Prologue

The dark clouds of the evening released merciless droplets of rain onto a hooded silhouette as it hurried up the harsh stone steps. The wind whirled violently, attempting to dissuade the mother’s intention, without success. Clutching a vulnerable bundle in her arms, Emma’s eyes darted across her surroundings then she stared up at the orphanage, tears of pain welling over her eyes, blurring her vision. Her hand trembling with fear, she knocked on the door.

*****

“She is beautiful!” Squeaked Nicole, “Isn’t she, Jack?”

Nicole’s husband just yawned and scratched his hairless head, “If you say so.” To which Nicole momentarily closed her azure eyes, begging for patience.

The social worker frowned slightly with unease. Nicole Stuart had proved to be more than capable to love, and care for the baby…Mr Stuart, however… Jane shook away her doubts; there was nothing she could do about it. She forced a smile and said; “Is there anything else you require?”

Nicole beamed and shook her head; elegant black tresses shimmered in the light, “Not at all.” She cradled baby Lily lovingly. “We have everything we need, don’t we Jack?”

The man in question just shrugged and resumed to fixing his brown eyes to his computer game; The Godfather.

Now it was Nicole’s turn to force a smile, directed at Jane. “Thank you so much Miss Turner.”

Jane smiled, “It was my pleasure.” With that, she left Lily with the Stuarts, strongly reminded of why she had never married.



Chapter 1 – Harsh Truths

Fifteen year old Lily surveyed her reflection in the mirror with a critical eye. Who am I? She thought. Her circular face was softly framed by her midnight red hair, often seen flowing freely down her back. Her profound emerald eyes reflected her confusion and were filled with sorrow. At a height of 5, 5, she was one of the tallest in her form and her distinguished beauty had gained her masses of friends and admirers…and yet… she always felt as if she didn’t belong. An unidentifiable hole was indented in her heart, unidentifiable that is until this morning, the eve of her sixteenth birthday.

Lily, her mum and her dad had just sat down for breakfast when her mum cleared her throat. “Lily, hon’, we need to talk.”

Lily frowned, “What about?” She glanced at her dad. Jack Stuart’s concentration was occupied only with his cereal.

Her mum sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair. “Lily, there is something we need to tell you.”

‘We’, thought Lily watching her dad munch noisily on his food. That’s debateable I must say. She looked back at her mum expectantly.

Nicole hesitated, “Well… just before you were born…”

Jack swallowed his food and groaned. “Get on with it Nicky,” He turned to face Lily, whose face was now creased with anxiety. “Lily, your adopted,” He said simply.

Silence.

Nicole’s eyes widened at her husband.

Jack just continued with his breakfast.

It was Lily who, shakily, spoke first; “Yeah. Right,” She laughed nervously, this was just another of her dad’s cruel jokes. “Now what do you really want to tell me?” Her eyes shifted from her Dad to her Mum and back again. Then she knew. “It’s true,” she whispered her eyes brimmed with tears, extinguishing their natural playful glint.
 

Nicole looked concerned. “Lily…” she reached out to hold her adopted daughter’s hand but Lily recoiled away and ran to her room and there she had stayed all day.

Lily now looked at her clock which was positioned beside a towering bookcase.
23:30. The blood red digits blazed maliciously at her. Dragging her eyes away, she sighed heavily and collapsed on her bed, fully clothed. Lily found she was unable to close her raw eyes that were drained from the continuous flow of tears. No wonder her dad –Jack, she quickly amended- was always tormenting her about being the odd one out. He was forever laughing mockingly, amused at his own unspoken joke, unspoken, no more. Though, Lily could not laugh at it. She suddenly heard hushed voices steadily rising from downstairs;

“How could you do that, you fool?” hissed Nicole in anguish. “You know what he said-“
 
Jack laughed bitterly, “Yeah I know what he said. Anyway, left to you, we would be stuck with this nightmare forever.”

“It may be a nightmare to you, but to me-“

Jack growled, “I don’t care what it is to you! I just hope she gets out.”

Lily’s eyes stung with dry tears. Fine, she thought as she heard the front door slam.

An hour and a half later, Lily was marching to the bus station clutching a piece of
paper with an address scribbled on. She had rummaged through all of the documents in Jack’s home office, searching frantically for the paperwork signed at her adoption. Finally, she had discovered the orphanage’s address.

Arriving at the bus station she sat and waited, with nothing to do but think. Think about her lost identity. She wasn’t Lily Stuart. If her self-set task failed, she would remain Lily Nobody. Well at least she is Lily, the paperwork had confirmed that much. Lily began to drift uneasily into a dreamless sleep.

*****

Will Lucas’ mobile emitted a piercing ring causing him to jolt awake and fumble for his phone. “Yeah?” he grunted sleepily and listened, frowning. He glanced at his wife who, he believed, lay sleeping soundlessly beside him. His eyes suddenly widened. “What?!” he barked angrily, “What do you mean she ran away?” He listened again watching his wife, Emma, lest she awoke. “I don’t care what you think. Find her.” He muttered threateningly and terminated the call.

He reached for his dressing gown and climbed out of bed. As Will made his way downstairs, Emma dared to neglect her sleeping act and open her eyes. They were filled with familiar sadness and refreshed fear. The former because her plan had now failed and come to nothing and whilst the latter was not for herself.

Will sunk into the sofa and pulled out an alternative mobile. A message circulated, reaching a substantial mass of recipients. As his finger pressed down on the button, he had pitched a rock into sinister water, shooting ripples across the country, summoning his Sgarrista, summoning his soldiers.

*****

Lily jerked awake as the bus roared towards her. It took a moment for her fogged mind to remember ‘Where’ and ‘Why’, but when she had, she stood up and hastily mounted the vehicle.

Twenty minutes later, Lily gazed up at the orphanage, tears of anxiety welling over her eyes, blurring her vision. The dark clouds of the night released tender droplets of rain and the wind whistled softly, moving Lily gently toward the stone steps. Her hand trembled as she knocked on the door.

No answer.

Lily was about to relinquish her mission when her clover eyes fell upon an open side window. Hesitating, she scrambled through and found herself in a circular office. Chewing her lip nervously, she cast her eyes around and located a door bearing the sign: ‘ADMINISTRATION ACCESS ONLY’. Bingo. She opened the door and walked inside.

Instantly, the stale smell hit her, forcing her to use her sleeve to protect her mouth and nose. She slowly crept down the wooden cellar steps. The daunting darkness of the mysterious environs forced against her eyes and she heard naught but her rasping breath. Her fingers groped for a light switch and she found a long, straggly cord. She pulled. Light flooded the cellar, revealing numerous large, heavy cabinets. Lily unlocked her sweaty palm to check her adoption reference number. Looking up, her eyes sought the relevant crypt. She cautiously advanced towards the cabinet. Her heart slammed against her chest, pounding like a drum signifying the outbreak of war. A sickening metallic taste of dread filled her mouth as she unfastened the drawer and flicked through the various files. She gasped. There it was. Thick cobwebs coating her past drifted towards her face, but she wafted them away. Shaking, she opened the file and struggled momentarily to comprehend the text before her.


REF: 325879

CHILD’S NAME: LILY EMMA LUCAS  

FATHER: WILLIAM LUCAS

MOTHER: EMMA LUCAS

At long last, Lily knew who she was.