When Stars Fall(The Last Star trilogy #3)
Chapter 13

Alec Hydra

She’s late. Tardiness isn’t acceptable, I had explained to her multiple times. She can’t get anything through that thick head. I checked my wrist watch. Five minutes late. We had waited long enough, Mother and Father don’t have that much patience. They were deep in conversation, Mother kept glaring at me. Lydia tried to talk to me through facial expressions, I think she wanted me to go check on Annabelle. Not my problem, I thought.

I sent a butler to call her down but even he had kept us waiting.

“Your Highness, the princess says that she has an upset stomach. She sends her regrets,” the butler said to me. I turned to father and Mother.

“We’ll just have to eat without her, then,” Father exhaled.

Through the meal, Lydia and Keegan kept glaring at me with widened eyes. I fought the urge to tell them to stop, stop acting like it’s my fault.

“You could at least check on her,” Lydia whispered as we left the Dining Hall.

“I have better things to do,” I said, bored.

Lydia stepped in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. “She’s your responsibility.” Lydia pouted. “It would be nice of you to not keep reminding me.”

“Have you even tried-”

“Yes, I have,” I interrupted. “I tried just being friends with her but that’s not how it works. If she’s going to live here she has to follow the rules and listen to me.”

“This is hard for-”

“She isn’t the only one who didn’t want to go through with it,” I snapped.

“Is this the kind of example you want to be for your younger brother?” she asked.

“Yes, he should know how to keep his things under control,” I stated and sauntered off.

I had more free time today so I spent it studying some history books and going over war strategies. Father was discussing our next attack right now. He thinks we should bomb the rebel hideout...Crimsyn State. Still learning that ridiculous name. There was a knock on the door. The butler opened it.

“Your Highness, it’s your sister,” he told.

“Let her in.” I put down the book. Lydia’s heels clicked on the marble floor, with her pink dress flowing behind her. Hair uncomfortably tight with a heavy tiara pushed into her head.

“What is it, Lydia?” I sighed.

“Your wife is spilling her guts in the bathroom and you’re doing what exactly?” She crossed her arms.

“Please don’t call her that.” I nearly gagged. She’s just a person who’s here because her Constellation is valuable, nothing is special about her.

“If she cares about her health then she’ll go to the hospital wing,” I said.

“You should take her,” she insisted.

“I have much better things to do.”

“She’s dizzy and nauseous,” she recalled, leaning in. “Do you realize what this could mean?” Lydia’s lips twitched and she pressed them.

I knitted my eyebrows. “No.”

“She’s been like this for a few days now,” Lydia continued.

I sighed and muttered something about women, I got a punch from Lydia for saying that.

“Go to her,” she demanded.

“No,” I answered.

“What is wrong with you?” she huffed. “Why won’t you-”

“I’ll do what I want, when I want,” I cut off. She made a growling sound in her throat and exited. Another knock. If that was Keegan, here to convince me to make up with Annabelle then I’m going to throw something at him.

“Your Highness, the king requests your presence,”

“Should we do it, then?” Father asked as I studied the map laid out on the table. A heavy chandelier dangled above us, curtains open, revealing the Lawn and the Stars above.

“Bomb the rebel base?” I thought. “Maybe.”

Father’s eyebrows arched.

“Are you hesitant because Annabelle is from there and she had persuaded you not to?” he questioned.

“Of course not, I couldn’t care less about her,” I said too quickly.

“You should care about her,” Father reminded. “She has to produce heirs.”

A cough escaped me. I lowered my voice, “I’ve tried.”

He snorted. “And?”

I stared at him uncomfortably. “Pray to Hydra.”

Father smiled triumphantly.

“The rebel base has a protective force field around it, first we need to get rid of that,” I told.

“The bomb will take that out,”

“No, it won’t,” I insisted.

He sighed, rubbing his patchy beard. “Very well,” he spoke at last.

Mother, Lydia and Annabelle were late for lunch. I checked my watch, ten minutes late. I sent a butler to call them but he returned saying that they were locked in Annabelle’s room. What takes these women so long? Getting dressed?

“What’s taking them so long?” Father spoke through gritted teeth.

Lydia came in, a ghost of a smile on her face but she was always like that. Mother took a few minutes, neither of them gave an explanation. I was surprised that Father didn’t question their tardiness. They were both whispering to each other and I only heard fragments of their conversation.

“Her maid says she’s been vomiting her meals and that she’s had migraines for the past few days.” They were talking about Annabelle.

Father said something in return but I couldn’t hear him, instead I focused on my meal.

