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With each new spasm, Sebbi wretched up more of himself until clear liquid was the only thing leaving his mouth.

Abby stood there horrified and helpless, her legs refusing to push her forward as Sebbi fell to his side and began convulsing.

Margo shrieked, the small mouse-woman using every ounce of strength to perch Sebbi's head on her lap so he didn't choke on his tongue.

Abby whirled around, her mind a frantic mess of old memories and new fears. Sebbi would die. Sebbi was dying at her back, on the ground, in some strange realm, and there wasn't a thing she could do. She was being forced to repeat the past and watch as someone else left her life.

This time, though, she wasn't willing to say goodbye. Grabbing Axion by his collar, she yanked him toward her, their foreheads smacking off one another. "Do something," she growled.

Axion blinked, a meteor shower streaking across one side of his face to the other. "Do what?"

"Do what?" Abby repeated, venom in her voice. She swung her head around. Sebbi's arms twitched, his legs kicking out beneath him. Even his tail jerked. The whole of him rattled the way a Tram riding rickety tracks would, the luminescence of the Evernight no longer captured in his gaze. A purple tongue hung limp between a mouth that had gone lax. Abby's teeth tore into her bottom lip. Her head snapped back around, her gaze freezing Axion to the spot. "Do something." She snarled. "Anything!" She released him, tossing him aside like a dirty rag.

"Abby," Axion's voice was calm, even. Cold and compassionless like the rest of him. "There's nothing to do."

"Shut up," she snapped.

She needed a second. Two tops. To figure something out before it was too late. Her heels ground into the dirt as she stalked back and forth, fingers stroking the slope of her jaw.

Do something. She had to do something. But what? She stopped mid-stride and glanced at her hands. Empty and dirt covered. Maybe if she stared at them long enough, or hard enough, an answer would materialize out of thin air. A miracle maybe, that would be enough to—

Her gaze immediately shot back to Axion. Without a word, she pounced on him, her hands exploring every inch of his body.

"Hey!" Axion squirmed beneath her invasive touch. From the neck up, all his stars took on varying shades of red. He was a matchstick burnt within an inch of its life. "What are you doing?"

Ignoring him, Abby continued her search, slipping her fingers inside both his coat pockets. She fingered lint, smooth metal shapes, scraps of paper, but nothing that she needed, nothing that could save Sebbi.

Next, she focused on Axion's trouser pockets. Nothing of interest was in the left one, but as she went for the right one, Axion recoiled, slapping her hand away from him.

When Abby glanced at his face, she realized all his stars had concentrated on his cheeks. An alarming yellow came and went in waves.

"What are you doing? What could you possibly be looking for?" 

"The powder!" Abby stamped her foot as a frustrating heat spread uncontrollably underneath her skin. How was Axion not getting it? Couldn't he see Sebbi? The rigidity of his movements, the slowing of his breath, the creeping darkness threatening to obscure his features? "You said it's a miracle powder. Where is it, Axion?"

Axion straightened his coat. "Abby, it won't do what you want it to do."

She glowered. Arguments had their time and place, and this was certainly neither. "Where is it?"

Frowning, Axion parted his jacket, reached into his inside pocket, and retrieved the patchwork satchel. Abby tore it from his palm before he could blink and then rounded on him.

He called after her. "It won't work."

The dread in Abby's stomach multiplied. "Then it's not a miracle powder." She cocked her head back Axion's way, eyes a shiny mix of sadness and anger as she marched toward Margo and Sebbi. "And you will have lied to me."

"Abby—"

She threw herself onto the ground beside Sebbi, her fingers fumbling with the satchel's drawstring.

Margo's eyes drifted up to hers. "Abby—" Margo started, her hand reaching for Abby's shoulder.

She pulled away. "No." Abby poured some of the powder into her palm. "I'm not saying goodbye." She glanced at Margo, more determined than ever. "I refuse to mutter another goodbye."

Then, she returned to Sebbi, and raised his head off Margo's lap. It took all her strength to keep him upright. "Se-Sebbi?" Footsteps sounded behind her as Axion positioned himself next to group. Abby paid him no mind. 

Instead, she ran her fingers through Sebbi's fur, feeling the heat radiating off him. His fever must have been out of control. "Everything's going to be okay." Though his eyes had rolled back into his head, Abby watched his ears twitched. Wherever Sebbi had gone, he was still close enough to hear her. If all that surrounded him was darkness, he could follow her voice and find his way back.

Breathing deep, she gathered the air in her lungs, before raising her palm and exhaling. A pure cloud rose up from her hand, coating Sebbi's face fur.

She braced for an explosion of coughs, for red, watery eyes, for an annoying glance to be leveled her way. For the tremors to stop, for his fever to break. For his lips to curl into a reassuring smile. For something. Anything. For that promised miracle to occur.

But the seconds melted away, and nothing happened. Tears ran down her cheeks as she cradled Sebbi's head, her body rocking back and forth. She could sense him moving away from her, going to that place her legs couldn't carry her to, no matter how fast she ran. Joining her mother and father in the sky, another constant reminder of all she'd lost.

