God Complex

Chapter Fourteen

Lili cursed.

It was as if she was trapped in an invisible box. There were no visible chains, but she was confined to the wall of the eerie reflective hallway, nevertheless.

She knew she passed out after the trip. The hunger pangs were violent, just as they were when her and Julian arrived in Faerieland.

Julian, she thought, miserably. She couldn't bring herself to think about what he was enduring in the Seelie Queen's bed.

"Lili. Thank God, you are awake. I thought you were dead."

Lili turned as far as her invisible containment would allow and she could barely make out a the figure of another girl, but the voice was unmistakable: Zandra.

"How did you know it was me? I can barely see you." Darkness swallowed her figure and she couldn't see more than a foot in front of her.

Zandra laughed halfheartedly,"I passed by you as I was dragged into this hellhole."

Lili strained to look around, but only accomplished making her neck sore along with the rest of her cramped body.

"How long have I been out?" Lili asked as her stomach felt like it had begun to eat itself.

Zandra sighed,"I've only been here for a little while. I think she's had you longer. I'm not sure, Lili, honestly."

"It good to see you, despite the circumstances," Lili intoned,"You were with Audric and Hamilton, right?"

"Yeah. We ended up in the vampire realm. Where did you and Julian end up?"

Lili felt fury rise in her chest, just thinking about it,"Faerieland."

"Damn. Was Julian okay?"

Lili laughed humorlessly,"No. Last I checked the Queen took him to her court. How about all of you? Anything interesting happen?"

"Shit," Zandra mumbled,"I don't care for Julian all that much, but he doesn't deserve that. But it was kind of crazy, Lili, we met a creepy vampire girl. Hamilton died-"

"Hamilton died?" Lili practically shrieked.

"It's ok," Zandra muttered,"he's won't be dead for long. They are letting him rise as a vampire."

Lili sighed,"I hope he's okay. I hope all of them are okay."

Lili closed her eyes and let herself feel what she ignored earlier: fear.

She was terrified. She wasn't trained for this. She hadn't been a Guardian long. Lili just wished she was normal. She wouldn't be here if her mother was just the boring security guard she had thought she was her entire life.

"They will be. Audric will get him and Hamilton home. Halo will be able to get Isadora home. Julian is resourceful, he will manage. We have very powerful friends, Lili. They will come for us," Zandra said simply as if everything she said were proven facts.

Lili couldn't be sure if Zandra was trying to reassure her or herself.

"They won't find you. That I can guarantee."

A man stood directly in front of her. He was tall and his shining green eyes reminded her of Zandra's.

Realization struck Lili hard. It was Zandra's father, Chrissilande's husband, and her uncle: Dantonio Rosebay. Rosebay, because men take the women's last name in the Guardian realm. That was something Audric teased her about and she appreciated the memory.

"Hello, Father," Zandra practically spat, as if her words were poison.

Dantonio smiled,"Hello, my beloved daughter. I'm sorry you have to be confined in this way. You too, Liliana. My deepest apologies."