I tried to make conversation with Amara but she drifted off. I could tell she had been sleepless all night and had cried, judging by her fatigue and red eyes. We drove past the tower. I was surprised to see that such a tall building had collapsed in the middle of the city. Because of that it added an extra hour of travel.
I hoped Alec didn't plan to spend the night in Virgus. I didn't want him there. The sky turned purple and navy.
Before I got out of the car, Alec handed me a file and a key with a serpent keychain. I looked at him expectantly.
"It's the paperwork and key to the Ophiuchus Estate in Hydrus, you inherited it," he told.
"How come you had these documents?" I snapped. Amara watched us carefully.
Alec lowered his head. "Father. . ." he started, his voice low. "He. . .he took all the documents and closed the property. I'm sorry that you didn't know about it earlier. I wasn't sure either-"
"Don't bother," I cut him off.
After a pause, Amara spoke, "What's taking them so long?" She looked out the window. The driver was arguing with the guards behind the bronze gate of Clementine's Mansion.
Your grandmother must have given orders to not let you inside, Rasal said. I got out of the car and walked up to the gate.
"I demand you open the gates," I said with confidence.
"You are not a Virgo anymore. You have no right to this property," the guards spat.
Before I could say something he argued, "I believe your grandmother has ordered the staff to not let you inside."
Alec stepped out of the car and the guards froze. "Open the gates."
"Do they know that you're not royalty anymore?" Amara smiled at Alec.
"It's best if they don't know at the moment," he said.
I clutched the file of documents in my hand and stared at the chandelier dangling from the ceiling. Everything was bronze and gold with hints of brown. Opulent decoration pieces were set on tables and vases held Stargazer Lilies.
"Where's your grandmother?" Amara whispered to no one in particular.
We stood in the hall and I stared at the staircase, expecting someone to be standing at the top. My legs were shaking.
I grabbed Amara and pulled her upstairs. "Come on."
Rushing down hallways and peeping into rooms. I heard footsteps coming from down the hall.
"Magda, please slow down." It was Hope.
"What are you doing here?" Granny yelled, she wore black-mourning clothes-Hope trailing behind her, wearing a long grey dress revealing her swollen belly.
Amara hid behind me, she had always been terrified of Granny.
"I'm going to live here now," I said. "I have a letter from the Queen of Stellaregno saying that this is my property and I am the leader of Virgus."
Granny cursed and slapped me. Rasal fell to the floor and slithered towards Granny, hissing. They both yelped and jumped away in fear.
"Virgo has two heirs," she reminded. I stared at Hope.
"In a few months your brother will arrive and until he comes of age no one will be ruler of Virgus," Granny bellowed.
"I'm not listening to you anymore," I challenged. "You've played a part in ruining my life. You controlled me forever but I won't let you anymore."
"You have no idea what I've done to get here," Granny cried. "You have no idea what sacrifices I've made to gain power!Your father kept me away from Virgus for sixteen years, because of you!" She pointed a finger at me accusingly. "I raised you and I was forced to groom you into a lady but you're not fit for this life! You're not even a Virgo anymore."
"The fallen Stars have been restored," I told. "I'm staying here and I don't care what you do as long as you stay out of my way"
"Nonsense!" Hope spoke for the first time.
"Stay out of this," I warned.
Hope turned to Granny. "You promised that my child will rule Virgus," she screamed.
"He will." Granny grabbed my shoulders, digging her nails into my coat.
"The unborn child will rule Virgus and I will make sure that you will come nowhere near him," she decided.
"I am not listening to you."
Amara spent time in the library, catching up on studies and taking a stroll in the gardens in the evening. We took a tour of Virgus. My favourite place was the Stargazer Lily Gardens. I got free bottles of perfume from the factories that made the fragrance. Rasal was loving it too, he gave me advice on how to lead and told me to bare Granny and Hope's presence.
It's time for a change, Lydia had said. I got a letter from her immediately saying that they had a little Celestial Energy gathered. I released Omicron Ophiuchi and placed it into the centre of the sky. It was free from Ophiuchus now and would eventually grow into the Sun.
It's time for a change. Those words came back to me one day when I was staring at myself in the bathroom mirror. I was worried about my beautiful hair which had been burned off. The ends curling and breaking off. Not to mention the burn scars on my neck and back, I hid them as best as I could. Rasal said that rubbing gel and cream on them wouldn't work since the flame of a Celestial Creature would leave permanent scars, or they would take aeons to heal.
I got letters from Lewis and Raelynn, they had both found peace in their home provinces. Crimsyn State was being rebuilt. Phoenix, Nathan and Alec were taking care of armies there, negotiating with Aries for weaponry. Lydia and Anthony were working on regenerating the Sun when Anthony wasn't busy working at the local hospital in Hydrus, he had written that his parents were fine in Cancer and so was Nathan's mother in Pisces.
I found Mom's diary in her bedroom at Clementine's Mansion. I kept Mom and Dad's room locked. Hope and Granny had promised to move out soon and I agreed to support Hope's unborn child since he or she would be half-Virgo.
I lead Virgus proudly and did everything I could to help the people of Stellaregno.
I read Mom's diary every night as if it was a story book. I came across one Latin phrase that apparently my grandfather-Grayson Ophiuchus-used to tell Mom when she was stressed.
Ad astra per aspera.
My brain automatically translated: To the Stars through adversity.
I remember that phrase! Rasal said. It's my favourite one.
Mine too. I smiled.
After so much war, hate and bloodshed, everyone found peace and happiness.
Tristan, Lyra, Alfred and countless others didn't die in vain. I shouldn't have mourned so much over them because eventually I had to accept their fate, like they had accepted theirs. One day I'd see them again
I slipped out of bed and went out to the balcony. I closed my eyes and pictured Mom, Grandpa and Grandma standing around me.
"Thanks for the advice," I whispered into the night.
After hardships and tough times, one is rewarded.
YOU ARE READING
When Stars Fall(The Last Star Trilogy #3)
Fantasía"That explains the color of the sky." I looked up. "It didn't change that much. Now it goes red from time to time." Another statement I shouldn't have said. "That's because of the shooting Stars." Lydia coughed, trying to defend her father's mistake...
