Breath of Air (10 page)

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I reacted that way…” Capri couldn’t look at Thea, she felt so embarrassed. She clutched her hands tightly in her lap as she perched on the edge of the armchair she’d be instructed to sit in. They were in this enormous room on the far side of the castle, Thea and Sebastian’s room, so she’d been told, with rows of open windows and plants growing everywhere. Sunlight drifted in through skylights in the ceiling, gilded rays that made everything inside the room seem to glow golden. Greek style columns engorged by ivy acted as supports for the high ceiling, which was virtually a straight look into the heavens above. There was an oversized gilded mirror that hung on one wall, and in it Capri could see flashing images: a dense rainforest filled with morning mist; a vast, open desert sweltering from heat; Times Square in New York City, overflowing with people and cars; and many more.

Exotic birds flew overhead, singing to each other in a song unique to their kind alone. Momentarily distracted by them, Capri jumped when Thea spoke again.

“Girl, I would have expected no less from you. Of course you should have been alarmed to revisit the place where your own mother had died. It’s only natural. You shouldn’t apologize for every little thing, it’s unbecoming.”

The harsh tone had Capri looking up, alarmed. “Are you angry with me?” She asked, her eyes wide.

Thea sighed and shook her head, waving her hand in front of her apologetically. “No, no I’m not angry with you. I just wish you would realize that you actually have a backbone.” She leaned back against her chaise lounge, her legs curling up against her. She tossed back her mane of dark curls, her eyes softening. “I feel this is my fault, I should have discussed everything with you when you first arrived.”

“How much more is there?” Capri wondered, mostly to herself.

Thea’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “I should have brought you to that place myself, and explained the details of what happened the night you were taken, at least the details that we know. I went against my better judgment and instead let you stumble upon the spot on your own. However, we’re here now, so it’s time we talked, asked questions, answered questions, etcetera.”

“Okay.” Capri replied, sitting up straighter in her chair, her eyes dry but still red from crying. Her hands were no longer shaking, and her mind was clear. She was ready to hear the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

Thea took another lazy sip of her tea, looking relaxed and confident now. Capri envied the power Mother Earth radiated, and the compelling feminine force that she embodied in every way. It was frightening sometimes, but it was also awe inspiring.

“It was late summer, fifteen years ago. We were having a party, celebrating the birth of our newest Muse, Tobias. Everyone was inside the parlor, dancing, drinking. Your mother took you outside for fresh air, since you were fussy and tired. Your father offered to go with her, but she brushed him off, smiling in that way she had. She had a beautiful smile, your mother.” Thea‘s eyes warmed at the memory. “Actually, your smile is very similar to hers, gentle and sweet.”

“What did she look like?” Capri asked, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hand.

“Different than you. You have your father’s coloring, the pale hair and eyes. She was…simpler looking, I suppose. Mousy brown hair, soft brown eyes…but despite her plainness, she brought so much warmth to this place. We can be foreboding to outsiders, but we all took to her like she had been meant to be with us. It was hard on all of us when she died, and losing you as well…I don’t think we ever quite got over it.”

“What happened when she brought me outside?”

“I don’t know the details, since I was inside at the time. Balgaire heard your mother screaming first, and he ran out to help her. He says he saw her push you into the jasmine, a last minute attempt to hide you, I suppose. A group of very dangerous demons had been let through the gate, and he tried to stop them but they reached your mother before he could. They killed her, and then one of them heard you crying and grabbed you. By this point, all of us ran out into the courtyard, only to find your mother dead and you gone. We never saw the demon who took you, and Balgaire didn’t get a good enough look at him to say for sure who it was. In the end, we were able to chase out the demons, killing off a couple of them, but when we sent out a search party to find you, it was almost impossible since he could have literally taken you anywhere in the world. Who knew he would have chosen Richmond, of all places.”

“Maybe Richmond meant something to the demon.” Capri suggested.

“That may be so, but we never identified the demon, so it was fruitless from the start.”

