Page 19 of Sapphire Queen
Chapter 13
Sarifena stood outside, staring at the ocean. Emersyn and Onika would arrive any minute, and she worried about what Onika had to say. The journal held nothing but heartache so far, so she imagined it wasn’t anything good.
“Sarifena,” Emersyn called out as she bounded down the path towards the water’s edge.
“Emersyn, how are you?” Sarifena pulled her into a hug, “Is Onika here?”
“She arrived at the same time as me. She said she’d meet us here in a second. She and Luca were in a heated discussion.”
“Lover’s quarrel?” Sarifena laughed.
“No… more like he didn’t want her to come outside without him.”
“Actually, I'm surprised Drake let you wander outside alone.” Sarifena cocked an eyebrow, her smirk goading Emersyn.
“Well…” she smiled, “He didn’t let me come out alone exactly.” She pointed over her shoulder to the balcony. “He said he’d keep his distance.”
Sarifena peered over Emersyn’s shoulder and noticed Drake standing on the balcony with Heath. Smiling at the two men, she wasn’t surprised to see Luca step out beside them. His eyes tracked Onika as she made her way down the path towards the two of them.
“Here comes Onika,” Sarifena jerked her head toward the Onyx Queen.
“Onika,” Emersyn turned, “I’m so glad to see you.”
“You may not be when I tell you what I’ve learned,” Onika growled, eyes pinning Emersyn in a deadly stare.
“Well… I didn’t figure you were coming to announce your nuptials.” Emersyn snapped.
“Crap, I'm sorry. I told myself I would not handle this poorly, yet here I am, biting your head off. Can we sit down?” Onika pointed toward the sandy beach, “I think you’ll want to be sitting for this.”
The women plopped down into the warm sand, “Onika, whatever it is, you can tell us.” Sarifena smiled, “Hell… what could be worse than me finding out my father wasn’t the man I’d believed to be all these years? Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled that Emersyn is my sister, but it sucked to learn about it now.”
“So, you’re not angry, you have a half-sister?” Onika questioned Sarifena, “What about you, Emersyn? Are you mad that your dad fathered other children?”
“I’m mad I didn’t have the chance to grow up with her. But,” she paused, “My mother seemed to love him regardless of his affair, and with them gone, I can’t ask. Holding on to that anger doesn’t do me any good. Besides, with them dead, I thought I had no family left.” She pulled Sarifena’s hand into hers, “now I know that’s not true. I have Sarifena.”
Onika glanced toward the ocean, “When the journal showed up, I didn’t know what to think. I knew it held nothing good, but I wasn’t prepared for…” her voice trailed off.
“Onika, you can tell us,” Sarifena gripped her hand in hers, “what did the journal say?”
“Much like you, Sarifena, it held truths I would have never learned without it. My mother,” she sighed, “met my father after she learned she was pregnant with me. You know how this works as an elemental. When we find our compliment, nothing or no one else matters. Besides, my biological father had met the woman he complimented. My mom struggled with keeping the secret. Funny thing is my dad, I mean Dane, knew I wasn’t his all along. He couldn’t have his own children, so he looked at this as a blessing. It wasn’t the dark hair that gave it away, no, he knew. I always wondered where I got the black hair, he is blonde like my mother.”
“Wait, what are you saying, Onika?” Emersyn leaned forward, glancing between Sarifena and Onika.
“My mother and your father were together. I’m assuming because Sarifena and I are the same age, he was sleeping with our moms at the same time.”
“Holy shit,” Sarifena’s mouth dropped. Her heart beating fiercely against her chest, “Are you trying to tell me that your father was Dax, Emersyn’s and my father, the Emerald King?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Ohmygod, ohmygod,” Emersyn stood, pacing the beach. The ocean thundered behind her, the waves growing in size as they rolled toward the beach. The ivy planted along the path began creeping toward the edge of the water.
“Emersyn, calm down, please. Your magic is out of control. You too, Sarifena, take a breath.”
Muscular arms lifted Sarifena off the ground, “Take a breath, baby. Please. The ocean is feeling your anger.” Heath whispered into her ear.
Sarifena drew in a lengthy breath and glanced around. She noticed the newly grown ivy and the turbulent waters stirring off the sandy earth. Emersyn was being calmed by Drake while Onika stood off with her arms folded across her chest.
“I’m fine,” Sarifena pulled out of his embrace, “Onika,” she reached out to the Onyx Queen and tugged her into her arms.
Emersyn joined them in their awkward embrace, “We’re sisters,” She spoke, “Holy shit… we’re sisters!” she screamed.
