Imago Ch27: Children of Two Worlds

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In a crisis, panic flows around Daniel Morgan without ever quite latching on. Even when he fell out of a tree on his ninth birthday and broke his arm, he hadn't made a fuss over it. He knows Sarah finds this detachment infuriating sometimes, but he's certain it's part of what makes them such a good couple. Her immersion in the world, and his consideration of it.

For example, if she’d been the one in the car outside the cordoned-off hotel, she would have wanted to hop out and shove her way to the front of the crowd. Push against the police line with all the other onlookers, trying to look inside, trying to work out what’s happened. Except, unlike everyone else, she would know exactly what she’s looking at. To everyone else, it's just a great bloody building that wasn't there yesterday and might possibly be full of monsters. But to her, it’s her child’s chosen home. 

Daniel slows before the crowd, makes a mental note of the interesting iron lattice over the windows, and keeps going. 

Maybe it’s shock, he thinks, as he crawls through traffic. If it is, he’s learned how to use it well, as a tool to cut through the noise and see what needs to be done. Like now. After that call from Ian, he knows to pass by the crowds and head a few streets away, down Winchester, to the disused alley and the aluminum dumpster. Daniel carefully checks his blind spots, parks the car, and steps out.

"Hello?”  He calls, voice echoing off the brickwork as he looks around. “It's alright, we’re alone. The whole block is out gawking at the hotel."

Something scuffles in the dark. Ian pokes his head around the disposal containers. 

"Mr Morgan. Beast out there, yeah?" He laughs, but it's a forced little sound. The young man looks like he's going to be ill. Another noise, and Neith drops down from one of the nearby ledges, bruised and watching him warily.

"The Suites are bigger than I thought. Is everyone alright?" He moves closer, a little worm of anxiety works its way through a crack in his detachment. Why is it just the two of them?  "Where's my daughter?"

"Ah... about that."

Ian raps lightly on the lid of the closest bin. The scuffling noise returns.

Daniel stares, and as he watches he can feel that crack growing. A sense of vertigo creeps through him, whispering that he should take a few steps back.  Assess. Reconsider. Take a moment to work out just how large and hungry that ‘little’ worm really is.

But he also knows what Sarah would do, if she were here. And since she’s not… it’s up to him.

Daniel Morgan steps forward, grips the lid of the dumpster, and throws it wide open.



"... multiple eyewitnesses claiming that they saw bizarre and unexplainable things inside the strange building. Law enforcement has requested that the public remain calm and keep their distance until any potential threats to public safety have been ruled out, but in the meantime there has been plenty of public speculation.”

'It's really quite simple. We've always had Neighbours among us. It was only a matter of time before we got a good look at them.”

“Neighbours? Can you clarify?”

“ You know. FAIRI-'"

Sarah Morgan jams her thumb on the remote. She watches the television blink out, the afterimage fading until all that’s left is her own reflection. Without the news, she’s left with nothing but the ticking of the kitchen clock and the silent phone in her lap. 

Ian had phoned Daniel, and then Daniel had grabbed the keys and ran, literally ran out the door, calling over his shoulder for her to turn on the news. It was always surprising how quickly a quiet Sunday could turn into a crisis. They'd had years of practice, but even so, she never truly felt prepared.

What could have happened? The Market appeared…did that mean…

Is L coming home?

The front door lock clicks. The sound is quick and furtive, like it’s trying to evade her notice.

"Sarah?"  Daniel calls gingerly as he steps in, "We're, ah. We're home - “

Sarah leaps to her feet, tossing her phone away and crossing the room in quick strides.  "What's happened? That hotel - it’s visible, it's all over the news. Is L okay? Is she safe?" 

"She's..." There’s something shifting and unfocused in Daniel's eyes. "L's here. It's - ah - e-everyone had better come in - "

He steps aside, one hand resting on Sarah’s arm. Ian's right behind him, with Neith skulking a step behind. Sarah’s face goes pale and tight. 

"What's she doing here - "

"Mum?"

A voice. A new voice, from somewhere behind Neith. It sounds like L, but deeper. Thicker. The speaker slips inside, anxiously twisting his hands. A flash of dark hair. Nervous eyes. Sarah jolts in recognition. It’s Lloyd, but his shoulders are wrong. She can see the wings behind him, but they’re too far back - 

They move. Separate. Step away from him. Those eyes fix her, just as they did all those years ago. Amber irises, floating in the dark. She can still see them staring at her, desperate and seeking something she can’t understand, begging for their understanding while clutching her son in razor-sharp nails. 