"Why isn't it working?" The cracks in Abby's voice made her all too aware of her waning hope. Sebbi was dying. Sebbi would die.

"I've seen this poison before," Axion said. "Kings Viper." He knelt beside Abby, fingertips disturbing the soil between them as they dangled at his sides. "Only thing that'll save him is the antidote."

"Do you know where it is?"

Axion's lips pulled tight as entire universes were snuffed out until he was darker than a shadow, and just as impenetrable.

"You know, don't you?" Abby sprang to her feet. "Tell us." She wrapped her fingers around his lapel and shook him. "Please." Her eyes darted between him, Margo, and Sebbi. "Margo can stay with Sebbi and you can show me, take me to it and then we can—we can—"

One by one, Axion pried himself free of her fingers. "I can't."

"No," Abby said, shaking her head. "No. You show me." She punched the ground with her fist. In her lap, Sebbi groaned, drool sticking his fur to his chin. "Show me where the antidote is. We'll get it." Hair fell in front of her eyes as the edges of the world softened, more and more things losing their shape. "We'll get it and save Sebbi and--"

No one will have to say their goodbyes again.

"I won't take you to the antidote."

"And why not?" Abby screamed, each word raw and furious as they scratched their way free of her throat. Her entire body shook with anger.

"Because it's for the best."

"If you won't show me," Abby glanced at Sebbi, her hand brushing aside hairs that had fallen in front of his eyes, fingers grazing his crescent-shaped scar, the burden that was his to bear, that he'd born alone. That had gotten him here, that had brought him nothing but suffering, "then what good are you?"

Axion lurched back as if Abby had loosed a volley of arrows, each one piercing through the celestial bodies existing on his skin. "You think me useless then?" His question was barely a whisper.

"Yes."

Axion straightened and returned to his feet. Wiping the dirt from his fingers, he donned a smirk while the rest of him darkened. "You sound like my father."

Abby sounded like the evil king? So be it. If taking on a tone like that was what it took to get the antidote, to have the power to save Sebbi, she'd welcome the comparison. Hell, if becoming the next shadow king meant gaining the ability to save her loved ones, Abby would gladly wear the crown.

"Why won't you do anything?" Her fist pounded the ground, her tears dousing Sebbi's face, catching on his eyelashes, adorning his whiskers like tiny gems. "Do something," she pleaded, her fingers combing through Sebbi's fur. No longer could she feel his warmth. "Anything."

This wasn't the end. This couldn't be the end.

"Miss Abby."

She turned. Margo stood over her, shoulders slouched, her pendant clasped between her palms. "I have an idea." She held up her necklace, the half-empty stone reflecting the starlight.

Abby wiped her face. "What do you--"

With wet eyes, and the most sorrowful smile Abby had ever seen, Margo reached down and caressed her back. "I have enough left to save his life."

Finally, Abby realized what Margo meant. Why she'd stared at her so sympathetically. Why she was clutching her necklace so tightly in her hands. Why her aura seemed to have paled.

"You want to give up your life to save his?"

Margo nodded.

Fury bubbled to Abby's surface. Her anger and her annoyance spilling over onto her next words. "So you've decided I have to say goodbye to someone I care about today?" Her lips quivered. "No!" The fury of voice made Margo flinch. "I'm not losing either of you--"

"It's not your decision to make." Margo's tone was warm, not heated. Not aggressive like Abby's. Imploring, but sensible.

What was sensible about trading one life for another?

Abby found it all appalling. "I told you I'm not saying goodbye to someone I care about. You're not doing this, Margo. You're not--"

"You don't get to make that choice!" Margo stood at her full height, jaw squared, shoulders stiff, her hair a tempest of curls.

Abby gaped.

Margo blew out, settling her hands at her sides. "You're not the only one who has to say goodbye to someone they care about if Sebbi dies."

In that moment, while staring into Margo's eyes, Abby understood. All the heartache she was feeling, all the sadness, the frustration, her desperation, Margo'd been dealing with it too. She was as much a friend of Sebbi as Abby was.

Margo got to her knees, reached for Sebbi's hand and squeezed. "He always made sure there was a variety of cheeses in the kitchen when I visited." Her eyes drifted toward his face, soft and alight with fond memories. "I have to try." Margo's words were soft, free of the hard edge she'd given them moments ago.

Abby nodded. Margo made to stand, and as she did, Abby grabbed for the mouse-woman's hand. Margo's fingers trembled. "What'll I do without you?" Abby asked, sobs congealing at the back of her throat.

Margo smiled, stroking Abby's cheek with her other hand. "Love the Wizard Kellog for the both of us."

A frail smile surfaced to Abby's face. "That I can do."

"I know." Margo released Abby and turned toward Sebbi, the wind picking up around them. Trees bowed. The Evernight's luminescence, from its stars, to the glow of its plants, flickered like candlelight caught in a storm.

The hairs on Abby's neck rose as Margo summoned the realm's magick to their spot. The Evernight's song returned to Abby's ears, swelling around her. Its soft notes transformed into horrendous screeches. Abby covered her ears, leaned forward and pressed her eyes shut.

