Demon
spent most of his days by Miranda’s grave.
He had failed her. He was
supposed to protect her but instead he had failed her. He, along with the other Masters had
betrayed her. He was finding it hard to
forgive himself and he vowed he would not love another like his Mandy.
Starchild
watched Demon sink lower and lower into despair and depression. Understandably, he was worried about his
friend. He knew the prophecy still had
to be fulfilled. But, would Demon abandon his belief in the prophecy? If he did, what would happen with The Dark
Ones? Starchild was concerned and
watched his friend carefully over the years.
The
Masters lived in their manor house all alone.
Celestial continued to study the stars; Beast roamed the manor house
always ending up in Miranda’s room.
Starchild tended his rose garden and he lovingly tended the roses by her
grave. Demon sat guard over Miranda.
Beast,
Celestial, and Starchild waited and longed for the day when their new lady
would come along. If all went well,
they would not make the same mistakes they made with Miranda. Demon refused to speak of a new lady.
Five
Hundred years came and went.
One
cold, rainy winter night Celestial carefully approached the Masters as they sat
in the great hall by her fireplace.
“A
new Lady has been born.” Celestial told
them guardedly.
They
looked at Celestial, all except Demon.
“Are
you sure about this?” Beast wanted to
know.
“Yes. In a town not far from here.” Celestial observed Demon for his reaction.
“Then
we should go and bring the child here.”
Starchild said as he got up.
“No.” Demon said quietly.
They
all looked at Demon. “I will not love
another.”
The
Masters looked at each other. Demon
stared into the fire. His mind was made
up. There would not be another Lady of
the Manor. The prophecy be damned.
CHAPTER
17
In
a kingdom not far from The Masters lived King Bartholomew and his wife Levinia,
his daughter Andrea who was 20, and his three sons, Philip 15, Kevin 11, and
Stephen 5.
One
day, at the King’s request they all gathered in the King’s private quarters.
"The
Masters are looking for an apprentice. They will be coming here and each of you
will have a job.” The King informed his family. “Stephen you will stay in your room out of the way.”
Stephen
folded his arms in frustration. He was
being banished to his room just because he was the youngest. It was not fair.
The
King continued, “Philip and Kevin you will spend as much time with The Masters
as you can. I want The Masters to see
how intelligent you are. One of you
should be the apprentice to The Masters.
Just think of all the riches we can gain."
Unfortunately,
King Bartholomew was a very greedy king and thought only of himself. He thought about his family only if would
benefit him.
The
King did not give Andrea a job.
Feeling
somewhat left out, Andrea questioned, "Father, what am I to do when The
Masters are here?"
King
Bartholomew looked at his daughter and as an afterthought, "You will work
in the kitchen and make sure that all the food is prepared." He then dismissed his oldest daughter as if
she was not there.
Andrea
was quite surprised at his answer, "But father, as heir to your throne
shouldn't I meet The Masters? Shouldn't
they know who I am so that when the time comes for me to rule over our kingdom
they will know me?"
King
Bartholomew turned to her and viciously barked, “You will not rule over my
kingdom. You are going to marry Lord
Byron. He can worry with you."
Andrea
was taken back as was all of the family.
Andrea got a very angry look on her face, " Lord Byron is nothing
but a fat, old, toad. I will not marry
him." And she turned around and
she walked out of the room.
Stephen
went after her, "Andy, Andy".
Phillip
and Kevin looked at each other. They
knew there was going to be trouble.
They went after Andy.
Queen
Levinia looked at her husband in disgust and then got up to leave. King Bartholomew was angry that his family
was deserting him, "When did I loose control of this family?"
Queen
Levinia turned around and very quietly said, "When you made an ass out of
yourself."
Andrea
went to her room and started to pack her bags. Kevin, Philip, and Stephen were
all at the door when Queen Levinia arrived.
“Mother,”
Philip said, "she won't let us in, she has got the shield up."
Queen
Levinia looked at her youngest son, "Stephen, go in and talk to your
sister."
Stephen went to the door and turned the knob and walked right in. They knew that where Andrea was concerned Stephen could do things that no others could.
*****
Andrea
had many ‘gifts’. She tried very hard
to keep them concealed from her father because she knew he would try to use
them for his profit. Also, she knew it
made him angry that she had these gifts.
The
one gift she could not keep hidden was her gift of healing.
The
old healer taught her about which plants and herbs to use to heal but mostly
she learned that her healing came from within.
She could touch a broken arm and instantly the bone was mended. She had
to do this many times through the years for her brothers.
When
Queen Levinia was pregnant with her youngest son it was very hard on her and
she was quite sick. Andrea stayed close
to her mother during this time just in case she was needed. Andrea tried to use herbs to help her mother
as much as possible because they did not know if Andrea’s magic would hurt the
unborn child.
Only
six months into her pregnancy, Queen Levinia went into labor. The old healer was by her side along with
Andrea.
A
son was born.
The
old healer took the child and Andrea quickly placed her hands on her mother,
warmth radiated from her hands consuming her mother. Queen Levinia fell into a deep healing sleep. When she woke she was feeling strong and rested.
While
her mother slept Andrea looked at her small baby brother lying in his bed. ‘He looks so little, just like a little
dot.’ Andrea placed her hands on
the baby just to make sure he was healthy.
After all, he was three months early and he was so very small.
The
baby looked at his sister and as his eyes met hers he smiled. Andrea was surprised. Babies this small could not smile could
they? Again she looked at her little
brother and again, he smiled at his big sister. This time she smiled back at this little boy and a bond was
formed between brother and sister.
She
would always be his Andy and he would always be her Dot.
*****
"Andy"
"What
Dot?"
"What
are you doing? Why are you
packing? Are you going to take me with
you?"
Andrea
stopped what she was doing and turned around to look at her little
brother. She held out her arms and
Stephen ran into them. She gave him a
big hug,
"No
Dot, you can't come with me. I have to
go away for a few days but I'll be back.
I can't stay here and work in the kitchen when The Masters are
here. So I'm going away but you can
talk to me everyday. And if you really
need me I'll come back but I need to stay away until The Maters are gone. Do you understand Dot?"
"I
don't want you to go Andy, I need you." Stephen sulked.
Andy
smiled at her little brother as she held him in her arms, "Kevin and
Philip will look after you. I'll make
them promise." With that she set
her brother down, she picked up her bag and she walked out of the room.
Kevin,
Philip, and Queen Levinia were all standing outside her door. Andrea looked at her brothers, “Philip,
Kevin look after Dot while I'm gone.”
Queen
Levinia looked at her daughter, "Andrea."
Andrea
had a sad smile on her face, "It is alright mother. I just have to go away for a few
days."
With
that Andrea walked down the hall, down the stairs, and out the front door. She got on her horse and she rode out of the
kingdom.
There
was a small hut not far from the castle where the old healer had lived. Andrea had spent many days and much time
with the old healer in her home that was where she went. She put up her protective barrier, no one
would find her.