Chapter 4. The crack on the wall

"Hello Lila. I am Solar, protector of Saturn. I will be your…companion during your preparation period".

Lila looked at him and blinked but then she gave him a nod and a small bow.

"Hello, Solar" she said in a low voice. The man looked really magnificent. Like royalty… He was beautiful, luminous and seemed really nice. But all this was so new to Lila, she didn't know how to process all incoming information. Before she had the time to take in Solar's presence, the door opened again and a beautiful woman in a red dress entered the room. Solar smiled at her and nodded his head. The woman was really classy. Her dress was elegant and she looked really beautiful in it. Lila opened her eyes wide when she saw her. Beauty always excited her. The woman walked towards Solar and stood next to him, and they seemed to have exchanged some words but Lila couldn't hear what they said. She too seemed ethereal.

"Lila this is Flare. She's the protector of Mars and she too is going to help us with your… preparation." Lila still didn't clearly understand what she was to be preparing for.

"Hello Lila" Flare came forth and gave her a bow smiling politely. She was so gracious that Lila slightly opened her mouth at awe.

"Lila, please close your mouth child" Sophia said in a strict tone. "Oh dear… Those human parents of yours… They didn't teach you class.. I knew we shouldn't have given you to commoners" Lila was offended. She closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Pardon me miss… Sophia… But my parents are not commoners. They are high-class respected citizens and I assure you they taught me how to be a lady" she said firmly. Maybe she was in a new environment and she didn't know anything about this supposed new life that was expecting her, but she was not just going to sit back and listen to this… not so charming woman, talk bad about her parents… Sophia glared at her.

"It is not in your best interest to talk back at me Lila." She said. "Anyhow, maybe they were high-class but they are not royalty… I wanted you to be raised by royalty. Since you were going to be raised by inferior creatures like humans at least we could have you entrusted to the ones highest in their hierarchy… But your father insisted that in order for you to be able to lead and guard them you had to live amongst them as a commoner…" the woman left a sigh of contempt. "Your father is such a weakling toward those creatures sometimes… I mean I'm the one who created them, I don't know why he gives them so much credit…" then she turned to Lila.

"I created them for you. And I am your grandmother. I'd rather you referred to me as such."

"But… g..grandmother…" Lila exclaimed, defeated by the woman's bossy attitude "What about my parents?... When will I see them again?" Lila was really anxious about her answer because she refused to believe that she was left there forever…

"If ever, not anytime soon. You're staying with me for now. Solar has accepted to be your guardian and Flare will help us with your appearance and manners…" Lila was about to get offended again, but she realized that would only prove Sophia's point so she just remained silent.

It doesn't matter what she says. I WILL see my parents again… Maybe not now, but someday. Lila thought as she bowed back to Flare.

"It's nice to meet you Miss Flare" she said politely.

"Oh please." The woman answered in a sweet deep voice "Call me Flare. You and I are going to be really close from now on". Lila smiled. The woman's voice, attitude and appearance were soothing. It made her feel somehow safe, as opposed to the intimidation and awkwardness her grandmother caused her.

"That sound very nice, Flare" she said softly. Sophia smirked.

"It's good that you two get along. Flare will help you with the first and most important task… Which brings me to my next subject. Sit down Lila" she said extending her hand to the chair in front of her. Lila sat down. Sophia turned to the two heavenly creatures.

"Solar, Flare, thank you very much for agreeing to assist in Lila's preparation."

"It's our pleasure to help the daughter of God." Solar replied smiling. "Now excuse us, we shall give you some privacy. Lila, if you need anything, just call for me. I'll be happy to help you." He said and bowed.

"And I will visit your chambers tomorrow so we can get to know each other better. What do you think?" Flare said and took a small elegant bow as well.

"That sounds very nice" Lila said smiling. She might have been trapped in this house, but at least it seemed she would be surrounded by nice people… The two gods left the room and Lila was left with her terrifying grandmother.

I'm sure she's not so bad once you get to know her… Lila thought as she sat on the chair.

