Heiress of the World
By DaughterofSelena
Chapter One: My Birthday pt 1
I woke up to the feeling of the warmth of the fire on my feet, the feeling of Perseus bouncing on me, and the sight of my parents. "Happy 10th Birthday! Your favorite breakfast is cooking downstairs."
"Alright, I'll be down in a bit." I stretched, and shivered. I stared at the fire, willing it higher, hotter. I quickly cut off the connection before it got too powerful. I didn't want to take the risk of burning the house down, and my powers tend to go out of control if I use them for too long. I walked into my closet and looked through my clothes. It's my birthday, and we are going out, but not till after breakfast. So I walked into the "Comfy outfits" section and chose a pair of black slack/sweats and a lilac hoodie. I walked in front of the mirror and decided my hair would be strawberry blonde today, and waist length, but I let my eyes stay their natural color of a stormy sea- green and gray,only adding a little blue. As I got dressed, I thought about my abilities, and once again started to debate with myself about whether they were a blessing or curse.
"Well, I try to use them to help, heal, and protect people and animals, but I still need to gain more control. I'm not a fool," I told myself, "I know that this is dangerous, and-to use the word my "peers" would use- freakish. (Like they could ever be my equals, the cretins probably couldn't even spell equals I snort to myself.)
I sat on my bed and thought about how understanding my parents were about my powers. In every room, there was a fireplace, a jug of water, and a box of dirt, usually hidden in plain sight .
My parents let me decorate my bedroom suite with greens, blues, reds, yellows, purples, and any other color or design that I wanted. My bathroom is painted as a hidden waterfall and pond. My bedroom has different scenes that I repaint whenever I want. Now it's a forest glen with a bunch of animals.
In my room are french doors that open to a terrace with no rails, and my small animal sanctuary for animals that need constant care. The not-as-injured ones, I usually put in one of my tree stands, or hide in the forest. I pickup my black kitten Mystyc, put her in her sling, run down the hallway and fly (literally) down the stairs. I slide into the kitchen and sit between my mother and father, and across from Perseus my adopted younger brother, and breakfast begins. Perce was just a baby when I found him on a walk. I carried him home, to Mum and Da and we adopted him. He knows he's adopted, but Mum and Da shower the both of us with so much love and so many gifts, you can't doubt they love us equally. After I finish my breakfast of pancakes, toast, and bacon, my parents and brother take me into the living room to open my presents.
I get a jar with a tag that says For Fire. To remind you that even dangerous things, when properly handled are helpful another jar that says For Water- To remind you to take a stand for your beliefs and not just float through life, a third that says For Air- so you can fly away from your troubles towards hope and a fourth that says For Earth- so you can have a safe place to land. I look up at my parents, who are smiling at me.
"We want you to be safe and happy Cassie." I continue to open my presents. My father travels a lot for his company, so our family travels a lot too, and my mother sells different things she makes, so added to the fact that they only have two kids, unlike the Weasley's who have more kids than they can pay for, they like to give me and Perce lots of things. But they try to keep us unpretentious- It's why they named me Cassiopeia, and though I prefer when people call me Cassie or Cass, and I usually behave, their plan didn work completely and I am wholly capable of releasing my inner self-righteous, brat and playing adults with my innocent look at the same time. My Da likes to say that I have a sharper tonge than the point of my dagger.
I end up with a written certificate for one shopping spree in London from my mom, a ton of books on subjects that range from Maths to Science, Travel guides to English, and Foreign Languages to Etiquette Around the World. I squealed and saw Mum look at Da and say "That's the last we'll see of her for the next 2 weeks!" We all laugh and I continue opening my presents.
I open a jewelry box from my Da to see a white gold heart locket with our family crest on it that opens to three pictures. The first is Da and I in front of the Eiffel Tower, where he and I went for my birthday last year, the second is Mum and I digging in the garden, laughing, and the third is Perseus and I sitting in our tree, just talking, oblivious to the world. I immediately put it on and thank him profusely.
There are charms for my charm bracelets, which my parents, brother and I have been collecting for me my whole life.
I get new gardening tools for my plot of land on our property, fuzzy blankets, body care supplies from my mom, yarn and a new weaving set, and a complete sewing kit, along with makeup cases, and beauty supplies. I got a picture album from Perseus that has me crying. It's got pictures of our family in different places, and pictures of Nana Pernelle and Grandpa Nick, and Uncle Sev, and there are lots of pictures of Aunt Lilly, Aunt Alice, Uncle James, Uncle Frank, Harry, and Neville. And under the last picture of all of us together, our whole make shift Family, is a note written in my brother's messy scrawl- To keep your memories safe. Keep your family close Cassie, and no matter what comes, know that I love you. I start crying harder and pull Perce into my lap and hug him, despite him being a big 6 year old, as he says to everybody. I get ropes, and pulleys, and science kits so i can work out my brain, but I also get first aid supplies and books on animal anatomy so I can better heal my rescues. Then my parents stand and Perce says
"The next one is outside Cassie. And it's from me! Let's go!" and he pulls me out the back door racing across our property. Part of the way across the lawn we both get picked up from behind. I laugh and yell, as Da throws me over his shoulder so i can't see where we're going.
"No fair!" I yell, and then I am put down again. I turn around and fall to the ground in shock. Nana, Grandpa, and Uncle Sev, are all here, but they're standing in front of….. AN ANIMAL SHELTER! One of my very own that I don't have to keep on my terrace, or find the animals a place to rest in the trees somewhere! I am still sitting on the ground in front of my very own animal shelter when Perseus tackles me and says
"Cassie, Cassie, Cassie! This one's from me!" I laugh at the tiny kid in my arms.
"You did this all by yourself little brother?" I ask him.
"Well we helped too, but it was the little rascals idea, and he designed it." By this time Uncle Sev, Nana, and Grandpa were all joining the human bear hug around me on the ground.
Uncle Sev looks at me and says " You'll find several chemistry labs inside with lots of things for you to experiment with safely. I was told not to go to big this year, but why can't a godfather spoil his favorite goddaughter?"
"Uncle Sev, I'm your only Goddaughter!"
"That just gives me even more licence to spoil you. Besides your Nan and Grandda helped too." He says, and I am swept back into the bear hug by my family. As we hug, I realize that no matter how cool the animal shelter is, family is the most important thing, and I resolve to spend at least a little more time with them instead of hiding with my books as usual.
My Da smiles and says "Cass, we are getting some more gifts when we go out. But first…"
