DANIEL (The Starlight Gods Series Book 6) by Yumoyori Wilson (8)

TWO CYCLES LATER...

LUNAR ROTATION, CYCLE XII, 5015

"Do you have your pocket watch, Daniel?"

"Oh! One sec," I whispered, leaving Michael in the hall with our suitcases as I rushed upstairs without making a sound. Father was sleeping upstairs and I didn't want to alert him of our plans.

I slipped into my room, closing the door quietly and went straight to my bed. I knelt down and reached underneath to retrieve the special box that held our family heirloom.

A smile formed on my lips when I felt the velvet texture of its case and pulled it out. I dusted it off and opened the box to ensure my watch was safely inside.

I rose to my feet and stared at the gold pocket watch. I lifted it up and pressed my lips against the cool surface, closing my eyes and praying to the Starlight gods that Mother was safe in the stars above.

I closed the box and slid it into my pocket before taking a final glance around my room. I never thought this day would come and now that Michael and I were about to put the plan into motion, I was feeling excited and nervous.

It had been two cycles since Claire's death and my own near-death experience. I hardly remembered any of it, other than the fear in my father's eyes.

Since that event, Father had focused only on work. He was there during the psychiatric evaluations for Michael and me, making sure we got the best therapy for the last two cycles.

Aside from that, we barely talked. He continued to go on trips for longer periods of time and it got to the point where Marissa seemed to be more of a guardian than our own father was.

Michael decided he wanted to train at home instead of dealing with the bullying at school any longer. Since Father had notified everyone that Marissa could make decisions for us, she approved of the change and Michael and I were able to train and got lessons inside the comforting walls of the castle.

We'd learned many things, but I focused on healing skills while Michael focused on combat. We'd been used to the daily routine, and without Father nagging at us, it wasn't difficult to live in the castle. Marissa had the final say around the castle and the maids and guards respected that.

But for the last two rotations, I'd been having weird dreams and even visions. It got to the point that I’d been zoning out during conversations. I kept seeing myself, but in a different castle.

From the scenery and the descriptions I gave to Michael, we figured out it was Heila, but I didn't understand why it had been happening. 

We'd been informed that the Princess of Heila had been stolen from the kingdom two rotations ago and a search and rescue mission had been initiated, but we'd yet to hear anything come of it. Only the royal families were aware of the situation and we were sworn to secrecy.

Michael had found a picture of the Heart family and I had to admit, the Princess was beautiful. She was everything you'd imagine a Princess to be and more. Aside from her huge turquoise eyes that matched the Queen's, her smile was what brightened the entire family portrait. Michael said I thought that because I had a crush on her. I wouldn't deny that either.

I didn't know if she was the reason for my dreams and visions, but something told me we had to go to Heila. We were planning to wait a few more weeks, but then Father returned yesterday with interesting news.

"I'm getting remarried."

Michael and I both froze midway through eating and Marissa dropped the plate in the sink before slowly turning to Father who stood in the doorway. He'd just arrived, still holding his suitcase and wearing his royal garments.

"What!" All three of us said in unison as we gawked at him.

He sighed. "I want to marry someone. I've already decided who. She and her daughter will be moving in next week. I want you guys to get along," he announced, looking directly at me before shifting his gaze to Michael. I opened my mouth to speak, but then an image flashed before me. 

"CECELIA!" I exclaimed and realized Michael had spoken the same thing. We both glanced at one another in shock and I knew from the way his eyes slowly returned to their normal color we'd experienced the same vision.

"That foresight of yours seems to be getting stronger," Father commented, but looked displeased by our response.

"Your Highness! You can't be serious right now. That widowed woman is greedy and her child is even worse! It’s partly because of her daughter that Daniel almost died!" Marissa snapped.

"We're supposed to be forgiving, Marissa. That was in the past," Father mumbled defensively.

Michael slammed his hands onto the table and stood up. "That was in the past?! I guess if Daniel had died, you'd be able to marry the woman whose child drove YOUR son to the edge. Cecelia is the cause of cycles of bullying, spreading rumors about me across the school and realm! But wait, that's in the PAST too!" Michael snarled.

"I won't argue about this. I've already informed them and the rest of the castle workers," Father dismissed.

"You told your family LAST!" Marissa threw the napkin onto the table and walked toward Father, who frowned.

"I'm not required to tell you," he retorted.

"Not required? King Moore, Daniel, and Michael are YOUR children. They deserve to know anything that's going to change their life. What if Cecelia begins to bully them in their own home? Your house is supposed to be a safe place for them. Not a war zone of torment!" Marissa exclaimed. Her eyes were flickering back and forth in anger.

