Chapter 7: My Past Brought to Light

I look out the carriage window watching the scenery as the Sun King and I approach our destination. He speaks up, "Daughter, you must concentrate now. It is the time of day that your mind is at it's utmost importance." I nod and wave my hand out the window. In my head I start to imagine a dull sunrise to match my mood The dark atmosphere of night slowly fading into a light blue and warm colored sunrise. Slowly, the soft glow of the night stars begin to become replaced by the shine of day. He sighs, "I know you are not looking forward to this trip and that we had to leave on such short notice didn't help, but-"

Quickly suppressing my anger I delicately finish his sentence, " 'But this is a mandatory meeting that I nor your mother can get out of '. Yes, Father, I know…." I turn to him with my sky blue eyes big as saucers, "But why did you have to take me along? Orion had so hoped on coming, and it is very unlike you to deny my little brother what he wants…"

"That is not true…" Father points out testily, "We didn't give him that meteor shower he begged for."

"Yes, because 'it wasn't the proper astrological timing'..." I sigh and try to start again after seeing him start to look very exasperated with my tone of voice. "Please, pardon me. I truly did not mean for that to come across brazen or crude, sire…"

My father reaches out from across the carriage and pats my knee, "There's the wonderful daughter your mother and I prize. Do you know how proud of you we are? You are so kind, loving, and patient…"

I nod my thanks and respond the way I have been taught too, "I learned from the best." After a few moments of silence I turn to him, "Though, my lord, you still never answered my inquiry. Why are you having me join you for the Tide Covenant Anniversary? Orion and Estella are the ones who will control the stars once they grow up to the proper age. The moon, mother's realm, and the stars, who currently with no real leader, are more important than the changing of night to day or day to night with the making of the tide "

"We know, we just wanted you to-" He seems to search for the right words to , I already know the answer. I am trophy, something that they can take out and parade about at their leisure. "-get out of your comfort zone and experience the world." He says, nonchalantly, or atleast trying to, finishing his sentence.

By continuing to talk, I know that I am going to be pushing his temper, but today, I do not care. I want answers. "I do 'experience the world'. I read, I draw, and walk around on the clouds-"

"But have you ever talked to anyone outside of our family?" My father says quickly, like jabbing with a sharp blade to my heart.

"Orion and Estella count...I also have spoken with Keenan." There is no one else to talk to, I am not allowed out of the castle gates.

He sinks back deeper into the cushions of the seat, his eyes turning a fiery red from their normal gold, "Your siblings and your tutor aside, you do not seem to socialize, DuDa." I puss my lips. He smirks lightly, knowing that I highly dislike that name, "Yes, I did just call you DuDa, DuDa."

"Please don't call me DuDa, sire." I softly say.

He crosses his arms and raises and eyebrow, "Why is your name embarrassing? Your name is..." his voice fades out and comes back in, "...in short, DuDa." I lower my eyes from his and look out the window, refusing to reply in words. His smirk grows, "and I know you like being called…" he fades out again "...because," he starts to sound like he is reading off a list but with more sarcasm, " it sounds more feminine than…"no noise, "...no one would know about the….part and attempt to nickname you DuDa like I do, and don't ignore me, missy." Father grabs my chin roughly and turns my face towards his. "You better get all of this sass out before we arrive. And if you are going to give me a smart reply, don't. You would not like to see me cross. We will be there in less than five minutes. So, sit up straight and prepare yourself for a beach party." Complying, I do as he asks. I run my hands along my dress, -the color being as soft as a pink that one would find in the sky- while pulling my hair back into a high ponytail before seeing his eyes narrow at my choice of hairstyle and settling for a braid with his nod of approval.

"Don't make me regret my decision to take you."

Everything is black. Nothing else can be felt but the immense darkness that blanketed my eyes. I'm not scared by it though; it feels comforting, like catching up with an old friend.

It felt so real…

It was real...that is my real father...

As those words of truth come across my mind I jolt awake, out of fright. My eyes pop wide open and I quickly close them again. I feel like I am inside a ball of light momentarily as my eyes adjust. One extreme to the other, how lovely. I grimace and blink my eyes a few times as my world comes into focus. As it does a blob of brown on my right side slowly forms into a head of a person ringing out a wet cloth. Turning my head I smile at the woman, "Hello…"

Whipping her head up from preparing the cloth she gives out a sound of relief. "Rose,you're okay!" She quickly drops the cloth into the bowl and embraces me all the while continuing to talk. "I was so worried that you were going to die! Your breathing got really shallow and shaky and you started crying. Then you fell silent! Dead silent! I started crying so hard, I thought I lost my best friend. I-"

I smirk and say as loud as I can, words coming out as a whisper, "I'm fine, Sarah. I'm not dead, I'm actually very much alive." I decide not to mention anything about my 'dreams' to her. Too much as been occurring as of late, and I'm not one hundred percent sure how I would even go about explaining it to her any of it, especially the parts were I couldn't hear my father speak. For now I'll just wait and wonder about this new found past of mine…