So, does anyone care about this story? (Just curious.) Special thanks to Lori Henderson who edited this for me. (In other words, all erors are her fault. ;) ) A Single Star: Part 2 THE SEARCH 'Ella decided that she liked her new home. The little castle was perfect, as if Sharm had built it herself. If it weren't for fact that there was a landlord, 'Ella would have thought so. But then, she would be suspicious as to why Sharm had done it. There was her part of the bargain though. 'Ella had done everything she could think of to find those gargoyles, which wasn't much. But no luck. She wanted to find those gargoyles for her own reasons now. It was lonely in a big place by yourself. Mandy had been a nice comfort at first, but she had been gone for a long time on some sort of trip. 'Ella was sure that Sharm was involved somehow. Now that it was winter, 'Ella *needed* someone to talk to, or she would start remembering . . . . "So, this is the famous Estrella Clucas." The young man bowed mockingly, but with a grin. "'Tis truly a pleasure to meet you." He took her hand and kissed it, then winked. "Call me 'Ella." Estrella said quickly, pulling her hand away. She knew *plenty* of charmers like this one, though none had succeded as well as he had. She knew how to get rid of him if she wanted. She couldn't help smiling at him though. "'Ella. Hmm. Any relation to CinderElla? "None that I know of. What's your name?" "Trevor Brelane." "Any relation to Prince Charming?" He laughed before answering. "Well, now that you mention it . . . ." "Oh no! I don't want to hear it. It's probably full of stuff like 'My uncle's mother's cousin's --'" "No," Trevor interrupted, "But if you believe what everyone says, he's my brother." "Troy Brelane?" "Yeah." "Fitting name, it seems." 'Ella mumbled to herself. "He's been looking for you, and so I wanted a glimpse of you before he spirited you away." He smiled again. "I'm glad I did." "Why is he looking for me?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You have a reputation for beauty, Miss Clucas. I almost wish it weren't true." "Don't like your brother much, huh?" "Ah! You've found me out. I hope he doesn't." "That bad?" "Bad? No. Manipulating is more like it." "Trevor! There you are! I see you found the jewel of the party." A new man called out. The crowd seemed to part before him as he came towards them. "Hello Troy." Trevor replied with feigned cheerfulness. "'Tis always a pleasure to meet one as beautiful as you." Troy said to 'Ella with a crooked smile. He tried to kiss 'Ella's hand, but she pulled it away before he could. There was something about him that didn't sit well with her. Troy seemed to be at a loss for words at her action, and Trevor was more than happy to take over for him. "So Troy," Trevor drawled, "How's Heather doing?" "Heather . . . is Heather." Troy answered, trying to avoid the subject. "Really." Trevor was enjoying this. "When are you finally going to propose to the girl? I think she's getting tired of waiting." "We broke up." Troy said quickly. "Oh? I haven't heard anything about this." "I wanted to tell you before anyone else." "Even before Heather?" Troy turned red, but tried not to act upset. "No, of course not. I just don't think she . . . understands just yet. You know how women can be . . . . I mean--" 'Ella couldn't help laughing as Troy continued to trip over his words. Finally Troy gave up, and changed the subject. "Father's looking for you, Trevor. He wants to do some sort of announcement with you I think. Why don't you go see what he's up to. I'll take care of Estrella for you." "I'm sure you will." Trevor grumbled. He smiled halfheartedly at 'Ella. "I hope I'll get to talk to you later, 'Ella. It's been nice meeting you." 'Ella gave a start. How had that happened? She had never remembered so vividly before. She missed him so much! 'Ella tried to forget about the memory, about him, but everytime she closed her eyes, she saw him again. 'Ella put her head in her arms and cried. "You think you can *handle* it this time?" Sharm said, sitting in the air in front of Trevor, as usual. "I had to restrain you last time." Trevor tried to hide his smile. He hadn't meant to do that, but effect of seeing 'Ella again was something he wasn't ready for. "I'll do better this time. Promise." "Good. I --" Sharm was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Drat!" she said in a wisper. "I didn't think she'd be here this soon." Sharm waved her arm at Trevor, then sat in his lap. Before Trevor could do or say anything about this, Sharm called out "Come in!" "'Ella, what are you doing here?" She said in a mildly surprised tone. Trevor tried to manuver to see, but he got an elbow in his chest as a reprimand. "Mother? What are you doing in my landlord's office? Don't tell me *you're* the landlord." ~Mother?~ Trevor thought in surprise ~That would explain some things.~ "No, of course not! I just . . . like sitting in his chair." Sharm replied, trying to sound innocent. "Mother, you are a very bad liar." "No, I'm a very good liar. But I don't like doing it, so I don't." "Your not even sitting in the chair." 'Ella pointed out. "And your point is?" 