Breath of Air (28 page)

“How are you?” Capri asked tentatively, shutting the door behind her. Blythe grunted again, her face tight with anger as she threw another dart.

“I’ve been better.” Blythe said suddenly, inhaling sharply as she threw another dart. This time she missed the mark completely, and burnt a hole in the wall. “Damnit!”

Capri jumped at her outburst, but she didn’t move. When Blythe noticed the shock in her friend’s eyes, she sighed and rubbed her face with her hands.

“I’m sorry, Capri, come here.” She said, holding out her hand and motioning for Capri to sit beside her.

Capri sat, her hand in Blythe’s, and watched her carefully. “I can come back later if this is a bad time.”

“No, it’s not. I’m just…pissed.” Blythe chuckled darkly, shaking her head. “That bastard drives me crazy.”

“Rohan?”

“Yeah, he’s always had a problem with me, simply because of who I am. It’s bullshit, really, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Capri’s brows furrowed in confusion as she continued to watch her friend. “I don’t understand.”

Blythe shifted, curling her legs underneath her. “It’s really stupid, and pathetic.” She pursed her lips, anger rising within her again. “He hates me because he hated my dad.”

When Capri didn’t say anything, Blythe continued.

“When our parents were our age, my dad was dating Serendipity, Rhiannon’s mom. They were an item for a long time, and everyone thought they were gonna get married. But then, for some reason, Serendipity left my dad, and married Rohan instead. Up until that time, Rohan and my dad were best friends, and this obviously destroyed their friendship. Anyway, ever since then Rohan always suspected that Serendipity was cheating on him with my dad, even though he had married my mother and had started his own family. They didn’t speak one word to each other for years, and when the raid happened and my dad was banished, Rohan was one of the people who helped prove his guilt.”

“And he hates you simply by association?” Capri asked, her eyes wide.

“Pretty much.” Blythe shrugged. “Though I’ve been told I act a lot like my dad, so I bet it’s hard for him. Personally, I enjoy thinking that I bother him. Sometimes I even go out of my way to annoy him just to see him get all flustered.” She grinned then, quick and mischievous.

“Is that what happened last night?”

The grin vanished, disgust replacing it. “No. He started
that
little fight.” She ran a hand through her red curls, combing through them with her fingers. “I caught him talking crap, saying how I was bound to go down the same path as my dad and my grandmother, and that I would end up banished simply because it’s in my nature to break the rules. Naturally, I confronted him about it, and because he hates being confronted, he grabbed me and threw me to the ground. He’s such a goddamn coward.” She sneered, her fist clenching unconsciously beside her. “At least I got a punch in. Bastard’s lucky Liam held me back, because I would have done much worse.”

“I’m sure you would have.” Capri nodded seriously, causing Blythe to laugh as her lips curved into a sad smile.

“I’m sorry if I snarled at you last night. I was seeing red, and I didn’t want to take it out on any of you. When I get like that, I pretty much have to get out or I do something I’ll regret later.”

Capri tried to smile, squeezing her friend’s hand. “I understand.”

“Anyway, I think Rohan’s been on edge lately.” Blythe began, considering. “He’s never gotten violent like that with me, so I think the stress has gotten to him.”

“Why do you think he’s stressed?” Capri’s heart began to beat faster in her chest, her mind racing with the possible reasons.

“Well, he’s convinced himself that my father is involved in what’s been happening lately, and Roarke’s confession only fueled his theory further. You saw him try and blame me after you were possessed. He’s convinced I’m working with my dad to hurt you, and that Roarke took the fall for us. It’s utterly ridiculous, but I can tell it’s been eating away at him lately. The last thing he wants is for my dad to somehow get back to Euphora.”

“Because he wants to protect Rhiannon.” Capri said thoughtfully.

“That, and he wants to keep my dad away from his wife.”

“But why is he so paranoid about Serendipity when she chose him over Brock to begin with?”

Blythe smirked, her expression dark. “Let’s just say he’s a very jealous man, who’s very possessive of what’s his. I think he figures my dad would somehow seduce Serendipity away from him if he somehow made it back to Euphora. It’s how his twisted mind works, which is why he’s been acting so crazy lately.”