“Who let them in?” Capri asked, her eyes on Thea’s, sterling silver into rich chocolate. They held for a moment, and when Thea spoke, her voice was dripping with anger and the sharp sting of betrayal.

“Blythe’s father, Brock.”

Capri’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open in shock. “But…but why?”

“It’s a long, complicated story better suited for a soap opera than for the Council. In any event, I banished him, so you needn’t worry about him now.” Thea still looked angry, but Capri could tell she was trying to reign in her emotions. Deciding it was best to avoid the topic of Blythe’s father for now, she focused on the latter part of Thea’s comment.

“Is that what you call everyone? The Council?”

“Yes, The Council is made up of myself, Sebastian, the four Dryads, the two Furies, the three Fates, and the three Muses. When your father retires, you will join the Council along with the other heirs. Those who retire live out the remainder of their days amongst humans, making room for the next generation.”

“I see…” Capri bit her lip, a sudden idea occurring to her. But no, it probably wouldn’t work…best not to suggest it and just get laughed at…

“What is it, girl? You’re thinking about something in that head of yours.” Thea commented, eyeing Capri knowingly. “Your face is an open book, so easily read.”

Capri blushed. “I’m sor- I mean, yes, um…the thing is, I told you about how I’d dreamt of this place since I was little…and when I met the Muses, they said they can give someone mental clarity. I wonder if I talk to them, if they could help me remember more about the dream, and maybe more about the demon who took me. Then we could find him, and get closure…”

Thea tilted her chin up and looked at Capri, considering. Her lips curved in a slow smile. “Interesting idea.”

“Really?” Capri was honestly surprised, and it showed clearly on her face.

Thea laughed, her smile bright. “So unsure of yourself. You are much stronger and wiser than you know, Capri.”

“Oh, well, I don’t know…” Capri flushed, smiling despite herself. “I have my moments.”

“Well, this is definitely one of those moments.”

♦ ♦ ♦

CHAPTER SIX

“How did it go?” Clynn asked as Capri closed the door behind her.

She looked up at him with a soft smile. “It went fine…I’m going to talk to the Muses tomorrow about my dream. I want to see if they can help me remember more details about the demon who took me, that way we can finally have justice.”

Clynn looked worried. “Are you sure you want to relive those memories? They may be more…brutal than you can imagine.”

“I want to know who the demon was who stole me, the demon who was working with Blythe’s father.”

His face paled and his eyes widened as he stared at her. “Thea told you everything, then.”

“Yes, and I’m glad she did. I’m going to figure this out. I need the closure, and I’m sure you could use it too.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they began to walk towards the front doors, leading the way into the courtyard. “As long as you are comfortable with this. None of us are pressuring you in any way to relive that night. It was difficult on all of us, but most notably you. Your entire life was changed because of that night.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m stronger than I look.” Capri felt confident saying it out loud, especially since the all powerful Thea seemed to believe it.

As they stepped out into the misty morning sunshine, she had the sudden and overwhelming desire to go back to the place where her entire life had been changed in an unforgivable instant.

“Will you walk with me over to the jasmine?” She asked, looking up at her father. When he didn’t say anything for a moment, but looked strained, she felt ashamed for asking him. “I’m sorry…if you don’t want to, I und-“

“No, no I should be the one to apologize, Capri.” Clynn said suddenly, stopping mid-step and clutching her arms in his hands. His face was desperate, his eyes sad. “For years I’ve been avoiding thinking about that night, because I decided that by simply ignoring it, I wouldn’t have the need to be depressed anymore. It took everything I had to keep on living after what happened, and it was in my own self-interest that I avoided ever thinking about it again. Sure, in the back of my mind I would wonder about you, think about you coming home someday, but largely I avoided it at all costs. I’m sorry that this is not easier for me, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t the one to tell you about what happened that night. It should have been me, not Thea. And maybe that was why she kept silent, because she had hoped I would bring you to that place, explain it all to you, and then we could find closure together. But I couldn’t do it. I’m a coward, Capri, so much so that I couldn’t tell my own daughter how her mother had died, and who was responsible. I’m so sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Capri looked into his eyes, searching. “It doesn’t matter who told the story, as long as it was told. We both need to go over there, and we both need to relive this together, so that we can have closure. I’m scared too…scared of the pain, of the misery, of the regret, but none of those fears change the fact that we both lost her, and we both need to remember her and avenge her. Please help me do that…Dad.”