"Marissa! Remember your place," Father said coldly and Marissa looked shocked by his remark.

I thought she'd apologize, but her eyes changed to a bright gold and she moved right into Father's personal space, pressing her finger to his chest.

"Eric Moore! I've served you since the day you became King. I was Isabella's best friend and I'm the reason why your sons are actually HUMBLE unlike all those other royal children who think they're oh-so-perfect just because they're angel shifters. I only serve you out of respect for my best friend's memory and the beloved children she left behind. You can go ahead and get rid of me, but you won't find ANYONE in this kingdom that can replace what I do."

The room was silent and Marissa turned around to address both of us. "Both of you are excused. Go to your rooms," she instructed.

We didn't even blink, immediately moving past Father who looked stunned by Marissa’s defiance. We had just reached the stairs when we heard Marissa harsh words. 

"One day there will be a time where someone close to you will wait to tell you something vitally important last, and then you'll know how much it hurts. Maybe then you'll understand a fraction of how Michael and Daniel feel right now," she scolded, before we heard her footsteps walking away toward the hall. 

Then the footsteps stopped and she spoke again. "If your sons pull away from you, Eric, don’t blame anyone other than yourself. Accept responsibility for breaking up your family. I bet Isabella is crying wherever she is, because if I was her, I'd be mourning the man who once put his family first rather than believing the rumors and gossip of his kingdom." 

After that, Marissa had a serious talk with us and asked what we wanted to do. We trusted Marissa with our lives and I told her about all the visions I'd been having about Heila. She'd been told about the Princess' disappearance because of her closeness to the royal family and her cycles of essentially raising us and assisting other royal families during their stay in ArchAilennia.

She told us to relax for an hour and then she'd be back. When she returned, she had luggage for each of us and told us to pack our favorites clothes and bring anything of significant value.

She'd already informed two of her coworkers of the plan and they were in the process of securing transportation for us and would make sure any remaining belongings would reach us.

Father had locked himself upstairs again and I knew he'd ignore any noise we made. Regardless, we had been as quiet as we could. We were packed and loaded. Marissa made a few meals for the journey, seeing as we hadn't finished our meal.

We left the kingdom at two in the morning through a series of secret underground passages. Every kingdom had them for several purposes and it made it easier for us to leave undetected. Marissa would come with us and stay for as long as we needed her. She wanted to ensure our safety and that we'd be in good hands so we could figure out why I was getting all these visions.

When we finally emerged from the tunnels, we were outside the walls of the kingdom where a carriage awaited us. Marissa thanked her two female coworkers, one of whom was a maid and the other a guard. Then we set off in the carriage, heading to the transport ships.

Marissa said she had connections and had a friend who agreed to give us a private ride to Heila with no issue. In that moment seeing someone willing to go out of their way to help her, I realized the importance of kindness and loyalty. As Marissa said, we should strive to "build bridges instead of burning them."

I rested my head on Michael's shoulder during the ride and tried my best to stay awake, but before I knew it, I drifted off.

I woke up next to Michael who was in deep sleep. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, looking around the little room. I noticed Marissa sitting opposite from us. She was flicking through what looked to be a tablet with a sad smile on her face.

"Marissa?" I asked.

She lifted her head and her smile warmed. "Morning, Daniel. Do you need something?" she asked.

I didn't like her sad expression so I quietly got out of the bed Michael and I shared. As I walked over to her, I rubbed at my eyes which did nothing to clear my vision.

I didn't know where my glasses were but that was the least of my worries. I wanted to know why Marissa looked so sad. She patted the spot next to her and I sat down and turned slightly to face her. She reached into the small bag next to her feet and pulled out a black case.

I looked at it curiously, wondering what was inside. Marissa smirked and gestured for me to take it. I accepted it and opened it to find a pair of glasses. I squinted to get a clearer view of them and happiness bubbled within me.

"Gold? Marissa! They're gold!" I exclaimed quietly, not wanting to wake Michael up.

She giggled quietly. "Yes, they're gold. Want to try them on?"

I quickly nodded and she helped me put them on, pulling out a little mirror from her bag to let me see how I looked. A teeth showing smile formed on my face as I marveled at my reflection.

"Marissa. They...look nice on me," I whispered in surprise.

"They do. I put in a special request to a dear friend of mine in Heila. She's a healer and second in command for the King and Queen of Heila. I told her about what happened and she made a whole collection of glasses just for you. I wanted to wait till your birthday, but I think an early gift doesn't hurt," Marissa explained.

I laughed. "Marissa, my birthday is rotations away." I couldn’t contain my excitement as I stared into the little mirror.

"You deserve it, Daniel." Her expression softened.

