Ready for the first Chapter of Solace in the Stars?

I’m very excited to introduce you all to the world and Willow. I’m still going through copy-edits but the content will be the same. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1: Fairy Tale

There were only a few things that people dreamed about these days, and boarding the Nalserexis was one of them. Every part of it was majestic. The sleek metal glistened underneath the spotlights from the space station it was docked at. Little lights from the hundreds of windows along the side of the spaceship sparkled as if they were stars themselves. The Nalserexis truly was a dream among the stars. Just like Parker Space Enterprises had said it would be. 

Willow Moore stood behind a set of platform doors on the space station, staring up at the ship that would carry them away from Earth. Her heart danced with anticipation of the beautiful future the spaceship promised. After one year of planning, she was finally here. She was finally entering the spaceship where her wedding activities would take place. But most of all, she was heading to a Mars colony. 

The staff at Parker Space Enterprises had cleared the VIP passenger waiting area an hour ago, leaving only a few stylists and makeup artists with her to do some last-minute touchups. They flitted around her, adjusting her jewelry, adding more blush, or primping her afro so that everything looked perfect. 

"Thank you for all of your hard work," she said to them, raising the lilt of her voice to sound higher than her normal tone. Through research, their publicity team found that people responded better to her when she used this voice, so she always uses it when speaking in public.

Her stylists smiled and nodded before exiting the room. A few robots with cameras floated around her, staying a safe distance away to record the perfect shot when it was time. Only one of them had a clock counting down to the moment they'd start recording. Just a few more minutes before the festivities would begin.

Willow pulled her edram case from her pocket, removing the two silver pods of the device's case and placing one on each temple. Using the edram's tiny remote, she turned it on. Immediately, the apps on the home screen floated in front of her. She rolled her finger on the remote's navigation pad, selecting the only app that mattered at this moment. The social media app, The E.

Skipping past the opening feed, Willow navigated to her prescheduled livestream. There were already millions of people waiting for her to go live, and with the recording ability the edram had, it was now possible. Anything she looked at, the people watching would be able to see and experience as if it were their own life. But it wasn't their life, and she wondered: if they truly knew what it was like, would they want her life?

Willow shook her head to clear out the negativity that had a habit of sneaking into her mind at the most inopportune times. Her fiancé, David Esperanza, was a catch by most of society’s standards. Part of an affluent family and handsome and charming when he wanted to be. Any girl would have been happy to marry him. And Willow was happy. Given the circumstances, she had no reason not to be. 

The robot with the timer flashed a warning just as a 60-second countdown started. Her heart thudded in her chest. This was a routine performance. It wouldn't be different from all the other times, but she couldn't stop the feelings that rose. Fear that she wouldn't be able to breathe in the dress she wore or would lose her steps in the heels she had to walk in. Or even worse, that somehow, she'd miss one of her cues and look like an idiot. If she were anything less than perfect, then she'd hear it from her father, and that was more terrifying than facing the public.

Willow took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She had this. Sharing her life online was what she had done for the last seven years. So, using her edram’s remote, she started the livestream and plastered on her largest smile just as the timer hit zero. 

The doors slid open as the camera went live. More robots with cameras flew around her and into the domed skywalk she walked through. Her heels clicked against the surrounding clear glass, each step causing a little pang in her chest. One wrong move and maybe she’d fall to her death.  But Willow had to be perfect, so she kept a smile on her face and waved to the cameras. 

David waited for her in the middle of the skywalk. With the lights shining down on him, he looked devastatingly handsome. His dark hair was styled to fall alluringly into his eyes. His shirt under his suit jacket was unbuttoned enough to tease the imagination, and when his pink lips pulled into a smile, he became irresistible.

Even with his eyes clouded over in a gray haze from his edram used to record his own livestream, they were soft as he admired her. Those gentle orbs softened even more when he took her hands and kissed them. She smiled in the shy manner that spoke to the good-girl persona the world knew her as. When a flood of comments filled the side of her edram screen with hearts, Willow knew that they looked like the most swoonworthy couple in the universe. 

