Work Text:
5
The year was 1980, and Monty had just come to Esther. He was sitting on her shoulder, as she paged through some kind of book on the stars. Well, that’s what it had to be about, because the black book was covered in golden stars. He flew off her shoulder and pecked one of the star pictures on the page.
Esther smiled. “Do you want to learn about these stars?”
Monty nodded.
“Okay Monty. Well, each star has a different name. Sometimes they make pictures in the sky. This one right here – this is Orion. See, he has this belt made of three stars. Up here is his bow and arrow. He rides through the sky, trying to find the love of his life, Artemis. You see, he was killed by Artemis’ brother, Apollo. Artemis turned Orion into stardust so she can always see him as she pulls the Moon on her chariot.” Monty peers at the picture.
“And this right here” Esther says, dragging her finger across the other page “This is Cancer, the crab that killed Orion. It’s also a zodiac sign. Depending on when you were born, you have certain traits. I’ll tell you more about that later though.” Esther flips the page to two new constellations. “Ooh, Andromeda. She’s a pretty one. Her dad chained her up to save his kingdom, and then she was saved by Perseus. And Pegasus, the winged horse Perseus rode to save her from the sea monster that was trying to eat her.”
Monty cuddled into Esther as she told him all about the constellations and their stories, and eventually, fell asleep. When he woke up, he saw that she had put up some lights on his cage, and had arranged them in the shape of Orion and Andromeda.
4
- Monty watched Esther as she arranged some colored rocks into a spiral. He pecked at one of the blue ones she wasn’t using yet.
She looked over at him “Oh Monty, I need that sea glass. Did you know they have meanings too?”
Monty looked up at her expectantly.
“Different colors have different meanings. Give you different traits. Blue is peace and tranquility. Green is new beginnings.”
Monty flew over to one of the pink pieces, near the center of the spiral.
“Oh, pink. Nostalgia, history, age. And red, red means desire and romance. And courage.” Esther pauses. “Lastly, yellow. Yellow means joy and happiness. Oh, I forgot about purple. It represents magic, mystery and royalty.”
Monty perches on top of the jar while Esther works with the sea glass. She finishes the spell, and then she grabs a bright teal book off the shelf. “Come, Monty. I’ll tell you more.”
Once again, he perches on her shoulder. Once again, he falls asleep. Once again, he awakes with a new accessory in his cage, this time, small pieces of seaglass.
3
The next time Esther teaches him, it involves a bit of travelling. The year is 2001, and there’s a meteor shower in Michigan. So Esther takes him halfway across the country to see the meteors across the sky.
She laid out the worn woven blanket on the grass beside the hundreds of other people. He laid beside her and talks to her in the way he can about the stars.
“Remember, it’s not just stars darling. It also rocks and light.” Esther reminded him
“Oh. Right. What are they called again?” Monty asked.
Esther smiled. “Meteors.”
“Meteors” Monty repeated. “I like this.”
“Would you like to hear about the magic associated with meteor showers?” Esther asks, stroking his wings, pulling out some of the stray feathers.
“Yes.” Monty hopped up and flew closer to her. “Tell me. Do they give you healing powers? Are they like the blood moon? Or do they help with something else?”
“They amplify spells. When rituals are done underneath a meteor shower, it’s more powerful and requires less energy.” Esther said. “And of course, they represent good luck. Promise.”
In that case, Monty thought, I promise to always be curious, to learn more about magic and astrology.
“Monty, I vow to always care for you.” Esther said
2
Monty was flipping through a constellation book, reminding himself their names, which was very difficult as a bird.
Orion. Cancer. Andromeda. Pegasus. Ursa Major. Ursa Minor. Cassiopeia. Cygnus. Draco.
“Monty, come over here” Esther said. “I want to teach you about Tarot. I’ll tell you about Horoscopes later, but let’s start with Tarot.”
Monty flew over to her and watched as she laid out cards, face down. The backs of them were incredibly intricate.
“Pick 3 cards” She said. “If any of them feel right.”
Monty jumped from one card to the next, until one felt warm. He indicated to her that that card was one. He found the three cards that felt right.
Esther explained the meaning of each card he picked. She flips all the cards over, and explains each meaning to him. She showed him what it means if different cards are selected at the same time. And then she said “Read my cards.”
Monty fanned the cards out, though it took him awhile due to him being so small – and his lack of real hands.
Esther pulled three cards out of the line, and Monty read them for her.
1
Monty sat up, awake.
Right
He was a human now. Esther had made him human to help with her revenge scheme. He missed his cage, he missed the times he spent curled into her while she read a book to him.
But now, he got to live.
Now, he could turn the pages easier in her books. And today, she was going to test him on his horoscopes.
He got dressed, then headed downstairs to the dining room, where he ate breakfast with Esther.
“Are you ready for Horoscopes, Monty?” Esther asked.
“Yes” Monty said.
Esther pulled a thick navy blue book from the shelf, covered in silver constellations. He recognized each of them. “Horoscopes are the most foolproof and most complex of divination. Each sun cycle has a different constellation. These are called the Zodiacs. I know you know what they are, but I want you to tell me about who I am. Based on these”
Monty took the book from her, and paged through until he found the Aires section. “You tend to hyperfocus when you find something you like, but otherwise, you will get easily bored. You quickly get angry, then tend to forget why you’re angry. You believe you can win anything, even when the odds are completely against you. And you’ll do anything if someone dares you to do it.”
Esther smiled. “Good Monty. Now, can you tell me which zodiac sign is you?”
“Well, I could be a Cancer, since I am very creative and compassionate, more likely is a Sagittarius, due to my intense friendliness. Though I most closely match being a Taurus. I don’t like world-shifts, and I love to cuddle. Not to mention I am very stubborn when I want to be.” Monty said.
“Very good, Monty. I think you’ve learned everything you need to know.”
+1
Monty walked around the forest, unsure of how to tell Esther he failed. She’s been off ever since she lost Becky Aspen to Edwin and Charles. Still, he turned, and saw her there.
“Oh. Are you having a bad day?” Esther asked
“You didn't tell me that mushroom thing was gonna completely eradicate them. Or how gruesome it would be. Or how to...” Monty said. You didn’t tell me I had to worry about the other supernatural forces.
Esther stared him down. “Wait, wait, wait. Where are the ghost boys and the little psychic shrew?”
“They know, Esther. That stupid Cat King came and he told Edwin everything. So he knows I'm yours, and he knows this is a trap.” Monty said.
Esther huffed. “So, you let them escape? I knew you were getting too attached.”
“I never asked to be human, with all these...” Monty sighed “feelings.”
“I'm sorry, did you wanna stay a dirty, disgusting little crow? I have to finish everything myself. I mean, this is why we had a plan, Monty, so I wouldn't be the one traipsing through the goddamn woods!” Esther shouted at him.
Monty had only seen her this mad one other time. And the object of her fury didn’t survive ten minutes.
Monty braced himself for the pain, but it still was the worst he had ever felt. Blood splashed onto his face The problem was, being a familiar, he’d just turn back into a crow when he lost too much blood.
He was close to dying now, he felt it.
He felt his blood ebb out of him. He felt when he became too lightheaded. He felt when he was dying.
And then suddenly, he wasn’t.
He was a crow again. He almost died.
And he wasn’t sure if returning to Esther while the boys were still in town was a good thing.