Chapter 17: Chapter 17

"You better hold that tongue or I would cut it off and feed it to the hounds." Aerial growled into Kale's face. Kale tried to nod as best as he could with Aerial's hand wrapped around his neck. Aerial then let go of Kale and moved back to his previous position.

Guilt washed over Kathy as she realized how selfish she was being. Those people were in that situation because her mother got hurt trying to protect her. Was a cut that painful that she couldn't take for them?

"I'm sorry," she whispered to no one in particular.

'Do not apologize for being anxious, Precious. You were not raised here therefore you have the right to worry,' Aerial told her through the mind-bond.

The Oracle reached for her hand again, and she offered her hand without complaining. She shut her eyes not wanting to see her palm being cut. Her breath hitched as she felt the coldness of the metal then she hissed when the blade sliced through her palm. The wound throbbed painfully.

'Sorry, Precious. It will stop hurting few seconds after the moon comes up. Accelerated healing benefits from the goddess,' Aerial said to her.

When the moon comes out? She asked.

'I will explain later. Now you have to concentrate,' he replied and cut off the connection.

"Put your hand into the urn on the pillar of creation next to the throne," the Oracle told her.

Kathy climbed the small steps to the throne. The pillar of creation was shaped like any other straight pillar with strange symbols inscribed on it. It was short, probably just a few inches shorter than her. At the top of the pillar stood an urn containing water, placed directly under the red moon where the reflection was highest. She put her bleeding palm into the urn and watched as the previously crystal clear liquid turned red.

At first, Kathy felt nothing, saw nothing. She stood there wondering what to do next. She looked at the red moon and she felt like it was staring back at her. A thick canopy of silence came over the room as everyone watched in anticipation.

It all happened in a split second.

The sound of air swooshing was heard coming from above. Kathy looked up just in time to see the red moon splitting into two halves. From the middle of the two halves of the red moon, arose a white full moon. Instantly, the whole room became ten times brighter than it was.

Previously, Kathy thought that the red moon had no job but seeing how the white moon originated from the red, she could see how useful and priceless it was. Kathy couldn't help but be amazed as that was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

"You did it, little sister."

She turned away from the moons to see her brother, father, and April smiling at her. Everyone in the room sent her looks and smiles of appreciation and left the room one after another. Still, everyone but Kale. Although he looked surprised that the goddess accepted her, it didn't look like his hatred reduced even a bit. He just eyed her and left the room.

She turned back to her family.

Family, one word which meant so much to Kathy. She never imagined that she would feel that much love and acceptance from anyone but April. Her father, mother, brother, even her cousins became important parts of her life after meeting them for only a few days.

"Look," Aerial said, raising her injured palm to her line of vision. Her palm had already healed, leaving nothing but bloodstains behind and not even a scar was found on her palm.

"Wow," she exclaimed. That was one upgrade she couldn't complain about.

"Accelerated healing is one of the gifts from the goddess. It comes with the white moon," Triton explained.

She gasped as she remembered something. "Then mother should be better by now."

Her heart raced in anticipation as she awaited the confirmation she wanted to hear.

Aerial shook his head sadly. "Your mother was spelled by a powerful magician. It would take more than the white moon to heal her."

"I am very proud of you, sweetheart. I'm sure Hala is too," April told her, after seeing her sad face.

The sound of the door opening turned Kathy's attention to the door where Gabriel stood.

"No one invited me to this family gathering," Gabriel spoke walking towards them.

"I thought you were sick, Gabriel."

Gabriel scoffed at Kathy's words.

"Is that what they told you?" He asked her.

"General Atlas, I would advise that you leave now," Aerial said.

"No, I am not leaving until you tell the Princess the truth and give me what is rightfully mine!"

Gabriel's voice had climbed up several volumes. He felt betrayed and certain, a strange combination of emotions that made Kathy wonder if she got them right.

"Gabriel what are you talking about? And don't talk to my father that way," Kathy warned, staring at him in annoyance.

Triton turned her to face himself.