Lyra blinks. 

And Sarah Morgan passes out.

Sarah sits at the table. The kettle burbles, but she only notes it in passing, as something that would only matter to some vague stranger. Her attention has been hijacked, stolen, and sealed into the two figures sitting in front of her.

Two.

Two figures.

Her head still pounds, a leftover reminder of her fainting spell. What had happened after? Daniel had helped her to her feet. Neith and Ian went off to do something, she can't remember what. There had been talk, but it’s all blurred together into meaningless noise. All she can see or think of or exist with is

Two.

Lloyd.

He looks almost like she remembers from when he was working at Cromart. Maybe a little taller. His face is slightly more angular - more like his father's - but he has her hair again. And his eyes, those are back to brown, rooted to the table since he’s sat down. Hunched in his chair, tugging anxiously at the jumper he’s borrowed from Daniel.  Making space for his missing wings. But they're not missing, are they? They're sitting in the chair next to him.

Lyra.

She feels so different from the nightmare in Sarah’s memory. She’s no longer towering over Lloyd, of course. That must make a difference. She looks slight, even spindly, swimming in Lloyd’s old clothes. Her wings protrude from careful cuts in the cloth. All edges and points. And those eyes, those floating amber searchlights. They’ve lost their desperation. If anything, she seems…injured. Lost.  

They both do.

The kettle clicks. She stands, mechanically pours, and places a mug of peppermint tea in front of Lloyd. He picks up the mug in both hands, breathing in the steam, and takes a slow, careful sip. Sarah clears her throat, folding her hands uncomfortably as she turns to Lyra. 

"And w… what would you like?"

"I..."  Lyra starts, her antennae rising, glancing at Lloyd's mug. He sets it down with a soft clunk.

"Mum, c-could I maybe - “ Lloyd starts.

“ - I would like - “ Lyra interrupts.

They look at each other. Without another word, Lloyd slides the tea over to Lyra.  “...coffee?" He asks.

"C-coffee? But you’ve always -"

Lyra takes the mint tea in both hands, her movements slow and wary. She lifts it to her mouth, takes a sip, and lowers it again. Lyra stares down at the drink, her antennae dipping into the steam, and smiles.  

Sarah stares at the both of them, unable to think of a single thing to say.  

"Is instant okay?" She asks, finally. Lloyd nods, still not looking up.

"Thanks."

The next few minutes are filled with silent movements. Mrs. Morgan sits down, although she can’t remember when she decided to. Sometime after Lloyd’s coffee is ready. She’s made a cup for herself. Actually drinking it feels unthinkable. 

"... how did this happen?"

The words come out in a little rush. She doesn't mean to sound as exasperated as she does, but no one seems to notice. 

"I - "

"After - "

Lloyd and Lyra stop as their voices mingle. They glance at each other, then Lyra turns back to her tea, her talons ticking against the mug as she sips.  Lloyd grips his own coffee close, his voice low as he explains.

"My name. The man I sold it to, I thought he was a friend, but...he wasn't. He used it to pull me…”  He glances over to Lyra “He used it to pull us... apart."

"Why would he do that?"  Sarah asks. 

"I might know.” Lyra sets her tea down. “Although… I don’t always understand humans."

Lloyd offers a little smile, finally lifting his head. "I can clear any bits you aren't sure of."

Lyra nods, “He is the Bookkeeper. When I took work from him, we would talk. Often, he would speak of the rightful place of things.”  She places all four of her hands on the table. Fingers and talons arranged just so. “I did not understand why his words always returned to the same thing. But it is where his mind dwelt. He could not leave that place. He did not wish to.”  

"So… we weren't in our place. We couldn't be, to him. He needed us..."  Lloyd gestures vaguely, then takes the two mugs, putting them side by side and sliding them apart. "...like this."

Sarah's stomach turns.  “What if he’s…”  She starts, but she can see the hurt stir in them before she has a chance to even finish the thought. She cuts herself off with the force of a slammed door, burying the idea. 

For the moment. 

"Food's here. We got a bit of everything!"  Daniel calls, entering the room with Neith and Ian, all of them laden with steaming takeout bags. He sets them on the table, giving the silent room a worried smile.  

"Just to cover the bases."

"So that's it.  That's the end, then."