“We’re bombing the base tomorrow, maybe that will finally knock some sense into her,” Father told. My head almost snapped towards them, I tried to hide my smirk.

“How is that going to make her sensible?” Mother wondered.

“She’ll have nothing left, nothing to go on for. Therefore she’ll be forced to do what she’s told,” Father said.

Let’s hope it works, I thought and prayed.

I was called to Annabelle’s room by my sister late at night. Sleep flooded my eyes and I decided that if Lydia was with her it would be fine. There was no need to spoil my resting hours because of a problematic girl.

“Where were you last night?” Lydia almost yelled.

“Asleep,” I answered. We were standing in the Lawn, with cold air freezing our faces.

“Annabelle went to the hospital wing and she’s supposed to get the blood test reports today” Lydia went on. “I’m starting to get worried. Will you please deal with her?”

“She’s supposed to get the reports today?” My sister nodded. I sighed out of relief.

Lydia eyed me suspiciously but I turned my back to her.

My eyes fell to the ground, golden and green stardust was sprinkled all over the grass. Not him again, I thought.

“What are you doing here?” I said as I turned.

“It’s my job to tell you when you’re making a mistake,” he said. His image flickered, he had a green aura and was dressed in black and gold robes. His eyes matched mine, green and black hair which curled around his ears. The mark of Hydra on his forehead indicating he had come back from a gathering of the Star Spirits.

“You tell me that after every decision I make,” I reminded.

“That’s because you’re not the right mind,” he said.

“Listen...” I tried to remember his name.

“Alastair,” he finished, looking at me like I was a fool.

“I know exactly what I’m doing and I don’t need anyone else interfering,” I told. He had an emotionless expression on his face. The Sign on his forehead started glowing white and so did the one on my wrist until it almost burned my skin off.

“Will you stop that?” I demanded.

“I taught you that so you could make a connection with Annabelle,” he recalled.

“I thought you didn’t support our decision.” I crossed my arms.

Alastair clicked his tongue. “I don’t but now that you have her you might as well try to get along,” he informed.

“I tried but that’s not how it’s supposed to work,” I snapped.

He made my Sign burn up again. “You have to stop,” I spat.

“Grow up, Alec,” he said, his ghostly image turning into golden stardust. He waved and some of it got in my eyes. When I got my vision back he was gone.

Through the meeting I didn’t really pay much attention, but my head snapped up when I heard them talking about the bombing. Lord Aries and his brother-in-law had come to discuss the war. I had seen them both at parties, the last time was with their family at the Kingdom Banquet. Lord Aries’ niece had a daughter who was a friend of Annabelle’s...I racked my brain for an answer, Amara Aries, the ginger with ice blue eyes, short and a little shy. Her mother, Lady Aries was a doctor and married an Apus. He was an army officer, now he’s retired and hopes that his lazy son will take his place. I saw the Capricorn boy’s father at the Celestial Ball, he tried to cover up the fact that his family had left him and went to Crimsyn State but I found out later than even he was a part of them. Always know the people you can benefit from, Father tells me that all the time. I did some research on all of our guests before hosting them, to impress and intimidate.

Lord Aries sat up, they were both wearing black suits and their grey-white hair was combed back. “We are ready to bomb the rebel base on your command,” he spoke. His brother-in-law was hesitant, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. I turned to him.

“Are you hesitant because your niece ran away to join the rebellion?” I challenged. Lord Aries’ grey eyes widened and he looked to the descendant of Apus.

Apus spoke with difficulty, obviously ashamed at his daughter’s doings. “I don’t know what-”

“Oh, everyone knows,” I confirmed.

Lord Aries recovered for him, “She is a traitor and will get the punishment she deserves,” he said without emotion. I didn’t know any family as heartless as mine but I guess we know a patriotic general who is more passionate about war rather than his sister’s daughter. Apus cleared his throat and squared his shoulders, leaning in.

“We are ready to attack on your command,” he said. I can feel Father smirking, Lord Aries copies.

The barrier around the rebel base is down and we can attack at any time. “Why wait, then?” my voice echoes in the room.

“I suggest in three days,” father answered before I could.

“As you say, Your Majesty,” Lord Aries said.

“What is it, Lydia?” I begged as she pulled me outside the hospital wing. “I had to miss dinner for this?”

“I have good news.” She squealed and her cheeks flushed.

“Just tell me already.” I crossed my arms. A part of me knew what this was about.

“Annabelle got her reports back and…” Lydia sucked in a breath, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness. “You’re going to be a father.”