Contract with a Star (On Hold, Possibly Forever)

The Sea and the Star

            The next day started not with a bang or a fizzle, but with a whisper. A lot of whispers, about one person. All across the country, there was news that the Sea Star, and only the Sea Star, had invaded the Forest Star Country. She walked with a purpose, ignoring everyone around her. There were many attempts to kill her, but something strange happened.

            Every arrow sent her way was turned to dust by black fire. Every sword shattered by a white shield. Rocks turned to dust before they reached her in yellow explosions. A dog was sent to attack her and was squeezed to death by a giant brown hand. The blue eyes never even looked at the mortals she passed, and they were helpless against her.

            The king dared not send merely one unit of the army against the monster. As he prepared every Guardian, Knight, Soldier, and Warrior he controlled, Rena went for a walk. Without a word, Aiden, Tanya, Cheval, Eleian, and Miv followed her out of the house. When she saw the determination in their eyes, she walked halfway down her street and turned right. Rena kept walking until she found an old wall with daggers sticking out of it. With an ease that astounded the owner of the wall, Rena plucked the daggers out of their resting spot and placed them in the hands of her best friends, ignoring the burns that appeared on her hands.

            Rena did not look at them after that, merely continuing down the road and out of town. She would not mount Cheval so long as she did not feel any significant spike in her sister’s power. Rena was in no way eager to meet the Sea Star in person; none of her other sisters had had much success with that.

            They met in the middle of the bridge. When Aiden tried to follow after Rena, he hit his nose harshly on the dome barrier she had created. She had no intention of involving her friends in this, they were just children.

            “You must be really weak, big sister.” The Sea Star grinned with all her teeth. She was wearing that bloodstained dress and Rena couldn’t even remember its original color any more. Her hair was tied back but tangled. She was even more of a mess than she had been two days previous.

            “Why would you say that?” Rena looked and sounded calm, but she was shaking on the inside. If her plan did not work, she would die. If Rena died, she could only hope Tanya would know what to do and kill her sister while she was witnessing Rena’s final moments. Or she could rely on Aiden’s temper; it was always very effective in her more fun oriented plans.

            “You’re little border was terribly weak, probably just getting old though.” The Sea Star looked up and madness twisted threateningly in her once beautiful blue eyes, “Or perhaps you just don’t care what happens to the little humans?”

            “Little Sea Star, what’s your name?” Rena asked suddenly, surprising the killer.

            “What?” Then the Sea Star laughed. “I see, trying to stall for time, Re-na?” She dragged out Rena’s name, tilting her head. “And I thought you were better than that.” She wiggled her finger in a warped attempt at disapproval.

            “No, no one is coming for me. But no one is coming for you, either. Right?” Rena was growing calmer and calmer as she thought about her sister.

            “What? They’re coming. Of course they are.” Her laughter was borderline hysteric, “I don’t need them anyway! I’m the strongest!”

            “You couldn’t get them through the barrier could you?” Rena shook her head. “I wonder how long you tried.”

            “I’ll get them through later! I got those guys through last time!” She screamed at Rena.

            “I think you might be even less intelligent than Aiden, and that’s saying something. I let them through. I thought it was just you, and I welcomed the chance to meet you. If you had confronted me back then, I would have destroyed you easily.”

            “Yeah right! I’m so much stronger than you! I know why you look like a twelve year old! You’re trying to keep every last bit of energy you have.” For once, the Sea Star’s assumption was right, “Now me, I don’t need such cheap tricks. I’m overflowing with power!” The blue eyes looked to the heavens; she raised her arms and lightening fell from the skies. The wind picked up and the water under the bridge roiled, splashing angrily against the bridge. Rena did not flinch, did not move, and did not let a single emotion cross her face as she waited for her sister to stop the display. Finally, the world calmed.

            “Yes, you are very powerful right now, much more powerful than me or the Fire Star or both of us combined. I have no doubt you could kill me.” Rena could feel the end approaching. “But, I know you won’t. Because you want to live.”

            “What?” Again, the Sea Star laughed, shrugging off her sister’s riddles. She lunged at Rena, a wild, desperate lunge. Rena could not avoid it without going over the bridge and into the river, but Aiden had taught her how to knock a weapon out of an enemy’s hand. It only stopped the Sea Star momentarily, and then she was right back in Rena’s face. Rena could not stop the stronger girl as she bared Rena’s neck and bit in.

            Rena screamed. Tanya screamed. Aiden did a very manly version of a scream. Even Cheval screamed. But then, the Sea Star screamed. She backed away from Rena, who crumpled to the ground in relief. The Sea Star began puking, trying desperately to get the blood out of her mouth and stomach.

            “Why?” She whimpered, breathing hard on her hands and knees.

            “The Fire Star’s soul. It was poisoned by her suicide. When I absorbed it, it began poisoning my human body. I figured it would have the same effect on you.” Tanya and Aiden hadn’t even noticed the girl was sick, but she had been lying for over a millennia.

            “No! But that means-! Damn you! Damn you, Forest Star! This is all your fault! Master promised me that if I caught everyone, I would be set free! How am I supposed to do that now?! I hate you so much!”

            “Why is that my fault?” Rena raised her eye at her little sister’s breakdown. Not amused by the blame she laid on Rena.

            “Because you failed your job! You should have finished this a long time ago! We weren’t supposed to fall! Just you! You stupid failure! Do you think I wanted to fall? None of us wanted to fall! But we had to, because you couldn’t do what you were told to do! That’s why it’s your fault! All your fault!” The Sea Star screamed. She was breathing even harder after her confession.

            Rena’s face was scrunched up in pain. She knelt down beside her sister, ignoring the mess and the pain in her neck. She grabbed her sister and pulled her into a hug, ignoring how her struggles. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to fall. I know you didn’t want to. Look at me.” Rena turned the bigger girl’s face to her, “It’s okay; I forgive you.”

            The Sea Star hugged the Forest Star. “Thank you, Rena.” She paused, her eyes clearing up only slightly. “My name’s Ataria, by the way.”

            Rena smiled. “Hello Ataria, I think it’s time for you to rest.” Ataria nodded, closing her eyes. Rena hugged her tighter. The young murderer’s body began to fade, leaving a giant ball of light behind. It was not blue, as it should have been, but a mix of colors. The ball floated into Rena’s chest, presumably to join her own ball of red and green light.

            When Rena let down the barrier, Aiden and Tanya rushed to her side and hugged her fiercly. None of them noticed the man detach himself from a tree on the side of the river and walk back to where he had left his horse, touching the crest of the circular and silver object on his head as he went.

            “Did you really forgive her for killing all those sisters and destroying all those countries?” Aiden asked as they mounted up and headed home.

            “Of course not, but what was I going to say? You’re an evil bitch and you need to die?” Rena clasped her hands to her mouth as Tanya gave her a disapproving glare. “That was not me! That was Ataria! She’s influencing me!” Tanya had a feeling that excuse would be used a lot. She shook her head and let it go, happy to still have Rena.