A Fractured Light (Beautiful Dark)

voice was a low growl.
    Then the rhythm picked up, and she started singing faster, wilder. We were all hooked, moving in time to the music. Her voice rose to a high, sharp clarity. She sounded like wind chimes on speed. Whatever dark issues Cassie was still working through, it was doing wonders for her music.
    It was the best the Mysterious Ellipses had ever played. We danced crazily, like the end of the world was coming and we had to let loose one last time before it did. What only Asher and I knew, though, was that it might. Soon. And that I was the one who might have to bring it.
    Ardith and Gideon walked in, their faces serious. Ardith wore another long skirt that swept the floor, heavy boots, and an armful of gold bangles. Gideon wore jeans and a faded Rolling Stones T-shirt under a corduroy blazer. They looked so unassuming, like kids I might go to school with—but I couldn’t help feeling nervous as they scanned the Bean, as if looking for trouble. When they spotted Asher, he stopped dancing and stood straighter. “Be right back,” he muttered.
    My heart beat fast as I turned around to face the stage. Was something happening? I tried to listen to the music but kept sneaking glances at the back of the room, where the three of them had their heads bent in serious conversation. Not one of them looked up at me. I turned my attention back to the stage.
    “Man, I missed her,” I said to Dan.
    “She missed you, too,” he said. “You know, she was really torn up about it.”
    “I just want things to go back to normal between us.”
    “Then you may have to tell her the real reason why you left,” he said, turning to me.
    “I—I didn’t—there’s nothing—” I sputtered. Of all the people in my life, somehow, in that moment I remembered why Dan was my oldest friend. He didn’t talk much, but when he did, he meant every word.
    “Skye,” he said. “You were acting strange long before you left. You don’t think we know something’s going on with you? All she wants is for you to tell her the truth.”
    “I did tell her the truth,” I lied. Dan looked at me pointedly.
    “Give me some credit.”
    I swallowed. “You don’t want to know the truth, too?”
    “I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready. I don’t need everything right this minute like Cassie does. You’ve been my friend since kindergarten. I’m not afraid of you abandoning us. But Cassie—you know her, everything is drama, drama, drama.” He rolled his eyes, but he said it with love. “She needs to be reminded sometimes that you’re her best friend.”
    I looked around. The Bean was packed. People were dancing, music was playing—and there were, I was sure, Guardians everywhere. Across the room, where he was busy ringing up someone’s coffee, Ian glanced up and met my eye, frowning slightly. I turned to Dan. “Will you believe me when I say that I want to tell you, I just can’t right now?”
    “Look, are you in trouble?” he asked. “Because telling me will help. We’ll get you help, Skye, whatever you need.”
    “No,” I said. “But I may need your help later. Will you promise to help me?” I knew I was asking a lot of him. Dan couldn’t possibly know that “help” might mean slashing at celestial beings with angelic swords or standing back as I lobbed a fireball at someone who was trying to kill me. But I knew that I would one day—soon—need his help. And Cassie’s and Ian’s. Even if it was just understanding when I needed to make a choice once and for all about what my future held.
    “Of course I promise,” he said. “I’ve got your back, Skye. Worry not.” And somehow, just these words helped to ease some of my constant fear.
    I glanced back at the bar, where Ian was counting change for someone. He looked up at me again, and this time he cocked his head to one side. He didn’t look angry, more like he was lost in thought. It struck me that he was always watching. Always tentatively observing me when he thought no one else was looking. I’d always thought, somewhat sheepishly, that he’d just been checking me out. But there was something else going on right now that made me wonder. . . .
    Dan slapped his hand on my back and set off to maneuver his way to the front of the stage. My friends aren’t mad at me , I realized. They’re worried about me. I decided to go apologize to Ian. He didn’t deserve the way I’d treated him. I didn’t think I’d ever led him on, but somehow he’d never