Prologe
Outside, it was a cold and rainy autumn. Somehow it happened to be one of the coldest days ever, with freezing pouring rain, when the gray thunderclouds did not even allow a single ray of sunlight to penetrate. As if the weather knew that for Lilianna, it would be the worst day of her life. Like the universe itself, had assumed that they would find their family on this particular day.
All of them were at home together; the little girl had climbed onto her father's arms and was working hard at doodling and not being quiet for a single moment. The girl loved spending time with him, she loved him with all her heart, even more than she loved Lilianna, but did it really matter?
Not at all.
They were together and finally found a hideaway where no one could find them. It was their shared paradise, even despite the slushy streets and unpleasant weather. The house was warm and cozy. The TV was on some program that no one was watching. Usually, they only turned it on to make noise in the background. Lilianna cooked dinner and admired the beautiful sight of her family.
“Daddy! Look!” shouted the girl, tugging the man by the sleeve. “It's a dinosaur! I've seen them on TV!”
“He's very funny!” The man laughed and started tickling the girl sitting on his lap. “I'm a horrible, big dinosaur! I'm going to eat you.”
A loud squeal mixed with laughter filled the kitchen space, enveloping their hearts. Love. The highest value they had ever had. Family.
But not many people were on board with this. Some felt such a union was particularly dangerous, for society, for the queen, for power. Their opinion was that the couple had created a child who would take power away from those who most desired it. They wanted to kill her, to kill their union. To kill the danger their family posed to the queen and the council.
But could such a little miracle with brown hair and green eyes hurt anyone?
The little girl laughed once more, slid off her lap and fled into another room, waiting for her father to run after her.
“Catching up!” she shouted excitedly. “Daddy. Catch up with me.”
The man laughed too, but after a second he was silent, all his muscles tensed, and he looked like a lurking panther. He sensed something that at first Lilianna could not grasp. But after a moment, she realized what had disturbed him so much.
A sound. So faint, like a flashing beacon. It could have been confused with the alarm of someone's car, several kilometers away. If they didn't listen, they might not hear it. They both knew it was not an alarm. Instantly, everything inside went cold with terror, the hair on their heads and their lungs clenched so tightly that they couldn't breathe. They were found.
“Run” man whispered. His lips barely moved, but the word echoed clearly in Lilianna's mind. “Run as we agreed.”
Now her terror could be felt with her hands. She knew what that meant. She looked at him pleadingly, a hurricane of emotions running through her, but a stupor shackled her whole body, preventing her from uttering a word.
“Not a second to lose.” The man tensed like a guitar string and walked quickly but quietly to the window. “Grab Marianne and hide, I'll hold them off.”
Realizing Lilianna was in a stupor, he crossed the room in a split second and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“You have to go now.” His green eyes pierced hers.
“I…” the woman whispered. “I can't lose you…”
“I know,” he interrupted. “And I love you. I do. But you have to run, for her sake” He nodded toward the room where the girl had hidden.
“Try to come back to me.” Lilianna whispered, clinging one last time to the body of the man she loved. Her throat was torn by a cry, but she knew that now was not the time. She had to be strong, for her daughter's sake, for their family's sake.
“I will try.” His lips found hers, and he gave them a quick kiss. Then pulled away from her.
Meanwhile, the sound was growing. A little more and the Sentinels would be here. They were coming to kill them all, her whole family. But she wouldn't let that happen, wouldn't let it hurt her daughter.
“Mum? Dad?” the girl whispered, returning to the kitchen. She noticed the change in their mood and became alert.
“Come here,” the man said to the girl. She obeyed. Taking her in his arms, he spoke. “Listen to your mother, okay? I love you, remember that.” He held the little body tightly against him and then let go.
“Are you leaving?” the girl asked in a thin voice.
“You and Mummy have to leave. I will come back to you as soon as I can.” His voice was sad and Lilianna's heart ached.
“It was time.” She took her daughter's hand and, casting one last glance at the man who said so much, slipped out the back door of the house, applying a covering spell. Lilianna knew that her husband would feel whatever she wanted to tell him.
They both knew that this might be their last meeting, but without this risk, all three would be in danger. And this way he would hold off the guards until the trail of Lilianna's magic dissipated, and they could be found.
This was the last day he would be seen.