Capri bit her lip, wishing she could tell Blythe everything that she knew. Instead, she played on what little information she knew she could discuss.

“So Rohan is not satisfied with Roarke’s confession?”

“Nope. Until the day he dies he’s gonna blame me or my father in some way for every little thing that happens here. I hope you believe me when I say that I didn’t have anything to do with any of this. I hardly ever spoke to Roarke, and I haven’t seen or heard from my father since he was banished.” Her eyes flashed with anger for a moment, though it was obvious she was fighting to control it as she continued. “I would never, ever hurt you.”

Capri nodded. “I know you wouldn’t.” She leaned in and hugged Blythe tightly, hoping to comfort her in some way. When she pulled away, her lips curved into a soft smile. “Other than the obvious, last night was a lot of fun.”

Blythe grinned, her eyebrows wiggling suggestively. “I bet you had a good time.” She winked, causing Capri to blush violently.

“Oh, well…sure I did.” She stammered, turning away shyly to hide her face. Blythe reached over and turned her head back, her eyes alight with humor.

“I thought I told you to stay away from the Furies, honey?”

Capri bit her lip, trying not to smile. “I guess I didn’t follow your advice.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, I think Rian’s alright.”

Capri’s eyes widened in honest surprise. “You do?”

Blythe laughed again, wrapping her arm over Capri’s shoulders. “Honey, the way that boy looks at you, I don’t think any of us have anything to worry about. My whole life I’ve known him, not very well, mind you, but enough to gauge his personality. He’s always been way too serious, way too quiet, and not nearly happy enough with anything. But when he’s around you…he smiles. It weirded me out the first time I saw it, but then I realized why he was so happy. It’s all because of you.”

Capri’s eyes went a bit dreamy as she stared off into space, reminiscing about the look in his eyes when he had told her he missed her. He had looked happy. Was it really all because of her?

“Oh, boy.” Blythe snorted, rolling her eyes. “You’re gone over for him, aren’t you?”

“What?” Capri blinked, her mouth opening slightly as she tried to find the right words to say. “No, no…well, yes, okay, maybe a little…”

“It’s okay if you are, you don’t have to worry about me.” Blythe told her. “As for the others…I could tell there was something bothering Liam, this must be what it was.”

“Oh, I hate to upset him…I know he’s just trying to look out for me.” Capri chewed her bottom lip anxiously, a worried crease forming between her brows.

Blythe waved the thought away. “He’ll come around. It looks like your dad is alright with it. I saw him hand you off to Rian on the dance floor last night.”

“It’s because I told him I didn’t care what he thought about Rian and I.” Capri blushed at the look Blythe gave her.

“You talked back to him?” She asked as her eyebrows rose incredulously.

“Well, no, I just…yeah, I guess I sorta did.”

“This is just a week of firsts for you, isn’t it?” Blythe looked extremely amused, but also proud. “First you talk back to me, then your father, then you run off with your boyfriend, not giving a damn about anybody else.” She paused for a moment, a new thought occurring to her. “I think I’m rubbing off on you.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” Capri blushed again, feeling awkward.

“Then what is he?” Blythe grinned mischievously. “Your…lover?”

“Oh, no, we haven’t…it’s not like…that.” Capri slapped a hand against her forehead and laughed despite herself. “I don’t know what we are. It’s complicated but pathetically simple at the same time. But…I do think I might be…falling in love with him.”

“No shit?” Blythe hooted out a laugh, hugging Capri. “Good for you, honey. You deserve a little romance after all you’ve been through. And if he’s the one you want, then don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“Thanks.” Capri felt her eyes welling with grateful tears as she pulled away, wiping at them with her hand.

“Oh, don’t cry. You’re gonna get me started too.” Blythe sniffled and hugged Capri again, and the two of them proceeded to cry anyways.

♦ ♦ ♦

When Capri left Blythe’s room a little while later, she felt much better than she had when she had first gotten there. Not only was Blythe doing fine in regards to the confrontation the night before, but she also approved of Rian. Not to mention that talking about Rian and admitting her feelings out loud had done something amazing to her wellbeing. She felt like she was walking on a cloud, drifting along, butterflies in her stomach and warmth in her heart.

