Chapter XIII: Wish Upon a Star

The evening had grown dark by the time she returned. Dark and cold; the summer was just about over, and the nights were getting much colder. She rubbed her bare arms, wishing she had brought a hoodie. The wrought iron gate let out a loud creak as she pushed it open and made her way in. She wiped the flecks of rust off on her pants as she looked around the dimly moonlit garden. She didn't see or hear Edward, so she called his name.

"I'm here, Vee" he softly said. She walked in the direction of his voice, and found him. They smiled at each other. She figured she probably looked just as happy as he did, that they were in each others company again. And it had only been a short while that they were apart.

She held up the brown paper bag in her hand and said, "I brought you some white chocolate mango scones. It's a new recipe I'm trying for the cafe. I thought you may enjoy them later." He thanked her as she set the bag down on the stone walkway.

She looked back at him, and asked, "What are you working on?"

He pulled his eyes away from her to look back at the hedge next to him. "Deciding what to make for you."

Watching him contemplate, she grinned at the idea of him making something just for her. And out of the very same topiary that he had hid behind the night before. His mannerisms were identical to when he had cut her hair. He was so quiet, yet you knew there was so much going on in his brain.

He took a step closer to the dinosaur and started by snipping off some of the accents; giving it a smooth surface to work with. He took a couple steps back from it looked at it with his head cocked to the side slightly. One eyebrow raised, as he continued to contemplate what to create. Then, with a flash of silver he was working. Pieces of green leaves and twigs went flying in all directions.

She had not felt such anticipation since she was a little kid, waiting for Christmas morning. She watched in awe; he worked like a true artist, and it was obvious that he was passionate about his art. She couldn't help but be attracted to that. To be that talented, yet so hindered, he is truly amazing. I feel like such a fool about letting my painting go. Here he is, overcoming so much, and making beautiful things. What do I need to overcome? Time? A busy schedule? It all seems so petty now.

The noises stopped, focusing her attention to the creation in front of her. Edward took a couple of steps back to where she was standing. The hedge was transformed into an ancient looking boat, almost like a pirate boat. The smile reappeared on her face.

He looked at her, and bashfully said, "You said you loved the sea...I thought maybe you would like it."

"I love it Edward. Thank you so much. You really are amazing." She admired the sculpture for a few minutes, then linked her arm through his. He glanced down at her hand resting on his arm and smiled. She said, "You know, I haven't gotten a chance to really look at everything in this garden. Maybe you can give me a tour?"

He nodded his head and started to lead her. They slowly made their way meandering through the garden; talking the whole while. She asked him several questions about the garden and his inspirations. They eventually made their way towards the house and stopped at the stairs.

She rubbed her arms for the tenth time that night. He looked concernedly at her, and asked, "Are you cold?"

She laughed, "Yeah, I forgot it was getting so cold at night."

"I will be right back," he said and disappeared into the house. A few seconds later he appeared with a cloth that looked identical to what he earlier used for cutting her hair. She thanked him and wrapped it around herself.

They sat down on the cool stones, and looked up. Several stars were visible, even with the moon outshining them in the sky. She leaned back and propped herself up with her elbows on the step behind her.

She pointed at a star near the moon, and broke the silence by saying, "You see that star right there?" He glanced at her, followed her finger to the star, and nodded. "When I was little I always wished on that one. Star light star bright, first star I see tonight..." She trailed off, and looked at him with a grin and one eyebrow arched. "Come to find out, that isn't a star at all. It's Venus. No wonder none of my dreams came true," she laughed.

He smiled at her, and asked, "Which one is a real star?"

She scanned the darkest part of the sky, and pointed. "That little twinkling one." She paused a moment and then thought aloud, "Hmm, I wonder what I should wish for..."

He spoke up, "I wish I could be complete...normal." He gazed sadly at the star, and made a couple snipping sounds.

His comment almost broke her heart. She looked at him with concern, "Is that what you really wish for?"

