"You picked her up from school without asking me?" Sam spat out turning to look him in the eyes, anger clouding over any other emotion.
"Why is that such a big deal?" He asked throwing his hands in the air. "Yes, ok? She's my daughter and I wanted to spend the day with her. I don't see why this is such a crime."
"You should have at least told me. Do you know what I was thinking when I went to get her and they told me someone had already come to pick her up?"
"And who else, but me would be there Sam? Huh? Who else would come and get Lilith from school?" She bit her tongue unable and unwilling to honestly answer his question.
"Look Sam," His voice lowered to a whisper, finding the next words difficult to speak. "You just have to deal with the fact that your daughter needs some serious help. She's different Sam. I'm not sure if you know it or not, or if your mother's intuition blinds you, but there is something not right about Lilith."
Sam looked up to him, her eyes growing dark with hatred and pain, fury replacing anger, ruling her features and attitude.
"Excuse me? My daughter is perfectly fine." She spat back, throwing his words back at him. "There is nothing wrong with MY daughter." She said poking herself in the chest with two fingers to emphasis her point.
"Samantha, I picked her up from school today and the other kids were terrified of her. The teacher looked more than happy I was pulling her out early. There is something dark about that girl."
"There is nothing wrong with her, Rick. But you know what, you're right. You shouldn't have to be dealing with her like this." She said turning on her heel and heading for the foot of the stairs.
"What are you going to do?" He asked following her, concern laced his words.
"I'm taking MY daughter and we're leaving. You shouldn't have to be worried about her."
"And where will you go?" He questioned following her towards the second floor.
"What's it matter? She'll be away from the school, away from the stares and hateful words, but most of all…She'll be away from YOU!" She screamed stopping her feet as she climbed.
"You can't take her from me." He said trying to reach for her to stop her, but failed as she threw open their daughter's bedroom door.
"Mommy?" Her delicate voice stopped him in his tracks and kept him in the hallway out of view.
"Hey baby." She could be heard whispering as the closet door was quickly opened.
"What are you doing?" She was so innocent, so naïve, so different from any other girl her age.
"You and mommy are gonna go away for a while." She answered softly. The sound of a zipper could be heard followed by the violent pulling of clothes from their hangers.
"Mommy?" She questioned, Rick could hear the tears in her voice, but knew if he looked at her there'd be none in her eyes. She was so much like her mother it scared him sometimes. She was hardened and cold to the world, they both were. As if they shared a secret so dark it alone could mean their end.
Maybe they did.
"Come on, Lil." She said reaching for her seven year olds hand and pulling her out of the room.
As they reached the bottom step Sam found Rick standing in front of the door, arms crossed and looking furious. He noticed Lilith had a backpack on her, most likely filled with books and toys to keep her company. Sam stood before him, their eyes meeting, anger met exasperation.
"Move, Richard." She said softly, ice in her voice and eyes.
"No, I'm not letting you take her from me Samantha. I won't stand by and watch as you walk out of my life with her."
"Daddy?" Lilith asked looking to both parents. She sensed the hostility in the room and shifted uncomfortably in her spot.
"You are so scared of her. Why? She's just a child. And I won't stay another moment here so long as you treat her as if she is a disease."
"Daddy? No!" Lilith screamed as Sam reached behind him and opened the door, making him move from his spot. "DADDY! PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME!" She screamed and cried. Actual tears pouring from her eyes as she tried to fight off her mother and head for her father. "I'll be a good girl daddy. I promise, please don't let mommy take me away."
"Sam, please." He asked softly, hoping to break through the girl's cries. She broke his heart, her cries stabbing through him like knives. "Please don't take her from me. I'm sorry, please give me one more chance, but don't, please Sam, I'm begging you. Don't take my little girl from me."
He noticed her body tense, his words hitting her. She loosened her grip on Lilith's arm and the small girl flung herself forward, falling into her father's outstretched arms. She embraced him tightly, all her strength gripping at the collar around his neck, her hot tears falling onto his warm skin. She sniffled in his ear and wiped her face on his shirt. He held her close, brushing her hair back and crying just as softly into her ear. Offering support in forms of 'I love you' into her jet black hair.
He watched Sam, she had yet to turn around, her body still frigid in the doorway. She had been crying, he could tell when she turned to face him. Though her face was dry, her eyes were starting to get puffy. She looked at him, daggers pierced his eyes, but she didn't move. Didn't make a step to pull Lilith from his embrace.
