Chapter Six
Twenty-five years prior…
Just when I believed he had more important things to do, another message came for me in the early morning hours. I wasn’t expecting for him to acknowledge Aurora’s birthday, that would be far too much of an ask. However, I was hoping that he would give me some peace that day.
Balcony. Now.
Should I ignore my commander and go back to sleep until I have to set up the ballroom for little Sun’s party? Ultimately, I chose to meet with him as I didn’t want a slew of messages coming in as I was entertaining guests.
Although it was the same castle, I rarely went to the wing that housed him or hosted the political meetings. I kept Aurora and myself on the warm side, where expectations were few and the servants were kind and relaxed. Relaxed staff meant a relaxed and stable child, which also meant a more stress-free Huri. Stress of child raising could be frustrating at times, but I would take raising her over whatever stress-induced drama Aeneus wanted to drag me through any day.
“I have important things to accomplish today, so let’s make this quick,” I mentioned as I walked through the open double doors.
My father kept his back towards me as he appeared to survey the metropolis below us.
“Because, you know, someone should remind Aurora that today is a special day. The party starts at noon if you care,” I continued, coming to stand behind him.
His shoulders visibly tensed and I thought I heard his knuckles turn white as he gripped the railing with a cracking vibration. I hoped that it was eating away at him. I hoped it would eat away at him everyday for the rest of his life.
“She’s getting married,” his voice called over, absolute and strained.
“Who is?” though I was quickly understanding who he was talking about.
“Her.”
The back of my neck tightened at the disregard for his own.
“She has a name, which is Aurora by the way. And she’s five today. We won’t be discussing any sort of marriage plans when she only just stopped wetting the bed.” I began to make my way out of the room when his cold voice echoed over me.
“She’ll be going to Prince Marek of Demarcus when she comes of age. There won’t be any argument over it, I want you to begin having her lessons geared more towards Demarcus customs.”
Balled fists quivered at my sides. Don’t lose it, don’t lose it.
“Her party starts at noon,” I repeated tightly before taking my exit.
Drowning myself in party favors and balloons, I readied the ballroom for Aurora’s celebration.
May he rot in Eternity, I kept repeating in my mind with bitterness as I formed crystal-like fiery orbs to hover in the room.
As the party games were underway, and at least twenty children were running amok with pink frosting all over their mouths, I couldn’t fight the tension headache fighting to burst through the surface.
How can he be so cold? I thought as I pinned a canvased pink dragon up on a wall with wings waiting to be pinned on a neighboring table.
As the children twirled around blindfolded, I glanced up at the grandfather clock to find we were three hours in. The merest thought that he may have showed up had vanished and I found myself neither disappointed nor upset. If anything, it was a weight off my chest.
“Huri! Presents!” she called from a long table in our ballroom. Her paper crown sat lopsided on her head as her hand smeared more pink frosting across her face in an attempt to remove it.
My heart became light as I sat her down and nestled within a large pile of brightly colored boxes and bags.
“Of course, my little Sun,” I said, moving one of my presents closer for her to reach.
****
Guests gone, goody bags dispersed, and torn colored paper everywhere left me escaping with Aurora into the city to our favorite ice cream parlor. Something about ice cream made from frost dragons just had it taste far superior than any other I had tried over my extensive years of life. No other nation had come close to the technique, texture, or flavor to the ice cream in Hyperion.
“Thank you,” Aurora’s light voice rang as I handed her the cone as we sat at one of the circular tables outside facing the street.
We sat in a comfortable silence, enjoying our treats until the air became crowded with the chiming of bells. They sounded heavy and the rhythm was slow. I didn’t need the black banners making their way down the road to know that it was a funeral procession.
Aurora’s small face fell when the flat bed of a wagon, carrying an open lead coffin came rolling slowly past us. For the whole world to see, a young female dragon, with silky ebony hair, lay resting with a small bundle in her folded arms. Wails of pain echoed around us as the mourners sniffled into their handkerchiefs.
That poor girl, I thought to myself, understanding the reason for her untimely demise. Death in childbirth had become such an epidemic within the community that many were going to great lengths to check lineages of intended matches. However, even pure-blooded matches were not a guarantee.
What is it that causes them to lose their abilities when pregnant? I often wondered if it was a mutation.
Looking over, I watched as Aurora’s lips formed a thin line as a long trail of melted ice cream rolled down over her hand. It wasn’t the first time she had seen one of these processions, but I did try to keep her exposure limited. Knowing that your body took on the permanent sex that faced such possibilities was daunting and too much for a small child to think about.
“Will that happen to me?” she asked once the cart was away from us, yet she kept her gaze on the tail end of the procession until they turned the corner to the tombs deep within the mountains.
She was too young for this conversation. But I also knew that she was intelligent enough to seek out the information if I didn’t provide it.
“I hope not, little Sun. Nothing is ever guaranteed unless you don’t have children,” I explained as simply as I was able.
“Is that why you don’t become female forever?” her eyes met mine with curiosity. I didn’t need to think about the answer for long.
“Honestly, no. I just don’t have an interest in finding a mate or having children. Besides,” I started and tried to give her a small smile. “Why would I have any other children when I love you too much to replace you?”
She let the conversation go with a meek smile before returning to her melting cone. Though, it began to plague my own thoughts. If Aeneas was determined to marry her to a human-dragon hybrid, then I had to use everything at my disposal to keep her safe.
There’s still time, I hoped.
