The Fallen Stars

Chapter 16 Ainsley

Today is my mother's birthday... she will never get older or wiser. She will never get to see her grandchildren. She will never kiss my father again. She will never see the ocean again. She will never meet my and Esme's partners. Lastly and the most hurtful.
She will never see me and Esme grow up.
My cheeks are stained with tears. My heart is aching... my mind is scared, and my soul is crumbling.

I'm sitting on a branch of the tree near Corn Rock. It's the tallest one of them all.
So I'm close to the top, but the branch can still hold my wait. I watch the ship on the beach. Lanterns are on, and I can hear some voices from the ship and a violin playing.
Damião told me earlier that Esme is still asleep. It's been a day and a half now... since she broke her leg and fainted.
Damião told me that his physician said Esme is resting and mending.
So, all we need to do is let her rest.

But I can't rest, knowing she's in the hands of the Pirates... the children of the one who killed my parents!
If he did that to my parents... what will his children do to my sister?
She doesn't even know half of the story of Mar y Tierra.
Damião says that he is going to keep her until Delja can find the Calamar Luna.
Which is a Moon Squid and only comes out on the full moon.
The squid's ink and a bit of fairy dust can make a healing potion... but the full moon is over three weeks.
What bloody hell will they do to her for three weeks?

Tonight, I just feel like crumbling... falling towards the earth and being a part of it.
But I stay seated watching the ship full of pirates.
And I heard it was María's birthday to day... she and my mother share a birthday.... we,ll used to share.
All we share now is only hatred for each other.

                               ***

"Hello, lady Angel... how are you feeling today?" I ask.
Angel is probably a bit older than my mother. Maybe in her early thirties.
She has long loose brown hair. That ends past her waist.
She has a cloth tied around her head and over her eyes because she is blind.
She's wearing a plain, soft brown dress with short sleeves and a white apron.
She is barefoot.
Because she is blind she only stays in her little room. Sometimes, she stands by her open door just to smell the breeze and hear the children playing.
I do not know what her story is. She called Delja from the real world, and Delja brought her back.
Delja brought Angel to me, and I gave her this home.
This was a few years ago.

"Ah! My favorite bird is coming to tell me a story." She says sweetly. She is lying in her bed, looking up at the ceiling. Well, if she wasn't blind she would have.
"Indeed." I answer gently.
I sit in the wooden rocking chair next to her bed.
"What do you want to tell me?" She asks, after a few moments.
"I found my sister." I answer.
"Oh?" Her eyebrows lift up in surprise.
"I brought her to Mar y Tierra... that's why I didn't come visit, I'm sorry." I say softly.
"It's okay, dear boy. Is she with you now?" She asks curiously.
"No, Coda and Echo were showing her around two days ago. The pirates spotted them, and Esme broke her leg, trying to escape. But they captured her... now she has been asleep for two days now." I explain.
"Oh my... who is the captain?" She asks.
I frown.
"His name is Damião Ladron." I answer.
"Why do you ask?" I ask her.
"Oh, just curious... being blind is limiting my life of exploring. Remember?" She says.
"Right! Sorry." I apologize.
She chuckles softly.
"Did he say what he's going to do with her? Did you try to get her back?" She asks, after a few seconds.
"I did... but because my mother was a pirate... he said he has to show her that side. Just for three weeks until we can find the Moon Squid. For the healing potion... which I came here to also ask... would you want to be able to see  again?" I ask.
She thinks for a few moments.
"If there is enough for the both of us... then yes, I would like to see again." She answers.
After years of her saying no.... I was surprised that she said yes this time.
"Alright then... we'll make for you and Esme." I answer excitedly.
She smiles at my excitement.
"Does she know she's your sister?" She asks suddenly.
"No, I still need to tell her." I answer sadly.
"Best to tell her soon. You don't want her to figure it out by herself." She says.
"Yes." Is all I say.

I kiss her forehead.
"Goodbye, mi'lady." I say sweetly.
"Goodbye, my birdie." She says smiling.

I walk out of her cottage, with new confidence... a new plan.