For
the last three days Andrea had been taking care of business at the castle. She saw to the burial of her father. She went into the village to assess the
people and their needs. She did what
healing she could without hurting herself or her baby. Starchild and Beast accompanied her on these
trips while Demon and Celestial stayed at the castle. No one brought up the subject of leaving.
Andrea
hand picked a council to help in ruling her country. She began to speak about her land and her people. Hearing her speak Demon began to withdraw
into himself more and more. He had
loved Miranda and lost her, he loved Andrea and now he was loosing her. He no longer joined in conversations with
The Masters and he seldom saw Andrea.
He wanted to go home, back to the manor.
Coronation
day had arrived. Today Andrea would
officially be crowned queen. All were
gathered in the throne room waiting for her.
Andrea entered and walked into the room alone. Queen Levinia, Philip, Kevin, and Stephen were all waiting and
smiling. Stephen was so excited he
thought he would burst. Andy would be staying here now! His excitement was so great he ignored the
small voiced talking to him.
The
Masters stood at the back of the room behind everyone else, convince they had
lost her. Andrea would not be returning
to the manor. Starchild and Celestial
had done what they could to protect the castle but there were no guarantees.
Demon
watched as Andrea walked down the aisle ready to accept her crown. 'She
looks so regal.' He thought. He had
already accepted the fact that she was lost to him.
Andrea
mounted the steps to the throne and sat down.
How many times had she dreamed of this day when she would rule her
people? There were so many things she
wanted to accomplish so many people she wanted to help. Now she could.
The
priest stood next to Andrea ready to place the crown on her head when she saw
them. The Masters. They had been standing in the back but now
they were heading toward the door. They
had always told her it was her decision.
She had chosen and now they were
leaving. Her heart felt as if it was
breaking. She felt a loss so great it
took her breath away. The child she
carried jumped as if trying to follow The Masters.
"No!"
she cried.
Realization
hit her hard. She could stay and be
queen or go with The Masters, go with her Dragon. There was a stillness in the room. Starchild, Beast, and Celestial turned to look at Andrea. Demon
continued to walk out the door, out of her life.
"No!"
Andrea cried again as she ran down the steps and across the room toward The
Masters. Standing in front of
Starchild, "I was wrong. I don't
belong here. I belong with you."
she cried.
There
was a stunned silence in the room.
"Philip,
you should be king. Father wanted you
to rule, he trained you. I don't belong
here any more."
"Andy!"
"Dot
I can't stay here, this isn't my home any more. You know that. Philip, I
have picked a council to help you.
Trust them and you will be a good king."
Andrea
turned and left the room in search of her Dragon.
Andrea
found Demon in the courtyard talking to someone she had never see before.
"As
soon as the child is born we will perform the sacrifice. She will be unable to stop us. It will be for the best."
Andrea
stopped short. How could her Dragon
want to kill her child? Their child? She had to get away, where could she
go. Andrea turned and headed away from
the safety of the castle.
Demon
turned around and watcher her run away.
"Things are going according to plan." he smiled. "A
brilliant plan." then he disappeared.
The
old healer's home, that is where she would go, she would be safe there. How stupid could she be? She thought The
Masters would protect her and her child.
She believed their lies about The Dark Ones. Fear raced through her as Andrea hurried to her destination. She couldn't trust anyone; there was no one
to help her, no one to protect her.
Finally she reached the cottage, walking in the door she felt at
home. Quickly she said the words that
would raise her protective shield. Now
she was safe, now she could relax.
“She's
coming home with us. We must find her and Demon." Starchild said and The
Masters left a room of surprised people.
Celestial
stopped and going back into the throne room addressed the people gathered
there. "Philip, it is your destiny to rule your people. Rule well and if you ever need our help we
will always be there." Celestial left to find Demon and Andrea.
Demon
saw them as they crossed the courtyard headed in his direction. "Are you ready to go now?" he
asked.
"Where
is Andrea?" Starchild asked confused.
"She
is in the throne room becoming queen." Demon said sarcastically.
"No
she isn't." Beast told him. "She turned down the crown and went after
you. Haven't you seen her?'
"I
haven't seen her." There was panic in his voice. "Starchild, can you feel her?"
Starchild
stood very still. "She was here
but she is gone. She has left the
castle."
"Where
would she go and why?" Beast asked.
"She
was coming with us, she said she was." Celestial added.
"The
old healer's. That is where she
went." Demon said.
"How
do you know that?" Beast asked.
"That
is where she went the first time she ran away." Starchild responded.
"Starchild,
Andy needs help." It was Stephen standing behind them.
"What
do you mean Stephen?
"Andy
is in trouble and needs help. Please
take me to her."
"I
think you should stay here. We will
go." Demon told him.
"No.
Stephanie says I need to come."
"Father
Starchild."
"Who
is that?"
"It
is Stephanie. Hurry she needs you. She cannot hold out much longer."
"Celestial
we need to go now. Andrea is in
trouble." Starchild ordered.
Holding
out his hand to Stephen, "Come, I think we can use your help."
