The Star Caster by Jamie Loeak

claim.
    “Your morals don’t matter any longer. You are someone that is meant to be used. You are a tool. You don’t make decisions for yourself any longer.”
    I yank my hand from Sterren’s grip and place both on my hips. I am about to go white-girl-crazy on this weirdo. He seriously needs to be committed or something. I raise my right hand automatically, something that I always do when I’m pushing to get my point across. “Listen up, Crazies,” I start to say.
    Then, Sterren clears his throat, interrupting my train of thought.
    I turn and glare at him, because no one interrupts me when I’m trying to win a case.
    Sterren just shakes his head. And just like last time, it pulls me back. I take a deep breath and focus on releasing my pent up anger as I exhale. Breathe in and let it all out.
    “Let’s go,” he says as he grabs my hand. I mumble assent and turn from Ego and Val. I follow Sterren as he leads me back into the dungeon.
    “Am I supposed to just let them use me?” I ask him.
    Sterren keeps walking deeper into the darkness. “ We do what we must, Danika. We focus on our survival as of now.”
    I sigh inwardly.
    Sterren stops, sensing my unrest. He turns and looks into my eyes. I look back into his, wishing that he would show his gold one. Why does he insist on wearing his hair so that no one can see it?
    “We do need them to survive,” Sterren says. “Why? Because they are the only way out of the tomb.”
    “How?” I ask seriously. “There’s no secret password is there? Probably not. So, why can’t we just run? We could wait until they left us.”
    “I don’t even know how to get out of here,” he says slowly, carefully. He looks down at the ground as he admits this, like I would be angry.
    My jaw does drop, but I hold it together. Of course he didn’t know where we were or how to leave. They didn’t trust him, and they were right not to have done so.
    Sterren looks back up at me slowly. “I’m sorry that I can’t save you,” he says. “But,” he adds, “there is always a way to escape.”
    “How?” I beg him.
    Sterren lifts his hand and taps the side of his head. “Your imagination is stronger than anything. It saves all enslaved Star Casters. There, we can create our own worlds.”
    I scoff at him, almost enraged that he has tricked me.
    But all Sterren does is nod. “Let me show you,” he says as he takes both of my hands and pulls me further into the dark tunnel.
    When we stop, he bends to grab the oil lamp that barely flickers. He pulls out a vial of oil that has been concealed in his jeans pocket and replenishes the lamp.
    I watch him move. He is quick in his movements, purposeful but quick. He has such a nice body that I could watch him work or move all day. I wouldn’t really care what he did. I would just watch. I sigh as I let these thoughts sink in. They torture me and I bite my lower lip, uncertain of everything right now. I need this to end soon, this uncertainty.
    Sterren turns around and smiles knowingly. He reaches his hand out and pulls me down until we are seated around the light. The orange glow casts a shadow over his face, drawing the attention to his mouth. Gosh, I want to kiss it; I want to kiss him until I’m dizzy.
    “Wishes,” Sterren starts. “Obviously you know that we grant three wishes per captor. The people that use us for their bidding do not own us. We are merely their captives. Then, once they earn their three wishes, we are set free from th em, and they can never use us again.”
    “So, I’ m guessing that Star Casters don’t live in lamps.”
    Sterren shakes his head and laughs. “Never have.”
    “Then how are we even captured? It’s not like they can take our lamps.”
    “We can be captured like all others. When I was captured by Ego and Val, I was in hiding. The last of the Star Casters were in a safe haven. Humans had become greedier with their wishes and wants. After using us for their third wish, they would kill