I stayed away too long.

My desire to experience this place overtook my logic.

I was here for a week, I had never taken that long to complete a mission. They would notice. They would have to notice. And due to my status, how important to the survival of our clan they considered me…

It was only a matter of time until they sent someone to retrieve me.

I guess I didn't want to think about too much.

It was a week after I had arrived when he showed up. Astoria had me sitting in her room, judging various outfits that she had bought the day before.

"What do you think about this one? Too casual?"

She popped out from behind her changing screen in a short, blue dress with a series of flowers at the bottom. She did a few turns to let me see it properly, but my answer hasn't changed.

"I think it looks great Astoria," I answered. Her arms fell in defeat, puffing her cheeks out at me.

"Velvet! You're not helping! Which one looks better!?" She cried, crossing her arms in annoyance. I felt my heartbeat quicken nervously, looking around the room. What was I doing wrong? She asked for my opinions on her outfits and I gave her my honest opinion every time. What was wrong?

"You've asked for my opinion, and I've given it. What's wrong?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

Astoria sighed, walking over to sit down on the edge of her bed.

"I just want to look good for Sound! We haven't gone on many dates, and every time we have, one of us has either overdressed or underdressed! I just want this to be perfect!" She cried, falling back against her bed.

Underdressed? Like not enough clothes? I decided not to press that topic. I stood up and walked over to her, sitting down next to her.

"Hey, if Sound cares about you as much as you say, you could show up in a sack, and he'd say you're beautiful," I tried, hoping it would help. I always found myself mentally panicking when Astoria would get upset, not knowing how to reassure her properly. Sometimes, I'd only make it worse.

Astoria sighed, rolling over onto her stomach. I guess it didn't work?

She shot up.

"YOU KNOW WHAT!? You're right Velvet! As long as I show up it doesn't matter what I wear! Thanks, Velvet!" She screamed happily, jumping off the bed and locking her arms around my shoulders in a sudden hug.

I felt my heart pound against my ribcage and my face flush. I awkwardly reached up and patted her shoulder, not sure how to return the sudden display of affection.

She held me close for a few seconds before letting go and leaping away, racing out of the room.

I sighed heavily, rubbing the back of my neck in slight embarrassment. I leaned back on the bed to stare up at the ceiling.

I heard Astoria clambering through the halls screaming after her Mother, asking for some kind of accessories. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the sound as a question bubbled up in my mind.

Something was starting to bother me. My Clan. I had been here for over a week, and I hadn't seen any Star Clan activity nearby. Why was that? Normally, we would hunt down any members who took too long to complete their missions.

So why hasn't anyone come to retrieve me? With my status, I figured they would come for me much earlier than most. So why? Why was I still here?

I pinched the bridge of my nose, furrowing my brows in worry.

What should I do? Do I leave? Do I wait for them to come?

Without warning, Astoria burst back into the room wearing a knee-length, blue dress. It had pale white frills at the bottom and flowers decorating the skirt. She had a pair of matching blue sandals in her hand. She spun on her heels, twirling a few times before stopping to swing her hands behind her back.

"Well? How do I look?" She asked, flipping her long braid behind her shoulder.

I felt my face grow hot with embarrassment, my heart pounding against my ribcage.

"You look… nice. Sound will love it," I answered, nodding my head in approval. The albino blushed softly, looking down at her dress.

"Thanks, Velvet! OH! Sound is waiting for me outside, I gotta go!"

I rose a brow, "You were debating your outfit not minutes before your date? No offense but that's poor planning."

She stuck out her tongue, crinkling her nose at me. She spun on her heels and skipped out, giving me a wave before she left.

"I'll be back around ten~"

I pursed my lip, wondering what on Earth would take a whole day. I didn't press her, knowing she was eager to leave and see her boyfriend. It made my chest ache, thinking that the angel was taken.

This place was starting to wear away my judgment. I didn't know if it was good for me to stay here too much longer should I risk becoming as stupid as some of the people in my clan.

I needed to talk to Astoria tonight when she came home.

I never did get to speak with her. It was around nine when it happened.

Needing to clear my head before I had my discussion with Astoria, I decided to go on a walk through the woods behind the house. I passed the lake where I first saw Astoria and deeper into the thicket of trees.

I walked silently for ten minutes or so, sitting down on a fallen tree log. I leaned back against a nearby rock, looking at the snippets of the sky peeking through the trees.

I needed to leave. If I didn't I would put both Astoria and her mother at risk. This was easy to understand and even easier for me to act upon. All I had to do was leave, and they would be safe as long as I kept my clan away from them.

Then why was I having such a hard time carrying it out? Whenever I thought about telling her I was going to leave, I would picture her saddened face in my mind, and my heart would ache.

