Only You

Chp 22

I stayed with the woman for a few more days before I decided I'd go back to Tsuki's place to see the group. On my last day I figured I'd help the elderly woman -whom I'd come to know as Sally- and clean up around the palace.
While tidying up the kings chambers I tripped over the rug and fell flat on my face, pain erupting around my nose.

I groaned and began pushing myself up when I noticed something seeming to sparkle from under the bed.
I reached under quietly after making sure no one was coming and pulled out a decent sized wooden box with an old, rusted lock.

I scoffed softly and quite easily ripped the lock away before opening up the lid to find a shiny, silver kings crown with small diamonds set in it.
I lifted the crown slowly, shocked to say the least, and practically sprinted from the chambers, ready to show it to Sally so she could use it.
(^his crown*)

As soon as I walked into Sally's home, crown in hand, she gasped and dropped the dishes she was carrying, staring at me as if I'd just done the unspeakable.
"What?" I panicked, rushing over to help. I'd given this woman more heart attacks in the last week than she needed.

"That's the sacred kings crown....." she mumbled, still staring.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I'll go put it back."
"No! Child, you mustn't, this is a great thing. Only the true king of Starstreak can hold -let alone wear- this crown. It burns those unworthy."

"Soooo.... It's a special crown.....?" I asked, hoping it didn't mean what I think it meant.
"It means you're the rightful heir to the throne...."
I felt like laughing, this was clearly a dream. I shook my head roughly and dropped the crown.
"I can't...." I mumbled, stepping back.

Sally frowned so deeply at me in disappointment I wanted to pull my words back in and set the crown on my head.
"I understand dear, and you will always have a place here. But you should at least take the crown with you, so you can return and take your place when you're ready."
I sighed, but relented, picking the crown up, and gave her a quick hug.

"Thank you Sally, I'll never forget you."
"Nor will I, now get! I'm sure your family is worried sick."
I laughed softly and hurried from her little cottage, heading straight for Tsuki's.
By now I remember me dying and coming back as a guardian before getting trained by Skye, I'm still missing what happened afterwards. I couldn't wait to get back and see Astrid.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of my childhood best friend and I sped up, allowing my wings to unfold to gain momentum.
I passed some of the villagers as they strolled about, all completely shocked at seeing me race by.

I slid to a stop outside Tsuki's home, hid the crown under the steps and waltzed inside, grinning ear to ear.
"Tsuki? Skye? Astrid?" I called, looking from room to room only to find them not there.

Well there goes that welcome home....

I sighed and went to the kitchen, a ghost of a smile flit across my lips as I remembered the times Astrid and I had baked or cooked something together.
I sighed and whipped up the easiest thing I could -a sandwich, cooking's hard- while I waited for my family to get back.

~~~~

Hours later I sifting through my room to see if anything would lead me to where everyone is now, when I came across an emerald green notebook with the writing 'Damian'.
I raised an eyebrow before opening the notebook to find pages completely filled with Astrid's handwriting, everything from moments we'd had to moments she wished we had. I began getting the feeling this was made after I died when a particular passage caught my eye.

'I don't want to do it anymore, it's too hard. Damian's been my best friend since we met and now that he's gone' there seemed to be a slight hesitation in her writing before she continued, completely changing the subject.
'I hope he's ok, I couldn't stand it if he wasn't. More importantly, I hope he knows that I love him. He means the world to me and now... with him gone it's like a piece of me went with. Damian, I'm not sure if you're a ghost and reading this over my shoulder or whatever, but facts are facts. I love you, always will. Try not to haunt anyone too much!

with love,
Astrid'

I rolled my watery eyes and wiped them just as I heard the front door open.
"I'm telling you! That guy was a fraud. Pathetic worm, he probably didn't even have any information." Skye ranted, probably going on about her stories.
"If I were you I would've slapped him." Tsuki chimed in.

I grinned, ran out of the room and pulled them in for a hug.
"Guess who's back!"
"MY LITTLE DAMIAN!!!" Tsuki cried excitedly, hugging me as tight as she could.
"You being a guardian didn't last long." Skye laughed, rolling her eyes.
"Haha very funny." I hugged sarcastically, prying myself away from my aunt.
"Anyway, where's Astrid?"

The women shared a look before both giving my similar sympathetic glances.
"Oh Damian, Astrid's gone back home. We thought you would've known."
I stared blankly at my aunt as my brain registered the words.

It's a good thing she went home, isn't it? I mean we struggled in finding a way for her to get back for months. Yeah, it's a good thing.

"Oh...." Was all that came from my mouth before I turned tail and walked back to my room.
"Damian, I'm sure she's fine. Plus it's not like you'll never see her again. Skye can bring you." Tsuki reminded me quietly.
"Will you?" I turned and stared at Skye, waiting for her response.
"Why not? Let's go pretty boy, you've got a girl waiting for you."