The Fire and the Sky (Book 3 of the... - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

There was a tingling sensation in May's limbs, like she was in a freefall.
"Are you sure?" she breathed, almost afraid to acknowledge what Necar had said. As if speaking in hushed tones would make it any less true.
"Absolutely," Necar confirmed with a stern nod. "No one was willing to move that thing. Or buy it, for that matter. It was more trouble than it was worth. And if you knew half the goods I've moved you'd understand that I don't say that lightly."
May had known there was a chance this would happen – a good one, in fact. She already knew  her birth parents had struggled to offload the wishing star once they realized they were being pursued. But she had held out hope nonetheless. Now her mind spun, trying to decide what to do next.
She must have looked as stunned as she felt, because Necar gave her a sympathetic smile. "Sorry to disappoint you, kiddo."
Running a hand over the shaved side of her head, May sighed and considered her options. Fargus leaned in, craning his head up at her with another gentle rattle. Cautiously, she raised a finger at him – he had never let her touch him before. Apparently something had changed though; he dipped his head and gave her finger a nudge until she was stroking his soft feathery forehead.
From her seat, the Art Collector waited, glancing between May and Necar. When it became clear that neither was going to say any more, she sat up and frowned.
"Well? Is no one going to tell me what this wishing star business is all about?" Her voice was deep and tinted with an accent May didn't recognize.
Necar motioned to May, who shrugged.
"It's exactly what it sounds like," she answered dispassionately.
"A fallen star?" the Art Collector said.
"That's right."
"And it grants wishes?"
"Exactly."
The Art Collector turned her wide eyes to Necar. "Clearly I'm missing something. That sounds exactly like something you'd want to move."
"It was hot," Necar said with a shrug.
"So?" The Art Collector replied with a laugh. "You're the best at moving hot merchandise."
"Have you heard of the Loyals?" May offered, filling in where Necar didn't seem willing.
"Vaguely."
"They're dangerous zealots, and they've been after that star ever since my birth parents stole it."
The Art Collector seemed nonplussed. "Sounds like the sort of people who would have paid good money for it then."
Necar shook her head. "Those lunatics weren't interested in doing business with anyone. From what I heard, they thought the star was their rightful property, and they were willing to kill to get it back."
"A star that grants wishes still sounds worth the risk to me," the Art Collector confessed, inspecting her manicure. "I would have bid on it."
"It only granted one wish per person," Necar replied. "Does it still sound worth it?"
The Art Collector scowled. "Ugh, no."
May gaped. "I didn't know that."
"You know what they say: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is." Necar beckoned to Blake. "I feel like a drink. What would you like?"
"Nothing, thank you," May answered. Her mind was still on the star. "Can you tell me anything else about the wishing star? Do you know what it looks like?"
"Never saw it. And unfortunately I don't remember much more than that. It was quite some time ago."
Crushed once more, May sighed.
"Why do you care so much?" The Art Collector asked, watching her with renewed curiosity.
May stood. Fargus fluttered back up to her shoulder. "I'm trying to get rid of it."
Necar's eyes flitted up to May. For a moment she didn't say anything, just watched her with that impossible to read expression of hers.
"That star is the reason Dawn and Oli disappeared, isn't it?" she said at last.
May pressed her lips into a tight line and nodded.
Now Necar stood. She reached out a hand and May took it. "In that case, I wish you luck."
"Thanks," May muttered, holding Necar's stern gaze with her own. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time."
"Nonsense. I may be a tough bitch, but I'm still glad to have met you, especially if you're following in your parents' footsteps."
At this, May laughed. "What gives you that idea?"
"You're here, aren't you?" Necar raised an eyebrow. "And you're running with the likes of Grant Parker. You can't be that squeaky clean."
May hadn't thought of it that way before. She smirked. "That may be true, but I'm not looking to get into the family business any time soon."
Necar smiled, her perfect teeth flashing like fangs. "Well, if you ever change your mind, I hope you'll keep me in mind."
"Sure," May said, adding Necar's name to her growing list of friends in low places.
Blake stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back. "Would you like me to take you back to your friends, Miss Gardener?"
With a curt nod, May followed him wordlessly to the door.
"May?" Necar called as Blake reached for the handle. May turned. "If you ever find your parents, please send them my best. I miss those brilliant bastards."
Blake led May back through the manor to where Welkin and Grant waited for her by the main doors. He stood aside to let her pass, and when she did, he said the only words he had uttered since leaving the study.