He sighed, looking like he didn't believe a sparkling star could actually grant such a wish. "More than anything," he said as he continued to intently look at the star.

She frowned, "But, you wouldn't be able to create such amazing things, like you do."

The thought didn't phase him. "I know," he said.

She raised her eyebrows, "And you would give it all up?"

His sad eyes still fixed on the star, he breathed, "Yes."

She furrowed her eyebrows, the frown lingering, and looked back up at the sky. There must be some way he can get his wish. Dad is a scientist, he should be able to help...but, that would mean a sit down, serious conversation with him. That was something she had avoided for years. She wondered if he would even believe her. It wouldn't hurt anything to at least try. Putting aside her discomfort and avoidance of her father was the least she could do for Edward. He deserved some happiness. She decided against informing him of her plan. Not after all the 'well meaning' townspeople saying they could help him, and never doing it.

She faced Edward and asked, "Did your father ever keep journals? Did he have a study where he did research?"

He turned to look at her and give his reply, "Yes. It's on the first floor. I don't go in there."

Ah, the door with all the cobwebs that I saw earlier. "Would it be ok if I went in there?" She looked at him apprehensively.

He turned to her, and replied, "Yes." He didn't even ask her for a reason, he just got up and started walking towards the house. She stood and followed him.

When they stepped through the door they took their usual train-like stance; and he lead her to the room. Once inside, he closed the door and turned the light on. As the electricity hummed to life, she brushed the cobwebs off of herself. Looking up she giggled as she saw a very cobweb covered Edward looking back to her questioningly. She smiled as she wiped all the cobwebs off him, and pulled them out of his messy hair. He smiled back at her. Their faces were only a few inches away from each others. She couldn't help her racing heart, being so close to him.

She took a step away, and looked to the side, awkwardly saying, "Umm...thanks." Why am I telling him thank you? Ugh, what is wrong with me, I can't even function near him. She looked around the dusty room, saying, "Is it ok if I look through his books?"

"Yes," he said, looking distractedly around the room. His eyes were glossy, and sad. She looked around as well. It had rock walls like the rest of the castle, and a huge fireplace. All the walls in the room were lined with tables and shelves. There were books piled up everywhere, and a couple large wooden chairs in front of one of the desks. One of the chairs had deep cuts along the arm rests.

She reached for a book to look through and said, "You know Edward, you can shut things out, like this room; but, it doesn't make it easier. Sometimes it can be good to remember the person you've loved and lost. Just focus on all of the good times you have shared with them. Honor their memory, not avoid it."

With glistening eyes, he nodded at her, "I will try." He looked over the room again, this time with half a smile, and a far away look in his eyes.

After she had leafed through yet another book about machines, and cookie cutter robots, she threw it down on a table and huffed. "There has to be more! Didn't he keep anything about you?"

He slowly nodded, "There are more books in the cellar, they may be there."

The word 'cellar' piqued her interest. She remembered him telling her of the underground stream, and would love to see it. "Great! How do we get there?"

He walked to the fireplace, and pushed a blade against one of the rocks lining the back. With a loud groan, the wall started to recede. She gasped. It was something right out of a movie. The mysterious castle with hidden doorways; she could hardly contain her excitement.

"This way," he said as he ducked down to walk through the opening. Following closely behind him, she peered down the winding stone stairway. The wall sconces were slowly flickering to life, casting dancing shadows on the walls.

They started the walk down. The stone stairway seemed to go on forever. They must have descended right through the middle of the hill. The air was getting colder, and damp. Moisture glistened off the rocks on the walls. The noise of rushing water was getting louder. It sounded like there was a waterfall up ahead.

They got to the base of the stairway, and it opened into a large chamber. Sure enough, there was a waterfall. What looked to be an old fashioned mill was propelling within the waterfall. This must be the castle's source of power. There were also several pipes and wires leading up through the ceiling. She said her thoughts aloud to Edward, "This place is so amazing. Your father was a brilliant man."