"Willow, my love," David said in a low voice. "Are you ready?"

Was she ready? Ready to enter the spaceship? Ready to become his wife? It was a question Willow had asked herself ever since they became engaged a little over a year ago. But with all the cameras on them, she knew the answer she must give. 

Willow squeezed his hand and smiled as she looked straight into the camera in his eyes. "Always."

After all these years, they knew how to look in love. All it took was a quick look here or a shy giggle there. Even when she looked at their pictures, it was hard to spot the cracks in their relationship. They spent a few more minutes posing and waving to the cameras around them before walking off the platform. 

At the end of the skywalk, a woman stood with a gracious smile on her lips and a tablet in her hands. She had almost the same dark brown complexion as Willow, but instead of an afro, this woman had long braids swinging down her back. She wore a plain white dress, a silver pin with the PSE logo on her left breastbone. 

“On behalf of Parker Space Enterprises, welcome to the Nalserexis," she said when they stopped in front of her. "We are pleased for you to join us. My name is Jasmine, and I am the Chief Marketing Officer for Parker Space Enterprises. Please follow me onboard.”

Jasmine guided them through a hallway as she gave details about the spaceship. Willow kept her eyes forward so that the viewers would pick up everything, but she let her mind wander. She’d be on this spaceship for six months getting people excited for the wedding that would eventually happen once they reached the colony. The thought of being in such a confined space for so long only made the tornado of fears whirring inside of her even stronger. The cameras were still trained on her face, though, as if daring her to break out of character as the happiest woman alive. 

Still, her palms were slick with sweat, and she couldn't wipe them because of how tightly David held her hand. Nothing could be edited in a livestream. She focused on Jasmine again, smiling for the billions of people watching them experience the first spaceship PSE opened to the public. 

A crowd of people met them at the main entrance of the spaceship, where their next publicity arrangement with PSE would be. Their wedding guests, or really the guests of whoever David's parents thought were worthy of an invitation, all stood in blue or purple attire that went with the starry wedding theme.  

The crowd cheered for them as David led them through the large space. Sparkling glasses of wine sat on top of high tables littered around the room. Soft fairy lights were strewn across the ceiling, casting the room in a false glow of moonlight.

David stopped them at their designated mark for the welcome speech, gesturing for everyone to quiet down. "Everyone is so gracious to welcome us onto the Nalserexis. It is beautiful, and I cannot even begin to express how happy we are to have you all here to share in this celebration of our love. Willow is and always will be the light I follow in my waves of darkness. And you all know how I can be." There were a few hints of laughter, but David ignored all of them as he faced Willow. "With her by my side, there will never be darkness in my life. Never a day I go without warmth. I love you, and I cannot wait to marry you."

David leaned in to kiss her, the movements slow as if time had decided to pause and let her decide to back out now. Despite everything else, kissing David was never something that she hated. She readily met his gentle lips that made her feel desired. Wanted. It was a feeling she never wanted to let go of.

When they broke apart, they stared at each other amongst the deafening applause and the cameras zooming into their faces. Her line was coming up. Finally, when it had almost felt like too much time had passed, she whispered, "I love you, too."

More comments flooded her edram screen, this time going too fast for her to read. David pressed another quick kiss to her lips before facing the cameras again. He continued with the rest of his rehearsed speech, but Willow didn't listen. Her part was done for now, so she could stand and look pretty.

Thankfully, David didn’t talk for much longer. After talking with a few guests and taking a few more photos, a silver android almost as tall as David came to escort them to their room. 

The hallway was quiet, only the sound of their footsteps and the android's mechanisms working filling the empty halls. One side of the hallway had walls that were stark white with a pulsing line of light traced into the floor and ceiling. The other side had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out at the domed space station she had just left. It was a beautiful view she could have gotten lost in, but then she caught sight of David. 

