Chapter 9
"Don't mind him, he has personality issues," I explained to Amor.
"Now tell us about you dear, what were you doing in the woods in the middle of the night."
"I was being chased and I ended up there."
"You were being chased, by who and why."
"Can I just ask, are you really a Starhian
"Yes, why?"
"I just wanted to be sure. My name is Amor, I am also a Starhian"
"Whoa, the rest have got to hear this, come with me."
"Eduardo we have news, the girl is a Starhian, " grandma shouted. Uncle Eduardo and the others came running in, all excited by the great news. All but one. Nyx who simply looked confused.
"Really, now this is news, tell us about yourself."
"My name Amor and I am an Empath which means I have the ability to copy other people's powers for an amount of time."
"Wow, cool."
"What is your gift eh..."
"It's Yna and she's a natural."
"That's impossible, there was only who was to be a natural in our generation, the princess and she's dead."
"Yeah, about that, the princess didn't die because she was saved by her nurse and given to her non-magical family members."
"So that means..."
"Yes, she your princess, " grandma beamed.
"Your Highness," Amor screamed bowing before my feet.
"You don't have to do that, " I muttered blus.h.i.+ng profusely.
"I have to, it's tradition and shows respect. When in front of the royal family, we are to bow down until they tell us to stand up," she said not even daring to look up.
"You may stand."
"Thank you, your highness. I can't believe it, I was saved by the lost princess, the one prophesised to save our people and lead us into greatness centuries before she was born. It's a honour to be in your presence, your highness," she squeaked as she pulled me into an extremely tight hug. Is this how they will all honour me? By squas.h.i.+ng my bones. I gently tried to pull her off but she didn't budge instead squeezed me even tighter. I felt my bones go limp before she finally let me go.
"Do you know anything about her powers?" Aunt Laila questioned.
"Well the prophecy tells us that she will be able to control everything naturally made, my parents told me about when I was a child but I can't remember a lot about it. There is a part that tells us that will be able collect other people's power just by touching them."
"I am not following."
"Basically what an empath does the only difference is that she keeps the powers forever not for a short amount of time. Also she gets it by touching people which is different to the way we copy other people's gifts. Also the more gifts she gets, the more powerful she Gets. However, she has to touch them while they are using their power to collect it and how much of it she copies depends on how she's feeling and how desperate she is."
"That's really cool. So I can copy yours if I want."
"Well no, because my skill is to copy others. I don't have any other skill like telepathy or anything. So for you to actually benefit from copying my skill I actually have to copy someone else's as my skill is the ability to copy what others can do which you already have and do not need," she explained very slowly.
"Oh, b.u.mmer. I was really looking forward to trying it. "
"Is there anything else you know?"
"Well, as a natural she can control the weather, animals, plants, nature. She can use everything around her to her advantage. She will be able to do everything both from copying other people's gifts and being a natural except raising the dead. She can stop people from dying by healing them but she can't do anything once
"Yeah about that, I you were in pain before I found you. I could sense you from far away. Is that part of my gift?"
"Oh that has nothing to do with being a natural. That is because you are royalty. Anyone with royal blood pa.s.sing through their veins can sense other Stharian nearby. This is why 'the hybrids' went for the royal family first. Only royalty can sense others so I won't be able to tell if another Starhian is in danger near me but you can. However you can not sense humans. It's what makes the royal family good rulers because if everyone is happy they will be too but if their people are in pain they feel it too."
Seems like a burden to me. Being in pain because of someone else.
"How come I could never sensed anyone's pain before yesterday?"
"That is because we were probably never anywhere near you. Yesterday I was in the woods which was why you could sense me. Also, you probably have you just didn't notice or just thought it was because you not someone else. Have you ever been sad or depressed for no significant reason?"
"Yes but that is normal, everyone gets sad sometimes-" I tried to justify.
"It's not, someone near you was probably sad which made you sad." She said, then realised she interrupted me causing her to fall to her knees.
"Forgive me your highness, I didn't mean to interrupt you, please have mercy." I was stunned for a moment; completely lost for words.
"It's fine, you are forgiven, please get up," I managed to get out.