'Ella sighed, then changed the subject. "Do you know where the landlord is?" "Yep! I'm sitting on him!" Trevor could tell from Sharm's voice that she was grinning widely. "I suppose with you, anything's possible." 'Ella commented drily. "Oh well. I'll come back later. Maybe I can catch him then. Bye Mother!" "Bye!" Trevor and Sharm gave a simultaneous sigh of relief as the door closed. Sharm got off Trevor's lap immediately, and resumed her normal position in front of his desk. "I must admit that that was very interesting." Trevor said, leaning back in his chair. "Don't worry, it won't happen again." "Who's worrying?" Sharm scowled at him, then decided to ignore him, even though she continued talking. "Hopefully 'Ella can finish her part of the bargain soon, so we can get on with the plan. If she doesn't hurry, I'll have to start pushing her in that direction. Sandy won't last much longer." "Who's Sandy?" Sharm looked at him as if she had forgotten he was there. "You'll see, eventually." She turned and looked at the door. "If 'Ella hurries, that is." "Sandy." Jordan called softly. "Sandy can you hear me?" There was no reply. She'd been like that for a week now. Jordan was almost out of his mind with worry. He was almost ready to go to the humans for help, and he would have if he hadn't known how frightened of him they were. Jordan remembered that once he had thought that it was fun to frighten humans. That didn't last very long after they started trying to kill him. Jordan decided that he would try to find help tomorow. Just watching her get worse day after day wasn't helping anything. "'Ella!!! Where are those gargoyles? Aren't they suppose to be living here by now? You can't have a castle without gargoyles!" Sharm called up from the courtyard/garden in a cheerful voice. 'Ella leaned out the bedroom window. "It might help if I knew something about them! Gargoyles are *suppose* to be hard to find!" "Point. Okay, let me come in, and I'll tell you!" 'Ella took a moment to get downstairs and open the door. "Today's a nice day. Let's walk in the garden." "Me? Walk?!!" She paused. "Okay." Sharm dropped out of the air and began to walk down the path. "So, what is it you want to know?" "What happened to their clan?" "They were 'Accidentially' bulldozed when the building they lived at got torn down." "Accidentially?" "Yeah. Actually, it was all the un-seelie's fault. All that was left were two mated gargoyle adults, and two eggs. The adults were killed two or three months ago by a landslide. The kids have been going it alone ever since." "How do *you* know about them?" "I'm a fey!" 'Ella didn't take that reply. "Okay, let's see how good your memory is. Why did the un-seelie try to kill Terra?" "Because . . . she was protecting a clan of gargoyles." "Close enough. That's what everyone else thinks. Remember that talisman I gave her? Well, she learned how to use it. As long as she was in the gargoyle's general area, the gargoyles couldn't be killed. The un-seelie's solution to everything is to kill whatever's causing the problem, so that's why. It's no wonder there aren't many of them. Anyway, I knew about the clan because I knew Terra." "Are you sure the gargoyles are still here? I've looked on every mountain side, every building top --" "Every empty building?" Sharm suggested. "No, actually. I didn't think of that." "Hmm, maybe you should. Start close, you remember what happened to Sarah Carew." "Who?" "'The Little Princess' remember? The guy who was trying to find her lived right next door!" "Oh." 'Ella wasn't sure what to say about that. "Well, I'll get started on that right away. What do I do if I want to find you?" "Um. Try using the ring." 'Ella looked at the ring on her finger. "I can't do magic, you know that. You're the one who tested me to death about it." "But you didn't have a focus before. Try it." "I had a focus." 'Ella protested. "But not one like this! I'll see you later, dear." Sharm began to fade away. "Argh! Fine, I'll try. Goodbye!" Sharm grinned before she disappeared completely. "Hello?" 'Ella called softly into the main room of the old mill. She had been told this place had been boarded up, but the door showed no evidence of it. As she went into the old mill, she heard some scuffing sounds, a little to her right. She searched the room, but couldn't see anything but a stack of broken boards in one corner. She was about to go into another room when she noticed a big black mark in the center of the stone floor. As she bent down to examine it, she thought she heard a low moan coming from the pile of boards. Curious, 'Ella took some of the boards off the top of the pile. Under them she found a gargoyle boy, trying his hardest not to be seen, and a very sick little gargoyle girl. As soon as the boy realized that he had been seen, he growled fiercely and tried to scare 'Ella away. "Whoa, calm down. It's okay, I'm a friend." The boy paused, and his stance eased a little. "A friend? You know about us?" "I know about your kind anyway. What's wrong with the little girl?" Immediately the boy forgot to be threatening and hovered over the girl. "I don't know. She's been like this for a long time. Can you help?" 