Anaphase

Phase XX

Lilith's Perspective

I stared back at the five thoughtful members of the Griffin residence, inspecting me as I sat on the living room couch.
Maverick and Patrima sat thoughtful together exchanging glances then returning to ponder at me, inaudibly conversation with their eyes.

Maverick caught my eye and gave a gesture of a small smile as encouragement.
Patrima was annoyingly staring at my fidgeting hands with her eyebrows furrowed intensely as if expecting a threat - or moment to attack.

Elouise sat poised but hesitant, wavering behind Mr Griffin who watched me with the eyes of a hawk and the stillness of an owl.
The quivering tension in the air was becoming so deafening that it was the loudest sound I'd experienced. I didn't know how much longer I could take it.

"Father, No!" Demetri suddenly contested finally breaking the silence.
I jumped from the sudden outburst but nobody else seemed phased.

He had been pacing the room frustratingly and finally halted pointing at me.

I blinked furiously at him, unsettled out of my mind nor particularly liking his finger in my face.

Mr Griffin hadn't said anything to give rise to Demetri's sudden outburst.
Mr Griffin barely looked like he was even breathing, doing nothing but tearing my head off my body with his glare.

I could barely handle just his judgemental gaze and yet there were four other pairs on me.

"She knows too much Demetri don't act a fool," spoke Mr Griffin sternly.
"No, she is more than you see," he protested. "You just haven't seen it! But I have. Oh I have and she is-is..."
Mr Griffin sighed.
"Is what?! Hm? Nothing! Just a mere human. Stop arguing with yourself. Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?"
"No I've seen her do it! There's no way I could've taken them all out so quickly," he snapped back and approached his father while he spoke.
No matter how much he staunched Mr Griffin his authority still trumped his sons size.

"I-I have to admit," added Patrima with a level but toneless voice. "There is something off about her. I say we wait for Uncle to arrive. He will know, will he not father?"

Multiple paces, tempered breaths and my racing heart all clashed into fifteen compacted seconds. They spoke about me as if I wasn't even here.

"I agree with Patrima," Mrs Griffin spoke up.
"No. It's too risky she knows too much. We must keep a level head," refused Mr Griffin, emphasising with his hands.

"She's no danger! We can keep her here if we must. Why erase all of her memories?" Reasoned Demetri.

"She is not one of our own," growled Mr Griffin, enraged.
Mrs Griffin walked over and placed her hand gently on Demetri's chest, a pleading face asking for reason, calming him visibly.

"What do you mean erase my memories?" I spoke up, startled that I had even found my voice.

Each of them turned my way in almost perfect unison yet nobody replied.
I took this as an opportunity to finally get out my thoughts despite my anxiety.

"You all keep talking and debating about well, me. And I- I um don't really know where I was going with this but," I mumbled. "I just don't understand what's going on. Can somebody please explain," I blurted.

Yes it was morning but nonetheless I felt so tired and worn. This whole conversation was exhausting me.

"As much as I- we would like to tell you, I fear only my brother in-law would be suitable... for complicated reasons," soothed Elouise, "he is much more experienced and is able to identify things beyond our own eyes."

What the hell is that supposed to mean.

"I know it makes no sense at all. Any of it. I know you're probably blown out of your mind but please, try to hold on till he gets here. He will tell you everythi-"

Mr Griffin cleared his throat loud and deliberately, cutting her off.

"...um what you need to know but for now, will you trust me?" finished Demetri.
He approached me slowly, his eyes intimately locking my gaze.
I nodded numbly.
I didn't know what to expect of this uncle but answers were what I needed no matter when or who I would get them from.

 Something, some urge dwindling beneath my skin and desperate curiosity in me pushed me forward to find the truth of all that had been happening. I felt I'd always known but only know have discovered it. Like a hidden treasure chest of which I'd only just found the map to the key. I wasn't giving up till I found it.

"For now," said Patrima in a sarcastic tone, "let's try to stay somewhat normal to avoid hazardous breakdowns. I really can't be bothered hearing you lovebirds-"
She stopped under everyone's confused gaze.

Clearing her throat, she pranced up pulling Maverick with her.

"Good luck," chuckled Maverick before they both disappeared out of the room.

Mr Griffin then hustled over to Demetri and looked him straight dead in the eye stealing him from my gaze.

"Listen here boy. She doesn't leave this site. I don't care what the hell you do but she isn't going to ruin years of hiding just because you finally found a soft spot!" He spat before lumbering out of the room.

"I-I my- our apologies Lilith. I must check on him he really didn't mean it," confessed Elouise softly before taking after him quickly on his heel.

"No. He just happened to say that because Toothpick ran away," chimed Demetri earning a grunt from Elouise as she left.

Moments later I heard a whispered but heated argument. I couldn't decipher the words but the edge in the voices demonstrated anger for certain.

"Apologies princess," said Demetri in a rather sarcastic tone cutting my concentration.
"They always get caught up in what's good for the family and tend to ignore outsiders...or the greater good."

He walked over to the bookcase in the far left of the room and traced his fingers on the mantle that was collecting dust.
Smirking over at me, he rubbed the dust between his fingers before blowing the excess off.
"If it's any consolation at all, he never acknowledges anyone other than family and uhh, how would you put it? Ah, business clients."

He smiled pleased with himself as if it were a personal joke.

"Yes, business clients."

I stayed silent, just watching. I had no idea what I was to do at this point and just raised an eyebrow at him.

"Hm. You're awfully quiet for someone who must have a tank full of questions," he said accusingly.

After more of my uncomfortable silence he continued "how about this eh? You have no clothes left right? How about we take a wee ride down to the plaza and grab some clothes?"

I shifted in my seat failing to find a comfortable position. "Didn't he just say I had to stay here apparently like some kind of prisoner?"
He breathed out a sharp laugh and smirked again making my heart shift in the slightest.

"What pops doesn't know won't hurt him," he whispered and smiled dangerously, dangling some keys on his finger.
"Come with me."