《The Starcrossed & The Spectral》 Episode 1: When He First Saw Her When he first saw her, Zethar thought he must be encountering a mirage. She shimmered in the distance like a hologram, but it was impossible. X3 was uninhabited. ¡°Ahoy,¡± he shouted at the mirage. Just to be sure. Across dimensions, on a deserted beach in Isolde¡¯s universe, the sound of his voice echoed through the night, startling her. ¡°Is someone there?¡± she called out, deepening her voice a few octaves to sound more like a man, and less like a lost woman walking alone in the dark. ¡°Ahoy!¡± The sound came again. Louder this time. Further down the shore, Isolde could see a faint incandescent outline that looked vaguely like a man. She froze, pulling her shawl tight. She hadn¡¯t been gone long. Maybe it wasn¡¯t too late to turn around and run back to the house. To the party. And to Aurelian. Instead, she continued to drift towards the voice as if pulled by an unseen tide. Zethar could see her more clearly now. A woman walking to him, but ghostly. Suspended in another world that was not his own. For two revolutions, he had been on a solo mission researching X3¡¯s dimensional overlaps without ever actually encountering one. Could this really be happening now? If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Approaching the glowing shape, Isolde saw that the voice belonged to a male figure, only he was barely there; his features flickering in and out like static on a television set. His voice crackled, ¡°I can see you. Can you see me? Can you hear me?¡± ¡°I can see the shape of you,¡± Isolde said, ¡°And I can hear you.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°My name is Isolde. Where are you?¡± ¡°My name is Zethar. I am a researcher, stationed on X3.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of X3,¡± Isolde said. ¡°Am I imagining you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± he said. ¡°I believe we are in different dimensions.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never encountered anything like this,¡± Zethar admitted. "But perhaps we were meant to find each other, across the impossible." Episode 2: Flickers of Movement and Light Isolde blinked at the apparition that was now speaking to her in flickers of movement and light. ¡°What are you?¡± she asked. ¡°And how is it that you¡¯re here but not really here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a cosmic researcher,¡± Zethar said. ¡°I¡¯ve been studying energetic portals my entire career, and if my atmospheric readings are correct, I believe what we¡¯re experiencing is a kind of rare dimensional anomaly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I still don¡¯t follow,¡± Isolde said. She sensed from the sound of the apparition¡¯s voice that whatever he was describing was profoundly significant to him. He didn¡¯t seem afraid at all, but rather excited at the possibility. ¡°What is the name of your planet?¡± Zethar asked. ¡°I live on Veth,¡± Isolde said. ¡°And this is a living planet?¡± ¡°Yes. There are nearly a thousand in the Cerulean Spiral galaxy. Do you really mean to tell me you¡¯re not from this galaxy?¡± ¡°I am neither from, nor in, any Cerulean Spiral galaxy,¡± Zethar said. ¡°In fact, I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± ¡°And where you¡¯re from,¡± Isolde asked, ¡°There are no living planets?¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°There are some. But they¡¯re rare and very far apart. It can take revolutions to travel between them.¡± ¡°That sounds lonely,¡± she said. ¡°It can be,¡± he said. The air wavered between them, fractured like ripples on water. For a heartbeat, they were nothing more than faint outlines; light bodies flickering in and out of focus. The portal hummed with a low, static charge as if the very fabric of the universe was straining to hold them both in place. ¡°What¡¯s happening now?¡± Isolde said. ¡°The portal,¡± Zethar said, looking down at the numbers on his energy reading meter, which were beginning to plummet. ¡°I think it¡¯s closing.¡± ¡°Will I see you again?¡± Isolde asked, her voice tight as her hand reached unconsciously toward him, then stopped, trembling. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± came the faint reply. The apparition¡¯s light dissipated, leaving Isolde with only the sound of the ocean curling and retreating over the shoreline in a steady rhythm. ¡°I¡¯ll come back this time tomorrow,¡± she called out into the darkness. Episode 3: Or If I Dreamed You Zethar could not eat or sleep. He needed to know if the portal¡ªand the woman who had appeared to him within it¡ª had been a fleeting aberration or the discovery of a lifetime. When the hour arrived, he returned to the same coordinates on X3, electric with anticipation. She had said she would come back at the same time, but what if time flowed differently in Isolde¡¯s dimension? Even the slightest discrepancy could cause them to miss each other entirely. In her own world, Isolde lingered at the back gate of the beach house, surveying the landscape to be sure no one was watching. Aurelian still hadn¡¯t forgiven her for disappearing from the engagement party and it had been a particularly difficult day. Padding along the sand, she could see far away crackles and pops of light in the same spot where Zethar had begun to materialize the night before. Her heart and her pace quickened as she approached. ¡°Ahoy,¡± she said, greeting the light. ¡°You came back,¡± Zethar said. The outline of him was faint and he sounded far away. ¡°I needed to know if you were real,¡± Isolde said, ¡°Or if I dreamed you.¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Would you have been disappointed? If I were a dream?