The Royal Fae- Astra (book 1)

Prologue Throughout the universe there are many things that we as humans cannot even comprehend, even on our beautiful blue and green planet there are a myriad of beings that we hear stories about from the moment we are born and yet as we get older we cease to believe. How can we live so close to these beings and yet have no idea? So, before you read this story full of those such beings let me inform you that all the stories, all the myths, all the rumours are true we are most definitely NOT alone! This story is just the start, just a glimpse into the magical world of the fae (fairies), a world full of love, magic, sadness and happiness. Once upon a time there were 4 fairy tribes, the sky (air) fae, the Earth fae, the water fae and the Solar (fire) fae. Each had their own magic linked to their element, the royal fae had the most powerful of the magic as they descend from the original fairies. Over the millennia the royals became less as they had less children or were fated to non-royal partners, this meant that the magic became less potent and was used less. The fae adopted some human technology including computers and used this instead of magic in many places. As of today, there are only two fae tribes left, the sky fae and the earth fae. The water fae disappeared many years ago and the solar fae were so few after an attack that they joined the other two tribes. To this day there are still royal fae but although they still have magic its used minimally other than to protect the fae secrets and keep the tribes safe.   Chapter 1 One beautiful spring night in a city at the top of a snow-capped mountain overlooking a lake the colour of emeralds a magical moment happened that would change the sky faes world forever. A royal baby was born, Astra came into the world under the night sky while the stars twinkled overhead, and the full moon shone gently over the new family. She was born with such pure innocence and gave the royal couple such happiness that the queen quickly forgot about the deal that had been made so many months ago. Hours turned to days and days turned to weeks while Astra flourished in the bubble of happiness that her parents had created for her. The king and queen had been yearning for a baby for hundreds of years and suddenly the queen was with child, no one questioned how this came to be because, well why would they. One night everything came crashing to an end when the sky faes were attacked, explosions were heard far and wide and the king rushed to the aid of his kingdom. The queen stayed in the castle to look after Astra, but as she ran to hide in their chambers she came face to face with a fiery red haired witch and she quickly realised that this attack wasn’t about the kingdom but rather about Astra and the deal that had been made. 9 years later… I would spend every minute at the end of the garden playing if mum and dad would just let me. This is where I’m happiest and I can’t, no I don’t want to imagine being anywhere else but here. I’m fully aware that my fiery personality and my choice in friends worried my parents but I loved who I was, and I loved my friends. As I sit wedged in my little nook with my books and colouring pencils surrounding me, I watch Lily,  Loni and a few of my other friends playing in front of me while I draw them I couldn’t help but smile as they danced to the beautiful music. Looking up I can see mum and dad looking at me from the kitchen window, a shiver runs down my spine something is going to happen I can feel it. Anna’s pov (Astra’s mother) “She’s down there again with her invisible friends, we can’t let this carry on. It’s not good for her and you remember what ‘she’ said about any unusual behaviour”. “Yes well ‘she’ only appears once a year and ‘she’ doesn’t know about this, I can’t see that having imaginary friends is going to hurt Astra” “She’s 9 and too old to have imaginary friends, I think we should call her and tell her about this. She was very adamant about unusual behaviour and we did swear an oath". Gary sighs and nods, we both know not to cross our colleague she’s helped us a lot over the years and in turn we have Astra.  “Hello, yes I know I’m sorry to call but we thought you should know about some behaviour that Astra has been showing. I’m sure it’s nothing.” Sitting down I explain everything, including a description of Astra’s drawings. To say the conversation went horribly is an understatement. “Gary....she says we have to send Astra to a private school at the earliest opportunity. She’s going to arrange it all. She was so angry; I’ve never heard her like that since before that night.”  Astra’s Pov  There is something wrong with my parents and they won’t tell me what, I keep hearing them whispering and they’ve banned me from the garden. Luckily Loni has been visiting me at night at my window otherwise id be going mad with boredom he always makes me laugh he’s so smart and very handsome.  Even with him as a welcome distraction I still have a bad feeling about it all and nothing he says is making me feel any better.  A week passes and then one morning dad comes into my room before the sun is up, I had only got back into bed after my little visit to the oak tree half an hour ago, I just knew something was going to happen. Dad looks like he’s been up all night, when I ask him what’s the matter, he shakes his head and tells me to get dressed and get into the car. “no! I don’t want to go anywhere I know there’s something going on I want to know what!” That’s when his calm façade grumbles. “shut up you spoilt brat! Do what you’re told for once and get in the damn car!” I couldn’t believe it and refused to move from my room, the next thing I know he carries me downstairs kicking and screaming, my feet and hands making him grunt with pain as they make contact. There’s a van outside with some of our stuff in and the horrible red-haired lady is here talking to mum. She always asks me strange questions and makes me feel on guard, I do not like her! Looking at her I realise how unusual she is with her bright red hair and golden eyes, she sticks out like a sore thumb, but no one ever looks at her twice, it’s like she’s invisible. Dad drops me near the van and walks off with a red sweaty face and a scowl, he walks off without looking back. Pffft like I care! Ah man now horrible lady has noticed me and hurries over “Good morning Astra I have a present for you, this is a family air loom and it will protect you from bad people. You must wear it always do not take it off". All I can think is why was she giving me a necklace when I’m fairly sure she hated me and why did it have to be so ugly! I take the necklace with a polite grin, but she snatches it from me and puts it around my neck it feels cold and heavy but the weirdest thing is that the cold feels like it is