The Blue Star of Haverton

A Short Story

By Lisa Anikerina

*Note: I recommend reading "Pyramid Scheme" and "Of Candy and Candles" before reading this story.

"Just remember, this isn't a date!"

A whinny-like chuckle sounded from behind Brooke Gray as she fiddled with the key to Hasid's shop. She pursed her lips and tried to take a calming breath, but the sound set her teeth on edge. For the twenty-seventh time, she wondered if this was a good idea.

"Whatever you say, kitty," Paul snickered behind her.

She straightened her shoulders and glanced once at her reflection, unconsciously adjusting her thick green skirt. At least she wasn't wearing fur. Hasid, in a fit of normalcy, had given her the precious gift of humanity for the night. As usual, he had explained why, but in a manner so incomprehensible, she couldn't remember the words.

The chestnut-haired woman rolled her eyes and turned to stare at her non-date. Paul stood there with his arms crossed, a tiny smirk upon his lips. He held her tan coat in his arms, looking just like some normal guy waiting for a girl.

She hated it. She hated the ease in which he carried himself in a male body. She hated the way he towered nearly a foot over her. She hated the way his body fit into the magic-tailored ivory suit. She hated the way his golden hair hung around his handsome face.

But she hated the sparkle in his eyes most of all.

Brooke stomped her foot, the handbag over her right arm fluttering. She refused to think of it as a purse. When Paul used that word on their last outing, she had almost beaten him with it.

The somewhat pale man who normally wore the face of a human Pegasus held up his hands defensively. "I was just teasing."

Brooke huffed and stalked away from him, her gold blouse shimmering in the dim lights of the closing stores.

"You're always just teasing," she growled, not waiting for him to catch up with her. "And it's ticking me off."

There were still a few employees wandering behind the dark displays of fake Christmas trees and garish boxes inside the stores. Other than that, the mall was nearly deserted. After all, most people had better things to do on Christmas Eve.

"That's because you take things too seriously," Paul replied, his white shoes clacking on the marbled tile as he fell into step beside her. "Yeah, I hated this at first, but it beats the hell out of prison."

"We are in prison," Brooke hissed. "Just because you're happy with your cell doesn't make it any less of a prison."

"Sue me for deciding to enjoy this," Paul laughed. "Being a guy isn't that bad. Granted, the wings and hooves are weird, but things could be worse."

She heard this all before. Ever since his little foray into Hasid's shop in early fall, he'd been trying to get her to feel more at ease in her body. What he failed to realize is she didn't want to be comfortable in her body. It was just another reminder of what she'd lost in her insane deal with Hasid in Alexandria.

"Yeah, you could be a chick," Brooke mumbled.

Paul sighed as they approached the glass doors leading to the Haverton Plaza parking lot. Brooke ignored him.

"I'm not going to go with you if you're going to be moping the entire time," Paul informed her. "Anyway, this was your idea."

"Don't remind me." Brooke ran a hand through her hair, grateful she was rid of the sphinx fur for the night. "I just wanted to get out of that damn store or my damn fake apartment for the night."

Paul made a noncommittal noise.

"Shut up, horsehead."

"I didn't say anything!" Paul protested.

The two of them reached the first set of doors. Beyond them, a second set opened up into a snowy parking lot. Little bumps of white fluff were scattered over the pavement, though all the remaining cars were clean. The night sky was awash in gray clouds, lit by the orange and white lights of the city. Brooke could see a bright glow coming from the direction of Haverton County Park, past several lines of pine trees on the opposite side of the street.

Behind them, a store's lights went on as a few employees filed out. Brooke stopped and gazed at the reflection in the doors. A petite woman stared back at her with swirling brown hair cascading down her back. She was almost cute in her satin blouse and floor-length forest green skirt. Her dusky skin complimented the colors of the outfit, making her look as normal as anyone else in the mall.

She studied the gentle face Hasid gave her for the night and rubbed a hand over it. It reminded her of a young version of her mother, with a small nose, medium cheekbones and tiny lips. The only oddities were the two cat-slit eyes blinking back at her, a relic of her deal with Hasid.

Aside from the eyes, she looked like any normal girl. And Paul looked like any normal guy. For just a moment, that idea of normalcy showed in a small smile.

Paul's eyes widened as he looked at the reflections. "Wow, we look just like a normal cou-."

He stopped himself before he said something stupid, but the damage was done. Brooke winced and tried not to consider his half-spoken word, despite the identical thought going through her head.

