“That’s her? Well, she certainly shares a resemblance. Those clear blue eyes, long golden hair and skin like snow are very much identical to the Magistrate. There’d been rumors for years, but it seems they can no longer deny it.”
“Yes, apparently he’d met her during frequent travels to Asia for work and they had an affair.”
“Oh yes, the Japanese woman, right? They say she was a priestess or something of the like?”
“I heard she was into voodoo and black magic.”
“In any case, it was questionable. That’s not something a good English gentleman, especially one with such strong Christian values should be involved in. It’s a wonder how he even became entranced by her to develop a relationship rather than a onetime fling. I bet it was a hex she put on him to draw him to her.”
“That’s probably what killed her. Dealing with wicked devil’s magic is no good. It’s a wonder her child was born so pure considering. Keiko, I believe is her name? She might have the look of an English beauty, but that name will be proof of her illegitimate origins. I wonder if Sir. Nicholas will have it changed? She’s just made four years, so she can easily adjust to a change. Hopefully she hasn’t been corrupted by her mother’s evil dealings.”
“He would be wise to have her trained in our practices immediately at a finishing school so she can grow up well and become a daughter befitting the Royal Magistrate. For his and his family’s sake, as well as her own.”
“I wonder how our lady is taking this? I heard she’s been aware of his adultery for several years now and of the child’s existence, but it’s much harder to turn a blind eye when the proof is here before you. I can’t imagine she’d feel very accommodating to her husband’s bastard when she has two fine children of her own. One is even the same age. She’s a much better woman than most to put up with that. I hope he treats her better.”
“Well, even good men have their vices, so who can say? But, that girl had better do all she can to please them and be a good daughter, or she’ll find herself shipped off to boarding school.”
“Perhaps that would be the best option, but it seems he’s determined to make it work.”
“Yes, he’s a good man. Or he’s just a gullible fool, being played by another cunning vixen.”
Three maids whisper quietly amongst themselves, talking about the young girl and her father as though they are certain they cannot hear them. However, Keiko could hear every word, and it burns her to the core. They presume to know the details of the relationship her father and mother shared, but they know nothing. No matter what anyone may believe, she was there to see it with her own eyes. They loved each other dearly and losing her in the way they did will forever stay a secret between them. A truth that will always bind them.
“Keiko?” a gentle voice calls to her and a lightly bearded man with a similar appearance crouches beside her. “I’ve settled everything, and you are now officially recognized as a Miller.” He holds her hand tenderly. “How’s that sound? Are you pleased?”
“What’s my new name?” She speaks in a low tone and doesn’t look him in the eyes.
“Pardon? What do you mean? Your name is Keiko Anne Miller, as it always has been. All that’s been changed is that you’re officially recognized as my legitimate daughter under English Law.”
“But I thought...don’t I need to have an English name now to fit in?”
“Keiko.” His voice suddenly becomes serious and commands her to look at him directly. “Don’t listen to the idle chatter that surrounds us. You are my daughter, and you will always be so just the way you are. I don’t want you to change and you shouldn’t be pressured to. Your mother was a kind and compassionate woman who only wanted to help others, no matter the cost. I respect her more than any woman I know, and I’ll always love her dearly. You are our precious child, and while I wish I’d been able to do more then, I will do everything in my power now to give you a good life. So please believe in me and love yourself. Be proud of your name, ok?”
Keiko had wanted to be strong and not let anyone see her vulnerabilities, but his kind words tear the lid off her feelings, and she can’t hold back the tears that’d been pooling behind her eyes. “Daddy....” She falls into his arms with a hug and cries deeply, allowing all her sadness, insecurities, and anger to release at last. This is the man she’s always known as her father, and he’s never betrayed that image. She will never doubt that she’s worthy to be his daughter again.
However, not everything can be resolved so easily, as she would soon learn in the worst way.
~~~
“Look Keiko, come meet your new baby sister.” He sits in a chair beside a lavish white bassinet.
Keiko carefully approaches her father and once she’s close enough, he places the baby in her arms. She’s beautiful, with the warmest brown eyes, and Keiko feels her heart melting with each passing second. This baby stares at her with such an innocent gaze, untainted by bias or hate. She knows this baby will see her for who she is, and not judge her based on things she could not control. For the first time in her six years of life, Keiko felt she’d have a genuine friend. A place that she could escape mistreatment she endures from her stepmother and half-siblings daily.
“She’s so wonderful daddy, what’s her name?”
“Delilah Marie Miller. We’d always said our first daughter would be Delilah, as Annette and I loved the name. Marie is Annette’s dearly departed mother’s name, so we felt it was only right since she did so much for our family. We hope Delilah will bring our family together again.”
“Because I broke it?” Keiko looks down, an expression of shame on her face.
“No, because it was never really right to begin with, but Annette and I both want to be better for each other and for you children. I’ve made mistakes and didn’t always do things in the right way, but don’t misunderstand Keiko, you were not one of them. I’ll never regret falling in love with your mother or forget that she gave her life for mine. I can never repay her in this lifetime but giving our daughter the best life I can offer is the least I can do. I truly want you to have that.”
