Last night was rough on Marco. The moment he even thought about moving Star tightened her grip around him. For the first hour or so he didn't mind, but after he started to doze off he struggled desperately to get back to his own room. Star did look peaceful though. At one point she unzipped his hoodie and snuggled into his chest. It was too sweet for him to handle. But he had more pressing matters to attend to.

The moon hung high and full in the patchy cloudy sky that adorned this breezy afternoon. That moon has been tormenting his mind all night. Luckily he knew exactly who he could talk to. He stepped back inside to find Star walking down the stairs.

"Morning Marco…" she yawned as she rubbing her eyes.

"Morning Star," He greeted even though it was half past noon. "How do you feel?"

"I feel fine. Sorry about falling asleep on you. I was tired!" she stretched and fluttered her wings.

"No problem, I was tired too. But I have to ask you something."

"What's up?" Star asked.

"I need your scissors."

"Oh, they're on my bed in my star pouch… I think," she walked towards the kitchen. "Wait, why do you need them?"

"I need to have a talk with someone," Marco said as he walked swiftly up the stairs. Star was completely oblivious to his motive but seeing him leave saddened her a little. She was hoping to eat breakfast with him and maybe watch some cartoons or something. It was okay though. She's been alone most of her life. She can be by herself for however long Marco was going to be gone. Only she couldn't really cook, and she was starving…

"You thought I wouldn't find you…" Tom said as he walked around his captive.

"H-Hey man chill! It was just a joke!" A young man of a slender bull cried out. He was bound to Tom's spinning torture wheel.

"I live in a house of fire. Chill isn't what I do. Now you're gonna apologise for what you did or you will suffer!" His eyes glowed blood red.

"Dude all I did was kill you with a RPG!"

"In a snipers only match!" Tom growled.

"I didn't know!"

"You killed me ten times, then you said I had the skills of a blind squirrel on morphine!" Tom gathered himself and took a deep breath. "No matter. You're gonna pay…" he snarled. Just as he was about to inflict his most horrid of torture methods on this obvious troll he was interrupted by his servants.

"Master, Marco is here to see you."

"He is? Huh… This'll only take a minute. But you and I aren't done!" He spun the wheel and closed the door.

Even though they started to see eye to eye more, Marco never felt completely comfortable being here. It was hot and -he couldn't believe he was saying this- all of the red and flames hurt his eyes after a while. "Hey man. What brings you down here?" Tom asked.

"I need to talk to you about the Blood Moon," Marco stated.

"What about the blood moon?" Tom asked in an anticipative yet defensive chirp.

"Like…. I don't know. Just what it means really."

"Well, the blood moon it's the Moon of lovers Once you dance under it with your love, friend, or another guy's date!" Tom growled. "Your souls will be bonded for life."

"I know that much, but something weird happened the other night. I kissed another girl and the moon glowed!"

"Wait… you kissed a girl?" Tom snickered.

"Yeah. I… don't get how that's funny…"

"I didn't think you had it in you. Especially with another girl, let alone Star. How is she anyway?"

"She's…" Marco paused for a moment knowing he was about to tell a lie. "Been better. Ludo got her spellbook and she's broken up about it." He only half lied, better than a full lie right?

"How'd that genetically spliced chicken get it?"

"I'll explain that later right now I need to know more about the Blood Moon."

"Okay," Tom sat down. "Shoot."

"Now I know that I danced and bonded with Star, but ever since the ball the moon hadn't appeared once until I kissed Jackie, the girl. But last night Star and I were close…" he looked at Tom who sat with a poker face and a twitching eye. "And there was nothing. I want to know why."

"Did the girl you kissed see the moon too?" Tom asked with his hands contemplatively folded over his mouth.

"No, only I saw it."

"Then you two aren't true soulmates man," Tom shrugged.

"But why didn't I see anything when I was with Star?" Marco frustratingly asked.

"Did you guys do anything 'romantic'?"

Marco was unsettled by how forcibly calm Tom appeared to be. He chose his words carefully.

"A-All we did was cuddle," Marco masked his unsteady tone.

"Nothing more?" Tom asked with intrigue.

"Yeah, nothing more…"

"All I can tell you is that nothing is wrong from what I can tell. The book is really vague on how the soul bond works," Tom rubbed his chin.

"Wait, there's a book?" Marco asked.

"Yeah, but it's written in ye ol' demonic tongues."

"What?" Marco fumed.

"Yeah, the Moon of Lovers is a demonic ritual where a demon -much like myself- bonds souls with someone they wish to be their lover until the end of their days. Again, something you messed up for me!"

"Look man I-"

"Nah, it's cool. I've gotten over it… mostly," Tom coughed. "It only comes around once every few centuries."

"Anyway, thanks for the help. Can I have the book?"

"What? No!" Tom declared.

"Why not?" Marco ignorantly asked.

"Did you not hear me? It's written in medieval demon tongues. You can't read it unless you know black speech."

"Ohhh, right. I forgot. I'll uh… I'll just go," he pulled out Star's scissors and ripped a hole in space time. "See you later," and with that he was gone.

"You know… I'm kinda rooting for him, while hoping that he fails," Tom said to himself. He shrugged and went back into the room where his captive still spun on his torture wheel.

"Oh thank goodness! Stop this thing!" He shouted through almost incoherent undulations. Tom stopped the wheel. "Oh…" he gasped. "Any longer and that would have been my lunch…"

"You have a remarkably strong stomach. Too bad your lips are too loose. Let's fix that," Tom said with a wry grin.

Star sat on the couch with an empty bag of chips while inspecting her wand. It was her fault but the tool of her destruction would be this wand. There was a time when all she wanted to have was her family heirloom, now she wants to cast it aside like a cheap plastic toy. She heard creaking footsteps overhead. With no provocation she sprang off the couch and excitedly skittered up the stairs. "Marco!" she beamed a happy smile.

"Hey Star… You're happy," Marco chuckled.

"I am. It's boring when you're stuck in this boring house, with boring T.V, and boring food," Star groaned.

"Boring food?"

"Yes, I'm starving!"

"Oh crud! I did forget to make breakfast," Marco said as he facepalmed hard. "Come on, let's get something to eat."

"Ooh, how about some pizza?" Star proposed.

"Sure, I have to see how much money my parents left."

"Can we get a-"

"Large cheesy mushroom pizza?"

"And that's why I love you," Star sighed, draping her arm on Marco's shoulder. Marco knew what she meant, or at least he thought he knew. No matter the meaning it was best to bite his tongue.

"Love you too Star…" He felt like it was wrong to say. He did love her, but now that he has an idea on how she feels -albeit extremely vague. He didn't want to give her and false hope. But in retrospect all the things that they've done together over these six months have shown how much she cares for him… And how shortsighted he's been. Who knows for how long she's liked him in that way or to what extent, and his curiosity was howling from within. Urging him to explore it. This is going to be a long weekend…

A/N

So, I know that people have been asking for an update. Let me clear up what I've been doing. I am a senior in high school on my way to graduation. Aside from applying for colleges and practicing for a music competition (I am a musician by the way). I have been drowning in homework from all five of my classes including a group writing project that I am presenting tomorrow. It is not that I am forgetting, it's that I have been busy and I'm stressed up to my eyeballs. I'm not stopping here and I know where I'm going with this, I just need more time and your patience. Thank you...

~Wilde