She was suddenly tempted to run back into the shop and forget the whole idea. She was all too aware of the signals bouncing between her and Paul. They'd been there since their first fight in Hasid's shop. But she was usually better at ignoring them.

"Are you okay?" Paul's voice was kind.

"I'm fine," she coughed. "Let's go."

Paul frowned, but Brooke convinced herself she didn't care. She snatched the coat from his arms, threw it around herself and marched out the glass doors, Paul trailing in her wake.

The chill immediately reminded her of her lack of fur. As she stalked across the parking lot, the hints of chimney smoke teased her nose, reminding her of childhood Christmases long buried in the recesses of her memories. The sound of a crackling fire and the taste of hot chocolate echoed within her head. The giggling of Mom and Kara came back to her like a forgotten lullaby.

Paul walked beside her as they crossed the street and sauntered along the white sidewalk as she retreated into the past, seeking a refuge from the confusing feelings.

Christmas was the only time of year when Mom never stayed up late to look out the window. She was always busy, bustling around the house and making things perfect for her son and daughter. Their mom would bombard them with constant treats and little gifts until Christmas morning, when she would dress up like Santa and laugh in delight as they tore open their big presents. In the afternoon, they would go to the homeless shelter to bring the people all sorts of little homemade goodies. Mom always made it seem like some grand adventure, even though the next day she would go back to her two jobs to keep them in their dingy two-bedroom apartment in Jersey.

During Christmas, it didn't matter that Dad had left. It didn't matter that they were struggling in school. It didn't matter that they had no money. They had each other, and nothing else mattered.

She shivered and realized just how much she missed Kara and Mom. She hadn't talked to either of them since Alexandria. And she didn't know how she could now.

A faint sniffle rose from her, and then she jumped when she felt warm fingers curl around her hand. She looked up into Paul's eyes and allowed herself to smile. For one instant, she forgot her annoyance and enjoyed the touch of a friend.

He released her hand a moment later, a warm smile on his face. They were inside the twisting path through the depths of the County Park now. Towering pine trees protected them from the light breeze spinning across the landscape as red and green lanterns lit the cobblestone road. There were a few other people walking with them now, but they were mostly couples and small families, dressed warm against the chill of the Haverton night.

An expanse of snow lay between the trees to either side of the path. Throughout the forest, someone had scattered small red and green lamps. As they moved through the pines, the lamps danced in the depths of the forest like fairy lights. There was a scent of magic to the air and Brooke had trouble figuring out if it was real or imagined.

They passed through the break in the forest without a single word to one another. As they approached the last turn, the sound of giggling children and singing carolers filled the air. When they rounded the corner, both of them stopped and stared at the enormous clearing in the middle of the Park.

A towering sixty-foot tree dominated the acre of glistening grass. Shimmering white lights glittered around every branch, turning it into a galaxy of stars. Among the thick needles were ornaments of red, green and gold. Each was the size of a grapefruit and they reflected every twinkle of the tree. Streamers and tinsel waved and fluttered as children scampered about. At the very top was a magnificent unlit star, which mirrored the lights of the Park in all its radiant glory.

Before the tree was a beautiful maple platform, complete with a solid oak podium. The structure was festooned with green garland and crimson ribbons. A smiling blond woman was chatting animatedly to a beautiful redhead at the front of the platform, while members of the city council milled about behind them. Both of the women seemed familiar, but Brooke had trouble placing them.

On the western side of the tree, a group of thirty-five carolers was singing proudly across the expanse. Their voices rose and fell through the hubbub of noise permeating the Park, filling the air with festive happiness. The men's old-fashioned suits were immaculate and the women's green and silver gowns gleamed in the light of the tree.

On the eastern edge of the clearing, a dozen brightly colored tents stood before the inner treeline. The smell of roasting chestnuts, sweet meats, candies and hot cider filled the air, weaving together with the subtle scent of pine.

Nearly five hundred people filled the Park. Brooke felt a bit intimidated by the sheer number of people. Even before the deal with Hasid, she had never been good in large groups of people. And she'd never been around this many people while she was a girl.

Paul's hand wrapped around her shoulder. "You okay?"

Brooke nodded as several groups of people slipped by the two of them to join the festivities. "Just a lot of people."

"No one will know."

Brooke wasn't sure if she found that comforting or not.

Paul offered his arm, but she ignored it and stepped forward. Yet the sheer energy of the crowd was too much to handle. She crept outside the path and stood against a pine tree to the right of the entrance, Paul at her side.

"Just give me a moment." Brooke shivered. Paul almost gave her a hug, but a warning glance from her prevented the costly mistake.

