Chapter 2
953 Words
I bent down and whispered to Violet, knowing he could also hear me, “Can you tell him his new musical note was beautiful? And wish he becomes a great violinist someday?”
I was sure I caught a faint blush rising at the corner of his cheek, half-hidden beneath the curls of his golden hair, softening the usual fire in his hazel eyes.
Maybe Zach didn’t hate me as deeply as he tried to show. Maybe what he needed was time and love. Enough of it, and the bitterness would fade. One day, he’d see it too… that the hate he carried toward me was never truly mine to bear.
That was enough mission accomplished. I giggled softly and stepped back just as Father appeared, coming out from the room below the spiraled stairs a room only he was allowed to enter.
Father held a tiny red box, smiling quietly. “This was your mother’s favorite necklace. I made it for her when she was pregnant with you.” His ocean-blue eyes shone, but as his voice slowed, his magnetic tone grew thick and low.
“She would be proud to give it to you… proud of the best daughter anyone could ask for. And I wish she could see this day when her daughter became the Three Stars Bearer the world has waited for.”
His words warmed the surface of my heart… but the last line sank straight through it.
Why did I feel danger lurking behind his pride? Couldn’t he see it? The weight of what this could stir? The trouble we’d invited by revealing it too soon by naming me?
There were moments, quiet ones, when I wanted to yell at Father. To ask why he always acted before truly thinking things through. Did he really believe we had no enemies left… just because the war had ended?
Or maybe Father had forgotten—that his wife gave up her life for him… for us. Didn’t he realize how powerful that sacrifice was? How easy words could fly over our walls, but could never erase what was lost?
To be the bearer of the Three Stars… was this truly a gift? Or perhaps a weapon I didn’t yet understand. But I could feel it inside me, pulsing like energy through my veins.
Hell yeah, I was standing on the edge of becoming the most important person in the world.
If the Sylvarrians or the Thornevaldians caught wind of this… I didn’t even want to imagine the fallout.
Since Father made the announcement this morning at the elders’ meeting, my heart hasn’t stopped racing.
He shuddered.“Sorenna, I’ve never really apologized properly for being the reason your mother isn’t with us. I’m sor—”
“Shh… that’s enough. You don’t need to,” I smiled gently.
Three years.
And it was only now after all this time that he remembered to apologize properly? Three years of silence, of pitying looks, never the words.
My heart sank, but I remembered Mother’s words, never take it out on him. So, I kept trying to give him the love of a daughter to the best of my ability.
“Father… please help me put it on,” I said softly, holding out the necklace to him.
I saw the guilt steal the brightness from his eyes again. It didn’t matter. We had each other, and for now, that was enough. Maybe not forever, but I didn’t have a choice.
He smiled, brushing my golden hair softly from my nape as he carefully fastened the necklace around my neck. When he was done, I turned around and caught Violet’s eyes secretly admiring me, then silently I asked how it looked.
“So beautiful, Sorenna.” Her angelic voice filled the room. Violet had always been such a bright, sweet soul. Everything about her was full of life, and I was proud to have a little sister like her.
“Woah! The moon is out, and everything outside looks so bright and magical. Let’s go play, Violet!” Zach pretended not to notice us, but Violet’s gaze was already drawn to the shimmering night.
“Yes!” she exclaimed, running out with Zach.
“I’m coming with you!” I called after them, chasing their laughter. As their guardian, I had to watch over them, but I couldn’t deny them the joy they craved.
Zach and Violet began chasing each other through the garden, bathed in moonlight. The tower stood slender and curved, shimmering softly beneath the glowing moon.
“It’s always fun watching them play happily,” Father whispered behind me as we watched the twins play. “Violet was the happiest when I made the announcement this morning.”
He made a joke, and I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up and mixing with the joy around us. Caught in the moment, I reached for his hand, asking him to dance while the children played such precious moments to hold onto. It was always like this when Mom was alive.
Father’s hands found my waist gently, and I rested one hand on his shoulder. Slowly, he began to sway sideways, humming softly.
I let go of the small anger I held toward him, soaking in the moment. After all… he was still my dad.
“Right… so release your heart, Sorenna,” I whispered, closing my eyes as we danced faster, letting the moment carry me.
Suddenly, Violet’s scream shattered the air, snapping my eyes wide open. I saw Father stagger, an arrow lodged in his heart, blood splattering across my face as he crumpled to the ground.
“Ahhh!!!” Violet’s whistle voice pierced through the chaos.
- Writer
