Chapter 164- Telling Lila

Selene

After two full days of arguing about my plans to go to Tartarus – most of which were devoted to convincing the Betas it was the right thing to do even though we’d already reached that agreement with Helene – Aiden, Donovan and I have finally reached something

close to a detente. The Betas have accepted that I’m going to Tartarus whether they like it or not, and now Helene and I are well under way planning out trip. After reviewing the quickest route to Tartarus over and over again, we finally moved on to figuring out how we‘re going to disguise me, what precautions I’ll take to avoid Blaise, and how to convince Bastien to believe me over Arabella.

I’ve continued training with her day and night, moving on from bending shadows to working on hypnosis, harnessing moonlight and putting people to sleep. I’m not very good at the latter two, but I’ve made surprising progress with the hypnosis, so much so that Helene offered me rare praise after our first session, telling me my efforts weren’t half bad.

In the meantime I’ve been trying to figure out how I’m going to explain what’s happening to Lila, let alone how I’m going to work up the strength to leave her. I’ve never been away from Lila for longer than a day or two, and at least one of those occasions was her k********g, so I don’t exactly have strong positive feelings associated with the idea.

I wish I had more time to prepare her for my departure, letting her sit with the idea for a day or two would surely be better than surprising her with it and immediately disappearing, but we simply don’t have the time to spare. So today I’m going to spend every last second of my time with my pup, and tomorrow we’ll both be leaving Elysium – Lila traveling West with Drake and Sophie, and me traveling to the far East in hopes of rescuing Bastien from Arabella’s cruel clutches.

I’m so lost in my thoughts about what is yet to come, I forget to hide my pensive mood from my daughter.

“Mommy, wha’s wrong?” Lila asks, coming to stand beside me as I finish doing the dishes from Breakfast.

“Sorry Lila bean, I was just thinking. Are you almost ready to go?” I ask her. “Mommy I’s ready hours ago!” She announces dramatically, throwing her dark head

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back in exasperation.

laugh, drying my hands, “let’s

this time it’s going to be just us. Sophie is spending

comes down to it, Lila has so much fun zooming around the enclosures full of exotic animals that I’m loathe to ruin her good mood. Still, I know it has to be done. As we stroll through the aquarium, surrounded by

hindsight I realize telling her here may have been a

all the fish in the floor to ceiling tanks lining the walls, that she isn’t listening

the middle of the room, I lift her into my lap and wrap both arms around

pointing to a lionfish. “That is a good

than being preoccupied with what’s in front of her, her thoughts seem far away. I have no doubt she’s remembering running through all of the floating city’s canals, it used to be impossible to get her to come inside when the sun was shining and the water

them?” I suggest, praying the conversation continues to go

up and down in

and Aunt Sophie have invited you to come stay for a few weeks.

already

bean.” I sigh, catching her and pulling her to a stop between . my legs. “I

expression disappears, confusion overtaking

What’d you mean?”

of having young pups, I decide. When they aren’t old enough to understand why bad things are happening, but you

Luna advises. I know it hurts now

come back. I think morosely. Don’t say that. Luna snaps. Thinking that way

turning my attention back to my daughter. “I don’t want to lie to you, Lila. So

vows sincerely, her blue and violet

my knuckles across her cheek. “He’s a little lost, just like I was when he came and found me in Asphodel. So I have to

with you.” Lila decides

my darling.” I try to break the news as gently as I can, but it hurts just speaking the words. “It’s too dangerous. So while I’m gone, Uncle

safe.” 

for a moment, her lower lip pushing out

back?”

could tell you for certain that it will only be a few weeks, but I don’t want to make you any promises

my heart thumps in sympathy, “Like Daddy. What if you goes

see me and Daddy again.” I swear, gripping her shoulders. “Do

She sniffles, rubbing

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