'Ella was a little startled at the blind faith in the boy's eyes. "Uh, I can try. Do you two have names?" "Yeah, I'm Jordan and she's my sister, Sandy." "Don't you mean rookery sister?" The boy, Jordan, looked confused. "Nevermind. What happened to her?" "She got some blister type things from that board right there. After that night, she's been sick like this." 'Ella bent down and looked at the board. After a few moments of study, she breathed in sharply. "What is it?" Jordan asked. "I don't believe this. It looks like whatever tree this board was made out of was a cross between a rowan tree and dragons' bane." "I think I know what dragons' bane is, but I'm not sure about -- a rowan tree." "I guess it's sort of dragon's bane for Oberon's children. I don't think it'd be a good idea for even me to touch." "So you know what's wrong with Sandy?" "Um, sorta. Dragons and Gargoyles *are* related, but I don't know how. That's probably why your sister's sick. I have got to get you out of this place. If you come to my castle, I'll see about getting the antidote for your sister." "I thought that the only castle in this valley was an inn. You aren't going to take us *there* are you?" "No, of course not." Maybe Sharm had made the castle after all. Either way, 'Ella wasn't going to worry about it right now. "Are you willing to come live with me for a while?" "I'm about ready to do anything if it will help Sandy." 'Ella gave a sigh of relief. "Come on then, I'll drive you to the house." "I just thought of something, Mr. Brelane." Sharm said in an accusing tone as she appeared suddenly before Trevor. "What?" "You were born in 1902?" "Yeah." "Think about that for a minute and tell me what's wrong with that." "My age?" Trevor shifted in his chair. "I suppose you want to know about that." Sharm folded her arms and just looked at him. "Now I know where she get's it from." Trevor sighed. "I got into a fight with one of your kind I think." He frowned. "He thought I was being disrespectful or something." "So he made you immortal? I know someone who'd be *begging* to be disrespectful to this guy." "No, that isn't it, exactly. I was supposed to die the moment I was disrespectful without cause, which is what this guy thought I had done. Problem was that I never was, so the spell has kept me alive ever since." "Huh. Well, what do you know. Have you ever thought about being disrespectful, just because you're tired with life?" "No, that'd be suicide, and I don't believe in that. Besides, it gives me more time to chase after 'Ella." "You are hopeless, and it's a good thing too." "Why do you say that?" "Well, 'Ella has just found the gargoyles, and is taking them home. Before I take you to see her, you need to know something." "What?" "She's not exactly real." "Huh? You mean she's too good to be true or something?" "No, I mean she's not exactly real. I made her, she's not really alive and doesn't have any real substance." "Now I'm *really* confused. 'Ella isn't alive?" "Well, not exactly. You see, she doesn't exactly have a spirit." "She seems to have a personality to me." "Um, that's not exactly it. I've only done what writers have done for centuries. Would you say that Bilbo Baggins has a spirit?" "Bilbo . . . ? Oh yes, the Hobbit. I suppose that depends on your point of view." "Okay, fine. I won't get into philosophy with you. But she still doesn't have substance." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Do you *really* want to know? If *I* explain it, it would be very complicated." "Can you cut the explanation down to just a few words?" "Think of Dr. Zimmerman from Star Trek. That's sort of how she works." Trevor blinked and thought about that for a minute. "Okay, I think I understand." "Good. I'll tell you when the time comes to execute the big plan." 'Ella finished pouring the green honeylike substance down Sandy's throat. Sandy swallowed convulsively. "There. She'll be sick for a while, but at least she'll be getting better." "Thank you." "Your welcome kid." 'Ella ruffled his hair. "Could you watch over her for a bit? I've got a phone call to make." "Sure. You think I'd leave anyway?" 'Ella smiled and left the room. When she was a good distance away from the gargoyles sensitive hearing, she stopped and stared at the ring on her finger. "Well, here goes." 'Ella tried what her mother had told her to do millions of times before, but with the same result. Almost. She could actually feel something in the ring. It felt like a hole to something. Without realizing exactly what she was doing, she did *something* to widen the hole, and suddenly she felt the magic rush into her, overpowering her. She tried to call out, but all she managed was a small moan. The next thing she knew, someone was pulling the ring off her finger and saying something to her. " . . . you think you were doing? *Somebody* is bound to have heard that call besides me. That poor gargoyle girl certainly did. I had to put a spell on her so she couldn't get up before I came to help you. Didn't you realize that all that magic had to go somewhere?" 'Ella pushed the hair out of her eyes. Strange, she didn't remember falling down. "Mother? What happened?" "You almost killed yourself! You're only made out of magic, it's not like your body could handle something like that. I don't know if it did anything to you; I can't find anything wrong. How do you feel?" "I'm not sure. Did the boy notice anything wrong?" "No, I made sure he didn't even see me. Something doesn't seem quite right. Oh well, it's probably nothing. Can you stand?" "I think so." 