¡± ¡°I think so, yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It''s hard to explain,¡± Isolde said. ¡°I still don''t understand it. But I want to. Why did you come back?¡± ¡°Because I''ve spent most of my life trying to prove the existence of an anomaly like this one,¡± Zethar said. ¡°But nothing had prepared me for finding one. Or finding you. It''s exquisite.¡± Isolde felt herself blush. ¡°You said something last night,¡± she said. ¡° About us being meant to meet¡­¡± ¡°Across the impossible,¡± Zethar finished the sentence, causing Isolde to break into a shy smile. Even through the static waves distorting her image, there was no missing that smile. The energy index was climbing, he noted. The edges of the portal seemed to soften and the anomaly¡¯s otherworldly light spilled brighter into the surrounding darkness. Its flicker slowed from a frantic arhythmic pace to a steady, resolute pulse. Episode 4: Chasing The Faint Hope The next night, Isolde arrived at the beach early. Aurelian was away, so on this night, she had relished the rare opportunity to pack herself a picnic and watch the sunset over the Copernican Ocean. For a few weeks, she had been slipping away to the same spot every midnight, chasing the faint hope of seeing the portal¡ªand Zethar. The enigmatic cosmic researcher had a way of leaving her with the feeling that the universe itself had shifted, revealing possibilities she¡¯d never imagined. Sometimes, they appeared only briefly to one another. Or could only see each other in silent flashes; their words delayed or lost altogether to the void between them. A few other times Isolde and Zethar were able to converse clearly for nearly an hour; mostly trading facts to try and uncover the nature of their dimensional overlap. ¡°How do you suppose it is that you speak the universal language,¡± Isolde asked once. ¡°If we are not in the same universe?¡± ¡°Perhaps we are in the same universe but on divergent timelines,¡± Zethar had replied. ¡°Or it¡¯s possible, we¡¯re truly so far apart that our worlds have yet to discover one another. The very existence of this portal proves how little we truly understand about space or time.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Now, waiting for Zethar after sundown, Isolde prayed this wouldn¡¯t be one of the nights the anomaly failed to manifest. When it finally appeared, it was in a jarring flash further down the shore, the sound of which shattered the air. For a moment, it felt as though even the ocean¡¯s tide had stilled. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± She cried out, running to the light. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Zethar called back. His voice was clearer than it had ever been, and though the light of the portal around him was practically blinding, Isolde could distinguish his features more sharply than any of the times he had appeared before. His eyes were wide and excited. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on something,¡± Zethar explained. ¡°A device that strengthens the portal by stabilizing its energy levels. Makes it easier for us to see and hear one another. It isn¡¯t perfect, but I seem to be making good progress.¡± Episode 5: The Secret of Isolde Down in a cold and dusty crater basin on X3, Zethar set up camp near the portal and began measuring its energy field levels all hours of the day. He had yet to reveal his discovery to his superiors. Although it was certain to secure him a great deal of recognition and a welcome relief from his duties on the desolate planet, he wasn¡¯t ready to share the secret of Isolde. If news of a confirmed portal on X3 were to get out, there was no telling how many intergalactic agencies would become involved. Or what might happen to Isolde if they did. Until he could determine how the dimensional overlap worked exactly, Zethar thought it best to keep quiet. Days passed. Like clockwork, Isolde arrived at her beach on Veth every midnight. Zethar often wished she would come earlier and stay longer, but he could sense a growing unease in her as the nights deepened. Sometimes, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that she always seemed to be looking over her shoulder, as if watching for something¡ªor someone¡ªjust beyond the reach of the portal¡¯s lens, where her world blurred into vague shapes, too mercurial for him to make sense of. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. One evening, when he could no longer contain his curiosity, he asked Isolde, ¡°What is it behind you, out there in the distance, that troubles you so?¡± Isolde paused for a very long time before answering. ¡°Oh, I know I should have told you sooner,¡± she said, quietly. Going visible and then invisible in weak waves as she spoke. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone,¡± Isolde said, ¡°I¡¯m promised to someone. He wouldn¡¯t approve of me being out here. Or with you.¡± Zethar¡¯s chest tightened, an emptiness stretching within him like the void between distant stars. He was a solitary speck in the vastness, unable to bridge the cosmic divide that separated them. Episode 6: A Feeling He Hadnt Dared To Name Having just confessed to Zethar about her engagement to Aurelian through a tear in the fabric of time and space, Isolde felt herself go nearly faint from shame. ¡°I see,¡± Zethar said after a long silence. ¡°You are promised to him. Does that mean you love him?¡± ¡°No,¡± Isolde said, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s our families. We have to be married to make their alliance official. We have been promised to one another since birth.¡± ¡°Duty to one¡¯s family is commendable,¡± Zethar said. ¡°I used to think so too.¡± ¡°And now?¡± ¡°Now I wonder if it¡¯s worth it. Sacrificing everything else. Adventure. Romance. Agency over one''s own destiny.¡± ¡°What changed to make you feel this way?