“Do you think I can be a savior too? I don’t really want to have the responsibility, but Kei says-.”
“Keiko.” He speaks her name sternly and gives her a serious gaze. “We agreed not to discuss that, didn’t we? Shinobu warned me she would pass the responsibility on to you should she ever pass away, but this isn’t rural Japan. There are no demons or evil for you to slay here. She asked of me that should the worst ever happen, that I would take you far away from there and let you live as a normal girl. I will respect her wishes and I want that for you too. So, forget about the goddess and such things. She may lie dormant inside of you, but you are not obligated to follow her path. Just be a girl Keiko. Make friends, fall in love, and have a family of your own one day. You deserve that happiness. Promise me you’ll try your best to live normally?” He asks softly.
Keiko smiles but doesn’t give him a straightforward answer. Somehow she knows that she can’t make that promise and it scares her. They talk about Delilah and other simple things, as Keiko tries her best to ignore the voice deep in her mind, telling her she cannot run from her fate.
~~~
“You witch!” Annette shoves Keiko out of the way and stares in horror at the lifeless body of her daughter. “No! My baby! What have you done?!” She pulls the toddler into her arms. She pleads and prays to God to wake her up, but she gets no answer. “You will burn in hell for this witch!”
Keiko is silent, still in shock. Nicholas grabs her arm and wrenches her out of the room and into another. He can see her eyes are void of life, she clearly as broken as the rest of them. He understands what happened wasn’t her fault, yet he’s powerless to stop what comes next.
“A liaison for the orphanage will be here within the hour, and you will have to go with them. Please try your best to cooperate, ok?” She finally looks at him, her eyes filling with the sight of betrayal. He pulls her into his arms and breaks down. “I know this isn’t what I promised, but there’s no other way! Please understand Keiko. I know the truth, but no one else will. I’m just a human Keiko. I wish you could just be a normal human too, but it seems that’s impossible. We can’t live as a family this way. Please understand. Please.” He pleads with her like a child.
Keiko stares at the man before her, who was once strong, but under such immense pressure he’s now weak. A human he is indeed. She places her hands on his shoulders and offers an understanding smile. “It’s ok Daddy, you did your best.” The ten-year-old girl comforts the miserable man until they come for her. The last thing she sees is the tormented eyes of her beloved father and the scorn of a mother, who lost her child to a wicked being she’ll never know exists. She can only hope that with her gone, their lives can mend, and they’ll be happy again.
~~~
“Keiko, I’m sorry to tell you this, but your father has died. He took his own life last night.” The social worker she’d met only once or twice informs her of the news with unfeeling eyes, despite her compassionate tone. “I’m afraid I know nothing more or the details of your inheritance.”
“I see. That is a shame. Thank you for telling me.” She knows her response sounds unnatural and oddly cold, but it’s all she can manage at this point. He heart has already become hardened.
“The caretakers tell me you haven’t been getting along with the other children and that you’ve been troublesome since you arrived. They think you may be disturbed in some way, as they often hear you talking to yourself and you always appear paranoid, as though something haunts you.”
“Sorry. I’ve been trying my best to not be a bother. I’ll try harder.” Her response is mechanic.
“That’s good, but I’m concerned that their fears may not be unfounded. Your father vouched for your innocence with the police, insisting that what happened was nothing more than an unfortunate accident. That was enough to clear you of any legal consequences, along with his reputation, of course, but the fact remains that your little sister Delilah showed evidence of blunt force trauma and suffocation. Your stepmother reported she’d seen you leaving her bedroom late at night on multiple occasions leading up to the incident. She believes you had malicious intent, and frankly all the facts point to that. You may be clear from legal ramifications, but if you are a danger to the other children here, we must act appropriately.” She has an accusatory tone.
“It’s as my father said, it was just an unfortunate accident. There’s nothing more I can say.”
The woman stares at the girl, seemingly disconnected from reality. “Well, no matter what I think, they’ve already decided. You’ll be transferred to hospital for mentally disturbed children in a week.” The girl says nothing, and so the woman simply gets up and leaves.
“Keiko, it’s time for us to go. Hate me if you must, but if you hadn’t tried to exorcise that demon, your sister would’ve died either way. Some demons are just too strong, especially when you are untrained. Learn from this failure and become better. That’s all you can do. As I told you long ago, a normal life is not your destiny. For as long as I live within you, you are bound to my duty. You won’t survive in a place like that, so it’s time to take matters into our own hands. We must leave. We can only count on ourselves from now on. We will only be able to trust each other.”
“How long must we run, Kei? When will these priestess duties end? When will I be free?”
The goddess falls silent, and Keiko understands all she needs to know. She takes her backpack and slides it on her shoulder. It’s all that remains of her previous life and of her memories of Delilah. She doesn’t know what the future will hold for them, but she knows she’ll likely never find happiness again. No one will ever see her as Keiko and she will be condemned to a life of serving others. This shall be her penance. She leaves through the window, never looking back.