Chapter Four

Twenty-Eight Years Prior…

“Aurora, get down! You’ll hurt yourself!” I called from the ground of a massive sycamore tree as my toddler sister managed to perch herself on the highest branch she could find. Hues of golds, reds, and yellows swayed around her in the breeze, threatening to snap the very branch sitting under her.

Before I had time to unfurl my wings and shoot up after her, glimmering rose-gold wings sprouted from her back as she leapt and began to plummet. My stomach and heart went through the ground as I sprung up to catch her, only to miss as she slipped through my fingers. Her laughter grew louder as her rosy membranes caught the wind and she landed on both feet. I thought my breakfast was going to make a comeback as I fell to the ground beside her and lay on my back against the forest floor.

“Again! Again!” She squealed in delight, her small body plopping onto my stomach, truly making my breakfast want to escape.

“Oomf” escaped as a foot met my sternum and a gasp of air left my lungs.

“I think…” I panted, attempting to pull my head up enough to look her in the eyes, “I think I have to literally ground you now.”

With that, I laid my head back onto the fallen leaves of the ground and attempted to regain myself.

Bringing her to the woods for a relaxing hike quickly transformed into my hair nearly turning as silver as our father’s when her scales came in and she took advantage of a strong breeze that passed us on the climb up the mountain.

While the timing was right for them to come in, it was just so inconvenient for them to emerge as we were in the middle of nowhere.

Rather than take the risk of her wings being punctured by the branches - that I now found excessively dangerous, I scooped her giggling form in my arms and flew her back home. It seemed to be enough for her to fly with me rather than using her own newfound ability.

I didn’t release her until we reached the safe confines of her brightly pink painted bedroom, formerly our mother's, with all the frills and laces that I thought any princess would love. One of my new major faults was visiting too many shops that were able to supply me with extravagant things to decorate her room with. Fortunately, my father wasn’t around enough to check the books on our expenses. Since the horrific day of Aurora’s birth, he avoided being in the same air space as her and her care had become solely my responsibility.

“Aurora, you can’t fly so recklessly,” I said, placing her on the bed with her wings still spread out wide. She continued to giggle, her cheeks as rosy as the membranes in those beautiful wings. Letting out a sigh of partial defeat, I laid down beside her and cuddled her close.

She pressed her soft cheek against my own, a sign of affection we had developed in these short couple of years.

“I wuv you, Huri,” she settled quietly, giving a wide yawn.

Nap time, I thought looking down at her.

“I love you too, my sweet Sun.”

Once her small chest rose and fell in a soft and steady rhythm, I carefully extracted myself and made my escape after kissing her forehead. There was never a moment, whether she was asleep or awake, that I wanted her to ever doubt that she was loved and wanted. I just hoped my efforts countered the negligence of my father.

I walked across the corridor, carpeted in plush red covering that I had put in when Aurora took her first steps and would cringe when her toes touched the stone floors. Opening the door, leaving it ajar to listen for her stirring, I went over to my sleek desk by the fireplace and took out a small, leather-bound journal.

Every time Aurora did something new I recorded it. When I learned that she hated eating the pasta sauce I made for her by throwing it at my face, when she set her pink curtains on fire with a flick of her tiny finger, cut her first tooth, and now when her wings first sprouted. It was all written down to not only keep track of her growth, but also something that brought me joy to look back on with fondness.

A light rap sounded at my door-frame, revealing a young and frightened appearing maid with mousy brownish hair and wide amber eyes.

First day, perhaps, I wondered as she curtsied low before coming in.

“You don’t have to curtsy. I would actually prefer it if you didn’t,” I acknowledged politely, beckoning her in.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Your Highness…”

“Huri,” I interjected, seeming to frighten her even more as she curtsied again.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Your Highness Huri…”

“Just Huri... you know what? Never mind. How can I help you?” If it was her first day I didn’t want to make things worse for her.

“Umm… yes, well I was told to bring this message to you,” she finished, pulling an envelope with my father’s seal from a pocket on her brown dress.

It’s not a very flattering outfit, I thought as I took the letter.

“Thank you,” I said before she made a hasty retreat.

Am I that scary to look at? Before opening the envelope, I peered into a mirror to see if there was something about my appearance that may be seen as intimidating or menacing. I found nothing other than myself, a blonde-haired, golden-eyed person, who kept themselves on the shorter end to not seem intimidating. It was possible that her hesitance had nothing to do with me.

Come to the balcony. Now.

Looking up at the clock, I tried to determine how long Aurora would be asleep before she called for me. Not any longer than an hour, I concluded and went into an adjacent room with a window to leap from.

Of course he can’t be bothered to see his own daughter and come to us in person, I thought bitterly when I descended before him in his crimson robes that mirrored mine, customary clothes of nobility.

“Come inside,” he ushered without any greeting and walked in before I had both feet on the ground.

“Sure, Father,” I couldn’t help but bite out and followed.

When he motioned to a seat beside his own at the massive round marble table I remained standing.

“I need to get back as soon as I can. I wouldn’t want Aurora to think I abandoned her.”

Rather than falter, his expression hardened as he sat down and leaned into his chair. It had been close to a year since I had seen him last and it was then that I noticed he was letting his age show. What was once a neatly trimmed bearded face now had stubble and wisps in every direction. His once silvery hair lost its shimmer and lay around him in dull grays and whites. He was getting old, and not as a human but as a dragon.

“You should leave her care to a nanny. Your contribution isn’t necessary. What you really need to start working on is taking on more responsibilities for Hyperion.”

Heat rose up my neck but I squashed it back down trying to ignore the callous nature he had adopted.

“I think my time is being well spent taking care of the daughter you decided to abandon. And if you really want to think about retiring maybe you should also think about what’s really important,” I countered.

“Do you have everything you need?” he began, tone like stone as he spread his arms out and motioned to the walls around us. “Does she have food? clothes? How about a warm bed and toys? I have abandoned no one because if I had you both would have nothing. Not even the robes you are wearing right now.”

“Oh,” I bowed dramatically, “why thank you so much for your generosity, my Lord.”

Spinning on my heel, I was ready to go back to my main priority.

“You need to be ready to take over!” he called as I approached the railing.

“No, I think you have a few more years in you,” I returned before plunging off the ledge.

Right on time, I thought, catching the small child in my arms and twirling her around when I entered the room from her open window. My cheeks began stinging from the gleeful strain as she giggled ferociously. Perhaps one day she would be the one to lead the dragon race, but on that day she was just a sweet little girl who just sprouted her wings and was going to get her first safety lesson.