My demon is in front of me in a nanosecond. “Little one, are you back?” He growls.
Cupping his handsome cheek, I nod, “Yes. Thank you. I could not have done it without you and my family. I’m free. Finally.”
“Come. We have much to discuss.” My demon leads me down to where my family waits for me. Before we reach them he pulls me into his arms and kisses me soundly. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Never. You’re stuck with me, demon boy.” I smirk, before kissing him back. My wings fold into my back as we both step back on solid ground.
“Lillie Joanna, you are never to give your mother a fright like that ever again. Do you understand me?” Mama demands, Da at her back looking relieved. She pulls me into a fierce hug. “I thought I was going to lose you, Lillie.”
“Never, Mama, you raised a strong woman.” I pull her into a hug that may not end in my lifetime. Clinging to her, needing her comfort and support, needing to feel my mother’s arms around me for more than just a minute.
45
The Past and the Present Collide
(Lillie Joanna)
As Mama and I pull apart, the heavens open, pouring a cold rain down upon us. It seems fitting that the once sunny sky has darkened into a rolling boiling mass of thunderous clouds. Lightning streaks across the sky and strikes one of the ginormous trees on the mainland, splintering the top and lighting up the darkened sky as booming thunder rocks the land. I think that we are all so shocked by how quickly the weather has turned that we just stand there in the rain, dumbstruck and getting drenched.
Da is the first to react, “Inside, everyone. This storm is … unnatural. Move!” He bellows as lightning splits the sky once again, dancing through the clouds and backlighting the swirling charcoal mass. The stench of burnt ozone lingers in the air.
We quickly make our way inside just as the wind picks up and Da firmly shuts the storm outside. All of us are drenched from our heads to our toes, dripping copious amounts of rainwater on the gleaming flagstone flooring. Dagda is at the hearth stoking a fire when Danu and Rhespen Eroan Pan-tarr, my maternal grandparents race into the room.
“What in the world?!” My Nonna exclaims. “Lillie Joanna, are you okay?” She rushes to my side and takes both my hands in her own, eyeing me critically.
“Yes, Nonna. I’m fine, but I’m worried that we may be too late.”
“Too late for what, peata?”
“Too late to stop Nyx.”
Mama intervenes with Da by her side, “It will keep for now. We all need to get changed into some dry clothing. It’s almost time for dinner. Let us all reconvene in the dining chambers in an hour. Lillie, you’ve just been through an ordeal. I want you to take a few minutes to regroup before we get into all the gory details of what the realms are now facing. Off with you. Daxell, I trust that you can see to Lillie.”
Da grimaces at Mama’s words, but Daxell is quick to reply, “Yes, ma’am.”
With one last look at everyone, I take Daxell’s hand in my own. I look up to see Lachlan eyeing me, his forehead is creased as though he’s trying to make out a puzzle and I know that soon all the puzzle pieces will click into place for him. I reach out for his hand, “Remember that I love you Lachlan.” He nods and regards me strangely, and my heart shudders, knowing that he is beginning to remember. Then I realize that Cara and Ban are missing and I ask, “Where’s Cara?”
“I sent the two off this morning. It had been a little while since they had been hunting. I expect that they will find a warm dry place to wait out the storm. Don’t worry, they should be back by morning. You know how the two of them are, she will sense that you are back and want to see you. Listen, I’m going to change.” Then with one last look at me he pushes his way out of the library and walks away from the rest of us.
“It will be okay, Lillie,” Poppy says as Daxell squeezes my hand gently, but her beautiful face is creased in concern.
“I hope you’re right, Poppy. Go get changed and take a few minutes to chill out with your family. Take this time while you can. See you in a bit … And Poppy? Thank you. You are the best friend anyone could hope to have.” I give her a sad smile, not waiting for her to reply before pulling Daxell to the door. “Come on demon boy, let’s get to my rooms. I need to change and we need to get you a change of clothes as well.”
Da calls after us, “Lillie, I’ll have some clothes sent up for Daxell.”
“Thanks, Da!” I pull Daxell after me and we make our way to the north tower of the Keep. I have rooms on the top floor. That level is otherwise unoccupied. Mama and Da are in the south tower, Lachlan is in the east tower, and Timbra in the west. Evidently, we all like our space now that we are grown. No wonder Mama and Da decided to have more little ones. We’ve all grown up and left them behind. For a moment, I feel sad for them before I remember that one day soon we will be welcoming a new member into our family, and I realize that I can’t wait to see my baby brother or sister. Pulling Daxell up the stairs, we reach the top floor hand in hand. Looking about the landing, I realize that my chambers take up most of the top floor and are more like a large luxury
