After the child’s first cry, Daisy and Hey walked the moonlit road back to her lodgings. The weight of it followed them. She turned to him.
"You gave them their child back. How can I ever thank you?"
Before she could say more, his body gave out. He swayed, collapsing forward.
"Hey!" Daisy caught him, nearly falling under his weight. His skin was feverish, his breathing shallow. Alarm jolted through her. "You're burning up! You need help—"
But his hand caught her wrist. "No. Don't call anyone. I'll be fine... I only need to rest." He tried to smile, weary. "Sing for me, please."
Daisy's brow furrowed through her tears. "Here? In the middle of the road?"
Daisy hesitated. Worry crossed her face as she searched his, unsure. But the way he leaned into her, the way he asked, softened something in her chest.
She nodded, swallowed, and sang anyway.
Every note that left her heart trembled with fear, love, and hope.
Listen to Daisy’s lullaby, click here:
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Close your eyes, the shadows fall,
But don't be scared, they mean no harm.
The night is soft, it holds us near,
The world's asleep, but beauty's here.
The moon will follow, wherever you roam,
Silver eyes watching, to guide you home.
And even in darkness, the stars will sing—
A lullaby wrapped in the night's dark wing.
Listen close, the silence hums,
A thousand secrets softly sung.
Dreams awaken where the daylight dies,
Magic lives beneath the skies.
The moon will follow, wherever you roam,
Silver eyes watching, to guide you home.
And even in darkness, the stars will sing—
A lullaby wrapped in the night's dark wing.
Don't fear the dark, it's only a veil,
Behind it, the heavens tell their tale.
If you wander, the night will keep you,
With every star, the sky will lead you.
The moon will follow, wherever you roam,
Silver eyes watching, to guide you home.
And even in shadows, you're never alone—
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The night is a kingdom, and you are its own.
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When the last verse faded, she leaned close, her lips brushing his. It was their first kiss, soft and desperate, full of everything she had held back.
"I love you," Daisy whispered. "I've loved you since the moment we met."
His silver eyes opened, shining softly in the moonlight. "And I loved you from the first moment your song reached me."
Her heart swelled, full to the brim. But his gaze turned somber. "But Daisy... I'm not sure if I can stay. I still have duties and responsibilities that pull me away."
"Then I'll wait," she said fiercely, cupping his face. "No matter how long, I'll wait for you."
He smiled, sad and tender. "It won't be easy. You shouldn't tie yourself to me. But if the time comes, and I return, and you're still free, I promise I'll marry you."
"I told you, I'll wait," Daisy repeated, tears slipping from her eyes.
Hey's smile remained as he rose, the strength slowly returning to his feet. He kissed her again, gently, then stepped back.
The shadows closed around him. When Daisy blinked, he was gone.
She stood in the moonlight, the echo of her song still on the night air, her hand pressed to her lips.
And though the shadows had swallowed him once more, her heart carried his promise.
...
Years passed. The seasons changed, but Daisy kept waiting. Every evening she sang and looked for him in the shadows, but he never came. Her hope slowly faded, leaving only longing.
Five years.
By this point, she no longer hoped. She told herself to move on with things, to live in the memories and the stillness. But every night she still waited at the window, wondering if moonlight might carry him back.
And then, one night, he did.
Her breath stopped when she saw him in the doorway, cloaked as ever, the silver in his eyes unchanged by years. She froze, torn between happiness and fury.
She slapped him as soon as she saw him. The sound echoed in the night.
He did not flinch, did not raise a hand to stop her. He only lowered his head, accepting it.
But Daisy's composure crumbled, her shoulders shaking as she pressed her face to his chest, fists balled tight. "I thought you would never come back. I thought you'd left me forever."
His arms folded around her, strong and warm. "I told you I would return."
She kissed him, again and again, pouring all the years of waiting into that moment. He pulled her closer, one arm around her as if to anchor her. His breath shook against her cheek, his hands trembling as he held her. He had missed her, too, more than words could say, more than she would ever know.
When her trembling faded, Daisy pulled back, searching his face. "Will you stay this time? Will you stay with me for good?"
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, with quiet weight, he asked, "Daisy... will you accept me? Whoever I am. Whatever I am."
