This is the story of a boy named Regulus and it starts with a star.
“Starlight gleam and glow, let your powers shine, make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine, what once was mine.”
***
“Mother, why can’t I go outside?” Regulus asked, on his fifth birthday. “Regulus! I told you not to ask that.” Mother Walburga scolded. “If you ask again, no supper for 3 days.” Mother Walburga reprimanded young Regulus as he sat quietly listening to his mother. He hummed the tune to the song his mother had sung him since he was a child.
“Remember dear Regulus,” she indicated for him to finish the sentence.
“Mother knows best… I’m sorry mother.” Mother Walburga smirked and stood up. “Now, get to your room. You remember what happened last time you didn’t listen.” Regulus began to cry, followed by a snarky laugh from his mother.
***
On his seventeenth birthday, Regulus sat on the stairs, glumly. He decided after 3 years of being quiet about his wish to visit the stars, it was time to go. When he heard his mother shout “Regulus!” He knew it was time to ask. Regulus walked to the window and peered out. His mother stood waiting.
She was a rather petite woman with dark hair, like Regulus. They looked quite similar really. They had the same wavy hair and body shape but different coloured eyes. Regulus had emerald green eyes, whereas Walburga had hideous dark eyes which resembled a black hole. Regulus hated looking at her. Especially eye contact. She was quite ugly. If Regulus was being honest, he looked like a much more handsome version of her.
“Coming mother!” Regulus let down the ladder to the tower. As his mother climbed up the tower, she grinned. “I got you your favourite food! Sea salt chips!” Regulus groaned. He didn’t like sea salt. However, Mother always got sea salt chips. If he complained about it, he’d just get sent to his room for the weekend. “Thank you, Mother.” Regulus smiled insincerely. “I do have a question though, Mother.” Mother Walburga nodded, but it was clear she wasn’t listening. She walked into the kitchen and placed the chips down. Regulus followed her closely behind. “Regulus, if this is important, ask me later. Otherwise, sit down and sing.” Mother walked over to the chair, placed in the middle of the room, waiting expectantly. Regulus sighed and walked over to her. “Okay mother…” Regulus sat down and began to sing. “Starlight gleam and glow, let your powers shine, make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine, what once was mine.” Regulus sang the song like it was muscle memory. He sang it every day to his mother. It was nothing new.
“Mother… Do you think maybe tomorrow I could go and see the stars?” Regulus asked hesitantly. His mother went quiet. For a while they sat in silence just looking at each other. Until, “Regulus Arcturus. I’ve had enough. They are just lanterns for a stupid holiday. If you don’t be silent about these ‘stars’ I’ll give you something to worry about.” Walburga shouted at Regulus. “Yes Mother, I’m sorry…” Regulus muttered, standing to walk upstairs. He went to his ‘room’. It wasn’t even really right to classify it as a room because it was just a corner with a curtain and a bed. Regulus silently lifted his mattress and pulled out his journal. He began writing poetry.
Regulus loved writing. It was the only thing that got him away from this mess of a world. Trapped in a tower with no freedom. He longed for freedom.
***
He ran through the forest exhausted. This horse was not giving up. James had finally escaped the thieves he’d worked with. Friends, Evan and Barty were both terrifying. Individually they could kill him easily. They both carried weapons. Extremely sharp ones to be exact. Evan had 2 daggers, while Barty had a single axe. James was extremely relieved when he got out of their view. It meant he could duck behind a tree and hide. Unfortunately though, James wasn’t amazing at navigating a forest. In fact, he had been lost for hours. Not good. James turned the corner, expecting to see more trees, but instead, he saw a large clearing full of beautiful flowers and a magnificent waterfall. There was also a massive tower in the middle. The beautiful spring breeze hit perfectly in this clearing in the valley and- wait. That tower isn’t on any maps he’s studied. It’s also kind of odd that there’s just a random tower in a clearing. Rustling grew louder behind James. Uh oh. The horse found him. James ran towards the tower forgetting about how odd its placement was. He needed to hide. As he reached the bottom of the tower, he pulled out his climbing gear and began to climb.
