UNDER THE SAME SKY

CHAPTER 2: So Close Yet So Distant

CELESTINE POV

The plane touched down, and there it was - Caelum spreading out beneath me, spires glinting silver against a sky so blue it felt like it couldn’t be real. My fingers clamped tight to the armrests until my knuckles went white. Sam reached over and gave my arm a soft, steady squeeze.

“We’re here,” she whispered.

“Breathe, okay?”

When we stepped outside, the air hit me different crisp, fresh, smelling sweet, like flowers I’d never seen before. We walked together toward the glass doors, but just before we reached them, they slowed down.

“This is where we leave you for now,” Stella said gently.

My heart sank. “You’re not coming with me?”

Luna softly smiled , but sure. “The Ashworth’s want to meet you first. But we won’t be far, I promise.”

Sam pulled me into a hug so tight it squeezed some of the nerves right out of me.

“Remember what we practiced, yeah? Keep it quiet. Be polite. Don’t get too close. If you don’t know what to say… just smile and nod. Liorah did that all the time.”

“And what if I mess up?” My voice came out smaller than I wanted it to.

“Then laugh it off,” Stella said, giving my hand a little squeeze.

“Just… don’t look too happy. Liorah was… well, she didn’t smile much.”

I nodded, trying to lock it all in my head. Quiet. Polite. Not too happy.

“Text us the second you can,” Luna said.

“Anytime. Day or night. We’re there.”

We hugged one last time , three of them holding me up all at once and then they turned and walked away, vanishing into the crowd. I stood there alone for a second, suitcase in hand, feeling smaller than I ever had back home. Then I lifted my chin, straightened my shoulders, and walked toward the elegant couple waiting by the car.

Madame Lorelei stepped right to me and wrapped her arms around me , warm, soft, like she’d been waiting for me.

“Thank you,” she whispered right in my ear, quiet and tender, right there in the hug.

Sir Luke smiled at me gently and kind. “Welcome. Let’s get you home.”

I just nodded, my throat a little tight, and got in.

LORELEI POV

The car was quiet, but my mind wouldn’t slow down. I kept glancing at her from the corner of my eye — sitting straight, hands folded tight in her lap, eyes wide, drinking in everything we passed like she was scared to miss a single thing. She looked exactly like Liorah. Same face, same eyes. But everything else? It was so different. Liorah would’ve been fixing her hair, complaining about the traffic, asking every five minutes how much longer. This girl? She looked like the whole world was something wonderful.

When the gates swung open and we pulled up, I saw her breath catch. Marble columns, fountains sparkling in the sun, flowers all in perfect rows , this was the home our Liorah grew up in. And now… here was someone else standing in her place.

We led her inside. The hallway stretched long and bright, lined with our family portraits — our people, our history — and there, near the stairs, was that painting of Liorah at sixteen. So beautiful… and so alone. Celestine stopped right in front of it.

“She’s lovely,” she said, soft, like she was talking to herself.

“She is,” I said, and my throat felt tight.

“Come on. Let’s sit.”

We went into the study - warm wood, books all the way up the walls. Luke poured tea while I sat right beside her.

“How was the trip?” I asked, reaching for her hand. I wanted her to feel safe here, not just… a replacement.

“It was fine,” she smiled , but I could see the nerves underneath. She was still looking around, eyes big, like she couldn’t believe any of this was real.

“For three days,” Luke said, setting her cup down gently. “Just three days. That’s all. On the third day, you’ll meet the Thorne’s properly. Until then… rest. Learn what you need to. And stick close to us, okay?”

“Three days,” she repeated, quiet.

“And after that?”

“After that… we hope we’ve found Liorah,” I told her honestly. “If not… you’ll step in for her. Just enough to keep things steady while we look. That’s all.”

I handed her the little card with dates, times, everything written down neat.

“Here’s the plan. Day after tomorrow , we will just have a formal dinner . Then… the third day, you go to the Thorne house. You’ll meet Madame Thorne. And you’ll meet Dylan.”

“Dylan,” she whispered. Like she was testing the name. “Her fiancé.”

“You don’t have to be perfect,” I squeezed her hand. “Don’t pressure yourself. We’ll tell you everything about him so you know what to expect.” I looked at Luke.

“Dylan Ace Thorne,” he said. “He’s… quiet. Serious. He never asked for this marriage — not really. Neither did Liorah. But he takes his duties seriously. He honors what’s expected of him.”

I leaned in a little closer. “And… no one else knows. Not the staff, not a soul outside this room. We told everyone Liorah’s been unwell, that she needs rest and quiet. That’s all they know.”

