Count the Stars

Chapter 1

I placed the final vial of tears back in its place on my shelf, where the slim glass bottle caught the light, glowing gently.

There, I thought, with a small, satisfied smile. All done.

In the distance, a sonorous harmony of old bronze bells sounded out, ringing a song that signalled the start of a new day. I sighed. Another sleepless night had come and gone. I looked at the large shelf of vials, the swirling patterns and intricate details I had painted on nights similar to this. Perhaps it was time I found a new hobby.

I gathered my skirts in my hands, and stepped out, closing the heavy, rosewood door lightly behind me. The cool white marble cut into my bare feet like ice, and a chilly breeze swept past my face.

Outside, my oldest and only companion, Arleigh, sat waiting for me. She had assumed her preferred form of a rabbit today, with snowy white fur and large floppy ears. She got up and walked beside me when I passed by her. I put my hand on her furry back, rubbing lovingly. "Hey, girl," I murmured.

She looked up at me with her amber eyes in response. We walked down the empty corridor to the large marble staircase. Whenever we rounded a turn in the staircase, I would pass a statue of one of the gods, proud and beautiful, arrogant and haughty. They were as familiar to me as the back of my own hand, having walked this same path for almost my entire life.

My pace quickened as we walked to the very bottom, the great hall. I walked under the high domed ceilings, tilting my head back to look at the detailed hand painted images of ethereal dragons, with delicate handcrafted carved roses adorning the tiles around the perimeter of the large domes.

There, under the enormous glass chandelier that sparkled invitingly, the large honey-coloured wooden table was piled high with food, surrounded by large chairs carved in uniquely exquisite designs.

If I closed my eyes, I could almost hear the familiar chatter of the people who used to dine with me.

In the past, I might have turned to the old gods for company and counsel. I was a desperate, pathetic thing, begging for even a morsel of their time and attention. I had since learned better than that.

Now, I turned to the stars for company. And fine company that they were.

They listened with patience, and offered advice when they could. They amused me by telling me stories of the things they had seen in their many years of living, and explained to me how they, like humans, will come a time when they expired.

I rose up silently and swiftly on wings made of nothing but hopes and dreams, for that was all that was needed to fly. The sky drew nearer and nearer, and I stretched out my hands to touch the clouds around me, feeling the silvery, fragile wisps of spun sugar and silk caress my fingers lovingly.

Hello, stars.

Something was wrong.

I stopped cold, my wings disappearing in a frightening moment of loss of control. I caught myself, and floated forward slowly, coming to a stop before a single gold star.

It had stopped glowing.

But how?

I decided then that I did not want to know just yet. I leaned close to the star, which was withering away like a person of old age, fading slowly, yet surely, in life force.

"What is wrong?" I asked softly, trying not to reveal the rising amount of panic in me.

The star turned over slowly, like someone arousing himself from a deep bout of sleep, and said in return, "The galaxy is dying. Can you not feel it, Nima? Can you not feel our life force leaving us, steady as a stream of running water?"

I could not believe my ears. "How can I help? Tell me what I can do, and I shall do it for you."

The star, Vega, she was called, pulsated a gentle glow that radiated warmth. Leaning forward, I wrapped my arms around the star, feeling a burst of tears spring to my eyes. "Oh, Vega, what am I to do? I would do anything to save you if I could."

Vega turned to face me, voice darkening. "Is that really true?"

I did not hesitate. "Of course."

The star spoke on, in a deep, unsettling voice, "Would you give up this kingdom? Would you give up the Star Court and Moon Palace? Would you give up Arleigh's companionship to save us?"

The answer to those questions were difficult ones, but sprang up easily to my tongue. "Of course I would."

Just as Vega was about to respond, they were interrupted by a furious cry from the only other human inhabitant of the Upper Kingdom. Arleigh, in her dress of smoke and ash, white hair set by her rich, bronzed skin. She moved as if she were a storm cloud, bringing with her plumes of fury and despair.

"We are running out of time," she announced. "Whatever you are doing to help whatever is happening, do it quickly."

"Which leads me to my point." Both girls turned back to Vega, now illuminating a pale golden glow.

"Nima," The star said, "Come here, child."

There was a tone of seriousness that I did not often hear, much less from Vega. I could sense all the other stars listening in on us, and felt a deep pressure weighing down on me.

"What would you give up for us?" All the stars chorused as one, filling the space with the glorious echoes of their mighty voices.

"Anything. Everything."

And with that, I gave up everything I had known in my long life of immortality.