There was an almost imperceptible frown on his face that disappeared as soon as he noticed her looking at him. None of the comments on her livestream feed seemed to notice it, but she did. And now the silence made her all too aware of the chill coming from David. Willow tried to ignore it. Even if there weren’t other cameras around, they were still recording through their edrams.

They went up an elevator to one of the top floors before they finally arrived at their room. The android opened it with a digital key before allowing them in. The room was surprisingly cozy. Where Willow had imagined just four metal walls with a basic bed, there was a lot more to it.  It still had the basic necessities of a bedroom, but the decorations made it feel like a home. Little fake candles provided a soft glow to the room that mixed well with the lush green plants in the corners of the room. Flower petals littered the floor and trailed to the large bed where a few treats, champagne, and flutes waited for them.   

Willow turned to the android who had just placed their keycard on a nearby table. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

The android’s eyes whirred for a moment as it processed her response. “Of course. If you have any questions or concerns, please use the digital keypad by the door, and an attendant will be with you."

The android waited a few moments as if expecting a response from them. When they gave none, the android dismissed itself. Willow approached the large window on the other side of the room so that the people still watching the livestream could see the view. They didn't get to see them for long, though. David spun her around as if they were dancing until she nestled into his arms. Willow forced a laugh to bubble out of her. 

He bent close as if he would kiss her, but paused so those watching their livestream could see them at the perfect angle. "I think it's time to say goodbye to our followers."

His voice was heated, flirty, and in the corner of her eyes, she saw the comments on her livestream going wild with hearts. His fingers dug into her side, though, and she struggled not to jump out of his arms. Instead, she smiled into the camera in his eyes. "Goodbye, everyone."

After a few moments, they both used their edram remotes to turn off their livestreams. They were officially alone. 

"I think that went well," David said as soon as he let her go. "What do you think?"

They both knew it didn’t matter what she thought. It mattered what the media was saying about it. Still, Willow entertained his question with the answer he wanted to hear. "You were perfect. I'm sure our parents will say only good things about you. Me, they will find something to critique. They always do."

David came behind her as she sat at the vanity. His eyes searched hers through the mirror. "Well, maybe, if you did better, they wouldn't have anything to criticize. You would think with all the money we are paying you for this arrangement, not to mention the fact that you get to be married to me, you'd be on top of your game."

Willow rolled her eyes. Now here was the real David. "If it wasn't for my game, you wouldn't even be on this spaceship."

"I hope you don't think you're as important as that," David said with a short laugh. "I would still be on a spaceship because my family can afford any of the tickets from other companies. You are only here to make me and my family look good. Without me, you'd be nothing but some poor lifestyle influencer people would grow tired of listening to."

His words hit right where he wanted them to. Even though Willow would have eventually gotten to the Mars colony, she couldn’t guarantee when that’d be. They used a lottery system to determine the passengers. With scientists predicting uninhabitable air quality and running out of drinking water in the next five to ten years, she needed to be here to survive. It was only because of this engagement and the entertainment deal they brokered with PSE that she secured this spot on the launch. 

Still, the back of her neck prickled the longer she looked at David. So many things she wanted to say. So many things she wanted to do. But she sat frozen under his gaze. It was no longer that soft, loving gaze he gave her in front of the cameras. It was dark and dangerous, leaving her unable to breathe. 

Whispers of the dark history she heard surrounding the Esperanza family filled the air around them. For generations, there were rumors that his family crossed all boundaries to get what they wanted. They were a stupidly rich family who made most of their money from investing in others. They funded wars that displaced people from their homes. They backed political candidates who passed loose policies that ruined Earth more as they got richer. There were even rumors that they had people killed to get what they wanted. All of it left a sour taste in citizens’ mouths for understandable reasons.

Willow’s good girl persona was supposed to help change that perception. Her being a Black woman was a bonus since they were also racist. But it was moments like this when she regretted signing that contract.

