Demon
looked down on the sleeping girl, pale and frail. Seeing her lie there he was taken back to a time over 500 years
ago when he looked down on the sleeping face of his Mandy. The difference was Mandy would never wake
up, but Andrea…Andrea was different.
She
was not as frail as he thought. He
smiled as he remembered how she had stood up to him. At the time it made him so angry. No one told him no. Maybe
there was something more to this girl.
He
looked at her face and realized the color was coming back to her cheeks. He looked at her wrist and already it was
starting to heal slowly. How was this
possible?
While
Demon sat with Andrea the other Masters sat in the great hall. They did not understand this change in
Demon’s mood and what about Andrea?
They could not loose another Lady.
There
was a flash of light and Miranda was standing in front of the fireplace. Her fireplace.
“Miranda."
"Hello,
Starchild."
"We
have missed you."
"I
know. Demon sits by my grave everyday. He should not do that."
"He
feels guilty."
"Tell
him not to Starchild. It wasn't his
fault. I was not strong enough to
perform the duties of The Lady. I know
that, you must believe it also."
She continued, "There is a new Lady. She has your powers, some more advanced than yours, some
not. She can do more than even she
realizes. She will fulfill the
Prophecy. I must go now."
"Wait,
won't you speak to Demon?"
"No. It would only make it harder for him to let
go. It is better this way. For now.”
And
she was gone.
CHAPTER
26
Andrea
opened her eyes. The first thing she
saw was Demon sitting on the bed next to her.
Panic filled Andrea. What was he
going to do to her now?
Demon
sensed her panic and holding her hand said, "I am not going to hurt
you. I took the bracelet off. I did not know it would drain your
energy. It was only supposed to keep
you from using your magic. I am
sorry."
Andrea
was skeptical of Demon and he could see it by the look on her face.
"I
can have Celestial look at your wrist.
I am sure he can do something to help."
"No,
I can take care of it myself."
Andrea jerked her hand back from Demon.
‘Yes’, Demon thought, ‘she
will be a challenge. Maybe I have
misjudged her.’
Andrea
did not understand the amused smile on Demon's face and she was not sure if it
was a good thing or not.
Andrea
touched her injured wrist. It did not
heal as quickly as it should have. This
had never happened before usually she healed instantly, but so much of what was
happening to her now had never happened before.
Demon
watched as the emotions crossed her face and he knew something was wrong.
"Maybe
you just need more rest. Lay back down
and try to go back to sleep."
Andrea
lay back on the pillow; Demon stroked her hair as he smiled to himself.
‘He
is not so bad when he smiles.’ thought Andrea as she closed her eyes. She felt a stirring in the pit of her
stomach, a feeling that was foreign to her.
"Sleep
now my Lady. You will feel better when
you wake up."
Beast
quietly entered the room and watched as Demon sat beside Andrea stroking her
hair.
‘He
is softening.’
thought Beast. Demon noticed Beast
standing there.
"Starchild
wants to see you in the great hall. I
will sit with her."
Demon
did not want to leave. He looked
between Beast and Andrea.
"I'll
watch over her.” Beast assured Demon.
“The sooner you go the sooner you get back."
Reluctantly
Demon agreed and stood up. "If she
wakes up you send for me. I want to be
here." Demon growled at Beast.
"Alright,
alright just go."
Demon left the room on his way to find Starchild.
Beast transformed into a cat, jumped on the bed curled up next to Andrea and went to sleep.
“What is so important that you had to send Beast after me?” scowled Demon. “I need to be with her, she is my responsibility."
Starchild sensed a change in Demon. He could not put his finger on it but something was different. Starchild proceeded cautiously.
"Miranda
came to see us"
Demon
stopped and all he could do was look at Starchild.
"Yes
Miranda came to see us."
Demon
had a sad look on his face, "She did not want to see me?"
Starchild
looked at Demon.
Demon
whispered, "Never mind, I do not want to know. She has not forgiven me.
I do not think she ever will. "
Starchild
felt so much compassion for his friend.
“She knows that you sit by her grave everyday. But she said it is not necessary and you need to go on with your
life.”
Demon
turned around and walked away.
Starchild wanted to go after his friend but he knew that there was
nothing he could say that would make him feel better, so he let him go.
Andrea
woke up to find a cat curled up next to her.
"Where
did you come from?” She hugged the
cat, “I do not remember a cat being in
here.."
Andrea
got off the bed and stretched, she walked around a little bit. She looked at her wrist "It has not
completely healed. I do not feel tired
but I still have not gotten my energy back."
"Well
maybe you should go sit outside in the sun."
Andrea
quickly turned around at the sound of a strange voice, there was no one in the
room with her except the cat.
There
stood Beast.
“How
did you get in here? I did not hear anyone
come in."
Beast
just smiled. "Would you like to go
out into the garden? Starchild has the
most beautiful roses, I think you would like it out there." He reached out his hand to Andrea
"Yes
I think I would like to go sit outside".
Andrea hesitantly took his hand and they left the room together. They made their way outside to the
garden. Beast opened the gate and
motioned for her to enter.
"Come
sit down here."
Beast
led her to a bench under one of the trees.
He did not press her with questions he just let her sit. They both drank in the warmth of the
sun. He was going to wait for her to
talk first.
"I
suppose you were the cat." Andrea started.
Beast
smiled but said nothing.
"Well,
I guess cats are all right, actually I prefer something larger."
Beast
looked at her questioningly, "Something larger?"
Andrea
was hiding a grin, "Oh…something like maybe a….panther. I like black
panthers"
"A
black panther huh? Why do you like
panthers?"
"Well,
because they can roam the countryside and they do not have to worry about being
chased by a dog or bullies with sticks, you have power when you are a
panther."
"I
had not thought about it that way.”
Beast eyed her suspiciously then he realized, “How long have you been
turning into a panther?"
Andrea
was startled, "How did you know I can transform into a panther?"
"Lucky
guess." Beast laughed.
"My
father did not like it, but when it was late and I was feeling cooped up I
would roam the countryside. It was
heaven."
"Is
there anything else I should know about you?" Beast questioned.
Timidly
Andrea responded, "I do not tell anyone and I do not know why I am telling
you. Dot is the only one who knows and you must promise not to tell anyone, but
I have wings."
Beast
opened his eyes wide, "Wings?"
"They
are like butterfly wings and I do not take them out very often but sometimes
when the moon is full…. it is so glorious to fly" Andrea sighed as
memories flooded her mind.
Beast
patted her hand "You can trust me. I will not tell, not until you are
ready."
Andrea
shook her head, "Oh no, I do not think I will ever be ready to
tell."
Beast smiled and patted her hand again. "Let's enjoy the warmth of the sun."