Page 122 of When Night Falls

The sirens surround me and I know I have to rectify this immediately.

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bathed in blood - part 2

Rivian

"Fuck, what happened to you?" Troy's tone creeps up from beside me as Imanifestto the foyer in my castle, seeing her rush out of my office in what looks like confusion. “I was looking for you everywhere.”

I don't have time nor want to skirt around with small talk as to why my dress shirt is unbuttoned and sullied in the blood of others.

"Is Lucynda here?" I ask rather flustered in comparison to my usually calm demeanor, ignoring her concerns and questions.

"I think so but-"

"Troian, I don't have time for this exasperating frolic. What do you want?" I hold up my palm to her, stopping her from following me further.

Rejection falls on her face when she answers my question, and I can tell I've struck a nerve. But what's new?

"I talked to my mom."

"You did?" I hate to say, that’s what gets my attention. Ameliana.

"Yeah, she said she'll come. She'll be here in a few days, she just has to take care of some stuff first."

Realization dawns on me that I'll finally have everything I want. Well, not everything but I'll be able to keep my word.

"What do you want with my mom, Rivian?" There it is. The infamous question. If my sister were able to read into the depth of my mind, she'd be able to see the truth. The real reason why I wanted to lure her mom into the castle. I thought my marriage to Lucynda would have done it, but I guess I was wrong.

"I want to form peace," I lie. "If she has anything to do with why someone might be trying to pin your brother for all of this, then I need answers." I turn around to head back down the hall, eager to get to my newly-found murderous wife.

"Do you want to know something?" Troy shouts down the hall before I can make it too far.

"What would that be?" I stop but don't turn to face her just yet, feeling annoyance at the dance she’s making me perform.

"When we were little, I remember a few times where you would be missing, sometimes for days. The castle was big enough to where sometimes we wouldn't see each other but I knew something had happened to you because when I would ask daddy where you were, he'd tell me to mind my own business." Her words are vehement, her tone laced with sincere sympathy. "One day, I saw you. I saw Natasha taking you from downstairs and up to your room. You didn't look good at all, like you were hungry and tired. Weak."

"What is your point?" I grow displeasingly bored with the reminder of my childhood, not knowing what this has to do with anything of the present other than why I am the way I am.

I turn to look at my sister as agony colors her eyes. Almost like she feels sorry for me. If she knew the torment that led me to this place, she'd likely be trying to destroy me.

"Trav said something to you the other day, when he was talking about your mom.” She sighs. “I know what dad was doing to you. He was locking you away and starving you. I didn't know why. And I still don't know why he would do something like that. But it made me angry for you. One day, I asked you about it, remember? And you told me to mind my own business and told me to leave you alone. You thought I walked away and I wanted to respect your wishes, but I stayed outside your door for a few hours to make sure you were okay." She lets in a breath of fresh air, a tear trailing down her cheek. I've never seen my sister cry. "Do you wanna know what I heard you say?"

I bore my eyes into hers, already knowing the exact things she's about to replay for the both of us; the memory being the pivotal moment in my life, the one that created this craving for chaos and expectation of conviction.

She lowers her head and her whispered words linger between us.

"I will ruin my step-mom if it's the last thing I do." Troian steps closer while I take a step back. I'm not one to back down or recede, but I don't want to feel the sorrow that bleeds from her. I can't handle anyone else's pain right now; I won't even assess my own. It's too much.

"I didn't want to believe what I heard back then. We were kids. But I'm sure of what I heard now.” Sorrow falls on her face. This is the moment I know for sure that she won’t forgive me. I might lose her forever. “Please don't hurt her, Rivian. I don't know what she did to you, but she's my mom. I want a chance to get to know her."

I allow my sister her words, and I wish that I was honorable enough to actually listen to them or to consider them. But I donot owe her that luxury in light of the promise I made to my own mom. No one granted her the same mercy when they took everything from her. Everything from me. I want to appease everyone, but Ameliana is not an innocent woman. She deserves what's coming.

I turn my back and proceed to leave, walking down the hallway to find my queen. But I peer behind me to leave my sister with one last truth.

"At least you'll get a chance. Don't forget,sheleftyou."

"Lucynda?" My voice echoes off the delicately decorated walls, the windows still open allowing a refreshing breeze to travel through the air. I know that she's here because I smell the blood thick in the air.

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