"Amor don't wors.h.i.+p her too much, we don't want it to get to her head. She will get even more rude and savage than she already is. Not that I am complaining, I like how feisty and annoyed she gets but others might not like that," Nyx joked.
"How dare you insult our princess? The princess' personality is not for you to decide. Your Highness, with your permission I will punish this criminal for treason."
"What, no didn't you hear the part where I said I like her personality. I was not trying to insult her, " Nyx ranted suddenly scared for his life.
"It is treason to say anything bad about royalty," Amor continued
"Yeah, Nyx I am royalty," I said sarcastically.
"Amor I give you permission to punish him as long as he isn't killed," uncle Eduardo stated.
"Sorry sir, but I only take orders from the Princess, " Amor said apologetically bowing to Uncle Eduardo.
"Amor, let's forgive him since he wasn't aware of the rules."
"As you wish your highness, you should be lucky our princess is kind, I won't take it this lightly next time," she warned fiercely.
"If this was you taking it lightly, I don't want to find out what you not taking it lightly is."
"Earlier you said you were being chased last night, by who?"
"The hybrids."
"Wait what, I thought they were not interested in you guys for now."
"Yeah but last week they came and gave us two choices, come with them or be killed."
Nyx joined us last week.
"Where did they take you guys to?"
"To their base, we were put inside cells., for the time being at least."
"What do you mean for the time being?"
"The guy said till he got what he wanted."
"Me, he is going to use you guys as bait."
"I managed to escape but then I was discovered and chased, but when I got into this woods I got shot and they left thinking I would die since there was no one to help me. But someone did help me, you."
"I'm sorry you guys got captured and put into cells, its all my fault." I said full of sympathy and guilt. Technically it's Nyx's for betraying his team, but some one has got to take the blame and he doesn't look like he will.
"No, your highness it's not your fault, the hybrids are just naturally cruel, heartless mortals. They were all born evil." Not all of them. I looked to Nyx seeing the hurt in his eyes. It took all I had in me to stop myself from reaching for him and a.s.suring him I never thought of him as a monster. Well actually I did but not any longer.
"Be careful, what you say my dear, you might hurt others feelings, " grandma muttered looking over to Nyx. It was clear grandma felt the same way as I did.
"The 'hybrids' have no feelings."
"Just stop, you are really hurting Nyx's feelings. Not all of them are bad you know," Luisa declared, worry clear in her voice.
"What has this got anything to do with him?"
"Because he is one of them," Uncle Eduardo spat with disgust.
"Was, I am not part of them anymore, I left-"
"Hold on Nyx, Amor what day exactly did they come to capture you."
"On Friday."
"A day after Nyx left."
"What are you driving at Yna?"
"His father was probably so furious about his betrayal, he took it on them since it can't take it on me or Nyx."
"So this is your fault, my family are prisoners because of you, " Amor screamed as she lunged for Nyx.
"I'm so sorry I didn't know this would happen." Nyx insisted, hurt in his eyes as he fell backwards. The guilt and sadness vivid in his voice.
"You should have just stayed, I almost died because of you."
"I'm so sorry," Nyx said before rus.h.i.+ng out of the room.
"Nyx wait, Amor it wasn't his fault."
"Technically it is."
"Oh shut up, Uncle."
"Don't talk to me like that, mum tell her not to talk to me like that especially not because of that thing."
"Your highness, I'm really sorry I didn't mean to offend you."
"You are saying sorry to me, Amor I know you had a traumatic experience but you really hurt his feelings. And by hurting him, you were hurting me."
"Since when have you cared about him?"
"Well aunty, since I saw him." I snapped walking out of the room to find Nyx before I even realising.
Did I really mean that?
I was shocked by my own words. I turned to avoid Nyx's piercing and hopeful gaze as my world tumbled into confusion.
"Well not since I saw him. It just kind of happened. I don't know, probably some time after me and grandma. I guess I am just grateful he saved us," I justified hoping no one would notice the doubt in my voice. I glanced at Nyx, our eyes met for a spilt second before he pulled away and left the room and I sent into another turmoil.
"Hey, where are you going? What did I say about leaving the house?"
"Eduardo, let him be?"
Was he upset with me? Disappointed? Is he mad? Was it what I said?