'Ella got up. "Do you think you can help the girl? I don't know what to do with her." "What you gave her will work just fine. What will really help is to get rid of that wood. I think if you burn it that will work, but you have to be the one, and it has to be burnt in a place that no one will go to for at least a month." "How did you know about . . . " "Oh, deary I knew all along. That's why I had you go find the gargoyles. If I got within twenty feet from that place, I'd be sicker than Sandy would ever get. Mountain ash and dragon's bane is very leathal combination. If anyone had a hint of magical ability, it would hurt them somehow. That's why you have to burn it. Like you said, you can't do magic." "Then what did I just do that almost got me killed?" "I could give this ring to anyone and they could do magic. Have Jordan keep it for you until you get back, I think he'll need it. Tell him not to let Sandy touch it. And don't you dare touch the wood! Just burn it." 'Ella sensed that Sharm was going to disappear any minute. "Don't you dare leave yet! How am I supposed to find a place no one will go for a month, and how am I supposed to get it there if I can't touch it?" "Estrella my dear, I know an awful lot, but I don't know everything! See if you can figure something out yourself. For all I know, you could carry it around with iron twezers! Oh, and if I were you, I'd check on Sandy." 'Ella turned and looked down the hall before she realized that Sharm had disappeared again. "Oh, bother it all!" She mumbled to herself as she went back to the gargoyles. "Why does she always have to do that to me?" Jordan smiled as she entered the room. "Look! She opened her eyes! She said hello to me!" 'Ella sat down on the edge of the bed. "Sandy? How are you doing?" "Is this the nice lady, Jordan?" Jordan nodded. "Okay then. Hello nice lady. I have an owie on my paw, see?" Sandy showed off her sores. "Oh, does it hurt a lot? You're very brave not to cry." "It's okay. I had to have stiches before, and that hurt worse than this does. Besides, it's almost morning anyway." She turned to Jordan and whispered loudly, "She is a nice lady. She reminds me of mommy." 'Ella looked out the window to see pink tufts of clouds being colored by the rising sun on the opposite horizon. Suddenly the room was filled with noise as the pair turned to stone. A smile was frozen on Jordan's face as he held hands with his little sister, who was caught in the act of whispering to him. It was a beautiful morning. Too bad she would have to sleep through most of it. Sharm hovered over her daughter with a slightly worried expression on her face. "I know how important your sleep is to you, my dear, but you've got to remember sometime. He really does love you, and you need him more than you realize." Placeing a kiss on 'Ella's forehead, she passed a hand over her daughter's eyes. "I'm sorry, my dear one." She said as she faded away. Lightening filled her hearing, and the unceasing wind tried to tear her cloak off her shoulders. 'Ella pushed the skiff into the water. There was always home. All she had to do was say the rhyme, and the spell would do the rest. She was glad when it began to rain, it would hide her tears better. " 'Ella!! 'Ella come back here, you're going to get yourself killed!" It was Trevor. What was he doing out here, didn't he have a wedding right now? "I don't see why you care, your supposed to be getting married to Heather, aren't you?" She yelled back at him. "No, there was a mix up! Troy decided he really was going to marry Heather, but the typesetter got our names switched when he made the announcements! 'Ella, please get out of that boat! Don't you realize how dangerous it is out there?" 'Ella wiped the tears and rain out of her eyes as she thought about what he said. Suddenly lightening struck a giant tree nearby, and caused it to crash into the lake. Waves from the tree tossed the little skiff into the rocks, where it broke into a hundred pieces. Being inside of one of the rocks confused 'Ella for a moment, then she quickly pulled herself out and had to made a conscious effort not to go through anything. Trevor was calling out her name as he searched for her. "Please be alive, please be alive. 'Ella can you hear me?! I don't know if I could live with myself if she died. 'ELLA!!" "Calm down, Trevor! I'm right here." Trevor seemed to be having a hard time deciding on whether he was surprised out of his wits, or overjoyed. " 'Ella! Thank heavens you're all right! How on earth did you survive that crash?" "Would you believe it if I told you I'm immortal?" "I will if you believe what happened to me. Come on, let's get you inside before I catch something." 'Ella woke up a little before noon. Pulling out paper and pencil, she began to draw. It had been a long time since she had drawn anything. The picture slowly formed itself into a girl, outside on a cold winter night, looking in a window to see herself warm, happy, and surrounded by friends. Next to her was a door, with a key sticking out of it's lock, but the girl seemed too cold to notice it was there.