Chapter 1
My real name isn't Renee. But I didn't like my first name, and Daddy was happy with me changing it, so Renee it was. If anyone had a problem with my name... well, that's the thing. They never did. Because they knew exactly what would happen if they did.
It was what I wanted all along, what we were doing now – travelling across plains and plains of grass, getting closer to the busy streets and heavy smoke of New York.
Well, the outskirts of New York, to be precise.
We were moving to Alistair.
"Daddy?" I asked softly, putting a hand on his arm. His attention pulled away from his laptop, and focused on to me.
"Yes, Poppy?" he asked.
I said nothing – just smiled affectionately and warmly hugged him from behind. It was during moments like this when I ever felt strong emotions. Like love, for example.
Because I loved my Daddy. I loved my Daddy so much that I was convinced that nobody could love him as much as I did.
"How long until the train gets there?"
"Forty-five minutes. Just be patient," he reached behind and patted my blonde head, promptly getting back to what was on his screen. The other passengers were dozing off or staring out the window, but none of that could keep my attention for long.
"The water they gave me tasted like chlorine," I lied, trying to shift his attention.
He made a small noise at the back of his throat. "Well, then I'll make a complaint. You could get food poisoning with the rubbish here."
"Thank you, Daddy." I squinted at the screen, curious at what he was looking at. If I really wanted to, and if it were a major concern, I could have easily hacked into his laptop and downloaded every email and every document off of it. But I hadn't done that since last week, and so far, Daddy hadn't been keeping secrets from me.
We never kept secrets from each other, after all.
It was an email from an aunt that I'd met only twice in my life. As far as I knew, she was my only aunt. Gwyneth Griffin was the woman who advised Daddy to move to Alistair in the first place. I would thank her in my own way, soon.
I let my mind wander for a bit, trying to picture the 'perfect' town that we were about to take residence in. My cousin Jessabel was in the process of moving out, according to Daddy, so I was taking her room until our own house was finished. I already knew we were going to be friends.
We had to be. I would make sure of it.
It was hard to ignore it, what with all of the publicity. I'd heard all about her involvement with the Blight and Hockley kidnapping, and how she'd come out of it a national hero. A golden child. Even more surprising was the fact that it was her boyfriend's father who shot her. But nonetheless, she was valuable. My involvement with her would result in instant popularity, and I'd figure out the rest from then on.
In the meanwhile, I had a lot of waiting to do.
Gwyneth looked shockingly like Daddy – being paternal twins, you'd know in an instant that they were related. Daddy used to tell me stories all the time about his wild and untameable sister; late night protests against science facilities, the stashed weed, and even the night she ran away with her high school sweetheart, only to be left knocked-up and homeless. He also told me about her uncanny ability to lie.
It must run in the family.
"Are you excited, Poppy?" Dad asked, giving the arm around his neck a quick squeeze.
I smiled brightly. "Absolutely!"
"It'll be a nice change, I promise," he shut his laptop and leaned back, turning his head to look at me with kind eyes. "You'll be safe."
That sobered the conversation, and I self-consciously tugged my sleeves tighter to my wrist. "I know, Daddy." I pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now," He broke away. "Get some sleep."
"But we'll be there in under an hour."
"You won't be so bored if you sleep now."
But I stayed awake. I didn't like sleeping, or generally just closing my eyes, around a public place. You never knew what would happen, and instincts were dug deep into my consciousness. Calculate. Observe.
I looked around the coach carriage, taking note of everyone in it. A man two seats in front of us was drooling into the window sill, his head pressed flat against it. The journey had proceeded at night time, and dawn had just broken out. A woman with an over-excited child was holding tight to her son, and even in his sleep, he twitched and moved around restlessly.
My phone burned a hole into my pocket, but I refused to touch it.
Not until the train stopped moving.
Daddy was right – the minutes were slow. But I kept myself occupied by studying him. His fair hair was slowly receding, and if I squinted hard enough, I could make out a few grey hairs. Stress had done a number on him, but he still retained his looks. Green eyes were slowly drooping closed, and as an unconscious habit, he twirled that wretched ring around his third finger.
I didn't like that ring.
It represented dangerous things.
"Wake me up, Poppy?" he mumbled.
"Of course." I smiled.
My foot tapped the floor impatiently. Patience had never come easy for me, and I was feeling the worst of it now. Soon, I would be walking through the open gates and lush scenery of my new home. With Daddy by my side.
Alistair was mine.
***
Author's Note: Over the chapters, you'll love to hate Renee. You just wait and see. ;) If in doubt, just remember that it gets interesting.
Also, don't forget to follow me on insta: @ lilywardwriter
Lily x.