Machimagic: An Illustrated Short Story Collection by George Saoulidis

Author:George Saoulidis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lgbt, fantasy, space opera, science fiction, witch, mythology, cyberpunk, space station, augmented reality, gorgon

The End

Welcome to the Asterism

“You can’t sit with us,” the other stars said, cooling themselves in their starpool.

“But why not,” Cassiopeia complained, feeling left out.

“Tsk. You’re new here, aren’t you?” Schedar waved her away dismissively. She was tanned and full-breasted, with an aura of bright orange.

A smaller star came close to Cassiopeia and offered her hand. She was thin and glowed white. “Hello, and welcome to the asterism. I’m Caph. Who are you?”

Cassiopeia squinted against the brightness and tried to weigh the stars around her. She was the Seated Queen, more beautiful than the sea nymphs. She wasn’t gonna get rejected by these lazy stars, no matter how much older they were than she. She faked a smile and shook the delicate hand. “I’m Cassiopeia, Queen of Aethiopia. Nice to meet you.”

The star who was leaning on her back snorted loudly, for everyone to hear. She had her knees bent and close to her body, but otherwise she was naked, dressed only in starlight, just like the others. “I bet your hubby found a new queen already, since you’re up here now.”

“Ruchbah, be nice to our new friend,” Caph said in her tingly voice.

Ruchbah leaned back as she were before, presenting everyone with a full view of her legs and what was between them, seeming indifferent of the whole situation.

Cassiopeia tried to be friendly. “Okay, let me see if I got this. You are Caph,” she pointed at the small white star, who nodded happily back. “And the one on her back with her knees up is Ruchbah, and the big-breasted one is Schedar. And what about her?” She pointed at the flickering star on the side of the starpool.

Caph leaned in and whispered, “Oh, she’s Gamma. We don’t know her name, she never speaks. She’s fine, I guess, but she’s not all there, know what I mean? It’s like she flickers in and out of presence. You might get a few words out of her, but don’t count on it.” Then she turned to flickering star and spoke louder. “Gamma? The new star says ‘hello.’”

No reply.

Caph shrugged. “See? Don’t take it personally, she’s just like that.”

“Okay,” Cassiopeia said, taking it all in. Four stars, plus her, made five. But there was something missing. It took her a while but then she got it. “Hey, Caph? You’re all glowing, right. Your aura?”

Caph giggled. “Yes, silly. We’re stars. What did you expect?”

Cassiopeia looked down at herself. She was still dressed in her queeny robes and definitely not glowing. The stars on the other hand were butt-naked and wore only their starlight. “Well, I’m not.”

Caph bit her lip, looking worried. “I noticed, of course, but it was rude to point it out.”

Cassiopeia raised a demanding hand, just like she did with her subjects. “I don’t care, I’m not offended. Just tell me how to get my starlight.”

Caph thought about it for a moment. “I’m not sure…”

The big-breasted one spoke up. “If you’re not gonna contribute to the Asterism, then we have no use for you, dear.

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