was being unfriendly. And I remembered Yohann telling me that foreigners weren’t taken to very fast here. So by keeping her on, potentially I was doing the opposite of what she wanted.

I smirked at her. The pleasure is mine.

Servants appeared dull but well taken care of here, if I could make a generalization from the servants I’d seen so far. It seemed like a boring job for them, not something they desperately needed and put all their energy into. The dynamics of this city confused me.

Do you value your job? I asked innocently.

Odessa’s face turned dark immediately and she met my eyes with panic. Of course. Why would you ask such a question?

The servants here are just different from what I’m used to, I answered honestly.

The girl looked puzzled, but before she could speak what harbored in her mind, a soft knock rapped at the door, caused by someone with small knuckles.

Ally, are you awake? Darcy’s voice called out.

Panic mode turned on. Thus far, Darcy had been overwhelmed by the city and hadn’t had time to ask about her brother, but I knew that eventually she’d need an answer. I just wasn’t prepared to give it to her. How could I possibly explain what I’d done, why Jared wasn’t with us? If I would’ve been smarter, I would have gotten all of us out. Jared would be sitting in my room with Darcy and I, like one big happy family. How could I explain how careless and stupid I was or the consequences that befell because of it?

Short answer, I couldn’t.

Throwing myself under my sheets, I whispered frantically to Odessa, my new servant, Tell her I’m sleeping.

I knew lying wasn’t above this girl, but she looked at me with a small amount of disgust. Odessa saw my first show of cowardice, and surely there’d be more to come. If only she knew my past, then I’d be lucky to get a look as mild as the one still smeared across her face like a milk mustache. I hated myself right then. I hated that I showed no bravery and didn’t own up to my wrongdoings.

Not really caring to get involved, Odessa shrugged her shoulders and did as I instructed. Good servant, I thought in my head, as if I was speaking to an obedient dog.

Hours later, knots of guilt still festered in my stomach. I’d tried to shut my eyes and escape my own lies, but sleep saw my heart and decided to be angry with me for my behavior. I didn’t deserve to shut my lids and escape, if only for a few minutes, so I escaped instead to my expansive balcony.

If this balcony hadn’t been so sparkling and over-the-top grand in a simple, yet complicated and beautiful way—if the whole city hadn’t been that way—then I might have thought back to my room at Warren’s and considered my old circumstances, but the view outside of my room captured my breath. I didn’t think words could describe an inch of the perfection facing me. I saw the reddest of apples hanging on trees in an orchard about a mile away. I saw those weird machines move around, the ones carrying people, with lights to help guide them. The sun began to set and it cast a glow to everything in the city, making it seem more alive than it already did.

But in front of me, oh man, in front of me was the most remarkable thing I’d ever seen. It couldn’t be from this earth, its radiance was that impressive and that equally impossible. Outside my balcony, only yards away, stood a massive courtyard, full of benches and plants, but that wasn’t the main attraction. The delicately-crafted lawn statues and the gold lighted trees were just a side story—seriously though, the trees seemed to be made of gold. The main attraction, that completely blew me away, dwelled in a colossal waterfall coming from the roof next to me. It made no noise, didn’t even hint at the sheer power it held as its water plummeted from about seven stories up to the ground below, forming a clear pool. The water must have been fake because it was tinted light purple, but I didn’t want to think about that because it sparkled and I couldn’t find it in me to be bothered by the fact that the beauty wasn’t real because there it endured, right in front of me, and why shouldn’t I enjoy it?

A pang went through me as I took a moment to feel sorry for myself. Someone should’ve been up here to enjoy this with me, but I’d hurt everyone who’d gotten close to me. Because of me, my parents were dead; Jared as well probably; and Maverick was left behind. I’d even taken his dream from him, his dream to be a builder in the Rich District and make something of himself.

I stayed on the balcony for hours, fatigue severely hitting me, but I didn’t try to sleep. I stood at the rail and contemplated jumping out and trying to reach the waterfall. I imagined myself soaring through the air and becoming one with the water. This idea I blamed on my tired self not being able to form reasonable thoughts so late. Logic told me that I would never make it to the waterfall or the pool; they were just a foot or two too far.

The Rebirth had fully ensnared me. I was awed and in love with everything I saw.