The food has helped, somewhat. The table seems a little more settled. Sarah’s headache has let up, thankfully. She isn’t sure if it’s thanks to the meal, the explanation, or simply time enough to get used to two figures. But maybe now…maybe they’re all ready to face what’s ahead. Sarah leans forward, pushing aside empty cardboard and crumbled napkins.  

"I know it isn't... exactly... what you imagined. But..."  

She shouldn't say it. She knows she shouldn't say it. But how can she not? Aren’t they all thinking it? 

"... maybe this is for the best?"

"The best?" Lloyd straightens up, hurt and confused. He really has grown taller. She can measure it by how far he comes up against Ian’s shoulder.  "M-mum - "

"Well, hasn't it? Lloyd, you're human now! Fully human! I know it's a change, but just…sit with it a moment.  No more hiding. No more rules or being burned by iron or being chased by bogeymen! You and Ian, you can finally just live.  Finally have a normal life.”

"...a normal..." Lloyd's gaze sinks again. Ian touches his wrist, and he shifts closer, letting him wrap an arm around his shoulders. Sarah’s attention shifts to Lyra. The nymph is sitting up straight, lost in her mug. She’s tapping it with her talons again. 

"And you…you can be fully yourself again. You're free. None of this - this Kept nonsense, you can live as quietly as you like. And - ” She pauses, half-startled at how easy the offer is. “ - we can keep you safe, here with us." 

Lyra’s talons stop, her gaze trailing from the mug, finding Sarah.  “You would… let me stay?"

Daniel lifts an eyebrow - the sole concession he’s given his own surprise. Sarah reaches over and grips his hand, letting his fingers close around hers. It's warm and solid. Reassuring.  “We've had lots of practice.”

"... but I am... an intruder." Lyra says, at a loss.

"Oh, well, maybe." Daniel muses. "But then we went and made you breakfast for eighteen years."

Sarah laughs. It comes out with a hoarse edge that she wasn’t expecting.  "We did, didn't we! And helped her tie her shoes. And took her to the park."

Daniel smiles, looking back and forth between them. "So…yes, if you'd like. You’re welcome here, until all this blows over. Until you’re both back on your feet. You’ll be safe."

“But.” Lloyd stirs, sitting up again.  "But Astraea's not safe."

Lyra’s talon scrapes, convulsively twitching over the surface of her empty mug. Neith looks away. Ian breathes out a sigh.

"I'm... sorry, Lloyd."  Sarah starts, tentatively.  "I understand that she grew to mean something to you. But... she's there, and you're here. There's nothing you can do."

"Why not?"  Lloyd slaps the table, hard enough to make Ian jump.  "Why should I settle into my normal life while Astraea’s over there being fed to a bloody dragon? That’s not normal, Mum!  None of this is!”

“Lloyd, please - “

“No, Mum!”  His chair scrapes as he pushes it back. His voice scrapes too, just as sharp.  “I've never been normal! I-I don't even know what that means!"

Sarah has never felt herself go so still. She can taste crisp autumn air, hear leaves skittering across the pavement. That old panic when she saw the burns across his palms. It never truly left. 

"It means playing on the monkeybars with your friend."

Lyra wraps her wings around herself. Lloyd blinks hard, looking away. Ian gently takes his hand., "Mate, you can have whatever life you like. No one here is gonna tell you no.”  He squeezes. “We're with you." 

Lloyd squeezes back, offering Ian a soft smile.  "But I can't...I mean...this all still happened. I can't just...pretend the Market wasn't there. And Astraea's still...Astraea..."  And just like that, he’s staring holes into the table again, tears threatening the corners of his eyes.  "We were going to save her."

Sarah's smile crumples a little.  "She wanted to give you a chance, here."  

"She shouldn't have done it." Ian says, steady and certain. "If you’d asked me a few weeks ago, Mrs. Morgan, maybe I’d have agreed. But even with all the trouble… even with all that’s happened. A fresh start without her feels…”

"Wrong." Lloyd says to the middle distance.

“Wrong” Lyra echoes. The nymph glances over to him.  "Like us."

Lloyd shifts, trying to catch her eye. "Do you feel..."

She nods, looking furtively away. 

"That's only natural."  Sarah interjects, her voice brittle. "You spent nearly twenty years together. Of course this is going to be an adjustment.”

Lyra shakes her head, nestling in tighter. "No. That was not us. That was someone different. Someone gone. Gone gone gone."

Lloyd shudders, holding his body tight, falling silent again. Sarah’s headache comes creeping back.   