He smiled in response, and walked to an archway with a sturdy looking wood door. "He kept notes in here as well," he said as he opened the door.

They walked into the room, which compared to the rest of the basement, was amazingly dry and warm. The lights were brighter, and again there were several tables and desks with more journals, and even a large sketchpad. She walked to it and opened it to see several drawings of a cutter robot being transformed into a man. She looked through some of the books, and found some that were over her head with scientific descriptions; one even had excerpts written in what looked to be another language. This was it. Exactly what she was looking for. "Can I borrow these?" She looked up to Edward to see him distractedly looking at the wall.

She walked over to him and joined his gaze. Etched in the wall was what looked like a drawn doorway. It was so strange that she didn't notice it earlier. She looked at him; he was intently staring at it. "What is this Edward?"

"I can't remember," he said, looking unnerved.

She recalled seeing a sketch of a doorway in one of the books she was just looking through. She leafed through it quickly, until she found the page. Again, the page was written in the unfamiliar language.

"I don't think I can even read this," she stated as she tried to sound it out. She got through the first three sentences when she heard Edward gasp. She looked up at him and saw he was looking wide eyed at the doorway. Her mouth dropped when her eyes joined his gaze.

Inside the doorway where there used to be only the rocks from the wall, were now a shimmering, waving vista of what looked to be another land. She walked up to it to get a closer look. It was as if she was Alice and looking through the mirror into a different world. The sky was a deep purple, with two moons of different sizes. The ground looked to be covered in a burnt orange sand. The land twisted and jutted up in strange, unnatural ways. She heard a fluttering sound and looked up. On the other side of the doorway there was what looked like a large moth, or butterfly. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Its' bio-luminescent wings were a glowing yellowish green with bright purple veins crisscrossing over the entire surface. It's body was also a glowing greenish color. She raised her hand towards it, and asked Edward, "What is this place?"

No sooner had she spoke than the doorway rippled and was gone. Her raised hand was now an inch away from the stone wall. She lowered her hand and took a step back. The etched door frame was still there in the wall, but whatever place it had opened up to was gone.

She looked back at Edward who looked just as shocked as herself. She could already tell he had no idea what it was, but he looked almost spooked. She asked anyways, "What place was that?"

He shook his head, tearing his gaze from the doorway to her. "I... I do not know." He paused and looked back at the door, "It seems familiar though."

She wondered about reading the words aloud again; but, decided against it. The place, wherever or whatever it was, was beyond intriguing, and she did want to investigate it further. However, she didn't know how dangerous it would be. She, amazingly enough, wasn't as shocked as maybe she should be about seeing it though. Always believing there were things in life that went beyond explanation was working for her tonight. She decided not to analyze what or where it was that she just caught a glimpse of; just to accept that it was part of the magic of this castle and of whatever made Edward the way he was. Who knows, perhaps part of him came from such a land.

Forcing her mind back to her goal, she picked up the books she wanted. Again she asked Edward, "Can I borrow these?"

He looked back to her, and without a moments hesitation said, "Yes."

She turned to leave, and he followed her. They walked back up the long twisting stairwell in silence. He didn't seem like he wanted to talk about what just happened either. Maybe his mind also was busy, wrapping itself around what happened. As she climbed the stairs, she ran her fingertips over the dusty surface of one of the books she was holding. Maybe there were some answers in one of these. She doubted she would be able to understand them, but perhaps her father would.

Once they had made their way outside, she sighed, and said, "I would love to stay, but I should really go home. I have to work in the morning and it will be a busy weekend. I may not get a chance to come back here for a couple of days."

Concern washed over his features. "As long as you come back." She nodded. He looked relieved and added, "I will eagerly await your return."

He walked her home, much like the night before. On the way home, their conversation reverted back to the stars. They talked about constellations, legends, and myths. When they reached her house, she opened the door, then turned to him to say goodnight. She leaned in close to him and wrapped her arms around him. Her lips brushed his jaw as she held him tight.