I stared into her eyes and she lifted her hand to ruffle my hair gently. "Marissa, why can't you be our mommy?" I asked.

"I wish I could. But I feel your mom wouldn't want me to replace her in your heart," Marissa replied.

I tilted my head in confusion. "Why would I have to replace Mommy? She'll always be my mother. You would just be Mom Two!" I suggested.

"Well, you never know. What if your mom came back one day? It might hurt her feelings," Marissa whispered the second part.

I frowned, thinking about it. "Hmm. I guess she might be sad. But if Mother came back wouldn't she be more upset that Father's getting married...again?" I rolled my eyes at the last bit.

Marissa took a big breath and let it out slowly. "Daniel. I know you and Michael are upset with your father. I'm just as mad, but he's lonely," she confessed.

"Lonely? Why? He has Michael, me and you. There are maids and the guards too. He has a whole kingdom that follows him. He doesn't need Cecelia or her mom!" I argued.

"Your father just isn't seeing what we see. As King, it's his duty to listen to his people. They complain, saying he needs a queen. He has no choice but to follow their request and find someone, even if his heart will always belong to Isabelle."

I was quiet for a moment, thinking about what she said. Father still loves Mommy?

"I still don't think it's right. If I were King, I wouldn't listen to anyone's opinions. It's just gossip and it’s not right for Father. Why have a Queen that doesn't love you?" I considered, remembering Claire’s insults. 

She didn't love Father. I understood that now. Yet, Father had stayed with her regardless. It made no sense to me when it was clear, even at my age, that she needed him. Not the other way around.

"I agree. Would you want a Queen that loves you?" she inquired.

"Of course! My queen will love me THIS MUCH!" I emphasized, spreading my hands wide. "She'd love me and our people and won't listen to their mean words. She'd bring change and we'd be happy together."

Marissa ruffled my hair again and let me rest my head on her arm. "That sounds fun. I think you'll find someone perfect for you."

"Marissa? Are you lonely?" I asked.

"No. I have you and Michael. But when you guys grow older, I may be a little lonely," she admitted.

"When we're older? Why would you be lonely? We aren't leaving you." I looked into her gold eyes.

"You’ll have to go find your Queen. Not to mention go to knight school and make a difference across the realms. I can't come with you."

"You can't? That's depressing. Are you sure?" I demanded.

She laughed. "I'm positive, Daniel. You need to become independent and learn to not rely on me when you're older. I'll still be there for you, just at a distance."

"I don't want you to be lonely." My shoulders sank at the thought.

"It’ll be okay. I'll have friends and maybe I'll find my own King one day," she reassured me.

"Marissa, will I have friends like you? Ones that will help me when I really need it?"

She nodded. "You certainly will. They will love you for who you are, not based on your looks. They'll support you and always look out for you. When you’re sad, they'll be there and if you’re mad, they'll help you calm down. They will be loyal and when you need them the most, they'll be at your side."

We both smiled and I took another look in the mirror. "Marissa, don't be sad, okay?" I whispered.

She looked down at me and nodded. "You want to see what I was looking at?" she asked.

I sat up and nodded. She grabbed the tablet from where she had placed it next to her. She turned it on, resting it on her lap for me to see.

"Is that Mom?" I exclaimed happily, placing my hand on the screen.

"Yes. That's me and Isabelle after she came back from her honeymoon with your father," Marissa replied.

She looked so beautiful and the simple image of her wide smile brought tears to my eyes.

"I get why you were sad. Seeing her happy makes me miss her," I confessed, looking up at Marissa.

She used her right hand to wipe away a tear that rolled down my cheek. "I miss her too. But maybe she had a purpose elsewhere?" Marissa considered.

"You think the Starlight gods needed her help? Father said Mother loved to help everyone."

Marissa grinned and looked up at the ceiling. I followed her gaze to the little window above us that gave us a glimpse of space and the multiple colored stars above us.

"Maybe. We can only hope."

We continued to watch the stars for a few minutes before Marissa showed me more pictures of Mother and her when they were younger. She even had a few images of Mother and Father I'd never seen, which intrigued me.

"Father looks happy," Azriel said softly in my mind.

I agree. Maybe he is lonely. I let out a yawn and lifted my glasses slightly to rub at my tired eyes.

"Go back to sleep, Daniel. We'll be in Heila before sunrise."

I nodded, yawning again and got up to head back to bed. I stopped halfway, then walked back to Marissa who eyed me curiously.

"Can I have a hug?" I asked.

A wide smile formed on her lips and she opened up her arms. "Of course."

I gave her a tight hug and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Marissa. You're the best."

"I love you more, Daniel," she whispered back in a choked voice.

I knew no matter what happened in the cycles to come, this wouldn't be a farewell.