Chapter 3. Revelations
Somewhere not far from where Genie and Ali had been washed out, a certain blue-eyed, white-haired 16-year old was getting a serious scolding…
"Lila what did I tell you about the beach? What did I tell you about the lighthouse?... Why won't you ever listen to me?" her mother exclaimed nervously. Lila was silently sitting on the chair, prepared to take in any scolding that was coming to her. Besides, despite the fact that she hadn't and probably wouldn't regret that wonderful walk at the beach, her mother was right. She shouldn't have been sneaking around in the lighthouse. Her mother had to wait till morning to give her the proper scolding, because when her father had taken her home that night she was a bit shaken and he insisted she rested. But now it was time for amends.
"Calm down Helen. The child is already shocked. You don't need to yell at her too" her father interfered as he walked through the door. Then he turned to Lilan with a soft but still strict look.
"You know what you did was wrong, don't you Lila?" The white-haired girl nodded positively with a very embarrassed look.
"And that should teach you a lesson" he said as he sat down in front of her. "You could have gotten hurt. Plus, you destroyed the lighthouse's mechanism. Do you know how important that is to sailors passing outside this peninsula at night?" Lila knew a thing or two about lighthouses and sailing, but she couldn't really tell why this one was so important. Her father noticed her puzzled look and cracked a half-smile.
"Outside this bay, in the open South British waters, there is a rather large reef area. You know what reef are right?"
"Yes…" the girl answered.
"Well, ships may crash on those reefs if they lose orientation, and if they do many people might drown and lose their lives…" he finally said in a serious tone of voice. Lila's face became almost distorted, not only with shame, but also with sorrow.
"I am so sorry father! I never meant to hurt anyone… I just wanted to see the sea. I am really sorry…" her eyes were almost teary. Her father pushed the chair closer to her and gave her a hug, caressing her hair at the same time.
"Hush child… I didn't mean to upset you or make you feel bad. I know you didn't intend to hurt anyone… But you have to know, that every action you take has certain results and although many times they won't affect you, they might affect others and you will have to take responsibility for them" he said softly.
"I know father. Please forgive me for breaking the lighthouse mechanism. I am really sorry" and she was more than sincere. Her biggest concern was not that she had been afraid of that old man. He had scared her for a moment, but mostly her uneasiness was due to the fact that she felt bad for destroying something that didn't belong to her. Lila had had a very strong sense of duty and justice since she was really young. Her parents had played a big part in teaching her that, but it was also somewhat instinctive. Therefore, the fact that she had broken something and furthermore, something that might have such consequences, made her feel terrible.
"Father… you think someone might have gotten hurt because of the broken lighthouse?" she asked a bit terrified and certainly worried. Her father gave her a soft, comforting look.
"I don't think so Lila. It was just one night. I fixed the device with the first morning light so everything should be fine" he answered softly, however he was not sure himself. Of course that was not a very crowded sailing area but could he really be 100% certain that no one had crossed the narrows of the Lizard peninsula? However he didn't want to make Lila feel guilty for something that might have been just an assumption. Lila released a sigh of relief. She really couldn't bare it if anyone had gotten hurt because of her.
"I am really sorry papa… I will not disobey again" she said lowering her head.
"I believe you sweetie. Now can go back to your room." He said and stroked her hair. Lila popped a small smile nodded and headed to her room. However, she didn't really get to it, but instead did something she so often used to do, she stayed hidden behind the wall of the hallway leading to her room and eavesdropped on her parents conversation. She wasn't exactly proud of it, but she was used to doing it since she was a child, given the fact that her parents became all the more secretive as she aged. Plus, she was a very curious spirit, by default so she couldn't really help it. She smiled at the thought of giving absolution to herself for doing something generally considered wrong.
"You're being too soft on her" she heard her mother say. It was true, her mother was always far more strict than her father.
"Helen. The child is curious. She's not even a child anymore…She's a teenager. Ever since she was a baby she was intrigued by every little thing. We've been keeping her almost secluded for I don't even remember how many years now. It's only normal that she'll sneak out" her father protested. However her mother's stance was firm as always.
"It's for her own safety. And the safety of everyone around her." She stated and continued without waiting for a response. "You say she was emitting the light…" then her father interrupted.
"Yes… But it was faint, and I am not even sure it wasn't a reflection or something" he said in a low voice.
"Spare me the childish excuses John. I am pretty sure you saw the light, faint as it was and so are you" her voice sounded less rough and more serious now. "Sweetheart… We are raising a divine child… I know you would have wanted to spoil her… well, more than you have at least, but it's for Lila's sake and the sake of the Earth and humanity. It's just two more years… We have to keep her safe. Not only by responsibility, but because you and I love that child and don't want to see her go in harm's ways. Just two more years…" she said softly now.