Celestial
transported them to the wood just behind the old healer's cottage. What they saw surprised and frightened
them. Attacking the cottage was a dozen
men; well not exactly men but half man half beast. They were attacking the cottage with tree branches and large
boulders.
"She
can't hold that shield much longer." Celestial said.
"I've
been trying to reach her but she won't answer. Starchild told them.
"She'll
talk to me." Stephen informed them.
"Andy…Andy."
"Not
now Dot.
"Andy,
we’re are here to help…Andy?"
"Who
is here?"
"The
Masters."
The
shield dimmed then regained strength.
"No
Dot stay away from them. They want to
kill the baby."
"Andy,
that isn't true. They want to
help."
"Go
away Dot, please go away. I can't
protect you."
Stephen
looked at Starchild in confusion.
"What
s it Stephen?"
"Andy
says you want to kill the baby." Stephen looked at the cottage, tears
forming in his eyes, "She's getting weaker, she needs help."
"Stephen,
we do not want to hurt Andrea or the baby.
We want to help. Do you believe
me?" Starchild asked the small
boy.
Stephen
shook his head yes.
"Good. Then this is what were are going to
do."
Suddenly
there was a growl and a panther attacked one of the beast men. Fire rained from the sky as Dragon flew
overhead. Starchild stood in the open
and using his mind power inflicted intense pain on one of the best men. As each beast man went down The Masters
turned to attack others. The beast men
turned their attention from the cottage to attacking The Masters.
Celestial
teleported Stephen to the front door of the cottage.
"Are
you sure you can get in?" Celestial asked.
"Sure.
No problem." Stephen turned around walked through the protective shield,
opened the door and walked into the cottage.
"He
has to teach me how to do that." Celestial quipped as he teleported away.
The
battle raged on between The Masters and the beast men until finally all had
been destroyed. The Masters were
victorious. They were tired but joyful.
"Andrea,
where is Andrea?" Demon asked.
The
protective shield was still up; they couldn’t get into the cottage.
"Celestial
can you transport in?" Beast asked.
"No. I can't get through. Starchild can you reach her?"
"She
isn't answering me."
"Stephen,
can you reach Stephen?" Demon asked.
"I
can try."
"Stephen"
"Yes,
Starchild"
"Are
you all right?"
"Yes."
"What
about Andrea? Is she all right?
"I'm
not sure."
"What
do you mean?"
"She
grabbed her stomach and fell down. She
won't talk to me, she just groans like she is hurt."
"Stephen
we need to get inside. Can you lower
the shield?"
"No. Andy doesn't want you here. You need to go away now."
"Stephen,
Andrea is having the baby now and it is too early. We need to help her."
"Father
Starchild."
"Stephanie?"
"
I will lower the shield. Hurry, she
needs you."
The
shield dimmed and then was gone.
"Did
Andrea do that?" Demon asked.
"No.
Stephanie did. Come on Andrea is going
to have the baby now."
Starchild
ran to the cottage and in the door. The
Masters followed finding Andrea on the floor curled up on her side. Stephen was sitting next to her.
"It's
gunna be okay Andy, I'm here."
Demon
rushed in, seeing Andrea on the floor he bend down and picked her up taking her
over to the bed.
"No! Go away.
You can't have my baby." Andre screamed as she struggled with
Demon.
"No
one wants to hurt the baby Andrea. You
have to trust me." Demon begged.
"I
heard you, you want to kill my baby."
Anger and fear filled her voice.
Starchild
came over and touched her forehead.
"Andrea, that was not Demon, it was The Dark Ones. They wanted you to think it was Demon"
Andrea
stopped struggling and looked into Demon's eyes, "It wasn't you?"
Demon
shook his head no.
Pain
ripped through Andrea.
"It's
time." Said Celestial. "Demon
put her on the bed then get out of my way."
"Maybe
I should stay…" Demon began.
"Demon,"
it was Stephen, "you won't be able to handle it, you should go now."
Celestial
smiled as Demon laid Andrea down on the bed then backed away.
"Come
on Demon let's wait outside." Beast took Demon by the arm and led him
outside with Starchild close behind.
The
three men paced outside impatient but all still conscious of the possibility of
another attack.
Then,
from inside the cottage they heard a sound.
Quiet at first, it sounded like a kitten then the sound got louder and
louder. Celestial walked outside.
"You
can come in now."
"Is
she okay?" Demon asked.
"Mother
and daughter are both fine." Celestial smiled as Demon rushed past him.
"Andrea…"
Demon began.
"My
Dragon." Andrea smiled, "Meet your daughter."
Demon
looked down at the little girl resting in her mother's arms and smiled.
"Would
you like to hold her?"
"I
couldn't." he stammered. "She is so small."
"She
won't break." Andrea handed the
little bundle to Demon and smiled as she watched the two. Demon looked at the little girl and was
surprised when the baby smiled at him.
"Is
she supposed to do that?" he questioned.
"I
think our daughter will do many things she is not supposed to." Starchild said. "Let's take our Ladies and go home Demon."
Demon
handed the baby back to Andrea then picked up mother and daughter and walked
outside where he transformed into the dragon.
"Demon
you can't…" Starchild began.
"Stephanie
likes to fly." And the dragon took off carrying his precious cargo.