“Alright then, get up.Don’t just sit there,” she nodded to Mars and Spike.
“We’ve got a shattered case to clean up and I’d like to speak to Theodore.Alone.”
Lorelai and Izzy nodded as Spike touted, “I’ll get the broom.”
Calliope helped Theo up as Mars brushed past her, heading to Lorelai.Calliope guided Theo to the lounge couch in front of the large painting from the exhibit.One she did not care for.A large painting of several muses dancing around a fire with a satyr, a centaur, and...a pegacorn.
It was like Chuck was everywhere, when he was nowhere.A constant reminder of youthful innocence and soured friendship.
“What really happened, Theo?”she asked as she guided him to sit down.She sat beside him, the cushions shifting from her weight, sliding her closer to him.
He sighed, looking back at her.“I just...heard the sound and it was driving me crazy, so I went to check it out, and just...poof.I saw the shimmer of violet and I went to open the case so I could see what was going on and it just shattered to pieces.I’m sorry, I?—”
“No, no.Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault.Perhaps it was just too hot or the sun hit the dust wrong, or?—”
“Or maybe I’m just cursed,” Theo said with a smirk.“Maybe fate changed its mind about me.”
Calliope shifted beside him, holding his gaze.His dark eyes were soft, glistening with that spark of hope but also sadness, as if Theo truly believed he was notgood enoughto be chosen by fate.
How wrong he was.
He ran his hand along his face, and she noticed as he did so, the sparkle of dust along his cheek.Iridescent dust.
The diviner itself did not leave glittery dust in its wake, and the debris left on the velvet, the glittering debris was not iridescent in nature.
Calliope grasped his hand and turned his palm over.His hand wascoveredin iridescent dust, shimmering like diamonds in the low light.
“Whoa...what the hell is that?”Theodore asked.
Calliope’s blood chilled.
“Is this the hand you touched the display with?”she asked.
Theo nodded, shifting his position.The motion drew them closer together, until their thighs were touching.Neither made it a point to move.
“Yeah, why...”
Calliope’s fingers slid over his palm, through the familiar silica-like dust.There was only one creature she knew who could leave such a bright, illuminating film in his wake.
A creature who was looking more and more guilty by the minute.
“It’s pegacorn dust,” she said carefully.She traced her finger along his palm lines.“Left by a pegacorn when they transform.”
“A pegacorn?What the fuck is that?”Theo asked in alarm.
Everyone turned their way.
Mars’s heavy gaze met hers.
“A pegacorn is a fabled creature.A unicorn with wings.Extremely rare,” Mars said.
Theo looked between them all.“How rare?”
Mars licked his lips.“As in, only one exists.”
Theo looked up at Calliope.
Her heart ached, her stomach churning.But Calliope did not look at Theodore.She stared at Mars, imploring him with her gaze.