She answered without a moment’s hesitation, firm despite the tears. "I've already accepted you from the moment we met. No matter who you are, as long as you are with me."
His gaze softened, the shadows lifting from his eyes. "Then I will marry you. And I will stay... for as long as I can."
And so he did. They married in secret, with only Anna and her husband as witnesses. Hey built a small house by the hill where they met, and that's where they began their life together. During the day, he was always gone before morning, but every night he returned, as faithful as the moonrise. Daisy never asked where he went. She just loved him as he was, grateful for the time they shared in the dark.
In time, Daisy had a child, a daughter with her eyes and his quiet gaze. They named her Lily, after the glowing flowers he used to leave. Their nights were full of laughter, lullabies, and a happiness Daisy never thought she'd have.
They were happy. For years.
But one night, shadows deeper than his own came to their door.
Figures cloaked in darkness like Hey appeared, their voices low and faces hidden. They were his friends, though Daisy had never met them, and they had come to take him.
"No," Hey’s arms closed around Daisy and Lily. "I will not leave them."
But their whispers became urgent and firm. It was something he couldn't refuse, a duty too heavy to ignore.
When Daisy understood, her world came crashing down. "You promised me!" she screamed. "You vowed you'd never leave me again!"
"I don't want to," Hey pleaded, reaching for her hands. "But I must."
She pulled away, tears running down her face. "I can't live like this anymore, always waiting and wondering if you'll come back. If you leave now, don't ever come back." Her sobs shook her. "I'm done. I'm over you. Go, and don't ever return."
The words tore through him, but he only bowed his head. Heartbroken, he stepped forward to hold Daisy, kissing her one last time. She did not move, her face wet against his lips.
Finally, he turned and knelt by Lily's bed, gently brushing her hair back. She was still awake, small and bright-eyed even though it was late, clutching her blanket for comfort. At four years old, she didn't understand the fight between her parents, but she knew something was wrong.
"Papa?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Hey's throat tightened. That one word hurt more than any blade. He gave her a shaky smile as he cupped her cheek. "My little flower... my Lily. I love you more than anything." He kissed her forehead and lingered, eyes closed tight. "Never forget me."
Her tiny hands clutched at his cloak. "Stay, Papa. Don't go."
The plea nearly broke him. His body shaking with the effort not to weep aloud. “I can’t,” he croaked, “not tonight.”
Her brow furrowed in innocent frustration, though she didn't understand. "But... why?"
Hey could not answer. He only pressed her hands gently back to the blanket, forcing himself to rise, though every part of him screamed to stay.
"Hey," Daisy whispered as she reached for him. But when her hand stretched out, the shadows had already taken him. He was gone, swallowed by the night.
Lily's small voice broke the silence, "Mama... why is Papa leaving?"
Daisy's lips parted, but no sound came. She sank to the floor, gathering her daughter into her arms, and wept as the child clung to her, still waiting for an answer she could not give.
That was the last time Daisy ever saw him.
Her heart never healed, but she stayed for Lily's sake. The glowing lilies he once left never returned, and the lullabies she sang became soft and sad.
From their fleeting love, a child remained.
Lily.
Born of shadow and song, of mystery and devotion, she carried both their love and sorrow inside her.
And though Daisy would one day be gone, and Hey lost to the dark, their daughter remained, carrying a trace of something she didn't yet understand.
The man who loved her mother was no ordinary soul. The night had claimed him, and in its depths, he left behind a mark—a whisper of what he was.
That whisper now sleeps inside Lily, quiet as breath, waiting for the moment it will awaken.
Twenty-one years have passed since that night. The child they left behind has grown up, and soon, the lullaby that once rose for the dark will rise again.
And when it does... the shadows will come to claim her too.
Thank you for reading the beginning of Lily's story!
If you loved Daisy and Hey's tale, please leave a comment or give me a rate! Your thoughts and support help this story grow, and they make my day every single time. I'd love to hear about your favorite moments or theories about what's to come. Engaging with you makes this journey even more special. Thank you! ?
Next chapter, Lily steps into her own story for the first time. I can’t wait for you to meet her. See you there!
👉 Which moment stayed with you the most from this story?
