Rising from the Ashes

Python

Chapter 11

Regina’s pov

Cassie had called Lilith the day after I got back here to fill her in on what had happened. It turns out she finally got a vision a couple of weeks ago showing her making an antidote to the mind control potion. It was specifically for long-term abuse of it.

She managed to perfect it the day before my birthday, and then the morning of my birthday, Calista had appeared to her to take the potion as she had a vision as she slept. In it, she has seen Sophia drugging my father and hurting me.

Apparently, they both felt terrible about it. They felt guilty it had taken them so long to see something, and they couldn’t stop Sophia from trying to ruin me completely. I made sure that Lilith told them that they were not at fault.

They can’t control when they get a vision or what they see when they do. That is up to the gods to decide. They give them the visions when they feel it is the right time. I have to believe that this had to happen this way so I can keep hoping that one day I will be happy.

My mum has called plenty of times, and she is not happy that I won’t speak to anyone, but I need to do what is best for me now. I have tried to stay out of the way since I was young, so I didn’t affect anyone’s relationships. Now I need to stay out of the way so I can heal.

I did find out that her, my gran, and aunt all went to stay at my sister Tamara’s place. None of them wanted to be around their mates. Raine also joined them for a couple of days as well to clear her head. She was angry at both mine and her brother.

I am glad Tamara talked her out of rejecting Julius, Tamara was right. I didn’t want them to not be together because of me. At least now she can have some time to think and see if it is worth trying to make their mateship work.

Tamara left me a message that she was here if I needed her. I could stay with her, or she could come to me when I was ready to see her. She knew I didn’t want to talk and didn’t even ask. She just asked Hades to pass that along.

My gran and aunt have tried calling, and even my uncle and Grandpa have called begging Hades to let them talk to me so they can apologise to me. I am not ready to hear what they have to say. For years, they have never cared to hear my side of things, and they were not drugged in any way.

I am not sure if I can have a relationship with them now, I don’t even think I want to try and build a bond with them. Because of their behaviour when I was a child we have no bond, we don’t know each other, it is only their guilt, and fear of losing their mate making them act this way.

Grandpa Julius tried to work out what was going on with me, and always tried to stick up for me, so I left a message with Hades to let him know I will speak to him when I am stronger. Him, along with the females in my family, are the only ones I care about salvaging my relationships with.

One person who hasn’t even bothered to pick up the phone and try to make contact is my dad, and I can not say that I am all that surprised or bothered, to be honest. I was done with being surprised or upset by his actions or lack of them a long time ago.

I am still not leaving the room yet, I am just not ready to see people look at me with pity in their eyes, I don’t think I would be great company anyway at the moment.

Claudia has been keeping me up to date on all that's happening to do with Sophia’s incarceration. I don’t really want to be a part of it at all. Luckily, though, Claudia and Hades are now a part of the elder council since Zeke and Lilith took over.

They have agreed to let her relay all the information of what Sophia has done to me. Tamara also spoke to them to tell them anything she knew, which wasn’t much. But the fact she used a potion to trick Tamara’s mate is just another charge for her.

After a week of being here, Julius finally decided to call and ask to speak to me, like everyone else. Hades turned him down flat. Then my dad’s beta and gamma also got in touch to send their apologies for them and their family.

As far as Hades is concerned, they get one call, and if they try and call after that and mention my name, they get hung up on. He refuses to speak to them unless it is about business matters between them, I know there have been a few occasions where he has wished he could slap the stupid out of them through the phone.

I did hear that my dad had told his ranked members, and also all of his people the reality of the situation. I guess that’s why they bothered to make an effort to call. I know that there are many unhappy people in the kingdom.

That ranges from the ones who were tricked by Sophia and treated me like dirt, and the ones who had a kind heart that felt sorry for the quiet little girl, who they felt was being treated unfairly. Unfortunately, there were much fewer people in the second category.

Claudia never tried to encourage me to think in a certain way, talk to anyone, or forgive anyone for their actions. She just gave me the facts so I could gather my own thoughts and decide what I wanted to do when I was ready to face the world again.

I appreciated it, Lilith was the same, and I knew that no matter what they would stand behind me regardless of the choices I made, and make sure no one was able to try and guilt me or influence my decisions.

I was beyond mortified and shocked when I opened the door one day and there standing with a tray of food for me was the actual god of dragons, Python right there in the flesh, impossibly handsome with a smile on his face that could make your heart stop.

Ash was in my head completely fangirling over him, whereas I was just thankful I had actually bothered to shower for the first time in a week. Now, I just had to worry about the fact I was there in a ratty pair of pyjamas with my hair messily piled up on top of my head.

“So do I get to come in then” he said with a raised eyebrow and sexy smirk that made me blush even redder.

I just stuttered as I stood out of the way and let him enter. He went straight over to the small table and chair set and placed the food and drinks down for both of us. I finally got out of my stupor to go and help him, I was being a sh.it host right now.

“Sit I have this, you know I thought you would have been used to us gods by now after living with Hades, he is by far the scariest out of all of us” he said with a chuckle.

I was just glad that Lilith had told me they had been appearing to chat with the human history keeper as a thank you for doing her handfasting ceremony in the underworld. From what she said, both her and him had a similar reaction to meeting them.

“I am sorry you have suffered so much, little one. A phoenix is born through pain, and the fact that the host keeps their goodness and pure heart no matter the challenges. You are very special Regina, and your suffering is now over, heal and be happy, because it is happiness that awaits you” he said to me as I replied with a teary “thank you”.

The rest of lunch was a lot less emotional, and I enjoyed hearing him tell stories of his days when they were still overseeing earth. It gave me the boost I needed and the determination to try and fight for myself and my happiness again.

That evening, I went down to dinner for the first time. I didn’t get any looks of pity at all. All there was was happiness that I was finally joining them again. Zeke walked over to me and gave me a huge brotherly hug.

He has been amazing during this, sending little treats to try and make me smile again and letting me steal his mate from him whenever I needed her. Ash and Lucifer peaked through our eyes to say hi to each other. She couldn’t wait to shift and show off how she looked to her brother.

I wasn’t quite ready to leave the castle just yet, but I promised her I would work hard so we could do it soon. It was enough to keep her happy. I know she was also looking forward to showing off to Lilith. They had spoken through me before but shecwanted her sister to see her true form.