Standing at the entrance of The Haven, Lia tried to get a hold of herself. She had no idea what state she’d find her mother in.
Why was she in assisted living? Lia hadn’t fully read the file. When she found out where her mother was, she was off without looking back.
Walking up to the reception desk, she steeled her spine and took a deep breath. There was only one lady behind the desk, which made sense considering the day.
“Hi,” Lia said, a little bit too loud.
The lady quickly looked up from her computer.
“Hello, how can I help you?”
Lia froze for a second. This might actually be it.
“Uh, I’m here to see Grace Sambor.” she managed to spit out.
The woman’s brows lowered. “First, Her Majesty, now you? That’s the second this week. What’s your name?”
“Lia.” she blurted before she could stop herself. She should’ve used a fake name.
“Liaaaa…” she drawled as she typed. “You’re not on the visitors’ list, sweetie.”
Of course, I’m not. She sprung for the first thing that came to mind.
“Oh, yeah, I know. Her Majesty actually sent me to conduct a welfare check.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You expect me to believe that Her Majesty sent you here?”
“Yes,” Lia responded, starting to sweat. She pushed down the slight offense that nibbled at her, at the lady’s disbelief that the Queen would send someone like her to the Haven. The lady didn’t appear convinced.
Improvising, Lia pretended to fiddle with the digital bracelet on her wrist.
“Listen,” she looked at her badge, “Marta. I’m on a tight schedule and if I have to tell Her Majesty that I couldn’t complete this one task, on Prima Day of all days, who do you really think she’ll rain down on? Her devoted assistant who sacrificed her one night off to work or the receptionist who thinks she’s the high gatekeeper to the Haven?”
Lia tried to keep a straight face as Marta blanched. “Room B-06,” she whispered.
“Thank you.” Lia smiled sweetly. “And Happy Prima Day.”
As soon as she passed the double doors and turned left, Lia ran up the stairs for fear that the lady might realize she was an imposter and seek her out.
Standing outside B-06, she squared her shoulders and knocked. Then she remembered what time it was and figured that whoever was behind the door would be asleep. She considered just walking in when the door creaked open.
Lia stood in place as it opened wider. She couldn’t move. It was her.
It was really her.
“Yes?” her mother said.
Lia couldn’t speak. She just stared as tears brimmed in her eyes.
That must’ve hinted something because in the next second her mother’s face contorted into one of surprise, happiness, longing, and grief, all at once.
“Eulalia?”
Lia choked on a sob and nodded. The next thing she knew, she was in her mother’s arms. She squeezed Lia so hard, she struggled to breathe. But Lia didn’t care. I found her.
After settling into the room Lia’s apprehension rose. Of course, she was happy to have found her mother but she had questions.
“I’m sure that you have questions.” Grace started.
Lia smiled despite her nerves. “I do,” she replied, sitting on her hands. She took a calming breath. “Okay. I had a vision a couple of days ago…a woman paid some officials to take me to the western sector when I was a baby.” She peeked up at her through damp lashes. “Was that you?” Lia asked, her voice breaking at the end.
“Yes,” her mother responded solemnly.
That wasn’t what Lia wanted to hear. On her way over, she’d half convinced herself that she was kidnapped or taken from her birth mother. But her mother was the one who gave her up.
“Why?” Lia asked in a pained whisper.
Grace’s eyes never left Lia’s. “It was the only way to protect you.”
Annoyance rose in Lia.
“I heard you say that in the vision, but what does it even mean? Right now, it sounds like an excuse.”
“He would’ve killed you if he found out about you.” Grace cast her eyes to the ground.
“Who?” Lia almost shouted before she remembered that it was late and she wasn’t supposed to be there.
Her mother didn’t speak for a while. Lia just wanted an explanation.
She was about to prompt her mother again when she finally spoke.
“Your father,” Grace whispered.
Lia reared back. “My father? Why would my father want to hurt me?”
Grace shook her head grimly. “He’s not the man I would’ve chosen. I was in a bad place. I had no idea what he was until it was too late.”
“Answer the question. Why would he want me dead?” Lia urged.
The look Grace gave her was one of pure misery and hopelessness.
“My poor child. You shouldn’t have come here.”
She might as well have been speaking in riddles. Lia just wanted a straight answer.
“Why?!”
“Because if he succeeds tonight, you will be the only thing standing between him and the throne.”