She felt tears brimming in her eyes as he hugged her tightly, but she also felt an odd strength rise within her. It was all so clear to her now…she would do everything in her power to find the demon responsible for ruining her life, and she would avenge her mother’s death. If she still had doubts and fears flashing like neon lights in her brain, telling her to let it go and forget, then she was just going to have to get over them. This wasn’t the time to be afraid anymore, it was the time to act.

“Let’s go.” Clynn smiled sadly as he pulled away and turned towards the path that led to the jasmine bushes. They walked together, arms around each other, and when they reached the jasmine, they stood in front of it as a unit, and mourned what had been lost.

♦ ♦ ♦

It hadn’t occurred to Capri how she was going to react to seeing Blythe again until she was seated at the dining table, ready to eat dinner, and the girl in question sat across from her, a bright smile on her face.

“You look a hell of a lot better.” Blythe said cheerfully as she grabbed a roll and bit into it happily. Liam sat beside her, shaking his head and chuckling.

“Thanks.” Capri replied, finding it hard to look Blythe in the eyes. She wasn’t sure why she felt so awkward…obviously Blythe knew what her father had done, and it didn’t seem to stop her from being friendly.

“Man, I’m starving.” Blythe announced as she swallowed and started piling slices of honey ham onto her plate.

“Big surprise.” Liam grumbled as he forked up a bite of mashed potatoes. He winked at Capri as he chewed.

“Hey.” Blythe pointed her fork at him, one of her eyebrows cocked defensively. “Lay off me and my food habits already, it’s not like you haven’t been living with me forever. You should be used to this”

“Yeah, but you seem to feel the need to announce it to the world every time your stomach grumbles.” Liam retorted.

Blythe shrugged and patted her stomach happily, grinning at Capri. “What can I say? I’m a loud mouth. It gets me in trouble more often than not.”

Capri avoided looking at Blythe again, and picked at the food on her own plate. She pushed around the carrots and peas, her mind elsewhere.

She noticed Rhiannon sit down a couple seats away from her, but when she glanced up and smiled, the other girl merely bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement and looked away. Unsure why Rhiannon was acting so coldly, Capri turned her gaze back to her food and sighed.

“Is something bothering you, Capri?” Liam asked, his kind eyes concerned.

Capri looked up, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

“No, it’s nothing.” She stammered, feeling foolish.

When her eyes shifted unconsciously to Blythe, Liam seemed to understand.

“If you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.” He said simply, eyeing her intently before returning to his dinner.

Blythe was busy in conversation with Lucian, and didn’t seem to notice the exchange, which Capri was thankful for. She wasn’t sure how to act around Blythe now that she knew what had happened, and even though Blythe had had no responsibility whatsoever for the actions of her father, Capri couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable over the whole thing.

And so, when after dinner Blythe cornered her just outside the dining hall, Capri realized that she wasn’t going to have the luxury of avoiding the confrontation any longer.

“So I assume that Thea told you that it was my father who was responsible for what happened to you and your mother.” Blythe said, her lips curving ever so slightly.

Capri bit her tongue, at a loss at what to say. Her hands twisted together in front of her nervously.

Blythe continued to stare at her, and after a moment, her pretty face contorted with despair and frustration. When she spoke, her voice was as heated as the temper that burned inside of her.

“It never sat right with me, what he did. I know that I’m not responsible for his actions, but, damnit, he was my father, and he destroyed my family because of his petty hatred.” Her jaw clenched and she took a deep breath as she bit back the rush of anger, averting her gaze in an effort to collect herself. When her eyes met Capri’s again a moment later, they were steadier, focused. “Please don’t think less of me now that you know…we were friends once, and I’d like us to be friends again.”