6 The Troubled Daughter

AUTHOR'S POV

"Your daughter doesn't seem to like moving from place to place", Celeste said as soon as Helena went out of the hut, she then shifted her eyes on the young lady's untouched bowl of stew. "What a waste", she said.

Beatrice have always known that her daughter is tired of their traveling situation and that settling down to a permanent place where there is abundance is all Helena dreams about. As much as Beatrice wanted, she couldn't give what her daughter wants. "I cannot blame her. But, traveling is part of her destiny", Beatrice said as she was about to get up and take her daughter back.

"I'll go", Gaius nodded with a soft smile at his pregnant wife. He lovingly stroked Beatrice's hair and gave her a peck on the cheek before following Helena out.

Celeste walked over the table and sat in of the stools in front of Beatrice. "You have one happy family here, Tris", she said as she stare directly at Beatrice whose eyes is clouded with a dark gaze.

Meanwhile, Gaius found Helena leaning on one of the porch pilasters with her arms crossed staring at their caravan. Their portable home have started to sink into the muddy puddles, and its roof have started to break down. With no neighbors and noises, only the sound of the rain can be heard.

"Why don't we have a place like this? A real home.", Helena said as he recognized his father alongside him. "A nice kitchen where mother can cook all of our favorite dishes.. A warm bed with feather pillows and floral blankets, a large garden where you can plant your crops and a livestock quarters for your horses?", she added. "I'm tired of travelling", Helena said as she lowered down her head in unhappiness.

"Let me tell you a story", Gaius put his arm around Helena's shoulder as he tried to cheer his daughter up.

"I'm too old for stories, Father", Helena frowned.

"I'll tell you anyway.", Gaius insisted with a chuckle. "Your mother and I once lived in a beautiful place in the cold mountains of the Kingdom. As you know, Snow Mountain back then was once known as the great pinnacle of magic and a home for soul travelers.", he proudly said.

"Caluso. Like I haven't heard that before", Helena said as she roll her eyes.

"Everything was white, everyday was cold. The dancing waves of lights in the night sky dazzled the people of the Kingdom from dusk until dawn", Gaius smiled at his vivid memory as he continued but then, it slowly grew faint. "You know... the healers served the people of the Kingdom in the orders of the King. We lifted their sickness, and closed every wound. One day, the Queen got ill, and a healer was summoned to heal her. However, the queen was too ill to be healed, and the palace was informed that her Majesty's time has already come.", Gaius said with a long face.

With her face lightened up, Helena glanced at her father who suddenly opened up about a part of their history, something that she have always wanted to know.

"The king was disappointed, and so the healer who was sent in the palace returned to Caluso as cold as ice. Then, he ordered the total annihilation of the healers. Most died, yet some escaped.", he said as his face hardened at the painful flashback.

"The.. king?", Helena whispered as she realized that it is the King who's after them. How dark a person can be because of the death of a loved one, Helena thought. Also, it is not the healers' fault that the Queen got ill in the first place, she thought. Or were they? "Did he get what he wanted?", Helena asked.

"Hmm?", Gaius asked as he furrowed his brows.

"The king. After he killed the healers, did he get the Queen healed?", Helena asked.

Gaius breathe sharply as he pocketed his hands. "No. But, he got something more precious", Gaius said as sadness reflected in his eyes. "Helena, I want you safe at all times. We do what we do because, you are the future of our kind. You have what it takes to achieve the retribution of the healers", Gaius clearly told his daughter that Helena is the only chance to bring back their old lives through her unique powers. Helena felt robbed by the King, and instantly loathe him for the things that he did.

"If not for the ravish and unintelligent ways of the King, we could still have our homes.. families and friends", Gaius reiterated as Helena stared at the darkness ahead. Now, she understood why they have to run and hide at the moment for she is still not strong enough to fight for the healers against the supreme ruler of the Kingdom.

The rain have finally stopped and they both decided to go back inside. They found Celeste cleaning up in the kitchen which made Gaius feel embarassed. "I will help clean up here. Go check on your mother, Helena", Gaius said.

Helena nodded. As she walk by, she noticed Celeste grinning. There's something under her beautiful skin and awkwardness that makes Helena feel uncomfortable. When Helena entered the livestock quarters, her mother was rubbing her belly as she stood nearby the bed of hay.

"Still upset?" Beatrice asked without looking, she then crouched down to gather most of their stuff together.

"I just wanted a place we can call a home.", Helena said as she walk in slowly closing her proximity from her mother.

Beatrice stopped and faced her troubled daughter. "Helena, a home does not define where you are, it is where your heart is at peace.. whether it's in a cave, or a box, as long as you're safe, that's all that matters", Beatrice casually said as to where for her, Helena is her home. She then started packing food in a cloth and gathered the water receptcles as if they are about to leave.

"I'm sorry mother..", Helena said as she sat down ok the bed of hay. "I just can't help but get jealous of Argus. At least Argus won't have what I had", Helena said as she pouts.

"Did you say… Argus?", Beatrice paused and had her eyes widened at the name her daughter mentioned. It was also then when the rain poured stronger this time and the winds became more fierce.

"Yes, the boy? Celeste's son?", Helena said. "Why?", she wondered. "And what are you doing? Are we leaving?", Helena asked as she have realized that her mother seems like preparing to leave the hut. "But, the rains are still heavy and the caravan have broken down. Besides the horses won't make it a mile or two in this very bad weather", Helena said with a crease on her forehead.

Beatrice took some clean blankets and grabbed Helena by her hand. "What are you doing, mother", Helena asked, confused about what's happening as her mother pulled her at the backside of the quarters behind the crates of hay where there's very little light.

"I found a bunker under the hay. You will stay there tonight. Do not come out, until I call you. Do you understand, Helena?", she nervously said in a lowly voice, almost whispering and in a hurry.