"Hey baby." He whispered looking down to the distraught child in his arms. "Why don't you go upstairs to your room and let mommy and me talk, huh?" Lilith nodded her head, taking off towards the stairs faster than her little legs could carry her. Afraid that if she didn't move fast enough, her mother would change her mind and attempt to pull her out the door again.
"What the fuck, Rick?" She spat out, her first words in over five minutes. She dropped the bag to the floor and slammed the door behind her.
"Sam, please…"
"No Rick, what the hell is your problem lately?" She took two strides forward and was only inches from his face. He took a deep breath and maintained his ground.
"She's the only child I've ever had, and I can't live if you take her from me." She seemed to contemplating his words before opening her mouth and speaking.
"That may be true, but I don't see you treating her as such. You're acting like she'll kill you as soon as look at you.
"I know, and I'm sorry. I just…" He trailed off, massaging the pressure point between his eyes and taking a deep breath to calm himself. "I don't know what's wrong with her and whatever it is…I'm scared it'll kill her or someone else. I don't know if there's a cure, or if she is capable of controlling it."
"There is no cure, it's not the plague, it's who she is."
"WHO IS SHE SAM?" He managed to spit out. "I love her, and I love you. I really do, but I don't want her looking back years from now asking me why I didn't do more to get her help."
"There is no help, there is no stopping it. She needs to come to terms with it and handle it on her own, nobody else can do it for her."
"What is it? Telekinesis? Is she schizophrenic? Is there more than one person living in her head?"
"No, it's none of that. It's a form of her own expression. She's had it since she was born and there is nothing correcting it. She has to figure out the best way to deal with it."
He paused, knowing he wasn't going to get the answer he wanted out of her. Instead he tried to change the conversation, end their argument. He wanted to help in the only way he knew how, he felt useless when it came to his daughter and wanted nothing more than to help her in her trial of need.
"Look Sam, we can move. My boss wants to promote me to CEO of our division in Highland Park. We can move out there, Lilith can get a fresh new start and maybe put all this behind her."
"I don't know, Rick." Her tone had relaxed and she was nearing a form of casualness. "I mean all this moving can't be good for her. She needs a stabile living environment for her development. I believe it's the only way she can maintain some control over this gift of hers."
"I know, babe." He whispered rubbing his hands up and down her arms, happy she was becoming more tranquil and longed to keep her that way. He hated fighting with her, and knew she was capable of taking off with the one thing that meant the world to him. "We'll move out there, she can get a fresh start where nobody knows her or whatever it is she's capable of." Sam opened her mouth to protest, but he put his finger to her lips, silencing her. "You don't want to tell me, and that's fine. You don't have to, but Lilith deserves to grow up without the judgmental looks and hateful words of those who do know her."
"I don't want to move unless she's ok with it."
"I agree. I don't think asking her to be running from this is a way to deal with it, but she does need change. We all do." Sam allowed her body to relax in his embrace and rested her head on his shoulder. She was happy he was so understanding and willing to accept Lilith for her unique abilities. "I'm sorry I said what I did…I just…I don't understand what's going on with our little girl and it scares me that I won't be able to control it and keep her safe."
"I know, I feel the same. That's why I ask her to repress it, using it is nothing but dangerous for her and us." Sam said wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Are you ever going to tell me what it is she has?"
"Not yet." She whispered shaking her head into the crook of his neck. "I'm not sure when, but eventually, when she's ready….she'll tell you." He nodded in understanding knowing both his wife and daughter had their own personal secrets that they would tell him if they felt he truly needed to know.
"What's wrong?" He asked noticing her breathing was labored again and she felt as if she was crying into his shirt, much like Lilith had done earlier.
"Nothing." She got out pulling away and picking up the old duffel bag and heading for the stairs once more to put the contents back in their original places.
"Doesn't sound like 'nothing' to me Sammy."
"It's just…" She froze mid step and turned so quickly on her heel she almost knocked him down the stairs with the action. "Every day I find myself becoming more and more like my parents." He chuckled softly at this as the statement left her mouth with pure honesty.
"What's wrong with that? Every child eventually becomes their parents."
"I know, but I just wish I could see them again and apologize for being so hard on them. For making life so difficult. Everything they ever did suddenly makes sense."
"And that, is a sign that you've grown up." He joked following her back up the stairs to their daughter's room.
"Oh shut up." She joked, giving off a soft giggle in return.
"Don't worry Sam, I'm sure they are watching over you and happy to see you finally understand." He spoke. Sam's face fell. Happy her back was to him and he couldn't see.
She had never told him her parents were still alive. She never told him she lied about them dying simply because she knew they were looking for her and Lilith. They longed to see their daughter and granddaughter again. They had only a few short days with them both before Sam was forced to do what she did. She was always afraid she'd come home to find they hired some private investigator to find them. She was always afraid they'd take them back home to face their demons, explaining to Lilith it was her destiny.
