Daughter of a Monarch

by Sara Daniell

  “I know. You do it when you sleep as well.”

  “Why?”

  “A, we both need to rest while we wait for your dad.”

  “What’s wrong with me, Mom?”

  She runs her hands down her face and sighs. “I was hoping nothing, but our worst fear has come true. You’re the half-breed everyone has feared. It’s the reason we’ve kept you hidden.”

  “Tell me everything. Please.”

  I WAKE UP to Dad kissing my cheek that is wet from tears. I dry them with my blanket then reach up to hug him tightly.

  “Mom told me about my family in Gaia last night. Will they be harmed because of me?” That question has been consuming my mind ever since she told me about them.

  Dad rubs circles on my back. “I don’t think so. But who knows. The leaders of Gaia are pretty pissed, A.”

  “Mom said it’s because I’m the first to be born half Fae and half Versipellis.”

  “That and they don’t want any more of your kind running around.”

  Mom walks into the room and leans against the wall.

  “Is this my fault? For going to Gaia?” I asked her.

  “Cohen and his son finding out about you wasn’t a good thing. Then I came, and that just confirmed that you were, in fact, mine.”

  “But they don’t seem like the type that would rat us out,” I say in confusion.

  Mom shrugs. “No, they don’t, but I don’t trust anyone right now. My sister could’ve seen you. I wouldn’t put it past her to tell.”

  Dad stands and kisses Mom’s forehead. “I need to head back to Terre and make sure they don’t find out.”

  Mom nods. “I’ll protect her.”

  “I know.” Dad tells us he loves us both then disappears.

  Mom doesn’t say anything. She smiles softly at me then climbs into bed with me. She must have carried me in here, because I don’t remember ever getting off the couch.

  Mom lays her head on my shoulder and cries softly. I want to sympathize with her, but instead I wonder what all she is still keeping from me. There has to be more to this story.

  When she spoke about our family in Gaia last night, there was so much pain etched in her voice. She missed them. She gave up everything to be with my father. I wondered if she really loved him, or if she stayed with him because of me? Because she got pregnant?

  I feel responsible for the mess we are in even though I know it isn’t my fault. I’m an abomination according the laws of the worlds. My head hurts. This is all just too much with such few answers.

  Maybe, if I went and spoke to the leaders of Gaia, we could come to some sort of agreement. I’m not too concerned about Terre because Dad and Mom are in rule there. They’d fix it somehow. But I need to go to Gaia. I could fix this. And not to mention, I have family there that I’m sure would be willing to help me.

  I quietly get up from the bed after Mom is asleep. I dig around in the closet until I find a suitcase, grab a few things I might need, clasp it shut, and change into something that will suit the warmer climate in Gaia.

  Maybe I’m wrong for going, but right now, I’m willing to risk it all to try to fix this mess. I’ll ask for forgiveness later. It’s much easier to ask for that than for permission.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I feel the difference in temperature, I open my eyes and look around. The tree branches covered in beautiful greenery sway in the wind, sending a gentle breeze through my hair.

  Hello, Gaia. It’s time we get to know one another.

  I SIGH AND set the suitcase down. I sit on it as I look around at the field of tall grass. I close my eyes and whisper a spell to lock down the passage between here and Terre. Dad and Mason would figure it out eventually, but it would buy me time to talk to the leaders of Gaia and meet my family. I stand, pick up my suitcase, and start walking.

  I walk until I finally find a busy street. I haven’t been around this many people in my entire life.

  I smile as I walk even though everyone stares at me like I have four heads. But shit, I feel like I have four heads. My palms are sweaty, and if one of these Fae tries to talk to me, I’m afraid I won’t be able to respond, because I’m socially retarded. Thank you, Mom and Dad…

  I walk up to the person who appears to be the kindest. I clear my throat and think of what to say.

  “Excuse me, I’m looking for Harim Cho—I can’t even get out his last name.

  The man’s wide eyes stare at me skeptically. “Why are you looking for him?”

