When Stars Fall(The Last Star trilogy #3)
Chapter 31

Annabelle Virgo

I cried with Amara. I ended up mourning much more than just one death. I begged Lewis to show me her body but judging by my condition he thought it was best not to. Guilt burned in my heart. I had been a terrible friend. I remembered all the times Lyra had been fighting and crying because Lyla was bothering her. I remembered all the times no one had listened or given her much importance. Now she was gone. Gone. Because we hadn’t taken care of her. Ever since we were children, Lyra and Tristan had cared for me but I hadn’t really paid much attention to them. I let myself cry and thankfully the others didn’t try to stop me.

Raelynn and Amara hovered over me while Phoenix talked with one of the palace guards. Turns out we weren’t the only ones relieved to be free from Jaxon. Together they healed the wounded, gathered the bodies-including McKenna’s-Sophie was taken inside with Lydia, to be treated. Anthony rushed outside with blood crusted on his hands and perspiration on his forehead.

He put his hands on his knees and breathed heavily. “Lydia says. . .”

I wiped my eyes and got to my feet.

“She says. . .”

Lewis patted him on the back. “Deep breaths.”

Anthony swatted him away. “Lydia says to tell the armies that the war has stopped.” He sighed. “Tell both armies to stop bickering.” He motioned towards Phoenix arguing with the palace guards.

Phoenix cursed. “These guys aren’t listening,” she told. “Apparently they’re too loyal to Jaxon.”

Rasal cursed and hissed at them.

“You tell ’em!” Phoenix hyped up, though she couldn’t understand what he meant.

Anthony talked with them but was unsuccessful in changing their minds.

The guard spat, “Now, we will only answer to Prince Alec.”

Prince Alec’s dead, I wanted to yell. I looked at Anthony for confirmation but he didn’t notice.

“Prince Alec is severely injured and is recovering in the infirmary,” he explained. “He will regain consciousness in a few hours. You can speak with him then.”

“He’s not dead,” I whispered.

“No,” Anthony confirmed. I growled.

“I want to meet with Lydia and Alec,” I decided, even surprising myself.

“Belle, you’re not well at the moment-” Raelynn was interrupted.

“I’m fine,” I snapped. “I want to talk to them.”

“Regarding what?” Lewis asked.

“What we have to do next,” I said and made my way towards the palace.

Everything happened slowly. Lydia was crying silently, Sophie lay on a bed next to Alec. Hellen stroked his hair in his sleep and prayed for her son. I saw Keegan a few hours later, with his nanny. Anthony worked in the infirmary, mostly hovering near Lydia. We had brought everyone inside to treat them and heal. Rasal was glued to my back and slithered over my neck.

“Your turn,” Phoenix said to me. She had a medical kit in her hand and had bandaged up Nathan.

“No, thanks. I’m fine,” I said in a low voice. Though my entire body ached

Phoenix cleared her throat. “You’re not fine.” Her gaze fell on my burned clothes, traveling up my neck and the back of my head where my hair was singed off, even the tips were ruined. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to shave my head, though I needed a trim.

I didn’t bother arguing much more. She cleaned my wounds and bandaged whatever she could. Amara and Raelynn chatted with Lewis nearby. They all looked terrible, even after being treated.

“I can’t do anything about the broken ribs,” she said.

“That’s okay,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I’ll get them checked out.”

She patted my shoulder and went to clean off herself.

Nathan sat at the edge of my bed. His sword crusted with blood and his eyes bloodshot.

“You did great out there,” I commented.

He forced a grin. “Thanks.”

“Thanks for coming to your senses,” I taunted. He snorted.

“I’m sorry about. . .”

I cut him off, “I know.” I spoke instantly. I didn’t want to be pitied but there had been losses for everyone.

Lydia found her voice and made an announcement that the war was over but with no victor. She said we were free of Jaxon’s grasp. The battlefield-palace courtyard-got cleaned up. Besides the dead bodies. We had to get them back to Crimsyn State while the palace guards buried them in the graveyard in Hydrus.

“You need to give orders,” I heard Phoenix say to Hellen. Everyone’s heads snapped in their direction. “They have to take the bodies to Crimsyn State.”

Hellen’s eyes were fixated on Alec, she swatted Phoenix away. Phoenix moved away without getting annoyed.

“Give her time,” Raelynn told. “You can take over in the meantime.” Phoenix nodded.

Lydia sat down next to me.

Can we trust her? Rasal wondered and I nodded to him.

“I’m sorry about your losses,” she said.

“Thank you.” I wanted to sympathize with her but couldn’t replace the right words. I didn’t think that I could ever grieve or even feel sorry for Jaxon.

“Anthony says that Alec might live,” she told. I coughed awkwardly.

“I know you don’t like him,” she said after a pause. “He was awful to you.” She put a hand on my shoulder, flinching at Rasal. “I’ll talk to him. He’ll change after what happened. . .he’ll understand.”

“You sound like Hellen,” I snapped, getting to my feet. “And you can’t guarantee that.”

“Just listen to me!” She almost yelled. “I’ll fix everything.”

“Excuse me?” I snorted.

“I’ll help everyone,” she promised. “I promise that I will help you and everyone else to recover from what my father did.”

I thought for a moment. “Can we talk in private?”

She nodded and followed me outside. We stood in silence outside the hospital wing.

“I want you to hold a council meeting,” I told.

“What for, may I ask?”