"Well child…" Sophia started saying but paused "Hmmm… I shouldn't refer to you like that.. You're a woman now" she said and rephrased. "Well Lila, as I already told you, you are the daughter of God, the protector of this planet we live on, the Earth. You will have the important task of taking his position after your father retires, like he did when I retired." Lila was a little shocked.

"I am… going to be the protector of the Earth?" she asked mechanically, slightly blushing at the thought of the responsibility.

"Yes you are. And don't look so bewildered by it. You're not a weak human Lila.. You are a goddess. And as such you have powers. Powers that will enable you to take this position and live up to it." The old woman said and straightened her glasses.

"Powers?" Lila asked. That was something that actually sounded really exciting. Although she already found somewhat exciting, almost equally as scary, the fact that she was God's child. Sophia ignored her excitement and continued as she was.

"However you must muster those powers and have the ability to control them and use them properly. This is why I have prepared this process for you. No one can be a better trainer for you than myself" she said proudly.

"Uhmm… Thanks.. I guess…" Lila said blinking at how smug her grandmother was. Sophia gave her another strict look and continued.

"As I was saying, as a goddess you are a very powerful creature. Your powers are not exactly supernatural… For gods such abilities are considered natural" Lila interrupted her again.

"Uhmm… What kind of abilities?" she asked giving Sophia a really curious look that seemed to annoy the elder goddess.

"You will find out gradually.. As an example I can tell you that when you are experiencing strong emotions such as anger, or fear your vital energy can be channeled through those feelings and transform into a weapon. This is one of your most important and most dangerous and difficult to control, powers. However, with the correct guidance you will be able to use them well enough to protect and guide the earth."

"Wow… that sounds like… a lot" Lila noted.

"It is. And it is not simple, therefore you will have to pay close attention to everything me and the rest of the gods tell you, and behave." Sophia answered plainly.

"Actually… I think I might have experienced some of these…powers" Lila said. Now she had Sophia's attention.

"Do tell…"

"Well, about two years ago something happened and I was scared… I mean genuinely scared which, come to think about it doesn't happen very often… Anyway, I felt a strange energy in my body…being channeled, as you said… And I emitted this strange glow…"

"The light…" Sophia interrupted.

"That's what mama called it too…." Lila added.

"Well, Lila, that is one of your major assets. And I will teach you how to use it. The light that comes from fear is strong, but the light that comes from anger is even stronger, however it is more unpredictable and dangerous to control…" Sophia said and Lila opened her eyes wide. The old woman realized that all this was way too much for the girl to take in at once.

"Well, we'll get to all that my dear. We have a long way ahead of us. I will make you a goddess that will bring to shame all other goddesses." Sophia said smugly again. Lila blinked. Her grandmother sure had big plans for her… "Now Lila. You may be excused to your chambers. The servants will take you there. Solar and Flare's chambers are close by. If you need anything just tell one of the servants and it will be provided to you at once."

"Thank you…" Lila said, feeling obligated to say it despite the fact that she hadn't chosen to stay there by herself.

"We will stay in this earthly house for the first stage of your training. It has to be a smooth transition and you have to have a minor transformation before we return to the world of the gods. I wish to present you to them in all your glory. Your looks really help a lot. It was expected that you would be beautiful, but you actually look angelic, which is a great feature for a goddess." Lila blushed at Sophia's comment.

"However we have to make you more…aristocratic. But I have no fear. Flare will see to that. Well, go now. You are free to wander around the house and gardens which are, I might add excellent, but you may not leave the premises of the manor's walls. Understood?" Lila nodded, but truth was she wasn't really fond of the idea of being held in a secluded space for the foreseeable future. Actually, the fact that she was forbidden to leave.. made her want to even more. But for now she was still insecure and confused. She bowed to her grandmother and followed the servant that had let her in. He led her up a very big staircase, with a deep red thick carpet with golden embroideries covering it. The place was huge and luxurious. The chandeliers alone must have cost a fortune. But it was only natural… It was the house of a goddess…

