Scars and Burns (No Light Without the Dark #1)

7. Dinalia

7

Dinalia

M other says our magic is woven into our soul. Just like the goddess wove her magic into the earth. It’s a part of us. We have to feel it breathing, growing and evolving as we do. We must be one in the same with our magic.

“Close your eyes and feel for it. Envision it.”

“What does it look like?”, I ask, “What is it supposed to feel like?”

She gives me a slight giggle. “That is for you to figure out on your own, my little light. It is different for each Fae and in each realm.”

She cups her hands under mine. “Harness it. It’s inside you”

With a burst of light my magic flies to life in my hands.

It’s a white flame with swirling colors of the same deep purple and icy blue of my eyes. But there’s something else there. I examine it closer. Tiny sparks are floating from it. Almost like crystal bits of starlight sparking from my flames.

I look to my Mother. Who is just smiling as if she would knew this is what my magic would look like.

My brows furrow. “It’s cold”

I immediately think something is wrong with me. It’s a flame. Isn’t it supposed to be hot? Or at least warm. I’ve been chilled to the bone ever since my kill. Even though we are hundreds of miles from any snow or glaciers. And even though Akino is the center of all life among the three realms, I’ve never felt colder and more distant from the world around me.

“Mom, is my soul broken? Will the Goddess accept me if my magic is cold? What if I’m not worthy?”

She releases my hands and the flame fades away. “The Goddess has already deemed you worthy. She’s blessed you with her mark. And as for your soul. Well, it’s not broken… just incomplete.”

Incomplete . What does that even mean? How can a soul be incomplete? Is it because I don’t know who my Father is? Is my miscellaneous lineage hindering?

“Do not fret my dear. The starlight in your flames is enough to know.”

“Know what?”

She places her hands on my shoulders “Never mind that. Do not concern yourself with what was or what will be. Harness your magic to fill your soul.” she says, enveloping me in a hug.

I welcome it. Not knowing who I am anymore. The shift from the Celestial Realm to the Middle Kingdom. From commoner to lady. Questioning myself more than ever now. This embrace takes me back. To before. To when it was just me and her. Our simpler life.

* * *

A year later my sister, Saphrina, was born. A true born princess with golden hair like the sun and eyes the most gorgeous shade of green.

Saphrina was born under the light of a full moon. Much like the one that hung in the sky the night the bargain was struck .

Being born under the light of a full moon is said to mean a great destiny. Promised by the Goddess. And when she opened her eyes the moon shone brighter than ever before. Releasing a glow for all three realms to see.

It truly must have been fate because Prince Proteus of the Celestial Realm was also born under the light of a full moon.

I often wandered how he received such differing features when both of his parents were from the Celestial Realm. Is one of their lineage a mystery too? Or was it simply features of the Celestial Realm I had not seen before. Curious though, how he is still honored as a prince with his unique appearance and Saphrina is a princess praised even with mixed blood. Seeing as her Father, the King, is of the Middle Kingdom and our Mother is from the Celestial Realm.

The midwife returns with Saphrina in her arms and says, “She is the blessed spoken in the prophecy. She has a complete goddess mark.”

We all look to Saphrina and sure enough on her tiny little forearm is the renowned three moon symbol of our Goddess.

A child blessed.

I take a closer look. It’s faded but I assume that’s because it’s fresh. It will darken with time. I look down at my own goddess mark. They’re in similar places but hers is far more complete than mine. In the sense that it is complete. While mine is merely a single crescent moon.

I look to my Mother, who has worry in her eyes, and then to King Elio. Whose smug smile cannot be misplaced. He knew all along my Mother would bear him a child blessed by the Goddess. That’s why he was so willing to take us in. Somehow he knew.

I find my Mother staring at me with a look I am sure means nothing good.