Читать книгу The Falling of the Stars - Lina Fischer - Страница 14

Nightmares

As Mom came down the stairs, I knew that something was off. “Mom, is everything alright?” I asked as she walked past me.

“No, honey, but I can’t tell you what’s going on. Please go find your Dad,” she said, brushing past me.

“Mom, stop, please talk to me, I can help you,” I begged as I hurried after her.

“No, Astoria, it’s for your own safety. I love you darling, may we meet again,” she said, and disappeared behind the door.

What is going on? Why was she so serious? Confused, I just stood there looking after her. As I decided to go look for Dad, I heard cruel screams and my head shot up.

Mom was hanging from the chandelier right next to me and was about to suffocate.

“Mom!” I screamed. I tried to help her, but my hands trembled and I started hyperventilating.

What should I do? What should I do? My panic was building. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t scream; I could only stare at my mother as the life was sucked out of her.

I watched with fear as I desperately tried to move once again.

“Mom,” I tried to scream, but nothing came out of my mouth.

No, this can’t be happening, I can’t just watch my mother die without doing something! I felt helpless as the colour slowly drained from her skin; it was as if I was paralysed.

I cried and buried my face in my palms as I saw her taking her last breath. No, no, no, this isn’t happening, this can’t be happening, not my mother, anyone but my mother.

“Astoria,” I heard someone scream, “Astoria, wake up!” Slowly I realised that I was in the car with Eden. “Astoria, you’re drenched in sweat, what happened?” he asked.

I felt more tired than ever as the panic gripping my chest eased. “It was nothing, I just had a nightmare,” I said to him.

I could’ve helped her, I could’ve saved her that night, they all feel sorry for me but it’s my fault, all my fault. The terrible hole that she left in my heart ached miserably.

“Alright, if you say so. I hope you’re ready to impress, because we’re almost there.” Eden smiled, and I calmed down some more.

I had to distract myself from the truth. Staring at the academy, my biggest dream for so long, I still felt a spark of excitement despite the harrowing events that led up to it coming true.

I looked out the window and saw busy streets that reminded me of our capital, back in Ilimara; the narrow streets with little shops and the river flowing through the city. It was breath-taking. As we drove through the streets I laid my eyes upon a vast cathedral that looked like it was still in the 1800s with it’s grand door and details.

Soon after, we arrived at the academy, and I was stunned by the stately building before us. It was very similar to the cathedral I had seen earlier, but it was very welcoming. It reminded me of our palace at home, just way bigger. That will be my new home for I don’t know how long. I was starting to get cold feet, thinking about how many students there must be and that I was new and nobody knew me. Well, that’s the problem, everybody knows me.

I didn’t know anything about them and the world that they live in, their powers, their history… suddenly I felt overwhelmed.

“Alright, Princess Astoria, are you ready for your new adventure?” Eden held out a hand and helped me out of the car.

I took one more look at the huge building before taking Eden’s hand and disappearing through the front door.