"We can leave if you want," Paul offered. He looked concerned. "I didn't know you were bad with crowds."

"Never been real happy with them," Brooke confessed. "And being stuck as a defenseless girl doesn't help."

"You aren't defenseless," Paul laughed. "In fact, you're probably the scariest girl I know."

Brooke chuckled and punched him on the arm. He rubbed the spot.

"See what I mean?"

Before Brooke could respond, a loud hacking cough grabbed her attention. She glanced to her right to see a haggard-looking man standing several feet inside the treeline, gazing wistfully at the singing carolers by the giant tree.

Brooke frowned as she studied him. His head was covered in a threadbare maroon beanie, while his body was wrapped in an assortment of badly fitting jackets and sweaters. He rubbed his hands together while he stood in a few inches of snow before covering his mouth as another wet cough erupted from his chest.

"Poor guy," Paul commented. "Rough night to be alone."

"Yeah," Brooke answered, her eyes locked on the scruffy man. A faint sense of familiarity washed over her, like she had seen him before.

The man didn't notice Paul or Brooke. He was focused on the singing carolers, breaking only for an occasional cough. While Brooke couldn't figure out why he seemed so familiar, she knew the expression on his face intimately. She saw it every day in Hasid's shop.

Before she realized it, she was walking over the battered snow to him. He caught sight of her approach and watched her warily, his brilliant blue eyes jerking left and right like a frightened animal.

"Whaddaya want?" he growled when she was a couple yards away. He pulled back, putting half a tree between the two of them. Paul stood behind her, his eyes flicking between Brooke and the man.

"Do you need some help?" Even to her own ears, she thought it was a lame way to start a conversation. She stared into his eyes and searched her memory.

"Ah ain't done nothing'" he sputtered. "Leave ma' alone!"

His slurred voice brought back memories. Something about a grateful man smiling at her as she sang.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Whaddaya care fo'?" He shoved his hands into his pockets. One of the fingers slipped out through a hole. "Don' bother ma!"

No matter how much she poked the memory, it refused to clarify itself. But her unwavering stare was starting to frighten him and he looked ready to run.

In an attempt to calm him down, she smiled. "Listen, why don't you let me buy you dinner?"

"Why?" Those brilliant eyes narrowed on her.

"Because it's Christmas Eve." She did her best to sound reasonable and reached inside her handbag, searching for her wallet. Her hand closed around a ball the size of a small orange and she pulled it out in confusion.

A silver candle with a swirling pattern of white and gray glittered in her palm.

"Why did you bring a candle with you?" Paul asked as he peered over her shoulder.

"I didn't," she muttered. "I haven't seen this one before."

She turned it over and studied the flat bottom. One of Hasid's incomprehensible logos stared back at her. Brooke squinted in the dim light until she made out a tiny musical note in the center. A faint smile creased her lips.

"Look, Mister." She glanced up to see the homeless man staring at the candle in confusion. "I have a gift for you, just for Christmas."

The man crept forward a few feet, just enough to get a closer look at the ball in her hand. The ivory wick shone in the light of the lamps strewn through the forest.

"It's a candle," the man sneered.

"It's special." Brooke reached into her handbag and wasn't the least bit surprised when she fished out a small lighter. With a flick of her thumb, a brilliant flame burst into existence and she touched it to the wick.

It instantly ignited and the air filled with a cheery scent.

With a smile, she held it out to the man. He looked between the burning candle and her eyes a dozen times before he reached out for it. The moment he was close enough, he snatched it out of her hand. Her smile grew a bit warmer.

"If you have any questions, come find me."

The man didn't respond. He looked at the carolers once before staring at the flame again.

Brooke turned and pushed Paul away, who was still looking rather confused. "What was that all about?"

"Just a little Christmas cheer." The fear of the crowds suddenly gone, she guided them into the throng toward the food tents. She glanced back once to see a shimmering blue light where the man had been standing.

After her encounter with the homeless man, Brooke found herself enjoying the festivities. She felt like she had captured just a moment of that old Christmas magic when they would share with the men and women in the homeless shelters. Paul bought them hot cider, but only after reminding her this wasn't a date. Instead of getting annoyed, she laughed at him.

They wandered through a folk art display on the north end of the Park, poking through the various knickknacks and trinkets scattered across the rickety wooden tables. Brooke bought a handmade wooden horse, while she spied Paul sneaking off to purchase a fuzzy little kitten.