I was slowly turning into one of those failures. Those who had lost their will to the mission at hand under the influence of their victim. Astoria was my victim. My target. To think I had nearly slit that girl's throat with my blade and would've bathed my face in her blood. The thought made me nauseous.

I lowered my head in defeat, knowing that to keep her safe, I would have to leave. I needed to do it tonight. If I stayed any longer, an agent would certainly come.

"You."

I felt my heart stop, and the blood drained from my face. A cold, eerie fear shot up my spine as I jumped to my feet and whirled around, seeing a face that struck fear into my heart.

White Star.

His crimson eyes were bloodshot and full of rage. His teeth were gnashed together in a snarl, and his fists were clenched to the point his knuckles had gone white. He took a threatening step forward.

"Where the HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!? SLACKING OFF I SEE!? WHAT WAS WITH THAT REGAIN MY SKILLS BULLSHIT YOU PULLED BACK HOME IF YOU JUST CAME TO SIT AROUND AND DO NOTHING!?"

White Star took no time in popping the lid and unleashing his rath, advancing on me angrily.

I held up an arm when he reached up to seize me by the collar of my shirt, his eyes boring into my soul.

"What game are you playing woman? If you think you can run from me and stay hidden then you're dead wrong!" He spat, lifting me off the ground.

Run?

They thought I fled.

I snatched White Star's wrist, prying his offending fingers from my shirt and dropping back to the ground.

"If you would shut your mouth for a damned second, I'll tell you why I've taken so long," I snapped, thinking of various lies on the spot. The only way I could convince him was to lie and say that I needed to end up taking more than one life.

That was the only acceptable reason for anyone to take so long on a mission.

White Star, however, didn't want to hear it. He lifted his fist and swung it, his knuckles cutting clean across my jaw.

"I don't want your damned excuses! You better pray to the Great Divines above for mercy because when I'm done with you no one will recognize you anymore!"

I gripped my face, rubbing my wounded face as White Star looked ready to beat the ever-living shit out of me.

"There were more," I started, seeing him rear up to deliver his beating. Or at least try. If he thought I would let him beat me up without defending myself he was dead wrong.

"More WHAT!?" He screamed, raising his fists.

"More victims! I had to kill more than one! The whole family was a disgrace! If I had left them alone this place would be poisoned! It's taken me a week because I need to eradicate the whole family!"

White Star's eyes widened in disbelief, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Really now? Where's the blood?"

Of course he'd ask about that.

"The blood was beginning to stain, and as you know we can't have that happen to The Shadow. So I would only wear the blood for about an hour. I just finished washing off the blood and was getting ready to leave. But as usual, your impatient ass couldn't wait," I explained, glaring up at him.

White Star snarled at me, looking off to the side angrily. I was going to assume he not only believed me, but also was disappointed that he had no reason to harm me now.

"Fine. Finish up whatever bullshit you're doing now. I'm heading back… but don't expect a warm welcome when you get home!"

White Star stomped off, the leaves cracking underneath his feet.

I sighed heavily, waiting until he was out of sight before I moved back towards the house.

I knew it.

I fucking knew it! I should've left! This was bound to happen! Now Astoria was at risk, and if I wasn't far behind White Star, he'd come back and see that I was lying. I was surprised he took the bait so quickly, but I had to make sure this stuck.

When the house was back in sight, I quickly scaled the wall and climbed into Astoria's room. I rushed over to her desk, pulling a piece of paper out of the printer and a pen from her pencil holder.

I quickly scribbled down a small note, my handwriting messier than normal. I was shaking, so terrified of what would happen to her. What could've happened to her.

I slammed the pen down, turning around and exiting through the window. I dropped into the yard and rushed after White Star, needing to make sure that he stayed away from this place and that no one else was here to double-check my work.

I felt something crawl down my cheek, and quickly wiped it away.

Forgive me, Astoria…

Hey look I updated for once!

Sorry about the lack of chapter's last month, I got busy...

But, now we have a new chapter. Short and not so sweet, so let's have a talk about it!

As Velvet predicted, her Clan came looking for her, but luckily, it was White Star. The man is easily swayed as we saw, so she was able to protect Astoria. At least for now.

Life is finally settling down for me, so I'll be writing much more often now! I'm so excited for the next few chapters. There's gonna be a loooot of questions for poor old Velvet.

And with that, this chapter concludes! A Star's Revelation is currently updated twice a month!

NEXT TIME:

Velvet returns to the Star Clan to keep Astoria and her family safe. After assuring no one would go after her, Velvet locks herself away for months on end. She doesn't know what to do. After her realization of their Clan's deeds, she doesn't how she should move forward. Should she simply continue with her Clan, or makes moves to end it?

Find Out Next Time: Questioning One's Self!

~HUGS ALL AROUND~