Lila widened her eyes. Her mother would not often show such affection but Lila knew she loved her. She was really touched every time she would realize it. She didn't need to hear more. All that confusing stuff about her being a "divine child" had really gotten her thinking though… She had heard her parents call her that in their private conversations before. She always assumed that they meant she was a gift of god because they couldn't have children before her or something, but this was strange…
The light… Responsibility… The sake of the Earth and Humanity…What is all this?...
She kept wondering about this until she reached her room. She looked outside the window. It was noon already. She opened her window and let the breeze caress her skin. She closed her eyes and smiled. She couldn't see it from there, but she could imagine it… Smell it in the air.
"The sea…." She whispered "I will walk by your side again someday…" she promised herself. The she opened her eyes and lay on her bed looking at the ceiling.
"Two years… What's in two years?... I'll be 18 but… Why is that so important"
…
Two years later
Those two years passed almost in a heartbeat. After the incident at the lighthouse, Lila had decided to stop being rebellious and start being obedient and do as her parents asked. She only had a couple of friends and they would usually visit her at home. She kind of hated that so she still sneaked out to visit the Thames on fullmoons but she only stayed there for a while and definitely a lot less than she used to.
In the morning of her 18th birthday's eve, her parents made the long-awaited move. They called her in the living room and sat her down to talk to her. She somehow knew that was coming. Be it instinct, be it all the conversations she had eavesdropped, she knew it.
"Lila dear. Please sit. We need to talk to you" her mother said softly and sat in front of her taking Lila's hands in hers. "There's something important you need to know… Something we've been keeping from you all this time, not because we wanted to, but because we had to… I am hoping that in due time you will understand. I urge you to try and be calm about this. I know you are a strong girl and perfectly capable of it." Lila wasn't surprised. She obviously suspected there was some big secret about her, but now she was a little scared about what it might be.
"Mother…" she said. Helen sighed.
"I am not your real mother Lila. At least I didn't carry you in my womb. We are not your real parents" she said softly and slowly to let Lila take in the new information. She also held Lila's hands a little tighter as she felt them shake and twitch a little.
Lila opened her eyes wide and started slightly shaking. This was too much to take in just like that. She didn't expect it and was definitely not prepared about it. She had noticed of course that both her parents were brunettes while her hair was whittish like the fresh snow, but she never really gave it more thought. She turned her look to her John.
"Papa?..." she said with a slightly trembling voice. John moved to her and stroked her hair in a reassuring way, like he always did.
"Hush sweetie. We love you as your real parents. Biology has nothing to do with parental love." Lila smiled a little as a tear fell down her cheek. Her papa's words always soother her. But this still was too intense.
"But how… Why?..." she mumbled.
"You are the daughter of God, the protector of Earth. He entrusted you to us until you came in the age of 18." He said softly again.
"Go…God?" Lila mumbled completely astonished by this new information. After she processed it she added. "Is that why you've been calling me idivine child /i" she said self-consciously. Helen jerked up a little.
"How do you know that?" she asked. Lila lowered her gaze.
"I know a lot… I heard you sometimes talking when you thought I wasn't in the room" she said completely normally. "I was prepared for a secret, but nothing like this…" Both Helen and John looked at her surprised and then John smiled.
"I told you she was a curious child" he said to his wife joking. Lila cracked a small smile too. John turned to her again.
"Sweetie, as the daughter of the protector of the Earth, you have a legacy to carry on.. However we do not have the authority to tell you more about this." He got up and patted her back.
"I knew you wouldn't freak out about this. I kept telling your mother but she was worried" Lila rolled her eyes. She kind of HAD freaked out about it…
"Come on now, go get ready. Your friends will be here soon to celebrate your birthday, and tomorrow I will take you to the person that will unravel the mystery of your new life" he said winking and prompted her to move to go and get ready. Lila realized there was no real reason to insist on this since they weren't going to reveal anything. She could wait until tomorrow.
In the afternoon her friends came and they had somewhat of a party, but Lila was seriously troubled with the news she had gotten that morning. Plus her parents kept acting like it was their last day with her, something that seriously troubled her. However she did try to have fun. It was her birthday after all.
At night when she lay in bed she kept thinking… i God… I am the daughter of God /i, and she found herself remembering how much she had admired the creator of all the beauty of the earth when she was walking at the beach. She instinctively smiled at the thought of being related to him… Whoever he was.
…..
The next day, Lila got up in a rush. She hadn't slept much as the anticipation was killing her. She really wanted to meet that person that would 'unravel the mystery of her new life'. Who was that person? And what new life was that?