spreading through my body, suddenly my sight goes black and the last thing I see is her marching off as I fall to the floor. The Present.... Walking up to the large double fronted Victorian house always fills me with awe, but it’s always been the garden that’s felt more like home to me, I make my way around the side of the house and into the garden. The garden is huge and full of beautiful plants and flowers and a huge natural pond but the best thing about it is the massive oak tree at the very bottom of the garden. Its thick gnarly boughs twist and turn up towards the sky and there is a perfect nook at the bottom in between the roots where I used to sit and read or draw. As I stand underneath looking up at the tree, I take a deep breath, and sigh with happiness! I decide to spend the morning here before even going indoors the weather is perfect, I plonk my suitcase down and get comfortable. Ahhh yes, I might just lay here for ever, I don’t want to live in the real world anyway. I rolled my eyes as I thought of the life, I had just walked away from thank fudge that was over! The breeze was gently rustling the leaves of the big oak tree above my head, my long blonde hair rippling around my shoulders as I lounged around in the warm sun reading one of the many books I'd managed to pack in my suitcase, I probably should have packed more clothes but books always win (I could totally live naked but living without books big nope!). I have been here a couple of hours now I haven’t had the chance to do this in forever it’s definitely what I need right now. This right here between the roots of the Oak tree has always felt home, which I know sounds weird, but I just feel so relaxed here. As I fiddle with my necklace and stare up at the tree, I hear my stomach rumbling and my chain of thought is broken. It was starting to get hard to ignore my stomach no matter how hard I tried, I sit up with a huff next time I would remember snacks! Another blow of the wind wafts the smell of honey suckle and the relaxing notes of music I felt like I had heard before. I hear someone call my name and I turn to look behind me but there is no one there.  I think I have been in the sun too long, I must be dehydrated, but I can’t shake the feeling I recognised that voice. Looking around again there’s no sign of anyone and the music had gone. Hmmm time to get a big drink and some food I’m definitely dehydrated! I make my way into the house opening the big double oak and glass doors with the key hidden under a pot; I've missed this house every part of it brings back so many vivid memories of my childhood. It is an old house so there is lots of creaking floorboards and random noises but its where I spent the first 10 years of my childhood and has been owned by our family for hundreds of years. My mum and dad have been called away on family business over in Europe and I took the opportunity to visit the house while they were gone. I'm have been feeling a little lost recently after I broke up with my boyfriend (don’t feel bad hes a butthead) of 2 years and I just needed to reconnect with myself and what better way than to come home for a few weeks. I would have to tell mum I’m staying here, but I didn’t want to give them the chance to say no, I’m sure they’ve been keeping me away and I was determined to find out why, plus its been a long time since they were annoyed at me for something it’ll add to the excitement. Honestly, I think I just need to be alone with my thoughts and work out who I am other than weird obviously. I send a quick text to mum letting her know I was fine and asking where they had got to so far, choosing to omit my where abouts for now.  I turn my thoughts back to food (which honestly isn’t hard as food is one of my favourite pass times) I decide on a simple ham salad sandwich some crisps and a big glass of orange juice, I am still feeling a little off but feel so much better after filling my stomach. I want to spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the house it’s been so long since I’ve been alone here. When we moved out 10 years ago, we left quickly and didn’t bring much with us, so everything is pretty much the way it was back then. Deciding to start upstairs I look into each of the rooms, my parents room holding just a large dark wooden four poster bed and a wall of dark wooden wardrobes. My bedroom is exactly how I remember the walls are painted in a sky-blue colour and a mural of trees and fairies cover the wall behind my bed. My bed still has the green bedding that I always felt looked like leaves and my desk is cluttered with books and drawing implements. Hearing a noise, I turn and notice that the door to the attic is open, which is weird as it has always been locked in fact, I don’t think I was ever allowed near it. I’ve always longed to explore it because, well because I wasn’t allowed up there, I always thought there might be treasure or a dead body hidden up there. Slowly I make my way up the wooden stairs every step causing a creak as the wood moves under my weight. Oh come on I only gained a few pounds stop judging me, stupid stairs! The door is slightly ajar and with a bit of a push it gives way and scrapes open, it’s so dark I try to find a light but promptly trip over a pile of boxes. Using my phone torch, I look at the boxes to make sure I haven’t damaged anything. The boxes are covered in dust and spiderwebs, but I brush some away to find my name written across the top. Hm I didn’t know I had any stuff up here! I decide to take them down into my room so that I can have a proper look. Once all the boxes are safely in my room, I grab a drink and a snack and turn my attention to the boxes and take the first one from the pile, as I put it down in front of me the wind blows in through the window making the curtains billow towards me. The music! I can hear the music again it's such a sweet sound a mixture of wind instruments and guitar. Without thinking I find myself at the window leaning out to see where it was coming from but there was no one out there. Suddenly my foot slips and I end up hanging out of the window with only my foot trapped under the radiator keeping me from falling. I panic what can I do there’s no one around to help me, my hands are sweating, and I can’t get a grip on anything. I try to think but my mind can't help panicking and I find myself shaking which doesn't help my situation. Help!! Someone please help!  The wind had started to get stronger and more violent, I managed to wedge my other foot behind the radiator too, but I still couldn't get a grip with my hands to pull myself up. Yep I’m going to die, I'm not sure how long I struggled to keep holding on before I blacked out (my body isn't good with stress so this happens), the last thing I remember is the wind blowing really hard and the smell of honeysuckle.