Breath of Air (11 page)

Capri reached out then, clutching Blythe’s hands in her own. She squeezed tightly, the sorrow and forgiveness she felt so easily read on her face.

“I could never blame you.” She whispered, shaking her head. She felt tears brim in her eyes as she recognized that the grief Blythe felt was the same that had plagued her own soul nearly her entire life. The grief of wondering what could have been had your life not been forever altered by someone else’s bad decisions.

“Wow.” Blythe laughed shakily, wiping away her own tears and grinning. “Liam said you would take it like this, and I thought he was dead wrong. I guess I just wouldn’t blame you for hating me by association.”

“I hope we can be really good friends. I want us to stay together this time.” Capri said as she reached for Blythe’s hands again. “We should both promise to not let anything separate us again.”

Blythe grinned. “Deal.”

When Rhiannon and Rohan walked by and saw the two girls clutching each other and sobbing, they both watched with very different expressions. Rohan looked annoyed at the fact that two girls were openly crying in what in his eyes was a formal court, while Rhiannon looked on with empty eyes and a ragingly jealous heart.

♦ ♦ ♦

“Sit back and just relax, Capri.” Serendipity said as Capri laid back in what was definitely the most comfortable recliner she had ever sat in. It was covered in smooth, buttery leather the color of natural silk, and when a button was pressed, a footrest folded out smoothly and Capri felt herself tilt back until she was so comfortable she could have nodded off to sleep almost instantly. If she hadn’t been so nervous, she might have done just that, without even needing the Muses’ help.

The Muses operated out of the far east tower of the castle. They had few windows, relying instead on hundreds of candles for light, and had decorated with numerous jewel toned rugs, shawls, throws, and pillows, all scattered around with incense burning so that the entire tower was filled with the scent of sandalwood and vanilla.

Against the curve of the tower wall were three large, freestanding gold framed mirrors, which she had been informed were used by the Muses to search for those both deserving and in need of inspiration. She also learned that the Muses based their selection on destiny, and those who, if given the right push, would create both art and music that would ultimately impact entire generations.

She now sat in one of three recliners, used expressly for the purpose of hypnosis and relaxation exercises. The three Muses stared down at her, their beautiful faces glowing in the candlelight.

“Now, I want you to clear your mind of all thoughts.” Serendipity began, her fingertips gently rubbing Capri’s temples, soothing away any signs of stress. Clarity was busy putting light pressure on Capri‘s left palm, her fingertips light and cool as they moved in small, slow circles over her skin. Trinity was gently rubbing Capri‘s right calf, and the combination of all three had her entire body feeling limp and loose within seconds. When Serendipity continued, her voice seemed far away and distant, echoing somewhere in the depths of her mind. “Imagine throwing all of your thoughts into this great big box, one by one, emptying yourself until your mind is clear.” She paused as Capri did as she was told, imagining every thought in her head being dumped into a big white box. “When you’ve done that, I want you to imagine closing the lid and tossing that box down into a great big hole, down it goes, lost to oblivion. Now imagine lowering yourself into that hole as well, and slide down into it as if it were a slide. Down into the darkness, let it swallow you whole and cloak you. You feel so safe and cozy down in the abyss, nothing matters in the world. Feel yourself fade away, becoming one with the darkness…”

Capri felt herself drift off, her mind blank, the world silent around her. She thought she could still feel the gentle probing fingers along her skin, but everything seemed so far away, so distant, as though her body was feather light and floating on air.

Through the blackness, blurry shapes began to appear, slowly but surely sharpening and forming together to create the courtyard, glowing with firelight from the torches on the wall of the castle as the night sky rioted with stars up above. Plants grew wild and free, impossibly and vividly green in the limited light and lush with deliciously scented flowers. The air was quiet and tranquil, calming with a gentle westerly breeze.

She was in the arms of someone who was walking slowly down the cobblestone path, and her head was resting against a soft shoulder smelling of gardenias. Coffee brown hair fell near her face, and she felt her small hand reach out to lightly touch it, marveling at how the firelight brought out the brassy toned strands.

