Great Grandfather

Dragana POV



Opening my eyes slowly, I was adjusting to the bright light around me. Passing through the portal, I did not ask where I was going or why. All I needed to do was escape Dark Lord Khor, and with Jasmine’s help and my mother’s ancient magic I managed somehow. I still did not understand how a lullaby could do such a thing. My head was hurting and, in fact, my whole body was aching. I did not know where I was. Sounds of birds and water were near and as I slowly got up, I realized I was on the beach of some kind. The sun was shining bright, and it looked like it was midday, someplace, somewhere. I looked at my leg, and while there was some dried blood, my wound was closed and completely healed. Stumbling, I tried to get up, but I felt weak, weaker in fact than ever.



“Teleportation spells are advanced, and if you are not practiced at it, they will take a lot of energy out of you. I suggest you move carefully and get up easily”, I heard a man’s voice. I tried to see who was speaking to me and the fear crept up. “There is no reason to fear me Dragana, I am not here to hurt you. If you’ll let me, I would actually like to help” the voice said, and from that direction, which was so bright I could barely see, a hand of a man came forth. “Please take my hand, let me help you” a soft, yet strong voice said.



I was concerned but in no position to do anything else. “If he wanted to hurt us, he could have already killed you”, my other self said. She was right. And in reality, what choice did I have?



I took his strong hand and he lifted me up in one move. Slowly adjusting to my vision and to my surroundings, I was trying to stand still. His hand was still holding me. “Take it easy, the first time is always the hardest”, he said with a chuckle. “I presume you are very thirsty right about now”, the voice said. My head was buzzing, but the image of the man holding my hand was coming into focus. Dressed in long white and gold robes, walking barefoot, an olive-skinned gentleman with long brown locks falling to his waist and expressive black eyes, was looking at me with a smile on his face. I could not decipher how old he was, as his face had only a few lines on and his beard was showing very little gray. However, somehow, instinctively, I knew that he was not exactly as I saw him. I sensed his power and wisdom, almost as if they were written on his face. On his hand, there was a huge gold ring with a green stone, unlike anything I had ever seen. “My name is Solomon Dragana, and I am your great grandfather”, he said, bowing slightly.



His words stopped me in my tracks. For an orphaned girl, I sure was finding a lot of family today. It was a lot to process, but at the same time, anger started bubbling inside me. “You are my great grandfather? You are my kin? My blood?”, I asked a little more forcefully than I thought. He sighed. “I am sorry I was not there; I know what you want to say” he started.



“NO, you do not know what I want to say!!!!!!!How could you possibly????!! You do not KNOW ME!! You are NOBODY to me! How could you possibly know how I felt!! My mother DIED! She died!! And I NEVER knew my father! NEVER! He too DIED! After that, I was a prisoner, and worst of all, I was ALL ALONE!!! ALL THESE YEARS!!! A lone witch, a lone wolf, alone ALWAYS!!!! Where were you – where was ANY of my so-called family?????I KNOW nothing, I was taught nothing, not even how to defend myself or those who matter to me!!!! I could have died!!! Do you understand that? And what would it matter?? Where were you? If I am your kin, if you are my great grandfather??? WHERE WERE YOU!!!!????”.. emotions were getting to me, and tears were now flowing and I was yelling on top of my lungs. Next thing I knew, I simply slumped on the sand sobbing, all the remaining ounce of strength I had leaving me.



He bent down and sat next to me and pulled me into a giant, mountain-like hug. For a slender man such as himself, I found his presence comforting. He smelled of cocoa and sun and I simply slumbered into his arms crying. “There is much you do not know child” he said softly, kissing my hair and stoking my back as if I were a little kid. “I am sorry”, he simply said. Still sobbing, I felt safe in my great grandfather’s hug. I was not sure if he put some type of a spell on me or if it was his sheer presence, but slowly, I was starting to calm down – and to be honest at that moment, I did not care about myself anymore. My thoughts went to Beta Artemis hoping he was still alive. And Jasmine, brave Jasmine who risked everything to save me. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to them because of me! I knew that Dark Lord Khor was there for me. What I did not know was why.