Heart of Darkness Book Two: Goddess of Dragons

Chapter One: Family

Time has a funny way of passing either too far, too quickly, or painstakingly slow. Any childhood full of love and family can have a great impact on a person, how they learn, how they grow, what they choose to be in life. Children are taught and molded. Even with proper teachings some things cannot be taught, only experienced.

 Inevitably we choose who we are, whether for the good or the bad. Sometimes though, fate, destiny, doesn't give us a choice.

When you are born into a family of Gods and Goddesses, the idea of choosing your future becomes a thing of fantasy. But there are those who have found their way to defy fight... No matter what the consequences are.

Astra Dragonias Dreador was born into such a family. As an infant, she had the greatest protectors in the world.

Serena, her mother, Goddess, and Queen of their home Noir Lune,

Reaperiam, her father, God of Death and keeper of Hell.

Joseph, her uncle and God and King of Sole Luminoso, the other world.

Zodian, her grandfather, and the creator of all things.

Dragica, her grandmother, and the last Goddess of Dragons, sadly she was no longer alive.

And lastly, she had not only her mother's best friend Radin the tiger, but she also had Radin's newborn daughter Ralane, to grow up with.

She had a lot to live up to, but her family never expected more of her than they knew she could give. Her days as an infant were full of love, care, happiness, and protection with her family. She had loving, caring parents that spoiled her, but were also firm. Her family dynamic was a hard one because of responsibilities. Although her father wanted to be with Astra and her family permanently his obligations as a God of Death kept him in hell. Astra grew used to only seeing him once a month for a week. She cherished every moment she got to spend with her father.

As an infant, she had been given a great gift, immortality, and half of her grandfather's power. Although her grandfather never said why he gave her half his power, her mother knew there was a reason for it. Because of this, her mother kept her close, there were dangers in the world even if you were immortal.

By the time Astra was two, her mother knew that she would be a handful, she was a fast learner and very inquisitive. As a child she began to show signs of her powers blooming within her, out of fear, Serena used her powers to stop Astra's power from becoming overwhelming until she knew Astra could learn and handle the gifts she was born with and the one she had been given. Her mother wants to protect her kept her powers dormant, but powers especially strong powers can only be kept quiet for so long.

Five years have passed since her birth, and tonight was a night of celebration, her mother and father were throwing her a grand party as they did every year. The air was full of excitement, and although she was just a child Astra was quite the adventurer. She knew how to get out of the castle with Jade without being seen, and she did it often.

Tonight was no exception, they walked to the water as they did every night, Astra got her feet wet, then laid in the sand staring at the stars. As hard as her mother tried to shield her from her powers, some powers are too strong to hold back. Astra was named for the stars her parents knew one day she would be able to read. She saw things that others did not, and in her dreams, she could feel the presence of another.

Not knowing what it means Astra tells Ralane that she is afraid, Ralane reassures her, that she's safe just as she always does. After sneaking back into the Night Castle, their home, Astra runs to find her mother.

She runs to her mother's room and knocks. Her mother opens the door and looks at her.

"Hello there my little star gazer, are you ready for your party tonight?" Serena asks with a smile.

Astra nods and hugs her mother. "Is father coming?" She asks quickly. Her mother lets out a chuckle, "No, he is already here." She opens the door more and Astra looks into the room. Reaperiam is sitting by the window looking out if.

"Daddy!" Astra cries out and runs to him. He stands up with a laugh and picks her up twirling her around in a circle. "There is my little moon princess! Look at you getting so big! Five years old and such a little lady." They all laugh, and Astra hugs her father tightly.

"Are you going to stay all week daddy?!" she asks excitedly.

"Of course, little moon princess, and do I have plans for all of us!" Reaperiam responds kissing her cheek and tickling her.

Serena shakes her head gently, "All right you two it's time to get ready for your party Astra. Come with me, let's get you in your dress and do your hair." Reaperiam sets her down and she runs to her mother with a laugh. They head into Astra's bedroom, a large room with a star covered ceiling. Blue, silver, and black designed the room, her bed a quaint little bed with dark blue silk blankets and silver silk sheets. Ralane lay on top of the bed resting before the party.

Astra opens her closet, a walk-in with plenty of space for her to fill as she grows. Serena walks to the closet and grabs a dark blue, sparkly, poofy dress, and Astra's silver dress shoes.

She helps Astra get dressed and then heads back into her room to finish getting ready. Astra sits on her bed and pets Jade, she can hear guests start to arrive, she smiles in excitement. After her mother comes and gets her and Jade, she is blindfolded and taken into the ballroom. As she enters her mother removes the blindfold and all the guests yell, "Happy Birthday!" She lets out a giggle and does a curtsy. "Thank you everyone!" she says smiling.

Astra looks around the crowd for her other favorite person, "Grandpa!" she yells happily as Zodian approaches her. He laughs and gives her a big hug, "Hello there little moon," she laughs. All her family had nicknames for her. Joseph her uncle comes and hugs her next, then her mother and father lead her to a large banquet table to enjoy her birthday feast.

The party lasts all night, there is dancing, games, she opens her presents, and then they all have cake and the guests leave. Astra is exhausted as the party comes to an end. Zodian picks the sleepy princess up and carries her to her room. He sits on her bed and waits as she goes into her bathroom and changes into her silk blue pajamas.

Astra climbs into bed and gets under the covers, she looks sleepily at her Grandfather. He smiles and kisses her cheek, then sets a thin square shaped box onto her nightstand.

"When you wake little moon, open your gift from me." He says to her gently.

Sleepily she mutters, "Okay, night grandpa," and finally succumbs to sleep.  Her parents check on her before retiring to their room.

When Astra awakes in the morning, she sees the present from her grandfather and opens it. Inside of it are two photos, one has her Grandfather Zodian and a beautiful woman, that looks a lot like her mom. The other photo is also of her grandfather and a child. An infant. Astra smiles, thinking that she finally has a picture of her and her grandpa. She puts them into her box of treasured possessions, then gets dressed and goes about her daily routine...

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