Keeper of the Stars

Her mother made her way around the pond, but went through the bushes. Brea waited a moment before following. Her mother came up behind the starou, ducking down she pulled him back. Whispering she said, “Are you crazy, or don’t you remember what they did to last time they caught you? Come on.” She said in a hushed voice as she grabbed his hand and pulled him along. He looked up behind her and smiled like cupids arrow had just struck him in the butt, not budging. “Who is this goddess? Have you come for me? Ah, what a heavenly site and I can see no other. That flowing red hair of fire, those piercing violet eyes, and such fair complexion. I am yours if you’ll have me.” The starou said, and then knelt on one knee, continuing to look up at Brea. Trudy turned around and looked at her daughter with disappointment, though neither of them had noticed that the starou had not lowered his voice. Fairies came buzzing from behind the bush were they had been beside the pond, they were red in the face and looking for pay-back. They swarmed the starous head pulling at his hair and pinching his face. Brea stepped back from the tornado of buzzing anger; she could not make out the swarm. Her mother was looking at the mess evaluating what to do, hoping to get the starou out in one piece. “Hay, stop that! You’ll hurt him, he wasn’t bothering you!” Brea yelled before she could stop herself. The Fairies kept swarming, well all but one. She stopped and stared as if in shock, her eyes seem to squint like she was staring into the sun. The fairy glowed yellow and as she stared, the rest seem to calm and look at what had caught the other fay’s interest. They all flew into a huddle, but neither Trudy or Brea could hear what they whispered. When they finally broke their circle the fairy that had stopped flew up to Brea, leaving just inches of space between the fairy and Brea’s face. Brea grew nervous, she hadn’t meant to say anything, and she just couldn’t help it. The fairy looked her over once more before smiling, her eyes were still slits. Brea’s heart raced as she waited for what was to come next. The fairy flew around her head then stopped in front of Brea’s ear and at first it just sounded like a tingling of bells, but then Brea started to hear words. “You know, you shine brighter then we do. You’re even as pretty as one of us, who are you?” Came the little voice of the fairy. She then flew around to come face to face with Brea, she smiled. Brea was relieved and she felt she could answer, but was confused on what the fairy had meant. “My name is Brea, or my full name is Debrie Shadow Sternberg. But everyone calls me Brea…. What did you mean I shine…how do I shine? I can’t see anything.” Brea looked down at her arms and then lifted her hands to inspect them, she then looked back at the fairy. The fairy giggled then said,”Of course you wouldn’t, only certain creatures of magical nature can see it, unless your eyes are trained to that is. As for why you shine, I’m not sure. I will have to ask someone with more knowledge of this then I. Merry meet winged one, we will be seeing you again I’m sure.” The fairy flew into the group and they all flew away heading toward the back of the garden. “Hay, what do you mean? Winged what? Huh…”Brea asked, but they were already gone. She turned to her mother who was kneeling with the starou just looking at her, the starou smiled. “So, even the fairies favor you. Thank you miss for saving me their treachery. Your beauty shines and makes all stop in awl. You know your name is what means winged one, which is what she called ya…Debrie. A name as beautiful as you, fitting isn’t it?” The starou said. Trudy started giggling, and then it turned into laughter. She fell back in the grass and rolled as she laughed. Brea shook her head at her mothers fit. The starous bowed and then wondered off into the garden in the direction the fairies had flown. “Come on Mom, I have to go. Lilly will be getting off the bus soon. Goddess this day has been weird. I think I’m having delusional madness. Get off the ground already.” She said then offered her mother a hand.