The person holding her was humming quietly, and the sound of it was so hauntingly beautiful that it almost didn’t seem real.

Her eyes felt wet and sleepy, as though she had been crying, but she couldn’t remember what had upset her. Oh, that’s right, that mean Fury boy had ignored her again, pretending not to see her as she offered him a flower she’d picked from the garden just for him. Even at three years old she could tell he needed a friend, but he had refused her offer like she had been nothing. The memory of it brought fresh tears to her eyes as she let out a hiccupping sob.

“Oh, baby, it’s okay.” The person holding her cooed, pulling her close and rubbing her cheek against Capri’s hair. Then she started singing again, a song about life’s little ups and downs, Capri forgot all about the Fury boy.

Mother. That song…

There was a noise suddenly coming from somewhere ahead of them, a whistle and the sound of running feet. Heidi stiffened, her arms clutching protectively around Capri as her eyes scanned the darkness for the source of the noise. When she saw figures rapidly approaching her, she hastily slid Capri from her arms and into the nearest bush.

“Don’t make any noise.” She whispered as she straightened, facing the men, trying to hide the fear in her eyes. “What is your business here?” She asked, hoping her voice didn’t betray her defenselessness. She had no powers, after all.

Capri couldn’t see much more than her mother’s legs from between the branches of the jasmine, but she just assumed that all would be fine once her mother made whoever it was go away. She started playing with one of the jasmine flowers, admiring its star shape and delicate scent as she twirled it between her fingertips.

She heard more footsteps approaching, and her mother’s relieved sigh.

“Thank God you’re here.” She said. “I don’t know who these men are, but they appear to have come through the front gate unannounced.”

“It is none of your concern.” The harshness in the tone sent shivers down Capri’s spine as she listened intently, the jasmine blossom forgotten. “Dispose of her. And the child.”

Before Heidi could even register the request, she screamed and was dead on the ground, fire erupting from her chest where the demon bullet had pierced her heart.

“Hurry, they will have heard the shot and the scream, take the girl and leave.” The harsh voice spoke again, this time in agitation. Rough hands lifted her from the cover of the jasmine, and within moments she was being carried towards the front gate. She looked over the shoulder of the man who carried her as several more men spread out throughout the courtyard, lighting fires and cackling madly. She saw one man in particular standing over her mother’s body, his body silhouetted against the glow of the flames, his head tilted back as he laughed wickedly towards the sky.

Then the darkness swallowed her.

Capri jolted up in her seat, gasping for breath and clutching the arms of the chair so tightly her knuckles were white. The three women around her held her back, trying to calm her down.

“It’s over. It’s done.” Clarity said softly as she placed a damp towel over Capri’s forehead. “Relax. Breathe.”

“Oh my God.” Capri stammered, glancing around wildly as if she expected to see the wicked man with the harsh voice appear in front of her. “Oh my God.”

“Shush.” Serendipity soothed as she continued to rub Capri’s temples. “The dream is over.”

Capri pushed Serendipity’s fingertips away and lay back against the chair, covering her face in her hands. She couldn’t get the image of her mother’s dead body burning in the courtyard out of her mind. It was a memory that would haunt her till the day she died.

“Thank you for doing this, but I need to go.” She said as she sat up and made to stand, only to have her knees give out underneath her. The women caught her, but she shook them off. “I’m okay, please, let me go.”

With that she shakily raced out of the tower, slamming the door behind her as she went.

♦ ♦ ♦

She didn’t know how long she stayed locked up in her room. Hours. Days, maybe. It didn’t seem to matter anymore. Her idea had failed, she had learned nothing of the demon by reliving her dream. Absolutely nothing.

Instead she had experienced something that was honestly better left buried within. What had she done but cause herself even more emotional pain? By reliving that night, she had brought back such vivid memories of her mother: the scent of gardenias, the soft brown hair, the song she always sang to comfort and soothe. She didn’t think she would ever be the same again.

Thea visited her after some time, and Capri told her everything she had seen in her dream. Thea listened intently, never speaking, and when she left she thanked Capri for trying. As if it had been worth the time and effort, Capri thought miserably.