After exploring most of the exhibits and stands, Paul led them to a line of benches to the east of the folk art displays. They sat in comfortable silence and enjoyed the celebratory chaos while they sipped their cider. Paul attempted to put his arm behind Brooke, but she whacked him with her handbag.

"You cut it out!" Brooke protested with a smile. "This isn't a date!"

"Okay, okay." Paul rubbed his arm again.

Brooke smirked and poked him in the side. He jumped and stuck his tongue out at her.

"Excuse me? Mind if we sit down?"

Brooke glanced up to see a tall man with a neatly trimmed goatee and longish brown hair smiling at her. Beside him was a petite auburn-haired woman cradling a baby.

Brooke glanced around to see that the rest of the benches were all filled. She nodded and smiled at them, scooting a little closer to Paul to allow the two of them room to sit. The woman shuffled her thick green coat and sat on the outside, wrapping a pink blanket around the baby. The man sat between Brooke and the woman, taking care to keep his dark blue robes under control.

"Thank you," he smiled. "I wasn't expecting it to be this crazy tonight. Is it normally like this?"

"Don't know," Brooke shrugged. "This is our first time."

"Sorry." He laughed. "I thought you were locals."

Brooke and Paul shared a look.

"Both of us recently…moved here," Paul explained while Brooke took a sip of her cider. It was close enough to the truth.

"Nice little town." The man adjusted his robes. "A lot quieter than Forest Cove."

"You're from Forest Cove?" Brooke grinned. "My sister lives there! Works in some research and development lab."

"An R and D lab in Forest Cove?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Must be Franklin Labs."

"Something like that," Brooke nodded. "It's been a while since we've talked."

"Small world." He put an arm around the woman and smiled. "I'm Jeffery. This is my wife Jessica and our daughter Melinda. We just stopped by to meet some friends from Stormhaven."

The red-haired woman smiled and said a quiet hello. Even the baby gurgled at the sound of her name.

"I'm Brooke." She chucked a thumb at the man to her side. "This is Paul."

"Nice to meet you folks," Jeffery grinned. "So how long have you two been together?"

Of course, Brooke had been drinking a bit of cider when he said that. With a sputtering cough, the liquid went flying over the cold grass. She tried to regain her composure as Melinda laughed at her. Paul went a little pink.

"We're…not…um…together," she sputtered. "Not like that."

Jeffery looked awkward. "Sorry, you two were acting just like….I'm sorry. Can we just forget about it?"

"Nice going, Jeffery," Jessica commented, whacking her husband in the arm. He rubbed the spot and Brooke couldn't help but think of the few times she'd whacked Paul tonight.

"So who's your sister?" Jeffery asked, trying to change the subject. "I work with Franklin Labs sometimes. I might know her."

"Her name's Kara. Kara…"

"Mr. Webb!" called a gravely voice.

Brooke stopped to see an older man with a thick salt-and-pepper beard striding up to them. He wore a chocolate-colored fedora, which matched his long trenchcoat. Jeffery stood to shake hands warmly with the man.

"Brooke, Paul, I'd like you to meet Jeremy Rogers." Jeffery grinned. "We've been working together for the last year on a special project in Stormhaven."

Jeremy shook hands with Paul and Brooke.

"Where is he?" Jeffery asked after the introductions were complete.

"Mister Makkus will be along shortly. Miss Harris wished to purchase some refreshments."

"As long as you're still keeping an eye on them," Jeffery commented.

Jeremy raised a bushy eyebrow underneath the fedora. "I do hope you are not questioning my teaching style."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

As the two men chatted, Paul whispered in her ear that he was going to get them another pair of drinks and slipped off into the crowd. Brooke's attention turned to the quiet woman next to her, who was watching her infant girl. Something inside of her warmed at the sight of them. Jeffery stopped chatting with Jeremy long enough to reach down and kiss Jessica on the cheek.

"We'll be back in a little bit," he whispered. "Just going to check up on the kids."

"Make sure to be back before the ceremony starts," Jessica admonished him. He nodded and set off with the elder man.

"How long have you two been together?" Brooke asked.

Jessica's green eyes looked up at her. "Almost six years now," she murmured as she stroked her daughter's soft hair. "Seems like a lifetime already."

"What do you mean?"

Jessica glanced out in the direction Paul had gone. "When you find that right someone, every moment becomes precious. You'll even remember the fights cheerfully."

Brooke did her best to scoff dismissively, but she didn't do a very good job of it.

Jessica's eyes twinkled. "Trust me. That bond will surpass anything. The differences, the pasts, even the appearances."

