"Lyra! Lily! Please wake up. My two beautiful daughters."
A familiar voice. Warm. Desperate.
"Are they ever going to wake up?" That was Levi, my little brother.
"Let's hope so, Levi."
Mom. Dad. Their voices wrapped around me like a blanket. I could feel them, hear them… but I couldn't move. My body felt heavy, too weak to wake. The holy waters had done more damage than I thought.
"I don't know what I'd do without them. They're my whole world. Lily, Lyra, I love you both so much."
Dad's voice cracked. That was enough, I had to wake up. My eyes fluttered open, heavy and drowsy, and I realized an air mask covered my face. A hand was gripping mine tightly.
"Lyra!" Dad's voice shouted with relief.
"Dad," I whispered weekly.
"Baby girl..." He brushed my hair back, his palm warm against my forehead.
"I should've listened to you," I said faintly. "If I had, Lily wouldn't have gotten hurt."
"We'll discuss that later," he said calmly. "What matters is you're alive. How do you feel?"
"Exhausted. Weak." My eyes shifted. "How's Lily?"
"She hasn't woken up yet."
My chest tightened.
"How did I get back home? I remember… a woman with peach hair. She picked us up. After that… everything's fuzzy."
Dad nodded. "A vampire woman named Stacy brought you home after two days. I couldn't thank her properly because she left before I could, but I'll be forever grateful. She saved you both."
The door creaked open.
"Come on, Levi. One more goodnight, then it's bed time."
Mom stepped in, her gaze falling on me. Her breath caught.
"Lyra!" She gasped.
"Big sister, you're awake!" Levi ran to hug me.
"Hi, Levi. Hi, mom," I smiled faintly.
"Thank heaven's," Mom whispered, holding my hand. "How's Lily?"
"She still hasn't woken up."
Levi's face scrunched. "She's my other half… I don't know what I'd do without her."
"Don't worry," Dad said firmly. "She'll wake up. I won't let her die."
When they left, the doctor came in, her kind eyes familiar.
"Hello, your Highness. You're awake. How are you holding up?"
"Still in pain. Still weak. But I'll survive."
"That's good." She checked my mask. "Breathing any easier?"
"Yes… wait how long have I been asleep?"
"Five days."
My eyes widened. "Five days?"
She nodded, unhooking the mask. I drew in a raw, clean breath. Relief.
"How's Lily?"
"She's stable. But she was struck with three holy waters and inhaled silver mist. She's a fighter, but it'll take time."
I bowed my head. Please wake up, Lily.
"Thank you, Lisa," I said softly. "You've cared for me since I was a baby. Don't call me 'Your Highness.' Just Lyra."
She smiled warmly. "Then Lyra it is."
Later, after Lisa left, I laid beside Lily's bed, listening to the steady beeping of her monitors. Her pale face looked so fragile.
"Lily," I whispered, "if you can hear me, wake up. Please. You're strong in your own way. You light up every room. I love you so much… and I'm sorry I didn't say it enough."
That night, rustling stirred me.
"L-Lyra…"
My head instantly lifted up. "Lily? You're awake!"
Her eyes blinked open, dazed. "Where are we?"
"Home. You've been asleep for six days."
"Six… days?"
I smiled. "I woke up yesterday."
Relief swelled inside me. Soon, mom, dad, and Levi entered, flooding her with attention and questions. I tried not to let it sting, they were just happy she lived.
Still, the thought ached in me. If it had been me instead of Lily, would they have treated me the same?
Later that night, Dad carried me back to my room. My legs still trembled.
"Lyra," he said gently, "do you have any idea how scared I was? I told you not to go to Lunaris. You could've died. Both of you." His voice cracked.,"I couldn't sleep, knowing you might never wake up. You're so important to me. I'm angry. I'm disappointed. But most of all I'm grateful you're alive."
Tears welled in his eyes. He kissed my forehead over and over, hugging me like he'd never let go.
"I love you, baby girl."
I hugged him back, silently.
When mom lingered behind, I stopped her.
"Mom… you were so quiet while dad spoke. Why?"
She looked at me for a long moment. "Because you're becoming more and more like me every day. And that's what scares me."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. Before I could ask, she left.
More like her? What does that mean? I shook my head, placing the thought behind me.
Exhaustion ran through me pulling me back into bed. At least Lily was safe. At least we were both home.