***
Regulus sat writing poetry for hours. It wasn’t until Mother Walburga walked in to tell she was leaving. “Regulus, I'm going to town for lunch. I'll see you in an hour.”
Regulus just nodded and kept writing.
It wasn’t until he heard a banging noise on the outside of the tower that he lost his concentration. Mother wasn’t supposed to be home for at least another hour. He slowly crept towards the window. What he least expected was a man climbing the tower. Oh god. What was he supposed to do? Regulus looked around looking for an answer. He saw a frying pan sitting in the kitchen and decided it was his only option. Regulus ran and grabbed the frying pan, waiting by the window for the mysterious man to enter.
The man slowly and cautiously entered the tower. He stood, looking around the room, probably for a person. The man then visibly relaxed and walked towards the middle of the room. Regulus followed closely behind him before raising the frying pan and hitting him over the back of the head with it. The man collapsed, falling unconscious. Regulus stood for a few seconds composing himself. A man just walked into my home and I hit him with a frying pan. This was unreal.
Eventually Regulus walked to the storage box and pulled out a rope. He dragged Mother Walburga’s chair over and tied the man to the chair. Now he had to wait. And wait. And wait, until Regulus started to panic.
Did he kill him? Regulus looked around for a few seconds before seeing his rat, Peter in the corner watching. He went over to Peter and picked him up, taking him over to the man, who was still unconscious. “Hey buddy, do you think you could wake him up for me? Regulus whispered. The rat jumped off Regulus’ hand and climbed onto the man, running across his back.
The mysterious man jumped and woke up startled before screaming, “There’s a rat, kill it!” The man screamed for a few seconds before locking eyes with Regulus, who was standing in front of him. This was the first time Regulus had met someone other than his mother. He had to be cautious. Otherwise, he didn’t know what would happen.
“Regulus! Help me up!” His mother called from the bottom of the tower. Uh oh. If Mother found out a man was here she’d never let Regulus go to see the stars. “Who are you? Who is that? Where-” Regulus interrupted him. “Do me a favour and shut up before you get yourself killed. Now hide.” Regulus quickly untied him and ushered him into his cupboard before rushing to the window and letting the ladder down.
As his mother climbed up, Regulus began to panic. He needed to get her back out of here. “Regulus, go sit down, it’s time to sing” Regulus frowned. “Mother, I have something to tell you.” Regulus muttered. “Not now Regulus! Sing.” Regulus decided not to pry and began to sing.
When he finished singing, Mother asked, “Now what do you want? If this is about the floating lights, don’t bother.” Regulus hesitated. “I decided what I want for my birthday…” Regulus smiled. Mother turned to him expectantly. “New pens… like the ones you got me once.” Mother frowned. “Regulus, that’s a three day trip. Will you be okay alone that long? He nodded. “Then I’ll be back in a few days.” With that, his mother left again.
Regulus ran to open the cupboard. The man jumped out and waved his arms around. “Where am I? Seriously, just tell me.” Regulus smirked. “Here’s the deal princess. You, take me to see the stars tomorrow night and I’ll let you go free.” The man scoffed. “And why would I do that?” Regulus was glad he asked. He walked over to the stairs and picked up the man's bag. From it, he pulled out a crown. “Help me and I’ll let you go with this no questions asked.” Regulus grinned. The man chuckled. “You’re smart huh? Well I guess I can’t say no to such a fair deal. So we go see the stars and I bring you back? That’s it?” Regulus nodded. “Let’s go.” He said. They both approached the window. The man began to climb down first, slowly followed by Regulus, who was now reconsidering this. As he reached the ground and set his feet down, he grinned. He finally did it. He was free. At least for a few days.
“Hey, by the way, handsome, what’s your name?” James asked as they walked through the forest. Regulus frowned at the nickname. “Regulus.” James smiled. “Cute name. I’m James.”