Lila got ready pretty fast. She wore her favorite sky blue dress and combed her hair. She put on a small hairpin that had a small gemstone shaped like a lily, her favorite flower, on her hair and went to the living room. Both her parents waited there and Helen looked like she had been crying.
"Mama, is everything ok?" Lila asked concerned.
"Yes dear. Everything is fine" Helen answered and kissed her forehead. "Now go… You will be late". Lila couldn't help but think there was a 'goodbye' hidden behind that behavior. But she tried not to think about it. It was probably just her, being overly suspicious.
"Yes of course. Let's go Lila." John said and took Lila's arm. As they exited the house, Lila looked back at it, instinctively. Little did she know that she wouldn't be coming back… Not for a long time…
Her and John entered the carriage and headed slightly east. To Lila's surprise, the carriage stopped a few minutes later. So the person who would solve the mystery of her life was ther, in Reading… And furthermore, he or she lived really close to her house.
They got out of the carriage and headed to a huge stone manor. Lila had noticed that manor before. It was really big, she could see it from Thames at night… There was always light in its windows, even at the deepest night. She followed John through the big iron gate. They walked through a small path passing by a huge garden.
"Wow…" Lila instinctively exclaimed. That place was a sight for sore eyes. John knocked the big metal knob on the door and the door just opened. Lila opened her eyes wide. They entered a huge decorated corridor and crossed it all the way to a big hall where they were announced by a servant with clothes much fancier than her own. They walked inside the hall. An old, but not too old woman with hair the exact same color as Lila's was sitting on a luxurious armchair sipping some tea.
"Oh I see you are here" she said in a deep, stern voice. John nodded and gave her a deep bow.
"I have brought her to you Sophia. As agreed upon" he said in a very respectful tone of voice. The woman looked at Lila with a quite examining look.
"Does she know who I am?" the woman said flatly sipping some more tea. John nodded negatively and turned to Lila.
"Lila, this is Sophia, goddess, former protector of the Earth, creator of modern humanity and… your grandmother" he announced. Sophia chuckled a little.
"That was a fine introduction. Maybe I should hire you for public relations now that your job with Lila is done… Not that I need public relations anyway" the woman said smugly. Then she turned to Lila again.
"Come forth child" Lila looked at John and walked towards her. "As for you. You can go. As I said, your job is done" she told John. Lila turned back terrified.
"Papa?!" she realized her father was about to leave her there with that sour old woman. She ran to John and clinged on him. John looked at her with sorrow but smiled.
"Hush sweetie… This is your destiny. You'll come to see, this is where you need to be" he said softly.
"I see you haven't taught her much discipline and respect there" the old woma mocked. "Lila, you refuse to stay with your grandmother?" she added. Lila froze. She didn't want to show she had no manners and this WAS her grandmother, but she didn't want to be separated from her parents.
Maybe it's just for a little while…
She thought and let go of John with almost teary eyes. But she wanted to be strong. She didn't want to give Sophia more reasons to belittle her father and mock her. John simply walked away, without looking back. Lila felt a piece of her heart walk away with him.
"Lila. Sit down" her grandmother ordered pointing to a lower armchair next to her. "I take it you they haven't informed you on your background. They were fair to every other aspect of the deal I don't see why they would break on that one" the older woman started saying and turned to the girl. Lila blinked and the woman sighed. Then Lila realized she was actually asking her and she nodded positively.
"Very well then. You, dearest child, ate the daughter of God, protector and creator of this planet, the Earth. He is the highest ranked god below God Almightly Himself, the Creator of everything. You have been chosen to guard the Earth after him, as he was chosen to do so after me." She paused and sipped some of her tea and then left her cup on the table and looked at Lila, who was shocked, to say the least. "Do you get it so far?". Lila frozen in position, just nodded.
"Good. Well, you are here because I am responsible of preparing you for this task. And given you raising as a human girl, which was of course your father's crazy idea, we have a long way to go. But I will explain everything. All you have to do is do everything I say properly and follow my lead and you will become the most sought after goddess in this realm." Sophia said proudly. Lila blinked again.
"Sought…after?" she really didn't know what to make of that. Sophia sighed again.
"As I said, we have a long way to go… But first I must introduce you to someone" she said and then almost whispered one word "Saturn…". The sound of a door opening was heard and a tall, fair skinned man with blonde hair and golden eyes, wearing a golden cloak appeared before them. He bowed deeply. There was a strange aura about him. As if he wasn't materialized… As if he was ethereal…
"Lila, this is Solar. He will be part of your gods' entourage." The old woman said.
"Thank you Sophia, I can introduce myself" the man said softly and offered Lila a small bow and a smile.
"Hello Lila. I am Solar, protector of Saturn. I will be your…companion during your preparation period".