Chapter 27.

Asteria POV.

I’m standing on top of a hill looking over the glistening blue waters. I hear laughter coming from behind me. I turn and see a black-haired little girl running with a boy. I smile at the image.

“Janny, stop! I can’t run that fast!” the little girl laughs as she pushes faster away from the boy. They both run past me and I follow behind them down the hill towards the village. I stop in my tracks when I see her. My mother.

She catches the girl who I know is my much younger self as I try to run past her. With a squeal, she sweeps me up into the air, away from my brother.

“There you are, my little sea flower. Where have you been?” she coos and kisses my cheek before she sets me on my feet.

“Janny was chasing me. We were racing. I won, mamma. I did it.” I laugh as Janis picks me up and hugs me. Before they take off again. I walk closer to my mother and look at her.

She is beautiful, brown eyes and olive skin, long deep brown hair that is nearly black, the sun catching red under