Secrets? Never.

No, Prologue

"Yet each man kills the thing he loves" - Oscar Wilde

*Flash* The cameras went off. *Flash* One by one. *Flash* Again and again *Flash* *Flash*. The reporters and photographers crowded Emily and Daniel Grayson as they perched, in the hospital bed, with their new born baby boy. He had thick, blonde hair, and big, brown eyes. Daniel sat proudly and announced that they intended to name him Daniel Edward Grayson II.

He sat, stupid and trusting. Trusting in a woman who didn't even give him her real name. This, however, is the nature of Daniel Grayson - unlucky-in-love. The boy who never picks the right girl, either they're too poor; they're too clingy; or, in this case, they're nothing like they claim to be. She knew, however that he was not as imbecilic as he would have you believe. She knew it was really just a subtle form of manipulation, used to lower people's expectations, thereby enhancing his ability to effectively maneuver within any given situation. He was no idiot, in fact, in Emily's opinion, he was the smartest one of all of the Graysons, save, maybe, for she herself.

Oh sure, Emily smiled, she answered the myriad of questions thrown at her by reporters, she looked affectionately at her husband, even gave him the odd kiss now and then, for photographical purposes, but there's one thing they'll never ask, they'll never know, and she'll never tell them. Emily had a secret. And she was determined that it would never, ever, come out. A secret so dark that it would rip her family apart, just as it was getting into its stride. She wouldn't let it happen for many reasons, least of all her own self-preservation at this point. She was too far in; too woven into the fabric of her own deceit.

She looked up, seemingly affectionately into her husband's eyes, and momentarily felt a twinge of guilt for the man; after all, he'd given up the girl he loved, a great many times to be with her, because they had a family, and she was, yet again deceiving him. However, she couldn't quite shake the feeling that he was catching on to her. That little by little, he was beginning to put the pieces together.

*Tick tock* It was getting closer. *Tick tock* All would be revealed. *Tick tock* The hours, minutes, seconds, were getting less, and less, and less. Emily just didn't know it yet. Her time was running out. She was drowning in her sea of lies, it's building and building, and building, until; she drowns.

"That's enough for today, folks" Charlotte said, beckoning for the reporters to leave. After chewing them out, she shot Emily an encouraging smile, before she too left the three Graysons alone to their own devices.

"I cannot wait to go home!" Emily exhaled loudly through a smile. "I cannot wait for the two of you to be home" Daniel countered, leaning in to kiss her softly on the lips. "He's got Conrad's eyes- bright blue." Emily announced, gazing at the little baby in her arms. "Well he's definitely got your hair" Daniel continued, running his fingers through the downy fluff that covered his son's head.

"Why is it, do you think, that as soon as a baby is born, that we're all so eager to place it in some box. In a position. You look like this person, therefore you'll probably turn out like this, or, act this way. It's like you're telling them who to be before they've got a chance to be themselves!" she exclaimed. "What's wrong, Emily? Please tell me." Daniel replied in a low voice, looking directly into her eyes, so intently, he could make out his own reflection in them.

"Do you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be?" Emily asked, looking right back at Daniel, but received no response.

Emily wasn't talking about their son, though, oh no, not by a long shot. She was quietly asking herself, pleading with her own psyche, to tell her who she was before revenge took over her every waking thought, and to help her get back there once it was over.

This is a story about many things; great love, great loss, blood ties, a phoenix, murder most foul, but at the heart of it all, it's a story,

about a girl,

and a secret.

© Sarah Egan 2014 - 2015. All rights reserved. This story is subject to copyright and may not be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the author.