Chapter 13 - the brother who never died)
Vanessa stared at him as if seventeen years had collapsed into one second.
"Daniel."
He looked nothing like the teenager in the photographs.
Time had hollowed his face.
A scar ran from his left temple toward his ear.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
Vanessa took one step forward.
"You died."
"No."
"We buried an empty coffin."
"I know."
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I had no choice."
"You had seventeen years."
Daniel's expression broke.
"I had every choice. All of them were terrible."
Vanessa slapped him.
The sound echoed through the chamber.
Daniel accepted it.
She hit him again.
Then embraced him.
For a moment everyone forgot the guns.
Claire did not.
"Where is my sister?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Safe."
"You worked with Marcus?"
"No."
Marcus frowned.
Daniel looked at him.
"He thought he was controlling this."
Marcus's face hardened.
"Who contacted me?"
Daniel almost smiled.
"Not me."
Claire felt dread returning.
"Then who?"
Daniel looked at Richard.
"Ask him."
Richard stared back.
"I don't know."
Daniel laughed.
"You still protect her."
Richard went pale.
Claire noticed.
"Her?"
Nobody answered.
"Who is she?"
A sound came through the ceiling.
Shouting.
Then static from Marcus's radio.
"Security breach at eastern cliff."
Claire's heart stopped.
"Lily."
She ran.
Ethan followed.
Marcus shouted after them.
They raced through the corridor and up the stone stairs.
By the time Claire reached daylight, guests were screaming.
The wind had intensified.
A security officer pointed toward the cliff.
Claire turned.
Vanessa was behind her.
But another woman in red stood near the edge.
For one confused second Claire thought she was seeing double.
Then the woman turned.
It was not Vanessa.
Blonde.
Tall.
Similar dress.
Different face.
And in her hands was Lily.
Claire screamed.
The impostor backed toward the cliff.
Ethan ran around the opposite side.
"Stop!"
The woman smiled.
Claire recognized her.
Not from real life.
From a photograph in her mother's journal.
She had been younger then.
Dark hair instead of blonde.
But the eyes were the same.
"Helena."
Richard's voice came from behind them.
The woman looked at him.
"Hello, Richard."
Claire stared.
"Who is she?"
Richard did not answer.
Helena lifted Lily slightly over the edge.
The toddler screamed.
"No one can save you now."
Claire forgot every question.
She ran.
Lily sobbed.
"Please don't. Please don't hurt me."
Claire came closer.
"I promise to be good. I promise."
"Don't you dare touch my daughter!"
Claire lunged.
She caught Lily.
The world became hands and wind and screaming.
Then Lily was against her chest.
Safe.
"Mommy!"
Claire fell to her knees and wrapped herself around her child.
Helena lunged.
"Then go to hell together!"
Claire twisted.
Ethan caught Helena from behind.
"How dare you."
Security rushed toward them.
Claire remained on the stone path.
Lily buried her face in Claire's wedding dress.
Helena struggled in Ethan's grip.
Then stopped.
She looked at Claire.
And smiled.
"You still think this was about Ethan."
Claire stared at her.
Helena laughed.
"Ask him what happened to your mother."
Ethan went still.
Just as he had in Claire's nightmare.
Claire looked at him.
"What does she mean?"
Before he could answer, Richard stepped forward.
"Helena."
Her smile disappeared.
"You should have told them."
Richard's voice shook.
"Helena is Eleanor's sister."
Claire felt the world disappear beneath her.
"My mother didn't have a sister."
May you like
Helena smiled again.
"That is what they told you."