For an instant, Brooke forgot about the world around her. "That's a bit frightening."

"Yes it is," Jessica agreed. "It's a choice. You need to decide who you want to be with that person. But once you make that choice, you'll find all kinds of magic."

"Jessica! Come on!" Jeffery waved from the depths of the crowd, breaking Brooke's reverie. He was standing by a blond tomboy with torn jeans, an annoyed-looking teenager in a black jacket and a smiling guy with bright red hair. "They're about to start!"

Jessica waved back, then turned to Brooke. She touched her arm and smiled. "Think about it."

Brooke nodded as Jessica left to join her husband, leaving her alone on the bench. She wondered why neither of them had scoffed about her strange eyes, but the roiling emotions inside her soon overwhelmed the passing thought.

She thought about those special times with her mother and sister as a kid. She thought about the people in Hasid's shop, the kind of people who shopped for magic candles. She thought about the homeless man in the trees and his longing stares toward the carolers. She thought about Jessica's words, each of them delivered with the weight of someone who had come to those realizations the hard way.

Finally, she thought about the way Paul had made her feel since her deal with Hasid.

"Brooke?"

She looked up. Paul was standing there with two cups.

"They were out of cider. So I got us some hot chocolate."

He offered her a cup and she took a sip. It tasted sweet.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Brooke nodded. "I think I might just be."

Paul's eyes lit up. "Come on, they're about to start the ceremony."

He held out a pale hand and she took it gratefully. It took a few minutes to acquire a good position to watch the platform in front of the enormous Christmas tree, but they managed to find a spot near the Webbs and their Stormhaven friends.

Brooke continued to hold his hand as the blond woman from before stood up and called for silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" she said, projecting her voice over the crowd. "It's my honor to welcome you all for the one hundredth annual Starlight ceremony!"

Wild applause broke out among the assembled crowd. Brooke could feel the energy in the air. This time, she was sure she felt the subtle currents of magic floating across the Park.

"One hundred years ago on Christmas Eve, a bright blue star lit up the night sky of Haverton. Everyone who looked up into the sky that night felt the magic in the air. There are still beautiful stories of strange events that happened that night."

The blond woman reached out and held the hand of the redhead next to her. They beamed at each other for a moment before she continued her tale.

"Every year, we celebrate the wonder of Christmas Eve. We may not have magic wands and secret potions, but we can still cherish the magic of each other. Because that is the true magic that binds us together."

Brooke looked at Paul. Paul looked at Brooke.

She wondered for an instant as he tightened his hand around hers.

"Now let us remember that magical night! Light the star!"

The red-haired woman flipped a switch on the podium and the enormous star atop the Christmas tree sprang to life, letting out a glorious pulse of azure light that burst across the landscape, bathing everything in its warm glow. Brooke clapped her hands with everyone else as an enormous cheer rose from the crowd.

Another flash of light caught her attention in the forest beyond the clearing.

Brooke knew her cat-like vision was the only reason she managed to catch sight of them. Three figures stood among the snowy pines, each of them focusing on the star at the top of the tree.

The first was a tall, gray-haired man in a bathrobe. Beside him was a willowy Asian woman in a soft pink sundress. And the last one was a short, garishly dressed man in brilliant reds and greens. He had apparently given up his trenchcoat for the night.

Hasid winked at her. She just shook her head and laughed. "Crazy old goat."

Snowflakes began to drift from the clouds above, shimmering in the pulsing light of the star. The crowd gave a murmur of excitement as the snow fell and a graceful woman in her early thirties took the stage. Her thick brown hair hung in little rivulets around her beautiful face. She was dressed in an old-fashioned cobalt caroler gown that fell all the way to the ground. Two brilliant blue eyes peered out and touched Brooke's gaze.

Brooke had a sudden flash of a lonely man at the shelter in Jersey. He always loved to hear Kara and her singing Christmas carols, even if they were off-key and a little silly. She had never known his story, but her Mom told her to be extra kind to him, for he had once lost something very precious to him.

When she began to sing, her voice carried a message of timeless joy and eternal magic. Brooke could never recall the words she sang, but she would always remember the voice of renewed hope. A hope for a better life filled with love. A small tear ran down her cheek as she listened to the song.

Paul's hand tightened around hers and they once again looked into each other's eyes.

"Just remember, this still isn't a date, kitty." Despite his teasing words, his voice was tender.

"Right horsehead." Her eyes sparkled in the light of the star. "And don't you forget it."

As the snow fell around them and the song filled the air, they kissed.