¡± ¡°The portal,¡± Isolde said. ¡°And meeting you.¡± ¡°There must be some other way,¡± Zethar said. ¡°Tell your family you refuse.¡± ¡°I assure you, they won¡¯t hear it,¡± Isolde said. ¡°I¡¯ve only ever been a collateral as far as they¡¯re concerned. My father sold me off to pay a debt before I was even born. And of course, we can¡¯t exactly afford to cross The Lunaris family.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know the Lunaris family, we must really be from different dimensions,¡± Isolde said with a dry laugh. She retrieved a cigarette from her sweater pocket and lit it before continuing. ¡°They¡¯re one of the most powerful families on Veth and their bloodline extends across multiple galaxies. No one dares to defy them. Those who have tried have all disappeared under mysterious circumstances.¡± She took a long drag of the cigarette and exhaled. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind if I smoke?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind at all,¡± Zethar said, fiddling with one of the energy meters to keep his hands busy. Watching the ember flare and fade with her inhale seemed to stir something unbidden within him, a feeling he hadn¡¯t dared to name in years. ¡°I quit before I came to X3,¡± he said. ¡°Not enough room on my ship for a five-year supply of non-necessities and not a shop to be found around these parts. The smell of it does make me miss it though.¡± He paused, their eyes locking as the portal¡¯s flickering steadied. Together, they watched a ribbon of smoke drift from Isolde¡¯s world, cross the divide, and unfurl into Zethar¡¯s. Episode 7: A Flimsy Yarn It was nearly sunrise when Isolde returned home. After discovering the portal¡¯s ability to carry a plume of smoke across dimensions, she and Zethar spent the rest of the night discussing the implications. There was no denying it now. The anomaly was getting stronger. She slipped quietly through the backdoor. Aurelian would be returning from his travels mid day, leaving her a few precious hours to rest before donning the mask of his dutiful bride-to-be. Or so she thought. Stepping inside, she reached for the kitchen light but it flicked on before her fingers could find the switch. ¡°Aurelian,¡± Isolde gasped. ¡°You¡¯re home early.¡± ¡°And you haven¡¯t been home all night,¡± he snarled, the edge in his voice cutting as his eyes bore into her. ¡°Care to explain yourself?¡± Isolde looked down at the sand-covered blanket she had carried out to the beach. ¡°My darling,¡± she stammered, reaching for him. ¡°I¡­I was lonely without you last night. I went to watch the sunset, but I must have fallen asleep.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. It was a flimsy yarn and they both knew it. Aurelian intercepted her hand, yanking Isolde toward him; his strength coiling around her like a threat. ¡°You¡¯re a liar,¡± he barked, releasing her with a cruel force that caused her to stumble to the floor. ¡°You think I haven¡¯t noticed you sneaking out in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Aurelian,¡± Isolde cried. ¡°It''s not what you think.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what it is,¡± he said, kneeling to her level and pulling her face close. ¡°If you disgrace me, Isolde, I will ruin you. I will ruin your entire family. Do you understand me?¡± ¡°I understand,¡± she said. In return, Aurelian said nothing, releasing her carelessly as he stood. With a last look of disgust, he turned away and exited the room, leaving Isolde alone with the quiet unraveling of what little hope she had left. Episode 8: Thirteen Lines Neither the portal nor Isolde had appeared in over a week. Days and nights blurred together, burning from end to end at a painfully slow pace. Zethar only knew how much time had passed by the tally he kept in his bedside field journal. Before now, he hadn¡¯t bothered to even crack it open. It was standard issue on these missions. Researchers were encouraged to document everything¡ªeven innermost thoughts¡ªas the notes might uncover something significant about atmospheric effects on mental state. The first evening she hadn¡¯t come, Zethar went to bed restless. Eventually, he had opened the journal with the intention of writing to Isolde. It seemed the closest thing to being able to actually speak with her, but when he put his pen to paper, he could muster only a solitary scratch. The next night he repeated the ritual. And the night after that. And so on. There were thirteen lines scratched into the page so far. In official dispatches, Zethar reported only that the crater was emitting atypical levels of magnetic energy, indicating potential for dimensional anomalies to manifest. He wasn¡¯t being entirely dishonest. By day, he checked the meters against his logs obsessively, trying to determine what might have caused the portal¡¯s malfunction. According to all records, the energy levels in the basin were stronger and steadier than ever. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Perhaps they had crossed some cosmic boundary when Isolde¡¯s cigarette smoke drifted into the portal and transcended dimensions, causing the universe to sever their connection. Or maybe, Zethar thought, they had simply exhausted the anomaly¡¯s reserves, talking so late into the night. In a few day¡¯s time, he had engineered a second stabilizer, hoping to bolster the energy field and revive the portal. It made no difference. He even tried commandeering the ship¡¯s comm system, overriding the signal directs and speaking through the control intercom. ¡°I''m still here,¡± he repeated again and again into the void. ¡°I will search for you across the impossible.¡± On the shores of Veth, his words carried across the beach but they echoed into empty darkness. Isolde was too far away to hear.