A goddess… Like me…? Lila thought as the servant stopped in one of the doors of the huge corridor the staircase led to. He opened the door for her. She smiled and thanked him. The servant bowed and left the room closing the door behind him. Lila walked in the room and looked it in awe. This looked like something a queen would live in. Luxury beyond imagination. On the wall hung a big portrait of a beautiful aristocratic woman. She looked at it more carefully…

"Grandmother.." she mumbled. It must have been her grandmother when she was younger. She was indeed beautiful but seemed as strict as she was now. Lila walked to the bed and let herself drop on it. So many confusing thoughts in her mind. All this was a little too much for someone who lived as the daughter of a mechanic until a few hours ago. To learn that she was the daughter of God and that soon she would have the duty to protect the Earth herself.

"The daughter of God…"

She whispered and a small smile crossed her lips. She remembered her peaceful walk at the beach two years ago… She remembered the sea and all the beauty of nature and how much she admired it. She also remembered how much she had been thinking of the entity that created all this beauty, and now… She found out it was her father. And all this beauty, it would soon be hers to cherish and protect in a way… Things were changing… But was that really a bad thing?

She fell back on the bed and closed her eyes trying to relax and take a nap but she was too hyper to do so. She lifted herself from the bed after a few minutes of tossing and turning, and walked to the window. She looked outside and slightly blushed at the view. She remembered her grandmother saying the garden was beautiful but she couldn't imagine that. She rushed out of her room and downs the stairs, startling a coupled of servants on the way.

"Sorry!" she apologized smiling as she moved to the garden. She rushed into it. It was like heaven. That must have been what the garden of Eden must look like.

I guess I'll find out about it soon. She giggled at that thought. As she moved further into the garden she noticed that the flowering was not monotonous… There must have been hundreds of different flowers, shrubs and trees in there. She wondered how that was possible for so many different species to bloom in one place.

"That's the power of the gods I guess" she self-spoke. In the inner part of the garden however, she spotted the most beautiful, the most captivating flowers.. She could never get those flowers out of her mind since the first time she saw them.

"Lilies!" her eyes sparkled as she ran towards the lily flower bed. She went closer and tried to smell them. Some of them smelled, some didn't. Also there were so many different types and colors of lilies there…

Suddenly something else caught her attention. A little further behind the lilies there was the northern wall of the manor… And on one of the rocks on the bottom there was…

An opening?... She smirked and tried to move that way but stumbled on an ivy branch and almost fell on the ground.

"Whoah!" she exclaimed, sure that's she would taste the dirt, but a strong yet elegant arm grabbed her waist at the last minute.

"Be careful there Lila…" she heard the warm, deep voice of Solar.

"Ah! Solar… Thank you" she said awkwardly smiling as she lifted herself and straightened her dress slightly blushed, mostly from embarrassment.

"You shouldn't be wondering around here alone. The garden is vast," he said softly. "Next time you should ask me or Flare to accompany you. It's always a pleasure to have a promenade in Sophia's gardens." He said smiling.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I will do that next time"

"Come on let's go. It's almost lunch time" he said and placed his hand on her back gently prompting her to walk towards the house. Lila gave a last glance at the opening on the wall and walked forth.

"I see you've taken a liking at the lilies" he said as they walked.

"Yes. They are really beautiful. They are my favorite flower." She said smiling.

"Oh yes, they are magnificent.."

…

The hours passed and Lila was restless inside the huge house. When the night came, she prepared for something she hadn't done for a long time… But tonight…It was calling her… Thames.. She wanted to go outside… Her rebel spirit was awakened by the restriction and that opening on the garden wall had intrigued her… She really felt like going outside… It would only be for a few hours. No one would notice…

She got up from her bed and put on her shoes. She checked outside her room and noticed there were a lot less servants. All those years she had mastered the art of sneaking out. Silently and swiftly moving, she made her way to the garden without any of the servants noticing. She moved north and spotted the lily flowerbeds.

"It was around here somewhere…." She mumbled looking for that opening…

…

Somewhere in a farther side of London, Ali and the Genie were rushing out of a building, being chased by a group of armed men…