  “Because,” I look up him, taking in his height, “he’s my uncle.”

  “Are you Aislin?”

  I look at him oddly. “Maybe…”

  Okay, so this was a bad idea.

  I go to walk way, but he wraps me in a quick hug, which completely freaks me out, then hurries me down the street so fast I have no time to question his actions.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “To your grandmother’s house before you’re seen!”

  I stop, digging my heels into the dirt. “No, I’m not going anywhere with you! I asked if you knew Harim and—”

  “I’m Harim, Aislin. I’m your Uncle.”

  I scrunch my eyebrows and look at him. Too easy. There’s no way the first Fae I find is Harim. However, he and Mom do look a lot alike now that I take a better look at him.

  “Prove it.” I cross my arms in front of my chest.

  “Seriously? You don’t need to be seen! I need to get you to a safe place!”

  I raise a brow. “Then you better hurry up and prove it, because I’m not budging until you do.”

  He mumbles something about me being like my mother. “How’s your father, Luke?”

  “He’s not that great right now. But you’re going to have to do better than that!”

  “Come with me, and I will,” he says with urgency.

  I follow with caution. I will blame my poor judgement on my parents. If they allowed me to be around others more then maybe I could judge their motives better. Harim wanna-be seems to be sincere and legit, but who the hell knows. I keep up with his pace.

  We come to a house with beautiful landscaping. I smile when I see a white picket fence that wraps around the brick home. The breeze feels familiar, and the salty air smells like a place I’d visited before. Paradise.

  A woman who is the spitting image of my mother, except older, emerges from the front door. A tear slips down her cheek the moment her eyes land on me.

  “Aislin?”

  I nod. She holds up the bottom of her dress so she doesn’t trip on it as she runs to me. Her arms fling open and secure around me.

  “Oh, how I’ve waited to meet you!”

  Tears sting my eyes. “I’m not supposed to be here,” I whisper.

  She cups my face and laughs. “You’re not, but here you are anyway. Stubborn like your mother and determined like your father.”

  “You know my father?”

  “Everyone knows the king of Terre.”

  “Okay, so I kind of believe you now but still a tad skeptical.” I look at Harim. He chuckles and motions for me to follow him inside.

  I look around the cozy home. I walk around and look at the pictures on the wall. It’s covered in pictures of my mother, grandmother, uncle, and my aunt Stella. I assume that was her anyway because she looks just like Mom and is close to her age.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Uncle Harim. “Now that you believe me, we should get you back home. You really shouldn’t be here.”

  “I can’t go back. Not right now. I have things I need to do before I leave. I need to speak to the leaders of your world.” I continue to look around at pictures on the wall.

  My grandmother moves so she’s standing in front of me. “The Regime?”

  “The who?”

  “Our rulers.”

  I furrow my eyebrows. “Yes. But why do you have a Regime anyway? I thought Gaia lived freely, no rulers.”

  “We used to. Not anymore. A
lot has changed since your mother made her decision.”

  “Gotcha... So, can I stay?”

  “Of course she can,” a woman says from behind us. She holds her hand out to me. “Stella. Your aunt.”

  “Hi,” I say with an unsure smile. She doesn’t seem as friendly as everyone else.

  “You’re old enough to make your own decisions, and you’ll be safer here anyway. Terre is far worse than Gaia.”

  Uncle Harim scoffs. “Just because you’re married to one of the Regime doesn’t mean she’s safe here.”

  “No, but it does help.”

  “We’ll see how much it helps when they take her prisoner.”

  I put my hands up. “Whoa, what? I’m no one’s prisoner!”

  Stella laughs. “No, you’re not. Harim is exaggerating, as usual.”

  “I’d be a prisoner if they made me stay here,” I chime in.

  Harim nods. “Exactly.”

  My grandmother pinches the bridge of her nose. “Enough, you three. Aislin, you can stay as long as you’d like, but I’m going to contact your parents and let them know you’re here.”

