Book One The Black Lion Old Version

New beginnings and second chances

Rhea looked at her sleeping daughter. It had been 5 days since her child returned to her. It felt like a dream. She had not seen anyone, just being in the presence of Sitri felt like she was back in time when her daughter had woken up for the first time in centuries. She had so many questions. She tried to answer as little as possible because she wanted to enjoy the moment. Her sight had returned, though it was taking time for her to adjust. She wanted to keep her daughter protected, but Seteth wanted to see her get examined because of her resurrection and how much it changed her body. She was happy and she was scared. She didn't want to wake up and find out that none of this was real, that the child that she brought into the world a millennia ago was still dead. The child that she gave up ever bringing back, her own mother, because her child meant more to her than her goals.

Rhea was in a white gown. She wasn't in her attire that she wears when she's around guests she didn't want her child to see her as anything but her mother. So many regrets, and she was given a second chance. Did she really deserve one? She thought she heard the voice of her lover that she doesn't mention her name because of the pain of the day she was murdered. She remembered the words that she told her before she saw her lover die.

"Seiros, please live our child. Please give her all the love she deserves. Please don't lose sight of what you have." Her lover said a thousand years ago as the other parent of her child died.

"I wish you had lived; you would have loved her," Rhea said quietly, thinking of her dead lover.

She heard footsteps and without saying a word, she knew who it was.

"I know why you're here, Seteth. I don't want to have this discussion in this room with Sitri. I don't want to wake her," Rhea said quietly despite how weak she felt because of the amount of blood that was taken from her during the ritual to bring Sitri from the dead and removing the curse mark from Mercedes. Seteth supported her as they left the room; she leaned on him. It was difficult for her to move due to the amount of pain that she felt and the fatigue. When they were in her chambers, he helped her to her bed. She lied down and looked at Seteth in the eye.

"I would rather have this discussion later, but I don't want to put it off because sooner or later Sonia will want to talk to you about her parents." He paused, giving her a chance to absorb what he was about to say before she interrupted him.

"She wants to attend one of the classes she hasn't told me about, but I could see it in her eyes. I think this would make her happy if we gave her what she wants. She's not asking for much, please. Her desire to see the outside world, her meeting with Dimitri in the festival, was all motivated by loneliness. Dimitri offered her a place in the Blue Lions, which I think would be a good place for her."

Of course, she would choose the Blue Lions. Although she doesn't want her granddaughter to be a professor, she wants her to experience what it would be like to be a student.

"It has to do with Dimitri, doesn't it?" Rhea asked out of curiosity. She wondered if her granddaughter was like Sitri in their taste in men.

"She's infatuated with him, that's one thing I know for sure," Seteth said in a tone that didn't show approval or disapproval.

She didn't think Dimitri was a bad choice, no she's getting ahead of herself; she needed to focus on the present, not the future.

"Make the preparations at once," Rhea said tiredly.

"Are you sure?" Seteth asked, wanting to make sure she was confident in her decision. It's all about letting her enjoy life. On the surface, she felt like a terrible person for what she had done. She wanted to try to make up for her mistake by letting her granddaughter have the freedom she had always wanted.