ion - she simply settled against me as though it was the most natural thing in the wor

a moment before opening

no

ng slipped through the curtains, Lily leaning comfortably against me, one small han

e story. I was too aware of her, of the way she trusted me, the way s

ar. It fri

you

ed dow

look

gently. "

. Then, with heartbreaking care, she reached up and

in her voice stole t

miliar voice interrupted fr

the doorframe, as always perfectly composed, his dark suit immaculate an

y from me or panic, but the relaxed ease she had shown moments earlier disappeare

e lingering on his daug

ing well,

ngle nod. "W

off my lap. "I'll only b

ne before I could ste

seemed to sur

d. "I p

hand, watching me until I d

enough away before speaking. "Yo

med it

nbur

es

ation was unus

g deliberate about

th children for

sn't my

died me, his expression remaining controlled, but something unsettled moved behind h

u accept th

ily needed

ightly. "Four nannies

kno

didn't con

di

u came

are. "Someone

. Finally, he spoke quietly.

can surp

self to people." A pause followed. "Not doctors. Not teachers. Not relatives." His voice lowered. "Not even the wo

elt it too - the strange familiarity, the impossible connection, the wa

w," I fin

ble crossed his f

his expression hardened. "I prot

ple statement.

without hesitat

e, then the mask returned, and without another word, he

Lily trusted me, the more dangerous I became

hrough the water while I washed her hair, and for the first time since entering Blackwood M

umming, and my ha

ght sing without realizing it mattered. But I knew it - every note

il

ked up.

you hear

er head. "I

ugh me. "Can you

ame melody I had created five years ago - the lullaby I had made

oth hands resting over my stomach, whispering those notes to my unborn da

ious hours before she was taken from me, be

w that son

ly sounded like my own.

wned. "

w do you

n at the water

chill through me

"I've always

"In the dream,

tened around th

n't know." A small pause fol

louder. "But she

wed. "Wh

changed. "When you came here..." She re

er. "I could

came comple

ly.

pped around min

for answers, chased every rumor, followed every impossible lead, and

king at me with memories that should

emembered me. Eve