“To discuss what will happen to the rebels and the remaining descendants of the Twelve Major. I will talk with my people and ask what their terms are. You convince your family and we’ll finalize our deal during the meeting. I expect it will take place soon.”

“What do you want, then?” She spoke politely.

I grinned, feeling joyful after a long time. “I want to go back to Virgus. I am it’s rightful ruler. If the others wish to return to their provinces, they have to be allowed to leave. I want you and Alec to promise that you won’t follow in your father’s footsteps. I want you to guarantee that this will never happen again for as long as the Stars shine.”

She smiled. “You don’t have to worry about that,” she said. “You can trust us.”

“No, I can’t.” I walked back inside and gathered everyone.

“I want to stay in Hydrus,” Amara said instantly. “I want to study at Serpens University.”

I turned to Phoenix, Nathan, Raelynn and Anthony. “I wanted to ask you guys first.”

They exchanged looks. “I guess I want to stay here,” Anthony answered. “My parents want to go back to their home province. I know they do. They want to live there.”

“I want Crimsyn State turned into an army base. I want to train soldiers for battle,” Phoenix said.

I expected nothing less from that one, Rasal retorted.

“Send me to Aqaurius,” Raelynn said. “I want to learn about my past and my family. Like you did.” I smiled at her.

“Nathan.” Phoenix punched him lightly.

He sighed. “I’ll take my mom to Pisces. I don’t want to be it’s leader but it would be nice to have a home there and I want to train under the best general the army has.” He turned to Phoenix.

He leaned in and whispered, “That’s the only time I’ll ever compliment you, cherish it.”

We all burst out laughing.

“I want to go back to Sagittarius. . .obviously,” Lewis said. Raelynn’s smile faltered at that.

“Don’t worry,” he started. “I’ll visit.” SHe smiled once again.

I noticed that Alec was awake and was talking with Hellen. I walked over to her and asked for a minute.

“Do you really think you can change Alec?” I asked. “Do you think you have a future with him?”

“Yes,” she answered instantly.

“Are you okay with living here?”

“In the palace?” Her eyes widened. “No. I want to go back to my old home and I’m going to take Alec with me.”

“Is he okay with that?”

“Yes, I’ve talked with him.” I raised my eyebrows in amazement.

“I know he’s the heir to the throne but I don’t think the Hydras belong on the throne anymore,” she told. “They’ve had their time.”

“Then who does?”

“The Thirteenth Zodiac.”

“Huh?”

“That’s for you to decide.” She shrugged and went back to Alec.

Lydia took full control from there. She took care of Keegan and Sophie. She insisted that the remaining descendants of the Twelve Major stay at the palace until things are sorted out. Alec recovered but the doctors said that because his shoulder blade had been crushed badly he could not be able to function his arm properly, it had also caused permanent back pain. Hellen chased Alec around, offering him meals and medicine. The Hydrus Estate was given back to Hellen and they were scheduled to move in next week. Sophie had been shocked and diagnosed mad by psychologists. Lydia scheduled a council for tomorrow. Hellen ordered the dead bodies to Crimsyn State for a funeral.

“Were Lyra’s parents informed?” I asked Lydia.

“Yes, they will be arriving shortly.”

She looked fresh and clean in her new pink gown and long hair topped with a headband.

“I wanted to talk to you today but I couldn’t replace you,” I teased.

Her cheeks tinted pink. “I was having an important discussion with Anthony regarding the recovery of…”

“Yeah, right!” I laughed. She slapped my arm playfully. I had been washed and clothed. We all had. I shared my old bedroom with Phoenix, Amara and Raelynn last night. Lewis, Anthony and Nathan had seperate ones. We dressed and lived like royalty.

A butler approached us. “The Geminis are here, Your Highness.”

“Come,” she said to me. I reluctantly followed her to the Hall. Lyra’s parents were crying. Two guards they had brought with them, collected the two bodies while I explained about Lyra and her disorder. I didn’t really talk much with them, mostly I had asked Lydia to because I was furious with them for ignoring Lyra all these years.

“Your other children are in Crimsyn State,” I told. “You can collect them from there.” They left mourning and in shock.

“You were a bit harsh,” Lydia said.

“They deserve it.”

At lunch I told Amara that the Geminis had come and gone. She still wasn’t done crying over Lyra and Tristan. I wiped away her and my own tears.

“Where is Anthony?” Lewis wondered.

“And Lydia?” Nathan added. I snorted and everyone else giggled.

“This food is amazing,” Nathan said.

“It tastes better than the meals had Crimsyn,” Phoenix agreed.

We ate in silence. I noticed that Phoenix looked uncomfortable.

“The council meeting is tomorrow,” she reminded.

“Do we all know what we want?” Raelynn asked. We nodded in unison.

“Who’s going to be on the throne now?” Nathan wondered. Everyone looked at me.

“I don’t know.” I wanted to lower my head but the burn scars on my neck wouldn’t even allow me to do so, they pained me everytime I did.

“You could do great,” Amara said.

“Yes, but my responsibility is Virgus.”

“Maybe after Lydia, you could be queen,” Lewis suggested.

He’s not wrong, milady, Rasal prompted.

“Maybe.” I even surprised myself with that answer.

“Has Lydia even agreed to be queen?” I asked.

“Alec renounced his title,” Nathan reminded, bread in his mouth. “Lydia is next.”

“Or you,” Amara suggested in between bites.

“I’m sure she’ll offer you the crown tomorrow at the council,” Raelynn said.

I went back to my salad. “We’ll see.”