"Don't listen to him, he is not well. Let's get you out of her so you can get some rest," Triton told her then began to lead her out of the room.

"Mum," Kathy called out to April.

April smiled and told her to go with her brother that she had something to discuss with the chef.

She followed Triton out of the room even as curiosity ate into her mind. She wondered what they could have been talking about and when April started hanging out with chefs.

"I told you to give us more time," she could faintly hear Aerial say before she left the room.

Triton was quiet as they walked through the hallway which was very unlike him. Tapping into her powers, she felt that he was nervous.

"What is wrong?"

"It's not–"

"Nothing is an answer. You know I can feel that you are hiding something. Is it about Gabriel and why he acted in that way?"

She went to stand in front of him. She wasn't going to give him the chance to lie to her.

He sighed when he saw that she wasn't taking no for an answer. "Father and mother will have to tell you everything themselves."

"Should I be worried?"

"No, no. All you should know is that they would never do anything hurt you." Contrary to what he wanted, his words had an opposite effect on Kathy. She became even more curious.

"Now, I am worried." She lifted his face. "Please, brother. Tell me the truth."

She could see his resolve waver when she called him brother.

"I apologize, sister but I'm in no position to explain."

He continued walking and she followed him quietly. No other word was exchanged till they got to her room. He kissed her forehead and she let him. She could feel the guilt eating at him.

"I'm sorry for pushing you. It's just that a lot has happened to me in such a short time and I guess I'm nervous about something else happening," she told him while leaning against the door to her room.

She admitted to herself that she had overreacted at the ceremony and with her brother.

"We love you and we appreciate you leaving your home and everyone you love to come to be with us."

Love.

His feelings were sincere and she could feel it. Having a big brother was something she had always wanted. Now, she did and she couldn't be happier.

She threw her arms around him in a comforting hug which he equally returned.

"Now, go to sleep. Training continues bright and early tomorrow and Cynthia promises to bring fire and brimstone." He chuckled at the horrified look on Kathy's face.

She walked into her room, shutting the door behind her. The smell of smoke caught her attention. She looked forward to seeing her bed on fire and the window fully opened.

"Triton!" She yelled, running out of the room. He ran back to her, drawing his sword when she saw her facial expression.

"What is it?"

She pulled him into the room and pointed to the burning bed. Strangely, the fire was only on the surface and not burning down. Triton raced into the adjoining bathroom, grabbed a bowl of water, poured over the fire then went to grab another. After a few trips to the bathroom, the fire was put out leaving a dark stain behind.

The bed wasn't destroyed, the sheet covering the bed wasn't burnt either. Whosoever they were dealing with was an expert at whatever magic was used in starting that unburning fire. The person who did that probably wanted them to see not the fire, but the mark made under the fire; the mark of the Phoenix.

"It's the same mark that was burned to the ground after that attack on the outskirts of the kingdom," Kathy pointed out.

Triton circled the bed, and the room, checking for threats. He went into the adjoining bathroom and came out.

"Did you see who it was?"

"Yes, I did. He or she jumped out the window," she replied, her eyes were still locked on her bed.

He moved towards the window and looked down.

"I've spoken to the guards. The palace will be thoroughly searched. The person shouldn't have gotten far." Triton pulled the sheet off the bed.

"I will take you to my room. You can stay there with Miah for now," Triton said as they both left the room and walked away from that wing.

Kathy couldn't bear to inconvenience Miah because of her problems. Who knows what may happen to Miah because of her.

"No, I would rather stay with mother at the healer's wing."

Triton opened his mouth to speak, probably to argue but Kathy didn't let him.

"You can place some guards at the entrance," she proposed. As much as she hated being followed by guards, she knew she needed them.

Triton nodded, seeming satisfied with the idea.

"One thing I don't understand is how easily the person gets into the castle. What happened to all the guards?" Kathy quizzed. That was the second time they have had an attack on castle grounds.

Triton was quiet for a few seconds before saying, "From the look of things, it seems like we aren't dealing with an outsider but someone from the castle."