Contract with a Star (On Hold, Possibly Forever)

The Death and the Star

            Eventually, Tanya had to go up there too. She didn’t want to, but it wasn’t like Rena forced her to. Aiden was far more stubborn than Tanya, and a lot less naïve. He knew what Rena wanted, and there was no force on the earth or in the heavens that could have made him want to give it to her. Tanya was different, and Rena knew it.

            When Tanya reached the top of the stairs, she did not find what she expected, which relieved her somewhat. Tanya hadn’t fed Rena in the last two weeks; in the hopes of making her come down the stairs, but it hadn’t seemed to affect Rena at all. She looked to be at the peak of good health, staring at the books on her shelves with changing eyes. Rena hadn’t realized Tanya was there, and was currently arguing with what seemed to be invisible people. Tanya didn’t consider Rena crazy, because Rena had always been crazy, and they really couldn’t mind if she had a little conversation with herself over which book to read again.

            “Rena, can I talk to you?” Tanya sat down on the bed, patting the spot next to her, which Rena took reluctantly.

            “We’ve been waiting for you, actually.” Rena stared at the shelves, twiddling her thumbs nervously.

            “We?” Tanya echoed faintly, her concern spiking from high to very high. She’d been running on stress since Rena absorbed her sisters, and it showed on her face. Aiden looked fine, except for the constant glare and the bruised fists. Tanya was just happy that he was punching the walls of the house and not living creatures.

            “My sisters and I,” Rena brushed it off, but her eyes were clearly green now, which relieved Tanya more than she had thought it would.  “You know I’m dying, right?” Rena watched her best friend’s reaction to the rather obvious statement.

            Tanya could not speak, merely whimper. It was harsh of Rena to bring it up so easily, she knew Tanya had almost convinced herself that Rena would be fine, that they would be able to fix that map even more. That they would have more adventures. That this was not the end.

            “Silly girl, I know you knew.” Rena sounded so much older as she hugged Tanya briefly, “There’s no way such a tiny body could hold the power of ten whole stars, no human body could.”

            “Couldn’t you make them bodies? One for each of your sisters?” Tanya held onto Rena’s arm tightly, but the smaller girl did not mind.

            “Maybe. I don’t really know. But, I won’t try. My sisters have earned their rest. And not all humans are as kind as you are. Or as dumb as Aiden is.” Rena smiled, laughing softly at the thought. She was subdued, though, and it made the situation that much worse.

            “I don’t want you to die Rena!” Tanya’s outburst startled Rena.

            “I don’t want to die, either. But, you must understand Tanya, I am tired. I have seen so many little boys grow to be strong men that die for noble women that do not care. So many sweet princesses die at the hands of jealous family members. So many births that only end in deaths.” Rena stared at her hands while she spoke. “I could not bear to watch you pass from this world, it would break me.”

            “Rena, I-” Tanya stopped when Rena gently place a finger to her lips.

            “Tanya, there is a reason I waited so long for you. I need you.” Rena hurried on at the horrified face Tanya pulled, “No, no. If it was just my death, I could easily do it myself. I know thousands of ways to kill myself, some of them quite pleasant. I want you to release me, Tanya.”