Willow quickly analyzed everything that she did from the moment the cameras started rolling. Off the top of her head, she couldn't think of anything. But saying that she did a great job did not seem like the response he wanted to hear.

"You're right,” she finally said. “I could have done better."

A tense silence permeated the air before he broke out into laughter. He walked away, undressing as he went. "That's all you had to say. Is it too much to ask for your best? After all, my parents are paying for a perfect bride. Perfection is the only option."

She laughed along, but couldn't take her eyes off him. The coziness of the room lost itself in the coldness that built between them in the last few minutes. She wanted to scream. Run out of the room and never come back. But all she could do was sit there quietly so that he wouldn't report anything to her father. 

"David?" she called right before he disappeared into the bathroom. When he peered back out at her, she smiled despite the raging emotions in her. "Thank you for the reminder. I will do better. I will be perfect."

“I know you will," he said, smiling back before he disappeared behind the door.

Soon she heard water running, and Willow was left alone. Without David there, the deep, uncomfortable feelings rose from the depths she had pushed them into over the last few years. The hurt, confusion, stress; it all flooded in, and a few tears spilled down her cheeks. When had things gone so wrong? It was a question she asked herself so many times whenever she had a tense interaction with David, and lately, that was often. 

But there was no room for questions like that. Her father was convinced that this engagement would be a great opportunity for them, and nothing had shown her otherwise. A poor girl who managed to enter wealthy circles just from her presence on The E. She was living the dream. No matter how she felt, she couldn't ruin this opportunity. Not when they had come so far.

Willow tried to push her feelings away with the little mantra she told herself when things got too much.  Her father was doing what was best for her. She was marrying the man of her dreams. David loved her. But it didn’t work. David’s presence stifled any peace she may have gotten in this bedroom. 

She needed to get away. Reset so that David wouldn't have doubts about the perfect bride promised to him. She finally worked up the courage to stand just as David came out of the bathroom, water dripping from his hair and a towel around his waist.  

Willow checked her reflection in the vanity mirror to make sure nothing looked amiss before turning to him. "I need to step out for a little while.”

David only acknowledged her with a flick of his hand. 

She exited the room. For a moment, she stood outside the door without moving. No one lingered in the hallway to watch her crumble. This was almost enough for her to reset, but her eyes caught security cameras at the end of the hall. Willow was still exposed. She took a deep breath, fixed her face to be more pleasant, and moved.

She did not go the way that they entered, instead opting to move further down the hall. All of the doors to the rooms looked the same, the only difference being the silver numbers on the outside of the doors. Her heels clicked on the floor, louder than she would have liked since she didn’t want to bring attention to herself.  A door without a number caught her attention, and when she opened it, she found herself in a stairwell. The staircase circled up and down to locations she could only guess. She only pondered for a minute before deciding to go up. She wasn't sure how many steps she climbed before reaching the next level and came upon the next door. 

She could have stayed in the stairwell. She was already alone, but then she heard another door open with voices. It was hard to tell which direction they were moving based on the echoes, but she didn't want to be here in case they were moving toward her. Willow didn't want to deal with the ramifications of being found. Even if she looked okay, she had no business being in this area. It would be a public relations nightmare to be caught breaking the rules on day one of the journey.

Willow pushed through the door, almost tripping over herself in her rush to hide. Darkness greeted her before lights slowly lit up when they sensed movement. This hallway wasn't like the others. Nothing about it welcomed her the way the other parts of the Nalserexis did. The dark, dry metal walls were lifeless, and the absence of windows made the floor feel like a cage. Somewhere, something hissed as if to scare her away. But she continued to walk as quietly as she could. She was still too open for her liking. She needed a place to hide.

There were only three doors to choose from. The first two had scanners, which she obviously didn’t have a key to.  The last door was not like the others. It was an older model that used a handle to push it open rather than slide. But what stood out to Willow the most was a carving of a half circle with a star in the middle. Why would an old door be on a brand-new spaceship?