  “No, I’ll do it.”

  I sit on the couch and put my head in my hands. Dad and I both have the ability to talk inside of each other’s minds, but I can actually block his voice, where others can’t. Totally pisses him off.

  I take a deep breath as I remove the shield. His voice surges through my mind. This hurts like hell and is one of the reasons why he and I both avoid doing it as much as possible.

  He enters my mind in mid-sentence.

  …And this is a horrible idea! I know you’re there! God, I swear you don’t use your head!

  I wait for his tantrum to silence before I send my own message.

  I’m fine, Dad. Don’t come looking for me. I’m exactly where I need to be right now. I was told about the Regime, and maybe I can talk to them and fix this somehow. The last thing we need is a war. I’m willing to face whatever happens because I chose to come here.

  You are not doing this alone, A! We’ve kept you in hiding for a reason! Now unlock the spell so I can come there!

  No.

  A!

  Talk to you soon. I love you.

  I block his voice, so I can’t hear him. I made this mess by coming to Paradise and being caught. I was found out about because of a decision I made on my own.

  For so long, I’ve been oblivious to anything but Terre and my family on Earth, and I’ve always felt like a piece of me was missing. I need to be here to figure out exactly who I am. I need to understand the threat I pose in order to fix the assumptions that others have about half-breeds. Of me. How dangerous can I possibly be? I’m harmless. Sort of.

  I SIT ACROSS from Uncle Harim watching him shuffle the cards.

  “Can I try?” I ask, reaching for part of the deck.

  “Sure. Watch me do it first, though.”

  He slides half of the deck to me. I watch him separate his cards into even piles. I do the same. I follow his movements but stop when it’s time to snap the cards singly on top one another. Once he’s done and shuffles his cards back together, he motions for me to try.

  I try to let each card slip ever-so-carefully from my thumbs, but they all plop out into one big mess on the table. Uncle Harim bursts into laughter.

  “Come on; it’s not that funny.”

  I pick up a card and send it flying at his forehead. I smile a little as I clean them up. I scoot the cards to him.

  “Let’s just play.”

  “Someone is in a bad mood.” He starts dealing out the cards, and I get the poker chips ready.

  “What do you mean? I’m fine. I guess I’m a little nervous. Aunt Stella is meeting with the Regime on my behalf. She shouldn’t have to do that alone.”

  “It’s better this way, Aislin. If they saw you, they’d overreact.”

  I bite the inside of my cheek and shrug.

  “I guess. But they know I’m here. Isn’t that bad enough?”

  “Maybe. We’ll just have to wait and see. Let your aunt talk to them. They respect her. They will at least listen to what she has to say.”

  I nod. “You go first.” I get my cards ready and wait.

  Three rounds of beating my Uncle’s ass at cards and Stella still isn’t back. I pace the perimeter of the dining area, biting my nails.

  Harim sits in a chair in the corner watching me. Grandmother became bored watching me pace, so she went to do some reading about laws and such.

  “You’re going to wear holes in the floor, Aislin.”

  I stop and look at him. “When you are in my shoes, you see how long you can sit still.” I continue to pace.

  “We could get to know one another while you we wait for her.”

  I laugh coolly. “Ummm, okay. Sure. What do you want to know?”

  “Anything.”

  “Okay... I like to read.”

  “I don’t.”

  I look at him. “Why aren’t you married? You’re a good lookin’ guy. Are you a jerk?”

  He chuckles. “Maybe. Kind of, I think. I like women. I can’t see myself being with just one.”

  “Ooo, you’re a player?”

  “A what?” He laughs some more.

  “It’s a term my mom taught me. Must not be a Gaia thing.”

  He is about to say something when the door opens. I stop pacing, and Harim stands. I hear the door down the hall open, and Grandmother walks into the room.

  Stella comes in, and we wait impatiently for her to give us the news.

  She points at me. “You owe me, kid.”