"I hope everything works out for you."
May turned to thank him, but he was already striding away, back into the dimly lit corridors from where they had come.
A pair of arms encircled May in an embrace. Surprised, May looked and found it was Welkin who had her arms pinned to her sides with the strength of their hug. It was a rare show of affection from the Star that left her slightly stunned.
"I wasn't gone that long," she laughed when her words found her again, patting what of their back she could reach. "And Necar said you knew where I was."
"So you talked to her then?" Grant asked, pushing off from where he had been leaning against the wall. "What did she say?"
"Nothing helpful unfortunately," May grumbled.
Welkin pulled back. Their expression was as bored as usual.
"I'm sorry to hear that, May. But we knew this might happen. Don't let it discourage you."
Grant sighed. "I'm sorry too, Tiny. I wish she would have let us in there with you. Maybe I could have strong armed her a bit."
"I doubt it. Necar Devereaux seems pretty unshakeable to me. Besides, she didn't sell the star. No one did."
Frowning, Grant turned and opened the door. It had started raining, the water coming down in thick, unrelenting sheets. Despite the miserable weather, Fargus took off the moment May stepped through the door, disappearing into the night with a disgruntled caw. May watched him vanish into the darkness as Welkin draped their tuxedo jacket over her bare shoulders.
The town car pulled up and the three of them darted through the rain before Lety could even step out to get the doors. The shifter read the mood immediately and didn't ask any questions as she set a course for the garage.
They drove most of the way in silence. The rain hammering the car roof was the only noise.
May watched it streak across the window at her side as she played her conversation with Necar and the Art Collector over again in her mind.
"You've been awfully quiet," Welkin remarked softly as they cruised back into the city. "Is everything alright?"
May knocked her knuckles gently on the window, her mind fixated on one specific detail.
"Necar said the wishing star only grants one wish per person. Is that true?"
Welkin nodded.
"Wait," Grant leaned forward from his seat on the other side of the car. "I thought you said Devereaux didn't tell you anything?"
"That was it, really," May admitted with a shrug. "She was talking about why no one wanted to move or buy it. It got me thinking – I don't really know anything about this thing. I don't even know what it looks like." She looked to Welkin. "Do you?"
"Unfortunately, no." An apologetic look flickered across the Star's lovely features. "I know what it looks like when it's where it's supposed to be, but I've never seen what it looks like here on Earth. And it's passed through so many hands since it fell – who knows how it's been disguised over the years."
After the evening she'd had, May simply added this new dead end to the growing list of disappointments.
"Can you tell me anything else about it? Necar said there were a few other details she had heard, but she couldn't remember them anymore."
At this question, Welkin sat up a little higher, ready and eager to be helpful.
"Despite popular assumption, the wishing star isn't a limitless resource. There are parameters to its usefulness."
"Such as?"
"Well, aside from the one-wish-per-being caveat, wishes made upon the star must be specific and reasonable. No vaguely wishing for world peace or world domination. Wishes also can't be made for the benefit of Stars."
This last rule took May aback. "What does that mean?"
Welkin folded their hands together patiently, their long fingers wrapping elegantly around their palms. "It's a failsafe of sorts. It ensures that the powers of the wishing star can never be used against us. Or by us, for that matter."
"What about Em? As a Starborn, would she be able to use it?"
"No. She carries part of my essence in her."
"And Wishes? What about me?"
Welkin's eyes narrowed. "Technically you're not a Star, so yes, you would be able to use it. But I would caution you against it."
"How come?"
"It would be a stolen wish." Welkin wrinkled their nose. "It's distasteful."
May laughed. "Technically I'm the product of a stolen wish. Do you find me distasteful?"
Clearly this reasoning had never crossed Welkin's mind. Their face flushed and they looked away, flustered. "Of course not. Besides, that's not the point. The last thing you need is to give the Loyals yet another reason to target you."
The car was pulling up to the garage now. Grant leaned closer to his window and squinted. "What is that idiot doing out in this rain?"
May and Welkin clamoured to his side to get a better look. There, in the light of one of the building's exterior pot lights, stood Dom, waving them down as though they might somehow miss their stop. Fargus sat on his shoulder, hunched tight into himself and looking drowned and miserable.
Grant rolled down his window. Cold rain splashed inside.
"What are you doing?" he yelled at Dom. "Get inside!"
"I've been waiting for you," Dom shouted back through the noise of the downpour. "Hurry up. I've got news!"