My Lily Pad| V. Tewkesbury

12

[XII] Out of Breath

A

day passed by, Lily still doesn't know what to do. She just left Nicholas alone. She felt bad, but it is the only choice she has to do. If they already found her, then it will only take them a little time to find the young boy.

It was already night, Lily needs a place to stay until she decides to surrender herself to her parents' arrangement. She entered the lodging house and walked straight to the receptionist. The lady looked old with her gray hair and wrinkled face, but her presence brings warmth to her guests.

"Hello? Do you perhaps have a free room?" Lily queried the owner of the new lodging house.

"Follow me." She said before leading her upstairs.

Nicholas Tewkesbury stood there in the middle of the room. He stared directly at the fire burning in the fireplace. He couldn't believe it.

Lily has left him all alone. Nicholas couldn't think where to find the girl. He is very bothered. What if they got her? What if he'll be next?

Their mind are in a conflict. Lily couldn't think straight. She was so firm about her decisions hours ago, but now she thinks otherwise. Nicholas is anxious— asking himself if he did something wrong to steer the girl away from him. He just wants an assurance that Lily is safe.

Then they thought about someone who is with them in the train, Enola. The two knows that Enola is capable to do anything. She's more prepared than the two of them. And, being Sherlock's sister, there's no denying that she's smart.

Enola sat down on the floor, attending to her wound. Being alone for the first time in the big city is not been going good.

She's been everywhere, but it all leads to a dead end. Who could've thought finding one's mother could be this hard? Enola almost died twice! One is during the train ride when she and the other two runaways are escaping the bowler man. The other near-death experience was when the same bowler man chased her through an alleyway and almost drowned her to death.

Every places her mother could be— Enola went there, but there's no sign of her mother. She even visited a her mum's friend, but nothing.

Though the disappearance of her mother is already clouding her brain, the thought of the viscount and the young lady is also bothering her.

She knows Lily is safe, but the boy... she felt responsible. Maybe because that there is someone who is out to get him, but aren't all them? Maybe he's just different.

So, Enola set up a plan to look for Viscount Tewkesbury Marquees of Basilwether. She have to find out everything— like why did he ran away and why someone could want him dead.

Lily was walking back to lodging house. She went for a little walk at the Flower District. Though she promised herself that she will not let herself get intertwined with the boy, she can't help it but make sure he's doing fine.

It was almost dark when she walks at the alleyway. It was a shortcut she just found out from earlier. There's no much people compared in the morning. She felt weary, but she already walked to far to turn back.

Suddenly, a knife was pressed on her neck— barely cutting her. She looks to her side and saw the familiar bowler hat. Lily rolled her eyes, bad luck always seem to follow her everywhere.

"Where's the marquees?" He questioned, threatening her with the knife.

"I. don't. know." She gritted. "Take your filthy hands away from me!" She commanded, but the bowler man just snickered at her statement.

"Oh, I will, Lady Hastings."

Lily's eyes grew. She tried to take the man's grip on her neck away, but she failed.

"Tell me where's the viscount and I'll leave you." He offered.

"I t-told—" It's getting harder for her to breathe. "I don't know! L-let me go..." She is now seeing dark spots on her vision.

"Leave her be." A familiar voice to Lily was heard. She knows all too well who is it. "Now." She heard the revolver.

She's already closing her eyes, her life almost drained out of her body. When the bowler man let her go, she felt her body collapsed. Lily tried her best to chase her breath, coughing as she does so.

The bowler man ran. Leo knelt in front of his sister. His expression dropped when she saw how weak her sister right now.

"I-I'll get you to safety. Come." Leo said shook at what he just witnessed. "Come on." He assisted her to stand up, but he decided carrying her would be better.

"Hold on tight, Lily." He said. "You'll be fine."

"L-Leo... pl-please." She muttered weakly.

Leo carried her sister in his flat. Lily lays on the bed, facing her back to her brother's chair.

She was scared of his reaction. He warned her how dangerous this is, yet she didn't listen. Lily is a smart girl and she agrees that her trip can be very dangerous for a young girl like her, but it doesn't scared her. She's most scared of is getting locked up and not experiencing the freedom she craves.

"I am sorry." Lily muttered, trying to suppress her tears.

"We'll hire an actor at the local theatre. He'll pretend to kidnap you and hold you for ransom." Leo blurted out.

Lily eyes shot open at his statement. She sat up and look at him.

"No!" She protested. "We will not involve someone innocent just because I tried to explore the city on my own."

"Alright!" Leo agrees. "So, you'll just tell them the truth?" He questioned her.

"I suppose." She nodded. "I made my foolish decision, I must face the consequences."

Leo looked at the state of his sister. He wanted to ask her about her escapade, but he doesn't want to pressure her.

"I met a boy." Lily started.

Leo was surprised that her sister is about to tell him a story about a boy. Even Lily is surprised, who would've thought.

"He got everything." She told him. She started playing with her fingers to be distracted enough to tell him. "He's a strong character, along with the girl. But, the thing is... he's weak. Can't bloody protect himself."

"Why?"

"He's oblivious that everyone would want to kill him for his spot at the House of Lords." She further explains. "I wanted to stay with him, but..."

"But? You're getting married." Leo finishes her statement for her.

"Right... That, but also we're just not meant to be." She solemnly said. "I got attach too quickly for my liking."