Willow placed a hand on the door handle but paused. Maybe she shouldn’t try this one. There had to be a reason this one was different. But the voices were close. She was out of time and needed to hide. She prayed for only a second before trying the door. It opened. She wasted no time going inside and pressing herself against the door.

Seconds ticked by. Then minutes. Willow let out short breaths, wishing that she could cease breathing altogether. But as she waited for them to discover her, she realized that no one was coming. The sounds of people talking faded after a while, and soon Willow was alone with just the hum of the ship to keep her company. The tension in her neck ceased, and her breathing returned to normal. She was safe. At least for now.

At first glance, Willow assumed the room to be a storage closet. Boxes filled almost every inch of the small room, haphazardly stacked and not even closed properly. A loveseat rested by a large window looking out into space, covered with a sheet and more boxes. But it couldn’t have been intended for storage. Not with some large water tank making up almost an entire wall. 

An internal light in the tank cast a soft purple glow across the room. Dark blobs floated inside as if they were oil trying to mix with water. When Willow neared the tank, the blobs moved toward her almost instantly. She recoiled despite the glass barrier between her and whatever was inside. Those things were alive, or at the very least, aware enough to know when someone approached them. She backed away. No way was she about to play with things like that. 

Another door was situated next to the tank, with a scanner positioned right next to it. Willow’s heart flipped. Two different ways for someone to walk in and discover her. This room was quickly becoming more of a hazard than an escape. But Willow quickly scanned the room for cameras. Nothing. And whatever the other door led to, she didn't hear anything on the other side. This was as close to alone as she’d probably ever get.

Finally, she could breathe. At least for the moment. 

Willow moved a few of the boxes from the loveseat so that she could sit. Most of the boxes weren't labeled, but with none of them being taped closed, curiosity got the better of her. She opened a few that were on the loveseat. Most were packed with photos of staff with the Parker family members. Willow smiled, flipping through the photos of their parties. But she paused when she saw a family photo of the Parker family. Allen Parker, specifically. 

Before now, Willow had only seen Allen in passing news as journalists tried to catch a comment from him. He never said anything to the press. Not even during his transition to the sole owner of PSE after his family disappeared about a year ago. His haunted dark eyes would just stare at the cameras as the sharp angles of his jawline cut off any other questions the media pestered him with. He was a ghost, someone that everyone saw from time to time, but couldn’t touch or make sense of. So, seeing Allen in this family photo, his lips teasing a smile, and his eyes bright with joy, piqued Willow’s interest. 

But Willow turned away, quickly placing the photos back into the boxes. Clearly, this room stored mementos from the missing Parker family members. This room was supposed to be private. How dare she go through these things and intrude on someone else’s space? Especially considering she came here for some space of her own. She was such a hypocrite. But despite the burn of shame rushing through her veins, she couldn’t force herself to leave. The privacy of the little room provided the escape she sought. Even if she never came back, she would allow herself this respite for now.

Willow lay on the loveseat, savoring the way the purple glow of the tank softened her senses. Without her defenses, tears escaped from the prison of her eyes. This would probably be the last time she had space to herself. Soon, the Nalserexis would leave the space station, and her wedding festivities would begin. Logically, Willow knew her role wouldn’t be different than all the other times she put on this performance. Yet, being stuck on a spaceship with people who didn’t care about her happiness pulled at the frayed strings of her willpower. 

Still, Willow used dreams to push away the despair creeping in. She imagined David truly loving her and meaning all of the kisses they sold the public. She imagined her father looking at her not as someone to manage, but as a man who was just happy that she was his daughter. The vision brought a smile to her lips. They were simple things that could happen, and maybe by the end of this journey to Mars, it would all come true. But Willow's smile faltered as reality settled in. That kind of ending only happened in fairy tales, and she was not in one.

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Solace in the Stars! If you are interested in reading more, preorders are open now. Click the button below to place your order.