All of the strength she had convinced herself she possessed seemed to shrivel up and desert her now that she needed it most. She felt so weak, both in mind and heart, and it seemed as though nothing could chase away the pain.

That is, until the most unexpected of visitors knocked on her door.

“Come in.” Capri called out from her perch on the windowsill, her legs tucked up against her chest and her pale blonde hair spilling over her shoulders. She glanced up as the person entered, and her soft gray eyes widened with embarrassment.

Rian looked slightly embarrassed as well, and because of this he stood resolutely in the doorway, making no move to enter the room completely. He watched her carefully, noting the redness around those hauntingly lovely eyes of hers. She looked so frail, so defeated, that he was worried that what everyone was saying was true: she would leave Euphora, and never look back.

But when she stood up tall and approached him, he saw more than just fragility in her eyes. He saw recognition.

“It was you.” She said quietly as she stopped a few feet from him, her eyes searching his. “You were the Fury boy who ignored me when I tried to give you a flower I’d picked from the courtyard.”

His eyes narrowed as he returned her stare, and he seemed to be measuring her.

“You remember me but you don’t remember the demon who took you?” He asked, and she realized with a jolt that it was the first time she had heard him speak more than two words.

“I just remember thinking that you looked like you needed a friend, and I thought I could help.” She replied, feeling sheepish and averting her eyes. Her hands started to twist together in front of her, a sure sign that she was nervous. “I guess I was young and foolish.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, but continued to watch her. She chanced a glance back up at him, and saw his hard face soften ever so slightly. “Thea asked me to bring you down for dinner. You need to eat something.”

“Oh.” Capri bit her lip and tried to hide her disappointment. She’d hoped he would open up to her, even just a little, but his wall seemed to be built as high as ever. “Okay, give me a second.” She disappeared into the bathroom, shutting the door quietly behind her. She hastily fixed her makeup, hoping to cover up most of the damage her crying had done. When she opened the door and stepped back into the bedroom, he was still waiting in exactly the same spot as before. “I’m ready.” She said quietly as she walked towards him and then out into the hallway. He shut the bedroom door and proceeded to walk down the spiral steps with her.

He didn’t say a word, instead he walked, his back ramrod straight, and politely opened the door for her at the bottom of the stairs. She whisked past him, carefully avoiding his eyes again. She’d already embarrassed herself enough for one day where he was concerned.

They fell into step together as they proceeded down the long corridor that led towards the dining hall, and just as they reached the doors he stopped and turned to her. Thinking he didn’t want to open the door for her this time, she reached for the handle herself, but he stopped her, his hand resting on hers for a split second before he hastily pulled it away.

She looked up at him, afraid she had done something wrong. His face was unreadable, his cornflower blue eyes serious, but when he spoke, his voice was much softer than it had been before.

“You wouldn’t have wanted to be my friend.” He said quietly, his eyes intent on hers. She didn’t know what to say, and when he suddenly pushed open the door and motioned for her to go inside, she had to focus on her legs to get them to move. Tearing her eyes away from his, she walked past him and kept going until she reached her father and took her seat beside him.

Clynn eyed her with quiet concern, but she forced her lips into what she hoped was a convincing smile.

“I’m sorry I worried you.” She told him as the others began to file in and take their seats.

“Thea told me you were shaken up when she went to visit you. She told me what you remembered.”

Capri sighed, chewing her bottom lip anxiously. “I’m afraid it wasn’t very helpful.”

Clynn patted her back gently. “Even if we never find out who took you, at least we can content ourselves that you are home at last.”

“I suppose.” Capri replied, though she knew that contenting herself on this issue was not going to be good enough. Hearing about her dead mother had been painful, yes, and knowing that the orchestrator of the plan, Blythe’s father, Brock, had been punished was acceptable enough justice. But she knew it was always going to plague her mind knowing that the demon responsible for her kidnapping was still out there, roaming free, perhaps plotting more heinous crimes. And maybe, just maybe, he was plotting against Euphora, hoping to strike again.