Chapter 9: Midnight

After Elias left the quiet night in the palace, Lily gradually fell asleep. She was startled when she heard someone calling her name from far away.

"Lily, Lily..."

Lily jumped up, bewildered and searched for a while, then decided to go out of the room. That call from the outside was even clearer. She discovered, at the end of the corridor on the right, a shadowy figure walking very fast. Lily ran after that shadow. At a junction, she wondered whether to turn left or right, when that call came from the right again.

"Lily, Lily..."

Lily called forward: “Who? Anyone there?"

There seemed to be no response, just that the shadow reappeared in a bush in the front garden and disappeared. Lily gave chase, stopping to look at the bushes, discovering a small hole. She immediately ducked through the hole.

Before she could see what was behind the hole, a large hand pulled her out of it. Her arms and body were controlled by an extremely powerful man.

“Lily, is that you? I've been waiting for you fo