This was it. Margo's last act of magick. Giving up her life to save another. Abby couldn't have imagined that the lumpy maid with a Kellog obsession rivaling her own would have turned out to be a wizardess from another realm.

And that the two of them would have bonded during the harrowing journey to seat the rightful heirs on Aelurus's throne. That through mounting obstacles and despite devastating losses, they'd carve out an irreplaceable friendship. But here they were.

And as tears gathered at the corners of Abby's eyes, she realized there was more needing said. Abby hadn't told Margo how she'd been the greatest wizardess, not wizardess-in-training, she'd ever known. How her prowess for magicks would have made the Wizard Kellog smile. How, despite not knowing him well, Abby knew Hestor'd be proud of the person his friend had become. And how Abby was so thankful to have met her all those years ago.

Snapping her eyes open, Abby was ready with a thousand words on her tongue needing to be said, but before she could speak, Axion's voice cut through the din.

"You don't have to die," he said calmly, his voice causing the realm's song to quiet.

Abby stared at him, the words he'd spoken repeating in her mind. Had she heard him right? Did Margo not have to die?

Margo must have heard him too, because she turned to face him, her gaze prodding him for answers.

"King's Viper alters itself to be at its most potent." Margo raised an eyebrow. "And that process takes time." Axion plucked at a stray thread at his jacket's hem, asteroids sticking to his skin like stones suspended in tar. "Say you magickally change our friend there, the poison will need to alter itself to accommodate the changes. It's not a cure, but it buys him time." He jutted his chin toward Sebbi.

Margo frowned. "What's the point in prolonging his suffering when I can save him now?"

Pressure pressed in on Abby from all sides as the concentration of magick grew thick around them.

"For starters," Axion stared down the mouse-woman, "You won't have wasted your life. And," his gazed drifted to Abby. Leaning over, he traced a finger over the markings on her neck, "I'll take you to the antidote."

Abby jolted, her hand rushing up to find Axion's. She squeezed his fingers. "You will?"

A trio of moons circled his left eye as he nodded. "Turns out, I'm not so useless after all." Turning toward Margo, he asked, "You can turn him into something else, yes?"

Her brow furrowed, as short, squared teeth pressed into her lower lip. Her entire face scrunched like discarded paper. "I can," she ran her hands along her trousers, "I can turn him human."

"Margo," Abby pleaded, her gaze on Sebbi. He had stilled. "Please."

Nodding, Margo rolled up her sleeves. Her aura exploded, enormous waves of electric blue filling the air until they engulfed Sebbi. His body rose higher and higher. Sweat poured over Abby's face, neck and back. Even Axion seemed to fall victim to the overwhelming magick; comets streaked down his forehead imitating perspiration.

Sebbi's body shrank, tan skin replacing his fur. His ears and tail retracted, claws filed down into short nails. Black hair erupted from the crown of his head and rolled onto his shoulders, down his back. Lastly, the crescent-moon shaped scar between his eyes faded.

When his body came back to the ground, he was no longer Sebastian Dinn' Aelurus, King of the cat kingdom, but Sebbi, the boy from the docks. Who had waited for Abby. Who had worked up the courage to call her Abs once. Who had gifted her a clover. Who had never failed to make her smile.

Abby slumped to her knees, relieved and exhausted as a vortex of emotions swirled inside her. She listened to Sebbi take his first breaths as a human; she watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest, and smiled at the way his eyelashes fluttered as if caught in a dream.

"Margo," she glanced at the mouse-woman who was hunched over, hands clasping her knees. Sweat-slicked and red-faced, but smiling. "You're amazing."

Tucking a curl behind her ear, Margo gave her a sideways glance, chest puffed, skin aglow. "I know."

"We should be moving now," Axion stepped out of a shadow, "the later it gets the more dangerous it becomes." He strolled toward Sebbi, stopping suddenly. Whirling on his heels, a cluster of meteors gathered between his eyes. He cleared his throat.

"Axion," Abby started to her feet, "what is it?" Panic reared its ugly head, slicking Abby's palms. Her breathing grew strained. Was something wrong with Sebbi? Had she heard wrong? Was he not breathing? Had Margo's magick failed?

She took a step forward, prompting Axion to raise a hand, halting her progress. "What is it? Is something wrong with Sebbi?"

Axion's stars flashed bright pink. "I'm afraid the Cloudian's magick didn't—"

"Didn't what?" Unwilling to wait for Axion to make his point, Abby sped forward, her legs like jelly underneath her as she ran.

"Abby, I wouldn't—" Axion pinched the space between his eyes with his fingers. His mouth a knotted quasar on his face.

All the blood drained from Abby's face. She screamed and whirled around, covering her eyes with her hand. "Na-naked!" Her knees knocked together. "He's naked!"

Beside her, Axion nodded."That's why I was trying to get you to stay away."

"Well, it didn't work," she snapped, her cheeks as bright as the suns orbiting Axion's earlobes.

"Obviously." The lord of shadows gave a belabored sigh. "Mouse-wizardess, might I trouble you to magick up his Highness some royal trousers?"

Margo straightened, reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of cheese. Popping the glistening yellow cube into her mouth, and rolling up her sleeves once more, she shuffled toward them. "On it."