Aria’s POV
I stood frozen in the doorway.
Lilith was clinging to me. Sobbing. Her whole body shaking like a leaf in a storm.
And I couldn’t move.
Couldn’t think.
Couldn’t breathe.
My mind was racing through a thousand questions all at once.
How did she find me?
Why was she here?
Where was Finn? Where was Celestia?
Why was she alone in the middle of the night?
"Lilith." My voice came out strangled. Barely audible. "Lilith, I need you to calm down for a second. I need you to tell me what’s happening."
She just sobbed harder. Her fingers digging into my shirt like I might disappear if she let go.
I looked around the hallway. Scanned the shadows. Checked every corner.
Empty.
No one else was here. No Finn lurking nearby. No Celestia waiting to ambush me. No bodyguards or drivers or anyone else who should have been accompanying a child.
My heart clenched despite everything.
"Are you by yourself?" The question came out sharper than I intended. "Did someone bring you here? Where’s your father?"
"J-just me." Her voice was muffled against my stomach. "Only m-me."
Only her.
"Lilith, look at me." I gripped her shoulders. Gently but firmly. "How did you find this place? How did you know where I live?"
She pulled back slightly. Her face was blotchy and red. Tears streaming down her cheeks. Her nose running. She looked absolutely miserable.
"I h-heard them talking." She hiccupped. Tried to wipe her face with her wet sleeve. "Daddy and C-Celestia. They were f-fighting again. And Daddy said your address. So I... I remembered it. And I c-came."
"What do you mean ’again’?" I asked carefully. "How often do they fight?"
"All the time!" The words burst from her. Fresh tears spilling over. "Every day! Sometimes twice a day! They yell so loud! And throw things! And... and..."
She dissolved into sobs again.
I pulled her inside. Shut the door. Locked it.
My hands were shaking.
"Lilith." I crouched down to her level. Made her look at me. "Why did you come here? What happened?"
"They h-hate me!" She wailed. "Daddy and Celestia! They hate me! They only l-love the baby! They give him everything! And I get nothing! Not even f-food sometimes!"
My blood turned cold.
"What?"
"They say I’m expensive!" Her voice pitched higher. Hysterical now. "They say they d-don’t have money for me anymore! That I eat too much! That I’m t-too much trouble!"
She was shaking so hard her teeth were chattering.
"And when they fight... when they get really m-mad... they..." She trailed off. Her eyes dropping to the floor.
Dread settled in my stomach like lead.
"They what, Lilith?"
She didn’t answer.


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