She almost wanted to just go out into the courtyard to find him, to sit and watch him as he went through his daily workout routine, but she had promised herself to visit Thea first. But right after seeing Thea, she would look for him, and maybe she would tell him how she felt.

She had to pause halfway down the staircase that lead to the main corridor and take a deep breath, biting her lip against the smile that couldn’t seem to leave her face. Would he be happy to know that she thought herself in love with him? She hoped so. She hugged herself, needing a moment to suppress the giddy excitement she felt.

Still smiling, she continued down the staircase, imagining his face when she told him. Would his eyes darken to that deep cornflower blue, and his lips curve into that cynical smirk? She couldn’t wait to find out.

Reaching for the handle of the door, she paused, hearing voices on the other side. Her smile faltered and her brows creased together as she recognized Tobias’s voice, and he sounded just as distressed as he had the day she had seen him with Roarke.

She hesitated, pressing her ear up against the door. What she heard had her entire body freezing in shock and her heart skipping frantically in terror.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way. You never told me you were planning on getting Roarke killed! You told me you just wanted him to confess and then that would be it!” Tobias whispered, hysteria in his voice.

“My reasons for disposing of Roarke do not concern you.” A second, much harsher, much older voice said. Capri felt chills shiver through her as she realized that she knew that voice. Oh, yes, she knew that voice very well…it haunted her dreams, and tainted her memories. The only thing she didn’t know was who the voice belonged to…

“All I wanted was for Capri to be gone; I didn’t want any of this. I only helped you because you said the demon would lead her away from Euphora, and then everything would go back to the way it was before. And I only helped you with Roarke because you said he would take the fall for us. I never wanted him dead!” There was bitterness in Tobias’s voice beneath the fear, and a lot of resentment.

“Do you think I ever gave a damn about your feelings, boy? This is serious! The girl is on to us; we must get rid of her.”

“I don’t want to do this anymore!” Tobias whispered hastily.

“You’re in too deep now, Tobias. She knows you’re involved. We need to act tonight. We will make it look like she ran away, and then you can erase her memory so she won’t be any the wiser. She won’t be dead, Tobias, just lost again. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

There was a brief moment of silence, and for a second Capri wondered if they had walked away, but then Tobias spoke, his voice even softer than before.

“Fine. I’ll do it.” Suddenly, Capri noticed the knob on the door in front of her begin to turn, and she realized with a jolt that Tobias was going to come upstairs. Thinking fast, she backed up a step and tried to look blankly surprised when Tobias opened the door.

He stopped dead, his soft green eyes huge with shock and panic, his mouth open in surprise.

Capri tried to smile, pretending she had heard nothing.

“Hi, Tobias.” She greeted, grateful her voice didn’t tremble as she spoke. She continued down the last step as Tobias backed away, giving her room to pass. As she emerged through into the corridor, she turned her head to finally identify the man who had successfully eluded her for months.

When she saw him, she knew without a doubt that her poor acting skills were going to be the end of her. She could feel her face drain of all color, and her eyes widen, eyebrows raised. She knew her lips parted in honest surprise, and felt her knees begin to give way.

Despite all of this, she attempted to pull herself together, but she knew she had fooled no one. Especially not him. He, who never spoke out loud in front of her. He, who she had thought to be shy and something of a hero for battling the demons during the raid. He, who Rian considered a second father, and who Roarke had considered a brother.

It had been him, all along. And now that she knew, she wondered how she had ever missed it.

Balgaire stared back at her, his dark eyes menacing and his mouth set in a stern line. His harsh face looked particularly threatening now compared to when she had seen him before, and the sheer hatred she saw in his eyes sent fear racing down her spine.

She tried to smile again, knowing that if she just acted casual enough, she could walk away, out the front doors, and find Rian. Or she could go to Thea, and reveal everything. Besides, it was the middle of the day, what could Balgaire possibly do to her now? There were other people that would surely be walking around at some point who would notice if he tried to hurt her, right?

There was just no way that he would take that kind of risk, especially since he had no idea if she had even heard their conversation. Feigning ignorance was the only thing that was going to save her.