  “What!” I jump excitedly. “They’re not going to—”

  “Whoa, don’t get too excited,” she says, cutting me off. “You have to meet with them, but in the meantime, you can stay here, unharmed and not bothered by the Regime.”

  “Oh. When do I have to do that?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  The way she said ‘in the meantime’ made me think I had more time. I let out the breath I’m holding and nod.

  “Okay.”

  Stella looks at Harim and Grandmother. “I’m heading home. Keep her out of trouble. I promised the Regime there wouldn’t be any.”

  She starts to leave, but I stop her. “Stella?”

  She looks at me over her shoulder. “Yes?”

  “Thank you.”

  She nods a little then leaves.

  I sit on the beach of Paradise, sinking my feet deeper into the warm sand. The waves crash against the shore in a hypnotic manner. I love this place more than anywhere else in the universe.

  At lunch, Grandmother told me stories about Mom and Paradise. The girl she described sounded nothing like my mother. I look at the water and try to imagine the woman my mother used to be.

  “The rumors are true. You are here.”

  I pick my head up from my knees and smile a little at Isaac.

  “Apparently, just by being born, I’ve messed up everything. I was never supposed to happen.”

  “And that’s your fault how? Your parents are the ones who disobeyed the rules.”

  I cut my eyes at him. “Leave my parents out of it, or I’ll hurl way more power at you than I did right before you and your Dad tucked tail and ran.”

  He laughs. “And how am I supposed to do that? They are the ones who created the half-breed.”

  “Don’t call me that.” My blood begins to boil. I know that’s what I am, but hearing someone who barely knows me say it pisses me off. I feel my hands getting warm, and Isaac’s eyes widen. Bright orange flames materialize from my fingertips. I stand and hold out my hands in front of me.

  Isaac holds his hands in front of him, creating a protective shield. I hate to tell him, but there’s no way that’s going to block my magic.

  “Aislin, chill out! I don’t mean that in an offensive way! I’m just stating facts!”

  I take deep breaths and calm myself down. The flames gradually started losing their bright color until they final
ly vanish. I’m embarrassed. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I don’t have control over my abilities. And it’s only getting worse.

  “You should be more careful with what you say. Especially, around me.” I dust the sand off my shorts.

  “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “Hmmm, well that’s your first mistake.”

  A cocky grin expands across his face. “And you’re one to be discussing others’ mistakes?”

  “Did you come here to irritate me?” I snapped.

  He laughs as he makes his shirt disappear. “I was just coming to swim.” He walks to the water, waits for a wave, and then dives in.

  I’m jealous of his ability to make his shirt disappear. If I were to try to change my clothing to a bathing suit, I’d end up butt naked. My abilities tend to overdraw.

  I don’t mean to stare at his chest as water trickles down it. Oh hell. Yes, I do. He waves me over, and I get in just so I’m ankle deep.

  “Isn’t this a blast from the past?”

  I turn to see Isaac’s dad.

  “You look just like your mother standing there.” Cohen’s smile isn’t the happy smile he is trying desperately to accomplish. I can see the pain of losing Mom in his eyes.

  I tuck my hair behind my ears. “I favor my dad, too.”

  He nods. “You do.” He looks past me and at Isaac. “Did you invite her over for dinner?”

  I look at Isaac. “No, he didn’t.”

  Isaac comes out of the water, making his shirt reappear—much to my disappointment.

  “I didn’t think you’d say yes.”

  I look at Cohen and raise a brow. “Yeah, he called me a half-breed. I didn’t like it. Not sure a dinner invite would have been appropriate after that statement. Also, I really shouldn’t be seen around here. Speaking of which, did you guys rat me out to the Regime?”

  “No. Gaia isn’t very big. With you sneaking back and forth here, it wouldn’t be hard for you to be found out. And it doesn’t help that you look like your mother.”

  “Oh.” I wasn’t convinced it wasn’t them. “Anyway, dinner probably isn’t a good idea. I need to meet with the Regime and stick close to my grandmother’s house.”