Celestine looked down at her hands. “I just… I really hope she comes back soon.”

Then she took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and I saw it: that quiet strength. “I’ll do my best. For her. Until she’s home.”

We showed her around then — the rooms, the gardens, the guest room where she’d stay — and left her to rest. It had been such a long, heavy day for all of us.

Later, when it was just me and Luke standing in the hallway, I turned to him, my voice small. “Do you think we can make it through this? That everything will turn out… right?”

He pulled me in close, held me tight. “We will. Somehow. We will.”

CELESTINE POV

The next day dragged on forever. I wandered around the mansion — beautiful, yeah, but so quiet it felt like it was holding its breath. By afternoon, I was climbing the walls. I’d memorized every name, every time, every note Liorah had written until my eyes burned. I just… needed out.

I grabbed my phone and typed fast: Guys, I wanna see you! Where are we meeting?

Sam texted right back: Grand Mall main entrance. Don’t go anywhere alone — we’ll send the driver to pick you up. Just wait at the gate, okay?

I grinned, already slipping my shoes on. No need! I’m coming myself!

Before I could overthink it — before anyone could stop me — I slipped out the side door. I’d been watching the buses go by all morning — bright, full of people, heading straight into the city. I didn’t wanna just see Caelum through car windows anymore. I wanted to be there.

I walked to the stop, waited a few minutes, and hopped right on when it pulled up. Paid my fare, sat by the window, and smiled the whole ride — watching the streets roll by, shops glowing, people laughing on corners. It felt like my own little adventure.

When I got off near the center, I stood there on the sidewalk, turning this way and that. The Grand Mall should be around here somewhere… I craned my neck, staring up at all the tall buildings and signs, so busy looking for it I didn’t watch my feet.

I stepped forward — right off the curb.

And then everything happened all at once.

A sleek black car came whipping around the corner — way too fast — heading straight for me. I froze. It didn’t slow down. Didn’t honk. Just kept coming.

I jumped back just in time, stumbling and catching myself hard on a stone planter. My heart pounded so hard I thought it’d burst right out of my chest. The car screeched to a halt — inches from where I’d been standing.

The window rolled down.

And there he was.

Dark hair, sharp jaw, eyes like storm clouds — staring at me like I was the one in the wrong.

“Can’t you watch where you’re going?” he snapped.

I stared at him, breath caught. Excuse me?!

“You were driving!” I shot back, fear turning straight to fire. “You came out of nowhere! You didn’t even slow down!”

“I was on the correct side of the road,” he said, voice cold and sharp. “You stepped right into my path without looking. Are you completely incapable of basic awareness?”

“I was trying to find the mall!” I said, stepping closer. “I wasn’t paying attention — fine! But you were going way too fast! You almost hit me!”

“And you clearly have no idea how this city works,” he said, looking me up and down like I was something he’d stepped in. “Wherever you’re from — people don’t just wander into traffic like lost children. It’s incredibly ignorant.”

“Ignorant?” My voice got louder. “You nearly ran me over and I’m the ignorant one?!”

“If you’d been paying even a little attention —”

“If you’d been driving like a normal person instead of some maniac —”

“Maniac?” He actually looked offended. “I was driving perfectly fine. You were the one being reckless.”

“I wasn’t reckless!” My hands shook. “I was lost! I was looking for something! That doesn’t give you the right to speed and then yell at me like I did something terrible!”

“But you did do something terrible,” he said, icy as ever. “You’re in a place you don’t understand, acting like nothing matters but you. It’s astonishing how little you care about your own safety — or anyone else’s.”

“My fault?” I laughed, sharp and bitter. “You’re behind the wheel! You have all the power here! And you’re blaming the person you almost killed? That’s not just rude — that’s cowardly.”

His jaw tightened so hard I could see it. “You speak far too freely for someone who’s entirely in the wrong.”

“And you listen far too little for someone who’s supposed to be a grown-up!” I fired right back.

“You think just because you have a fancy car and nice suit you can do whatever you want? Everyone should just jump out of your way?”

“Rules exist for a reason,” he said.

“ And money doesn’t make you right,” I said. “It just makes you loud. And you’re proving that perfectly.”

We glared at each other — neither of us backing down. His eyes were dark, angry, burning into mine like he was memorizing my face just so he could remember to hate it.

“Move,” he said,

“Before someone actually gets hurt next time.”

“Next time?” I scoffed. “Keep driving like this and there won’t be a next time — for anyone.”

He didn’t say another word. Just stared at me one last time — cold, sharp, like I was nothing — rolled the window up, and sped away.

I stood there, trembling, watching him go.

Who does he think he is?