The star i saw that day

Chapter 9: Family

"How's it going on finding the girl Lihn?"
"No luck," Lihn sighed shaking her head at Niskhama, "she completely disappeared three days ago."
"Well, you probably better find her soon, the empress is growing rather impatient."
"I know."

****

"Sooo, you and Hiroshi?"
I looked at Nephele, "What's with us?"
"Oh come on, don't play dumb with me." she answered me looking at the sky, hands behind her back as we were walking back from training, "There's something between you two, and you know it."
I looked away trying to hide my blushing, but failed miserably,
"Did something happen?!"
"No, nothing in particular."
"Suuure."

She clearly didn't believe me, but I couldn't tell her anything. At that point, I wasn't even sure what had happened myself. I knew I liked him, but wasn't in any way sure I liked him like - that. And I didn't even know if that kiss actually meant anything to him. Most likely, he was just upset and got caught up in the moment. It wasn't exactly because he stayed long after; to be honest, he pretty much left immediately after realising what he had just done. When I had finally wrapped my head around it myself, he was already gone.

****

We stayed with the droids and angels for almost a week before the others had convinced me to come back to Ealamore. Only a day before we left, I finally pulled myself together and asked Meissa about our family.

"Well to start with, we don't have the same father. We lived a really peaceful life in a small village close to the portal leading here; though when I was 3 my father had to go help with the war between the fairies and elves. 3 months later," Meissa took a deep breath, "our mother received a condolence letter, and we moved to Domthua. I think it was about 2 years later, our mother met your father. They got married shortly after, and quickly had you."
"Does that mean you know my dad?"
"Well I haven't seen him for 15 years, but yeah."
"For 15 years?"
"Yeah, when you were only a few months old, he disappeared along with pretty much any other god or goddess. It was almost immediately after that your mother left with you as well."
"Back up a bit here," Nephele interrupted, "disappeared with every other god and goddess; are you saying Leilas father is a god?"
"Indeed, the god of love and war."

I didn't understand, this meant that I wasn't only half goddess - I was a goddess. Full out, and every other of my species had disappeared 15 years ago. Finally I stuttered,
"D-do you know i-if he's alive?"
"I don't even know if he's aware that you are."
Meissa told me not to think too much about what happened to my dad, but either way; I was shocked. Just two months ago, I thought I was human, now apparently both of my parents are gods. But for the moment I just had to shake the feeling, for that next day - we all left for Ustan Pinashai, and Ahmyas castle.

****

"What's on your mind?" Nephele asked me.
"I'm just confused." I answered her, "If my mom and dad got married and had a kid in less than a year, why didn't she tell anyone she left? And why only bring me with her, when she had another daughter?"
"I honestly have no clue, girl. But my best guess would be to protect you." Nephele stared at the night sky, her hands placed underneath her head, "I mean if you're the daughter of both a god and goddess, wouldn't a lot of people try to get to you?"
"I guess."
"Soooo, I wanna hear more about your Hiroshi situation."
I looked begging and annoyed at her, "There is no 'situation'."

Then she just glared at me with a smirk on her face, and without saying anything more we went to sleep. Days passed by before we made it to the border of Ustan Pinashai, and even then our journey was far from over. Throughout the whole edge of Ustan Pinashai was a mountain range and throughout this mountains range was only three gates. These gates functioned as the only ways in and out of the country. Except for very few, very dangerous, pathways which to our look Nephele knew where to find. In theory you could swim around the mountains, the problem here was just, that it would be miles of swimming in the uncontrollable ocean, alongside cliffs that pared with the waves could tear you apart in a second. So naturally we took our chances with the caves.

****

"I see, she's early." she giggled, "What a nice surprise."
"Should the others and I go great them mistress?"
"No," she tilted her head at Terra with a crooked smile, "the lover demons should take care of that. But keep yourselves in contact with Shiloh anyways, if they aren't already, I want them dead as soon as they get out of that cave."

****

It was pitch black in the cave, and I couldn't see a hand before me. Suddenly someone touched my shoulder and I let out a small scream.
"Relax," Hiroshi whispered," it's just me."
"Oh, don't scare me like that!" I replied and punched him on the shoulder.
"I've just been thinking..."
I couldn't see him that well, but I guessed he was nervous.
"Your birthday is coming up right? I mean because you're only 15 and all..."
I laughed at him. "That's all? Yeah I guess it is," I put my finger on my chin, "but that isn't important."
"Girl, yes it is! It's your sweet 16!" Nephele insterrupted
"It's just a number." I insisted, "Right now we need to focus on defeating Ahmya."
Then it turned quiet until Aine said,
"Spirit Spear Bhanani 8th configuration, Luminosity."

Finally we could see where we were going, and just in time. Because when we could see what was in front of us, there was a blue demon. If we had kept going without being able to see, we would have bumped into it and woken it up. And if that had happened we would've probably been frozen before we even noticed it. Now we knew what kind of monsters we were to find in these caves, and it wasn't small ones.