CHAPTER 11

"LILY, MY DEAR CHILD. You will have to leave this place soon," The red-haired woman said as she caressed the little girl's hair.

The little girl she called Lily looked up to her with dreary eyes. She was always aware of her mother's frail condition, and that soon, she would have to leave this world. Even so, Lily never failed to make her mother's day as joyous as possible.

After all, it was the only thing a powerless child could do for her dying mother.

The child's crimson red eyes glimmered as tears threatened to escape. Lily's small arms tightened around her mother's thin frame, silently wishing she could stay beside her instead.

However, that was impossible. Even if her mother wishes for her to stay, she still can't. The child was unaware that her mother would go to a place where humans, not even halflings, can visit.

"Lily, my child," her mother whispered. "I'm sorry for leaving you early, but I hope you will do your best to survive this cruel world." She pulled her child closer to her. She, too, doesn't want to let her go.

"Can't I come with you, mother?" Lily asked, looking up to her mother, sadness accompanying her eyes.

Her mother smiled sadly at her then she reached for her child's face. "You and I will still meet at the right time. And until then, please hold on and try to become stronger for yourself," she whispered softly.

If only she was human, she wouldn't need to have a human shell to remain in this realm. For someone like her kind, it was a miracle that she was able to take care of a human child. But the ugliest part of it all was having to part with the child she loved with all of her dark heart.

If only she could bring her daughter into her realm.

Soft sobs elicit her pursed lips as she buried her face on her mother's chest. Parting had always been hard, especially for a 7-year-old child like her. She didn't want a good place to sleep, all she ever wanted was to remain on her mother's side.

The sound of the carriage caught their attention. The woman wiped off the tears from her daughter's face. She looked down on her and forced a smile, trying to ease the sadness engulfing her child.

"Everything will be okay, my lovely child. This mother loves you with all her heart, and I will always watch over you," she said, cupping her cheeks. "Make sure to protect yourself, because mother won't be around that much to protect you, alright?"

Lily cried even more at her mother's words. She shook her head as she hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go of her.

"I love you so much, my child, my Lily," she whispered, desperate to carve her love on her daughter's heart.

"I love you, too, mother," Lily sobbed.

She allowed her child to calm herself before loosening her grip around her small frame. "You must go now, Lily. He's waiting outside."

Lily did her best to stop herself from crying anymore. "I love you, mother," she said, then gave her mother one last kiss on her cheek.

The woman smiled and kissed her child's forehead. She watched her child with held breaths as Lily stepped out of their small house.

And as soon as the door closed, dark smoke erupted from nowhere and it slowly filled the room. Two ominous beings emerged from the thick smoke surrounding the woman. They wore armor made from obsidian and the darkest opal and held a spear on each hand.

"Great Queen," the two greeted, kneeling in front of her. "We are here to escort you back by the king's command."

The woman sighed. She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. The human shell she wore slowly aged as she pulled herself out of it.

Long, wavy red hair, a dark complexion, and her golden eyes with black sclera. Those were traits of a true demon, just like her. The woman donned a black lace dress that dragged on the wooden floor as she walked.

"Let's go. And have someone watch over that child," she ordered before she entered the dark portal that appeared in front of her.

"As you wish, my queen."

THE YOUNG CHILD SNIFFLED as she looked outside the carriage window. She had known where she was bound to go after hearing the conversation of her mother and the man in front of her a few nights ago.

Her mother had always taught her using the various kinds of books that they could find on their small bookshelf. Because of that, Elisse had developed her mind too quickly, quickly enough to understand the things happening around her.

The man, who undeniably resembled her, was still surprised. He could not help but admire how brave a child she was. But then, he recalled that it was 'her' who gave birth to this kid.

A sense of guilt flooded his heart. 'I could have looked for them when I got the chance. How could I neglect to support this child?'

"Child," he called her. The little child fiddled as she teared her gaze from the window. "Can you tell me your name?" Seeing her solitary gaze made his heart ache. The child stared at him for a moment, as if recalling what her name was.

"From now on, you will be Elisse Eveningstar. Never forget that child. That will save you from anything." She could hear her mother's voice reminding her of her name when the man asked her.

"I am E-Elisse E-Eveningstar," she stuttered as she forced out the new name bestowed on her.

"That's right," he acknowledged. "You are now an official part of the Eveningstar Ducal Family. I am your father, and I will give you anything you want."

Those were all promising words for Lily, a promise that's not making her heart happy. But what can a little child like her do?

"How could you bring a fake child like her to fill Eilisha's absence?" Caspian, the second son, shouted.

"Caspian is right, father. How can you do this to our Eilisha?" The eldest son, Eclipse, said as he agreed with his brother.

And only the third son remained silent. He watched the little girl as she tried to hide behind their father. She wore a tattered white dress, and her hair was tied in a braid.

Seeing her made him agree with his brothers. She wasn't like their little sister, the child in front of them was alive and breathing.

This wasn't the first time that Elisse had heard her brothers' words of rejection. Ever since she arrived in this household, everyone had been throwing glares and disgusted looks on her, as if she weren't human like them. Even the servants will gossip mean things about her whenever she's around.

"So, the child wasn't adopted?"

"Yeah. That child is an illegitimate daughter of the duke!"

"I heard her mother was a prostitute."

"Was she? I thought she was a witch or something close to that."

Elisse tried to ignore them at all costs each time they'll say hurtful words directed to her or her mother. But the rumors spreading about her, and her origin wasn't the reason she felt sad, it was the fact that she was a little girl; powerless and weak.

"You!"

Elisse immediately docked her head, her eyes shutting tight out of shock when she felt an object flying towards her.

"Ugh," she whimpered softly as she fell on her knees, her arms gripping tightly around the soft bunny toy she was holding.

She wasn't hit, but she was terrified with the object that was thrown at her. A small, glass vase that would definitely injure her head if she was hit by it.

Her dazed gaze was fixated on the floor as she tried to hold herself back from crying.

"Get out of here!" She heard Caspian's voice as a pair of footsteps approached her.

Out of instinct, Elisse curled up in a ball as she covered her head. She was ready to receive anything that would be thrown at her, when another footsteps approached them.

"Stop that, brother!" It was Kaiser. "I'm going to tell father about this if you don't leave her alone!" He threatened.

Caspian was annoyed seeing his youngest brother ruining his fun. "Traitor!" He scoffed at them before running away.

Kaiser was the only one who treated her like a stranger, something she was thankful for. Her third brother wouldn't bother her, unlike the other two, and would sometimes sit with her.