She knew both her parents loved her, would respect her wishes to leave and never look back. After all she'd made it this far without making contact with them. She also knew should she send them a line asking for money they'd wire whatever she needed without question. If she needed them, she knew they'd be on a plane at the drop of a dime.
She'd had her differences with them, butted heads on more than one occasion, but they were her parents and they loved her deeply. They would do anything for her and Lilith. With that she smiled, realizing becoming her parents wasn't as bad as she once perceived it to be.
"Hey baby." Rick said looking to his daughter. She was laying on the floor, her back a stiff board against the carpet.
Her face was stone stiff, the best poker face he'd ever seen, her eyes were locked on the ceiling. The only sign of life was the slow rise and fall of her chest and her eyes that blinked every minute on the minute. He stepped back and let Sam move towards her, he knew this to be her thinking pose and didn't dare interrupt her. Her eyes were puffy with previously fallen tears, but her face was bone dry.
"Lil." Sam said, gently nudging her side with the tip of her shoe. He watched as Lilith's limp body gently rocked against the action before she let opened her mouth and let out a loud scream. Before Rick could even bring his hands to shield his ears Sam had fallen to her feet and covered her mouth.
He stole a glance to the edge of the room and noticed her small mirror had cracked, a large shard resting helplessly on the floor. Sam looked over to him with a sympathetic look and he took that as his cue to leave. He didn't know what his daughter was, nor did he really care. He knew both girls could handle it far better than him. He grabbed his coat and exited the house, leaving the mystery of his child's difference behind.
"Lilith, what the hell is wrong with you?" Sam asked looking her over. She flinched when her baby blue eyes became a neon green. It scared her; they were so much like his. The girl seemed oblivious to the fact they were even glowing.
"I'm a freak." She screamed, tears pouring from her eyes, which had now returned to their baby blue.
"No you're not, honey." She whispered picking her up and holding her close.
"Yes I am." She cried into her mother's blouse. "All the kids at school tell me. I'm sorry mommy, I try not to let it escape, but sometimes I can't control it."
"I know, Lil. I know." She soothed her, running her hands through her hair that was shining brightly and slowly shifting between her raven black to snow white. She was glad Rick left, he was only willing to take in so much secrecy and so many lies before he would crack and demand to know what she was.
"No you don't mommy." She screamed, her voice rising as the tears fell at their own rate. "You don't know what I'm going through." Sam remained quiet, she was right. She didn't exhibit the same abilities like her daughter did, even throughout her pregnancy she was never as strong her child. "Sometimes I just wish it would all go away."
Sam smiled to herself, she sounded so much like someone she knew. Someone she had tried to lock away in her past along with everything he stood for. Funny how the past comes back to haunt you. Lilith got up from her mother's lap and crawled onto her bed. No longer crying, just simply pouting.
"Hey, how would you like to move away?" Sam asked softly. Lilith turned to look her mother in the eyes.
"We always move mommy." She whispered. She was more grown up and mature than any child her age. Her mental development beyond comprehension. Soon, it would become harder to lie to her.
"I know, but what do you say one more time? Huh?" She said reaching her hand out to lightly rub the girl's arm. "You can make friends this time, maybe even get rid of this…"
"Why do I have it?" Her words floored Sam and stopped her heart. "Why am I different than everybody else?"
"Well baby I don't know." She whispered so low she wasn't sure if she could hear her. "I've asked myself that question a million times over, but I can't seem to come up with an answer, but I promise you, you'll overcome it."
Lilith looked her mother over, sensing the woman's struggle in providing an appropriate answer. She allowed her hand to reach across the bed and gently touch her mother's breast. She felt the organ inside her rib cage skip a beat before pulling away. There were things her mother was hiding from her, things she wasn't saying, and whatever it was, it was slowly killing her. Lilith offered her a small smile, she was done pretending everything was going to change one day. She was finished being a burden to her parents.
In that moment Lilith Aria Hayes allowed her own execution to start. She would destroy her other half even if it meant killing the one she tried to live now. She would start to hide things from them, never speaking a word of her abilities again. Maybe then her parents wouldn't split, maybe then life could be normal. She would never allow them to see the green eyed, white haired demon again. Because starting now she would do all in her power to be sure she never showed her face again in her parent's life. They would forget she existed and leave her dead in the past where she belonged.
"Is daddy coming with us?" She asked softly, her sly smile catching her mother off guard.
