Page 2 of Darkness Falls

“Yes, sir,” she mutters.

I can’t even imagine what she must have gone through all these years. I hate that I left her here to face it all alone. A brief memory of Sebastian calling me a selfish bitch for not stopping to make sure Maxton was dead flashes in my mind. A sliver of hope builds inside my chest, and I begin to take heavy breaths. I glance up at my father, vulnerable, wishing with everything inside me that Maxton lived too.

"Maxton?" I whisper, hoping that maybe somehow, he managed to survive too.

He waves a dismissive hand at me, but my questioning gaze doesn’t falter.

"The boy is dead, Callie. I let him bleed out in front of me and watched as the life drained from his eyes. It's what he deserved after putting stupid ideas in your head."

I shouldn't have let myself have hope because my heart feels like it's being ripped out of my chest again.

"I think I could have saved him if I wanted to, but I didn't want to." He grins while sipping his drink. Seb was right. I was selfish, and I left him there to die. If I stayed, maybe I could have helped him. I could have put pressure on the wound and gotten him to the same doctor who helped my mom. My thoughts spin inside my head as panic begins to set in. My heart rate picks up; I feel weak and clammy. I could have at least tried to help him.

A deep ache in my chest takes hold when Barrett’s face flashes in my mind, telling me to breathe. ‘Take the pain and turn it into strength, princess.’I can almost hear him speaking to me.

I take a few deep breaths, forcing myself to think rationally. Even if Maxton lived, I know there is no way my father would have let me help him. If I stayed, he would have forced me to watch him die. His death was always inevitable. It would have been my punishment.

"He would have died no matter what," I breathe out, my voice sounding smaller than I'd like.

"That, my daughter, is the only smart thing you've said since you got here."

"Callie, don't you want to tell your mother the good news?" Damien interrupts, and I turn to scowl at him.

Good news? The only good news that I've heard at this dinner table is that my mother is alive, but the woman sitting in front of me is only a shell of the woman she was before I left all those years ago. She used to be strong, resilient. Now, her eyes are lifeless and defeated. She is completely submissive to him.

My father looks over to her. "You may speak, Natasha."

I have to fight the urge to run over and hug her.

"I'm happy you're back home where you belong." Her vacant eyes don't match the words of her soft tone. She looks terrified for me. I have a feeling she’s only saying that to appease my father.

“Callie, tell her." Damien’s hand grips my thigh tightly, causing me to wince.

"Damien and I are getting married," I say with a cold, flat one. If he thinks I’m going to pretend to be excited about this, he’s got another thing coming.

"That's wonderfulnews. How long until the big day?" Again, I see the worry in her eyes.

Damien’s hand leaves my thigh as he grabs my hand to interlock his fingers with mine. I'm not sure who he is showing off for, considering everyone at this table knows this is a bullshit marriage.

"Three months from now," I mutter.

"We have a lot of work to do before then, don't we?" She looks over to my father before asking him the most insane question I’ve ever heard. "Will Callie and I be allowed to spend some time together to plan things?"

My father seems pleased she is asking for permission, but he shakes his head no.

"Considering the trouble the two of you caused the last time you were alone together, I think it's best that you keep your distance until after she says her vows."

My mother’s eyes drop down to her lap as she nods in compliance. He isn't even going to give me the chance to really talk to her. He's going to keep us apart as some sort of sick punishment.

"I think that's enough conversation from the ladies for the night. Damien, do you think you can meet me in my office after dinner so we can go over that proposal I sent you last week?"

"Of course, sir. Once I put my girl here to bed, I'll be sure to pop in."

His girl. I'm not his fucking girl, and I don't need his help getting myself to bed. I know where myprison is.

The two of them continue their meaningless conversation as my mother and I sit in silence for the rest of dinner. I just want this night to be over so I can process how to move forward with everything.

I let my mind zone out and focus on plotting a way to get out of here. The only complication now is my mother. I’ll need to help her get out too. I won’t leave her alone again.

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