However, as I studied the dazzling city for a few more hours, I noticed the stars made no appearance. The commotion of the city completely masked them. I’d never known stars until Warren’s, since I’d been locked up in my house at night praying to live. But since Warren’s, they’d become a comfort to me, something consistent.

Now they were gone and I wondered how much else would change.

I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Chapter Two

Days later, I was still struggling. I’d promised myself to let Ally go, but watching her literally leave the districts altogether made my heart burn in a completely new way. She had told me about people who lived outside the canyon, but she’d sounded crazy. Now she was off in some place that I had no real information about. It served to be ten times worse now that I didn’t know what would happen to her or what she was getting herself into this time. The fact that I would never know what happened to her ate me alive. I’d have to live my life wondering if the love of my life finally found eternal happiness or if she was being held as a prisoner. Anything was possible and my mind couldn’t handle it all.

My family tried to understand. I’d told them vaguely about Ally leaving in the carriage and, though they didn’t seem to fully accept my explanation about a city outside our districts, they didn’t question me and left me alone. I tried to work with my father and brother, but discovered it to be unbelievably difficult to accomplish anything. Work used to help me get my mind off things. Now I just felt hopeless.

However, a few hours a day I sucked it up because I loved my family. And Devin could use all the instruction available to him. I had to remind myself that someone in this family still had a real shot at a decent future. Besides, my family had just become whole and I didn’t want to fracture it in any way.

Right now though, I needed my alone time. I sat by the river Ally and I used to frequent. I thought back on the first day she visited me after leaving, how different and downright gorgeous she’d looked, like inhumanly possible. I kept this picture of her in my mind, the girl who had been changing in front of me. I should have known right then that things would never end up in favor of us.

And I held the blame. I waited too long to tell her how I felt and by the time she realized she had the same feelings, time worked against us and I forced myself to leave her alone with Warren. A decision that seemed right at the time, but that I’d forever regret because ultimately she’d wanted to get away so badly that she’d left with someone else, someone I didn’t know. That killed me. The not knowing.

Someone cleared their throat behind me. I turned to see Jared standing there. The guy who’d watched out for Ally since I was unable to. I would be forever indebted to him for helping her up there, however he had.

His almost-black hair had grown longer since I’d seen him, and his face and arms showcased bruises as if he’d been in a fight recently. His lip was cracked and blood dried nastily under his nose. I took it that breaking him open and understanding him proved to be a challenge to whoever tried. His unreadable eyes hinted at this much. The way he stood with his arms crossed, giving nothing away, infuriated me without me wanting it to. He stood not in a defensive way, but as if he had secrets to protect.

Brushing myself off, I stood to greet him. Jared, hey. I didn’t expect to see you here. I decided to not bombard him with questions right away, though it killed me to not knock him over and pound information out of him. He is a friend, I told myself, we don’t hurt friends.

He lived in the Rich District. What the heck was he doing here cutting in on my sulking session?

Jared stared angrily at the ground—at what, I did not know. I beat up Warren.

I had to fight the urge to give him a high five, my hand itched so badly to raise itself and give him props, but I could tell that for him that action was a lot more serious. I waited a few moments as he watched the river trickle by, letting him take his time because I knew there was more he had to say.

"I walked in to say goodbye to Ally. I knew she wasn’t going to listen to my arguments against her leaving, so I at least wanted to see her off, maybe give it one more shot. I don’t know. I don’t know what I was thinking, but when I walked in there I saw Warren all over her and I thought of nothing but pounding his face in. So I did. He lost a few teeth on his way down. But unfortunately, taking out the bad guy doesn’t get you stardom in the Rich District. Of course Warren would send me off to die, or kill me himself.

Us servants try to look out for one another when we can, and the guys Warren sent to ‘dispose’ of me were some that I’d known for years. So they hid me for a few days until everything cooled down a bit in the palace and I could be snuck out. They left me out here this morning and I don’t blame them. If they’d helped me any more than they had already, they would join my fate. Warren believes I’m dead. The servants are going to tell him that they killed me and I doubt he will care enough to come looking. He was a mess these past days. The whole mansion could hear him crying and screaming over losing Ally.