"Of course, baby." She said, wondering what her daughter was thinking.
"Ok, we'll move." She said happily smiling so brightly her teeth could be seen. Sam smiled back and looked down to her only child. Had she would have known that was going to be the last time she was ever going to see her daughter in her childlike state, she would have never asked her to change.
Lilith looked up from her spot on Danny's bed, the ceiling her only view. She blinked back tears, the memories of her past too much for her to bare. She hiccupped softly and was shocked to see the red smoke once again leave her, she knew Sam was in the room with her, where though she was unsure. She longed to turn to Sam and question her about everything, but knew it would be useless. This teenager knew nothing of the future, and would only become an annoyance with her questions and probing.
Why was it so important for her to hide who she really was? How long had her mother known what she has? Her father? Did they really know, or was her own subconscious finally losing it? A last minute ditch effort at exposing lies before her own life abruptly ended? What was this baby? And when would her demise come?
Anger and hate filled her very being. Anger for being lied to, for having to hide who she truly was, killing apart of herself and hiding her existence whenever she failed to properly keep her ghost half in check. Hate feeling obligated to no longer be herself. She had thought her parents never knew, they never let on that they knew her secret. Maybe they didn't; maybe she was just losing her mind slowly. That had to be the answer. But then why lie about moving?
She had memories of moving from place to place, but every time she questioned them about it they'd look at her as if she'd grown a second head. Both staying firm with the answer they had lived in their current house for the past sixteen years. Maybe she was losing it, her own reality becoming altered as death stood by her, waiting to sweep her from this plane.
"Penny for your thoughts." Sam muttered into the silence. Lilith let her head fall to the side the voice called from and took Sam in. She was sitting on Danny's desk chair, but wasn't spinning like she normally was, most likely her stomach finally setting for the day after her terrible morning sickness.
"Gonna cost more than a penny." She answered back, pulling a smile from her friend as she sat up in the bed.
"You ok?" She asked getting up from her seat quickly and placing the back of her hand to her head.
"Fine, what happened?" She questioned.
"I'm not sure. I was hoping you could tell me."
"Well I just realized I was lied to my whole life by my parents." She stated in a judging tone as if blaming Sam for the problem. She was, but this wasn't the right Sam she was to be blaming.
"Welcome to being a teen." She whispered sitting on the edge of the bed when she moved to make room.
"Where's Danny and Tucker?" She said pushing her resentment into the back of her head.
"On their way up." She said and as if on cue the door opened, both boys piling into the room.
"Hey! You're up." Tucker said happily rushing over to her side.
"Jeeze, Lilith. That stunt you pulled was crazy." Danny stated with a hostile tone.
Again the feeling came back, as if he were her father reprimanding her. She rolled her eyes before looking him once over. Her head ached and she was sure whatever she did was worthy of being scolded for.
"What happened?" She finally asked bringing her hand to the back of her head rubbing the sore spot softly.
"I'm not sure, none of us are." Danny said looking to her with a softened expression. "One minute you're standing talking to us and the next…" He trailed off, as if the next words were hard to speak.
"You blacked out or something. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head and you just collapsed to the floor." Tucker finished, his look full of concern.
"Are you alright?" Sam asked again, wondering if any of the news was giving her memory back. She nodded her head yes, fear setting in. Her face looked drained of blood and her head was pounding. She felt as if her end was coming quicker then she had planned. Death was at her door, trying to break in. She doubted whatever she was supposed to fix would never be.
"Are you sure Lilith? I mean if something's wrong…"
"I'm fine." She cut him off quickly, not wishing to burden them with her own dilemma. "I promise."
The three teens nodded and exited the room, clearly meaning for her to follow. She got off the bed on shaky legs, but managed to stand and walk with little issues. She passed by the mirror and looked herself over, the reflection was scary beyond comparison. She no longer recognized the girl looking back at her. The skin was pale in her human form, her eyes bloodshot with dark circles, making her believe she hadn't slept in weeks. Her hair lighter, her lips chapped and cold. She brought a hand to her face and watched as her eyes flashed a crimson red before returning to her almost grey-blues. She jumped back, startled by the action, before hurrying down the stairs as Tucker called for her.
The woman in her reflection was no one she knew, or cared to. But feared she was slowly becoming her before the world's very eyes, her friends were just too blind to see it.
Ok I stole my laptop from my friend and I was able to post this chapter real fast. So I should have a new one up after my recovery is complete, sometime next week. I'm hoping to sneak a chapter of The Present in the Past in soon, I'll see what I can do. Thanks for being so patient guys, I really appreciate it.
PLEASE REVIEW!
