Legacy of Lillas

By Nadi Abdi

Having lost her family at the age of 7, Lillas Mikkinnan is tossed into the grip of Dr. Superville.
The lead researcher at the Genetics Center, Superville uses any and all means to learn about
his subjects. After years of his mentorship and manipulations, Lillas escapes and returns to
Guild City. There she has a new name, a new life, and close ties to the demon cleaner and
demon knight communities. But a chance to see her mother again could send her right back to
Superville.

Legacy of Lillas is the prequel to the Demon Cleaner series (book one due out 7-02-22). LoL explores the life of Lillas from ages 7-16, long before she came to be known as the Charcoal Maker. We see the people and events that raised and shaped her into the young woman who is always the center of Cleaner/Knight conflict, but whose willingness to protect the weak never falters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nadi Abdi
• Release date: Jul 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005912659

Nadi Abdi

Hello there! Welcome. Have a seat. Thank you for joining me. I’m guessing you’re here to have a conversation. What would you like to talk about? We can talk about where I’m from (Kansas City, Missouri [home of the Chiefs!]) when I’m from (1981), but that’s only interesting to people from that place or from that time. Let’s talk about something that matters. You, me, and this trip we’re taking, this relationship we’re building, this trust we’re sharing. You’re trusting me to take you on a journey full of magic, suspense, and fiery characters. I’m trusting you to tell me if it’s shit. Or if it’s great! Does it move you? Did you laugh? Did you cry? Did you throw the book (or device) in anger and frustration? I expect this to be a long road trip. Let’s talk about everything.

Book preview

1

Chapter 1

Lillas sat, wearing a cute black dress and afro puffs, bound with shiny black ribbons. Her hands rested in her lap. Too short to reach the ground, she kicked her feet under her seat. It was a sunny, cloudless day. They were covered by the shade of a massive oak. On one side of her sat a family friend she only knew as Evera. He was taller than tall, with skin the color of milk, hair the color of cotton, and eyes like blue crystals. He looked like a man to her, but called himself a himmel. She didn’t know what the difference was. He was powerful though, even stronger than the vampire she’d met. Maybe that was the difference. On the other side of her sat her mother, Marisai, who sobbed and sniffed, both from the tragedy, and also from the confrontation with the in-laws.

Isaiah Mikkinnan’s family had always hated Marisai for some reason. Anything bad that happened to Isaiah, they blamed her as if her mere presence was a curse. Today was no different. If anything, today solidified their belief. If she hadn’t insisted that he take the kids out, if she hadn’t forced him to go on the outing without her and Lillas, he and the kids would still be alive. And why didn’t she go? Oh! Lillas was sick. How convenient. She stayed home with the sick child. Why didn’t he stay? Why didn’t they postpone the outing? Did she know something? Did she do something? She was just a curse. Him marrying her was the worst mistake of his life, and it cost him his life, cost them their son and their brother, their nieces and nephews.

This conflict was just one more weird event on a list of weird events. Lillas had thrown dirt on her family’s caskets, her father’s the biggest, her two-year-old sister’s the smallest. Her father’s family screamed at her mother. Her mother, who was usually fiery and loud, sat dejected and snuffed out as if she really believed their words, that she had somehow caused the crash that killed her family. Evera, who had great power, didn’t stop them from hurling insults. Maybe he believed them, too.

It was quiet now. The guests had gone to the reception at her grandparents’ home. Lillas was invited and welcomed. Marisai and Evera were not. The three sat in a silence disrupted by the passing breeze and acorns falling on polished wood. Lillas wanted to leave. But not to go home. Home was different, empty. She’d gone from being the third of five children to the only child, from having two parents to one. In the days leading up to the funeral, home, which had once been filled with lava games and fights with her younger brother, was now filled with silence and darkness. She wanted to go, but to where?

Cross will take you both with him tonight, Evera said after a breath as if he were afraid to speak, like his voice would offend the mood.

Cross was coming. That was expected, but also a surprise. Her father’s vampire friend had promised to take both her and her mother to Italy with him after the funeral. She just didn’t realize he meant right after the funeral. When she asked if they’d be back, he said, No. There’s no reason for you to be here. You’re my family, now. I’m going to take care of you. That was it. She’d lost her father, brothers, sisters. Now, she was going to lose her house, her home, her neighborhood, and all her friends.

When they finally got home, Marisai sent Lillas up to the road to the family restaurant, MK1, to grab ice, juice, and a few other things. She felt like the girl from Sesame Street, A loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter.

For the first time, she was trusted with the restaurant keys. For the first time, she unlocked and opened the door herself. She was a small girl doing big girl things. She paused at the restaurant’s entrance. It was darker than usual. Sunlight grazed the floors and tables. It was enough to see, but it was overcast, ghostly, completely different from how it normally looked. At that moment, she realized she had no idea where the light switch was. She forced herself to walk across the massive dining area, still in her dress shoes, clicking and pattering with each step. In the kitchen, she gathered what her mom wanted: ice, juice, bread, milk, eggs, sugar…

The bells at the front door jingled. Hello?! It’s Ed Travers. The door was open. I just…oh! Hey!

