The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 10- A Coward's Way Out

"You are a terribly real thing in a terribly false world, and that, I believe, is why you are in so much pain." –Nietzsche

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By the time I was downstairs, my mask was off and the crowd cleared out of my way. I faced my family now and there was no going back. a part of me inside wanted to hug my parents, to apologize to each and every one of them for what I said all those years ago. But the other part, the angry part was not so keen on that. Maybe I was being a child, a reckless young Princess with sunlight in her veins and the world in her hands. Or maybe my behavior was fair, after all. I was exploited for my beauty and power at a young age and most of my family disappeared off the face of the planet because they did not want to live in my home anymore. A lonely girl turned into an angry woman and now is my time to shine, I suppose.

The waiter from before was standing a few feet away, shook from the core. Oh, humans. I instantly grabbed a glass of champagne and raised it in the air for my Father. His held no expression but I can tell he was upset. "Happy birthday, Father. Did you think I would miss it?"

Sebastian Breevort's jaw clenched. "You missed the other ones, sweetheart."

I scoffed, taking a sip of my champagne. "That is because those were not as grand as this one." I continued. "This is your six hundredth birthday, or are you forgetting?" Maybe I was being too cruel to him, I thought. We secretly sent each other messages when I was away and now I was acting like he just murdered my best friend. Oops. I did not mean to go that way, but oh well. I curled my lips into a smile, toasting to my Father. His brown hair was a mess and he wore a beard so well that it was hard to see him without it, while his black eyes held the same ruthless stare. "Anyway, I did not mean to push Aeson down the stairs, but he wouldn't let go of me. He deserved it."

"I've done a lot worse to Sebastian," Ellie interrupted. I turned to glance at her and she was smiling proudly at me. "That is what younger sisters have to do, right?"

"Right," I glanced at my Father, then to my Mother. She was close to tears. By what, I had no idea. "I am sure all of you missed me but I have to get going. There is a lot to do back home."

My Mother's eyebrows scrunched together in a frown. "This is your home, Soari."

"Is it?" I tilted my head to the side. "Everyone is staring at me like I am the villain in the story, Mom. The only thing that I did was stand up for myself and try to live a life I want outside of this goddamn Kingdom." I waved my hand in the air. "I do not belong here and never have. There is no place for me and do you want to know why, Mother? You used to say all the time that you did not pick favorites, but I know Kalama and Aeson were yours. You would choose them every goddamn time. Even when Kalama almost burned you from the inside out or when Aeson almost froze you to death. You would choose the children that hurt you than the one that didn't."

"You are hurting me right now, Soari." she claimed.

"I am only speaking facts." I turned toward my sister, who stood silently by our Mother. Kala's arms were crossed over her chest, as if she was holding back her fire. So be it. "C'mon, I know you are dying to tell me something. So fucking speak!"

Everyone watched as she ascended the steps and stood a foot away from me. Both of us were so different. She inherited our Mother's scarlet hair and slender body, while I inherited our Father's brown hair and curves. "Do you want to know what I think, Soari? What everyone here is afraid to say to you because you are the youngest?" She titled her head to the side. "You are spoiled brat that craves attention every second in the day. You do not care about anyone else along as it benefits you, along as they agree with you and you get everything you want. Soari wants to jump off a cliff, so she convinces her so-called friends to do it with her even if it would risk their lives. You act like every young immortal who think they have nothing to lose. But some of us here in this goddamn room have lost everything!"

"He was a fucking Werewolf, Kalama!" I yelled back. "Get over it, it was years ago. Do you think he would like for you to grieve over him every minute of the day? Some of us are tired of your crying!"

I heard the slap before I felt it. My own sister slapped me in the face so hard that I know for sure that a bruise would form within seconds. My family was stunned silent, even Aeson did not have a word to say. He stood behind us and debated to get between his sisters. But it was best if he stayed out of this for now. "This is exactly the reason why I never wanted a little sister." Kalama seethed. "We may be blood-related but you are not my sister anymore. If I see you on the grounds every again, you know what will happen."

"Your threats are nothing to me, Kalama." I growled. My knuckled clenched together so tight that I felt the sunlight pouring out of them, but I did not care at the moment. "You have no power here to exile me. This is my home and I have the right to come here as often as I want, so you can slap me again if you feel like it."

"Enough," my Father demanded. Both of us turned our heads to face him, his expression now a mix of heartbreak and anger. The King of Ambrosia's eyes focused on me. "Maybe you and the others should leave, Soari."

Tears were coming out in full force. I have never felt this level of pain before, this betrayal. It was worse than I ever imagined. For a brief moment, I glanced at my Mother who has sided with my Father. Of course. "My only wish was for you to love me as much as you love them."

"I love all of you equally."

"No, you don't." I whispered. "We all know when you lie."

I glanced at my family one last time, trying to picture us happy and close like we used to be. But I know that will never happen. As much as I love to dream of a happier place, a happier time, this reality is not that. It's dark and painful. With everyone watching, I stumbled out of the ballroom with tears clouding my vision. I did not realize that my cousins were holding me upright until they were pulling me into the Cadillac.

A part of me came back because I was angry. Why? Because they ignored me my entire life, treating me like I was just another ghost in the hallway. But I wasn't. I was only a child wanting their attention, which they never gave me. The only one who truly tried was my Father. But that relationship is long gone, now. Maybe in another decade or a century, even a millennium, they will love me like they love them. I will be older than and they will treat me with the respect I deserve.

But that is years from now.