Tears of anger and hate formed in my eyes. This blame I accepted and added to my ever-growing vault of regret. I’d left Ally in the hands of that monster and another guy had had to get her out of it, putting his own life in danger. I should’ve been the one to save her. Honestly, I never should have left her there, not when it was clear how badly she wanted to be with me. If I’d known she was going to run off no matter what I’d done, no way would I have allowed it to be with anyone else.

Who took her?

Yohann, he saw my confusion and continued, there’s this other city—

Ally told me about that, get to the point, I urged him.

He’s the king of the city and he offered to make Ally his queen. I don’t know what he needs her for and I don’t trust the guy, but I’m glad she got away from Warren. The man loves her in his own demented way, but Ally wouldn’t have lasted long.

My head spun. Ally, Allison Frey, is going to become Queen of a city? How is that possible?

I don’t know much about it, honestly. I don’t. He’s creepy and there’s something weird about him, but now I believe that it was the best choice for her.

I ran my hands over my face and through my hair, which I then remembered I’d chopped off because I’d been so upset and my long hair only brought memories of the girl I loved. This isn’t happening. We have to do something. We have to—

Maverick, I know you want to help her, but I really don’t see a way. And that’s coming from someone who’d do almost anything for her. The man’s got more power than either of us can fathom and we don’t have a clue where his city is. Just know that she’s somewhere better.

But you just said there was something off about this Yohann guy and that you don’t trust him. What about that? I’m not leaving Ally in the hands of another stranger! I can’t let her get hurt any more than she already has.

Jared looked at me with fierce eyes. That and his bruises made him look quite scary. Listen to me, he spoke slowly. There’s nothing we can do. Let it go.

Jared started to walk away, as if this conversation was anywhere close to over. I didn’t know what went through his mind. Sure, he knew Ally’s situation better than me and I hated that, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around leaving Ally.

Where are you going? I called out after him. It’s dangerous here, you know.

I’m going to look for my mom. I refuse to believe she’s dead.

Thinking fast, I offered, Do you need somewhere to stay? Nights are particularly unpleasant around here and you’ll need shelter. If he stuck around, maybe I could slowly work on him and get him to change his mind about Ally.

Jared nodded reluctantly. I could tell that he wasn’t used to accepting help, but he needed it and he knew that, so I led him to the metal shelter, explaining that my parents wouldn’t approve of him living with us, but he’d be hidden safely in the shelter for awhile. I showed him how to lock and open the inside door and stalked off to go help my brother, leaving Jared to do whatever he pleased. He seemed like a good guy, but I wasn’t concerned about his personality or character as long as he could help me get Ally back.

Chapter Three

The next couple of days I spent exploring my new home. I hadn’t been given a royal tour or anything, but I preferred it that way. Endless halls and rooms existed for the purpose of my exploration. It should’ve overwhelmed me more than it did; I’d taken so much in that nothing shocked me too badly anymore. The vast and showy rooms pleased my eyes; I spotted displays of wealth in every decoration from the vases to the end tables, from the chair legs to the gold curtain rods. Gold was a theme at Yohann’s palace, this I could tell. Even from the outside the whole building radiated gold, proving it’s wealth to the whole city.

From the tallest tower of the palace, I still couldn’t see to the end of the city, and I’d never experienced such enormousness before. The palace had to take up five blocks at least; it’s height so impressive that I knew it could be spotted from anywhere in the city, which was an amazing feat in a city this size.

If I was honest with myself, the main reason I’d spent my days exploring the palace—and I still hadn’t seen everything—wasn’t because I couldn’t wait to see my new home. It rested in the safety that because of the sheer size of the dwelling, Darcy would never be able to find me. I’d been avoiding her since we got here and I felt terrible, but I couldn’t deal with what I’d done.

Besides, I’d convinced myself that all Darcy knew of life was being a servant and now she received the chance at being a guest. The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind to ask on her behalf that Yohann not make her work, but he hadn’t even questioned it. He made her a guest all on his own. This also plagued my conscience, that I hadn’t even been able to see her as anything more than a servant, so I hoped she was really enjoying some R and R from her hard past. I convinced myself I was doing her a favor. The longer I abstained from seeing her, the longer she could go without the truth about Jared.

Passing by an open doorway, I saw a brilliant library and backtracked, entering the room. The shelves of books stretched on until they disappeared, and the shelves went up so