When Stars Fall(The Last Star Trilogy #3)

Chapter 16-Annabelle Virgo

I ran my fingers over the words repeatedly. According to Rasal, it was Mom's choice to give me such a long name but she went with Annabelle on Dad's request. I stopped thinking why Dad or even Alfred didn't tell me this, Alfred could have a good reason. Maybe he knew that Mom would be the one to do it but Dad...I don't know what's true about him anymore.

I had memorized each word and letter, committed to memory unintentionally. I had barely gotten enough sleep because of it, the words replayed in my head and I felt like she was reading it to me.

I couldn't stomach the thought. I had been Annabelle to Dad and Granny, Belle to my friends and The Last Star of Ophiuchus to all the rebels depending on me. Then the implication hit me, like I had been hit with a baseball bat.

"Wait, wait, wait," I said, holding my hand in front of me, palms facing outward.

Milady...Rasal got my question before I could ask. Advantages of telepathy.

Did you know about this? I screamed in my head. Rasal muttered and hissed, cursing in Ancient Arabic which came naturally to me now. I cursed my own stupidity. If I could've dug deep into Rasal's mind I could've found out everything that he was hiding from me.

I thought I could trust you...I felt tears pricking my eyes. One of the few people...or serpents or Celestial Body, whichever, I thought I could trust.

Lady Ophiuchus didn't tell anyone about this, it was family information only, he explained in Greek. She hid it in a part of her brain where even I couldn't reach, along with other painful memories. I found out a few years ago when I was still a spirit living on Rasalhague on Ophiuchus. Lady Ophiuchus' voice came into my head and we talked for a long time, she told me...everything. She also told me that you would find out on your own. I was sworn to secrecy and when I make a promise even my masters can't know it.

"Astra," I whispered into the air. My mind automatically translated in my brain. Latin, of the Stars. Mom named me the Stars. I'm of the Stars.

I walked out on the balcony, my wrobe felt like tissue paper wrapped around me. Rasal and I used body heat to warm each other. His stones glowing red, like his eyes. I felt nauseous, my head heavy and I was famished despite the plates of food I had inhaled at dinner. I let all my emotions transmit into Rasal. I didn't know if snakes could be sick or have the symptoms of a pregnant woman.

Thankfully, snakes and humans have a different anatomy so our telepathic emotional transmitional doesn't work, Rasal seemed to laugh.

"Lucky," I grunted. I told him to get off me since I was already exerted by carrying another life, I didn't want to have to worry about a serpent.

I hated surprises. Well, I didn't hate surprises exactly but when your grandmother, Dad and step-mother arrive at your house uninvited to congratulate you on something that you didn't intend to happen then I despise it. I was already not feeling well but Lydia insisted on taking me downstairs for breakfast and I had to smile and host people I wish would leave me alone. Now I couldn't even face Dad.

Astra. Astra. Astra. Astra. Astra.

The string of that name played subconsciously in my head. It was as if my brain was trying to get used to the idea of it. I tried to stop but there were no good distractions here.

After a long, delicious breakfast we had tea in The Lawn. Granny and Sophie talked with me and Lydia in one corner, Hope kept glancing at me. Mostly looking at my belly and comparing it with hers, she was huge and uncomfortable, I felt a pang of sympathy for her but not too much. Her long blue gown was loose around her waist and revealed only her face and hands. Dad guffawed with Jaxon and Alec, Keegan played football with a guard in the far corner. Rasal had made his way to The Lawn and his dark green scales blended with the grass so he was camouflaged at my feet.