"You started this way.”  She tries again. “We can’t expect you to remember, Lloyd, but…surely that means something to you, Lyra? Don’t you remember?” 

Lyra stirs. The bright red splashes of her lower wings flash, mirroring the distance in her eyes. "Yes. I remember. But... it is... hard to explain."

Lloyd nods.  "She was there, Mum. And...I was there too, I guess. But at the same time… L…. That was somebody different."

He pushes the empty mugs until they click.

"Both of these together."

Neith looks up. “So Lolly’s gone, then?"

Lloyd considers the mugs, then nods, miserably. She squints sideways at him. 

“I’m not sure what you’re both so upset about. Can’t you just do it again? Ta-da, Lolly’s back, hooray.” 

Lloyd blinks, nonplussed. He glances at Lyra.  "Is that… something we can do?"

"L-Lloyd!"  His mother reaches towards him.  "Now hold on. Think about what you’re saying - “

"I’m just asking." Lloyd runs a hand through his hair, looking anywhere but at the others. "I just want to know if it’s possible."

"We can."  Lyra says. "If Lloyd is willing. We can do it."

"And if we don't do that?” Lloyd shifts. “Will you...stay?"

Lyra holds her silence, long enough to suggest that she simply might not answer. When she stirs, her words are distant.  Unwilling. 

"The magic must be understood and accepted to take full root. An infant could not grasp it. But now, If we as full people were to do so again… no one will be able to separate us. Lloyd and Lyra will be gone. There will only be L."

Lloyd shifts again.

“Lyra. That isn’t what I asked."

“I will never forget your kindness.” Lyra rasps. “When I was in danger, you gave me shelter. I would... very much like to stay... but…”   She stands, unfolding herself from her seat like so many sheets of paper. “I must save Astraea."

"Well, hold on." Daniel holds up a hand. "You can't get to her, can you? The Market's gone. Even if you could open it, there’s no more door."

"The door to Xylia is gone, yes.  But there is a secret door that remains open.” 

"...and you know where it is." Lloyd says. He sits up, something kindling in his eyes. "Your memory's back?"

She nods.

"Tearing free our binding has torn free other magics. The path leads through the Wilds. They are very dangerous, but I am of the wood. I can read the aetherways."

"NO."  Sarah says, slamming her hands on the table and leaning forward. Neith jumps. Even Daniel looks startled. Lloyd holds his seat, glancing between them. How can they all be so calm? How can they even be considering this? "Lyra, no."

“Why not?”  Lyra asks. She looks truly baffled at the objection. Even a little frightened. The strangeness of the thought almost cuts through Sarah’s sudden fear and anger.  

“You’ll just be throwing your life away! You… you’re just one person! You…” She rises, rounding the table. Lyra shrinks back, looking up at her.  “... I just want you to be safe!”

"Mum..." Lloyd says quietly. 

"...M-mum?"  Lyra echoes. 

Sarah shudders and scoops her up into her arms, holding her tight. She can feel the nymph’s bones. Small and delicate. How is it possible that this creature is so fragile?   "I don't care who you were or how you came here.” She whispers. “We raised you as ours, and I'll be damned if I just let you throw away your life!"

Daniel's hand settles gently on her shoulder.

"Sarah..."

"I know, Daniel. I'm being ridiculous, but - “

"I don't think you're being ridiculous."

Daniel nods at Lloyd, sitting bolt upright at the table, then at Lyra, limp and confused.

"But I also think Lloyd and Lyra need some space to work this out for themselves."

Sarah slowly pulls away from Lyra. She runs a hand through her soft grey hair, straightening it. "Y-yes. Of course."

Lloyd nods gravely, getting to his feet. His hand trails away from Ian's as he stands.  "Thanks."

Lyra rises and moves to join him. She lingers, looking at Sarah. The fear has faded. The confusion remains. “What is it?”  Sarah asks.

"…I thought you hated me.”

Sara stares at her for a long time. Finally, her face cracks in a gentle smile. "How could I hate you?” Her voice catches. She lifts her hand to her Lyra’s cheek, brushing away a tear. “You’re part of my child.”

continue reading ->

I think it’s always a little bit of a gamble when we switch perspectives, but sometimes the other characters really need that moment of sharing where their head is. The Morgans have thoughts and we ought to hear them. 

Of course, so does Lloyd. 
So does Lyra.

And we really ought to hear theirs…please join us on Friday, March 7th to hear what they have to say to each other, now that they have a chance to really talk.

Thanks for reading!
- Hark