The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 11- Memories

"Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood." –George Orwell

***

One month later...

What was I thinking, taking on this task? I was never the type of person to complete anything. Not a book, not an assignment, nothing. So why did I think I could figure out who was behind the murders? Maybe I was bored and wanted something to do at the time. Or maybe it was the sobs from Luc when his friend died. I wanted to help the brothers so bad that I forget who I was; a failure. It was as if I was born with nothing but my looks, like I was made to look beautiful for my Kingdom. My sister was the fighter and my brother was the logical one. I, well, I was nothing. There was a part of me that like it that way because I can disappoint no one if I was nothing. Right?

Everyone has something they want to pursue in the future. My cousins are either traveling through countries murdering criminals or growing trees. They are helping to heal the world. But what am I but the sun that cannot do anything but watch as they do it? My last name holds so much power that a stranger I've never met would kiss my shoes out of respect for what my family accomplished. But I hold no power. I will never be a Queen. I will never be anything in the eyes of my Kingdom.

My legs were dipped in the swimming pool while the sun kissed my skin ever so gently, when Emmeline called from the doorway. "There is someone who would like to speak to you."

Numbly, I called back, "Okay." This past month, I barely said anything to anybody. Not even Beatrice, who has been alarmed by my behavior. Rosalind and Meli made sure to check on me every day, cooking me food so I would not rot away. In the back of my mind, I wondered if my sister was right. Maybe I was a spoiled brat and did not care for everyone else. But I did. I love my friends so much that it would hurt for a thousand centuries if they left.

His presence was enough to scare the birds away. Not a lot of creatures got used to a powerful figure like my Father. They saw him as a hero, a warrior that could cut you down within seconds or the Vampire that could summon Death to your door. But I saw him as a figure that kissed my forehead when I had a nightmare, the one that taught me how to dance and sing and play the piano. Sebastian Breevort is the kind of Father that snort milk from your nose because he said a funny joke and the one that would tuck you in at night. Most of all. he is the one that would move Heaven and Earth to keep you safe and happy.

I stared off in the distance as he took off his shoes and dipped his own feet in the water. We were silent for the longest time as though we did not know what to say to each other. It was as if there was a bridge between us. As if the memories from my childhood were lost in the void now. But I know there is a light. There is hope. My father cleared his throat, "Do you remember when you were five years old and told everyone that you wanted to swim with the dolphins?" He laughed for a moment then continued. "It was one of the rare occurrences where the whole family was home and you told everyone, even the servants and cooks. They laughed it off because you were only a child. But none of us expected you would run off the ocean and convince a fisherman to allow you to do it. But I had a suspicion you would do it because I had that same desire when I was younger."

"I never made it to the ocean," I spoke softly. "I got lost in the woods."

"You did," My father nodded. "I followed you to make sure no one would try to hurt you but kept a safe distance. Then you started sobbing because you did not know where you were. At that moment, I scooped you up in my arms and hugged you tight as you told me you were sorry for running away. But I did not care that you ran away, sweetheart. I cared more about your well-being." He paused for a moment, probably getting lost in the memory. "I expected you to say you wanted to go home. But then you said sternly, 'Daddy, we need to go swim with the dolphins. They would be so happy if we swam with them, don't you think?'"