Lillas peeked around the corner.

It’s your Uncle Eddie. You know me. I’m your father’s friend.

I know. Uncle Eddie was always nice to her, but she didn’t know him well. She was good friends with his son, Kevin. My daddy’s not here. Lillas’s voice came out in a high-pitched whisper. My mommy sent me. She said it was okay to be here. She sent me to get things.

Uncle Eddie’s lips shook. His eyebrows twisted. He swallowed, took a deep breath, and straightened his face. Of course, baby. Of course, you can be here. Can I help you?

She nodded.

He joined her in the kitchen and helped gather and bag the requested items. As they continued, other neighbors came in. More of her parents’ friends. They were all at the funeral and were disgusted by the way her mother was treated and didn’t attend the reception.

The elders sat around, drinking beer and soda. Uncle Eddie decided to make a couple of things in the kitchen. A couple of things turned into a full table. A full table turned into two full tables. More neighbors came. Soon they had their own reception right there in the restaurant. They shared jokes and stories about Isaiah and the family. Everyone seemed to need a turn hugging Lillas and had to tell her, I remember when your mother was pregnant with you, and, I remember when your mother brought you home, and, You look just like your father.

What was supposed to be a quick run to get stuff turned into hours. Uncle Eddie helped her carry the items home. When they arrived, Evera was gone, the house was dark, and Marisai was nowhere in sight. Lillas was just happy to be back after hours saturating in the elders’ jovial energy.

Mari? Uncle Eddie called, but there was no answer. She must be asleep. Lillas agreed. They put the items away. Lillas walked upstairs and tapped on her mother’s door, then eased it open just enough to peek in. Like the rest of the house, it was dark. A spray of evening light drifted across her bedridden form. Lillas closed the door. She’s okay, she whispered to her Uncle.

OK, he whispered back. Let’s go downstairs. He made a show of tiptoeing towards the steps, actions that she followed.

Once at the bottom of the steps, she told him, We’re supposed to leave tonight. Cross is taking us.

Your father’s vampire friend?

He said we’re going to Italy and not coming back because we’re his family now, and we don’t have family here anymore.

Well, that’s not true. I’m your family. This whole neighborhood is your family.

He says you’re not, so he’s going to take care of us.

And your mother is OK with this? A vampire just taking you away from your home?

He said he’s taking us. She didn’t say no.

Huh. When she wakes up, have her call me.

She should wake up soon. We have to pack. But I don’t know when he’s coming. Maybe we don’t have to pack now.

OK. Well, have her call me anyway, OK?

She nodded. He knelt down and gave her the biggest, tightest hug, and a big kiss on the cheek. Lillas was afraid to let go, not knowing what would happen once he left, and she was alone in the dark house. After giving her his phone number, he was gone.

Lillas started packing her bags as the sun set. She grabbed the most important things: clothes, underwear, stuffed animals, one toy from each sibling, the forbidden toy, the one she wasn’t allowed to touch. Lillianne’s Gameboy and the one game she owned, T2; Elizar’s K’Nex set, the one he made to look like a Lamborghini; Elijah’s Teddy Ruxpin; Lileena’s giant teddy bear that was bigger than the two-year-old. She never went anywhere without it. Lillas took them because no one could stop her, but also because they were the ones most important to her brothers and sisters. She took a page out of her father’s cookbook. It was the kebab and cashew butter recipe that he loved. Finally, she had three bags of everything important. She was ready.

Marisai was not. Attempts to wake her failed. The sun had set. Cross would be here soon. Marisai had to pack. If she didn’t pack, how could she go? Lillas had to help her. In the closet, she found a large suitcase and stuffed it with her mother’s favorite clothes and trinkets. Once it was full, Lillas dragged the suitcase down the steps, almost falling over in the process. Fortunately, she didn’t. If she died, her mother would have no one; she’d be alone. Lillas didn’t want her to be alone, so she couldn’t die tonight.

She placed their suitcases in front of the door, sat on top of the biggest, and waited.

Cross never came.

Marisai never woke.

2

Chapter 2

Over the next few days, Lillas would check on her mother, leave her breakfast, go to school, not talk to anyone, then go home. In the afternoon, she would remove bowls of soggy cereal. Marisai wore the same clothes as she did the day of the funeral. But now they were covered in pee and poop. The room reeked. The smell grew so bad that Lillas didn’t want to go in there anymore. But she had no choice. Someone had to at least give her food, even if she didn’t eat.

The house was unfamiliar. She grew up here, but didn’t recognize it. When she cleaned and put things away, they stayed clean and where they were supposed to be. With seven people in the house, the details of each day were often unpredictable. Which kids were getting along? Which ones weren’t? Was this the day they join forces against the parents? Who was getting grounded? Who was getting praised and doted on? Whose turn was it to vacuum? Whose turn was it to wash the dishes in the sink, what few there were? Where the other dishes were, no one ever knew. Without these little ingredients sprinkled throughout the house, the house was nothing but a vast and lonely space that held an emptiness she could hear. It made her uncomfortable. Once